Session B01 — Prisoner Transport Begins

Summary

The morning after Arc A concludes (following the A24 downtime), the party departs Phandalin under heavy rain. Before leaving, Haldak Tencloak conducts a Netherese gift-giving ceremony for the party — and forgets Drizzle entirely. Othorion secures Toblin Stonehill's reluctant permission for Pip to travel with them (Mrs. Stonehill's response is wordless and devastating). The Black Spider is formally transferred into Roland's custody with documents and manacles. Sister Garaele subjects Kavu to a Zone of Truth before releasing the treasury. Venomfang is encountered patrolling the Triboar Trail under the terms of what he considers the "Phandalin Pact," calling the party the "Phandalin Chicken Finger Five."

At the Saltmarsh junction the party observes a massive northward naval movement — Waterdeep mercenary companies, the Flaming Fist, and Othorion's Zhentarim identification of disguised ships among the merchant vessels. A silver-blue dragonborn cleric of Tymora named Brother Akra joins them briefly on the road, halves their travel time through a Channel Divinity blessing, and departs at Saltmarsh for a ship north.

The session ends in road combat: a noble wagon has been trapped by a magically-cut trench and is being assaulted by bandits led by a Black Knight in demonic black plate. Kavu fireballs the bandit infantry. The Black Knight survives unfazed, points his sword at the carriage, and declares: "I'll leave when I've got what I've come here for." After taking sustained damage from Roland's smites, Kelvin's Heat Metal, Haldak's magic missiles, and Othorion's hand crossbow, the Black Knight cuts his war horse loose from the wagon and — saying "Next time, this will go differently" — jumps off the cliffside into the surf below with the horse. Pip's attempt to shoot the Black Knight from the cart results in a healing bolt embedded in Othorion's spine.

Key Events

Haldak's Gift-Giving Ceremony — Netherese Departure Ritual

Before the party left, Haldak Tencloak observed the Netherese tradition of giving gifts to companions before a journey. Each gift was specific and personal.

Othorion received a gilded coin purse with a dragon-head clasp. The interior was flamboyant gold satin. The clasp jingled loudly with every movement. It was immediately clear this would make stealth more complicated.

Kavu received the Brooch of the Everlasting Flame — a flame-shaped pin, oversized and impossible to miss. The command word, in Draconic, was "Pyri Pyro Pum" — translating loosely as "Flame Flame Boom." When activated, it produces a 30-foot bright light in a 25-degree cone.

Kelvin received a Wild Blue Seed Packet — magically sealed, the seeds inside preserved in perfect condition and unable to age. The packet could not be opened yet. What the seeds grow into was not specified.

Roland received a signet ring bearing a moving, unsettling eye — imagery aligned with the Oath of Watchers. The eye watches.

Pip received a copy of Folo's Guide to Dritz — a Twilight-esque romance novel clearly inspired by the famous drow ranger. The title and the premise received the appropriate reaction from the table.

Drizzle received nothing. Haldak had forgotten him entirely.

Kelvin's Farewell Gift — Pine and Acorn Soup

Kelvin's gift to Haldak was a soup made from pine and acorn. It tasted, in the DM's summary, like "a tree that doesn't want you to eat it." It contained actual pine cone chunks. Haldak accepted this.

Pip's Departure Permission — Othorion and Toblin Stonehill

Othorion made the case to Toblin Stonehill that Pip should be allowed to travel with the party to Neverwinter. This required a persuasion check. He succeeded.

Toblin agreed. He said yes. He reached behind the bar and produced a crossbow, handing it to Pip as she ran out the door to fire bolts into the night in celebration. Before the departure morning, Pip visited Sister Garaele and purchased something with her own gold — the contents of the purchase were not disclosed.

Mrs. Stonehill's response to Toblin's agreement: she set down her glass, looked at him, flipped him off in absolute silence, and walked away. Full name previously established: Pipithril Stonehill.

On the morning of departure, Pip was found sleeping in the cart with her crossbow cradled like a stuffed animal.

Nezznar Transfer — Into Roland's Custody

Sildar Hallwinter formally transferred The Black Spider to Roland's custody. The handover included:

• Manacles and keys
• Official custody documents
• A satchel containing the prisoner's belongings

Roland returned Winter's Fury to Sildar — it had always been Sildar's sword, loaned for the campaign. He kept Talon.

The party's approach to Nezznar's restraint during transport: blindfolded, bound, and gagged. The combination nullifies most of his spellcasting capability.

Sister Garaele — Zone of Truth Before Departure

Before releasing treasury access and her endorsement of the journey, Sister Garaele cast Zone of Truth on Kavu and asked him three questions: why he had chosen her as treasurer, whether he harbored any monopoly intent over Phandalin's finances, and whether her screaming his name irritated him. His answers satisfied her.

She noted, afterward, that a portion of Kavu's treasury records were written in Draconic. She could not read Draconic.

"I have a long talk with Sister Garel coming for this one because this has her handiwork all over it."

The comment came later, when the contents of Pip's crossbow bolt were revealed. But the party didn't know that yet.

The Route Briefing

Neverwinter lay 140–170 miles north of Phandalin — approximately six days on the road under normal conditions. Planned stops:

• Day 3: Saltmarsh junction
• Days 4–5: Helm's Hold
• Day 6: Neverwinter

Weather on departure: torrential rain, 53°F. The Triboar Trail heading north was muddy, cold, and miserable.

Venomfang on the Road — The Phandalin Pact

Venomfang appeared on the Triboar Trail. He was, in his own interpretation, fulfilling the terms of what he called the Phandalin Pact — the agreement from Arc A that gave him the party's scents in exchange for intelligence. He had decided this made him the road's guardian.

He greeted the party as the "Phandalin Chicken Finger Five."

He described himself as "owner of the Kragmar Castle" — Cragmaw Castle now being his in his understanding — and characterized his relationship with violence as that of "only accidental murderer every now and then." He expressed significant interest in visiting Neverwinter once he managed to learn how to take human form.

"I can't wait to have boobs."

The party continued north.

Saltmarsh Junction — The Northward Movement

At the Saltmarsh junction the party passed without stopping. The harbor was unusually full. Among the vessels the party identified:

• Company of the Crazed Venturers — Waterdeep mercenary company
• Company of the Bloody Banner — Waterdeep mercenary company
• Company of the Bound Dragon — Waterdeep mercenary company
• Flaming Fist — Baldur's Gate mercenaries, operating far north of their usual range

Othorion rolled a DC 15 History check and identified Zhentarim ships disguised as merchant vessels among the fleet. Every ship in the harbor was heading north.

The Zhentarim connection was significant. In Arc A, Glasstaff had been found dead with a Zhentarim-marked dagger. Whatever was pulling these forces north was connected to factions already present in the arc.

Brother Akra — Cleric of Tymora

On the road north of Saltmarsh, the party encountered a silver-blue dragonborn traveling in the same direction. He introduced himself correctly: named himself first, stated his destination. His name was Brother Akra, a cleric of Tymora.

He was traveling to Saltmarsh to board a ship heading for a settlement in the stretch between Neverwinter and Luskan. His route briefly aligned with the party's.

He offered a blessing. Casting his Channel Divinity with the words "Bahamut" and "wakefulness" in Draconic, he granted the party immunity to exhaustion within 60 feet of him and, as a consequence, halved their travel time. What would have taken three days to reach the Saltmarsh junction took less than two. He warned them to take a full rest on the first night after leaving his range — the accumulated fatigue would catch up.

At Saltmarsh he departed to his ship. Whether the party would encounter him again was unresolved.

Travel Banter and the Naming Question

Kavu played the bagpipes while the Cape of Billowing made him invisible. The cape billowed visibly in the rain, an invisible shape in the weather; Othorion kept getting slapped by fabric that wasn't there.

A debate arose over the distinction between adventurers and mercenaries.

"If Roland wasn't part of the party, we'd be mercenaries." — Pip

The party attempted to settle on a name. Their current official contract designation was "Vandalin Frontiersmen." Rejected alternatives included "Phandalin Fuck-em-ups." Pip's proposal was "Pip Procession." No name was officially adopted.

The Road Ambush — The Black Knight

North of the Saltmarsh junction, the party came upon a scene in progress.

A noble armored wagon had been stopped cold. Across the road: a trench, ten feet deep and ten feet wide, cut by magic. The wagon's guards were firing arrows into the treeline. On the far side of the trench stood a figure in full black plate armor, the armor itself seeming to project a demonic aura. He carried a greatsword and had not moved.

Pip was assigned to the cart with Drizzle guarding Nezznar. She loaded the modified crossbow bolt — the one with the shimmering red vial.

Kavu ran forward, activated the bagpipes (invisible), then put them away and dropped a Fireball via Channel Divinity: Purifying Flame. Most of the bandit infantry died. The Black Knight absorbed the explosion, exhaled the smoke, and turned his attention to Kavu.

"One v. one me, little man."

Kavu refused:

"I am not so gullible as to follow such tricks! This is not an arena! And you should leave!"

The Black Knight tilted his head. He did not leave.

Haldak gave Roland Temporal Haste — AC 23, 60-foot movement speed, 15 temporary HP. He then tested his new Halt spell on a fleeing bandit as a reaction. The bandit saved.

Roland, moving at speed, put three longbow arrows into the Black Knight in rapid succession — the DM likened it to Legolas. The first barely penetrated the plate. The second was dodged. The third landed in the Black Knight's side. As the Black Knight reached to tear it out, it began to glow and burst into radiant flame.

"Son of a bitch."

The Black Knight pointed his greatsword at the noble carriage:

"I'll leave when I've got what I've come here for."

Kelvin cast Heat Metal on the Black Knight's plate armor. He failed his Constitution save — disadvantage on attacks and saves, 2d8 fire damage at the start of each turn. The Black Knight began to cook inside his own armor.

Haldak used his Wand of Magic Missiles, firing nearly every charge. He held back one charge — using the last charge risks disintegrating the wand in your hands. The missiles hit.

Othorion dashed through the remaining bandits, cutting them down. He reached the Black Knight and put a hand crossbow bolt into him for 6 damage.

Roland connected with a Divine Smite for 27 damage. The Black Knight was now visibly wounded. On the follow-through, Talon was caught by the Black Knight's blade in a Witcher-style parry and knocked to the ground. Roland continued with a javelin.

A noble wagon guard, attempting to contribute, threw a spear at the Black Knight, rolled a natural 1, and hit one of the war horses instead — 5 piercing damage. The horse was displeased.

Pip, from the cart, aimed at the Black Knight. The range was 85 feet. She was at disadvantage. She fired.

She hit Othorion in the back.

The bolt struck him in the spine, dealing 5 piercing damage, and then the red vial released — 7 points of healing into his cerebrospinal fluid. Net recovery: +2 hit points. The DM required a sanity check. Othorion spent his inspiration to reroll and succeeded.

"What that felt like was a crossbow bolt going into your spine and then releasing healing potion into your, like, cerebral spinal fluid and then popping the bolt out. It was one of the least fun things that has ever happened to you, and you got your whole entire torso crushed by a giant boulder. So I just want you to think about that."

Pip's response: "Yes! Got it! I got you, master!"

The Black Knight's Escape

At roughly half health, with Kelvin's Heat Metal imposing disadvantage on every attack roll and save, the Black Knight made his assessment.

He moved to the noble wagon, cut his war horse free from its attachment to the wagon, and reared the horse around to face the cliffside.

"Next time, this will go differently."

He rode to the edge — and jumped. Horse and rider disappeared off the cliff into the surf below.

Haldak cast Halt on the horse as a reaction. The war horse made its saving throw. They fell anyway.

Kelvin's Heat Metal concentration broke as the Black Knight descended beyond 60 feet. The DM rolled falling damage privately. He noted that the horse "breaks the surface tension of the water" for whoever rode it — a meaningful mechanical reduction in fall damage. Whether the Black Knight survived, the party would not know.

"We're going to end the session here as you have foiled this. And we will pick this up in two weeks."

"He knows you're heading north. He doesn't know why. But you fucked up his plans."

NPCs Encountered

Loot / Discoveries

Threads Opened / Advanced

• The Black Knight: Name unknown. Targeted the noble carriage specifically — had information about its contents or occupants. Escaped into the sea below a cliff. The DM rolled survival privately. He knows the party is heading north. This is not a random encounter.
• The Noble Carriage: Its passengers and contents were not revealed this session. Whatever the Black Knight wanted was inside it. The carriage, its guards, and its cargo are a mystery entering B02.
• Northward Military Movement: Waterdeep mercenaries (three companies), the Flaming Fist, and disguised Zhentarim ships — all heading north. The Zhentarim connection to Glasstaff's death links this to Arc A. Something significant is building north of Saltmarsh.
• Brother Akra: Departed for his ship. Traveling toward the Neverwinter–Luskan corridor. Possible future encounter.
• Venomfang's Phandalin Pact: He is patrolling roads he considers his. His presence on the Triboar Trail and his interest in learning human form introduce an active variable on the road.
• Party Name: Still unresolved. "Vandalin Frontiersmen" remains the official contract designation by default.
• Pip's Healing Bolt: Confirmed as a healing potion delivery system purchased from Sister Garaele. Now confirmed functional (albeit on the wrong target). Pip has more of them.