Session B14 — Luskan Landfall

Summary

The Ice Serpent makes port at Luskan's Open Shore at 10:07 AM. Othorion stays aboard in disguise while a legend slips over the rigging behind him — Drizzt Do'Urden, lavender eyes and twin scimitars, who takes him to the lower decks to begin training. The rest of the party passes through the Harbormaster's office in a cascade of chaos: Haldak is received as a celebrity drug correspondent, Kelvin is outed as a High Admiral of House Taerl before he can stop it, and Kefkas punches Kelvin and nearly goes to jail within five minutes of arriving.

In the city proper, the party splits to execute Othorion's three-pronged intelligence mission. Haldak delivers a feather to Jazara at the One-Eyed Jacks under extreme duress; she returns two sealed letters for Othorion and warns him to stay off the streets. Kefkas and Kavu find Vera Moonshade at the Gilded Trident — a one-armed moon elf keeping a cold cup of tea for a visitor who hasn't come — and trade six pounds of Dwarven Moss for a cache of items she had been holding for "Tripp." At the Black Pearl Merchantile, Haldak sells another pound of Dwarven Moss for 6,400 gold to the proprietor, Yagra Stonefist, and is invited back at ten o'clock to smoke the rest of it.

The session ends at House Taerl's fortified compound, where thirteen footmen rush to greet the returning High Admiral — and a woman who is apparently Kelvin's wife appears in the doorway demanding an explanation for a decade of absence and a second child.

Key Events

Drizzt Boards the Ice Serpent

As the rest of the party disembarked toward the Harbormaster's office, Kavu — and only Kavu — noticed a figure swing from the mast of a nearby ship and land silently on the Ice Serpent's deck. A drow. Twin scimitars. Lavender eyes.

The figure looked at Kavu, clocked that he had been seen, and put a finger to his lips: "Shh."

Kavu turned away and said nothing.

On deck, Othorion was watching the party through his Hat of Disguise when a voice came from behind him.

"You're pretty good."

Othorion responded without turning. "I acknowledge." When he did turn, he knew immediately who it was.

"Welcome to Luskan, cousin. I see you've decided to stay on the boat."

The exchange was brief but pointed. Drizzt asked whether Othorion's companions were merely that — companions — or something more. Othorion admitted they were friends. "Falling few between, but I do."

"If you consider them to that degree, then it will have to do now, won't it? You and I have work that needs to be done."

Drizzt proposed training in the lower decks. He was moving incognito — he could freely move about the city but didn't want anyone following his trail back to Othorion. He delivered a brief manifesto before the sparring began:

"Before we begin, I want you to know that this is about more than wielding blades. My mentor, Zak Naffein, taught me that perfecting one's skill is only part of the journey. True mastery requires you to understand why you fight. We train to overcome our weaknesses, but also our fears — those doubts that gnaw at us in the dark. You must learn to face your own darkness and not let it define you. It is not about denying who you are, but choosing who you wish to become."

He added: "I do apologize for any permanent damage we do as part of this training."

The scene faded to black as Drizzt thrust at Othorion, and the session moved to the rest of the party.

Harbormaster's Office

The party — minus Othorion — found that the only entry into the city ran through the Harbormaster's office: a surly pirate gentleman with a ledger.

"Welcome to Luskan. What can I do for you?"
"Are you familiar with the fact that Luskan has very few rules, but those rules simply amount to fuck around and find out?"

He processed the party one by one:

Roland: Force Grey, Waterdeep. Purpose: passing through. "Fuck around and find out at your own peril. Understood?"

Kavu Flamekeeper: Forge Wardens. "Whatever the hell those are." Purpose: passing through. "Buck around and find out." — "Okay!"

Haldak Tencloak: The harbormaster stopped cold when Haldak gave his name. He came around the desk, knelt down, and gave Haldak the most sincere handshake he had ever received.

"Frankly, you're my hero. The story of your brazen letter to all of the cities on the Sword Coast has gone far and wide. We actually have something here for you in the event that you ever stopped by."

Haldak received: (1) giant one-pound satchels of green material — Dwarven Moss — from each of the High Captains, totaling 10 pounds; (2) 100 gold, described as "courtesy of Jarl Axel" (Jarlaxle); (3) an honorary pass recognizing him as an honorary native of Luskan — he can seek work in the city, and if he ever needs somewhere to run, Luskan will take him.

Kelvin / "Melvin": When Kelvin gave his name, the harbormaster went silent, looked at him, then looked at a painting on the wall. He rifled through his desk and produced a letter left by "Admiral Kelvin Fairlight of House Taerl" — written by the real Kelvin — which stated that should he ever return claiming to be someone else, he was incognito and should be shown the greatest hospitality. Kelvin was given: a set of keys to his manor in the Taerl compound, a 1,000 gold stipend, and a map of the compound. Notice was sent immediately to "Throa Taerl, Captain of the High Ship Taerl," informing her of his arrival.

Kefkas, annoyed at Kelvin for the Harbormaster recognizing him, immediately punched him. The harbormaster produced manacles.

"Do you know what the penalty for assaulting a member of one of the High Ships in Luskan is? Because that's Kelvin Fairlight, Admiral of House Taerl."

After nearly being arrested as "Punchy McPunchfist," Kefkas gave his real name — Kefkas Artorium — and was fined 20 gold. The harbormaster confirmed his name was now in the ledger.

Robert Hidswell: Presented his identification number as a merchant and northern guide. Processed without incident.

Entering the City — First Impressions

At the top of the stairs from the harbor, the party saw Luskan's Open Shore district spread before them:

• A bridge called Harbor Cross leading to Blood Island
• The Red Dragon Trading Post directly ahead at the top of the stairs
• The Mirabar Shield compound to the north
• The One-Eyed Jacks tavern — already rowdy at 11 AM
• The Black Pearl Merchantile down the street

It was 11 in the morning on their first day in the city.

Kavu caught a smell — extraordinary, surpassing even his Hat of Snacks — and then lost it before he could identify the source.

One-Eyed Jacks — Jazara and Zilnath

The party's first stop was the One-Eyed Jacks. Othorion became invisible before the group entered.

On the way in, Haldak rolled a natural 20 on Perception and immediately clocked a tall young woman — close to seven feet — staring at him as if she had seen through the wall the moment he stepped through the door. She was staring like she wanted to kill him.

The party also spotted Zilnath at a table: the drow who had once killed Othorion, now lounging comfortably in his corner of the Jacks.

"I never thought I'd see you again. My friends! Welcome to the One-Eyed Jack!"

The tall woman cut Zilnath off: "They are not here for you. They are here for me." She got up from her seat. She was nearly seven feet tall.

She looked down at Haldak.

"Hi."
"Hi."
"Do you have something to tell me?"
"Choose your next words carefully, because they may be your last."

Haldak attempted the cricket-sound Thieves' Cant Othorion had taught him. Kelvin (a druid) recognized it immediately as competent cricket mimicry. The woman did not.

"If you don't stop chirping at me like a fucking idiot, I am going to cut your throat and bleed you out on this floor faster than a pig on Sunday."

She demanded an explanation of the feather in three words or less. Haldak: "A friend's gift?" She pressed — was the mutual friend alive? He confirmed yes. Her response: "Good. That way I get to kill him."

She pulled Haldak to a corner table away from the rest of the party and confirmed who she was: Jazara. She had tracked the feather. She knew Othorion was "Tripp." She knew he was wanted. She was glad he had stayed off the streets.

She handed Haldak two items to give to Othorion:

The first: a letter of light purple parchment, soft to the touch, smelling of spices — "almost like a peppery smell." From her. "Read it and I'll fucking kill you."

The second: a rolled parchment clasped shut not by a wax seal but by a spider brooch — so realistic that when you looked at it, the eyes moved and followed you, and the mandibles twitched. "The other one is from someone who will do worse than kill you."

She instructed Haldak to ensure Othorion gets the feather back and keeps it on his person at all times.

"At least he did one smart fucking thing and stayed wherever the hell he is and didn't come into the goddamn city."

She confirmed she had been watching, had heard things, and found it "interesting" that Othorion had chosen Haldak as his emissary over his more loquacious companions. She then retired to her corner. "We don't know each other. Say his fucking name and I'll kill you."

Zilnath moved back to the table. He caught up with the party — ribbing them, asking after their mutual acquaintance without saying the name, offering what help he could while they were in the city. He provided:

• Fighting ring information: first fight 8 PM at the Sully Gold Pit at Dragon's Teeth. Route: Harbor Cross Bridge → Blood Island → skirt the Taerl compound west → south sector → past Temple of Red Sails (Umberlee's temple) → Dragon's Beach. He gave the party a pass to get through the barracks without paperwork.
• Shopping recommendations: Mirabar Shield and Red Dragon Trading Post for standard goods; Black Pearl Merchantile for the best special wares. "I can't remember her name. Half-orc. Early. Very strong. But yeah, she... you look like you always get folded from time to time, makes sense."
• An offer to receive a runner at the Jacks if anything "hits up" in the city.

He also inadvertently sent the party rushing to Neverwinter when they mentioned they were heading north and asked if he knew anything about the city. A crossover adventuring party at the table — a barbarian woman named Holga eating a whole potato, a tiefling druid with red hair, a confused-looking sorcerer, and a bard at the piano — had just returned from delivering someone named Orge Fitzwilliams to Revel's End. The moment Roland mentioned trouble in Neverwinter, Holga grabbed the bard off the piano and announced they were leaving.

"We just got here, Holga." / "Neverwinter's in trouble again." / "Let's go."

On the way out, she looked back at Haldak: "Poldek, I'll never forget you."

Zilnath confirmed: shops stay open 24/7 in Luskan, as it has nocturnal species. Fighting rings open at 8 PM.

Black Pearl Merchantile — Yagra Stonefist

The party's next stop was the Black Pearl Merchantile, tucked behind a rickety door adorned with a skull and crossbones, inside the shadow of hauled-up old ships repurposed into buildings. Yagra Stonefist greeted them: a tall, powerfully built half-orc woman with a scarred face and striking looks. She had a mouse named Squiggles in her pocket.

On a successful persuasion check (after Kefkas dropped Zilnath's name), Yagra opened her special stock:

• Pirate's Flask: Enchanted flask that keeps any liquid at the perfect temperature — hot or cold, whatever you need.
• Blaze: A cutlass. Named by Yagra; clearly fire-enchanted.
• The Imperator: A rapier with ornate gold filigree, deep blue and maroon jewels, and a cracked hilt. "It's still a serviceable weapon."
• Mutineer: A blood-encrusted scimitar found in a ruin in the Neverwinter Wood.
• Heart of the Sea: An enchanted amulet shaped like a sea anchor, connected to Umberlee. Comes with a warning note that was the reason it had never sold — nobody wanted to try it.
• Bag of Holding (available on request for the group).

Kavu bought the Pirate's Flask.

When the party mentioned they had Dwarven Moss to offload, Yagra's interest sharpened immediately. She purchased one pound for 6,400 gold — and then immediately ripped open the bag as they were leaving. She invited Haldak to return at 10 PM to smoke the rest together: "You're a pretty cool little dude, did you know that?"

Gilded Trident — Vera Moonshade

Kefkas and Kavu split from the party to cross toward Dragon's Teeth and the Gilded Trident. The shop was nestled in a narrow alley near the harbor — a wooden sign depicting a golden trident against a night sky dotted with stars.

Inside: a woman Kefkas recognized almost immediately. Vera Moonshade — aged yet young-looking, an astral or moon elf. Missing one arm. Two teacups on the counter: one she was drinking from, one that had gone cold. When they walked in, she looked hopeful for a moment. Then the hope faded.

"Welcome to the Gilded Trident. My name is Vera. What can I do for you?"

Kefkas laid Othorion's sword on the counter. Vera went to the door and locked it.

"How is... Tripp."

She asked carefully and with clear genuine concern. She confirmed she had contacts in the Arcane Brotherhood she could use to ask about Styx water — delicately. When Kefkas revealed that Othorion had been exposed to River Styx water, her reaction was immediate: "Oh. Poor boy."

She had been keeping items specifically in case Tripp or his people showed up:

• Everburning Lantern: the flame never goes out, regardless of weather or conditions
• Ring of Warmth: cold weather protection
• Ocean's Whisper Ring: allows the wearer to breathe underwater; no attunement required. "I don't know how well he can swim. Drow sink like rocks."
• Sea Serpent Scale Armor: expensive, but offered at less than half price
• Sewer Map of Luskan: for less conspicuous travel through the city

She offered all of it for five pounds of Dwarven Moss — just enough to keep the shop afloat and get the contraband off their hands before they left the city. Haldak agreed and gave her six pounds: "Keep the change."

Kefkas cast Message to tell Vera that Othorion was on a ship at Open Shores. She responded asking: "Dragon's Teeth or Open Shores?" Confirmed: Open Shores.

Before they left, Vera put her one good arm around Kavu and patted him with her nub.

"Thanks for helping him. He doesn't like asking for help. He tries to do it all on his own. He must really trust you."

The door locked behind them.

The Sewers and Mirabar Shield

The party reconnected at the Mirabar Shield — a free-trade marketplace where Zilnath's warning held: "If it is found that someone is cheating you there, we kill them." The Red Dragon Trading Post had already proven unremarkable. Neither stop yielded significant purchases.

Kavu, newly in possession of the sewer map Vera had provided, wanted to test it. He pushed the party through the sewers twice — once to get to the Gilded Trident, once to reach Kelvin's manor afterward. The sewers were, improbably, clean. Both survival checks succeeded.

House Taerl Compound — Kelvin's Manor

Following Kavu's lead through the sewers (sewer map rolled a 2 — serviceable), the full party emerged at the House Taerl compound: a walled, heavily fortified enclosure with an iron-wrought gate and arrowslits on the gatehouse. As they approached, thirteen footmen rushed out to receive the returning High Admiral.

"Master Fairlight! Master Fairlight! The mistress, Kerr, has been waiting for you."

They were led through the compound to the Fairlight Manor — a separate building from the main Taerl castle — and shown to a spacious bedroom. On the wall: a portrait of Kelvin. Faithful. Detailed. He had, by all evidence, never been here before.

Roland tilted the painting.

"Don't tilt my painting!"

A woman appeared in the doorway.

"Kelvin Archibald Fairlight."

She had the full name and the tone of someone who had been rehearsing it for years.

"You sire a second child by my loins and then leave for a decade? You had better have an explanation."

Kelvin's response: "Fae bullshit?"

She informed him that a long and difficult conversation would follow his meeting with High Captain Throa Taerl, and that in the meantime, he owed his daughters some father time. She called out:

"Olga! Your father is home. It is indeed him."

Olga arrived — grown, delighted, immediately referencing childhood memories: "Have you been up to some crazy adventure? Have you met the sort of wishes you used to tell me about when you bandied me across your knee?"

Then, from around the doorway: a young girl, approximately ten years old, peeking at the stranger in the bedroom.

"Are you my daddy?"

Kelvin: "It's complicated."

She slinked back out of the room.

"No, girl—"

The session ended here.

NPCs Encountered

Loot / Discoveries

Dwarven Moss disposition:

• 10 lbs received at Harbormaster
• 1 lb sold to Yagra Stonefist → 6,400 gold
• 6 lbs traded to Vera Moonshade → items for Othorion (5 lb deal; Haldak gave 6: "keep the change")
• 3 lbs remaining (with Haldak)

Threads Opened / Advanced

• Drizzt's Training: Drizzt Do'Urden is aboard the Ice Serpent training Othorion in drow combat techniques. "Next session will be the Black Wolf gets up to some stupidity session" — Othorion has his own arc while the party is in Luskan.
• Letters for Othorion: Two letters now with Haldak — one from Jazara (purple parchment, spicy scent), one sealed with a spider-brooch with living eyes. Othorion must receive them unopened. The spider brooch letter appears connected to Lolth.
• Styx Water: Vera Moonshade will quietly contact Arcane Brotherhood sources to look into Styx water trafficking. No answer yet.
• Kelvin's Fae Family: Kelvin's Fae entanglement apparently resulted in a decade-long absence from a life and family in Luskan he has no memory of. He has a wife, a grown daughter named Olga, and a young daughter (~10) who asked if he was her daddy. High Captain Throa Taerl wants to see him.
• Dwarven Moss: 3 lbs remain. Haldak has agreed to return to Black Pearl at 10 PM to smoke with Yagra.
• Fighting Ring: Party has a pass and directions to the Sully Gold Pit at Dragon's Teeth. First fight at 8 PM. "Hotshot Little Spark" is the potential fighting duo name for Kefkas and Kavu.
• Jazara's Warning: Othorion is wanted in Luskan. Jazara confirmed the feather is the signal — it must stay on Othorion's person.
• Holga and Neverwinter: The crossover party left immediately for Neverwinter upon hearing there was another crisis. The party feels somewhat responsible for setting them on a quest.