RoT1: “The Council of Waterdeep”

Diplomatic action

After nearly a year of traveling and camping in sometimes not so ideal situations (including swamps and cold, wet caves) you find yourselves in the lap of luxury having been granted lodgings in the fabled Piergeiron’s Palace in Waterdeep .   Invited to (or is it more like summoned) to the so called “Council of Waterdeep ”, you have a full day to day and a half before the council session is to convene. Your dedicated chamberlain, Chauncey, has at your request suggested several locations both near the Palace, as well as some in more questionable parts of the city, for you to conduct personal business before having to meet with the council.   You manage to liquidate much of the gems and other items found along your travels as well as locate a bank of deposit to keep the bulk of your shared wealth safe.   You also manage to equip yourselves with various magical items to help bolster yourselves in combat, as you feel times are fast approaching where you will need the extra protections only magic can provide.   The following morning, just after breakfast, your old friend, Leosin Erlanthar, pays you a visit in your suite at the Palace. He informs you that he will not be in the council meeting, but he has spoken of you to his superior withing The Harpers who will be. He also bids you greetings from Orlanthar Frume, who will be in the council meeting also.   He advises you that the Cult of the Dragon has been very busy over the past months, going so far as starting to openly recruit members even in large cities like Waterdeep, Baldur’s Gate, and others all along the Sword Coast. Not only have they continued raids on small villages, but have even now started raiding caravans and making life difficult all along the Trade Way and even parts of the High Road. This is why the Council of Waterdeep has been convened, but there is still mistrust and in some cases animosity among the factions that make up this council. It is Leosin’s hope that The Iron Company and its work so far and continued efforts can help to unite and convince them all that the Cult cannot be stopped without all of the Sword Coast coming together as a united front.   You are shortly thereafter called to the council chamber, which Leosin escorts you to. You are announced by the herald, “Lord Neverember, I present… THE IRON COMPANY!” to which you are greeted by the rapping of fists on table in a type of applause; the guards present even clapping their gauntleted fists against their armored chests.   You enter a large chamber where it is clear many factions are present and represented as there are guards dressed in a rainbow of colors and heraldry. A large U-shaped table is before you with nine figures, the Council of Waterdeep. Before that is another table with six empty seats, as they were expecting more of you. Introductions are made by the human male at the head of the table. “I am Lord Dagult Neverember,” he says. “Open Lord of Waterdeep, Lord Protector of Neverwinter, and leader of The Lord’s Alliance.” He then goes on to introduce the rest of those present and the factions they represent.   The Lords' Alliance  

• Lord Dagult Neverember (human male) – Open Lord of Waterdeep, Lord Protector of Neverwinter, and leader of The Lord’s Alliance
• Ambassador Connerad Brawnanvil (male shield dwarf) - former King of Mithral Hall
• Marshall Ulder Ravendgard (male huma) - leader of the Flaming Fist of Baldur's Gate
• King Melandrach (male wild elf) - King of the Misty Forest, representing both the Misty Forest and the High Forest
• Taern "Thunderspells" Hornblade (male human wizard) - representing Silverymoon
• Sir Isteval (male human paladin) - Purple Dragon Knight of Cormyr, representing the city of Daggorford

  The Harpers

• Remalia Haventree (female moon elf)

Order of the Gauntlet

• Ontharr Frume (human male paladin)

Emerald Enclave

• Delaan Winterhound (NG male half-elf ranger)

  After introductions are made you are asked to report all you have seen and know of the Cult of the Dragon and its activities. Malice proceeds to recount your journeys from Greenest to Parnast and the finding of a large horde of treasure in the flying castle of a Cloud Giant. This troubles the council as Giants are known to be the mortal enemies of Dragons and it is quite curious that Giant of any type would be assisting the Cult of the Dragon.   Delaan WInterhound bids you greetings from your friend Arynor and his regrets that he has been unable to rejoin your band. He further shares that the Emerald Enclave was able to find Castle Cormyr in the Mere of Deadmen and that it appears it is no longer in the control of the Cult but has been claimed by a clan of Lizardfolk lead by one called “Snapjaw” who said to tell The Iron Company, “hi”. Other discussions include the dragon eggs you rescued from the caves sounth of Greenest. This results in a very heated debate with mixed feelings as to if they should have been destroyed or not. Even some who agree that they be rescued was good have different reasons – the Harpers see them as hostages with which they can negotiate while the Emerald Enclave finds even that abhorant and applauds their rescue as preserving the balance of nature.   It is also deemed unfortunate that the treasures in the castle could not be recovered as, just as the Cult needs coin for its efforts, combating them will also prove expensive and need much gold to accomplish.   At the end you are deputized by the council with emergency investigative powers given writs signed and sealed by the Council of Waterdeep members to demonstrate this. You each are granted special authority, privileges, and resources as well as access to sites as you deem necessary for your investigation of the Cult, within of course the oversight of the Council.   It is now up to you to curry favor with the various members and factions within the Council to convince them to give their full support to this cause.