Session 31 - The Pub That Crawls: First Round

Roster

Atudark,Lyra Everlight,Redrnic Udertaken,Suraax Smith,Vigilius Palamas,Vith Pahlok

Session Overview

Session Status: Occurred

In Game Date: 15th Tarsakh 1509

Group Cup Points

NPC's

Davo Pesch,Marcellus,Karl Shaffer,Cedric the Kor,Cedric the Orc

Summary

Dressed for the evening and armed with curiosity, the students begin the first official stop of their crawl at The Tall Tale. What begins as food, drink, and academic discussion quickly turns into a descent into spirit-haunted catacombs where ancestral statues wage an endless war. Through negotiation, flattery, and promises of legacy, the party convinces two rival Cedrics to “end the war” long enough to unlock the vault. Within, they discover the tavern’s legendary Liquid Courage — and hints that their investigation into the Pub That Crawls is drawing attention from far more than tavern keepers.

An Evening at The Tall Tale

• The students collect their formalwear from Davo Pesch at The Silver Shuttle.
• They walk across Neverwinter to The Tall Tale.
• Inside, they are greeted by Marcellus, the loxodon barkeeper.
• Orders are placed:
  • Vigilius orders tea and a sausage main with bread.
  • Vith orders a strong drink.
    • He is presented with a bottle of shimmering green liquid and a small glass.
    • When offered a larger glass, he accepts.
    • Marcellus pours until Vith says stop — nearly overflowing the pint.
• Suraax and Lyra enquire about the tavern’s signature drink: Liquid Courage.
• Marcellus explains:
  • The drink is stored in a chamber beyond battling spirits in the cellar.
  • According to the rules, one must “end the war” to access the vault.
  • He has never managed to open it himself.

Lore in the Reading Room

• Red emerges from an adjoining reading room, orders an enormous vegetarian meal, and introduces himself to the other Neverwood Academy students.
• Meanwhile, Suraax visits Karl Shaffer, a Lorehold College professor with a personal interest in Neverwinter’s myths.
• They discuss The Pub That Crawls at length.
• Shaffer reveals:
  • The automaton running The Frothing Flask was built by Eb Zenithon — the same author of Suraax’s mysterious notebook.
  • Professor Senestrine Darou of Quandrix College had also enquired about the pub earlier in the week.
  • No one has ever officially completed all five pub challenges.
  • Very few attempt it anymore.
• Suraax rejoins the group with this new information.

Descent into the Catacombs

• The party informs Marcellus they are ready.
• He leads them downstairs and unlocks the cellar door to the catacombs.
• As they descend, they hear clashing steel and shouting.
• The corridor opens into a vast hall:
  • Kor statues and orc statues, animated by ancestral spirits, battle endlessly.
• The leaders introduce themselves:
  • Cedric the Orc
  • Cedric the Kor
• The reason for the war is forgotten — now they fight over which of them is the superior Cedric.
• The party attempts diplomacy.
  • Suggesting unity.
  • Proposing cooperation to open the locked chamber.
• The Cedrics care only about legacy.
• Redrnic mentions another famous Cedric — an owlin mage.
  • The statues are enraged.
• Suraax and Lyra pivot strategy:
  • Promise both Cedrics they will be remembered in written history.
• After sustained persuasion — and Suraax taking detailed notes of their accomplishments — both Cedrics agree to assist.
• Together, they use their staffs to release the magical lock on the chamber door.

The Vault of Liquid Courage

• Inside the antechamber:
  • A raised dais holding a dozen cups of dark, frothy liquid.
  • A headless statue of a hulking warrior with a battleaxe.
• An inscription reads:

  Orestes Alaris: May his head lie with his heart

• Redrnic takes a cup and drinks it.
  • When he returns the empty cup, it refills itself.
• Vigilius casts Detect Magic using his silver ink charm.
  • Preservation magic lingers throughout the chamber.
  • Weak conjuration magic surrounds the dais.
  • Faint divination magic emanates from Suraax.

First Round Complete

• Each student takes a cup of Liquid Courage.
• They knock to be let out of the cellar.
• Back in the tavern, they drink:
  • Vigilius carefully paces himself to minimise intoxication.
• They thank Marcellus and exit into the Neverwinter night.
• Minutes later, a dark-robed figure slips out of the tavern behind them.

Ongoing Threads

• The Pub That Crawls – Professors are investigating. The legend is active.
• Professor Senestrine Darou’s Interest – A Quandrix planar theorist asking about a roaming pub is highly suspicious.
• Eb Zenithon Connection – The Frothing Flask automaton and Suraax’s notebook share a creator.
• Orestes Alaris – The headless statue and inscription hint at a larger story.
• Divination Aura on Suraax – Something is watching, guiding, or marking her.
• The Shadowed Figure – The party is no longer pursuing the crawl unnoticed.
• The Cedrics’ Legacy – Their promise to immortalise two warring spirits may carry future consequences.