Located directly south of the Sea Ward, the Castle Ward was the political and military heart of Waterdeep. Bob grew more and more uncomfortable the closer he got to the Castle Ward. Castle Waterdeep sat atop an enormous bluff overlooking the bay; the royalty of Waterdeep did not reside here, having lived in Piergeiron’s Palace for well over a century, but the Castle still stood as a bastion of last defense should the city ever be attacked. Indeed, long-time residents joked that, even come the end of time, the old castle would still be standing. In addition to all manner of courts and magistrates who made their office in the Castle Ward, the ward was also home to Blackstaff Tower, stronghold of the Blackstaff, the military leader of the city. Passersby tended to avoid their gaze of the tower, as looking at it for too long can leave the viewer feeling mildly queasy and with the distinctly disquieting sensation of being watched. Built in the Year of the Smoky Moon, 1287 DR, the white marble Palace of Waterdeep, now commonly known as Piergeiron's Palace, stood as a shining symbol of the Lords' Rule, unblemished by corruption. The Palace was the main office location for many city officials, the majority of which were dedicated to the administration of city services, such as the Watch, the Guard, city clerks, and the Loyal Order of Street Laborers. The Lords' Court met in a large chamber on the second floor, just up the grand staircase from the echoing, open entry hall. As the sun reached its highest point, the Lord’s Court was now in session. The Lord’s Court was held in an open, marble-pillared, many-balconied hall of the Palace of Waterdeep. The vast chamber was lit by giant torches in brackets and various variously-colored driftglobes flitting about the arched ceiling. The hall was supported by four stout pillars. A long finely-woven carpet marked the Path of the Petitioners from the hall’s main entrance to the dais that holds the Speaker’s Seat. At the raised northern end, signifying the city's geographical location and Her dominance of northern trade, sat the Open Lord's chair. As opulent as any throne in half a hundred throne rooms, it was always referred to as a "chair" by the Lords and the people of Waterdeep. Arranged in such a way as to surround the petitioner’s floor like the numbers on a clock were six stone pulpits that could be raised from the floor to varying heights, where Masked Lords could stand and make pronouncements during Council sessions. None of the platforms could be raised higher than the Speaker’s Seat, as a show of deference to the Open Lord. The room was pierced by several sets of entrances. The upper balconies, hung with various banners of the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors, the Watch, and the guilds, were accessible through stairways to the upper level. The southern, "main doors" were two, swung outwards, giant everbright-banded slabs of dark wood, cut to show off their grain and partially covered with hung banners depicting the crests of the City and of the Lords. The back sides of the doors were unadorned, unbanded, and unvarnished, as they (and the Lords) were by tradition and proclamation never to be closed to the populace of the city. Two smaller, unmarked doors in the northern wall opened into private meeting chambers for the Lords, and was where they emerge from during Court. To the east sat a plain door of black stone, through which the black-robed magisters would emerge to pass their judgements. In grand carvings around the massive audience chamber were an arrangement of statues called the Conclave of the Lords (also snidely referred to by foes of the Lords or the city itself as the "Parade of Stoneheads" or "The Stone-Witted Seven"). The centerpiece of the Conclave carving depicted the deceased Lords Baeron and Shilarn Silmaeril, facing each other in grand regalia, the lady bearing a crescent-moon-topped scepter and Baeron holding aloft an ornate torch in the image of that depicted on the arms of the Lords of the city. To their sides stood five more figures, three to the left and two to the right, in decreasing sizes of stature. To the right was Ahghairon the Faithful Advisor, a robed mage bearing tome and skull-topped wand; and The Foolish Merchant, a male figure devoid of facial features and dressed in pompous fashion, representing the two failed Lords Magister Lhorar Gildeggh and Ehlemm Zoar, and a comment on the folly of tyranny and poor trade. To the left stood Raurlor the Over-Proud, whose form split into two above the waist, with one a proud, well-muscled warrior holding aloft a burning sword and the other a cowering, furtive figure with an arm covering his face; Nimoar the Founder, a noble man of plain dress bearing both a rope-entwined trident and a sheaf of wheat; and finally, The Lady of Many Coins, The Merchant Mother, an ample, well-rounded female whose left hand holds a rolled-up scroll and from whose right spilled a cascade of coinage, meant to represent the wealth and power that come from fair, open trade. On the marble-tiled floor in front of the Lord’s Dais were again engraved the arms of the City of Splendors. To the sides and back of the Speaker Seats and the giant floor carving were standing-only areas reserved for petitioners and viewers. The galleries were already filled with onlookers – Siegfried knew that for most Waterdhavians this would be their only opportunity to ever see the Open Lord, as well as the Masked Lords. Siegfried strode forward purposefully along the Petitioner’s Path towards the northern dais, his footfalls echoing throughout the vast chamber. There was a respectful silence from the crowd; petitioners were often treated with respect and deference prior to the Court rendering judgment. Walking to the centre of the audience chamber, Siegfried unsheathed Azuredge and with a flourish placed it blade down on the floor, a hand on the pommel like it was a cane. There was a murmur from the crowd as they recognized the weapon. Siegfried’s scar billowed. Varien, Alec, and Bob followed Siegfried. Around them were six galleries, each one fronted by a Masked Lord of Waterdeep, wearing an identical robe and steel mask that obscured their race, physical features, gender, and voice. Advisors, fawning escorts, and distinguished onlookers sat in rows behind them. Varien leaned over to ask Siegfried a question. “Why are they all wearing masks?” Siegfried replied, “so that they cannot be bribed. The only person you can be absolutely sure isn’t a Masked Lord of Waterdeep is someone who publicly works hard to get elected a Masked Lord of Waterdeep. Additionally, it’s not a good idea to mistreat someone in Waterdeep because a street-cleaner that you might snub or spit upon could be the very Masked Lord who presides over your next court case.” “How are we sure they’re the Masked Lords and not imposters?” Varien asked suspiciously. “That’s the best part,” Siegfried replied. “Were someone to steal a Masked Lord’s robes and mask and attempt to pass themselves off as a Masked Lord, they would simply catch fire.” The half-orc made a face. “Or something suitably horrible like that. Historians have written about episodes in the past and it’s crazy. The general takeaway is you don’t impersonate a Masked Lord because you could die.” And then, Open Lord Laeral Silverhand entered the chambers. She walked onto the stage and mounted the dais to the sound of thunderous applause from the assembled throng. Siegfried whooped along with the rest of the citizenry. Alec grew uncomfortable at the fanfare and began to feel paranoid, as though archers were lurking behind every pillar, waiting for the order to riddle him and his companions with arrows. He steeled himself but reasoned that it was unlikely that any punitive sentence judged by the Court would be carried out on the floor of the chamber. Waterdeep didn’t seem like that sort of place. Nevertheless, he gripped his amulet a little tighter. The Open Lord was positively resplendent in her robes of the archmagi . She was six feet tall, thin, and wore her long silver hair in an elaborate bun or behind a silver circlet—the better to keep it out of her face. She had large, emerald green eyes that seemed to take in every detail. At the display of admiration from the crowd, Silverhand smiled and bowed her head in appreciation, which only seemed to fuel the passions of the assembly, but they quickly quieted down as she took her seat upon the chair. “I declare this sitting of the Lord’s Court now in session,” Lady Laeral said in a soft but commanding voice. She turned to a distinguished-looking court clerk who had followed at a deferential distance behind her, an armload of scrolls and tomes held before him. “Aulbaram, who is first on today’s docket?” One of the most senior and long-serving of Waterdeep's "black-robed" magistrates, Aulbaram was known as "The Blind Dragon," due to his age-weakened eyes and authoritative demeanor. He was a large, still-imposing man, broad-shouldered, with a fine trim goatee that he was given to stroking while lost in thought. He snapped to and, holding a ledger noticeably close to his eyes, read, “Siegfried Thann, of House Thann, adopted son of Millio and Katerina, Stalwart Stingblade of the Lords’ Alliance, here to petition on the matter of securing the Court’s sanction for a delve in the City of the Dead.” Aulbaram squinted as he read the rest of the page. “Oh dear,” he said quietly. There was a muttering in the audience behind the adventurers, which the Open Lord quelled with an arched eyebrow. “More to say, have you, Aulbaram?” she asked. The aged magister cleared his throat. “Yes, well, it would appear that following the submission of Master Thann’s petition to the Court, there were a number of, ah, disturbances in the Sea Ward, the North Ward, and the Dock Ward involving the nobleman and his retinue of, um, adventurers , culminating in the death of Lady Ssaeryl Shadowstar, High Priestess of the Temple of Beauty, and the disappearance of Herald of the Temple, the High Exultant of Sune, the Eye of the Goddess Iseriasha Darkeyes.” “Is that all?” The Open Lord asked. Aulbaram shook his head. Siegfried raised a hand. “I believe there were some murders in there?” There was a muttering from the crowd. Aulbaram stroked his goatee and then continued. “There was also, er, a disturbance at the Lightsinger Theatre last evening, m’Lord, that resulted in the destruction of property including a centrepiece animated construct. Young Master Thann and his companions were seen flying about the theatre and a carriage chase ensued that resulted in some, er, permanent infrastructural alterations to the layout of The Sutherlane.” Erwen slapped a hand to his forehead. “I knew I forgot something!” “Yes, I believe I read something about it in the papers this morning,” Open Lord Silverhand said. “Was that not part of the show? Certainly not the carriage chase.” There were titters from the assembled throng. Aulbaram paled. “That’s not all, My Lord. There was an altercation early this morning at the Yawning Portal, wherein Young Master Thann was seen striking down Meloon Wardragon, late a member of Force Grey.” An uncertain murmur rippled through the crowd. “Indeed,” Open Lord Silverhand said gravely. “There may be extenuating circumstances on that last charge,” Aulbaram said. “But it warranted reading into the Official Record. The Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors and the City Watch have been made aware of the turmoil in the streets these last few days and since Master Thann and his friends presented themselves voluntarily to the Court today, they defer official questioning of these persons of interest to members of the Lord’s Court during today’s session.” Siegfried raised his hands. “We wish to submit to the Court additional crimes that have not been recorded.” There was a general harrumphing from the assembly. Varien leaned over to whisper in Siegfried’s ears. “None of what we did was a crime, Siegfried.” Siegfried continued. “I would like to submit the murders of Brevindon Margaster, Veluithan Melshimber, Bellivar Bowmantle, and other cultists of Waterdhavian origins whose names we didn’t catch before we were forced to dispatch them.” The harrumphing intensified. “I would like to submit the breaking and entering of the Order of the Burning Dawn’s Chapterhouse in the Dock Ward, and the assault and imprisonment of Warden Jessia of the Order of the Gilded Eye,” Siegfried continued, raising his voice above the crowd’s unruly comments. “I would also like to submit the unsanctioned peace talks with a warlord, the First Arrow of Clan Many-Arrows without the sanction of the City of Splendors.” There was a dull roar from the crowd behind Siegfried and shouts and catcalls from the Lord’s galleries above. “Oh,” Siegfried continued. “Would you like me to talk about what has three eyes and is worth killing a hundred people for?” Aulbaram blanched. “Oh, you don’t want to talk about that? Okay!” Siegfried said. There was much hooting and braying from the assembly. “Right, and the latest crime?” Siegfried held the axe aloft. “I stole Azuredge from its rightful owner!” There was pandemonium. With a flourish, Siegfried spun Azuredge around and tossed it into the air like a street performer. In spite of the chaos there were several titters and guffaws from the more easily-entertained in attendance. Open Lord Silverhand’s perfectly manicured eyebrows inched a little higher. “Well then, Master Thann, assuming you are finished, it would seem that you and your companions are today’s docket.” “One final crime to declare,” Siegfried declared. “I look incredibly good. It can’t be legal to look this good.” More laughs broke out from the audience. “My Lord,” Varien ventured, “We were promised a quick in and out today. If Siegfried’s declarations of these alleged crimes will extend our audience to the entire day, then, well, can we request seating of some kind? This is all very bureaucratic and dare I say farcical.” The laughter intensified. Varien frowned and muttered, “that was not intended in jest.” He cleared his throat. “Otherwise, we shall have to stand here and discuss what crimes we may or may not have committed, morally and legally speaking.” There was some hissing and booing from the audience. Alec’s paranoia increased. This whole situation was akin to having all his sins laid bare before his stern parents. Siegfried laughed jovially and placed a hand on Varien’s shoulder pauldron. “You’ll have to excuse my friend. So much truth brings a man of his faith to his knees.” Lady Laeral turned to her adjutant. “Thank you, Aulbaram, for bringing us up to speed on the matters of the Court today. You may light Baeron’s Candle and the petitioner may begin when he is ready,” Laeral said, her emerald eyes turning steel-grey as she took the party’s measure. Aulbaram sparked a small candle alight. There was a reserved grinding sound as stone benches arose from the floor behind the petitioners. Varien smiled. Siegfried cleared his throat and began to recount everything that was safe for public consumption from his report to the Lord’s Alliance, beginning with his first interactions with the rest of the party at Helm’s Hold and ending with their victorious return to Waterdeep. He spoke of the veil of suspicion and paranoia that had enveloped Helm’s Hold and the Order of the Gilded Eye, the far-off reports of missing caravans, towns and villages going dark, the undead hordes and Eldreth Veluuthra inside Neverwinter Wood, crimes and conspiracies in Neverwinter, and the growing threat of the Sinister Seven of Nessus, with Levistus, Lord of the Fifth, pulling strings behind the scenes. He was also sure to embellish the achievements of Varien Aether and Bob Trevelyan in particular as they gained favour with the Church of Sune across several settlements along the Sword Coast, as the Lady Firehair bestowed upon Varien a sacred quest to save the Arcetalos, that led to the discovery of an orc horde massing at Tholl Sla-Houk in the Sword Mountains, led by Rulgar Many-Arrows, attempting to build an alliance with other evil factions to threaten the Sword Coast. And everywhere, the smell of the sulphur of the Nine Hells. In dealing with the orc warband it became necessary to procure the Ettin Axe of Uruth from its resting place in Waterdeep. It was in following Varien’s blessed quest from Sune to free the Arcetalos from the clutches of Levistus that the party discovered the cambion Lorcan’s infiltration of the Temple of Beauty in Waterdeep, through his agent Vashi. From there the party learned of the imminent arrival of Markosian, the Devil Behind Thrones, intent on drawing up dark plans against Waterdeep. The adventurers headed to sea to disrupt a ritual at the Leaning Lighthouse, where they took a cultist of noble blood prisoner. Finally, they fought Markosian at sea in a terrible ship-to-ship battle. Interviewing the survivors of the pirate ship it was revealed that their vessel had been involved with transporting a nest of vampires responsible for destroying a number of seaside villages near Neverwinter, practice runs for a promised rain of bloodshed in Waterdeep. “I have since spoken to Rulgar, Warchief of Clan Many-Arrows,” Siegfried said. “And drew up terms of peace agreement between the forces of Waterdeep and the forces Clan Many-Arrows have been argued without the Lords’ permission to do so. However, such an agreement has been made and I wish to present those terms to the Lord’s Court today.” One of the Masked Lords rose and spoke in a genderless, droning voice. “On whose authority did you make such an agreement? By what authority?” “Mine,” Siegfried said. “Not Waterdeep’s.” “And what authority do you possess?” the Masked Lord asked. “Only that which you would say that I have,” Siegfried said. “Hmmmm,” the Masked Lord said. There was harrumphing from the galleries. “The agreement is as follows,” Siegfried said. “A combined effort against the Ashmadai who plot against Waterdeep and Neverwinter, with non-aggression between us, in exchange I will ask the City of Waterdeep if they can return their cultural property, the Ettin Axe of Uruth, to Clan Many-Arrows, and that I lead an assassination mission against the City of Evernight to murder the Queen of Ashes.” This caused much consternation among the courtiers. “I still don’t understand why we are on trial here,” Varien said. “All these crimes you are accusing us of are not crimes against Waterdeep! They are credits!” “This is what we’re here to explain,” Siegfried said. He leaned in and whispered to Varien. “You see, when you join Force Grey you can dispense with these hearings, it’s quite convenient.” Another Masked Lord rose. “Queen of Ashes? Explain.” “The line of Alagondar did not die entirely in the Ruining of Neverwinter in 1451,” Siegfried explained. “but a survivor, a princess, was carried off to Many-Arrows where, among other things, she learned Shadowfell cave magic.” There was an uproar at this admission. “Order,” Lady Laeral said sternly. “She would ultimately take her own life, here in Waterdeep, in 1469. She became a shadowy Queen of Evernight, as was her deathright.” “How do you know so much about this lost heiress?” The Masked Lord asked. Siegfried cast spirit guardians and was surrounded by ashen corpses of the damned of Neverwinter. The crowd threatened to panic. “Order!” Lady Laeral shouted. Siegfried dispelled the magical aura, and the crowd’s noise lowered to dark murmurings. “I know of her intents,” Siegfried said. “Though my heart is loyal to Waterdeep, I have been groomed by to power by those who would wish Waterdeep harm. I find it more beautiful not to be born in the light, but through great effort force one’s self to the path of righteousness, despite the world’s efforts to try and make one evil.” He let Azuredge spark a ribbon of radiant flame as he spun the axe around. There were oohs and ahhs from the assembly. “So Rulgar was born a warlock of the Queen of Ashes, and Siegfried was born when she died in Waterdeep, is it possible that she has granted this half-orc the same dark power?” another Masked Lord asked. “Are you thus claiming lineage to the Alagondar line?” A fourth Masked Lord asked. “I’ve said no such thing,” Siegfried replied. “But you have asked by whose authority I act.” “How else could you explain the connection to Rulgar?” “I am not explaining anything,” Siegfried said. Varien turned to Siegfried. “All right, deny it then!” “I will not lie to the Lord’s Court,” Siegfried said. “All right, there you go,” Varien said. “Varien, tread carefully,” Siegfried hissed. He remained silent before the court. Varien rolled his eyes and turned to the Open Lord. “Let us take this one step at a time, then. The crime of killing Iseriasha is a crime because of her status as a chosen Elect of the Church of Sune?” “It is a charge of breaching Sections III and IV of Waterdeep’s Code Legal,” a Masked Lord replied, “namely, assaulting a priest or lay worshiper, Disorderly conduct within a temple, theft of temple goods or offerings, and murdering a citizen, namely, Lady Ssaeral Shadowstar, High Priestess of the Temple of Beauty with or without justification.” “You are wrong on all of those accounts then,” Varien said. “Are we?” the Masked Lord asked flatly. “You said she was lady of the church, wrong, she was under the thrall of the succubus Vashi,” Varien said. “You said we were acting disorderly in the church – wrong, it is in fact orderly to dispel devils and beat back the flames of Hell wherever they are to be found, no matter where you are, even in a church!” Varien thought for a moment. “And we didn’t steal any goods or offerings.” “What were the circumstances of High Lady Ssaeral Shadowstar’s death?” a Masked Lord asked. “As for the disappearance of Iseriasha Darkeyes, we killed her!” Varien said. There was a roar from the crowd. Varien turned. “Don’t boo me! She was in fact the succubus Vashi, and we sent her back to the Nine Hells,” Varien declared. Alec stepped forward and threw up his hands. “I’m innocent!” he shouted. “High Priestess Shadowstar was a heretic and not a holy priestess,” Varien said. “undeserving of her title, and the other one was a devil in disguise. It is very orderly conduct to remove them both. And if you wish to call them crimes instead, which they’re not, you should allow the Church to handle things in its own way, because the last time I checked, it’s not a crime of Waterdeep to vanquish devils or demons.” At this, there was more commotion. Another Masked Lord stepped forward. “Order! Order!” the Masked Lord intoned. Turning to Lady Laeral, the Lord said, Open Lord, this nobleman is clearly offering up the story of an orc horde in order to deflect the court’s attention away from his cadre of brigands.” “No, I’m doing it to draw attention away from the fact that half of Wateredeep’s noble families are acting in concert with forces of Asmodeus to rob the embezzled funds from-” he paused. “Sorry, I agreed not to talk about that.” There was a continued uproar. “Open Lord, we call the current High Priest of the Temple of Beauty to speak on Varien’s behalf,” Siegfried said. “Who then is the sitting High Priest in the absence of a successor?” a Masked Lord asked. Siegfried pointed at Bob. “I am,” Bob said as he stepped forward. Another Masked Lord threw up their hands. “Come on! Open Lord, this is a farce! The new High Priest is among this man’s retinue! Suspicion! Doubt!” “It is not my fault that all the other candidates were not suitable,” Bob replied. “I was chosen by Lady Sune Herself. Would you like to take it up with Her?” There was a sudden silence from the assembly. All eyes were on Lady Laeral Silverhand. “This is highly irregular,” the Open Lord said, shifting in her seat. “But I’m going to allow it.” Bob cast the commune ritual using incense and his holy tears. The vaulted chamber darkened and then was illuminated as a glorious apparition appeared high up in the recesses of the castle chamber. A dazzingly beautiful Seraph of Sune, her full red hair shining like fire, materialized and descended from the upper reaches of the chamber on wings like silver. She wore a headpiece that kept her waving hair out of her face. Her perfect breasts were barely held in place by a low-cut plated bustier and she wore little other than plate faulds about her narrow waist and thigh-high boots. “Highly impractical, protection-wise,” Siegfried said as he watched her descend. The Seraph alighted on the stone floor in front of Bob. “Beloved of Sune, speak your heart’s desires to me,” she said in an angelic voice. “Mighty Angel of Sune,” Bob said, “Do I have Lady Firehair’s blessing to take on the mantle of High Priest of the Temple of Beauty?” In response, the Seraph moved towards Bob and caught him up in a loving embrace, placing a holy kiss on his lips. After a passionate moment, she made as if to whisper in his ear, her lips touching his cheek, and yet her voice was like the chiming of a hundred temple bells as she answered, “Yes.” The word echoed through the chamber. “Have my allies been truthful in front of the Lord’s Court?” Bob asked his second question. Once again there was a long kiss as the Seraph bent Bob back in her arms. “They have,” she said. “Do we not have a divine mission to save Waterdeep?” Bob asked. The Seraph gave Bob a third holy kiss. “This is a good day for Bob,” Bob said. The Seraph winked at Bob. “You have Lady Firehair’s, My, Divine Blessing.” She kissed him again. Varien walked around the pair and faced the Court. “I’m pretty sure that says it all. Respectfully, even you will not argue against the gods.” “I rest my case,” Bob said, his voice muffled as he was pressed against the Seraph’s willing flesh. “We do ask that the testimony of this Seraph be admitted to the Court,” Siegfried said. Alec continued to sweat. The Seraph reluctantly released Bob from her embrace and with a flap of her wings, began to ascend back into the air above the chamber. There was a flash of radiance and she was gone. There was an awed murmur from the crowd. “In light of this divine revelation, perhaps the Court would strike any accusations of our conduct against the Church of Sune from the record as Sune Herself commissioned and condoned our actions in the Temple of Beauty,” Siegfried said. “The various acts performed and such.” “Cheerfully withdrawn,” The Open Lord said. “What answer do you have to the other charges?” “That roadwork?” Siegfried replied. “We were chased by Ashmadai agents riding a mimic of some kind after we had arrested a member of the Ashmadai organization for assaulting and torturing a noble of the city, Renaer Neverember, and were taking him to a secure location for questioning as a joint operation between the Lord’s Alliance and the Order of the Gauntlet. The road damages were performed in an attempt to get away, ensnaring our pursuers in the process, and we hope that mimic was brought to order. We laid signals so that the Griffon Cavalry could swoop in and make the appropriate arrests. Did the City Watch find the mimic in question?” “I believe the Griffon Cavalry did log a report,” Aulbaram said, stroking his goatee. “Any billable damages at the theatre we are probably liable for and can be billed to us or to Renaer Neverember, depending on how you’d want to rule that,” Siegfried said. “Were you to hold me responsible I would submit the receipts to the Lord’s Alliance as I was acting under their auspices.” Open Lord Laeral smiled at that. “How convenient,” one of the Masked Lords said. “Well, yes, that’s how the Lord’s Alliance works. We are covered by the authority of the Lord’s Alliance to protect the laws of the Lord’s Alliance. So damages would be covered if they are deemed necessary. In this case, we were being chased by devils, cultists, and a mimic, and we needed to ensure the safety of Waterdeep’s citizens.” “In regards to the named nobles, they were working alongside Brevindon Margaster and the cambion Lorcan, vassal of Levistus, in concert with the Ashmadai to bring a conquering force to Waterdeep and also to rob House Cassalanter of one shy of a million gold coins.” This statement caused yet another uproar in the galleries. “I cannot go into the details of why, due to the aforementioned confidentiality surrounding these events.” “That is a serious allegation and an unthinkable sum,” one of the Masked Lords said. “Brevindon’s testimony has already been submitted to the Open Lord,” Siegfried said. “Following Brevindon’s murder at the hands of the cambion Lorcan.” One of the Open Lords pointed at Siegfried from the gallery. “You have mentioned an heir to the Alagondar family surviving the destruction of Neverwinter and being taken to the Kingdom of Many-Arrows to live among the orcs. They returned to Waterdeep years later and bore children? Is this accurate?” “I believe her labour started in the Kingdom of Many-Arrows but concluded in Waterdeep,” Siegfried said. “It follows the child born in Waterdeep would have been the younger.” “Only a member of the family could know such details,” The Masked Lord continued. “I was quite young at the time,” Siegfried said with a smile. “My adoption, however, was formally recognized by the then-Open Lord of Waterdeep, Dagult Neverember. If there was any additional knowledge passed along at the time, he would be the one to ask.” The Masked Lords began to talk over one another while the Open Lord stared at Siegfried with her piercing eyes. Siegfried met her gaze evenly. “These claims are audacious enough that we find weight in our considerations thereof,” one of the Masked Lords droned. “That is the decision of the Court of Waterdeep,” Siegfried said. Open Lord Silverhand remained silent, but kept a grave expression on her face. One of the Masked Lords spoke. “You leave us with little choice but to conclude that you are in fact an heir of the Alagondar line yourself, an heir to the Crown of Neverwinter.” Open Lord Laeral Silverhand spoke. “Should we put it to a vote?” “To what purpose?” a Masked Lord replied. “I see no profit in it for Waterdeep.” This one doesn’t get the joke, Siegfried said. Laeral Silverhand continued. “Certainly, the Lord’s Court did not envision rendering judgment on such a matter at today’s session, however, circumstances have changed.” “Let us probe further on this so-called peace agreement,” a Masked Lord suggested. “For the moment, I have turned an armed force away from Waterdeep and aimed it at Thundertree and Neverwinter Wood, where the Ashmadai plot and scheme,” Siegfried said. “Should the Open Lord wish me to liaise with further peace and trade agreements going forward, I believe we could see the profit for Waterdeep,” Siegfried said. “Trade and commerce is always more profitable than war.” That seemed to have an impact on the Lords. Lady Laeral spoke. “In order to recognize the familial claim of the older brother, it follows that we would recognize the lineage of the younger brother, and thus provide the imprimatur for a peace agreement between Waterdeep and this Many-Arrows warband. I propose that we vote to recognize the link between the Alagondars and Many-Arrows and thus forge a peace for however long it may last.” Baeron’s Candle guttered out. “Recognizing the authority vested in in Siegfried Thann to negotiate this peace with Many-Arrows, recognizing a claim of royalty, we hereby vote.” Three Masked Lords voted against. Three Masked Lords voted in favour. Open Lord Laeral Silverhand smiled to herself as she realized she had to cast the tie-breaking vote. “I vote in favour of the motion. Siegfried Thann, you and your colleagues have dispensation to explore the Hall of Heroes for the express and singular purpose of securing and recovering an artifact of historical renown that could stave off a clear and present danger to the City of Splendors and forge a peace agreement with the Kingdom of Many-Arrows. The Lord’s Court is hereby confident that you shall not abuse the trust it is placing in you, and that you and your friends will leave the Hall of Heroes in better condition than when you found it. Do you assent to the Court’s finding?” “I assent,” Siegfried replied. “Well then, Siegfried Alagondar, I wish you luck in your search, as a scion of House Thann and House Alagondar,” the Open Lord said. “Go with our blessing.” Siegfried placed Azuredge on his back. “Thank you, Open Lord.” He did not bow, looking her in the eye with only the authority a king would have. Open Lord Laeral’s expression was almost unreadable, but Siegfried thought for a fleeting moment he could detect a hint of sadness behind her eyes. I am legally Siegfried Alagondar, second in line to the Crown of Neverwinter , Siegfried thought to himself. He cast a sending to Rulgar. Waterdeep has licensed the return of the Ettin Axe to Rulgar Alagondar of Many-Arrows as part of a lasting peace and trade agreement. Send an envoy to negotiate. Quite a bargain, brother, Rulgar replied. We’ll see what their word is worth.
