The saviors of the city were escorted, some in chains, to the seat of Lord Neverember's power: The Hall of Justice. Assembled on a dias before them were the three voices of New Neverwinter; Lord Dagult Neverember, General Sabine, and Mayor Soman Galt. Of the three Mayor Galt obviously seemed out to punish Dunn and his companions. The gruff dwarf rained caustic tirades down upon the heroes as he repeatedly twisted their words and made unjust insinuations. General Sabine - on the other hand - seemed downright congenial. Never before had the group seen her so personable. Her strict persona softened perhaps by recent events? Lord Neverember was ever the voice of grace and control. Continually he nudged the conversation back onto topic and towards an all around agreeable goal.
Little did the heroes know though all that went on behind the scenes of this meeting. Dunn was aware of Mayor Galt's true loyalties, a secret he could not share at the time because of a subtle, yet persistant, mental control being thrust upon him. It was a familiar feeling he had grown to know well recently. What the others could not see, what none could see save those with a spellscar, were the careful manipulations of the blue-fire tentacles wreathing the Mayor's head.
General Sabine, on the other hand, was being influenced in a more traditional manner. Her most recent bedside companion - one she was growing more fond of daily - had the coin to buy what he needed and the velvet voice to coerce what was not for sale. Everything about the man was exotic. She had never thought herself to be attracted to a man like him, but there was something aesthetically pleasing about the horns...and the things he could do with his tail! So, surprised as she was when he mentioned the prisoner Dunn and his upcoming trial, she was compelled to do what she could to make sure the prisoner was not executed. Instead she had aimed to favor her lover with a boon and attempt to have the prisoner spared as he wished.
Lord Neverember weighed all the options and found a middle-path all could agree on. The reputation of his heroes would be saved from the tarnishing effects of having one of their number put to death. The spellscarred problem would be taken care of, Helm's Hold would have its savior and a former rebel leader would bow to him in piety in the name of atonement. All this and we wouldn't have to spend a coin to make it happen. It was a rare day such boons fell into his lap.
---
The next Tenday saw some of the hustle brought back into Neverwinter's streets. The now cured Seldra Tylmarande was assembling a pilgramage of Spellscarred peoples towards Helm's Hold. She planned to liberate the fortress and secure it from the Uthgardt. She commissioned the heroes aid in her mission and was shocked when they unanimously accepted. It was the right thing to do of course, but many heroes had their own impressions about what was right.
Seldra then spent the rest of the time until their departure planning the trip, securing supplies, and preparing herself for the worst of what she may find when she arrives at Helm's Hold. There was a lot to do and little time to organize everything that needed to be done. Alek proved a constant source of help through out the ordeal.
---
Barra spent his time reporting to his network in Bregan D'aerthe as well as keeping tabs on Dunn following the debriefing (or trial as most saw it). He was disturbed by his findings and the possible implications but it would take time for more answers to be uncovered through the usual channels. Rumors of a certain scarred dwarf assassin spotted near Neverwinter did not put the drow at ease though.
---
Payne did what was necessary to secure the safety of the man for which he had risked so much. The Banite was of use to his schemes and did him no good dead. Modrai had taken care of the council and promised exile at worst and charged Payne with the important role in getting the Avenger out of the city unseen. Once there Dunn would be accepted into the fold and given a small squad to prove himself with.
---
Mariz and Furakas were out of the city as best anyone could tell, yet probably not travelling together. The watersoul was last seen walking at the side of Len-Jes towards the harbor. The dwarf was thought to be with the Tress girl somewhere between Neverwinter and Helm's Hold. Truth is, no one knew where he disappeared off to and all attempts to uncover his trail were cold...
