Four new members joined the party, after their own adventuring group was decimated by unfortunate events in Undermountain. With the promise of easy money--simply finishing the last step of a quest--the party set forth, only to be ambushed by agents of an unknown actor. Though our heroes prevailed, and did indeed reach the home of the employer, one Lord Deepwinter, said employer had been kidnapped by an unnamed wizard of the Arcane Brotherhood. They lost the object they'd meant to deliver, and barely escaped with their lives.

In an effort to track down Lord Deepwinter and salvage the quest, they've employed the services of Mystic Eyes Investigations, led by one Tiberius Kaine, an investigator specializing in the return of lost people and objects.

The conclusions to Aurora and Leannan's sidequests were conducted during the session.

Stathos' will be addressed afterward.

The Knights of the Sword Coast were an accomplished adventuring party back in their day. They'd been retired some years when their leaders decided to help a new generation rise in their place. They took several under the wing, trained them, and even signed them up for a genuine quest, with great danger and great rewards. (10,000 gp on receipt of the Lantanese Astrolabe, payable by one Lord Deepwinter of Waterdeep)

Of more than a dozen initial recruits, 4 made it through the rigorous training and into the quest itself: Jon Smith, Krom, Nyssa Murnig, and Gemidan. They traveled with veteran adventures Vhonna and Travis Deepnell, Watcher Thistlebuck, Deenah vol'Jat, and Garathorn the Gold Mage. After a grueling dungeon crawl, they finally found the object of their quest, only to be ambushed by a party of summoned devils.

(This is where the game session began)

The Knights, though greatly challenged, prevailed over the devils, and claimed their prize. Only then, unexpectedly, a massive beholder carved its way into the battlefield, spraying deadly rays in every direction. Judging that the fight was beyond the ability of the recruits, the senior Knights sent them away, with the Astrolabe in tow, via Garathorn's teleportation magic. Jon, Krom, Nyssa, and Gemidan escaped, not knowing the fate of the Knights.

Fearing attacks by opportunistic parties, which had been wisely predicted by the senior Knights, Gemidan recommended the party seek first the safety of Blackstaff Tower, where he was once an apprentice, and then recruit help from there in delivering the package safely, and perhaps following up on the senior Knights.

Gemidan approached the party in Blackstaff Tower, asking for their help in completing his quest, and promising an equal share in the reward.