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Neverwinter, the Year of the Gauntlet (1370 DR)

It's the 24th of Mirtul. It's been raining the past few days in Neverwinter, leading to moderate temperatures, rising during the day into the middle 60s F/just under 20°C, then dropping in the early hours before sunrise to the middle 50s F/12-13°C. One trembles thinking of the colder weather and snow that reign less than 60 miles/100 km to the east, beyond the warmth of the perhaps magical but forbidden Neverwinter Woods.

The party have spent the last few days searching around Neverwinter for a commission. By splitting up, and speaking to their various friends and acquaintances, they have put the word about that they are a well balanced group of adventurers looking for a commission. Up till now however, the only leads they have received have been either far too dangerous for them to tackle, i.e. the group are too inexperienced, or they have been rather too shady for all of the party to be comfortable getting involved in. Each of the individuals funds are running low, the splash out the other night had blown most of the last of the cash, and everyone has little better than coppers left in their money pouches.

The group is currently gathered - against their better judgement - in the Fallen Tower Tavern. With their diminishing funds, they know the Board Laid Bare would be a better choice, but the group needs work and the Fallen Tower is the place outsiders go to. They have had no luck getting a local contract for any type of work, but tonight could be the night when an outsider comes to the Fallen Tower looking for someone - someone like them.

Meals at the Tower are limited to turtle soup, brown bread with or without garlic butter or spiced sausages. A meal goes for 4 copper nibs, and there's a variety of drinks available, but their budget limits them to tankards of the rather bland Neverwinter Coastalbrau , a seaman's ale with taste but no great character, that the Tower offers for 2 copper nibs a tankard.

The group have been sharing a table in the Tower with no one but themselves for more than an hour, but until now, no one's entered who looks like a prospect. There are locals at some tables, and merchants from Waterdeep and Mirabar, but none seem to be actively seeking caravan guards or other services. The mood is rather quiet but friendly too.

The time winds on. It must be past 10 p.m./22 hours already, when old Harthar, a local who's seldom seen in any tavern or inn enters. Harthar earns his modest keep as a runner, delivering messages in the City of Skilled Hands. He comes toward the group. It looks as if he's searching for them.

"Might I join you young folks for a moment and share a quiet word with you?" he says.

Yvandel looked at Harthar and tried to understand what would be important enough for him to come look for their group in the Tavern. Maybe they would finally have an adventure coming their way.

Lucretia looks at Harthar as he approaches the table. "Why not? We got the time." Lucretia looks at Harthar then at his drink. Lucretia gives into his drink and then confides in it while still listening to everything around him.

Herod removes his feet from the table top to make room for Harthar, he too is fighting off the effects of last nights festivities. Thinking to himself "finally something interesting might happen!"

"What's the deal old man? He says, wondering why someone would be looking for their group of travellers. Trying to block out unwanted background bar noise, Herod leans closer to Harthar

"Well, hello. Yes please sit down. I hope you have good news for us. In other words, some action!! Forgive my eagerness” says Serena.

"Pull up a chair and have a bite, my friend! Any news we should know about?" Milo offers a chair and orders a pint of ale to the runner, hoping that he has enough money to cover Harthar's order.

"Thank you but no. I have some another errand still to run tonight, and my wife won't thank me if I'm late." Harthar runs his hand through his greying hair, and sighs before continuing. "I have a customer who's sent me to ask if you're interested in a job. It involves making a trip to Silverymoon."

He looks expectantly at the group gathered around the table.

After hearing Hathar's invitation, Serena replies, "Silverymoon? Don't know it, but anywhere is better than here. Count me in."

Silverymoon. Yvandel let the sound of the word run through his head. It spoke of wonders, magic and adventure. He didn't even realize that he had just spoken out loud. But his ears registered what his mouth hadn't. He heard himself say "Of course we'll go." Amazed at himself, Yvandel fell silent immediately after this, back in thought about the glory he would find in a new town, the things he would learn from its citizens.

Balnor eats his fill knowing it might be the last good meal he has in months and says "sure we will take the job but what is in it for us we will need some money to fill our pouches and out interests to go on this journey." Taking a big swig of ale he sits back and takes out his knife from his boot and begins to play with it.

Cleo leans forward at the mention of Silverymoon forest. She wonders what the man wants and is interested in the fun. Stormy feels his mistress' movement and removes himself from her lap. He swaggers over to Harthar. After sniffing him over Stormy decides he's an ok person and heads for a mouse on the ground. "Well, you got the cat's approval" she smiles "So it's fine with me."

Lucretia listens to the rest of the group then looks disgusted. He slams down his drink with almost enough force to crush it. A large thud resounds through the inn. Everyone at the table looks at him. Lucretia hopes it is in surprise. As soon as he is sure he has everyone's attention he speaks up. "I am sorry Harthar. My friends had a little much to drink late night."

He gives them all stares. Looking directly at Milo, Herod, and Yvandel, he smacks them all in turn. "Listen you three. I hate to have to think but you are making me do just that. Herod I know you jump into things but Milo and Yvandel. You two are stupid for just jumping into this." Lucretia then sighs.

Lucretia turns back to Harthar. "Harthar, listen." Lucretia puts his arm around the man. "We need to know what we are going to do. Just saying you are going to Silverymoon isn't good enough." Lucretia the waves his arms over his friends at the table. "Yes we all want adventure but there are a few catches. One: We will not kill for money or any other reason unless we do not have a choice. Well at least most of them won't." He points to Milo and Yvandel at least. "Second: WE will accept if the pay is good. Third: We need to know why. We don't like being left out." Lucretia puts his hand on his sword to prove the point. "Fourth: We need to know how our special....ah...skills will be of use to you. Lastly: We need to know how long and how far? Person has to know these things for a trip you know."

Lucretia looks at his glass then takes a drink. "If all these work out then we will go. You have to tell us the information first. And yes we all are skilled. Don't push us." Then he looks at Milo and Herod. "By the gods.....next time you guys think. I got a headache now." He goes back to his drink and awaits answers.

"I understand that you have reservations, as anyone should have. I have also been led to understand that you are keen to get out of Neverwinter, and my client has asked me if I can find a group of adventurers who are willing to make this journey." He pauses before going on. "You know old Gaard, the mage, who lives at the end of the Whitewater Promenade?  He is my client, and he has a few small items he'd like taken to Silverymoon. He knows it's a dangerous journey, and he's willing to pay you well. Can I tell him that he can await you, tomorrow morning at 9, in his hall to discuss the details?" He looks again at Lucretia and adds. "It is an honest straight job, no complications."

Milo looks disapprovingly at Lucretia and his childish outburst and he stands up. "Luc, we will talk later..."

" I know you have places to be, but Luc is right. We need more information before we jump into our first commission. It’s not that we don't trust you. We just want to do the right thing."

Yvandel wasn't really intimidated by Luc's comments. He was ready for adventure, and his instincts had told him that the man in front of them was an honest man. This man would not betray them, would not send them on a journey too dangerous.

But Luc's questions did make sense, and Yvandel realized Luc was right, because if there was no danger, why wouldn't Gaard bring the items to Silverymoon himself? Unless of course, he had more important business to attend to. In that case, maybe the journey wouldn't be that dangerous at all, for if the items were worth a lot, Gaard wouldn't hire their team to do the job for him. He decided to get his questions answered. "Harthar, pardon me for asking, but why does Gaard not take these items to Silverymoon himself?"

Harthar shifts from one foot to another as he responds to the question. "I don't know, I'm only a messenger. As I said, if you are interested in finding out more, you need to visit Gaard at his tower tomorrow morning. I imagine it's a simple case of his time. It is a pretty long journey to Silverymoon I've heard."

Milo returns from having a quiet chat with Lucretia about his temper, just in time to hear the details of the proposed adventure. "This is something that we can do, alright." Looking to the others, "How do you feel about this? It sounds harmless enough to me."

Harthar looks back to Milo. "So can I say that you'll be there at 9:00am sharp?" As he waits for the various affirmations, he adds, "As a matter of interest, do you call yourselves anything, as a group I mean?"

"I'll be there at 9:00 am," Yvandel says to Harthar, not asking the others what they think. He wanted to be on his way, the way to glory. He did realize that he had to be somewhat cautious to make sure he wasn't inviting danger into his life, but he would get a chance to see just how dangerous this trip would be in the morning, when they would set out to meet Gaard. "Should we eat before that, or do you think Gaard could be so nice to provide this poor group with a meal and some drinks when we arrive?"

Harthar snorts. "He is proposing a job, a business agreement so to speak. I can't imagine he is inviting you to breakfast!" The older man raises his eyes to the ceiling before looking back at the party. "Well, it seems most of you are interested enough to turn up tomorrow. I'll tell Gaard to expect you. Should I say 8 will be attending, or should I make it 9?" he jokes, looking at Yvandel's puppet, before he turns away and starts to walk out of the inn.

At the door, he pauses, and looks back at the table. "Oh yes, Gaard likes names. Think of a name for your group before you get there tomorrow." He smiles good naturedly before turning again to leave.

NB: It was Yvandel [post 232] who came up with the name of “The Unknown”, which got altered into "The Unknowns" by Milo when they arrived at Gaard's Hall the following morning.