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Post by Daos on Oct 22, 2021 15:35:10 GMT -8
After returning to Greenest and resting one more night in the castle, the party re-equipped, bought a pack horse, then began walking the road to Solanthus. It took four days, but they have finally arrived. The city of Solanthus is massive, especially in comparison to Greenest. Formally the capitol of Solamnia itself, it is currently the capital of the Heartlund region. The city is surrounded by first an old decrepit wall surrounds a ten foot deep moat, then a massive outer curtain wall that is thirty feet thick at the base, and is made of stone packed with sand and reinforced with steel. There are also many archer slits and murder holes in the walls, while three drawbridges span the moat. A gatehouse, each of which is a castle itself, guards each of these drawbridges. However, the party has no problem getting inside. They approach from the northeast and enter through the East Gate. They recall that Leosin said to meet him and Sir Frume at the Black Tiger Inn. Whether they go directly there or check out the rest of the city is up to them. ============= It is now Yurthgreen (April) 2nd, Linaras (Sunday) at High Watch (12 PM).
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Post by HorizonsDream on Oct 22, 2021 16:31:33 GMT -8
Eliana seems a little more at ease once they enter Solanthus. She certainly seems to be more within her element. Even though she might seem a little more comfortable, every so often she fidgets with the gloves on her arms simply to make sure that they are properly covering her scales. While out in the middle of no where, Eliana didn't care as much about her appearance. The group had pretty much accepted her. This is Solanthus though, and Mondath's reaction to her scales was enough to make her nervous even though she hated the woman herself.
"It has been a couple of years since I have been to Solanthus," Eliana says, mostly as a way to keep her mind off her own insecurities at the moment. As she looks around, she realizes that, even though she has visited Solanthus a couple of times, she has never been to this part of the city. "So, uh, The Black Tiger Inn. Does anyone know where that is?" she asks.
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Post by Bunny Commando on Oct 23, 2021 14:07:05 GMT -8
Henry - HP: 36\36 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None
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"I do." Henry says with a quite subdued voice - Solanthus seems to have taken all the joy out of the squire who takes point and lead the group towards the inn with; there's little enthusiasm in the half-elf, who would probably storm a breach instead of having to face sir Frume.
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Post by Daos on Oct 23, 2021 18:36:41 GMT -8
The Black Tiger Inn looks like the typical sort of tavern adventurers and their ilk like to hang out. It's a fairly simple wooden structure with two stories--the rooms for rent on the second floor, and the common area on the ground level. A black tiger with white stripes is painted over the sign, as if it were pouncing on the inn's name. Even from outside, the party can hear boisterous singing and carousing from within. Stepping inside, they find a cozy if a bit rustic decor, but otherwise pretty standard for taverns. There's sawdust on the wooden floors to soak up any spilled drink, tables and chairs, a large hearth and young and attractive servers carrying trays of food and drink to and fro. In the back is a large man wearing full Solamnic plate mail, his helmet sitting on the table next to his flagon. He's bald, but has a big, thick red beard and he sports a scar on his brow just above his left eye. He is the source of the singing, as he belts out an old Solamnic drinking song in his native language. Henry recognizes him as Sir Ontharr Frume, Knight of the Rose. Sitting at the same table the party sees Leosin. He does not partake in the drinking and singing, but just sits quietly, his arms crossed, and an amused smirk on his face as he watches the knight.
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Post by Bunny Commando on Oct 24, 2021 14:14:50 GMT -8
Henry - HP: 36\36 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None
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Doesn't take too long for Henry to spot his mentor, well used to his boisterous nature; he sighs and again doesn't seem too keen to meet him, a glimpse of fear in his eyes - something that he never showed even in the desperate fight against Cyanwrath. Duty, however, compels him to approach the knight with a corteous bow and polite words "My compliments to you, sir Frume. I return after having done what you asked me." then he straightens his back and sends his gaze over the bald head of the Knight, waiting to be questioned with a sense of impending doom.
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Matt4
Paragon
Posts: 3,540
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Post by Matt4 on Oct 24, 2021 15:25:37 GMT -8
Chantilly SweettoothHP: 35/35 - AC: 17 - Perception: 15 - Insight: 11 - Inspiration: No After having goggled in awe at the sight of the new city, which she was planning on exploring after having met Henry's friend, Chantilly was now intent in clapping happily at the performance of the bearded man Henry was walking toward. She follows the young knight, and bows along him. " Oh, he did!" - Chantilly says adjusting Frume's heavy helm on her head. - " Although I have to say that asking Henry to go around and getting beaten up was pretty mean. But he always did it courageously." - she concludes, waving hello at Leosin.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Oct 24, 2021 18:38:13 GMT -8
"I don't think Sir Frume sent Henry to purposely get beaten up," Eliana says quietly to Chantilly with a small smile. She nods her head slightly to Leosin in greeting, and smiles slightly to the balding knight. "I've heard a little about you Sir Frume. It is a pleasure to finally meat you. I'm Lady Eliana Reyra."
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Post by Zero Prime on Oct 24, 2021 19:15:27 GMT -8
Caelin Valaerys, pariah of TakhisisARMOR CLASS: 16 | HIT POINTS: 32 | CURRENT: 32 | HIT DIE: 3d8; 1d10 | CURRENT: 3d8; 1d10 PASSIVE PERCEPTION: 15 | PASSIVE INSIGHT: 17 | INSPIRATION: 1 After resupplying at Greenest, Caelin had spent the majority of the time in the company of the old, broad chested, dapple grey horse, he had, perhaps uncharacteristically, named Mangy. He had ranged ahead, hunting small game, pheasant and hare along the road, to practice his aim with the longbow he had procured from Nighthill's supplies before their departure. He was happy for Chantilly's cooking, and the old fool's ale, that barrel was a god send on those long nights. So too, for the instruction from Henry, directing him in the care of the old stallion. He was, though, most thankful for some of the quiet conversations with Eliana, secreted away from Chantilly's gaze, or keen ears, where he discussed the disquiet he felt at Mondath's escape with her guardian, Cyanwrath, and of the cults plan. However, during the journey, there was a sense of, relief, that those closest to the young man could notice, the tension in his shoulders relaxed, his eyes cast about, taking in the sights and sounds of the grasslands as they travelled. He was able to guide them safely to the town of Solanthus, however, as the smoke appeared on the horizon, and eventually the walls loomed overhead, his shoulders shrunk back down, as he made himself small, once again, to escape notice, unable, or unwilling to look the guards in the eyes. As the group arrived at the Inn, Caelin nodded towards Henry, Eliana and Chantilly, as he took Mangy towards the covered shed, where he could stable the horse. Once there, he removed the horse's packs, the strapping, the barrel, and the packs. Laying them carefully over the stable wall, he took out his brush, and began to brush down the old horse, "Shhhh," he said calmly, "you did a fine job, you did. We'll get you some water, some apples, and some feed. But first we aught to brush the dust from your coat, don't you think?" Eventually, burdened down with his gear, and what the other's had left on the horse, the great bulk of it obscuring his face, he entered the tavern and inn, looking for the proprietor. He was unsure how the locals would take Zakkoth, so was somewhat wary on that front, but figured a room for Eliana, a room for Henry, then he and Zakkoth could share one, as could Chantilly and Benyt. So four rooms, food and lodging for six, and stabling for a single horse, should come to no more than 25 or 30 steel. He shook his head, he remembered his life in the streets, before he was taken in by Mondath and ..., he bit down on his lip. Hard. He remembered a life before, when that sum would seem princely. He sighed, laying his packs over the counter while waiting on the innkeeper, "Rooms please, four for six, and a week at that." As he spoke, he kept a wary eye on the crowd in the common room, looking for eyes cast the group's way, Takhisis had eyes everywhere, and they had spit in the cult's eye, several times now.
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Post by Daos on Oct 24, 2021 20:02:51 GMT -8
"My compliments to you, sir Frume. I return after having done what you asked me." Frume pauses mid-song in surprise, then jumps to his feet when he sees Henry. "Ah, welcome, my boy, welcome! I was wondering when you'd get here!" He moves around the table (stumbling a bit, perhaps from a bit too much ale), and grabs the half-elf into a brief bear hug. After releasing him, he slaps him on the back a few times. "You're looking well. I guess that little expedition to Greenest wasn't the milkrun I thought it would be, but you seem to be in one piece! Good on ya, lad!" "Although I have to say that asking Henry to go around and getting beaten up was pretty mean. But he always did it courageously." "Beaten up?" He slaps Henry on the shoulder again. "Well, I hope you gave as good as you got, son!" he tells Henry. Turning back to the kender, he adds, "You should have seen the scraps he'd get into as a kid." He looks back to Henry. "Remember the sparring matches you'd have with Conard? I'd always have to have a healer on hand, ha ha!" "I've heard a little about you Sir Frume. It is a pleasure to finally meat you. I'm Lady Eliana Reyra." Frume seems to sober up a bit at the sight of Eliana, and with perfectly gentlemanly chivalry, bows with a flourish, before taking her hand and planting a chaste kiss upon it. "Only a little?" he asks. "I hope that little was good then! I had no idea my squire was traveling with such a charming and lovely noblewoman! Please, allow me to formally introduce myself then. I am Sir Ontharr Frume, Knight of the Rose, at your lady's most humble service." "Rooms please, four for six, and a week at that." The innkeeper, a Solamnic man with dark hair and eyes, perhaps around middle-aged, pulls out four keys from under the bar. "Let's see...four rooms at seven days, that'll come to 14 steel. Going to be here awhile then? This your first time in town?" he asks casually. While Caelin speaks with the innkeeper and the others speak with Frume, Benyt keeps to herself. She, too, looks carefully over the other patrons, as if searching for someone specific. Frume then gestures toward the table. "Come, come, sit. Perhaps you all are better drinking companions then stiff-lipped Leo here," the knight says. "No doubt you're tired from your long journey. Drinks are on me tonight, so drink up!"
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Post by Bunny Commando on Oct 25, 2021 13:40:46 GMT -8
Henry - HP: 36\36 - Conditions: None - Active Effects: None
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Henry accepts the hug, even though he looks quite uncomfortable with the show of affection from the older Knight. He then sits, not commenting about the wounds he sustained during the fights but again looking quite dreaded by the inevitable conversation. The squire clears his throat and starts with the talking, voice devoid of his usual high tone "We're at war, sir." he scratches the back of his head, his gaze low like he's ashamed "A cult of Takhisis has declared war on Solamnia. They're raiding our towns and villages to amass a trasure in order to appease a dragon. We discovered one of their hideouts, there we found three dragon eggs about to hatch." Henry gulps, cracking his own knuckles out of tension and stress "We met two members of this cult, Cyanwrath and Mondath. I would leave to him" he slightly nods to Caelin "to describe them to you, since he knows them better than me."
"I...we were unable to stop them, sir. They moved their troops somewhere else, but where I do not know." there, the dreaded moment has finally arrived - when Henry has to admit he somewhat failed his mission and disappointment his mentor. If one would see the whole situation in a certain way, it looks like a lot a son admitting a mistake to his own father.
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Post by Zero Prime on Oct 25, 2021 14:39:44 GMT -8
Caelin Valaerys, pariah of TakhisisARMOR CLASS: 16 | HIT POINTS: 32 | CURRENT: 32 | HIT DIE: 3d8; 1d10 | CURRENT: 3d8; 1d10 PASSIVE PERCEPTION: 15 | PASSIVE INSIGHT: 17 | INSPIRATION: 1 Caelin nods his thanks to the innkeeper, placing 15 steel bits on the counter top, "And if you could have the maids draw hot water for the lady's bath," he looked towards Eliana, "so it is steaming when she retires." He considered the question, "No, I've not been in town before, though I am looking for a master bowyer, if you could point me in the right direction?"Suddenly his head snapped around as he heard Henry speak the cult's name aloud, he glared at the young man, then scanned the crowd to see if any reacted to the name. OOC: Seeing if someone reacted to a line of questioning would be insight over perception, so I'll roll a d20, and Daos can add either +5 for Perception, or +7 for Insight. x68hDwmp1d20. 1d20
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Post by Daos on Oct 25, 2021 15:32:09 GMT -8
"A cult of Takhisis has declared war on Solamnia. They're raiding our towns and villages to amass a trasure in order to appease a dragon. We discovered one of their hideouts, there we found three dragon eggs about to hatch." Frume nods to this, and looks over to Leosin. "So, it's just as you said then." "Is this enough to get the Knights involved?" the monk asks. "Perhaps. It's a start, at any rate," Frume answers. Then he resumes listening to the squire. "We met two members of this cult, Cyanwrath and Mondath. I would leave to him to describe them to you, since he knows them better than me." "Who? That fellow over at the bar with the big keg and all that gear?" Frume asks. "What's he doing all the way over there? Shy or something?" "He's not the only one," Leosin remarks. He waves over Benyt and then pulls out a small jewel that resembles a star. "This is what you are looking for, right?" Benyt gawks a moment before sitting down. "So you are my contact? But why didn't you say anything back in Greenest?" Leosin shrugs and tucks the starjewel away. "There was no reason to. And originally, I was not supposed to be there at all." He chuckles slightly. "You can bet the Legion will have words for me later for letting myself get captured like that." "I...we were unable to stop them, sir. They moved their troops somewhere else, but where I do not know." This catches Leosin's attention. "Already? I wasn't expecting them to move on for weeks now. What could have driven them to act so hastily?" he wonders. "Could it have been you?" Frume asks the monk. "If they knew who you were...and you escaped..." Leosin frowns and shakes his head in disappointment. "Of course. I should have figured as much. No wonder they kept me alive for so long. They wanted to find out what I knew first." "In any case," Frume continues, turning back to the squire. "Of course you couldn't stop them. They are an entire army, you're a squire. But that was never the job. The job was to gather intel and report it back. And you did that just fine. We know more than we did before. You should be commended for your efforts." "And if you could have the maids draw hot water for the lady's bath so it is steaming when she retires." The innkeeper gathers up the coin on the bar, counting it out, then nods. "I can see to that, easily." "No, I've not been in town before, though I am looking for a master bowyer, if you could point me in the right direction?" "You might try the Blue Arms and Armor," the innkeeper offers. "It's in the Merchant District, along the wall between the South Gate and West Gate. If they don't have a master bowyer there, they can at least tell you where to find one." Suddenly his head snapped around as he heard Henry speak the cult's name aloud, he glared at the young man, then scanned the crowd to see if any reacted to the name. From what Caelin can tell, nobody batted an eye to Henry's words, or even seem to be paying any attention to him or the group. The place is pretty loud with talk, song, laughter and the clatter of cutlery, so it's unlikely anyone even heard him.
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Post by Igordragonian on Oct 25, 2021 16:06:49 GMT -8
Zakkoth hooded up, waddling with his barrel on his back.. Was he in the army that seiged this city? Eh. Who care.
He waddlem and turn to Leoshin. 'Yes. I am alive. Somehow,' He look judgingly at Frume. 'Henry did well. He saved my life, for whatever it worth. My throat is dry. Let's drink' pretending not to care about the military movements and the such.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Oct 25, 2021 16:45:52 GMT -8
Eliana had smiled as Frume had seemingly changed his manner, or at least somewhat when he introduced himself to her. She had to wonder how he managed to train two such serious young men like Henry and Conard. Either way, she takes a seat at the table, and waits for the drinks to arrive. She could have a few. "As any knight in the situation that we were in, Henry wanted to do more, save more lives," she explains. "Though, while Henry is right that they were collecting money, we don't know if they were trying to appease a dragon. They already had a blue dragon working for them during the attack on Greenest. The dragon eggs that we saw were black, so maybe it can be assumed that they have a black dragon working for them as well."
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Post by Daos on Oct 26, 2021 13:59:14 GMT -8
"They already had a blue dragon working for them during the attack on Greenest. The dragon eggs that we saw were black, so maybe it can be assumed that they have a black dragon working for them as well." "It seems likely, as the woman that Mondath reports to is a black dragonspawn," Leosin agrees. "My throat is dry. Let's drink." "Hear, hear, let us drink!" Frume agrees, raising his flagon. "And let us hear tales of your adventures, recent or otherwise. Surely a group such as yourself has a few interesting stories among you!"
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