Luskan, in response to a food shortage caused by unusual weather patterns, has pardoned hundreds of hardened criminals from their jails. According to the city, they simply could not afford to feed the prisoners, and decided to pardon them all with the understanding that if any of them return to the city they will be executed.
Lord Bradley in response to outraged Neverwinter Citizens concerned for their safety has, with the approval of the council, appropriated funds to an extensive new initiative to catch the criminals, relying mostly on private outside help on a bounty basis rather then through the official guard which is not up to the task.
