Sunday, January 30, 2022

Session 9: Leilon in Ruin

As the Party exits the woods they see roughly fifty people standing in a clearing just off the High Road, where the forest to the northeast and the swampland to the southwest give way to grassland for a bit on each side of the road. The beginnings of gardens or larger fields of crops are half-dug here.

The people mill about in a panic. Some shake in fear, others shout in anger, and in the center of it all an enraged dwarf waves her arms and tries to get those around her to listen. A bored-looking human in a chain shirt and shield decorated with the sigil of Neverwinter stands next to the dwarf. He finally bangs his spear against his shield to quiet the tumult.

The dwarf is Grizzelda Copperwraught, who the settlers call “the Growler,” but never within earshot of her. She was personally hired by Lord Neverember to oversee the rebuilding of the structures that will comprise the new town. She instructs the builders and gives them their pay at the end of each tenday.

Next to Grizzelda is Sergeant Hazz Yorrum. Yorrum is a human guard, and in charge of the Neverwinter soldiers who protect the settlers while the town is being built. He is a coward, as lazy as he is corrupt.

Merrygold Brightshine is a priest of Lathander, the Morninglord. He and his church were given the rights to build the first temple in Leilon. The church of Lathander paid handsomely for the honor, and Merrygold and his staff assist in making sure that the workers get fed and cared for outside of their normal duties.

Lathander: a deity of creativity, dawn, renewal, birth, athletics, spring, self-perfection, vitality, and youth. He favored those who dispelled the undead and blessed those who planted new life. Lathander was also the god called upon to bless birth and fertility related ceremonies. Novices in the Lathanderian faith were called the Awakened, while clerics were known as Dawnbringers. They could ascend to the following higher titles in order: Dawngreeter, Dawnlord, High Dawnlord, and Dawnmaster, while an elite cleric was referred to as a Morninglord. All of Lathander's clergy respected art, liberty, nature, and culture; promoted betterment of oneself; and strove to bring hope to their followers and others. Many of these followers worked in various creative arts. They were intolerant of evil, especially undead and inaction that caused evil to prosper.

Valdi Estapaar is a half-elven fisher who is tasked by Lord Neverember to oversee the fishing industry that is supposed to support the town as it is built. The fish she and her subordinates catch feed the town, and the excess fish are cured and transported to the nearby cities for sale.

The Growler, Merrygold, and Valdi comprise the Leilon Town Council at this point in the town’s development. While the Growler is ostensibly the leader, the council votes on major issues, so the Growler can be overruled if Merrygold and Valdi agree on a different plan.

Two strange knights bearing a symbol of a dragon eating its own tail ride horses next to a wagon carrying two archers, pulled by another horse. As the knights signal an attack, the rest of the citizens of Leilon scatter. The acolytes of Lathander shepherd the children to safety, and the rest of the adults move toward the safety of the nearby trees. Sgt. Yorrum, it should be noted, flees faster than anyone.

Grizzelda and Valdi approach the Knights to see what they could want. Things get physical and a battle ensues. By the end of the battle Grizzelda has earned the title "Horse Puncher"and the Party has discovered that these were more followers of the League of Dragons. Their reach seems to be all over Faerun. 

After the battle, Kali goes to hunt down Hazz Yurrum. She begins to whip him to shape and teach him a lesson about what it means to be a soldier. Burr and Diz make their way into the town. They see a kraken priest performing a ritual down by the docks, pulling berserkers out of the sea. Burr and Diz are able to reason with him and avoid a fight. They convince Grizzelda to allow them to speak at the next town meeting about creating a space for the worship of the kraken within Leilon. They plan to meet the next day. 

After a good nights sleep at the inn they head to the town meeting. Valdi, Grizzelda, Merrygold, and the kraken priest all have their chance to speak. It is decided that the four small islands in the bay will be given to the kraken priest to build upon for his worshippers.

The Party then decides to do some exploring. Kali stays behind with the kraken priest and does more training with Hazz Yurrum on the island. Burr and Diz visit Lathander's Shrine and Diz does an act of service to become and Awakened. Merrygold gives him a pamphlet explaining the steps in becoming a Cleric of Lathander all the way up to becoming a Morninglord like himself. 

Burr and Diz then go to the island to meet up with Kali. Diz asks the kraken priest how to become someone like him. The priest explains that you have to give yourself completely to the Kraken. When pushed further the priest eyes turn black and the Kraken begins speaking through him. He explains that he only accepts followers that allow him to control their mind and body. This is too high a price for Diz and she declines. 

The Party's next stop is the Peculiarities Shop. They enter and are greeted by a whimsical Illuskan male named Aubrey Silverspun. Kali purchases an Echo Pearl from Vibration Lake and in exchange for a date with Aubrey receives a Javelin of Lightning. Diz purchases a set of engraved thieves tools as well as some magical peas and a Runic Tunic (+1 AC). Aubrey tells them about a secret Speakeasy at the end of the street. He tells them he will meet them after he closes up the shop. Burr purchased 5 exploding arrows

Diz gives 1000 GP to the Council to help build a library/school.

Burr gives 1000 GP to the Barge Bar.

 

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