The next morning Tobin’s Revenge finds their Harper friend Leosin waiting with a couple of carriages outside Trollskull Manor. The trip from Trollskull Alley to the Lords’ Palace gives the members a few moments to take in the winter scene of Waterdeep. The storm system that made their trip south miserable has blanketed the cityscape of Waterdeep with a dusting of snow. Upon entering the outer galleries of the palace, the members begin to wander towards the waiting area of the council chambers before Leosin snickers and beckons them to follow. Heading further past the crowds gathered about for the daily business, Leosin guides them to a quiet office suite. He explains that their first visit in front of the council was to give testimony. Now, as the investigative arm of the council, the party is afforded this private office to conduct any and all business related to their investigations for the council. He also informs them that the leaders of the Lord’s Alliance are holding an open council session prior to summoning the rest of the factions for the closed session regarding the cult. They are to make themselves at home until called.
While waiting for the closed session the group is visited by both Remallia Haventree and Ontharr Frume. These two welcome the party back to Waterdeep and begin to catch up on events. Remalia and Ontharr confirm the rumors that the party had heard throughout the city, Lord Neverember had been removed from his position of Open Lord by the Masked Lords and replaced by Lady Laeral Silverhand. With this promotion, Lady Silverhand also has become the de facto leader of the Lords’ Alliance. Before leaving to prepare themselves for the council meeting, Remallia and Ontharr present Sariel and Lucius with news of their promotions with the Harpers and Order respectively for their work in protecting the realm. Sariel now carries the title of Brightcandle and Lucius that of Whitehawk.
Some time later, palace attendants knock at the door and request the presence of the party in the council. Upon entering the council chambers have been reorganized since their last visit. Around the center of the room is an arrangement of three long tables. Throughout the room are various people, some familiar to the party and others harder to place. The main attendant assigned to the party gives a brief rundown for the party. The party is shown to their place to the right of the middle, and largest, table which has a slight curve and seats for the now seven members of the Lord’s Alliance. Lady Silverhand of Waterdeep stands at the very center speaking with the dwarf Ambassador Connerad Brawnanvil of the Northern Dwarven cities and Marshall Ulder Ravengard of Baldur’s Gate’s Flaming Fist in his full regalia. Closer to the party is seated the wizard Taern “Thunderspells” Hornblade of Silverymoon in whispered conversation with the paladin Sir Isteval representing Daggerford. At the far end of the table sit the stoic elf King Melandrach and visible brooding Lord Neverember of Neverwinter. Across from the party’s table are the factional representatives Remallia Haventree of the Harpers, Ontharr Frume of the Order of the Gauntlet, and Delaan Winterhound of the Emerald Enclave.
Conversations come to gradual conclusions as Tobin’s Revenge settle at their table, and Lady Silverhand brings the session to order. Her first order of business is to summon Captain Aumarr of the City Guard to deliver a summary of Varram the White Wyrmspeaker’s interrogation following his capture by Tobin’s Revenge. Within the report, given verbally and provided in documents to all members, Captain Aumarr provides information on the organization of the Cult of the Dragon, the likelihood of Varrum and Rezmir’s replacements, growing dissent within the traditionalists of the cult, and increasing support from various factions throughout the land. The majority of the council is pleased with the results of Varrum’s capture and interrogation though Delaan believes the Wrymspeaker should be killed as he is a known schemer and the ranger feels he is more trouble while alive and in custody.
Dismissing the captain, Lady Silverhand turns the meeting over to the party for their report on the rest of their activities since last the council was in session. The party meticulously goes through their exploits in the Sea of Moving Ice, driving off the white dragon and saving Maccath of the Arcane Brotherhood. They inform the council that the Arcane Brotherhood was most pleased with the return of Maccath to Luskan and have pledged their efforts to the cause against the cult. The party casts some mistrust in the mages as they reveal what they discovered regarding Arkalis’ research but importantly leave out the suspected link to their former companion Tethren. The whole council is encouraged by the party’s success in driving off the dragon Aruathator but Ontharr voices further concern over the pledge from the Brotherhood. He knows the group of mages too well and warns the council that they only involve themselves in matters from which they believe power can be gained. He directly announces he does not trust their new allies in the least.
The party paints a much smaller picture of their adventure under the White Plume Mountain, making no mention of the three legendary items they have recovered from within. They quickly move on and give the heavy hitting report on the fate of Phandalin and its former denizens. The council members, Lord Neverember in particular, were taken aback at the atrocity of the cult in their destruction of the settlement. The loss of Sildar Hallwinter is most devastating to the council given his high standing within the knights of the Lords’ Alliance. It is at this point that several members of the party realize that while there are many attendants and advisors throughout the chamber, there is no sign of the Dark Walkers at this meeting. Each member of the council adds to the report with claims of attacks in each of their lands. The only member that does not seem worried is King Melandrach. He claims the elves of the Misty Forrest have put an end to the dragon threat in their lands and wonder why the others are not done more. He is short on details of how the elves have accomplished their victory when pressed by both the other council members and the party.
Moving on to the last point of the meeting, Lady Silverhand introduces a new face to the council. Having sat behind the Open Lord in silence the tall, slender figure steps before the council. As she pulls back the hood of her cloak to address those in the chamber, a woman of soft pale skin and silvery hair stands before the room. She introduces herself as Elia and presents an offer as the envoy of the metallic dragons to participate in a draconic council per ancient tradition. She specifies that the metallic dragons have concerns over the cult and their plans for Tiamat but have not been convinced to interfere in the plans of the humanoid races. She further offers assistance in reaching the council quickly should the appointed ambassadors be ready to leave in the morning, or she will leave the location of the council with Lady Silverhand should there be a delay in sending an envoy to the dragons. She appears to be indifferent to the options and returns to her seat.
Having heard no further business, Lady Silverhand finds that more must be done before the council can act against the cult. On behalf of the council and the Lords’ Alliance she instructs Tobin’s Revenge to represent the council before the metallic dragons and provides full authority as representatives of the Lords’ Alliance and their allies in negotiating their support to the cause. With the session closed all present slowly make their way out into the palace proper. Shortly after the party had returned to their offices, a palace attendant announces the arrival of both the Lady Silverhand and Delaan Winterhound. Closing the office doors for privacy, they first offer their condolences on the loss of Phadalin. Recounting the other reports of similar acts throughout the Sword Coast neither of the two leaders have not accepted King Melandrach’s story regarding the elves of the Misty Forest. Delaan provides information from Enclave agents that something is amiss in the forest. He explains that the elf settlement Altand was the last reported location of a cultist attack within the forest. Reports that as the elves were about to lose the settlement the cult ceased their attack. While his agents have also reported no further attacks since, the abrupt disappearance of the cult does make sense. Lady Silverhand adds that she would personally like the party to investigate what has happened in the forest.
Prior to leaving the party she does insist that Elia is still awaiting their decision on whether they would like her assistance in traveling to the draconic council in the morning. After a quick debate the group chooses to seek the dragons’ help first, and Lady Silverhand says she will inform Elia and have the palace carriages retrieve them in the morning. Finishing up at the palace, the party returns to Trollskull Manor to prepare for their travels the next day. At the crack of dawn the party finds the same carriages and Leosin waiting outside. This time they travel to the eastern gate of the city and out past the Undercliffs to a large clearing well away from the city.
In the clearing they find Elia waiting with two more carriages. These carriages oddly do not have hitches and no horse to be seen. Affixed to the top of each carriage is a large iron bar. Elia warmly greets the party a good morning and is delighted at the opportunity to travel with the group. Rather she is delighted to travel with all but Belgwyn it seems, as she scornfully looks down at the dwarf while muttering something about one of them also. Gesturing the party into the two carriages, Leosin and the palace attendants remain out of curiosity as to the how. Once all the members are secure Elia steps away from the immediate vicinity of the carriages and turns back to face them. As she looks up her eyes alight with a white light and her form begins to grow. Her cloak envelopes the growing form and like a flowing liquid sprouts out into two opposing branches from her shoulders. Peeking out of the carriage the party now watches as the form of a giant silver dragon takes shape where Elia once stood. After a massive stretch of her wings the dragon leaps into the air, grasps the bar atop each carriage in her claws, and with a thrust of her wings she takes flight. As the carriages are carried into the air they hear a booming version of Elia’s voice telling them to relax even though she gives the carriage within which Belgwyn sits a sudden jolt up and down before snickering an empty apology.
It is a two day journey by dragon from Waterdeep to the southeast before Elia approaches a high peak within the Nether Mountains. During this time the party is able to see smoke rising in all directions as the extent to the cult’s activities is revealed. As far as the eye can see the cult has afflicted the land and its denizens. The resolve of the group is grounded in the cold hard truth that the cult must be stopped at all costs. Eventually setting down the carriages, Elia returns to her human form and requests that the party remain outside until she has had the opportunity to announce their arrival to the draconic council before turning and entering a large cave opening on the side of the mountain cliff. Several minutes, maybe an hour later, Elia’s ‘large’ voice calls from within the cave. The party proceeds forth and is presented with one of the most awe inspiring sights any of them have seen. The chamber within is enormous beyond comprehension, as if the whole of the mountain peak has been hollowed out. Ornate pillars are spread through to support the ceiling at least one hundred feet above them. To the eyes of Belgwyn the walls of the chamber are carefully crafted, but she does not understand the mechanics of how they came to be. In the center of the chamber the peak is open, letting light spill from the heavens above. It is to this spot that the party makes their way towards.
Once settled, the head of Elia in dragon form snakes from the shadows into the light. She formally introduces herself as Otaaryliakkarnos. She then introduces the remainder of the council starting with a brass dragon Ileuthral, then a bronze dragon Nymmurh, a copper dragon Taxmikella, and finally a gold dragon Protanther. Each dragon approaches so they are half in and half out of the light, all towering over their guests in the center. Through banter, as if the dragons have failed to remember their guests, the party quickly discovers that they are already in the hole without even speaking a word. Protanther sneers Otarryliakkarnos for how unfortunate the human council sends elvenkind as envoys. Otarryliakkarnos quickly quips that at least he did not have to suffer the stench of the short one for two days of flight. The exchange causes the other dragons to rumble with laughter. Turning their attention finally downward, the dragons offer the group a chance to enlighten them with what they have discovered about the cult.
The dragons pay heed, at least it seems, and pepper in questions throughout the proceedings. Some of the questions seem to be direct and on point to the problem of the cult while others seem beyond the scope of what the party thought they would be discussing. At one point, Sariel is started as Ileuthral’s head snakes around behind her before taking in a long, deep breath. Repositioning to see her clearly in one eye he asks her if she has ever met one of his kind before. He takes her in as she answers that she does not recall ever encountering a bronze dragon before today. Moments later he looks up to Tazikella and in draconic, understood only by Divad and Ekim, says the words ‘smells of Islak in Q’Bsrra of Khorvaire’. Later, Tazmikella eyes Belgwyn’s dragon slayer sword and demands its return explaining that it had been stolen from her in the past by a thief. Begrudgingly, Belgwen relinquishes the sword to Tazmikella with apologies. The greatest slip of the party was in Fionne offering to steal dragon armor that Otaaryliakkarnos claims was made from the skin of her slain kin by the dwarf lords of the North. While Otaaryliakkarnos considers the offer, the blatant openness to thievery by the group and the nature of Fionne’s lifestyle enrages Tazmikella.
Despite the preconceived notions of the humanoid races and Tazmikella’s discovery of Fionne’s nature, the party ends their time with the draconic council in triumph. In conceding a written apology from King Melandrach for the Dracorage mythal to Protanther, surrender of any and all dragon masks immediately to the metallic dragons, return of the armor with an apology for Ambassador Brawnanvil to Otarryliakkarnos, the surrender of the dragon slayer sword to Tazmikella, the promise of shrines dedicated to all the metallic dragon races throughout the Sword Coast, and equal shares of the treasure hoard amassed by the cult to each of the present members, Tobin’s Revenge has gained the support of the entire draconic council against the cult of the dragons. The party is dismissed and instructed to await Otarryliakkarnos for aid home. After some time, seemingly not important to the dragons they wait on, Elia appears alongside another female human she presents as Tiz, Tazmikella in human form. The two dragons state that each of the council members will await instructions on where they can provide protection until the assault on the cult can commence. Elia also presents to the group 3 arrows of dragon slaying and a breastplate of lightning resistance. Tiz approaches Belgwyn with a new found softness. She tells the dwarf that she is impressed by her character. Further she says that since she has no use for the sword that Belgwyn surrendered it is only fitting that Belgwyn wield it against the threat of Tiamat yet expects its return once the task is complete.
Having concluded their business with the draconic council, Elia gestures to the carriages once again while Tiz retreats back into the cavernous chamber. Changing form once more, the silver dragon carries the party back to Waterdeep. On their arrival the party provides instructions to Elia for her to report back to Lady Silverhand on the alliance now formed. Elia reminds the group that the council is bound to them, not the council. They will perform as Tobin’s Revenge requests but only Tobin’s Revenge. The party’s instructions are to provide aid to the lands of Waterdeep under Lady Silverhand’s guidance, Neverwinter under Lord Neverember’s guidance, Baldur’s Gate under Marshall Ravengard’s guidance, Silverymoon under Sir Harnblade’s guidance, and Daggerford under Sir Isteval’s guidance. Thanking Elia, the party turns their minds on the elves of the Misty Forest.
Session Date – 1 May 2026
Roster
- Belgwyn
- EKIM
- Fionne ‘The Ankle Biter’
- Sariel
- Seebo
- Hupp
- Sir Divad