Pirate in the Water

The Strangers With Weapons help Maxima begin her reign by conquering Port Nyanzaru.

## Major Plot Points

* SWW camped out with Artus and Dragon Bait after burning Fort Belurarian. Artus aged into his mid 50s. He was snarky with the group, asking if they had a lead on his ring or hand. Voloth said that they tried to kill Black Siren but failed. Vlad told him to seek out Zalkore to see about her immortality. The group also suggested he seek out the Amazons. The party recalled that they met giants searching for his ring, which Artus confirmed was stolen from them by his Mezroan wife. Without the ring, his mind is cleared of confusion and rage that often plagued him, however, he now constantly worries his wife will never return or that she has returned and chosen to forsake their love.
* The next morning, Talyn found the group saying Princess Maxima needed to see the party immediately. Via a teleportation scroll, the SWW went to Kir Sabal to find Ashaara guarding Maxima’s throne room. She told the party that an Amazonian princess arrived after hearing about a woman trying to become queen of Chult from the SWW. Teacher chastised the group for their lack of discretion.
* When they entered the throne room, the SWW found Princess Diana and Princess Maxima debating Chult’s leadership. Maxima wanted the Amazons to bend the knee. Diana argued that the Amazons have outlasted all other city states in Chult’s history and should remain independent.
* The party was able to broker peace between the two princesses, agreeing that Ras Nsi and the Death Curse were the most immediate threats. Diana offered to help Maxima take Port Nyanzaru as the current city leadership posed a threat to its own people and the island at large. Maxima agreed that the Amazons can remain independent if they help sack the city and defeat Ras Nsi.
* Diana then ushered in Black Siren, who was being detained by Barbara and Artemis, to face a trial in front of her SWW accusers.
* Diana used her golden lariat to tie Black Siren up and used the weapon to cast Zone of Truth.
* The party questioned Black Siren who revealed the following:
	+ She joined the Zhentarim to destroy the Dark Network from within. Her mother, Dinah Drakescale, was the magistrate of Waterdeep and was investigating the Zhentarim when she went missing, leaving 13-year-old Dinah Lance alone.
	+ Black Siren spent the next 12 years training to become the best thief and assassin so she could be recruited into the Zhentarim.
	+ She’s been in deep cover for the last five years. She tries to avoid killing when possible but admitted she’s killed for the Zhentarim on many occasions.
	+ The Zhentarim is led by five family heads, but she’s only aware of two: Tala Teague, the head of the sorcery faction, and Franco Bertinelli, the head of the military faction. All five family heads report to Nyssa, the queen of queens.
	+ The Zhentarim is the new police force in Port Nyanzaru.
* Diana and Maxima agreed that Black Siren can continue her mission under their supervision, however, she is to be exiled from Chult once she has atoned for her crimes and has the info she needs.
* Black Siren promised to help return the Ring of Winter in exchange for this mercy.
* The SWW left Kir Sabal via a teleportation circle built by Ashaara to head to Port Nyanzaru so they could sack the city for Maxima.
* Fern, Calypso, Vlad, and Voloth posed as Black Siren’s prisoners to enter the city. In the slums outside of the gates, Zhentarim agents abused and mistreated Port Nyanzaru’s residents. One slum was turned into an open air prison for all the new prisoners.
* The group went to Syndra’s house first, which showed signs of attempted break-ins. Upon entering, the group found Wakanga in the house. He was mourning Syndra and lamenting about the status of his city. He was the sole Merchant Prince to vote against the Zhentarim contract and was iced out of most decision making since they arrived. He was annoyed that they were arresting too many workers and customers for his shop to remain profitable. The wizard told the group that Tala was beyond the city gates and her lieutenant, Serena, was operating the day-to-day tasks.
* Serena, the Zhentarim thief known as Tigress, set up a base in a slum tavern that she named Beggar Princess. She hired Minnie Balloonaut to play the bagpipes for the evening.
* Black Siren walked in with Fern (as a mouse in her pocket) and learned some key info about the ongoings of the city. Notably that Tala and her bodyguard Shiva were staying in Wakanga’s mansion.
* The SWW stormed Wakanga’s mansion fighting guards and veterans outside the door. Upon entering they fought two martial art adept monks. Further into the mansion, the group found a locked safe room full of magical weapons.
	+ Fern received a Rose Whip
		- 1D8 Slashing Damage
		- It has one charge of the following spells per long rest
			* Entangle
			* Spike Growth
			* Speak with Plants
	+ Vlad found a +1 shield
	+ Voloth found fire resistant scale mail
	+ Calypso found a Wand of Wonder
	+ And Vlad took a Vicious Rapier for Vulveeta
* In another room the group took down a quartet of spies before finally finding Tala and Shiva in the master bedroom.
* The party killed Tala in the battle and knocked Shiva out. Voloth covered Shiva in oil before interrogating her. She only revealed that she was aware of one other family head named Emma Diamondfrost, the Zhentarim’s spymaster. Voloth then set her on fire.
* The group found maps that marked an area called Vorn and another marked Wyrmheart Mine as the home of Tinder, the dragon.
* Leaving the mansion, the SWW saw Amazons fighting Zhentarim agents. Maxima and Diana were leading the charge.
* After the battle, Maxima rounded up the Seven Merchant Princes. She consulted with the SWW on which merchant princesses to spare and which to kill.
	+ **Wakanga** - Merchant prince of magical goods and information. Spared so he can serve as Maxima’s magical advisor.
	+ **Ekene-Afa** - Merchant princess of weapons, shields, traveling gear, and survival gear. Championed the Flaming Fist contract. Executed.
	+ **Jessamine** - Merchant princess of poisons and assassination sanctions. Executed.
	+ **Zanthi** - Merchant princess of gems, jewelry, cloth, and armor. The one who suggested the Zhentarim contract. Spared for her trade connections.
	+ **Ifan** - Merchant prince of beasts and beast training. Executed for animal cruelty.
	+ **Jobal** - Merchant prince of guides and mercenaries. Spared for his knowledge of the Chultan jungle and mercenary network.
	+ **Kwayothe** - Merchant prince of fruit, wine, ale, tea, perfume, and insect repellent. Spared for his trade connections.
* Maxima is now queen of Port Nyanzaru. She gave the party her blessing to head south to Omu.
* The SWW were gifted with Jessamine’s mansion as well as all of its contents.