# Session 3: Ashes and Automata

<details id="bkmrk-music%F0%9F%8E%B6-%22the-puppets-"><summary>Music🎶</summary>

<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"></col><col style="width: 50%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td class="align-center">[![image.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/J10image.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/J10image.png)

<video class=" align-center" controls="controls" height="150" width="300"><source src="https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/attachments/60"></source></video>"The Puppets Flame and Sepents Fang" - [Varrick Songweave](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/books/varrick-songweave)</td><td class="align-center">[![image.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/Gvfimage.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/Gvfimage.png)

<video class=" align-center" controls="controls" height="150" width="300"><source src="https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/attachments/61"></source></video>"Dirty Boots" - [Varrick Songweave](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/books/varrick-songweave)</td></tr><tr><td>```
(Verse 1)
Come gather, good folk, let this tale ignite,
A fireball’s roar shook Trollskull at night.
A boy held beads of a deadly chain—
But who pulled the string? What mind, insane?

(Chorus)
So strum the lute, let the tale unfold,
Heroes of Trollskull, brazen and bold!
Eyeless shines with radiant flame,
Captain Mercer plays the shadows’ game.

(Verse 2)
To Gond’s great halls the party sped,
Where brass and cogs marked the path ahead.
Captain John scaled the temple wall,
Slipped not once—no fall at all!

(Bridge 1)
There Nim confessed with gears grown cold:
"I built him, yes—but he broke the mold."
A Nimblewright lost, with fire in hand—
We took the task, by Mirt’s demand.

(Verse 3)
Into the sewers, deep and vile,
The detector clicked—crept every mile.
They found a cult in serpent guise,
Rituals writ 'neath traitor skies!

(Bridge 2)
Eyeless stood where the torches failed,
Wreathed in light, his purpose unveiled.
Dren charged in, maul like thunder,
Struck down foes, tore spells asunder!

(Verse 4)
Captain John, in deadly dance,
Dodged through strikes like fate’s own chance.
Slim Jim mended wounds with grace,
A blur of bandage, charm, and mace.

(Verse 5)
Silas grinned—his boots now charred—
Two fireballs flew from his hand unmarred.
Scrolls we claimed in smoke and fear:
Flaming Sphere, Animate Dead, and more unclear!

(Final Chorus)
So raise your mugs, let echoes fly,
Varrick sings ‘neath Waterdeep’s sky!
Eyeless burns with righteous gleam,
Dren smites foes in every dream,
Slim Jim steadies, Silas schemes,
And Captain John haunts alley seams!

(Outro)
From gears to ghosts, from flame to blade,
The hunt begins, the path is laid.
Trollskull’s crew, in legend steeped—
By fire and fang, their oaths were deeped.
```

  
</td><td>```
In Waterdeep where sparks did fly,
A fireball lit the morning sky.
Through temple halls and secrets sworn,
A Nimblewright was thusly born.

To sewers deep the brave did crawl,
Where snakes with spells began to brawl.
Steel did clash and spells did flare,
As Eyeless fell 'neath poisoned air.

John struck true with blade so keen,
And Dren fought on with health so lean.
Slim Jim rose and then was floored,
While healing hands and faith restored.

But through it all, with spells alight,
One serpent’s bane stayed out of sight—
Oh Silas, bold, with magic mean...
Was untouched, yet cursed: his boots unclean!*

John struck true with blade so keen,
And Dren fought on with health so lean.
Slim Jim rose and then was floored,
While healing hands and faith restored.
```

  
</td></tr></tbody></table>

</details># 🧭 **Overview**

📍 **Location**: Trollskull Tavern → Bent Nail → Temple of Gond → Waterdeep Sewers  
📆 *\[18th May 2025\]*

A deadly **💥 fireball explosion** outside **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="275" data-start="198" rel="noopener" target="_new">Trollskull Tavern</a>** killed several civilians, including a gnome named **Dalakhar**, but the tavern and party were unharmed. Dalakhar was fleeing enemies and intended to hire the party to deliver the **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="533" data-start="459" rel="noopener" target="_new">Stone of Golorr</a>** to **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="619" data-start="541" rel="noopener" target="_new">Renaer Neverember</a>**’s father. A **metal puppet** was seen on the rooftops, and a **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="769" data-start="685" rel="noopener" target="_new">Necklace of Fireballs</a>** was found at the scene.

At the **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="878" data-start="806" rel="noopener" target="_new">Temple of Gond</a>**, the party met **Nim**, an automaton who confessed to creating a **rogue nimblewright**. They received a **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="1072" data-start="988" rel="noopener" target="_new">Nimblewright Detector</a>** and were offered **💰500 gold or a custom invention** for its recovery.

In the **Waterdeep sewers**, the group uncovered and defeated a **yuan-ti cult** performing a dark ritual. They recovered **📜 magical scrolls**, **🗡️ enchanted weapons**, and **💰216 gold**, and earned **+1 Renown** from **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="1437" data-start="1373" rel="noopener" target="_new">Force Grey</a>**. The **Nimblewright’s location** and the **cult’s true purpose** remain unknown.

---

## 💥 Fireball in Trollskull Alley

While business picked up at **Trollskull Tavern**, a **massive explosion** shattered the calm—**a fireball** detonated just outside, killing **Dalakhar**, a gnome spy, and several citizens. Remarkably, **the tavern and party were unharmed**, though the street was left scorched and chaotic.

👤 A **cloaked figure** was seen looting Dalakhar’s body and fleeing toward the **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="818" data-start="756" rel="noopener" target="_new">Bent Nail</a>**.  
🧒 A child claimed a **metal puppet** had thrown something into a barrel—it was revealed to be a **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="1007" data-start="923" rel="noopener" target="_new">Necklace of Fireballs</a>** with two remaining beads.  
🧙 **Silas** identified the explosion as magical; **Dren** confirmed the necklace’s nature.

[![ChatGPT Image May 19, 2025, 12_35_56 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/k0schatgpt-image-may-19-2025-12-35-56-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/k0schatgpt-image-may-19-2025-12-35-56-am.png)

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-%22eyeless-assisted-fo" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border-width: 0px; border-style: hidden; height: 623.641px;"><caption>*"Eyeless assisted folk and asked questions"*</caption><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"></col><col style="width: 50%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 623.641px;"><td style="height: 623.641px; border-width: 0px;">[![ChatGPT Image May 28, 2025, 10_52_01 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-10-52-01-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-10-52-01-am.png)</td><td style="height: 623.641px; border-width: 0px;">[![ChatGPT Image May 28, 2025, 11_22_02 AM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-11-22-02-am.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-28-2025-11-22-02-am.png)</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

## 🚨 City Watch &amp; Renaer's Secrets

[![image.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-07/scaled-1680-/jZqimage.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-07/jZqimage.png)

*Silias in the library with a candlestick*

---


The **City Watch**, led by:

- 🧑‍⚖️ **Barnabus Blastwind**
- 👮‍♂️ **Sergeant Cromley**  
    ...arrived and began their investigation. **Captain John Mercer** calmly persuaded them the party was innocent. They revealed:
- Dalakhar had been **fleeing armed pursuers**.
- Trollskull was **declared a crime scene**.

<table border="1" id="bkmrk-later%2C-renaer-nevere" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; border-width: 0px; border-style: hidden;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"></col><col style="width: 50%;"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-width: 0px;">Later, **[Renaer Neverember](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Renaer_Neverember)** arrived and revealed:

- Dalakhar had **spied on him for two months**.
- He was likely seeking the party to **deliver the [Stone of Golorr](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/attachments/62)**[ ](https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id917932200?pt=39040802&ct=Media1GIFV2&mt=8)to Renaer’s father in **Neverwinter**.
- The artifact is powerful and valuable, drawing interest from the [**Zhentarim** ](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Zhentarim)and [**Xanathar Guild**.](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Xanathar%27s_Thieves%27_Guild)
- Renaer offered **💰1,000 gold** if the party retrieved it.

</td><td style="border-width: 0px;">[![Junger Adelmann mit Rapier.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/junger-adelmann-mit-rapier.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/junger-adelmann-mit-rapier.png)</td></tr></tbody></table>

---

## ⚙️ Temple of Gond – The Lonely Automaton

Following the automaton’s trail to the **<a class="cursor-pointer" data-end="2252" data-start="2180" rel="noopener" target="_new">Temple of Gond</a>**, the party met:

- 🐉 **Valetta**, bronze dragonborn priestess
- 🤖 **Nim**, a sentient automaton

Nim confessed to **secretly creating a second nimblewright** that had escaped. He feared the construct was responsible for the explosion. The temple had locked Nim away.

🎁 **Rewards Offered**:

- **500 gold** for destroying the rogue Nimblewright
- OR a mechanical invention (e.g., **barking box** or **adjustable stilts**)
- Nim begged for the nimblewright to be **spared and returned**, promising a **unique invention**

📟 The party received a **[Nimblewright Detector](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Nimblewright_detector)** — spins and clicks when within 500 ft

[![image.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/igDimage.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/igDimage.png)

---

## 🕳️ Sewer Hunt – The Yuan-ti Ritual

With no detection from the device, the party scouted the **Waterdeep sewers** and stumbled upon a **yuan-ti ritual** involving a **drowning victim**, **red and green malisons**, and a **purple abomination**.

The cult attacked, declaring: *“Witnesses must be slain!”*

## [![ChatGPT Image May 19, 2025, 02_27_33 PM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-19-2025-02-27-33-pm.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-19-2025-02-27-33-pm.png)

### ⚔️ Combat Highlights:

<div class="_tableContainer_16hzy_1" id="bkmrk-character-action-eye"><div class="_tableWrapper_16hzy_14 group flex w-fit flex-col-reverse" tabindex="-1"><table class="w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)" data-end="3798" data-start="3269" style="width: 89.0476%;"><thead data-end="3291" data-start="3269"><tr data-end="3291" data-start="3269"><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="3281" data-start="3269" style="width: 13.8441%;">Character</th><th data-col-size="md" data-end="3291" data-start="3281" style="width: 86.1559%;">Action</th></tr></thead><tbody data-end="3798" data-start="3314"><tr data-end="3418" data-start="3314"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="3328" data-start="3314" style="width: 13.8441%;">**Eyeless**</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="3418" data-start="3328" style="width: 86.1559%;">Smote a serpent, used *Guiding Bolt*, downed by cold &amp; poison, **revived by Slim Jim**</td></tr><tr data-end="3491" data-start="3419"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="3434" data-start="3419" style="width: 13.8441%;">**Slim Jim**</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="3491" data-start="3434" style="width: 86.1559%;">Revived Eyeless, later **downed and revived himself**</td></tr><tr data-end="3602" data-start="3492"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="3511" data-start="3492" style="width: 13.8441%;">**Captain John**</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="3602" data-start="3511" style="width: 86.1559%;">Landed a **39-damage Sneak Attack**, rolled **nat 20 death save**, finished red malison</td></tr><tr data-end="3673" data-start="3603"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="3614" data-start="3603" style="width: 13.8441%;">**Dren**</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="3673" data-start="3614" style="width: 86.1559%;">Frontlined with maul and spells, **survived with 3 HP**</td></tr><tr data-end="3798" data-start="3674"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="3686" data-start="3674" style="width: 13.8441%;">**Silas**</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="3798" data-start="3686" style="width: 86.1559%;">Cast **two Fireballs** (from necklace), *Fear* and psychic spells; **remained untouched**, but *boots muddied*

</td></tr></tbody></table>

<div class="sticky end-(--thread-content-margin) h-0 self-end select-none"><div class="absolute end-0 flex items-end"><span class="" data-state="closed"><button class="bg-token-bg-primary hover:bg-token-bg-tertiary text-token-text-secondary my-1 rounded-sm p-1 transition-opacity group-[:not(:hover):not(:focus-within)]:pointer-events-none group-[:not(:hover):not(:focus-within)]:opacity-0"><svg class="icon-md-heavy" fill="none" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="M7 5C7 3.34315 8.34315 2 10 2H19C20.6569 2 22 3.34315 22 5V14C22 15.6569 20.6569 17 19 17H17V19C17 20.6569 15.6569 22 14 22H5C3.34315 22 2 20.6569 2 19V10C2 8.34315 3.34315 7 5 7H7V5ZM9 7H14C15.6569 7 17 8.34315 17 10V15H19C19.5523 15 20 14.5523 20 14V5C20 4.44772 19.5523 4 19 4H10C9.44772 4 9 4.44772 9 5V7ZM5 9C4.44772 9 4 9.44772 4 10V19C4 19.5523 4.44772 20 5 20H14C14.5523 20 15 19.5523 15 19V10C15 9.44772 14.5523 9 14 9H5Z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></button></span></div></div></div></div>---

[![ChatGPT Image May 19, 2025, 02_36_08 PM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-19-2025-02-36-08-pm.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-19-2025-02-36-08-pm.png)

## 🎁 Loot &amp; Rewards

### 📜 Magical Scrolls (unassigned):

- [**Fireball** ](https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/2102-fireball)– AoE damage
- [**Animate Dead** ](https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/2618853-animate-dead)– Raise undead (*ethical concerns*)
- [**Flaming Sphere**](https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/2618919-flaming-sphere) – Area control
- [**Fear** ](https://www.dndbeyond.com/spells/2094-fear)– AoE frighten

[![ChatGPT Image May 19, 2025, 02_41_12 PM.png](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/scaled-1680-/chatgpt-image-may-19-2025-02-41-12-pm.png)](https://bookstack.thecartwrights.nz/uploads/images/gallery/2025-05/chatgpt-image-may-19-2025-02-41-12-pm.png)

### 🗡️ Weapons:

- **+1 Longbow**
- **+1 Scimitars**

### 💰 Gold:

- **216 gold pieces** total

### 🛡️ Faction Gain:

- **+1 Renown** with the **[Grey Hands / Force Grey](https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Force_Grey)** for defeating the cult

---

## 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Party Status (Post-Battle)

<div class="_tableContainer_16hzy_1" id="bkmrk-%F0%9F%8E%AD-character-player-%E2%9A%94"><div class="_tableWrapper_16hzy_14 group flex w-fit flex-col-reverse" tabindex="-1"><table class="w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)" data-end="5154" data-start="4498"><thead data-end="4562" data-start="4498"><tr data-end="4562" data-start="4498"><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="4513" data-start="4498">🎭 Character</th><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="4522" data-start="4513">Player</th><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="4539" data-start="4522">⚔️ Class/Level</th><th data-col-size="sm" data-end="4549" data-start="4539">🧬 Race</th><th data-col-size="md" data-end="4562" data-start="4549">📌 Status</th></tr></thead><tbody data-end="5154" data-start="4625"><tr data-end="4732" data-start="4625"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4650" data-start="4625">**Eyeless Shadowstep**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4669" data-start="4650">Justin / Slitzer</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4683" data-start="4669">Paladin (3)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4693" data-start="4683">Aasimar</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="4732" data-start="4693">Downed, revived, cleared exhaustion</td></tr><tr data-end="4825" data-start="4733"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4759" data-start="4733">**Captain John Mercer**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4779" data-start="4759">Kenneth / Artemis</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4791" data-start="4779">Rogue (3)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4799" data-start="4791">Human</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="4825" data-start="4799">1 HP, MVP Sneak Attack</td></tr><tr data-end="4904" data-start="4826"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4837" data-start="4826">**Dren**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4858" data-start="4837">MichaelKong / Mike</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4872" data-start="4858">Fighter (3)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4880" data-start="4872">Dwarf</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="4904" data-start="4880">3 HP, maul frontline</td></tr><tr data-end="5020" data-start="4905"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4942" data-start="4905">**Slim Jim (Tiberius Aun Argent)**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4960" data-start="4942">Baconbuff / Rob</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4984" data-start="4960">Rogue 2 / Artificer 1</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="4992" data-start="4984">Human</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="5020" data-start="4992">Healer &amp; downed, revived</td></tr><tr data-end="5154" data-start="5021"><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="5057" data-start="5021">**Silas “Silver Tongue” Rushtyn**</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="5076" data-start="5057">Sicareus / James</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="5091" data-start="5076">Sorcerer (3)</td><td data-col-size="sm" data-end="5101" data-start="5091">Yuan-ti</td><td data-col-size="md" data-end="5154" data-start="5101">Dealt massive damage, pristine except muddy boots</td></tr></tbody></table>

<div class="sticky end-(--thread-content-margin) h-0 self-end select-none"><div class="absolute end-0 flex items-end"><span class="" data-state="closed"><button class="bg-token-bg-primary hover:bg-token-bg-tertiary text-token-text-secondary my-1 rounded-sm p-1 transition-opacity group-[:not(:hover):not(:focus-within)]:pointer-events-none group-[:not(:hover):not(:focus-within)]:opacity-0"><svg class="icon-md-heavy" fill="none" height="24" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path clip-rule="evenodd" d="M7 5C7 3.34315 8.34315 2 10 2H19C20.6569 2 22 3.34315 22 5V14C22 15.6569 20.6569 17 19 17H17V19C17 20.6569 15.6569 22 14 22H5C3.34315 22 2 20.6569 2 19V10C2 8.34315 3.34315 7 5 7H7V5ZM9 7H14C15.6569 7 17 8.34315 17 10V15H19C19.5523 15 20 14.5523 20 14V5C20 4.44772 19.5523 4 19 4H10C9.44772 4 9 4.44772 9 5V7ZM5 9C4.44772 9 4 9.44772 4 10V19C4 19.5523 4.44772 20 5 20H14C14.5523 20 15 19.5523 15 19V10C15 9.44772 14.5523 9 14 9H5Z" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"></path></svg></button></span></div></div></div></div>> All exhaustion effects have been cleared post-session.

---

## 🔍 Unresolved Threads

- The rogue **Nimblewright** remains at large.
- The purpose of the **yuan-ti ritual** is unclear—possible necromantic ties?
- Debate brews: **destroy or spare** the Nimblewright?
- Some scrolls, like *Animate Dead* and *Fear*, raise **moral dilemmas** within the party.