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Post by Daos on Dec 6, 2019 15:53:02 GMT -8
After resting again at the Varvil Inn, the party packed up and headed west toward Zhea Harbor the next morning, Rannmont 24th. The weather was clear, although there was a strong, cool wind blowing in from the water, carrying with it the scent of the sea. That night, they made camp by the beach and ate a meal of dry rations. Once their waterskins were empty, Ravarie was able to conjure more from the air itself with the Blue Phoenix's blessing.
The next morning, on Rannmont 25th, the party set out again. It's even colder this morn, as if winter was trying to reassert itself before spring finally arrived. Several hours later, the city comes into view. While compared to Varvil it's a sprawling metropolis, comparing it to Daltigoth makes it seems like an outright backwater hamlet. Still, with a population of nearly six thousand, there is plenty to see and do here.
The city is surrounded by a wall with only three entrances--west, north and east. The party, having come from Varvil, arrives from the east and the trail they are taking leads right up to the east gate. The gate is protected by a small contingent of armed guards in chain mail, with swords at their belts and crossbows on their backs. They wear the tabards of the Ergothian Merchant Marines, a trading guild that held little power when Dorias was last here, but now seem to be guarding the city gates of all things.
Two guards stop the party as they reach the gate. "State your business," says one.
"Ugh, are those goblins?" asks the second, looking at Reeker and Grognak. "Why are you bringing goblins into our fair city?"
Sorrith and Lalora, of course, have their cowls up over their faces, concealing the fact that they are elves.
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The party arrives in Zhea Harbor. It is Rannmont 25th at Eighth and a half Watch (2:30 PM).
(OOC: Everyone regains 2 HP. Casters may choose new spells for the day.)
Sorrith is now fully healed. Lalora is now fully healed.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Dec 6, 2019 16:36:32 GMT -8
"They won't cause any harm," Ravarie says to the guards.
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Rax
Dicemaster
Posts: 2,263
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Post by Rax on Dec 7, 2019 7:26:03 GMT -8
"A goblin and a half-goblin, to be precise. Both of them have done me sterling and loyal service - they are no danger to anyone who doesn't provoke them," Dorias replies. "I am Dorias Mar-Quon, Cavalier in the Emperor's service. You may be familiar with my uncle Kuril and my brother Hallek? We are here to meet them."
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Post by Daos on Dec 7, 2019 16:01:50 GMT -8
The two guards look at Ravarie with surprise and some suspicion. Although her cloak's cowl hides her features, her voice has a distinctly elven accent and they seem to hear it easily enough. Before they can say anything, though, Dorias speaks and regains their attention. When he introduces himself, particularly when he describes himself as being in the Emperor's service, there is a sudden and noticeable change in their expressions. Dorias could swear he sees suspicion, maybe even disdain in their eyes.
"Mar-Quon, you say? Tch. Just like a northerner to buddy up with goblins and elves. Best keep your nose clean in this city, though. We won't tolerate any trouble, understand?" one guard says.
After that outright baffling encounter, they are waved through the gate. Once far enough beyond the guards, Sorrith says, "A strange homecoming. Are your people always so welcoming to their own?"
Now that they are inside the city's walls, they are quite close to the Mar-Quon manor, which is in the northern part of the city.
(OOC: Gravity has been grounded, so I'll be NPCing Grognak for the foreseeable future.)
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Post by HorizonsDream on Dec 7, 2019 16:50:54 GMT -8
"I didn't expect such disdain for you," Ravarie says in confusion.
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Rax
Dicemaster
Posts: 2,263
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Post by Rax on Dec 8, 2019 9:59:32 GMT -8
"In truth, neither did I. It seems there have been changes I know little about since my enslavement. These men, for instance, are part of the Merchant Marines. They did not have the responsibility for guarding the city gates when I sailed from here two years ago. Hopefully we will learn more when we meet my brother, my uncle, or whoever is residing at the family manor. It's not far from here - follow me," Dorias says, clearly somewhat crestfallen about his reception so far.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Dec 8, 2019 11:11:05 GMT -8
"Will you get a warm welcome from your brother or uncle?" Ravarie asks as she follows after Dorias.
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Rax
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Posts: 2,263
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Post by Rax on Dec 8, 2019 12:00:13 GMT -8
"I should hope so. Halleck buried himself in maintaining our mother's trading business after she died, but my path led me in another direction. Still, there was no bad blood between us that I am aware of."
"As for my uncle...I suppose much will depend on whether cousin Zanya was able to escape and return home or not. She was in my charge, and if she was captured or killed, then I failed in my duty. He may blame me for that or not, depending on what news reached him."
"Of course, there's also the small matter that everyone likely presumes I am dead. My reappearance will be a shock, I am sure."
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Post by Daos on Dec 8, 2019 13:08:08 GMT -8
It doesn't take long to reach their destination. This whole segment of the city that Dorias is leading them to seems quite nice, where most of the homes look about the same size as Glarou's manor, but most are nicer and in better shape. There is probably more wealth in this quarter of the city than Varvil has ever seen since it was founded.
The scent of the sea is weaker in this area, but not entirely gone. Just mostly drowned out by other scents, like lavender and perfume. Most of the people on the streets are commoners, running to and fro to run errands. The actual residents of this quarter don't walk, but rather are transported by private wagons.
Once they reach their destination, though, Dorias recognizes that something is off about his childhood home, right away. The grounds are not well kept. Weeds are overgrown in the courtyard. No servants are moving about. In fact, there's no activity at all. Most telling is the large padlock on the courtyard gate, barring entry into the grounds.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Dec 8, 2019 13:28:17 GMT -8
Ravarie looks around curiously. "Hmm, this place kind of looks like no one has lived here for a little while," she says.She assumes this isn't normal though, so she waits to see what Dorias does.
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Rax
Dicemaster
Posts: 2,263
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Post by Rax on Dec 9, 2019 13:47:43 GMT -8
"I concur," Dorias replies, disquiet obvious in his voice. Looking around the street, he hails a servant passing by. "Hold a moment, friend! May I have a moment of your time? I am Sir Dorias Mar-Quon and I've been away for some years. I certainly didn't expect to return to this," he says, waving his hand at the gate and grounds. "Do you know why the Mar-Quon manor is in this unfortunate state?"
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Post by Daos on Dec 9, 2019 13:59:33 GMT -8
The servant, a young woman, looks at the manor and nods. "Oh, right, I remember them. Lost that place about a year ago, they did. City council repossessed it. Heard they had to move down to the poor section of the city, by the docks. Probably still down there, I'd guess." She shrugs.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Dec 9, 2019 16:40:01 GMT -8
"Why?" Ravarie asks, but pauses and looks sheepishly at Dorias, as she realizes she might have over stepped her bounds. This is his family after all.
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Rax
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Posts: 2,263
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Post by Rax on Dec 10, 2019 10:33:50 GMT -8
"They repossessed my family's manor?" Dorias says incredulously. "I...well, as my lady companion was saying - why?"
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Post by Daos on Dec 10, 2019 14:18:18 GMT -8
The girl shrugs. "I dunno the politics of it all. Maybe they ran out of money? Anyway, it's been on the market ever since, but nobody's bought it up so far as I know. Seems a shame, to let it just go to waste like that. There's an inn on the docks, the Blue Bird. Might try asking around there, they might know what became of the folks that lived there. Then you can ask 'em yourselves."
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