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Message: <blockquote data-quote="THEMNGMNT" data-source="post: 8079265" data-attributes="member: 6809274">99th session. 16th level player characters. They've recently liberated Waterdeep from giants in the climax to my modified Storm King's Thunder. The tiefling sorcerer is the new ruler of the Zhentarim. And the halfling bard (who is secretly possessed by an agent of an archdevil) is the new Open Lord of Waterdeep.This session was built around a public event at Waterdeep Palace. It was one part awards ceremony for the liberating heroes, one part shmoozefest with visiting dignitaries, and one part funeral for the fallen Blackstaff, Vajra Safahr.The PCs have decided they are going on a quest for a holy relic with the power to resurrect the Blackstaff.Meanwhile, several dignitaries visited each PC:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The Red Wizards of Thay parlayed for peace with the PCs...who they now fear due to their control of Waterdeep and the Zhentarim. In return for peace, they offered to sell the Draconomicon to the PCs. With the Draconomicon, the PCs can uncover the secrets of the Cult of Tiamat and resolve the climactic storyline of the campaign. But the Wizards warned that the Cult of Tiamat had already made a bid.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon implored the sorcerer to abandon the Zhentarim and join the Covenant, a new league of good wizards meant to replace the Blackstaff.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The tiefling's sisters -- three erinyes from the Nine Hells -- brought her the head of Manshoon in a box. A gift from their mother, the archdevil Glasya.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The mentor of the vengeance paladin declared his desire to retire and have the paladin replace him as the high priest of Ilmater in Waterdeep.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The frost giant Harshnag, a longstanding ally of the PCs, declared his intent to travel to the Eye of the All-Father and become the new high priest of the giants.</li> </ul>The ceremony culminated with the bard, acting as the new Open Lord, addressing the crowd gathered before the Palace. He laid the blame for the sacking of Waterdeep at the feet of his predecessor, Dagult Neverember. He had Dagult brought forth from the dungeon in chains. Then the bard sentenced him to death.The high priest of Ilmater revealed that Dagult was his son -- and implored the paladin to save him. When the paladin stepped forward, the bard ordered the guards to block his way.All watched in stunned silence as the headsman's axe dropped.None of the other players knew of the bard's plans. There was a lot of shock and awe around our virtual table. Offline, the party rogue told me he is now planning to secretly spy on the bard. It's only a matter of time before the rogue discovers that the bard has become the thrall of the archdevil Glasya. Good times!The following day, the PCs entered the Red Wizards enclave in Waterdeep. There, they stepped through a portal that took them to Thay. Atop a mesa, they traded 250,000gp for the Draconomicon. At that moment, a flight of hundreds of dragons descended from the clouds and attacked Thay in a desperate, last ditch attempt to obtain the Draconomicon.Next session: The Fall of Thay!</blockquote>

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