Session 2 - Dragonborn, Disappearances, and Dungeons

General Summary

When last we left our heroes...

After emerging from The Violet Tome, the party made their way to Runswick Castle through the Open Market. Upon arrival at the castle courtyard, Marcel went directly to speak to the Captain of the Guard, Korinn Firhound, to try and arrange an audience with the king.
Korinn was hesitant to bring the group to the king, explaining that King Elrin had much troubling him lately and now would not be the best time. Marcel explained the reason they wished to speak to the king, citing the recent disappearances across the city and rumors of a death cult currently circulating. Korinn was surprised as he had not heard anything about these disappearances before. He did inform the party of an entire different set of disappearances - that of many dragonborn in the Village of Nadarr! In fact, Korinn explained to the party that there was a dragonborn emissary speaking to the king at that very moment.
After going back into the castle briefly, Korinn came back out to inform the party that the king would be able to see them and in fact had a business proposition for them. The party followed Korinn into the throne room, a lavish chamber with the Monarch's Throne on the far end, guarded by four of the king's guards. King Elrin sat on the throne, speaking with an old, frail-looking, yet dignified dragonborn named Bignarr who was berating the king for his lack of action to help the Village of Nadarr.
King Elrin, looking incredibly weary, explained to Bignarr that he had other very pressing matters and could not spare more guards other than the ones who had already been out to Nadarr to try and help. At this point Marcel spoke up and explained that what the party had come to talk about might have some overlap with whatever happened to the dragonborn, and he, Trickles, and Glitz all expressed concern for Nadarr and offered their help if needed. King Elrin reiterated that he did not have the available means to assist Nadarr currently, and dismissed Bignarr. The dragonborn left in a bit of a huff, but after urging from the party promised to wait for them in the courtyard for a conversation after they were done speaking with the king.
Once Bignarr had left, King Elrin explained to the party that he was about to inform them of a delicate matter, and gave orders for the four guards stationed by the door to leave the room. With only Elrin, Korinn, and the party in the Throne Room, the king revealed that there had been a burglary in the castle! Nearly a month and a half ago, nearly the entire treasury - full of money, lost magical artifacts, and treasures - had been removed. The King's Guards had been trying to figure out what happened, but Elrin believed that it was either an inside job, or something they were all too close to - because even after weeks of investigating, they were no closer to figuring it out. Their only clue was that for the past month and a half, King Elrin had been kept awake by a clicking noise all night long, and had barely been able to sleep because of it. Others had been able to hear the clicking noise as well, but hadn't been affected by it as much as the king. Additionally, both the king's and his guards' dreams had been filled with strange nightmares. Arindorf's uncle, of the prestigious Martauk Family, had been through and swept the throne room and treasury for magic, but didn't find anything.
The King made an offer to the party - in exchange for their successful investigation of the robbery and the recovery of as much of the treasury as could be found, he would grant them a sum of 100gp each and 1 magical item from the treasury to be shared among the group. The party agreed to these conditions, provided that the king also help the Village of Nadarr with their plight. King Elrin agreed to send a few guards to Nadarr now that they would be freed up from their responsibilities, and the party decided to keep an ear to the ground as well in case they were able to discover something about the dragonborn disappearances during their investigation. To aid in that end, the group went back to the courtyard to speak with Bignarr and find out what they could about the mysterious disappearances.
Bignarr was grateful for the party's help, though still a bit salty towards King Elrin, who he felt betrayed by. Still, Bignarr let the group know the details of what happened in the Village of Nadarr. Two months ago, all of the males of the tribe disappeared overnight - including their chief, Novakian of Nadarr. Bignarr was now the last of the five tribal elders, spared only because he happened to be staying in the city of Runswick that night to conduct a business dealing.
Having finished their conversation with Bignarr, the party found Korinn Firhound again to let him know they were ready to begin their investigation. Korinn led them back through the throne room, to the dooor under the archway in the back of the hall, and used a large silver key to unlock the door. He gave the party instructions to come find him when they were done, and let them make their way down the spiraling stone staircase.
At the bottom of the staircase, the group came to a large antechamber. To the right, there were bars and & cell door to the castle dungeon. On the opposite side of the staircase, another door and large stone wall leading to the treasury. Everyone could hear a quiet clicking noise that seemed to be coming from all around. Marcel strode forward to try and open the treasury door, and it swung wide as he (expecting it to be locked) pulled with too much force, creating a soft thud against the stone walls that echoed through the chamber.

To Be Continued...

From the Monarch's Court Records
13 Eleasis

• Bignarr of Nadarr - seeks help in investigating Nadarr disappearances. Lts. Gibrar & D'Nold dispatched to assist.
• Sarai Stockhold - concerns about seller collusion in the Marketplace

27 Eleasis

• Athene Whitroar - monthly report on Siren's Call business
• Lts Gibrar & D'Nold - negative report on Nadarr investigation. Not able to find sufficient information to continue.

5 Elient

• Bignarr of Nadarr - seeks additional help in Nadarr disappearances. No guards can be spared at the moment.
• Barrold Martauk - sweep of Treasury and King's Chambers for magical residue. No findings other than ambient treasury magic.

8 Elient

• Bignarr of Nadarr - seeks additional help in Nadarr disappearances. King Elrin reiterated the previous findings and that no one could be spared for further help.

10 Elient

• Bignarr of Nadarr - seeks additional help in Nadarr disappearances. King Elrin once again reiterated his position. Bignarr left with promises to return.

Report Date

07 Sep 2020

Primary Location

Runswick Castle

Character(s) Interacted with:
Korinn Firhound
King Elrin
Bignarr

The Short Version

The party went to Runswick Castle and after talking to Captain of the Guards Korinn Firhound, were granted entrance to the Throne Room to speak with King Elrin. They learned about the disappearances in the dragonborn Village of Nadarr as well as a robbery that had taken place in the Royal Treasury! The party was hired by King Elrin to investigate the robbery, and negotiated help for Bignarr, the last remaining tribal elder of Nadarr. They began their investigation by descending into the antechamber leading to the Treasury, where a soft clicking noise, exactly as King Elrin had described hearing night after night, became audible all around our heroes.
We will jump back into the story as Marcel opens the (unlocked) door to the castle's Treasury.