Session Preface:
Through the open window, a gentle breeze rolls in and grazes against your skin in the crisp late winter night air. The floor beneath your feet rocks gradually as the two dozen oars cut through the River Surbin, making the slow return to the docks of Yartar. The gaudy rug beneath your feet, soaked in the water and covered in shattered glass stains crimson as Drylund's head slides off of his desk, collapsing to the floor with an unsubtle thud.
"So, which one of you brought the quick escape plan and does it have room for a handsome blue tiefling?" Ser Vantes says carelessly, his hopeful eyes belying his nervousness. His eyes then focus on the limp body of his former friend and colleague and you see his vibrant cheeks pale as he's unable to draw his gaze away. "I uh, I should also mention, I really don't like blood. Like uh, really don't." Ser Vantes pauses, letting out a deep burp and bringing a leather satchel from his belt up to his mouth. "Oh no, not the prawns. Those weren't even good the first time." Before the tiefling can speak another word, he turns, retching and coughing while the fragrence of the fresh breeze is smothered by the stench of bile and secondhand seafood.
"So anyways, where were we?" the tiefling asks, wiping his face with a handkerchief and retying the leather satchel to his belt. Oh right, you're gonna help me get off this ship and then I'm gonna help you get to the Trackless Sea so you can find your missing giant."
Session Summary:
After tense deliberations on how to escape and retrieve their equipment from the dock, the party decides on Emmyth and Ser Vantes use dimension door to teleport to shore near the docks while Thaust and Hawk jump overboard and swim. In a near accident, Hawk trips while going to jump over the deck, but uses the featherfall spell saved in his feathery tunic. This prevents him from crashing onto the deck and creating a raucous which would have surely brought attention to them and their attempted escape. Instead, he and Thaust manage to get off the board undetected and race to shore.
As they do, Emmyth arrives at the dock, pretending to be Hawkwinter's aid and demanding his possessions immediately as they must be out of town on business at once. The guards, confused as to his arrival, but not wishing to upset Lord Drylund's guests, acquiesce and allow him to retrieve their belongings. Once the other two catch up, the four adventurers regroup and consider their future options. With Captain Tholzar only giving them two days to remain in town and Yartar likely going into high security due to the murder of Drylund, the party weighs their limited options before opting to take Ser Vantes up on his offer to lead them to King Hekaton via his ship docked just outside of Neverwinter.
As Hawk, Thaust, and Ser Vantes make their way out of town towards an agreed meeting point, Emmyth visits Lorelei and extends an offer for her, Gwenestri, and Gerard to travel with them so they can find a new home that is safe from the dangers of Yartar and the threat of the mind flayer below. Lorelei agrees and begins packing their belongings. The family waits until Gerard returns and then the four of them depart, meeting with the others just before dawn.
The party of now seven travels together for several days before arriving in Triboar, where Hawk and Thaust are able to visit Taylor, the young boy they saved from the hags of Bottleneck Bog and borrow horses from his father Arn. The party takes care of a few other quick pieces of business, Gerard decides Triboar is still too close to Yartar in proximity and involvement to be sure it's not reached by the mindflayer's influence, and the party sets their sights on Durindale next.
Upon arriving in Durindale, Emmyth's family is immediately welcomed in with Gerard taking a role with the architect Eirheart for ongoing projects in the city, and many of the community members thrilled to have Gwenestri to play with and entertain. Delighted by the snow, she and Emmyth play in the perpetual winter surrounding the lighthouse while her parents make preparations.
Hawk and Mya share a private conversation, joking about life in Durindale and Mya expressing her feeling of peace and hope for the first time in years. The two share a goodbye kiss before being interrupted by a giant snowball from Barakas.
Emmyth and Lorelei share a heartfelt conversation in which Lorelei thanks Emmyth for all of his help in protecting her family and reminds him to look after himself as well. She comments on the fact that he seems to have made new friends and encourages him to not push them away or distance himself. Emmyth agrees to try, they share a final embrace, and Lorelei departs for their welcome dinner in Durindale's fest hall. Shortly after, Thaust and Emmyth share a conversation in which Thaust encourages Emmyth to "let the butthead take a backseat" because Thaust knows he can be a good and kind person, if he chooses to be.
WIth Emmyth's family settling into their new home, the party says farewell and begins the journey west once more, this time through Neverwinter Woods to then board what Ser Vantes calls "technically a ship" and continue towards discovering the fate of the Storm King Hekaton.
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