Colloquiems and Consequences

 Note to self--when offered the choice between a lecture and a pub crawl, pick the latter. Not because it's more enjoyable (though the colloquiem was indeed dull as Dis), but in order to KEEP YOUR ALLIES FROM COMMITING A TRIPLE-HOMICIDE!

First thing's first. Hana was introduced as "The [Elf] who Freed the Hall of Cognizance." Whatever that means--but an impressive title. Heroic, even... if you're into...cognition?

Freed though it may be, there's been goblin activity there of late. Apparently it's a structure that's been around since the Mageocracy of Netherell. I'm fuzzy on the details, never getting proper instruction in history and all, but clearly a bastion of old magic.

We're also apparently at the precipice of a Great Confluence. These scholars of Oghma seem to think that civilization has continually oscillated between gradual rises in complexity and flourishing only to suddenly descend into chaos. Supposedly through disparate forces and races joining together. (The current motley crew I'm pledged to reflect this somewhat--an elf, halfling, and dwarf and all! But I suppose that's more to be expected than goblinoids, orcs, and gnolls!)

Sticking around *did* also mean I became privy to the machinations of the Neverwinter Guards attempting to extort control of the fortification around the Hall of Cognizance. Vanesh Elderell seemed keen to have Hana command a Wizard's Tower there instead, which would require a sizable investment (4,000gp with at least a 1,000gp downpayment). There's some word of a Vault of Ages as a possible source of treasure...or maybe something to do with the Great Confluence...or Mt. Hotenow's eruption...Honestly I wasn't paying much attention at this point. Too busy considering the disappointment Neverwinter has been. 

I'd heard tale of this city, a bastion of civilization and order, which seem tremendously unfounded upon closer inspection. To think--men-at-arms that can barely patrol their own city, posturing like they have the strength to control the Wood! If they *were* that mighty, there'd by no need for these constabulary mercenaries patrolling the wards of the city... Which is where our problems have escalated.

So Perrin and Oskar saw fit to head off to a tavern, only to discover--so Perrin somewhat drunkenly explained later--that they were wanted men. Apparently these three have tussled with what masquerades as "the law" in this city before, and under some agreement of mutual aid an arrest would prove imminent.

That is until they attacked and killed a contingent of the Vermillion Band.

So now they're wanted wanted men, and this district of the city is on high alert.

Losing favor with Hana's order for the time, we attempted to lie low, only for the Vermillion Band to be hot on our track. I managed to engineer an escape via my rope of climbing, and off to the midnight streets we went. We inspected the South Gate, finding it heavily guarded. I attempted to summon Beruthiel to me, using her approach as a distraction, but to no avail.

How indeed are we getting out of this city? Hana seems eager to try to fly us out...better hope to be quicker than the loosed arrows of the Vermillion Band if that's our best course of action!

O Red Knight, may this gambit bring forth victory and not sacrifice.