New Neverwinter

New Neverwinter is a proposed 'city' being built around the ruins of Neverwinter, but in reality it is a simple propaganda movement by Lord Dagult Neverember to annex the city to Waterdeep. The movement to create New Neverwinter is being headed by, whose titles include the Open Lord of Waterdeep, the Lord Protector of Neverwinter, and the heir of Nasher.

The backplot of the movement is headed by a war between the nations of Thay and Netheril caused due to the activation of a Dread Ring in Neverwinter Wood. This 'shadow war' also serves as the basis for the Ashmadai and Waterdeep's activities in Neverwinter,

Waterdeep
Neverember's plan to annex New Neverwinter is simple: Make the people love him. However, the people favor Herzgo Alegni more than him, though he is actually the true father of New Neverwinter. Neverember, however, claims to be the rightful ruler of Neverwinter as well by being the son of Vers Never, the bastard son of Lord Nasher Alagondar and younger half-brother to Bann, who succeeded their shared father as king. As Neverember tells it, Vers settled in Waterdeep and married Mirtria Ember, thus forming the "Neverember" name. Neverember was then named the Lord Protector of New Neverwinter.

Neverember, against the wishes of his people, secretly formed an alliance with the Ashmadai, who he knows nothing about. The Ashmadai control nearly all the mercenaries of New Neverwinter who guard the Chasm as well as General Sabine and plan on inducting Neverember as well. Neverember also plans on finding the recently discovered Gauntlgrym and rebuilding it for the trust of the Delzoun Dwarves. Of the Thayans who the Ashmadai have broken their alliance with, General Sabine is looking to find the Thayans and crush them.

The movement of Neverember to Neverwinter caused Bregan D'aerthe to move into the city, operating and watching the activities of Neverember. House Xorlarrin moved its drow into Neverwinter as well to search for Gauntlgrym, to make it a drow base of strength rivaling Menzoberranzan. The Abolethic Society, their work disturbed due to Neverember, quickly became a major faction vying for Neverwinter.

The Shadovar
Of the Netherese Neverember looks ignorantly of. However, he has hired several Netherese assassins to carry out discreet assassinations for him. The citizens of New Neverwinter have recently been protected by Herzgo Alegni, who, unknown to them, is actually an agent for the Netherese. The Netherese's grand plan, unlike the Ashmadai, those of New Neverwinter and Thay is not to annex the city into a larger kingdom, but rather use the city to bring back the First Enclave, Xinlenal.

The Destruction of Neverwinter
Thay accidentally started the movement in 1451 DR when Thay destroyed Neverwinter in the hopes of building a Dread Ring in Neverwinter Wood. They did so with the use of the Ashmadai who were originally under the control of Sylora Salm, but when the Ashmadai returned to Gauntlgrym, they slowly began to drift in their own direction and some to Valindra Shadowmantle's leadership.

When Thay forged a Dread Ring, the Shadovar sent Herzgo Alegni to Neverwinter to gain the trust of the population of New Neverwinter. In 1462 DR, his assassin, Artemis Entreri, aided the Netherese and hunted Ashmadai, this resulted in the population renaming Neverwinter Bridge the Walk of Barrabus in Entreri's honor. Entreri then killed Sylora Salm to stop both Thay and the Ashmadai, however, one sect of Ashmadai had diverged to their own intentions and the other to the control of Valindra Shadowmantle, who still acted for Thay.

Arrival of Neverember
Following the Spellplague, Nasher had died and his heir was unknown. It was not until 1y years after the destruction of Neverwinter, 1467 DR, did the heir, Dagult Neverember come. The Open Lord of Waterdeep hoped to annex the city for Waterdeep arrived with an army of mercenaries from Mintarn. The mercenaries immediately set to patrol the Neverwinter River and made the renovated Winged Wyvern their base of operations.

The town of Helm's Hold was then fortified and exiles of the Spellplague allowed access, it was then guarded by the mercenaries, becoming a policing force for New Neverwinter. The Netherese then entered Neverwinter Wood at about the same time as Thay and the Ashmadai. The Shadovar began to scout Neverwinter Wood for treasures to rebuild the mythall of Xinlenal, the First Enclave, which was also buried in Neverwinter Wood.

Corruption of Sabine
Mordai Vell, the leader of the Ashmadai diverging from Thay, has bedded the leader of the Mintarn mercenaries, General Sabine, inviting her for sex to his manor often. He has not, however, yet managed to convert her to his cause for Asmodeous. Sabine has also ordered for the mercenaries to snuff out any rumors of Thay in the area and to crush Thay if they are present. Neverember has also taken a liking to Mordai Vell and works with the city's issues with him often. This could result in both New Neverwinter and Waterdeep becoming states of Asmodeous.

The Netherese, upon learning of Mordai's divergence from Thay, made deals with Mordai. However, Mordai would dare not have Thay find out of his deals with the Shadovar. This is because there is a large presence of Thayan operatives in New Neverwinter. Due to the death of Sylora Salm, all control over Thay's operations had been passed down to Valindra Shadowmantle. Valindra still believes she has control over all groups of Ashmadai, but in realiy, only the few who slavishly worship Asmodeous are still loyal to her.

Shadovar-Thay War
Valindra Shadowmantle has gotten a working crew to begin to repair the Dread Ring, studying it to find out how the working crew can restore it to working its purpose. If this is not possible, then making the working crew give it a new purpose. Underneath Castle Never, Valindra has begun a process to animate the dead bodies of the local heroes of Neverwinter, the Neverwinter Nine.

After studying the Dread Ring, Valindra learned that the reason Neverwinter Wood was the perfect place to raise a Dread Ring was because in the soil lay the bones of Lorragauth, a black dragon of incalculable age. Valindra wishes to have the Cult of the Dragon raise the bones of Lorragauth for her so that she can create a dracolich that will submit to her will. Valindra hopes to use the Mount Hotenow primordial or the energy of the Dread Ring to raise Lorragauth.

The Netherese then launched a full scale war on Thay for territories in both Shadowfell and Toril. New Neverwinter is only one of these territories and fighting has reached the Shadowfell clone of Neverwinter, even, the city of Evernight. Valindra is scared of the Netherese and sends hauls of undead at them. This war, however, has done nothing in the Netherese's quest to search and see if the great Ioulaum still lives.

The Netherese then 'intergrated' the Gray Wolf Tribe into their ranks and told them to begin a steady invasion of Helm's Hold. This was to get a large variety of treasures, gain a good foothold in the Sword Coast and to divert any suspicions away from the excavation of Xinlenal. However, the constant battles against Thay has somewhat delayed the Netherese's efforts.

When Valindra sends undead at the Shadovar, they quickly send in the Gray Wolf tribe to attack the Thayans. This has resulted in the werewolf tribe in having heavy casualties and losing many of their numbers, this has caused some Uthgardt to call the Netherese 'allies'. Taking advantages of the Uthgardt's attacks on the Dread Ring, the Shadovar launched a surprise assault on the borders of Thay itself. Now the floating citadel, Kolthrunal lurks in the skies of Thay. Here the Netherese attempt to take the city of Surcross, this will result in Thay losing access to the end of the Shadowfell road.

Valindra restocks her militia with the dead soldiers of the Netherese and their allies, which may result in Prince Clairburnus in doing the same or attack New Neverwinter and force the citizens to work for him. The Ilyanbruen Fey are wary of the Netherese, but do not suspect them in stealing their precious relics, though it was indeed the Shadovar's work.

The Death of Neverember
If Neverember would be to die, many possible factions would take over. If Sabine took over, New Neverwinter would be a hardened police state, she would be supported by Waterdeep who would send an army to find the murderer. If Sabine is fails to take over New Neverwinter, her mercenaries ranks will collapse. If Sabine is successfully manipulated by the Ashmadai, they will revel at Neverember's death and take over the city, and if Sabine is successful, Waterdeep will not interfere.