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 propaganda has gone on from 1462 DR to 1480 DR.

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.

Factions
There are many factions involved in the New Neverwinter movement, with Waterdeep being the faction that started the movement, taking advantage of the doings of the Ashmadai, Shadovar and those of Thay. All four factions are the main powers in New Neverwinter, though others such as the Aboleths and Many-Arrows are also involved.

The War Starts
In 1451 DR, the city of Neverwinter was crumbling due to the Spellplague. Seeing potential in the area, Szass Tam commissioned the elven warrior Dahlia Sin'felle to create a Dread Ring for Thay around the area. Around the same time, the Shadovar received reports that Xinlenal could potentially be located somewhere within Neverwinter Wood. Although aware of the boons it could provide to Netheril, the Shadovar were preoccupied by High Imaskar and the attempts of Brennus Tanthul to find Vasen Cale. Thus, Draygo Quick was given the privilege of choosing who would lead the excavation. Selecting Herzgo Alegni, Quick sent the tiefling to Neverwinter. There Alegni decided to opt for a more legal approach, forcing the Lord of Neverwinter to rename the Winged Wyvern Bridge the Herzgo Alegni Bridge to allow him unlimited access to Neverwinter Wood. Dahlia, however, allied herself with Korvin Dor'crae and Valindra Shadowmantle to find a way to create the Dread Ring. Arriving at Gauntlgrym, with the help of Jarlaxle and Athrogate, Dahlia activated the primordial Maegra who proceeded to destroy Neverwinter. This was the first bit of conflict between the Shadovar and the Thayans, as the destruction of Neverwinter effectively negated Alegni his claim on Neverwinter. It also allowed Sylora Salm to take control of the Thayan operation.

For eleven years, the Netherese remained idle, preoccupied in their own machinations, while Salm finally completed the Dread Ring in 1462 DR. In order to strengthen it, however, she tried to reawaken Maegra and in order to re-access Gauntlgrym, Salm forged an alliance with the Ashmadai. Sending Valindra to Gauntlgrym, the Ashmadai summoned the Pit Fiend Bealtimatuche who killed Thibbledorf Pwent and fought the death with Bruenor Battlehammer. The Ashmadai and Valindra both remained in service to Salm, although Dahlia began to plot against her with Drizzt Do'Urden. By this time, Alegni and Barrabus the Gray had returned to reclaim Neverwinter. When Valindra Shadowmantle and the Ashmadai attacked the city, Barrabus led the Shadovar against them, marking the first conflict between the two groups in eleven years. With war officially declared, the Shadovar took the first victory. The Winged Wyvern Bridge was renamed the Walk of Barrabus, granting Alegni the claim to search for Xinlenal. Resuming his identity as Artemis Entreri, Barrabus joined up with Dahlia and helped kill Sylora Salm. This marked the most significant event in the war thus far as Thayan power was transferred to Valindra Shadowmantle, whose temporary retreat caused relatively few Ashmadai to remain loyal to Szass Tam.

Due to Sylora's aggression against Netheril and Alegni's operation being close to the Dread Ring, the tiefling was able to seize control and become the lead general of the Shadovar against Szass Tam. Tyrannically taking lordship over Neverwinter, Alegni decided to forge an army to fight Valindra with and created the White Guard, led by Jelvus Grinch, and the Shadow Guard, led by his Netherese lieutenants. Another player had entered the war by this time, the Abolethic Sovereignty, represented in secret by the succubus Arunika. Eventually, Entreri, Do'Urden and Dahlia attacked Alegni, defeating him and forcing him to forfeit Charon's Claw. Arriving at Gauntlgrym once more, the Shadovar started an assault against House Xorlarrin as Entreri destroyed Charon's Claw. There, Dahlia also killed Herzgo Alegni, stalling Shadovar advances, forcing them out of Neverwinter.

Although the war against Thay had been stalled, Draygo Quick and Effron were given the option of continuing it immediately. Instead, due to Effron wanting to leave the Shadovar and Quick being more interested in finding Chosen for Telamont Tanthul, the Netherese were left with no general against Valindra.

Waterdeep Arrives
By 1467 DR, both the Shadovar and the Thayans had returned to Neverwinter and had resumed their war against each other. This time, however, it took the form of a guerrilla war with Neverwinter in the middle. The war, however, had become much more important for the Netherese, with Clariburnus Tanthul personally taking control of the operation for Xinlenal. Complicating the matters of the Shadovar were the attentions of the Waterdhavian Lords, who sent Dagult Neverember, Open Lord of Neverwinter and heir to the throne of Neverwinter, to assess the situation. Neverember immediately took control of the situation, armed with mercenaries from Mintarn led by General Sabine, the Open Lord became the Lord Protector of Neverwinter. Starting the New Neverwinter propaganda movement, Neverember fortified Helm's Hold to help the plaguetouched of the Spellplague. Clariburnus, hoping to avoid conflict with Waterdeep, forced the Shadovar to take a backstage role in Neverwinter. This temporary retreat allowed the Abolethic Sovereignty to finally be able to arrive in Neverwinter.

With the Shadovar nowhere to be seen, Sabine began to fortify the Walk of Barrabus. Referring to the bridge by it's original name, the sultry Sabine and Soman Galt to cause the citizenry to forget the Netherese. Instead, they started the New Neverwinter propaganda to try and stir the city's population with nationalistic emotions. Erasing all evidence of the Netherese, Sabine inadvertently did what Clariburnus wanted to do: make the Shadovar a thing of the past. Instead, to make the people of Neverwinter love Neverember, Galt and Sabine gave the citizenry an enemy in Thay and Valindra Shadowmantle. Neverember made sure the citizens felt gratitude through facilities, market opportunities, access to work and safety. This was all because he wanted people to believe he was descended from Vans Ner, a son of Nasher Alagondar in order to ensure no conflict when he would become king. Neverember himself was uncaring for the people of Neverwinter, leaving their safety up to Galt and Sabine. Instead he focused on large plots, like finding the forges of Gauntlgrym.

In 1474 DR, the biggest movements of the war happened as Sabine began to take the lead in the fight against Thay. However, while Thay began to infiltrate Neverember's operation, some citizens began to openly oppose the Waterdhavian. Forming the Sons of Alagondar, the rebels quickly split into two groups: the Nashers and the Graycloaks. The Thayans, however, instilled a Red Wizard, Dhafiyand, as Neverember's spymaster.

By 1478 DR, Neverember's plan had been working, with Sabine's successful campaign against Valindra resulting in Thay becoming little more than a bedtime story. However, as the year went on, sightings of the Red Wizards of Thay became more and more popular. Unaware that his spymaster Dhafiyand was a Red Wizard, Neverember ordered the man to take down the Nashers. To do so, Dhafiyand hired Rucas Sarfael, and ordered him to infiltrate the Nashers through Elyne Tschavarz. Sarfael did so successfully and was present when the Nashers allied with the Dead Rats. When the Nashers attempted to get the Crown of Neverwinter, they were attacked by a Red Wizard, whom Rucas realized to be Dhafiyand. When the Red Wizard attacked Neverember, it announced Valindra's first public attack against Neverwinter in years.

Rise of the Ashmadai
Neverember would be responsible for making the Ashmadai, under Mordai Vell, a powerhouse within New Neverwinter. The Ashmadai have made several overtures to Neverember and Sabine and have remained greatly secretive to the Lord Protector. However, the New Neverwinter government underestimates the Ashmadai and Dagult believes he can use them safely without any repercussions. Vell, leader of the Ashmadai, however, has already bedded and engaged in an intimate relationship with Sabine. He plans on inducting the majority of the New Neverwinter government into the Ashmadai, save Mayor Soman Galt. However, if the Ashmadai are unsuccessful in taking Neverember but are able to do so to Sabine, they plan on assassinating Dagult and instilling Sabine as the new Lord Protector of Neverwinter.

Heart of the 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 Iliyanbruen Fey are wary of the Netherese, but do not suspect them in stealing their precious relics, though it was indeed the Shadovar's work.

If Neverember Dies
If Neverember were 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 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.

Rulers
New Neverwinter has had many rulers, despite its short period of existance.