Session B05 — Pip Wounded

Summary

During downtime in Neverwinter, Othorion and Pip are ambushed in an empty city square by three drow assassins and two driders sent by House Baenre — a drow house seeking to capture Othorion. Pip takes a poisoned crossbow bolt to the back and falls unconscious before being rescued by Gwynevere, Drizzt Do'Urden's 600-pound dire panther companion, who carries her to the House of Knowledge. Kavu and Roland stabilize Pip with healing magic and Lay on Hands to extract the poison. After recovery at the Iron Flagon Inn, secrets surface: Kelvin receives a threatening letter from Queen Titania and the Summer Court demanding he attend their revels, Haldak reveals he once stole an artifact called the Warden of Past Moments and has an appointment with Captain Gorovitch at the docks, and Pip confronts Othorion for hiding his family's connection to Drizzt Do'Urden.

Key Events

The Ambush — House Baenre Strikes

Othorion, Kefkas, and Pip were separated from the rest of the party in Neverwinter's streets when a crowd formed around Kefkas at the bank due to his fame. They ducked into an empty city square to avoid attention — where three House Baenre drow assassins and two driders were lying in wait.

The drow were sent to capture Othorion, not kill him. In the ensuing fight, Gwynevere — Drizzt Do'Urden's dire panther companion — intervened, killing at least three of the drow (their corpses were described as "partially eaten"). Pip took a poisoned crossbow bolt to the back and fell unconscious. The bolt was never extracted during the fight.

The party arrived to the aftermath: rain falling, two drider corpses, three mutilated drow bodies, and House Baenre insignia and spider cloaks (puafui) on the dead.

Gwynevere's Arrival at the House of Knowledge

"And a large 600-pound black panther runs into the central hall of the House of Knowledge wearing a yellow cape. It stops before the three of you and kind of shrugs its shoulders, and the yellow cape gently falls to the floor, and you realize that it is not just the yellow cape. It is Pip. And you see a small trickle of blood crawl across the marble floor from the bolt in her back."

Gwynevere carried the unconscious Pip from the square to the House of Knowledge, where Kavu, Roland, and Kelvin were present. The panther deposited Pip on the marble floor, still bleeding from the embedded bolt.

Kelvin used Speak with Animals to communicate with Gwynevere and learned her name and that she was Drizzt's companion. She spoke in flowery, predatory language.

Healing Pip — Poison Extraction

Roland made a History check on drow poison and learned that removing the poison would wake Pip — meaning she needed to be healed first or the extraction would cause her pain.

• Kavu cast Healing Word (1d4+3 HP)
• Roland used Lay on Hands — 20 points to heal the wound: "Little bits of splinter and other parts of the bolt that were missed when it was extracted slowly push their way out of the hole in her back and it mends and leaves no mark and no scar."
• Roland used another 5 points of Lay on Hands to cure the drow poison: "The poison fades away, and you actually watch as... she begins to sweat as you lay on hands, and you can smell it. The poison is leaving her body and leeching out of her pores."

Pip woke: "What happened? Yeah, I'm fine. What happened? I was with... Master Ithorian and... That's a big cat."

Gwynevere then departed into the rain to track down Othorion and Kefkas in the field. Screams followed her exit.

Regrouping at the Iron Flagon Inn

The party found Othorion and Kefkas on the streets. Kefkas commented about Gwynevere: "I thought she'd be bigger." She growled and departed north. The group headed to the Iron Flagon.

"They look like very sad drowned cats. Except for Roland, who looks good no matter what is happening... Pip, who on the front looks fine, but then you see, like, her yellow cape is just... it transitions from yellow to red as it goes down, and the bottom hem is, like, black with blood."

Haldak, already at the inn nursing a hangover, watched them arrive. Pip immediately ate from his plate of roast boar. The innkeeper, Lorana Delmont, prepared fried chicken with root vegetables for the party. Pip was ushered upstairs to clean up and rest.

The Summer Court Letter — Queen Titania

A magical letter appeared in Kelvin's room, sent by Queen Titania and the Summer Court. When Kelvin tried to dismiss it and it blew out the window in a storm, the wind reversed:

"With a sudden shift, the wind redirects, sending the letters spiraling back through the window. And it flies by Kelvin and sticks in the wall like a fucking shuriken."

A voice spoke through the thunder:

"Kelvin Fairlight, our words are not so easily dismissed. Those who would interfere in this delicate matter would do well to remember that even the wildest of storms bends to the will of the Summer Court."

The letter addressed Kelvin as "Keeper of Wildfire's Grace," warned that he had ignored multiple gracious invitations to the Summer Court's revels and gatherings, and promised consequences "as certain as the turning of the seasons" unless he made amends.

Secrets at the Inn — Haldak's Revelations

During the evening, secrets came out:

The Warden of Past Moments: Haldak revealed that approximately 20 years ago, he helped steal an artifact called the Warden of Past Moments — a stopwatch with stars on the inside, "like looking through space." He returned the artifact and gained his time magic powers upon returning it. Sylphrena, his mind-companion, did not recognize the artifact.

Haldak's Age: He is 44 years old chronologically but approximately 1,700 years old subjectively, due to time travel.

Dwarven Moss Notoriety: Haldak had previously sent public notices across the Sword Coast asking where to buy massive quantities of Dwarven Moss after an old man asked him to source it. The government flagged him as a potential threat — a high-level spellcaster seeking controlled substances — which is why the party is consistently searched wherever they go.

Obsidian Obelisks: Haldak's old employer had mentioned obsidian obelisks. Their significance remains unclear.

Captain Gorovitch: Haldak has a scheduled meeting with Captain Gorovitch at the Neverwinter docks at 21:00 (9 PM). Purpose undisclosed.

Pip Confronts Othorion — Drizzt Connection

After bathing and resting, Pip emerged and turned on Othorion:

"I think that we need to disclose the most heinous crime that has occurred with regards to information withheld. How could you not tell us that you know Drizzy McDrizz Dritz Do'Urden?"

She handed Roland a Twilight edition of The Legend of Drizzt (Book 15 of 31 in the series) and demanded he read it — romance included. "The romance is integral to understanding the story."

Othorion admitted to a "long history" between his family and Drizzt, particularly through his uncle — but insisted he did not know Drizzt personally. He confirmed that House Baenre has been a persistent enemy of Drizzt's for generations.

NPCs Encountered

Loot / Discoveries

Combat & Encounters

Encounter — House Baenre Ambush (Pre-Session Resolution)

• Enemies: 3 House Baenre drow assassins, 2 driders
• Allies: Gwynevere (Drizzt's dire panther)
• Location: Empty city square, Neverwinter
• Combatants: Othorion, Kefkas, Pip (and Gwynevere)
• Key actions: Drow were sent to capture Othorion, not kill; Pip was struck by poisoned crossbow bolt to the back; Gwynevere killed at least three drow (corpses partially eaten); driders were killed during the fight
• Resolution: Othorion and Kefkas stood victorious; Gwynevere carried Pip to House of Knowledge; bolt was never extracted during combat (no one stated they removed it)
• Damage taken: Pip — 1 poisoned crossbow bolt, unconscious (drow poison causes unconsciousness)

Healing Sequence — House of Knowledge

• Kavu: Healing Word (1d4+3)
• Roland: Lay on Hands, 20 points (wound closure, splinter expulsion, no scarring)
• Roland: Lay on Hands, 5 points (drow poison cure; poison leeched through pores)
• Total Lay on Hands spent: 25 points

Party Notes

• Roland: Used 25 points of Lay on Hands (20 healing, 5 poison cure) to save Pip; made History check on drow poison tactics; tipped Lorana 1 gold; received Drizzt book from Pip with instructions to read the romance
• Kavu: Cast Healing Word on Pip; was researching at House of Knowledge carrying parchment notes; carried the extracted crossbow bolt to the inn and dropped it on the table; discovered Kelvin has 32 children
• Othorion: Fought alongside Gwynevere against House Baenre assassins; arrived at the inn looking like "he was in a fight with an alley cat, and the alley cat won"; admitted to a long family history with Drizzt but insisted he doesn't know him personally; revealed House Baenre as a persistent drow enemy
• Kelvin Fairlight: Used Speak with Animals to communicate with Gwynevere; received and was forced to read the Summer Court's threatening letter from Queen Titania; has been taking reading lessons from Pip; discovered he has 32 children from communal breeding (some at Revel's End)
• Haldak Tencloak: Spent the day hung over at the inn; revealed the Warden of Past Moments, his 1,700-year subjective age, and the Dwarven Moss notoriety; disclosed his appointment with Captain Gorovitch
• Kefkas: Was with Othorion during the ambush; arrived at the inn "perfectly clothed, ponytail not a hair out of place"; commented Gwynevere was smaller than expected
• Pip: Shot with poisoned crossbow bolt; unconscious; carried to safety by Gwynevere in panther form; woke after poison removal; confronted Othorion about Drizzt; gave Roland the Drizzt book series; is reading the series to Kavu in the wagon at night

Threads Opened / Advanced

• House Baenre Threat (ADVANCED): Drow house actively hunting Othorion for capture (not kill). Used a daylight ambush in a populated Neverwinter square — bold and desperate. They know the party's composition and location.
• Drizzt Do'Urden (OPENED): Gwynevere's intervention confirms Drizzt is active in the Neverwinter region. Othorion has significant family history with Drizzt through House Baenre. Pip is obsessed with the Drizzt book series (currently on book 15 of 31).
• Summer Court Ultimatum (OPENED): Queen Titania demands Kelvin attend the Summer Court revels or face consequences "as certain as the turning of the seasons." The letter physically refused to be dismissed. Unresolved.
• Captain Gorovitch Meeting (OPENED): Haldak has a 21:00 appointment at the docks. Purpose unknown. Party may accompany him.
• The Warden of Past Moments (OPENED): Magical stopwatch artifact with starfield interior. Haldak stole and returned it ~20 years ago; gained time magic powers upon return. Sylphrena doesn't recognize it — possibly predates Netheril.
• Obsidian Obelisks (OPENED): Mentioned by Haldak's old employer. Significance unknown.
• Kelvin's Fae Children: Discovered he has 32 offspring; some are at Revel's End (the prison the party is eventually heading toward).
• Dwarven Moss / Government Watch: Haldak's public notices seeking Dwarven Moss flagged him with authorities — the reason the party is consistently searched.