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"It's eight thousand gold coins for an ordinary guest, but for Ms. Tona, six thousand will suffice," Elise quoted a hefty price, but her tone showed no hesitation.
This sum of money would be enough for an ordinary family to live on for centuries—if they lived that long—while for Casalos, it was merely a small amount he could easily afford. This luxury stood in stark contrast to the poverty of the slums outside the window, but it was precisely the result of the social order that had developed over thousands of years on the continent of Faerûn.
"Deal." Casalos agreed without hesitation, pulling a heavy bag of currency from his pocket. "They accept monthly coins here, right?"
“Of course, the entire Northland highly values Silvermoon City’s reputation.” Elest took the bag, counted the money, returned the excess moon coins and the change, carefully put the necklace back in the box, and handed it to Toona: “I hope it brings you good luck.”
Leaving the jewelry store, Toona, arm in arm with Casalos, said cheerfully, "Thank you, Ratam, you've gone to so much trouble. This necklace is truly special... From now on, I'll arrange everything for the rest of the trip."
"As long as you like," Casalos replied softly. "But, before the opera begins, will we have time to visit the legendary Colosseum?"
"Of course, it's not far from here," Taona nodded, "but for now, it's best to only view the arena from the outer highlands, as there are still many dangerous creatures lurking inside."
The two strolled westward and soon came upon Neverwinter's iconic Great Arena. This massive circular structure was severely damaged; the western side had completely collapsed, revealing its labyrinthine interior. A huge puddle had formed at the site of the collapse, the green water occasionally bubbling, as if some creature lurked beneath. A makeshift wooden fence and warning signs surrounded the area, and a few guards stood listlessly nearby, preventing passersby from approaching.
"It's worse than I expected," Casalos commented, his gaze sweeping over the ruins of the arena.
"That's true. I heard the restoration work has begun, but progress is slow," Tona explained, pointing to a tall tower not far away. "That's the headquarters of the spellcasting guild. They're prioritizing the restoration of the noble and commercial districts; the arena is on hold for now."
A pale blue magical barrier surrounded the tower, and mages constantly took off and landed on flying carpets or using flight spells at its top, creating a scene resembling a magical spectacle. In the tower's shadow, a group of ragged people huddled together; they were likely refugees from the southern and western districts, hoping the mages would offer food or healing magic. Clearly, they had come to the wrong place; only priests of the benevolent gods would give alms now. But the temple's long-standing reputation for even more ruthless enrichment than the nobles before the upheaval was deeply ingrained in people's minds. In the absence of information, the poor preferred to pray to the high and mighty mages rather than "walk into the lion's den."
Casalos could indeed help the good gods reverse some of the established image of their temples, which could be considered a limited form of assistance to the poor two-legged "wildcat"—it was just a matter of a secret order, and Charson's spies and the bards' guild would soon have everything done. The good gods, who thus gained an extra source of faith, should certainly thank Casalos.
"Let's go, or we'll miss the banquet and the opera if we don't go back to change soon," Toona urged softly, drawing Casalos's attention away from the disaster victims.
As night fell and the city lights began to twinkle, the two enjoyed a lavish dinner at the elegant restaurant on the Eternal Balcony, before heading to the theater to see a performance of "The Fairy Princess and the Red Dragon." The theater, though small, was exquisite, and the audience consisted mainly of the city's nobles and wealthy merchants. The performance was spectacular; the singers' voices were near perfect, and the stage magic brought the story to life. Especially the final scene, where the red dragon's roar upon being defeated even caused a slight tremor, drawing gasps and applause from the audience.
Casalos and Toona, however, were rather uninterested. The red dragon's design was so poorly done that it failed to evoke any sense of novelty in the two dragons. They preferred to do something they liked under the ambient lighting created by the illusion.
Back in their suite, the two enjoyed desserts and champagne served by the waiter on the terrace, admiring the beautiful night view of Neverwinter. The city lights were like stars scattered across the earth, but these lights were concentrated only in the North and Central districts, while the South and West districts were shrouded in darkness, with only a few scattered fires dotting the landscape—bonfires lit by the disaster victims.
"Where shall we go tomorrow?" Casalos asked, taking a sip of champagne, his gaze involuntarily drawn to the darkness.
"Luskan, the city of a thousand sails," Toona replied with a smile. "I've already contacted an old friend there, and he'll arrange a private boat trip for us."
"Sounds perfect," Casalos said softly, forcing himself to pull his attention away from the darkness, and reached out to take Toona's hand. "Just like today."
28. The joy of dragons?
As dawn broke, Casalos and Toona transformed back into their dragon forms within the city and flew north. The silhouette of Neverwinter gradually shrank in the morning mist, eventually disappearing behind the horizon. The two dragons continued flying along the northern coast of Sword Coast, crossing the Neverwinter Forest, a landscape permanently created by environmental magic. Steep, snow-covered cliffs and bays strewn with ice floes alternated, and flocks of seabirds took flight from the cliff faces, adding a touch of life to the cold morning scene.
"That's Griffin Point," Toona pointed to a prominent headland. "Legend has it that it was once a sacred breeding ground for griffins, but now most of the griffins in Sword Coast are tamed by the garrison of Waterdeep."
Casaloz plunges down, offering a close-up view of the magnificent cape. Several fishing boats are moored on the beach below the cliffs. The fishermen, seeing the two giant dragons fly by, point and chat in amazement, but do not panic excessively.
"Since your public appearance in Waterdeep, dragons are no longer such a rare sight in Sword Coast," Toona explained, "but Luskan, where we're headed, isn't so friendly. The Arcane Brotherhood is eyeing us—especially our identity as the leader of the dragons in Waterdeep. We'll have to enter the city under a different guise."
About three hours later, the outline of Luscany appeared on the horizon. Hundreds of ships were "anchored" in the harbor of this "city of a thousand sails," their masts standing like a moving forest. Only when you flew closer could you see clearly that most of these crooked masts were stuck in the sea or in the mud-covered streets—they were all shipwrecks, now serving as temporary shelters for refugees. The makeshift roads woven from ropes and the simple tents supported by the sails together formed a unique slum suspended above the damp seawater or the eroding mud.
"Land over there," Tona pointed to a secluded riverbank on the eastern side of the Mirar River. "Luskan is not a member of the Sword Coast Lords' Alliance. The mages here have always harbored ill intentions towards Waterdeep and Neverwinter, and Pierre Galen and Nash Aragunda have thwarted their plots many times."
Two colossal dragons descended onto the icy riverbank and swiftly transformed into human form. Casalos chose an unfamiliar human form—brownish skin, black curly hair, and a weathered face, resembling a seasoned merchant. Toona, on the other hand, became an ordinary-looking young woman, simply yet elegantly dressed.
"From this day forward, I am Edwin Mereden, the merchant from the Moonshadow Isles," Casalos said in an unfamiliar voice, feeling the arcane energy flowing within him—a part of his dragon form's power that remained even in human form. "And you, my dear?"
"Mera Stone, your business partner and translator," Toona responded, her voice becoming slightly shrill, "don't forget, we're here on our honeymoon, and to look for new trade opportunities."
Casalos scoffed. "I hope these Arcane Brotherhood mages don't mess with me. I'm not as good at disguise and patience as you."
"Hehe, I didn't expect you to have such a fiery temper," Tao Na chuckled, reaching out to straighten his collar. "Don't burn the whole city down."
The two walked along the path towards the city gate. In the distance, thick smoke rose from some corner of the city, and chaotic shouts echoed through the air.
A long queue formed outside the city gates of Luskan, where guards roughly shoved ragged refugees, giving priority to wealthy merchants. Casalos and Toona walked straight toward the guards.
"Edwin Meredon, Moonshadow Isles Trading Company." Casalos pulled out his badge, his voice steady and confident. Beneath the badge was a gold coin—dragons weren't that generous, of course; it was just a stone disguised with illusion magic. "We have an appointment with Earl Alwin of the Moonlit Inn."
The guard took the gold coin, glanced at the badge, and without any attempt to conceal it, carefully examined the coin before tossing it into his pocket and waving them through. A ragged old man tried to sneak into the city gate, but was immediately pushed to the ground by the guard, punched and kicked, and then thrown onto the icy plain to fend for himself.
The biting cold wind, the malnutrition caused by prolonged hunger, and the serious injuries meant that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, this was the end of the old man's life.
A strange light flashed in Casalos's eyes. His fingers twitched slightly, a tiny flame flickering at his fingertip before vanishing. The illusionary gold coin had now transformed into a fireball ready to be triggered, enough to blast a squad of ordinary soldiers into the air. As an iron dragon, it showed no mercy to humans who slaughtered each other, and therefore would not save the old man who disrupted the order—an evil order is still an order—but influenced by certain consciousness and information from its past life, it could not remain indifferent to what it saw. Thus, it decided to punish the guards who had displeased it.
Tona noticed Casalos's change in mood, gently took its hand, and led it into Luskan. A sense of chaos and corruption immediately enveloped them. The streets were filthy and crowded, the air thick with the smell of decay and smoke. The wide streets of the aristocratic district contrasted sharply with the narrow alleyways of the slums; the rich were accompanied by armed guards, while the poor huddled in corners, their eyes vacant.
"This is the masterpiece of human civilization?" Casalos sneered, his innate sense of order instinctively repelling any sign of chaos. "It's even worse than the carnage in the Red Dragon's Lair."
"The disaster gave merchants an excuse to hoard supplies and drive up prices," Tao Na explained. "The Arcane Brotherhood, meanwhile, was too busy fighting amongst themselves to care about people's livelihoods."
A group of children rummaged through a garbage heap for food. A little girl cried silently after a loaf of black bread hidden in her arms was snatched away. Casalos's eyes flashed with a starlike light again. He silently chanted a few incantations, his finger hidden under his sleeve pointing at the beggar who had taken the bread. The withered man suddenly coughed violently, and the bread slipped from his hand. The little girl seized the opportunity to grab the bread and run away.
"What did you do?" Tao Na asked, somewhat surprised.
"It's just a simple cough trick," Casalos smiled slightly, "It won't cause any harm, but it'll be enough to make him put down his bread."
"This is Luskan. All magical fluctuations are under the surveillance of the Arcane Brotherhood. If they notice, even this simple spell will cause a sensation," Toona whispered, taking out several magical items to enhance arcane magic from her dimensional bag and equipping them on the creature.
Casalos shrugged. "Let them think I'm a lowly mage then. I'm not going to keep putting up with it forever anyway."
The two dragons continued their journey, passing through the commercial district. Although the buildings here were also makeshift shacks, they were lavishly decorated and lined up one after another. The streets were filled with well-dressed wealthy merchants and their bodyguards. A commotion arose ahead; a group of armed men in black were besieging a mansion, and the guards were putting up a fierce resistance.
"That's the headquarters of the Wilson Merchant Guild, besieged by the Capulet family," a fleeing merchant explained in a low voice. "Wilson sided with the Arcane Brotherhood's reformists, offending the Capulets, who are supported by the conservatives."
A blinding blue light suddenly erupted from the second floor of the mansion, and several men in black were thrown into the air. A mage appeared at the window, his staff flashing with a dangerous light.
"It's Archmage Elmer!" someone exclaimed. "Caplett has bitten off more than she can chew!"
When the city guards arrived, they simply observed from a distance and did not rush to intervene in the conflict.
"They're waiting to see which side wins, then they can choose sides and profit from it," Toona explained. "The Luscan law enforcers are only loyal to gold."
Casalos looked interested: "Interesting. This chaos actually gives us an opportunity. If we can find those forces rebelling against the Arcane Brotherhood and the Merchant Guild, perhaps we can support them."
"You want to interfere in local politics?" Taona asked in surprise.
"Just having some fun," Casalos said with a slight smile. "Wouldn't it be even more interesting if we could thwart the plans of a few arrogant mages during our honeymoon? Of course, that is, without revealing our identities."
Taona thought for a moment, then smiled. "You're right, this is indeed much more interesting than just sightseeing. And I know there are several underground resistance groups in Luskan who have been fighting against the oppression of the Arcane Brotherhood."
"Perfect," Casalos's eyes gleamed with anticipation, "Let's make our honeymoon even...more exciting."
More chaotic scenes came into view—starving refugees stormed granaries only to be suppressed by mercenaries; finely dressed young men laughed and tossed coins to beggars, watching them scramble for them in the mud; unclaimed corpses lay abandoned in alleyways. Casalos watched all this silently, a dangerous glint in his eyes, his palm unconsciously gathering energy before dissipating.
"If this were my territory, I would never tolerate such chaos," it whispered. "If I were to revert to my original form now..."
"Then our honeymoon immediately turned into war," Toona gently stroked its back, "I'll come with you if you wish."
Casalos shook his head, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Of course not. But..." he looked at the oppressed victims, "I think we need to hurry."
The Moonlit Hotel, a magnificent building, is isolated from the chaos of the outside world and heavily guarded. The hotel's exterior walls are decorated with blue and white tiles that shimmer like ocean waves in the sunlight.
An elven man greeted them at the door: "Mr. Meredon and Ms. Stone, welcome to the Moonlit Hotel. I am Earl Alwin, the owner of the hotel."
Casalos bowed slightly: "It is my honor, Your Excellency."
Entering the hotel, the luxurious décor starkly contrasted with the poverty outside. Crystal chandeliers, marble floors, and gilded decorations proclaimed wealth and power everywhere. Guests, impeccably dressed, chatted and laughed, completely oblivious to the city's suffering—unlike Neverwinter, the oppression of the poor here was far more direct and brutal. While beggars in the alleys beside Neverwinter's Eternal Balcony were simply driven away, Luskan's facade of prosperity concealed a raw, unadulterated stench of bloodshed. No poor dared approach these magnificent buildings, rapidly rebuilt with magic after the cataclysm; most didn't even dare venture into the commercial district.
Arwen explained in a low voice, "Please forgive the chaos in the city; the internal strife within the Arcane Brotherhood has intensified recently. The reformers want to establish ties with the Sword Coast Lords' Alliance, while the conservatives insist on independence, believing that cooperation would weaken their power."
Casalos's interest was piqued. "That sounds interesting." He paused deliberately, then added, "For a businessman."
29. First Contact
Earl Arwin smiled slightly, his elven elegance evident in every gesture: "Mr. Meredon, I would like to invite you to a private party tonight. Some business partners are very interested in your Moonshadow Isles goods."
Led by a servant, Casalos and Toona were led into a luxurious suite. The moment the door was locked, Toona immediately cast a simple anti-eavesdropping spell to ensure their conversation was not overheard.
"Arwin isn't just a reformer; his background is far more complex," Toona explained softly. "It's no easy feat for an elf to establish himself in Luskan, but he did it, and became a neutral mediator within the city."
Casalos scoffed. "Neutral? While harboring a group of rebels?"
"Don't underestimate the duality of elves." Toona took out an exquisite dress and spread it on the bed. "He is indeed a high-ranking reformer within the Luscan Arcane Brotherhood, but he is also a covert supporter of the Dawnmast, Luscan's largest underground resistance organization."
"An elf," Casalos clicked his tongue dismissively, "you can always trust an elf's kindness."
"But never doubt the malice of a bunch of pointy-eared creatures," Toona almost automatically added the second half of the sentence. The two "people" exchanged a smile. "However, right now we're only facing an elf, and Arwen's kindness borders on innocence."
"So innocent that he betrays his own class?" Casalos raised an eyebrow.
"He allocated a portion of his wealth to shelter and even fully support any resistance forces that might try to overthrow him." Taona took out a bottle of wine, poured two glasses, and said, "Tonight's gathering, seemingly a noble banquet to welcome new merchants, is actually just a pretext for Alwin to use as cover for a secret meeting of some members of the Dawnmast, and incidentally introduce you to a few 'friends.'"
Casalos took the glass and sipped it lightly. "Interesting. It seems you've arranged everything."
As night fell, the Moonlit Hotel was ablaze with lights. Alwin's private banquet hall was decorated with elegance and luxury, and the guests were impeccably dressed and graceful, making it impossible for anyone to guess that a group of rebels had infiltrated the establishment.
Casalos and Toona were ushered into the banquet hall and immediately became the center of attention. Both Mr. Meredon's imposing presence and Ms. Stone's captivating demeanor drew everyone's attention. (The last sentence appears to be a nonsensical string of characters and doesn't translate directly.)
"Mr. Meredon, please allow me to introduce you—" After the formal social interactions, the various noble groups retreated to their private spaces. Alwin led Casalos and Toona into a soundproofed room on the second floor. A woman stood in the corner of the room. "This is Ravenna, an old friend of mine."
Ravenna was clearly out of place in the lavish banquet hall. Tall and robust with dark skin, the only thing on her body that looked good was her obviously ill-fitting dress. Her eyes, sharp as a cheetah's, observed those who approached her at Alwin's introduction.
"Edwin Meredon, Moonshadow Islands Trading Company." Casalos extended his hand. "This is my partner, Mela Stone."
Ravenna didn't extend her hand to shake his, but simply nodded coldly. "Another businessman." Her voice was unexpectedly hoarse, carrying a deliberately suppressed strength. "Guess how many businessmen like you I've met who claim they can 'help' us?"
Alvin cleared his throat. "Ravenna is the liaison for the Dawnmast; people call her 'The Scar Whisperer.'"
Casalos's gaze fell on Ravenna's shoulders; the high-necked dress concealed her back, but some scars could still be seen extending from the edge of the collar: "An interesting title."
"Just a brand of shame," Ravenna sneered. "A 'souvenir' from the Luscan pirates."
Taona interjected at the opportune moment: "Ms. Ravenna, we've heard Alwin mention your deeds, which are truly admirable. We would be happy to support your cause if the opportunity arises."
"Support?" Ravenna's tone was clearly sarcastic. "I've seen plenty of businessmen like you; you're nothing but a greedy opportunist. What kind of support could you possibly offer us?"
Casalos was unfazed by her barbed words: "What kind of support do you want? Funds, medicine, weapons, or magical equipment? Anything is fine."
"Anything?" Ravenna sized Casalos up and down, her face full of distrust. "Such arrogance. Do you know what kind of organization the Arcane Brotherhood is? Do you know what kind of power they possess, yet you dare to spout such nonsense?"
"Just a lich and four archmages," Casalos said calmly, pointing out the Arcane Brotherhood's strongest force, his contempt practically radiating from his eyes—this wretched organization wouldn't even crack the top ten on the Allied Forsaken's evil list; even if they were all together, they wouldn't stand a chance against him. "From your tone, I see that what you lack isn't resources or weapons. You have the courage and ambition to fight the Arcane Brotherhood, but you lack the power to match it, and..."
"And what?" Ravenna's voice suddenly rose, almost a roar; had the room not been perfectly soundproofed, it would have alerted the entire restaurant: "What could be more important than power!"
Casalos's contemptuous tone drove Ravenna to hysteria, pushing the barbarian to the brink of rage.
Alwin quickly stepped forward, trying to ease the tension. But Casalos raised his hand, gesturing for him to step back, and looked directly into Ravenna's eyes:
"And the mind and wisdom to match that courage!"
Ravenna paused, the anger in her eyes subsiding slightly: "What do you mean?"
Does power matter? Absolutely. Faerûn is a world where individual strength can dictate the course of events. But to rebel against an organization like the Arcane Brotherhood, power alone is clearly insufficient—the demon slayers will become the new demons. Those who gain power and successfully overthrow the oppressors and the mountains that weigh them down will only become the new oppressors themselves.
Casalos's thoughts raced, but his expression remained unusually calm: "Strength is important, but direction is equally crucial. If I were to give you all the weapons and money right now, how would you intend to use them?"
Ravenna's face flickered with uncertainty and hesitation before settling into unwavering resolve: "Kill those evil mages and return Luskan to the people."
"And then?" Casalos's question was simple and direct. "When all the mages have been driven away, the merchant guilds destroyed, and the high-ranking pirate captains hanged, who will maintain order? Who will establish trade routes? Who will control the operation of the city?"
Count Arwin cleared his throat and added, "Lady Ravenna, this businessman has raised a question we've been avoiding. Even if the revolution succeeds, how can we prevent Luskan from falling into another form of dictatorship?"
Ravenna's back scars suddenly trembled slightly, her face paled, and her eyes closed as if she were enduring some kind of pain. A few seconds later, she reopened her eyes: "Three Arcane Brotherhood patrol ships are approaching the port in the Northwest Sea."
She turned to Casalos, her tone curt: "Forget all that fancy theory. Our enemy is right in front of us. If you truly want to help us, prove it to me now."
Toona squeezed Casalos's hand and whispered, "Those patrol ships are usually accompanied by conservative mages. If they discover Earl Arwin's secret meeting..."
Casalos nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, and turned to Ravenna: "Three patrol boats, their location and course?"
Ravenna turned her back, allowing everyone to see the living nautical chart beneath her backless dress. At the opening of the gown, scars outlined a certain range of coastline and islands around Luskan, while three dark red dots shimmered faintly on the intact skin representing the sea, clearly marking the positions of three ships.
The tiny ripples on the map indicate their course—they are heading straight towards the pier where the Moonlit Hotel is located.
"Look, this is power!" Ravenna turned around, her eyes gleaming with pride. "I can foresee the movements of every ship within five nautical miles of the sea. In the fight against the Arcane Brotherhood, which rose to power through piracy, there is no more valuable ability."
Casalos's interest was piqued: "Indeed a rare ability, this arcane fluctuation is quite distinctive—let me guess, is this a gift from the chaotic magic of the turbulent years? Oh, sorry, I'm not digging into your secrets, let's leave it at that… But, are these three ships really headed here? Are you sure they're after this gathering?"
"Uncertain," Ravenna shook her head, "but their course is undoubtedly heading towards this port, and right now, the only ones who can alarm the old guard of the Arcane Brotherhood are you."
"Us?" Casalos narrowed his eyes slightly. "We're just ordinary merchants who came to Luskan seeking business opportunities, and we haven't brought any goods with us. Who would be interested in us?"
“But you made contact with me.” A cruel smile appeared on the barbarian’s face.
"What do you mean?" Alwin asked, puzzled.
"She means there are Arcane Brotherhood spies infiltrated this party." Casaroz's gaze swept across the hotel, seemingly penetrating walls and soundproofing barriers, finally settling on a young man in the lobby enjoying a fruit platter. He sat on a sofa, not speaking to anyone, his eyes occasionally glancing towards Casaroz's private room, a faint magical aura pulsating rhythmically around him, clearly sending a signal—of course, unseen by the others.
"He must have been following you. You spotted him, but instead of dealing with him, you brought him here... I think I understand what you mean. Gentlemen, please take me to a place where I can see the harbor."
After hesitating for a moment, Alwin, under the barbarian's approving gaze, led Casalos and Toona to the observation deck on the top floor of the hotel.
From here, the entire port of Luskan unfolds before your eyes. Under the tranquil light of Suren, three white sails can already be seen slowly approaching the port. Their sails bear the insignia of the Arcane Brotherhood: a black-outlined, reddish-brown warship sails on deep blue waves, behind which rises the silhouette of a black continent with a purplish tinge, upon which stands the black-outlined Tower of the Presiding.
On all three ships stood figures dressed in deep purple robes.