Anauroch: Empire of Shade

[Maerok]

Myth Drannor has again become a bustling place. Graceful spires rise above the treeline, and a few of the outlying structures on the forest floor appear to have been fully restored or replaced with newer buildings. Much of the city seems covered in tents - a testament to the number of troops stationed here these days. Tents of all sizes, shapes, and colors stand in most open spaces inside the city. Smoke rises from cookfires here and there, and some tent flaps stand open to reveal eateries, makeshift shops, and the workplaces of crafters. Armed patrols move through the restored streets and byways between tent rows and walk the perimeter of the city, keeping a sharp eye out for enemies.

It has been a troublesome journey so far; your dreams are laden with a call to a group of ruins deep within a wooded landscape. In your possession are five once identical rings, each weathered in their strange journey to your hand. And at your side are four other companions who are also caught up in the unknown circumstances behind your travels.

[Blood_Lord]

Gardag

A beast walks amongst the men, an Inhuman creature, nearly seven feet tall, bone outgrowths abound, and his chest is covered in fur. In every gap, silver scales glint out. Most prominent of all, the four white covered arms growing out of his chest end in wicked talons.

Such a creature, hardly human at all, and yet, the words from it's mouth come clearly and with no trace of it's animalistic appearance.

Another one of these? Why do the callings always point to a city full of boring people? Can't we find a Tome in a Tomb, or a Shard in a Tower, or a Ring in a Grave? Why is it always a book in the Libraryof the big town?

[Toliudar]

Visti de Agla

The diminuitive girl with the voice and eyes of a much older woman rides behind Gardag, on a sturdy broad-backed horse.. Her clothes are singularly inappropriate for the road - a tight-fitting black velvet dress that accentuates pale skin - but somehow, the dust of the road has yet to take its toll. The seven stars of mystra are embroidered over her left breast. A small dagger snug in her boot, but she is otherwise unarmed.

The journey had been a long one, and each of her companions had, at one point or another, seen another side of Visti - that of an elegant, silver-skinned woman of a more stately demeanour, dressed in simple, practical travelling clothes.

Visti smiles at Gardag's words, and glances knowingly at Tirk before responding to the silver lizard.

"I shouldn't worry overmuch, Gardag. I'm sure that there'll be some slavering beast just waiting to kill us around some bend in the road. In the meantime, I'm rather excited to see what might remain of the libraries of Myth Drannor."

[Blood_Lord]

Spoiler

Show

... before responding to the orc.

He's not an Orc, he's a Dragonborn.

[Toliudar]

Spoiler

Show

Spoiler

Show

He's not an Orc, he's a Dragonborn.

Then why does your character sheet say Dragonborn Water Orc?

[Blood_Lord]

Spoiler

Show

Then why does your character sheet say Dragonborn Water Orc?

Because Dragonborn is a template, that must be applied to a base race. However, it completely erases an orc nature, and only my general size remains the same. I look like a Lizardfolk, only more upright, more humanoid features, and with silver scales.

[J-H]

Worff
Worff jogs or walks alongside the other members of the party, easily keeping pace thanks to his quick legs. The denser air at an altitude much lower than the Goliath was raised at provides plenty of fuel for the lungs expanding and contracting inside his barrel chest.

[Maerok]

(How are you all traveling/approaching the encampment?)

Ahead of your group, along well-worn pathways are guard patrols. They seem at ease but their bows and swords are kept ready for the first sign of trouble.

[J-H]

Worff
Worff continues towards the encampment on foot, his Glaive strapped vertical to the side of his pack, in reach but not in hand.

[Blood_Lord]

Spoiler

Show

Gardag refuses to ride any natural beast of burden, so unless someone provides him with a magical mount, he walks or flies under his own power (depending on the terrain). He has no apparent weapons other then his claws and teeth.

[Toliudar]

Visti

Spoiler

Show

Visti is riding a heavy warhorse.

Also, it's safe to assume that Visti has tried to use her Artificer's monocle and lore ability to learn what she can of the properties and provenance of their rings. Possibly relevant checks (making use of Divine Insight)

(1d20+22)[33] Spellcraft
(1d20+9)[28] Knowledge arcana
(1d20+22)[31] knowledge religion
(1d20+19)[35] Lore

Riding forward, Visti waves slowly to the patrol ahead. When they are within easy calling distance, she smiles and shouts out.

"Hello! Don't worry too much about our strange little group - we're mostly harmless. Any chance you know of a comfortable place to rest in Myth Drannor?

[Toliudar]

Spoiler

Show

And in case it's important, Diplomacy (1d20+23)[32] to support what she's saying.

[Ditto]

Tirk

As the group approached the patrol, Tirk sat up a tick straighter on her mount. Might as well look proper for the nice men. She pulled her cloak tight around her in the evening cool and eyed the tent city curiously as they rode on.

[Maerok]

The patrol breaks into a hustle to meet up with you all before reaching the outer limits of the city. They get closer and it looks to be a patrol of moon elves.

"Halt! State your names and business in Myth Drannor!" says an authoritative voice. Two elves armed with swords and longbows accompanied by a wolf have appeared from somewhere within the throng. One of the elves holds a piece of parchment and a pen.

Lore/Knowledge checks:

Spoiler

Show

Inscribed on the inner face of this non-descript silver band is the symbol of Windsong Tower: a harp surrounded by swirling winds. Windsong Tower was a wizard's school in Myth Drannor before the Weeping War. The students and faculty of Windsong Tower each possessed a ring known as a Windsong Tower ring. It is also able to enhance a wearer's ability to teleport.

[Toliudar]

Visti

Visti looks over at Tirk again, as if to say You want to, or shall I.

The young woman turns back to the guards, raising her hands, palm out, to show that she is holding no weapon. She lets them drop back to the reins, to approach for a more comfortable conversation.

I am Visti de Agla, and these are my companions Tirk Also, Worff, and Gardag. I am here to see the Windsong Tower, or its ruins. And, more pressingly, a comfortable bed. If one is to be had.

Visti smiles. And waits.

[Maerok]

The taller of the two well-armed elves among the crowd comes forth.

"The ruins? I have not been to them personally but I hear it's - hey!" A large black raven swooped under his arm and disappeared up into the trees as quickly as it had appeared. "Birds... Anyway, it's rather quiet around there and I'd appreciate it if any visitors would take care to keep it that way."

His companion chimed in over the rest of the crowd: "Welcome to Myth Drannor, by the way. There's a decent inn toward the center of the city, if you can manage your way through all the tents." He patted the wolf on the head absentmindedly and smiled back politely.

[Toliudar]

Visti

Visti nods appreciatively.

"Gentlemen, you are most gracious. I'm sure the inn will suit our needs. The name or sign of the inn, sir?

"Oh, and you may wish to check through your belongings, sir. Some ravens are especially drawn to shiny objects, and it's possible that that raven was after something specific of yours."

Smiling back at her companions, Visti encourages them forward, towards the prospect of a reasonable night's rest.

[Maerok]

The more upfront elf nods in appreciation. "Thanks for the tip. If I may suggest an inn: the Journeyman's Throne. It is perhaps the largest complex of tents around here, in the center of town." He held up an arm to his comrades and they moved further down the road.

(Going to the inn?)

[J-H]

Worff
The Goliath starts moving towards the inn. "We should reserve our places for the night, and then start looking around for...whatever we're looking for."

[Blood_Lord]

Gardag

Meh, I know where you are staying. I'll find a nice quite place under the sky to rest. Meet you in the morning.

The Beast shuffles off, an occasional flap of his wings aiding in his trip out to the perimeter of the camp.

[Toliudar]

Visti

Visti smiles at Gardag.

See you at the morning, then.

She sets off after Worff towards the Journeyman's Throne.

[Maerok]

Supported between four medium trees set in a large square is the Journeyman's Throne. No expenses were spared in the construction of this multi-level feat of tent engineering: it rises three stories into the air as an elaborate work of tastefully treated canvas with windows set at appropriate intervals.

The general hustle and bustle of the tented town has naturally worked its way down over the day and the various flaps and folds of the encampment are slowly drawn shut after a long afternoon of relative normalcy. The occasional guard patrol strolls by now and again.

[J-H]

Worff
Worff looks around, and asks a likely-looking individual if there's anywhere he can buy scrolls or supplies at... and where he can find more information about any goings-on at any ruins or archaeological digs.

He then goes into the inn, buys dinner, and gets a room for the night. In the common area, he'll listen for anything that might have a bearing on his situation.

Spoiler

Show

Cost = negligible or ?
GatherInformation - (1d20-1)[2]

[Maerok]

For scrolls and supplies, Worff is directed to the Mage's Center and the Armory, not too far away by the garrisons to the east. Both are stocked modestly with basic equipment though a few notable pieces do come by every once in a while.

The ruins themselves are rarely bothered with. An odd tourist or two might venture through Myth Drannor every so often but they've long lost their presence of intrigue among the locals. What remains of the ruins is locked up tight, and no one has been able to manage a way in.

Chatter around the inn has mostly been about Worff (and the others as they arrive).

[Toliudar]

Visti

At the inn, Visti will arrange rooms, and ask after any shrine or notable servants of Mystra in the city, as well (of course) as any particular news or gossip.

After that, she will visit any enclave or high-profile servants of Mystra, then return to the inn to invite Worff and Tirk to join her on a stroll around the city.

Spoiler

Show

Diplomacy as needed: (1d20+23)[37]
The stroll is intended to gain an understanding of the layout and current state of affairs in Myth Drannor. As a bonus, she's also checking around for any spellcasting going on, using her ring of Spell Battle.

[Maerok]

Gossip among long-standing followers of Mystra in the area has recently become fiercely guarded. Even Visti is unable to get any hard facts other than instructions to come back in the afternoon once they have consulted with the leading priest about her presence.

It's currently night, but the streets are open.

-----

From where Gardag has picked his spot, he can feel something dropping onto his head again and again.

[Blood_Lord]

Gardag

Gardag will pick another spot.

[Toliudar]

Visti

Spoiler

Show

So, we can assume that we've managed to wander through most of the city by dark? Not in a "poke into every byway" way, but enough to know where the landmarks are, and get a sense of how people are acting there?

If so, I'm good to fast forward to morning.

Relaxing with Worff and Tirk in the inn that evening, Visti relaxes a bit, revealing anecdotes from her service to Mystra that suggest that such service has gone back decades, not years.

[Maerok]

Gardag is once again pelted with small objects. And this time it turns out to be daggers from a big black raven high above. The blades thump into the ground around him and a moment later, with a squawk, the creature flies back toward the town.

From the window of the inn comes a rather abrupt squawking noise as the large bird from before settles precariously on the window sill.

[Blood_Lord]

Gardag

Gardag will leap into the air, flying after the bird.