The Council of the High Radiance

Year: 1491, Month: Tarsakh, Date: 22nd

 

An unexpected visitor

I awoke early with the sun as it broke the dawn and streamed in through the window of my chamber.  As I look out of the window, the reflections of the sun as it rises on the seven spires is breathtaking.  I am truly lost for words.  The Spires of the Morning really are a wonder.  I will remember this sight for the rest of my life, even if I should never set foot in Waterdeep again.

I dress in my every day clothes, and then perform my daily prayers to Tyr.  I humbly request that he lends strength to my sword arm, and grants me the wisdom to illuminate truth and punish the guilty.  I am disappointed Tyr has chosen to give me, his dedicated servant, no sign today.  Could Brother Barthol be right?  Am I unworthy of Tyr?  I put those negative thoughts aside.  Patience.  Tyr will reveal himself to me all in good time.

There is a sharp knock on the door to my chamber.  Celery must have finished and come looking for me.  "Come!",  I shout.  My door opens, and flanking Celery are two Stewards.  What does this mean?  

They explain that Celery and I am summoned to a council!  The Stewards look me up and down, and seem disapproving.  Is there something wrong with my attire?  Apparently, I am not dressed suitably for the council and suggest that I change into something more appropriate which, should I care to look, I will find in the chest at the foot of my bed.  Lathandar seems so much more demanding than Tyr.  Surely the worth of a being is in their thoughts and deeds, and not how they dress? But who am I to judge a God? 

I excuse myself and close the door.  I look in the chest, but the clothes there are not for a Knight.  Instead, I decide to encase myself in my full plate armor.  They can wait!  I will not let Tyr down.  With one last regret that I did not clean my armor the previous evening, I belt my sword to my waist and open the door.  I gesture for the Stewards to lead on.  They seem disapproving, but I care not.

We set off.  Celery remains silent throughout.  She seems distracted.  I leave her to her thoughts.

The Council

Celery and I are escorted by the Steward's to a great chamber.  The chamber is already full of Clerics and Knights of Tyr and Lathandar.  The High Radiance Ghentilara herself, the most exalted of Lathandar, is also there.
 
I feel humbled being in the presence of such great lords of Tyr and Lathandar, although, I can not help wondering why I have been summoned to this council.  I know little they do not already know, and my wisdom is insignificant compared to such exalted people.

Celery and I are greeted warmly.  Celery especially.  Her deeds in reconsecrating the shrine to Lathandar in Cragmore castle, and the resurrection of Carrot seem to have spread far since those events only a few weeks ago in Phandolin.  We retell what we know of the fate of the caravan.  There seems little surprise in those gathered, they thank us for our efforts, and coldly inform us they will now take over the investigation.  We do not tell them what we have learned about the attackers, nor do they seem interested in learning anymore.   

We also show them the coin with the Kraken engraving.  The High Radiance tells us that is the symbol of the Kraken Society who are a secret society of thieves, assassins and mages.  The council go on to tell us that not much is known at about the Kraken Society, but recently there have been abductions in Yartar that were rumoured to be connected to the them.

The talk returns to the subject they were discussing as we were admitted to the chamber.  Our presence is quickly forgotten.  They seem to be discussing the increased activity by all the different Giant tribes: Hill Giants raiding farms and holdings for food and livestock; Fire Giants digging everywhere; Ice Giants attacking ships; Stone Giants attacking strangers; and no news of the Storm Giants since the disappearance of King Hekaton and rumours of the murder of his wife, Neri.

My talents lie in the martial powers, and words and wisdom are not my strength.  This council drags on.  I struggle to keep concentration and frequently lose track of what is being said. I cannot help fidgeting with the hilt of my sword, but no one appears to notice.  Tyr give me strength.  I am sure Celery understood more than I.  I glance at her, but she seems distant. I can understand her awe at meeting the mortal presence of her chosen God on Faerun.  Although she seems more troubled than in awe.

I have no idea what all this means, nor it appears does the council.

Eventually the council breaks up, and we are given our leave.  Our dismissal seemed final.  I do not think we will be invited to a council meeting again, nor given a new task to complete.

 

A Friend Departs

Celery and I return to our rooms to gather our belongings.  We agree, it's time for us to hit the trail again. There seems to be nothing else here for us to do, our only lead seems to be the coin with the Kraken inscription on it that was given to Celery by the strange mage in Moongleam Tower in Everlund.  

One of the mage's in Moongleam tower told us that the Kraken Society were a small group that the Zentarim hadn't managed to infiltrate but there was the possibility that the order may have have been involved with Nym, the daughter of Hekaton, and may be implicated in his disappearance. 

It doesn't take long to pack our traveling gear.

We decide to go back to Everlund and see what the secretive Harpers know of this coin.  We search out Enna and Chello in the Temple, to see if they want to continue to travel with us.  We ask a priest if they have seen a Tabaxi and point us which way to go.  Chello is not difficult to find. Even Carrot wouldn't have trouble following her trail.  Clearly the sight of a Tabaxi is unusual even in Waterdeep, as she is being followed by many scholars and acolytes.  Enna is also close by in the shadows.  We explain about the council and our plan to return to Everlund and see what we can learn of the Kraken coin.  Chello seems eager to follow, and Enna agrees also.

Just as we reach the exit to the Temple, we spy Carrot sitting in a pew.  He seems to be waiting for us.  We greet him warmly, and ask why he left, where he went to, and if he has seen Zook?

He says he had to leave to find his cousin.  He knows shes in trouble.  Family comes first, and he must seek her out and help her.  He returns the leather armor lent to him by my Temple in Tyr, saying he doesn't know if he will see us again, and it would not be right for him to keep it.  We try and persuade him to join us, but he is set on his course.  As he leaves he passes me a bag full of coins, saying this will aid us in our travels. 

We sadly say goodbye.  Carrot was a good friend, and a true ally who always had my back.  Not that he was good with a sword, but I will admit he could hold his own with a bow.  As Carrot disappears off into the distance, we go in search of the Waterdeep portal that will take us back to Everlund.  We know it is located somewhere in the City of the Dead.

 

Not for the squeemish

The portal is one of five that the Harper's maintain for use by their secretive network.  They link Everlund to other locations across Faerun.  We have used these portals before.  We tried travelling to Neverwinter, but that portal wouldn't work to the surprise of the Harpers.  The portal to Loudwater also failed, but we did manage to take the portal to Yartar and then ride onwards to Neverwinter.  This time we were searching out the portal back to Everlund so we could speak to the Harpers.  

We made our way to the City of the Dead ward.  The City of the Dead is set against the eastern cliffs, and we entered through Weeping Gate. I have heard rumours that many tombs belonging to noble houses contain portals established by Ahghairon, and that each reach a private burial ground in a nearby uninhabited dimension.  Whether this is true or not, I do not know, but we might find out soon!

The more important personages have their own personal graves or family shrines, while others are confined to larger crypts. It is also said that many of the more important tombs are guarded by animated guardians would you believe!

It is about mid-morning, but the City of the Dead is quiet.  Celery leads the way and seems to be following some secret trail that I cannot see.  She leads us deeper into the City of the Dead, via what seems a very random route, but eventually she stops in front of a crypt with the word Myrna engraved above a solid stone door.  Celery says the portal is here.  

We try the door, but it is held fast.  We search around the tomb for secret entrances, or for hidden levers, or switches to open the door.  We seem at a loss, so I leap onto the roof.  Its amazing how light of foot these boots make me even when wearing my full plate mail!  I look for any openings on the roof, but again see nothing.  I even jump up and down to try and break through, but to no avail. 

While I am frolicking on the roof, I hear the stone door slowly begin to grind open.  I jump down.  Apparently, Celery said the name on the tomb which activated the door.  Its dark in the tomb, and I can't see very far, but a kindly Cleric casts some Light on my shield to light the way.

As we enter we see an animated Golem which is holding the door open.  The Golem ignores us as we all enter.  I hear someone whisper Myrna again.  The Golem animates, and slowly closes the door to the tomb, sealing us in.

We carefully go down a set of steep stairs, and there before us a transporter.  We all set foot on the transporter, close our eyes, and hope its working ....