After being whisked away by the mists from the land of Barovia, our party finds ourselves transported to the outskirts of a bustling city. Approaching the gates, we discover that it is none other than the city of Neverwinter. Weary and exhausted, we drag ourselves to an inn and get some very much needed rest! After a few days of recuperating both mentally and physically, we have finally begun to feel somewhat normal again. Yes, the city is dealing with the aftermath of the destruction of Mt. Hotenow, but it is like a dream after the horrors of being in Barovia!

One evening, as we are gathered around in the tavern below where we rest our heads at night, the casual conversations and engagements are silenced by the entry of a member of the Neverwinter Guard. Calling out and hailing mightily, he begs those of us gathered to meet with Lord Neverember and discuss joining on as a fellow guard to help protect the city from the crime that now runs rampant. Desperate for a bit of coin, and cajoled into following along, we drain our tankards and set off in tow to the Council Chambers to meet this Lord of Neverwinter…

Upon arriving, we take our opportunity to extort Lord Neverember’s desperation by negotiating premium pay for our services. We have survived the Domains of Dread and been rejected by the place after all, so it’s not like we are your typical adventuring party, anyhow!

We head to the barracks, where we are given room and board, along with uniforms and training. Some of us actually taught our instructors a thing or two, but it was appreciated by all and led to our esteem. Honestly, patrolling the streets of the city aren’t so bad, and we begin to wonder what all the fuss was about. Maybe Lord Neverember is just a wee bit paranoid?

Well, that is, of course, until that night an anguished scream erupted from a nearby alley. The scream splitting the air came from a slender human woman clad in the light leather armor of a scout or investigator. Clutched in her arms was the dead body of a human man clad in a tattered gray robe. The man and woman bore a striking resemblance to each other. As we rushed into the alley, we were met with a dull thump, a desiccated eyeball rolled out of the dead man’s palm. The dead man was Delvin Fearnehart, an investigator in Lord Neverember’s employ; the woman holding his body was Kevori Fearnehart, Delvin’s sister, both mercenaries employed by Lord Neverember to patrol the city.

Thus begins our investigation, starting with the strange eyeball… Who would even be holding such a thing, and why? Well, it was not long before we discovered it appeared to be a compass of some sort, believe it or not! We followed that dead, staring eye as it swiveled its way through the city streets, winding our way deeper and deeper into the slums and ruins of Neverwinter until we reached a hidden entrance. Prizing open the grate covering, we bravely, or foolishly, descend into the catacombs below… and was it ever a bad idea!

Nearly being drowned by a weird water creature, we barely make it to the cinerary rotunda, the walls filled with shelves and shelves of the cremated remains of the unknown. There, we encountered a ghost with no memory, a literal shell of her former self. Somehow, we are able to piece together her identity to help her regain her knowledge of her past life. Chanelle Hallwinter, a member of the illustrious Hallwinter family. Entombed here with her great love, Makalia Siannodel. She is gracious for the return of her identity, and begs you clear these catacombs of the evil that has infiltrated her burial place. As a blessing, she offers forth the hitherto cursed shield that now is a magical +1.

Delving deeper, we see before us a mob of zombies in a room with a desecrated shrine on the west wall. Putting them back to rest, we are able to reconsecrate the shrine and head forth heedlessly, undaunted by the dangers all around. Coming towards a door that leads south, we see in this stairwell it resides that there is a small opening. An opening just the size of a human eye, actually…. Placing our desiccated eyeball turned compass into what appears to be a keyhole, we step back in awe and disgust as the door slowly grates open to reveal a small chapel with a shrine dedicated to Vecna, with a statue of a hand holding an eyeball.

Creeping past, we discover what appears to be a library of sorts, with a table filled with gruesome information! The leader of this particular sect of the Cult of Vecna , Zalryr, has been experimenting with ways to magically siphon secrets from an individual’s soul. Early experiments reduced volunteers to piles of necrotic sludge, which were disposed of in the sewage. We had the (dis)pleasure of meeting Zalryr and several of his minions. At least we were able to stop his ritual, but it, unfortunately, did bring us to the attention of none other than Vecna himself!!!