State of the Party

The party is currently at the House of Autumn in the Feywild city of Karador. It is an oaken tavern located at the heart of Lake Myrloch where the Moonshae Isles are in the Prime Material.

They travelled here with Nandntiersanon, headmaster of Neverwinter Academy, in order to prove themselves capable of wielding the Amulet of the Planes. This artefact should serve as a fine escape route from the Shadowfell - and a powerful method of transport to further the party's other ambitions.

Troubles of the Realm

Below is a loose list of ongoing concerns for the party, prioritised by their own actions rather than the real threat of each point.

Circle of Rust and the Worm

• A mysterious and ancient organisation known as the Circle of Rust and the Worm has become active. It appears that all of the recent events are intertwined and somehow trace back to this group.

• The scholars of Neverwinter believe that "Rust" refers to the demon lord Zuggtmoy, the Lady of Rot and Decay, hells bent on infecting every living creature with her wretched spores such that they wither into decomposing hosts for her foul children; while "the Worm" refers to the elder evil Kyuss, the Worm that Walks, prophesied to usher in the Age of Worms.

• Maurauding Orcish tribes are capturing innately magical beings as tribute for the Talosian priests who were foretold by the Shaman of the Sundered Lands. A matron of Merric's tribe named Verna was taken by Black Claw, whose true leader seemed to be one known as Wund. They sometimes spoke of him as if he were dead and other times spoke of him as if he were not yet born.

• The Talosian priests then offer the strongest of their pickings to "Those of the Labyrinth" via a secretive transportation network referred to only as being "below". Those not fit for purpose are subsequently offered to Talos himself - a ritual you interrupted in the rescue of Verna.

• The innately magical beings are trafficked through Neverwinter, previously through Vellgard Manor and into the city sewers, with the trail ultimately ending at a portal to the Shadowfell in the heart of Neverdeath Graveyard.

Fungus

• Phandalin was besieged by evil - shambling undead creatures who writhed with worms which would latch onto anybody who came near.

  • The infection appeared to stem from two tainted Potions of Healing which were held inside an ornamental box etched with a depiction of the infested star Nihal which some scholars believe to be Kyuss himself viewed from a different point in the history of the cosmos.
  • The graveyard where the initial victim of the tainted potion was buried was beset with fungus which appeared to turn the corpses into puppets. As it attacked Grageon and Merric it seemed to drain their very memories.

• Nature is being overtaken by fungus with much evidence of taint in the woods. The days and nights are darker than they should be, fungus consumes the trees as night falls, and fallen animals reanimate in violent undeath.

• Neverwinter is in lockdown as fungus attempts to take hold of the city. There is suspiciously little evidence of any worm-related activity.

• Izz seems to have awoken a Sangrulo - a vampire who sought, and achieved, lichdom.

  • Extensive decay of the Sangrulo's body and wings appeared to be actively healed by fungal masses, not dissimilar to the taint found in both Phandalin and Neverwinter Woods.
  • The party learned that such creatures can only be risen from eternal slumber by a voluntary gift of blood from a pure and good being. Such a gift is objectively evil, so the documentation of such cases is non-existent.

• The Eye Omniscient of the Raven Queen was magically chained in the central building of Neverdeath Graveyard by the Sangrulo. The headmaster of Neverwinter Academy, Nandntiersanon, delivered on his promise to help - and is aiding the party in ensuring their journey to the Shadowfell is safe.

Revolution

• Arlon Bladeshaper is plotting to depose Lord Neverember, claiming that they have a new and pure leader in the swordmistress Elyne Tschavarz who is descended from the Alagondar bloodline. Her fencing school is in an old warehouse in The Docks.

• The Nashers will strike two days from the plan being revealed to the party. As they have attempted to get their hands on copies of the blueprints of the Hall of Justice, the wheels are in motion and there is no going back.

• The party captured a spy who is seemingly in the employ of Lord Neverember to keep tabs on Arlon Bladeshaper.

Miscellaneous

• The party has gained access to The Velvet Brush with their fancy new insignias of Neverwinter. It is supposedly an elite shop which may serve useful for the party’s magical item needs.

• Halia Thornton is held captive in a secure prison on the southern side of Neverwinter Bay, watched over by the Gold Riders. Last you heard, they seemed also to be looking for Jamendithas.

• An audience with what remains of The Chill was requested before you ventured south to slay Toamal.

• There is some loose connection between the spellscars and a shared conscience known as "The Sharn". It appears they actively protected Izz during the fight with the Sangrulo.