King's Festival (B11) - Chapter 1 & 2 Stallanford & Orc Lair

[GreyWolfVT]

What you know about the world:
You are young adventurers in the land of Karameikos, setting out to seek fame and fortune. Karameikos is a great, wide, young nation; a country of hills and mountains to the north, of verdant woodland, forest, and rolling farmland to the south. There are ample opportunities for adventure in this vast country, and you have left your homes to prove yourselves.

If you are a human character you were born in one of the small towns on the Duke’s Road, the trade route that runs from the far-distant capital of Specularum to the south into the northern Altan Tepes mountains and beyond. Just before you left, your tutor the kindly soul who first taught you the rudiments of skill in your chosen career had a few last words of wisdom for you, and wished you good luck and good fellowship on your journey. Taking the equipment you needed and the little money you had, you set out on a cool, crisp early autumn dawn to see what your destiny might bring. . .

If you are a halfling, you have come from a small community of the little folk along the Duke’s Road, where you have lived with humans. Halflings are curious creatures, and while hot food (lots of it!) and a good fire in the hearth are pleasures to return home to, something tells you that a young halfling should be a bit more ambitious. This shocked some of the more sedate souls in your family, but you were not to be deterred. You’ve chosen to seek your fortune along the road, and set off to see who may have need of your skills!

If you are an elf, you have traveled some way from your clan and home. From the cool, leafy tree-houses of your people, in the southeastern Karameikan forests and woodlands, you have trekked. You have chosen to head for the bustling towns and cities of the human folk to see what excitement and adventures may be found there. With a sheathed sword or small book of magic, you bring your skills as a warrior or wizard with you. The final advice of the old elf who taught you understanding of steel and magic is still in your ears, and you hope that you have learned well what he taught you!

If you are a dwarf, you have grown tired of the tradition and regular habits of your clan in their subterranean homes in the foothills west of the Shutturgal River. You have many happy memories of your home, where gnomes and dwarves share their work and laughter, but you feel wanderlust. Such is the way of many young dwarves. After traveling, most dwarves return to their homes, but they feel the same incurable desire to see something of the great world beyond their heartland as you do. The grumpy old dwarf who taught you how to use a weapon and to feel comfortable in armor, had good advice for you, and you think this over as your tired feet trudge along the road.

Arrival to Stallanford
You have arrived at the town of Stallanford, on the Duke’s Road. The town is bustling and busy, with many visitors and merchants’ wagons seeking hostels and stables for horses. This is no ordinary day, for tomorrow is the first day of the King’s Festival! Karameikos has no king, but this long-held festival honors a great hero of the distant past, King Halav. Long before Karameikos was a nation, King Halav of the Traldar folk fought with his warriors against evil Beast-Men. In a great battle, Halav and the king of the Beast-Men fell, but the evil ones fled and the safety of the humans was ensured.

You’re rather late in arriving, and many folk are asleep. You sniff the pleasing aroma of cooking meat and warm bread, and you make for the tavern, the Hungry Halfling, for a meal and some rest. The inn is busy, but you find a table right away. The friendly old halfling who owns the hostelry charges 5 silver pieces for dinner, a bed, and breakfast. It’s good value though the joint of beef you see on the table will fill your stomach after your long journey!

Daos, Roshek, Hekras & Q: leaving Hommlet find a fog settles in around them as they are leaving town and the next thing they know they are walking on a strange unkown road in a new land they don't recognize. They bump into some new faces Anya L'Zal & Elethor at least that is the names they gave in greetings. Eventually after some time the four come to know enough of the two new (to them) travellers to be trustworthy enough to join up with, leading them down the Duke's Road heading to a place called Stallanford for some sort of King's Festival. 

Duke's Road Map:

[Daos]

After having dealt with the cult in Hommlet, Daos found himself at something of a crossroads.  He had enough money that he could retire, and try to live a more simple life in Hommlet, or even move back to Verbobonc.  The group had split up anyway, with Tristen and Narya heading their separate ways.  And yet, he found he couldn't bring himself to stop now.  Hommlet and Verbobonc both held too many bad memories to build a new home there.  His mother might still be out there, up to no good.  But even if she's not, he still wanted to travel a bit more, try and find a place where he can be happy, with family and friends and where he can make a real home.

So when Roshek, Hekras and Q approached him, having decided to travel to another kingdom to look for work, at first Daos was reluctant, but after giving it some thought, he agreed.  The world was vast, and he had never seen anything beyond Old Ferrond.  Maybe he could find what he was looking for somewhere beyond.  He packed up his things and joined them on their journey.

After joining up with an odd pair, an elven warrior and a rather frightening looking minstrel, the team moved on and found themselves in the town of Stallanford, a place Daos had never previously heard of before.  But it seemed nice enough.  After arriving at the Hungry Halfling and finding the group a table, he pays the five silver and waves over a server.  "Excuse me, we're new in town.  Is there some kind of festival or something going on?" he asks, noting the festival atmosphere in town.

[TristenC]

Elethor breathes deep the air of the inn as they arrive at the Hungry Halfling tavern. The curious quartet of Q, Hekras, the shy seeming Daos and Roshek had been an interesting encounter and addition to the Lizard Queen's entourage.

Elethor glanced at Anya and grinned. Few would guess her true nature with the many reptilian features, but one thing was certain: Life was always interesting wherever she went.
Aha! A festival! An excellent chance to display your talents and even further broaden your influence, my Queen. Elethor enthuses. Waving down the inkeep he will secure lodgings.

[GravityEmblem]

Anya inwardly preens at all the attention Elethor gives her. "I can always pull a few strings and end up playing. You'd be surprised how many organizers would rather give me what I want than look at me!" she laughs. "And, of course, I can be quite...persuasive, if I want to be."

[Rax]

"The 'Hungry Halfling', eh?" There'd better not be one inside, or the pantry's likely to be empty already," Roshek chuckles outside the tavern. Making his way inside with the rest of the group, he takes a seat alongside Daos and pays the five silver for food and a bed.

As Daos asks the server about the festival, Roshek turns to Anya: "Now then lass, I've travelled some but I've never run into anyone that looks like you before. Whereabouts are you from and are there more like you there?"

[GreyWolfVT]

An older looking halfling comes out of the kitchen and moves over to the bar dressed a bit like a butcher or maybe a chef, meat cleaver sticking out of his apron pocket. Walks over to the bar talks to some serving ladies and points at your table then goes back into the kitchen where all of the lovely smelling food is cooking. Sure enough one of the serving ladies comes over to the table and checks to see how everyone is doing and what orders need to be taken. One of the other serving ladies is an older looking halfling female possibly the owners wife. The one that comes to your table is a younger human girl probably a teen judging by how young she looks. "How are you folks doing? Might I take your orders? Anyone wish to hear the specials today?" she says in a melodic voice, and then stops when she sees Anya a bit taken by surprise she quickly shakes it off and doesn't stare. "Are you folks new to Stallanford?" she hazards to ask.

[GravityEmblem]

"Me? Oh, I'm from the land of the Lizardfolk--surely you've heard of them?" Anya lies. "I'm somewhat of a celebrity, there." To the Human teen, she answers, "Why, yes. Me and my entourage are planning to play in the festival."

[Daos]

"We are new in town," Daos repeats.  "And yes, I'd like to hear the specials," he adds.

[GreyWolfVT]

The serving girl smiles kindly and reads today's specials "We have roasted venison, rabbit stew and fried ham served with roasted potatoes. The chef likes to fry the potatoes up with peppers and onions in butter, lightly seasoned with his own special seasoning. As for drinks we have the usual ales, and meads, wine of either red or white varieties. Water which is free, a mint tea, hot coffee, milk of which we have two types Goat or Cow. Our special for the festival is a hot spiced cider. Another special for the festival is a fried dough that is topped with a cinnamon sugar sprinkle, if you have a bit of a sweet tooth that is."

[GravityEmblem]

"A sweet tooth? Ooh, I happen to have several," Anya says.

[GreyWolfVT]

Hekras chuckles at Anya's remark. He elbow nudges Roshek when sure enough two halflings run the place. "Got anythin' strong ta drink lass? I"ll have tha ham and taters by tha way." he asks the young lady waiting on their orders.

Q rolls his eyes and orders "Tea, for me please. Do you happen to have any salad miss?" he inquires.

The young lady starts writing down the orders on a piece of paper. "Salad? Oh why yes we do have a chef salad it has meat in it will that be good for you?"

Q nods his head "Yes, quite fine. That will do nicely. Thank you."

Waitress to Hekras "Hmm strong, well there is a hard cider, or there is the Halfling's Brew it's a creation of the proprietor's own making similar to ale but it has more of a kick. Shall I order you some of that?"

Hekras smiles and nods his head "Best make it three." he hols up three fingers on his hand to her. "One fer me friend ere. An two fer me." he chuckles and nods his head towards Roshek.

[Daos]

"I will have the ham and potatoes, as well," Daos says.  "And a spiced cider sounds great."

[Rax]

"Lizardfolk, eh? I've met some lizardfolk in my time, but by the Glowhammer, they didn't look anything like you, lass. Much more...snouty, if you catch my drift. And more likely to kill you and eat you than playing festivals among humans," Roshek replies.

"Only one? Can't have you drinking alone, friend Hekras. Best bring me a second while you're at it," he says to the serving girl. "And I'll have the venison and potatoes."

[GravityEmblem]

"Well, I suppose I'm a special case," Anya says. "And a spiced cider sounds wonderful."

[GreyWolfVT]

The serving girl backs up a bit "Pardon my asking but you aren't a lizardfolk miss? You don't really look like a dragonborn, I'm not trying to be rude, usually lizardfolk are more violent. So I don't think you are that, but I'm more curious we don't get too many of any of those kinds here in Stallanford."