Session 39 - Waves, Wands, and Wagon Tracks

Date: 6/14/25

DM: Wes

Summary

Commerce and Craft

Before leaving Baldur's Gate, the party collected their commissioned items from a local artificer—crafted from the remains of powerful beasts and dragons they'd slain. The transaction wasn't cheap, but the gear was worth every gold piece:

Red and White Dragon Scale Mail – 20,000 gp
Red Studded Leather – 15,000 gp
Arcane Staff – 10,000 gp
Gorger Potion – 1,000 gp
Faerie Fire Bomb Cap – 200 gp

They also stocked up on essential healing potions: Potion of Healing (50 gp), Greater Healing (100 gp), Superior Healing (500 gp).

With bags a bit lighter but hearts well-prepared, the party booked passage on a ship north to Neverwinter.

High Seas and Haunted Waters

The 14-day voyage was largely uneventful—until it wasn't. Three days of terrible weather nearly sank everyone's morale (but not the ship), and Shade, ever resourceful, spent some time fishing to pass the hours. Her patience was rewarded: tucked inside a fish's belly was a Lucky Wishbone (1 extra action when broken) and a Gem of Seeing. Naturally.

But tranquility shattered as a Sea Hag ambushed the ship with her thralls: three Merrow and a Water Elemental. Under her control, the Merrow fought viciously. The hag was defeated, and her magic broke—freeing the elemental and the Merrow.

Rather than vanishing into the depths, the grateful Merrow helped revive some injured sailors and explained they'd last remembered dancing at a seedy dockside club before waking under her spell. Now free, they're already planning their next night out. What could possibly go wrong?

Before the party disembarked, the Merrow offered them a gift—a second Gem of Seeing—in gratitude.

Neverwinter Affairs

In Neverwinter, the party visited the Harper Guild Hall and caught up on regional intel. Erek, the Harper on duty, confirmed an uptick in dragon activity and mentioned a new magic item shop and temple opening in Phandalin. He also confirmed that the portal between Neverwinter and Waterdeep is operational. Portals connecting Waterdeep to Baldur's Gate (1–2 weeks) and Baldur's Gate to Neverwinter (2–3 weeks) are under development.

Meanwhile, Alexios made a major purchase—Glimmering Moonbow, a radiant bow for 4,800 gp—while Shade made a more mysterious investment. Her new wand turned out to be a Wand of Suggestion, courtesy of Zandirk, a local Zhentarim-friendly shopkeep and cousin to the late Sanood's cousins.

Clues and Copper Dragons

While browsing the shop, Zandirk shared a tale—his cousin Sanood is struggling with grief (and alcohol), haunted by the assassination of their two relatives. The victims were killed in their home halfway between Neverwinter and Phandalin. Zandirk also spoke of seeing a massive copper dragon flying east toward Thundertree four days earlier—no one else witnessed it, but it was unlike anything he'd ever seen.

The party decided to investigate the murder. At the home, they found no clear signs of who was responsible—only that the attack was clean and professional. However, the wagon tracks out back bore distinctive marks, ones Shade and the others committed to memory for future identification.

Return to Phandalin

The wagon trail led the party straight to the Miner's Exchange—Halia Thornton's Zhentarim stronghold. Shade met privately with Halia, who fears a rival faction (possibly the Dragon Cult) is targeting their operations. Several Zhentarim safehouses have been struck—north of Phandalin and south of Leilon.

To shore up operations, Halia wants to partner with Thurmin and Nundro to expand their magic item business into major cities. She asks Shade to smooth things over with Thurmin, hoping the adventurers' reputation will help the deal go through. The offer? Control, protection, and profit—for all involved.

In the meantime, she treated the party to accommodations in Phandalin's finest inn. Sure, it's the only inn, but it had clean sheets, hot food, and windows that (mostly) shut. For a frontier town, that's luxury.

XP Awards

To be added by DM

Notable Characters

Alexios
Halia Thornton
Shade
Erek (Harper in Neverwinter)
Sanood (Zandirk's cousin)
Thurmin (business partner prospect)
Nundro (business partner prospect)
Zandirk (shopkeep, Zhentarim-friendly)
Sea Hag (defeated)
Merrow (freed thralls, 3)

Locations

Factions Involved

Items Found

Red and White Dragon Scale Mail (20,000 gp)
Red Studded Leather (15,000 gp)
Arcane Staff (10,000 gp)
Gorger Potion (1,000 gp)
Faerie Fire Bomb Cap (200 gp)
Potions of Healing (various grades)
Lucky Wishbone (1 extra action when broken)
Gem of Seeing (2 total)
Glimmering Moonbow (radiant bow, 4,800 gp)
Wand of Suggestion

Session 39 - Waves, Wands, and Wagon Tracks

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