Everyone
Marpenoth 9

The blackness that filled your senses begins to fade. Feeling returns to your limbs, and you notice that it’s warmer than it was a moment ago. Cool, not cold, without wind but plenty of moisture in the air.

Vision returns and you realize that you’re on your backs, staring up at the sky. What little of it you can, that is, for three massive trees, their leaves a riot of autumn colors, are spread out above you.

Pushing yourselves upright, you glance around. You’re in a forest clearing about two hundred feel long and half that wide. The ground is lumpy with large chunks of partially-buried rock covered over with grass and brush.

As your heads begin to clear, you begin to take in more of your surroundings. The rocks aren’t random boulders; it’s fine marble that was shaped and carved before it was broken and scattered. The clearing isn’t a clearing; it’s a park grown wild, with mounds of dirt and grass that were once benches and patches of surfaced stone that were once walkways.

And it isn’t a forest. This was a city. A ruined city. You can see buildings every way you turn. Most are graceful spires of stone or crystal, but there are a few wooden walls perched atop massive trees.

All of them are damaged. Some have been completely destroyed. One tower close to you has been cleaved down the center, its left side standing with its floors drooping out into nothing over the broken remnants of its right. Across the way a building whose out wall undulates like a frozen wave has lost everything about its first floor; the walls reaching upward like broken teeth. To your left you see the outline of a building, all that’s left of its walls an unnaturally-straight grassy mound no higher than your knee.

Rain and wind and dirt have stained the once-bright stonework, scraped away all but faint touches of paint. Broken windows stare out at you like maddened eyes.

You aren’t alone in the ruin. Corym and Krackor and Kora are clustered together, but there are others spread out around you as well. You are between two large chunks of damaged stone twenty feet apart which, though damaged, still bear a striking resemblance to a pair of hands gripping something as they thrust upward.

You aren’t where you were a few moments before. And a few of you are coming to realize exactly where you are.

((ooc: Corym and Talathel, from your training and background you both recognize this as the fabled, and deadly, city of Myth Drannor.

And we’re off!))
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:35, Tue 08 Jan 2019.

Coming to his senses, shaking his head to clear the ringing, the dullness of foggy vision.
What just happened? The priest intones, hoping his friends hear him as he spots them laying close by.

He stands, wobbles, sees a marble bench, moves to it and sits down. He sees his friends stirring and smiles, only breifly, then confusion crosses his brow.

Taking in his surroundings, realisation.
Karilla, Obar, Harun, are you there?  Corym, Kora, the others, they have gone, what happened?

The sway of his thoughts calming, gathering himself, the young Dwarf proclaimed loudly... Gorm, Fire Eyes, I stand here before you, Krackor Steelfist, Guardian of the Dreams of the Ancients Exploration Company, Barakor of the Bronze Mask. I know not where we are and have lost half of my people. It was beyong my control, I ask for your guidance!

If there was anyone around, they heard him. At least if some creature arrives, he'd know how to deal with them.

Then he spots them, more people, takes in everything about them, how the lay, proximity to others, weapons.

He Smiles, assumes they know as much about how they got there as he does. We mean you no harm, I am Krackor, Guardian, protector. Well met in this strange place, may I know what you call yourself?

Katarn shook his head as it spun from the sudden shift and looked around at the over grown and ruined structures around him. He rolled on his side and looked around. "Well Finder-of-Trails, where have you sent me now?" Katarn said with a dark chuckle. Then he heard the ruckus of a dwarf calling out loudly to Gorm Fire Eyes and he turned towards the other figure as he sat up.

"Katarn of Citadel Adbar, is meself. I was traveling the passes in the Rauvin Mountains when suddenly I found meself layin' on me back here." He put the head of his morningstar on the ground and used handle to lever himself up to standing, while he looked around more where they found themselves. "Any of you lot know where we be now? Sounds like you lot're missin' some friends. If any of ye're hungry I've some food for yer bellys."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:35, Fri 28 Dec 2018.

It doesn’t register at first with the dark haired elf where he is.  It didn’t matter at first.  He’d been caught unaware, and the first thing to do when you’re caught unaware is to set about creating a defense.  Surprise is deadly no matter where you are.

He oriented himself away from Krackor, knowing that it was only a matter of moments before the dwarf indulged himself in his most basic instinct—to bray into the void and alert every danger around them.

He hissed at Kora to follow his lead, but did not pay attention to whether or not she heeded him.  His human apprentice decided for herself what of his counsel was worth following.



Corym cringed.  Foreknowledge that a thing is about to happen still doesn’t prepare you for the terror of its actual occurrence.  He squeezed the stone he hid behind in frustration.  Marble?



Teleportation or gate. Gate, definitely a gate.  What city?  A ruined city.  With a forest.  Towers.

Ascalhorn?



Myth. Drannor.  On the one hand, Myth Drannor was a dream.  A limitless supply of ancient wisdom, knowledge, and Art to be reclaimed for the use of the People. There was no better place for his work.  This was what his father had lived for.  But also, it was a nightmare.  A demon infested hellscape nightmare with a fine sprinkling of the undead and magical mutants.



Two dwarf priests!?! The Trickster must be rolling.

“Please stop.  Both of you.  Please. We need to get out of sight, now.  We are in the very heart of peril.” Corym spoke emphatically but quietly.  He does not reveal himself, but does begin looking for a sheltered place for them to regroup.

Talathel rose and took in his surroundings. His face fills with dread, and he whispers in elven "Forgive me grandfather, for I am in the one place I promised never to go."

Looking to the others he sizes them up quickly, and determines his best chance is to assist these fellow travelers. "We are in the city of Myth Drannor. We must find cover quickly, for this place is most deadly. I am Talathel Eoleth, from the Deeping Dale, and I know the Cormanthor well, but I have never been to this dreadful place. I can find us places to hide as we slowly retreat from this place." he says in a low voice to them. Talathel's voice is unusually gruff for an elf, and he has the look of someone used to the wild.

Taking in his surroundings, listening to his Captain, Krackor silenced himself and searched, searched for danger, for exits, for friends, for allies.

Swinging his Crossbow and loading it, he checked himself out, walking the area, helping others stand. Myth Drannor! He hadn't heard of that place but had heard stories of Citadel Adbar and Cormanthor, never imagining to visit either. Corym was worried and that made his senses scream to attention.

Thank you all. I'm ready

Thankfully there were not three dwarf priests here.

Someone that knows the local terrain.  Excellent.

"Cormiira! Lead on, Talathel.  I am Corym Ildroun of Evereska. These are your woods, we are in your hands!"

Corym peeks around the corner, still not fully revealing himself.

Dorian barely stirred as he came fully awake and took in his new and unknown situation.  He shifted his head a fraction to observe the others as they also took in their environment.

When Krakor brayed out his plea Dorian nearly jumped out of his skin.  The Elf scrambled to nearby cover and disappeared behind some rubble "You will bring unwanted eyes down upon us, Noisy One." he hissed.

"What is this place and what are we doing here?" he demanded in a voice that carried barely ten yards.

The skittishness of the other people in the clearing spooked Katarn as well and he unslung his shield, looking warily around for threats. "Myth Drannor eh? Sure'n I've heard of it. Never thought to be here meself, too far from me charges. Though the Finder-of-Trails does have a sense of humor on occasion." Katarn said to no one in particular as he circled.

He muttered under his breath, "Rhadav," and suddenly disappeared from view to those in the clearning at least.  The tread of Katarn's boots on the ground could still be discerned, but he was now no where in sight.

From off to the right of where he'd be previously his voice comes, "so... what are we hidin' from then? Seems peaceful here ta me."

Kora groaned as she slowly pushed herself to her knees. Then her eyes flew open. "Lexi!" Her head twists around frantically. "Lexanna!"

Then what Corym is saying penetrates her muddled thoughts and she immediately drops into a crouch. Grabbing the massive two handed sword that had fallen to the ground next to her, she draws it and move to stand with her back to Corym. "Myth Drannor! This is incredible!" she says quietly. A moment later she adds, "As long as we don't all die horribly."

Krackor remembered well his lessons, the one springing to mind right now was about distraction and unknowing the noises that brought them here in the first place.

Hush, just keep the talking quiet. If anyone is around to hear me, they would have heard our arrival anyway.

Taking note of everyone, their positions, the armour and weapons they had, the Dwarven Priest had to agree The Finder of Trails does indeed have a sense of humour to place us here.

Corym was relieved to have everyone heed his warning so swiftly, and to have his warning reiterated by others knowledgeable in the subject.

He rallied to Kora and Krackor and began to shepherd them toward Talathel. Scanning quickly, he looked for Lexi, Obar, Karilla, and Harun. Seeing none, and knowing that hopes and flights of fancy could be the end of you here, he abandoned all thought of them.  Lexanna is an ardent survivor of grim circumstances, and Karilla was my partner in the drow caverns--stout of heart.  It might not even be possible to kill Obar. They would be more than capable to the task set before them, and worrying about them would not reduce his own problems.

Now for the first time Corym steps into full view.

Corym has the alabaster skin and blue-black hair of true bred moon-elf heritage, but his features are less refined.  Harder, sharper, more wild.  A face and build more like—a wild elf?  He wears no armor at all.  His clothing fits him well and is closely formed to his body, though it lacks any decoration or embellishment. Black leggings, a dark shirt, black close fitting leather gauntlets with felines embroidered on the back. From his shoulders to his knees is a mesh of blackened leather straps and ties to which is bound a number of tools.  Certainly there are thief tools, but others seems to be more specialized.  Among their number are a pair of wands, a short sword, and an encased short bow and quiver.  As he moves you can see that none of the tools dangle or sway.  All are secured to his person, all easily within reach.  There are no unintentional sounds.

All-in-all he has the hodge-podge look of a seasoned adventurer whose acquisitions have come from decades of happenstance, but they are bound together into a system of such cunning and mechanical design that you might think a gnome had engineered it.

Myth Drannor for 500 years was the height of civilization.  Not elf civilization—civilization.  It was more cosmopolitan by far than Waterdeep, more enlightened than Silverymoon, more densely magical than any place north of Halruaa, and more.  Clans of dwarves, houses of elves,  families of gnomes, and tribes of humans—all lived in Myth Drannor by the grace of the Coronal and blended their arts and efforts in harmony.  No finer forging, stonework, artistry has every been accomplished.  Though you may not know it, you have lived your whole life in a Dark Age of the world.  Most of what had been learned and accomplished has been lost.  The city was razed by two different armies from two different hells over the course of a 700 hundred years. The wards of the city bind them here still, and the two forces fight one another from ruin to ruin and we are in the middle!  There is no more dangerous place in all the Realms. Oft have I dreamed of it, but we must seek safety, we must flee, and not return until we are ready!

Telathel, you know this place? May sun, moon, and stars smile on you if you do!
This message was last edited by the player at 13:10, Sat 29 Dec 2018.

Updated HP and AC in Bio

His boot tread audible as he moved over to join Corym and his two companions, Katarn listened in silence to his story of the place they now found themselves. A disembodied voice sounded, "well I heard tale of the dangers of Myth Drannor, but nothing specific. That does indeed sound dire." Voice angled in a different direction, he said toward Talathel "Talathel is it? If you know the way, which direction is the fastest way out? I can point us in the right direction if nothing else."

"Braegran will have a field day when I tell him about this... step through an accidental portal, end up in the deadliest place in Faerun..." Katarn muttered under his breath.

Seeing that there appeared to be no immediate danger Dorian spoke "Myth Drannor you say?  But how?  I was more than 500 miles from here on the other side of Anauroch."

Dorian paused "Perhaps we all share some common link?  Slept on a Fairy Ring?  Angered the wrong Archmage?"

"I am Dorian, if you are good folk, I am at your service." as he spoke he casually took inventory of his belongings to make sure he was whole.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Sat 29 Dec 2018.

Standing there, waiting for a direction to go, be decked in plate mail armour, the small bronze shield on the chain at his chest present on his black oval shield between the two sets of eyes, those at the bottom upsidedown. His hair showing below his open helmet frames the cheery expession of the hairless face unhindered.

Slim but tall, the young Dwarf cuts an imposing figure standing straight, crossbow at the ready. His eyes darting around, even up and down, his position shifting slightly with each thing noticed.

I await your move Corym.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:04, Sun 30 Dec 2018.

"I've never actually been here, exactly. I've explored much of Comanthor Forest, but not this specific place. My grandfather lived here, however, so I might be able to find out where we are in the city. The best thing to do would be find some cover and try to slowly exit. Whatever magics were used to bring us here, might be detectable by the hell spawn that still infest this place."

Talathel looks for a building he thinks might make a good place to hide, or if he can figure out where they are in the city, perhaps an exit.

“We were in the basement of a blasted tower we’d excavated west of Secomber. There was some manner of deteriorating Gate that I tried to circumvent. Obviously that didn’t quite work out.”

To Krackor and Talathel:

I’ll climb one of these towers and try to get a good vantage and see where we are. My first advice would be to head South. The Southern Dales have made farther inroads into the forest and they’ll be be nearer by. But if we’re on the North edge, it may help to exit as quickly as possible, though that’ll mean a longer circumnavigation through the forest and possible encounters with the Zhentarim or the Red Plumes of Hillsfar.

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 19):

Reaching out to Corym as he has done many times before, one Dwarven hand on bronze shield, the other on Elven shoulder. Krackor mutters words to his god.

casted Blessed Watchfulness. Only surprised on a 1 and other benefits.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:20, Sun 30 Dec 2018.

Oh, Sirenya thinks, waiting for the spinning feeling to fade, I think I should have stopped drinking sooner. Except, whatever was in that crystal decanter had tasted so good!

Sniffing the air and realizing that it smelled a bit like rain was imminent, she cracked one eye open to see if she was in danger of getting wet. Then opened the other eye, peering up at the colorful leaves of the trees overhead. There was something wrong with that view, but at the moment, she couldn't figure out what.

Then she heard people talking, and remembered that it had been someone bellowing loudly that had wakened her up. Since she'd left Scornubel alone, that was likely a bad thing, so she half-closed her eyes again and lay still to listen a bit.

Dwarves, at least two of them, and at least one of them favored a god she knew was adverse to evil behavior. That was promising. Elves, too; she recognized that lilt in the way they spoke. Hearing someone say "Myth Drannor" though, that was enough to pop her eyes open once more, this time turning her head to look around in alarm. It took a moment, but she did indeed detect evidence of ruins overgrown.

"Oh, not good," she whispered. She'd heard of Myth Drannor. Full of fabulous, ancient magic, the tales said -- and a horrible multitude of ways to die, too! Is that really where I am?

Scrambling to her feet, she discovered the beautiful crystal decanter was still in her hand, sloshing against the stopper, and stopped to give it a closer look. Hey! she noted with a delighted smile, there's still at least half the bottle left!

Hearing the others talking about the southern Dales and Zhentarim recalled her attention to them, and that she might be in a very dangerous place. A couple of bushes had effectively concealed her, as small as she was, but now that she was standing up she could see a group of elves and dwarves and a human woman not too far away.

"Wait, wait!" she called, hurrying forward. "I want to go with you!"

Lord Protector of the Dreams of the Ancients Exploration Company knew exactly what to do.  Test for enemies then collect and protect those around him. Nothing was he mire sure of at this precise moment.

Corym, I shall watch over these as you climb.

Hearing the words, slightly panicked from the newly risen.  Come quick and stay watchful. Those with good hearing, just listen and see.

He already knew that this new one had been around, he heard the leaves moving and the heavy breathing of someone with alcohol induced sleep.

Talathel you say, good. Everyone check your kit quickly to make sure you didn't lose much when you were moved to hear, us three lost our mounts and the equipment on them.

Corym nearly laughed, and would have if he were not in the pit of doom. "Come, little one, we'll leave none behind in this place."  The calculating elf, paused and then qualified, "None while they yet live and hope endures." 

Corym thought a moment longer, then continued. "I'm about to scale that tower, right there, to get a better vantage point to help guide us out of this place.  I'll be putting myself at considerable risk for all of us.  I'm the Captain for our company, and though you're not of us, you're all with us, and I'll set down the orders of the day.  There are any number of hellish horrors who can fly and who roost in high places.  Keep watch, and if I seem lost, leave. Utilize my demise as a distraction, and go. Move south, and continue to guard one another.  Don't risk every neck to save one, especially when one might save all.  Talathel seems to have woodcraft--he seems a good one to follow here in my absence."

"Before I depart--let's inventory our skills."  Looking Dorian up and down, and surmising that he is an Evereskan like himself.  He first looks to Kora and Krackor, "My apologies for being less than completely honest previously.  You know that I am a scout and wizard, but Dorian and maybe Talathel will know me better.  I am a Knave of the Missing Page, dedicated in the service of Erevan Ilesere to the recovery of lost elven treasures, tools, and spells for the betterment of the well being of our people."  Turning back to Kora and Krackor, "In human lands and among humans my affiliation is secretive, but now we are in an Elven forest and an Elven Ruin, and among the Elves themselves, and on the brink of destruction.  The time for secrecy is no more."  He bows apologetically,  "This makes me especially skilled at seeing magic and bypassing magical barriers and traps.  IF the gate trap in Wyrmhumbler Tower had not been so frayed, my suppression of it would have undoubtedly succeeded. I am also the Captain of the Dreams of the Ancients Exploration Company.  I am extensively trained in architecture, engineering, and stone masonry--skills very useful in fallen keeps, castles, and cities."

"You are quick to assume leadership, friend Corym" said Dorian, not unpleasantly "Under these dire circumstances your familiarity with your own group outweighs any concerns I, as an outsider, may have."

"Besides, any Elf who is so trusted by a beardless Dwarf must have great quantities of friendship and loyalty, indeed!" Dorian said with a smile.

"In the way of skills I am at home in the woods, on the road, in the streets and at court" the Elf shrugged "I must confess that, in this place, I have little to offer against Demons and Devils or the like save my bow, which I prefer, and my swords, if it comes to it."

"If you wish to climb that tower I will 'cover you' with my bow, if you wish company in your climb and reconnaissance I will volunteer to follow you as well."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:44, Mon 31 Dec 2018.

"I assume nothing but the leadership of those that have already elected me. Kora is my apprentice, but has only just completed her training in arms.  Krackor is young in years, but stout in heart." Corym bows a little to Dorian, "I have all ideas that your name stands higher than mine in our homeland, so I must beg excuse for my lack of formality.  But for now, the time is dear and the danger is near, and formality a luxury ill-afforded." 

"Formality and station count only for gravestones in a place like this." Dorian agreed "You lead and I will follow."

Katarn shook his head at the talk of courtesies and formality in a place deadly like this. Only elves... he thought with a smile none could see.

"So ye were climbing a tower Corym...? If ye fall I can lead these others south if'n that's the direction to exit here." his invisible voice sounding from different parts of the clearing as he walked a circuit.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Mon 31 Dec 2018.

Following Coryms lead now it was established on the immediateness of their situation, Krackor felt it right to follow suit.

There seriousness of their situation made the young Dwarf's face look concerned with a small smile, this smile will have to do for now he thought to himself.

As titles go, I have a few bestowed through my dedication to Gorm Fire Eyes, a High Old One at such a young age, which I don't feel I should have, So I stand by that which I feel I do deserve; Lord Protector Steelfist of Oak Haven, Lord Protector and Guardian of the Dreams of the Ancients Exploration Company.

My foremost role is Guardian, the trainer and more recently, brewer.  I may sleep during the day so I can watch over night, or at least when we have a wagon and horses He sighs a moment as he remembers Greymount, his mount. I suggest further introductions be made once we have a Safe place to do them in.

Looking at Corym and Dorian, he nods, then moves to follow Katarn and Talathel.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:14, Mon 31 Dec 2018.

14:49, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 30 using 1d100.  Climbing .

I’m going to try to scale a tower—something nearby, not the tallest, just y’all enough to get a good vantage.

Satisfied that she wouldn't find herself in a dangerous place all alone, when the talk turned to titles and who was boss of whom, she quickly lost interest. Tucking her pretty decanter away in one of the many pockets in her girdle, she made certain her sword and dagger were hanging where they ought, then pulled out her little crossbow. Prepared now should something untoward happen, Sirenya turned her attention to the ground and the things upon it nearby, starting with the other's feet.

After taking note of footwear and size -- and bearing in mind someone was wandering around invisibly, she pushed the wild mane of red hair back over her shoulder and started casting for tracks in the immediate area. She looked both for signs of recent or regular travel, as well as any evidence of animals. There was nothing better than chatting up the locals to find out if there were any notable threats roaming about, after all.


Tracking check to look for signs of passage other than the party's own, and for local fauna:
20:56, Today: Sirenya rolled 13 using 1d20 ((13))

Corym

Not far ahead of you is a small cluster of towers, each about thirty feet tall. The sides facing you are covered in vines, making the stonework easy to climb. As you do, you try to take a closer look at the construction. Definitely elven, probably dating to a few centuries before or after the opening of the mythal.

The top of the tower has been shattered, and there are several large holes that have been punched into the exterior wall. But you're able to find plenty of hand holds and get almost thirty feet of elevation.

The tower is on the northern end of the grove that contains the gate that brought you here. You have decent sight lines to the south and west. Several other buildings are blocking your sight east, and you can't see north at all. From what you can make out, you're in a decidedly elven part of the city. All of the buildings are graceful stone towers or curving and fluid buildings. Some of the larger trees still have the remnants of wooden buildings in their branches.

It's hard to tell whether you're close to the edge of the city. There are a lot of trees, and dozens of ruined buildings in your line of sight. Things might clear out a bit to the west, but you're not entirely sure.

What is certain is that perched on the roof of a building two hundred feet to the west is a red, reptilian creature. It's six feet of sinewy muscle and looks like someone took a gargoyle from an overly-dramatic human temple and covered it with blood. It's watching the grove, invisible from the ground behind the broken stone of the roof. To the south, you see a pair of gargoyles flying slowly through the ruined buildings about fifty feet above the ground. Their not exactly headed in your direction, but they aren't not, either.

Sirenya

You look around at the ground, but it's all a bit of a mess. It's rained recently, there's thick grass, and while there are certainly some tracks (you recognize deer prints and what could be a dog or a wolf), you can't figure out anything in particular.

((ooc: Half the party has Direction Sense, so I'm just going to start using cardinal directions immediately.))

Corym scampers back down the tower and hurries back to his party.  DM: I'm trying to move silently, but doing so quickly--taking a penalty if necessary.  12:15, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 22 using 1d100. In a furtive whisper "There are a pair of gargoyles flying this way from the South--we need to find cover from the air! This grove is watched from the West"

He saved the remainder of his recommendations until everyone was secured.  He knew that the party could likely defeat the gargoyles, but the struggle could easily rouse the attention of the devil surveying the grove.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Tue 01 Jan 2019.

"A fiend already eh? That was quick... I don't fear the gargoyles, but 'm not lookin' ta fight a devil. I kin use silence to shroud a battle against the gargoyles if'n it comes ta that. I kin also call a magical barrier again' evil, but it only lasts a short time."

With that Katarn, though invisible still, searched about and sought cover, unsure of what fiendish eyes could and could not see.

No sign of badgers or bunnies or even ground squirrels; Sirenya was a little disappointed there was no one around with whom to talk. She wasn't sure if the area was too dangerous for such gentle creatures, but surely if there were deer, the smaller animals would be present somewhere, too.

Fiend? Gargoyles? She turned around, hearing that, looking for but not seeing who was speaking. Sounded like a dwarf, though. She didn't like the idea of either creature he mentioned, and hurried back to where the others were clustered. Looking toward the elf who she'd seen climbing the tower, she asked, "Can we hide in that tower?"

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 32):

Observing Corym's return and words. With Gargoyles around, now I'm glad our mounts are not here Corym.


Krackor double checks his crossbow, it may not be his repeating bow but at least he has it.  Then he remembered other fights.  Has anyone fought these before and know how to beat them?

Kora looks up and around, searching the rooftops for a sign of what Corym is describing. "Flying fiends? Do you think it's going to bring more down on us?"

"Yes, my original bands faced a flight of gargoyles once.  As in all such encounters, it helps to have a berserker Calishite cavalier with an heirloom blade."



"To the west perched atop a cracked tower was a blood red winged fiend, it's gaze focused on the grove we popped up in.  My guess is that we're not the first to have emerged from that gate the fiends of Baator are rigidly hierarchically structured.  It certainly has superiors to report to, and support to summon."

"If our rangers have no better solution, it may soon be our only one."

Either of ya'll have the camoflouge proficiency?

No berserker Calishite here by the looks of it, does anyone have an heirloom blade?  If that means magical, I have my dagger and can summon a Guardian Hammer.


The tall Dwarf's customary beaming smile then returns. Not a small red dragon then! That's a relief
This message was last edited by the player at 16:24, Wed 02 Jan 2019.

"We should move, then." Dorian agreed as he readied his Long Bow and moved like a shadow toward the tower.

((ooc: Dorian, there are ruined towers in all directions. Which way are you moving? North, south, east, west?))

OOC: Oh sorry.  The one Sirenya mentioned and Corym climbed.

"I've the morningstar of me ancestor Frór, it is imbued with magics, though nothin' spectacular. Let's get to that tower if'n that's where we're goin' ta hunker." said Katarn's invisible voice. He tried his best to walk stealthily, but he'd never learned that knack, especially with his ring shrouding his form.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Thu 03 Jan 2019.

Once people started moving, Sirenya didn't linger to hear more. She hurried forward toward the tower, keeping close to whatever tree or bush promised some cover from being seen from above.

When she could see the walls of the structure itself, though, she slowed and grew more cautious. Was there a doorway, or opening broken into the building on their side? More importantly perhaps, did it look as though anyone else was using that for passage?

Cohn followed Dorian.

You run toward the tower. It has an open doorway facing the open space you arrived in; any door it might have held is long gone. Nothing bars your passage.

Inside, the tower's first floor turns out to be a single, open room about thirty feet in diameter. The ceiling is about nine feet high, and a partially-destroyed staircase wraps around the back wall. The room's use isn't immediately apparent; there is a layer of dirt and fallen leaves covering the floor, the walls are bare, and there is nothing on the ground aside from a few pieces of broken masonry and some shattered wood that might once have been furniture.

There are also two additional exits. One was once a back door. The other is a gaping hole six feet wide and tall that is punched through the east wall. They, along with several windows, provide plenty of light, though one of the windows seems to be filled with what on the inside looks like a light mist.

Dorian takes the tower in with a quick glance before stepping to the side for the others to enter.  The mist seemed out of place so he pointed it out to whoever followed next "Mind that window." he hissed.  Once everyone was inside he took up a hidden position at the door, with bow ready, in case their rapid flight was followed by unfriendly inhabitants.

Katarn sets himself against a wall as opposite to the mist filled window as possible to keep an eye on it, then set himself to wait. His mind wandering over the many caches and such that he would leave unfilled on this trip and what his fellow Trailblazers would think of his absences in the coming days and weeks. Hopefully I can get out of here and get them a message soon enough some time, he thought to himself as his invisible form rested against the tower wall.

He turned his ears to listening for what noises he could in this dreadful and dreary place. "Surprised this city isn't haunted by more than fiends..." he muttered quietly.

In reply to Dorian (msg # 47):

Taking it in as he enters the portal to the tower, listening, looking at the stairs and a way to get away from so many entrances. Krackor does his job, looks at the floor, the walls, windows, that Mist, then moves to a position where he sees the most, back to the wall.

Once everyone was inside. He tries to work out the likely entrance of any beasts, including if there is light at allhe top of the stairs indicating a potential egress point. Looking at broken furniture for a table. If a table top, even a broken one, see if can block an entry point.

Can anyone see anything we can use to block some of these entry ways or a way to get to the next floor?

Then the protector, protects, sets his shield, its firey eyes looking at the various portals, his loaded crossbow at the ready.

If upstairs isn't passible for others to use, then Corym, I'll set my stone spikes outside the walls of this tower. Your call.

Sound Analysis = Made it by 14. For purposes of noises above, the creaking of the building and people inside it.

Krackor

((ooc: You don't hear anyone in the tower. The entire city is quieter than any forest you've ever encountered. You also don't hear anyone following from outside. Yet.))

((OOC: Thanks, preparing for any noises entering the tower from above as well))
Krackor enters an almost meditative state and he focuses.

"They'll look in here, won't they?" Sirenya asks quietly as she looks around the inside of the ruin. With that in mind, she looks for a small place she can tuck herself into that offers protection from anyone looking in from overhead.

Away from the mist, though. That was suspicious, maybe some kind of really find spiderweb? She cocked her little crossbow, ready to fire if she saw a spider. Or a gargoyle. That thought made her frown at the weapon; maybe she needed magicked bolts to hit those?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:56, Sun 06 Jan 2019.

"I can silence th' area should enemies come here, then our fightin' won' carry to other foes. Anyone with a problem to that idea?" Katarn said, his eyes on the windows opposite him, looking for trouble.

In reply to Katarn (msg # 53):

Silencing the area! A good and a bad idea.

Quietly speaking. Silencing the area in the fight may work but not where we stand. If magic be needed, words intoned, would they need to be vocalised or just mouthed?

Until an enemy arrives, I need to hear if anything is coming and where from
This message was last edited by the player at 12:21, Sun 06 Jan 2019.

Kora looked around the room, checking exits. "So what's the plan?" She gestured with her great sword. "This isn't going to be much help against fiends. It's not enchanted."

In reply to Kora Roustinghorn (msg # 55):

Krackor reaches down, pulls out his dagger and hold it out to Kora.

Mistress Lightbearer, you could try this, I'll be using other things if it comes to it.

"Thank you," Kora says, taking the dagger and sliding it into an empty sheath on her belt. "If it comes to it, I'm glad to know I'll be able to hurt them. I'll get this back to you once we're out of here."

In reply to Kora Roustinghorn (msg # 57):

You are most welcome Mistress Lightbearer. it was at this point as he smoothed his clothing down that he realised, he had entered the gate with a Surcoat and now he was wearing a full set of Vestments, in half Black, half Red split down the middle, mirroring his shield, complete with firey eyes and Bronze Mask emblazened on the chest area.

Slowly dropping to his knees one moment, the sound of his plate mail quietly creaking, he lifted his open face helmed head to the sky.

It appears Mistress Lightbearer, that this was meant to be, vestments direct from the Eternally Vigilant, are rare gifts. We will do well with these others. He then readjusts and awaits an enemy to use the Golden Guardian's gifts. To all.. Once we see them, I will be calling forth Stone Spikes outside the door or on the next level up to help protect us all, try to avoid them.

((ooc: Once the leathery flapping wings of a creature sound imminent, and he sees them about to enter, cast Stone Spikes followed by Prayer, then loose a bolt))
This message was last edited by the player at 18:34, Mon 07 Jan 2019.

Corym takes in the insides of the tower, noting its design, its entrances and its exits.  It is a practiced movement.  He also notes the preparations being made by his companions.

"If at all possible, we should attempt to pass unnoticed.  Combat attracts attention.  We're fortunate to have only seen middling threats thus far.  If they focus in on us, we ought to try to draw them into the building where their wings will avail them little.  We've one true archer among us, and if I start loosing lightning bolts into the air, that's sure to draw attention."

Corym looks around for the new dwarf priest, then remembers that he's invisible.  "Katarn was it?  You're already invisible.  I assume that the duration lasts until you attack?  We need a look out--we can't see them from in here, but they won't be able to see you from out there.  Would you mind taking up a post outside?"

The elf regards everyone at once, "We should try to avoid the use of magic here.  A magical field called a mythal shrouds the entirety of this city, and it affects magical properties differently.  The only thing I can remember at the moment is that the mythal here makes it exceptionally easy to summon extraplanar creatures, but makes it impossible to bind or control them.  So if you're planning on summoning monsters or godly allies, you might want to prepare differently."

"We should position ourselves near the walls--those are the least likely to collapse as they're the best supported.  You'll also be the most unlikely to be seen from the outside.  We'll wait for them to fly past or engage."

"Good idea," Katarn said in response to Corym. "I'll set up outside where I can look for the 'goyles. I've heard tale that fiends can see the invisible, so I'll trust to the Finder to shield me from fiendish eyes."

With that, the tromp of boots can be heard as Katarn exited the building to set up a watch outside, but near the tower. He looked for the gargoyles in flight as well as any other things that may be tracking the party.

He heard the words and took them in...This Mythal, does that include divine gifts too?
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:34, Tue 08 Jan 2019.

We seem to be on hold for a bit, so...

Corym starts to take a look around the room they're in to see if he can make out what it was originally.  This was a tower--are there any stairs up?  He'll shift some of the debris around on the floor to see if anything is revealed.

Katarn

You step out into the city again and move far enough from the door to get a good view to the east as well as the south and west. After a moment or two of looking you catch sight of the gargoyles. They're hunting, or patrolling, winging back and forth through the streets and around the ruined towers with an air of watchful menace. They stay in the tighter spaces of the streets, and begin to work their way toward the east rather than enter the large open space where you appeared.

With a flap of wings that is surprisingly loud in the still city, the fiend that Corym spotted launches itself from its concealed perch. Where the gargoyles' movements are jerky, as though their stone wings shouldn't be able to keep them in flight, the red fiend is sinuous motion and menace. Its spiked tail waves between its legs as it flies.

The two gargoyles catch sight of it instantly and bank hard away, their wings flapping madly as they fly further into the eastern buildings. They don't completely break contact, however. You can see their shadows come to perch on a large tree branch, their heads keeping the fiend in view.

For its part, the fiend ignores them. It flies to a new building about sixty feet further north and lands again. It's staring at the building the group took cover in.

Corym

This tower's purpose is really hard to determine. It seems like the entire first floor was a single large room, but whatever use Myth Drannans made of it, there isn't much sign. Enough dirt and tree detritus have been blown inside over the centuries for the floor to be almost completely buried, and the walls are bare of any decorations.

There are stairs, a stone spiral around the opposite wall which arc over the back door and disappear into the ceiling. Both the ceiling and the stairs have holes in them, but you think enough of it is stable that you could make it up if you wanted.

Katarn stared at the fiend and watched it watching the group's tower for a minute. Then he walked slowly back towards the tower's entrance, stepping as quietly and slowly as possible while still making forward progress. He tried to keep an eye on the fiend as well while still focusing on his path.

When he reached the entrance, he whispered as loudly as he dared, "the fiend moved. It's watching the entrance to this tower now. Avoid the doors and windows." He swiveled his head around to peek back at the fiend to see what it was up to.

"It seems to me if the Fiend is watching the building on this side we should probably seek an escape from the opposite side and find a better place to hide and reconnoiter the area." offered Dorian while continuing his vigil at the main door.

"Are any of you Arcanists?  Perhaps a study of that mist may be helpful?  It certainly makes me nervous, if nothing else."

"I suppose that is something in your line, Corym?"

Now that he had settled into one place Dorian became a bit hazy and indistinct.  He blended perfectly with the native surroundings and only the keenest eyed could see him at his station now.

Elorfindar

After a hectic and rushed moon and a half, you had been looking forward to some peace and quiet, some unhurried research. Led by Taeghen, you, Bran, Yurkal, and Ameena made the ride from Hill's Edge to Waterdeep in thirty one grueling days. It was exhausting riding, and the long days in the uninhabited land west of the High Moor were nerve-wracking, but you made it without encountering anything more than a few wandering monsters well within your ability to fight.

Once in the City of Splendors, you quickly found the temple of Oghma. After a year of traveling it was good to be back in a library and among priests of a god of knowledge. You could have done without the time pressure, though. The vision Bran had received from Clangeddin for the next step in the construction of the great suit of armor he intended was vague, and not particularly helpful.

You wondered more than once why a god as forthright as Clangeddin was playing such semantic games. When you finally deciphered the riddles and realized that Bran needed to retrieve a particular ruined breastplate from within Undermountain, things made more sense.

Having come this far, all of you agree to help Bran on this latest expedition. It was the most horrible four days of your life. Successful, certainly; you all emerged alive and with the breastplate from the skeleton you found in a sublevel that branched off of the second main level. But you never want to set foot in Undermountain again. Certainly not without a thief!

The group disbanded shortly thereafter. Bran received another vision, this one directing him to a clan of Hidden who would not accept non-dwarves. Taeghen joined up with a caravan heading north, and Yurkal and Ameena disappeared. You settled down to enjoy the fruits of your expedition and a long stint of happy reading in the Font of Knowledge.

Alas, Labelas appears to have other plans for you. Barely a tenday after Bran's departure, you're walking through a back alley in the early morning toward the Font when the wall to your left shudders and flashes with half a dozen colors of light one after the other. Your vision goes black, and there is a stomach-churning sensation of flipping and falling.

When your vision returns, you find yourself staring up at the underside of a bush. The dirt is cool on your back, and all of your joints ache. Pulling yourself out, you discover that you aren't in Waterdeep anymore. You're in a ruined city, its elegant stonework broken and heavily overgrown with trees.

You're still trying to pull your thoughts together when you hear someone call your name.

While the group talks, Kora moves to stand by one of the windows. She keeps herself to one side, out of sight, but frequently peeks out toward the open space you arrived in. Suddenly she swears. "Mystra's tits!"

Running to the door, she sticks her head out and waves an arm. "Elorfindar! Over here! Quick!"

Katarn

You can't really see much of the fiend. It obviously knows where to find good hiding spots, and has the patience of a hunter. It's up there, you're sure, but it's keeping out of sight.

Movement on the ground draws your eye, and you watch as a moon elf who apparently materialized entirely under a hedge pulls himself out and dusts himself off. He has the same kind of unfocused, still-trying-to-figure-out-what-wagon-hit-him look the rest of you had.

Behind you, you hear Kora rushing to the door, and then her shouting. She's not bellowing as loudly as Krackor, but her voice certainly carried to this new elf.

With ever-growing confusion, Elorfindar tries to place the vaguely familiar-sounding voice which called him by his name. When he finally spots the speaker, a sense of recognition sets in though the confusion does not decrease. "Kora?" the moon elf mumbles, starting to get up from the ground.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:29, Thu 10 Jan 2019.

In reply to Kora Roustinghorn (msg # 67):

Kora, keep still the Guardian whispers to the Lightbearer, then he hears her speak, and the name brings confusion and a beaming smile to his head.

Corym, did you hear?  I hear someone outside but the steps sound different somehow.

"Hush!" Katarn said as loudly as he dared, "that fiend is still out there and it is watching this tower..." his invisible form did step out of the way of the elf headed towards the tower entrance at a hurried pace so as not to collide with him.

He stepped back out to see if he could get a visual on the fiend again, to see if the group's noise had roused it's attention or anything else's for that matter.

Kora glares in Katarn's general direction. "The fiend already knows we're here. Our friend doesn't." She waves at Elorfindar, waving him in.

"I'm on it." Corym responded.  If the Fiend was North--they needed to head South.  Corym looked for a Southern exit, or minimally one where their exit would be obscured from their observer.  He peered out of whatever the DM rules he finds to first determine whether or not there was some other danger in their exit path.  Then to see whether there was another building to run to for cover.  From cover, to cover, that was the only way they'd make it out alive.



Corym reeled.  Elorfindar?  Here?  Corym was no priest but he was beginning to suspect that a larger design was at play here.  But whose?  Quietly, but furtively he spoke, "All the same, no need to compound problems. Katarn, if that fiend moves, I need to know.  Get Elorfindar in, as soon as he's safe, we'll push through to our next redoubt."

He didn't know if the Fiend or Gargoyles were close enough but his focus was true. This was his guard post right now, in his mind, what his whole life or devotion and training was leading to.

((ooc: Granted ability to accurately discern unseen intruders in 60ft. In case any are around.
Made roll by 56%. See "Special to Specialty Priests of Gorm" on Character Sheet. ))
This message was last edited by the player at 11:23, Thu 10 Jan 2019.

((ooc: I think I've been unclear about your location and the fiend's movements.

You materialized in an open space that runs about a hundred feet long and fifty feet wide. It's oriented basically 2 o'clock to eight o'clock (northeast to southwest). You arrived at the northeastern end of the space. The building that Corym climbed, and that you are now in, sits at the 2 o'clock position.

The fiend was about 200 feet west and south of your initial position. The building it was on didn't directly front your open space, but it was high enough to have a clear view of it. When it moved, it flew both north and east and perched on a building directly overlooking the open space. It is now west and a little south of your building (8 o'clock to your 2 o'clock). The gargoyles landed on buildings directly south of you (6 o'clock).

The building you are in has the doorway you came through, a doorway at 1 o'clock that leads into a mess of smaller, broken buildings, and a giant hole in the wall at 3 o'clock that leads into an alley between two larger buildings.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:11, Thu 10 Jan 2019.

"Fiend"? The chronologian's heart started racing. Could this be...? He pushed the - admittedly rather fascinating - thought away; he had to move quickly now, given the urgency of Kora and her - unseen - companion voices.

Elorfindar

You run toward the door, almost stumbling several times on the rough ground. Nothing attacks you, and you reach the door. Kora waves you inside, and you find yourself in an open room, its floor mostly covered in dirt and blown leaves. A partially-broken stone staircase curls up the back wall before disappearing into the ceiling.

Inside you find not just Kora but Corym and Krackor. There are also a gnome woman and two moon elven men, one of whom looks vaguely familiar.

Seeing more familiar faces apart from Kora's, particularly Corym's, took away some of the tension for a moment. Grinning somewhat sheepishly, Elorfindar said: "Well met indeed." But his expression quickly became more serious again. In a lower voice, he added: "What's that about a fiend?" While keeping his gaze on Corym, he occasionally glanced at the moon elf he thought he knew from somewhere.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:39, Thu 10 Jan 2019.

In reply to Elorfindar Silveroak (msg # 78):

Being a little at ease with only hearing the other Dwarf outside, Corym walking in the building, Kora's excited breathing, the tense breath of the others. Krackor possibly inperceptively nodded towards the footsteps of Elorfindar, then opened his eyes once more.

His beaming smile belaying the concern he felt for this mismatch group, hope in his heart that this is just what is needed.

OOC: Katarn moves so that he can see the fiend's perch. If he can see the gargoyles as well, great, but he doesn't fear them as much as the fiend.

Sirenya had taken a skeptical look at the misty window when one of the elves suggested it be examined. She wasn't really sure if it needed to be studied or just avoided -- but then she heard the human woman's exclamation, and watched her run to the doorway the invisible dwarf had just said was being watched by the fiend. The woman waved and called out to someone outside, and the mist suddenly seemed a lot less important than finding another place to go to avoid being caught by the demonic -- diabolic? -- entity outside.

To that end, she glanced first out the other doorway, and then hurried to look out of the hole in the wall. The open alley beyond the hole seemed like easier passage for a swift retreat, but the fiend, and the gargoyles, were flying; the alley was too exposed to them. So she returned to the doorway, looking more closely for evidence of spiders or other recent usage.


OOC: Not sure which proficiency would apply here for a check.

((ooc: That would be a tracking check. Also remember you have a -6 to your tracking score, since you aren't a ranger.))

Okay... even with only a 6 in 20, made it. LOL The gods evidently favor fools!

20:09, Today: Sirenya rolled 5 using 1d20.  tracking.

Sirenya

The somewhat sheltered ground between the buildings is easier to read. You see several different wildlife tracks (raccoon, some kind of mid-sized cat, and the expected squirrels). There's also a single boot print off to the side, but it's old and mostly worn away. It doesn't seem to have been traveled recently.

Half turning back into the tower room, Sirenya looked around and told the nearest person, "I'm going to see if we can get out unseen this way."

Not waiting for an answer, she slipped through the doorway, moving carefully and as quietly as she could. She was still looking for overhead hazards a bit too intently perhaps, though; a broken tile shifted under her foot with a painfully loud scritch and broke with a sharp crack that made her jump.


07:23, Today: Sirenya rolled 99 using 1d100.  move silently (80%).

I did a little mock-up of the DM's description and had him verify its accuracy.

"While Sirenya checks the North door, I'll scout down the alley.  Sirenya, we rendezvous back here after a count of 200 and compare paths. I think that through the hole and down the alley gives us the best path away from both threats.  The surrounding buildings are large enough that they'd have to be directly overhead to see us.  If they come down to attack us, they'd be constricted in their aerial maneuvering."

He turns to the rest of the party.

"Dorian, with you in the lead you'll be able to follow Sirenya or my tracks. Talathel, if you'll come out in the middle you'll be able to cover the fore and rear from there with your bow.  Krackor, you're the loudest, you should be our rearguard.  You'll move last and thus give the vanguard the most possible time to penetrate before drawing attention. Let's get an inventory of spells and items together.  Krackor and Elo are familiar with my repertoire and can represent me." 

Corym draws his whistle forth and blows a low note to both rangers very close so that they may hear its tone.

"I'll be going invisible soon, so hand-talk will be impossible, and we don't know the same trail signs yet.  Once to signal incoming message.  Two short to move ahead, two long to stop, two long and a short to ready for battle."

10:47, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 28 using 1d100. Move Silently.

Corym casts his invisibility spell and moves silently down the alley through the gaping hole.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:47, Fri 11 Jan 2019.

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 86):

Nodding his understanding, Krackor knew from Hill's Edge that he was not always quiet enough for sneaky things.  He did have a knack though for being loud, and cheery.

Moving to the edges of the egress points, he sighted straight lines. "If need be, I can make a noise in the building after we leave to distract, but only if it seems needed.

Who can quietly put some of this broken wood together in order for it to fall down at the slightest touch?  A clay tipped Light Bolt should do the trick.  At a push, the Spike Stones would need to knock it over when they grow.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:10, Fri 11 Jan 2019.

Dorian nodded his assent to Corym.  When the two scouts left he began his own silent count to 200 for later reference.

"Elen sila lumenn omentilmo" he said to Elorfindar in Elven "Nae saian luume’"


Addressing the others "Let us be prepared to move quickly.  ANything can happen in a place like this."

Corym and Sirenya

You head out of your chosen exits. At first, both alleys seem fairly good options. Then Sirenya's alley turns to the right, and Corym's emerges from between its two flanking buildings and you are stuck gazing over the same area of devastation.

Though the buildings around the square to the south are all damaged and a few are leaning precariously, they are nothing compared to the field of ruin in front of you. There isn't a single intact building within a hundred feet in any direction. Towers have been toppled. The skeletons of shattered trees reach half-rotted fingers toward the sky. Dirt mounds rise and fall, most of them likely with a core of broken masonry. You don't know what happened here during the Fall, but it shattered this part of the city like a dwarf hitting a melon.

You climb far enough up the first mound to get a view of the destruction field. It stretches at least four hundred feet in front of you and a hundred feet to either side. It's passable, though the rough and broken terrain will require careful walking. At the far end, ahead of you, you can see a large, surprisingly intact building. It's a thing of wings and turrets, and looks to be at least six stories. The intact buildings to the left and right (south-by-southeast and north-by-northwest) are more modest

Focusing on minding where her feet went at little better as she proceeded, Sirenya almost didn't notice when she heard her name. Then she stopped abruptly and looked hastily back toward the tower where the others were, frowning in hard thought.

Unsettled and worried now, she turned and moved forward a little more quickly, until a right turn hid her from sight. And presented a view that completely distracted her from any lesser concerns.

Shrinking back into the shadows of the wall beside her to avoid drawing anything's attention, she visually tracked the area of devastation. When her gaze reached the building beyond, though, somehow appearing untouched by whatever had happened in between, she studied it suspiciously. Finally, she looked up to search the skies. Gargoyles, fiends... what else was flying about in this city?


18:35, Today: Sirenya rolled 54 using 1d100.  Hide in shadows.

Sirenya

You can't make out much detail on the big building, as it's too far away. You think for a moment you see some motion around it, but you aren't entirely sure.

Elsewhere, the skies are mostly empty. You see something way off to the east circling about two hundred feet in the air, but it's too small to determine what it is exactly.

"Mae govannen," Elorfindar replied to the moon elf Corym had addressed as Dorian, with a graceful nod and - to a discerning beholder - a slightly surprised look on his face for some moments. "Where are we?" he asked in a low voice, addressing no one particular.

Corym says that this is Myth Drannor  The priest thought that this would be enough explanation for his friend.

"Myth Drannor..." the priest of Labelas mumbled, a strange feeling flooding him at Krackor's response, something more than a mixture between excitement and a sense of lethal danger. If this was Myth Drannor, then the place meant so much for him.

What seems clear is that the party is going to have to weave their way south from building to building.  For the remainder of his allotted time he'll try to get a higher vantage point to try to plot a course. Corym feels like he's pretty certain that the intact building is a death trap.  It's either untouched for a reason, or preserved for a reason.  Neither one of them seems like an invitation.  Well--maybe later... Worst case scenario, they may need to shelter in the shadow of that forebodingly intact building.


14:11, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 26 using 1d100.  Move Silently.

14:10, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 27 using 1d100.  Climb Walls.

Keeping watch a little while longer, Sirenya finally stirs slightly and sighs. Time to go investigate the danger closer to home.

Activating her ring, she lingers a moment more to be certain the invisibility hides her, then tries to silently return to the others to do a bit of listening. One or more of them evidently pursued her here, and she'd like to find out who before she winds up dead without the help of fiend or gargoyle or anything else "native" to this haunted place.

Invisible or not, she still tries to hug the walls, not know who might be able to detect someone invisible, especially since she's not the only one otherwise going unseen. Luck doesn't seem to be working with her though; her hand brushes against a bit of stonework only loosely in place -- and naturally, it manages to hit the floor in one of the few places not cushioned with detritus. Even falling from only a few feet, it makes an indecent racket in the otherwise silent space.



20:07, Today: Sirenya rolled 96 using 1d100.  move silently.

Corym and Sirenya

You find the tallest mounds you can and take a look around. In Corym's case that actually means scaling fifty feet up the wrong side of a fallen tower; climbing around its circumference as it lies in pieces on the ground.

The debris field is definitely longer than it is wide. Southeast, south, and west of you after a few hundred feet the destruction becomes less total; more buildings are at least partially standing, and a row or two back there are what look like somewhat intact city blocks.

Sirenya, you see off in the west, maybe four hundred feet away, the top of a rather large building. Its southern section is more intact than its northern half, reaching five or six stories into the sky.

Corym, of the areas in your view, the block of buildings directly south of you seems to be in the best condition.

"So how was Waterdeep?" Kora asked Elorfindar as they waited for the scouts to return. "I've always wanted to go. Is it as huge as they say? Can you really smell salt on the air like bread in an oven a room over? Did Bran find what he was looking for?"

OOC: Does Katarn sight the fiend that was spying their building again or did I lose him visually?

((ooc: It's settled down and isn't visible. You haven't seen it leave, but not knowing the topography of the roof you don't know whether it would be able to back away and drop down on the other side without you seeing.))

((ooc: Please let me know if I hear anything within 60ft that doesn't sound like anyone from this group that Krackor has been focusing on and associating sounds to 80% chance))

Dorian stays hidden and remains alert.

After his count of 200, Corym heads back to his party to make report.

"East, the town is obliterated over a long stretch, but south the buildings are mainly intact and will give us good cover as we make our way out--that's my recommendation, to maximize cover from the air."

He waits for Sirenya to arrive and giver her report for what she found, though the size of the debris field makes him suspect that she couldn't have found anything different.

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 103):

When Corym returns:
If we see one of the creatures getting close, I could summon a Swarm of Insects near them, there is a high chance that the swarm would be flying and biting, I'm sure that would be a distraction.  I can cast it to appear 30yrs away, it could also create noise in a direction different to ours and be a physical thing rather than the creatures figuring out it is a magical distraction

The young Dwarf had used it before, not quite as effective as the Squeaky Floors spell but still could work.

((ooc: 70% chance of being a Flying Swarm))

A bit of listening in didn't tip her off to the ones had pursued her from Scornubel. She'd just have to avoid letting any of them get too close behind her. Sighing at the idea of having to watch her companions as much as her surroundings, she waited until no one was paying attention, the gave her ring a quick turn. Visible again, she came back into the ruined tower.

Waiting to see who noticed her first, she told them, "Not much back that way but more trouble. Whatever was there before, it's naught but a broad field of debris with little of it higher than my knees. There's another flyer watching the area from high up, and an oddly untouched building beyond -- with something watching from the windows, too."

Corym leads the way out the hole in the wall and down the alley between the two buildings. As you near the edge of the destruction field, he pulls a wand from his belt and whispers a word. Ahead of you, the air froths, mist appearing from nowhere ten feet above the ground. In moments it blocks the sight of the sky completely in a ten foot by ten foot square. Corym flicks the wand, and more fog flows out of the initial cloud. It snakes south, and some of it branches east.

Lowering the wand, he leads you out. Somewhere to the south you can hear wings flapping loudly against the unnatural stillness of the city, but for the moment you can't see the sky.

You run south, and just as you come out from under the fog, you cross what was once a road. Dirt mostly covers it, but here and there crystal paving stones glimmer in the sunlight. It runs southeast to northwest, and there are somewhat intact buildings on its southern side.

You duck into an alley between the burned out shell of a tower, its northern and western faces crumbled to the ground, and a squat building whose curving walls are pierced by dozens of holes. Once beyond the initial row of buildings conditions improve. You're on a narrow street that was clearly residential. The buildings are two and three stories, pale granite covered with ivy. Some have stone doors that are still intact, one or two have glass in the windows. The lane runs for about a hundred and fifty feet south before there's another street that cuts across it perpendicularly. Though there aren't any other lanes off it, the buildings aren't so closely spaced that you couldn't make your way between them.

Somewhere to the east, you hear a mighty roar. It's deeper than any beast you've heard, and somehow is as much a frog's croak as a lion's bellow. And it seems to be getting nearer.

In reply to DM (msg # 106):

Sounds like we need to pick a building quickly, not the closest though.

Talking to Kora back in the first hideout

"Waterdeep is indeed a very large city, yes. Regarding the dispersal of salt in the air, well, you can indeed smell it quite often, depending on your distance to the water line. And Bran... We found what he was looking for, yes, though to say it was difficult would be an understatement. Have you ever heard of Undermountain? Quite the place, I can assure you... At any rate, Bran then went to see his dwarven brethren, while our friends Taeghen and Yurkal sadly left for different destinations. Oh, how I hope we meet them again..." Elorfindar suddenly remembered how strange all of this was - he had been so glad to see some of his old companions again that he forgot it for a moment. "Pray tell me, do you happen to know how I came to be here?" he asked innocently.

"It's still a ways off for now, and I can scarcely believe that it's announcing its presence to us.  If it's coming west, and we continue South, it could miss us.  I'll try to get a higher look."

I'm still invisible, DM.  How likely is it for me to be able to go roof-top to roof-top while invisible without attracting attention?  An eye in the sky might be helpful.

((ooc: The buildings are close enough together that you should be able to jump from roof to roof. You won't know what condition the roofs are in until you get up there, though.))

12:52, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 6 using 1d20.

12:52, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 4 using 1d20.

Tumbling and knowledge architecture to make jumps, stick landings, and remain on a structurally sound path.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Mon 21 Jan 2019.

Corym

You scale the nearest building. The weathered stonework and heavy ivy makes it the easiest climb you've had in some time. Once at the top of your building you take a moment to look around. This lane is in remarkably good condition. Almost all of the buildings (houses, you're now prepared to say) still have their roofs. Many of them have holes, true, but there's no comparison to the utter destruction further north. The roof you're on actually still has its elegant rain spouts, carved into the form of grinning treants.

The gargoyles had perched on a building about a hundred feet to the southwest. They're both in the air, their heads scanning the ground. One is heading north, the other straight towards your group. Further off, you can see the red fiend also in the air. It's heading toward the gargoyles.

To the east there's another two rows of houses before another street. The row closest to the street is badly damaged, but the houses in the middle row seem almost as well preserved as this lane. You can't see what is roaring, though you can hear the thudding of heavy foot falls coming closer. You do see about a dozen hobgoblins, who had been moving cautiously through the lane on the other side of the building you're on, running to take cover in one of the sturdier-looking houses.

To the west, at the other end of the block and fronting onto the street, is a large manor house. It's four stories tall and seems to be in good condition, though there are several shadowdark trees growing out of openings in the roof.

((ooc: A quick note on road terminology. I am going to use "street" to refer to a major thoroughfare. Streets divide Myth Drannor into blocks of buildings. "Lanes" are the smaller roads within a block. Lanes branch off of streets, but do not go beyond the block. Most buildings have doors onto a lane, though some have doors onto a street. An "alley" is the small open space between buildings. "Road" is a catch-all for both streets and lanes.

All streets and lanes were originally paved, though they may not necessarily be paved now. Some alleys were paved, some were not.))

Corym’s thinking on the Manor House began to evolve. Earlier he thought that for it to be untouched, that meant that something MORE terrible had to be there. What if it’s just better made? Minimally, if something came for them in the manor house, there would be more rooms to hide in than these smaller residences.

Corym began navigating his party around and between dangers and toward the Manor House.

Corym signals with two quiet long whistles and then scrambled down to his party. Whispering he says, “hide ones about to pass overhead!”

((ooc: You're about a third of the way down the lane. Do you look for something in particular, or just run into the nearest building?))

Something where they can hide fully--I'll stay outside and let them know when it's safe to go.

((ooc: Anyone not running into the building?))

In reply to DM (msg # 117):

Krackor ambles very quickly into the building that others whom are faster than he is, have already reached.

Dorian lopes to the building with bow ready and eyes open.

Though invisible, Katarn finds a nook nearest the door through which his new companions went and settled back into it, his eyes alert to what is passing overhead and his ears straining to listen for other threats.

Confused by the whistling -- weren't they trying to move unnoticed? -- and not sure what, exactly was about to pass overhead -- gargoyle, fiend, or that other thing she'd seen flying? -- Sirenya still scurried into a building to get out of aerial viewing. Inside, she edged along the wall and took a quick look around. If there were any threats, or another exit, she wanted to know right away.

He finally reaches the building, the others inside, some crouching, some hugging the walls, all expecting something. Counting numbers, add two for Corym and the other Dwarven Priest. Nobodt missing.

We need to quickly see that the next rooms are clear, the size of this building may mean taking too long, splitting us up and making us miss something.. Yep, another pearl of wisdom that is too long and others may know, but he felt they needed to know.

Krackor then refocuses and prepares himself and his equipment.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:22, Thu 24 Jan 2019.

If anyone would have paid attention, they would have noticed how quietly Elorfindar moved, while doing his best to keep up with the others who lead the way. The priest of Labelas Enoreth was still pleasantly surprised how well the enchantment of his magical boots, fashioned by his people, worked, having come into their possession only recently.

His mind raced, considering the effects of the spells that were fresh in his mind. He had not really prepared for such an excursion, of course - rather for another day of research in Waterdeep -, but at least he had not found it necessary to replace all of the spells the Sage at Sunset had granted him when he had last ventured into Undermountain.

You run inside the building, Corym staying outside to keep watch. It's longer than it is wide, and from your best guess used to be a house. The opens to a room about thirteen feet square. There's a door opposite you the leads to a similarly sized room, with a staircase going up on the right. Behind that is a slightly smaller kitchen. Krackor runs upstairs and finds five smaller rooms all branching off a central hall, and another staircase up.

The house is unoccupied, though there are piles in various rooms that make it clear that it's been used as a lair by both animals and more intelligent creatures in the past. There isn't much in the way of furniture, aside from the thick stone counters built into the kitchen.

Outside, Corym and Katarn watch as the gargoyle flies overhead. It's clearly looking for you, but goes over you without noticing. It disappears to the east. A few moments later it's back, flying quickly to the northwest. The croaking roars are growing nearer, and it clearly doesn't want anything to do with them.

As the gargoyle disappears a second time, the red fiend flies overhead. It's a bit further to the south, near the end of the lane, and significantly higher in the air. As you see it, two massive, frog-like creatures come running out of alleys to the east. They're greenish-yellow, with webbed feet but clawed hands and stand over seven feet tall. They're run/leaping, jostling each other and roaring for no particular reason.

That is, until they spot the red fiend. Both of them leap more than ten feet in the air, roaring and waving their clawed hands. They land and one of them grabs a chuck of fallen rock and hurls it into the air. It misses the red fiend widely, and it waves its arms in a clearly insulting fashion. Then it deliberately banks and flies north. The two frog-like creatures run after it, roaring. The soon disappear into the block to the north.

"Gor! Finder, where have you brought me and why?" Katarn mumbled to himself as the fiends pursued each other and the gargoyle fled them, though Corym's sharp elven ears probably picked it up.

Katarn started moving inside when the threat had seemingly passed. His invisible voice called out softly, "everyone ok? Fiends are gone... for now."

In reply to Katarn (msg # 125):

Krackor returns from checking out the next floor to hear the roaring from outside and as it diminishes, he proclaims the building to appear safe.

Using his indoors voice: I've checked out the next floor, appears to have another floor above.  Kitchen to the rear on the ground floor, next up has five rooms, all seem secure or as secure as could be.  Looks like 'Something' or some 'things' have laired here previously, if anyone could find out how long ago, that would be good.

If we want to settle here and get our wits together, it's probably as good a place as any.  I'm heading back up to ensure nothing unseen can get in, come and get me if we are moving.

He wasn't sure how long they would be remaining but it wouldn't hurt to find out what was going on, ensure everyone was prepared and ready for the next movement.  There was no way of knowing how long they would get in the time they had before darkness descended, especially if there were more creatures around.  Calling down as he considered this and he passed the top of the stairs to the rest of the group, Do we even know how long it will take to get out of these ruins and if we do, are we likely to make it before sundown with it being afternoon already?

This said, he continues his guardianship duties.

Corym gaped and blinked blankly.  "I don't know whether we should tell them what we saw or not."

Gathering himself he moved to the hideout.

Corym interjected his thoughts.  "Unless someone has some scrying or divination magic available, I've still not been able to make out the cities' edge from the roofs.  It's impossible to tell where we are in the city, and my history regards Cormanthyr generally, not Myth Drannor specifically.  I would take considerable study for me to reacquaint myself sufficiently to be able to locate us within this place.  But Elorfindar's knowledge is as deep as my own, and he has a god to call on for answers as well!"

To Elorfindar, "My heart was rent when fate parted us--now it seems our bodies maybe rent upon our reunion!  But to be here, with you!  When we walks the shattered halls of Eaerlann together our thoughts often wandered to this place.  And now here we are.  The Lifegiver has put us on many a trail, I suspect that Erevan wanted to take a turn directing our steps.  How else can one comprehend the serendipity of our reunion?"

Thoughts going through his head, mention of Elorfindar calling on his God. There were a few Priestly members of this new party, he wasn't sure how many but at least another two, Elorfindar and Katarn, maybe others had some connection.

As he walked the level above where they came in and the area immediately around the next stairs up, Krackor pondered the spells he requested for the Vigilant Host and the belief he could ask for more. There was always an Augury but what of the other spells he had heard of, Divination, Clairvoyance and The Crystal Ball. Currently he had no way to use them, tomorrow could be different. Maybe the others had access to them!

His musings didn't detract him from his working. He stopped his thoughts on later and focused on the noises of the building, or all the noises. Removing his helmet, closing his eyes, he scanned.

Dorian eyed the scene out in the ruined streets with dismay.  Such things were beyond his experience in all but stories he had heard or even told over the years.

When the immediate danger had passed he cocked his head and looked at Corym and Elorfindar "So you two know each other well, I take it?  I'm starting to believe that our gathering here is more than accidental."

"Though he may not remember me, I have a passing acquaintance with Elorfindar too.  Perhaps we should all take a few moments to reflect on each other.  We may find some other common ground between us.  If we do, that may lead to the identity of our tormentor."

Having said his piece Dorian began searching the areas where his new companions have not yet tread.  Looking for clues or signs of what was last roaming their new abode.

In reply to Dorian (msg # 130):

Standing, waiting, listening.  The Guardian Priest heard Dorian before he could have seen him, even with his light steps.

Sir, Dorian is it!  I'm glad you have come up here.  I haven't looked further up in case there is something I can not detect.  If you could get another, we could climb these stairs and investigate higher.  I've not heard anything more but better to not be trapped alone should something come forth.


He was liking this group more and more as the scenes played out, some knowing each other, others having common ground.  Again, he told himself, whatever plans the Bronze Mask had, this could work.

"Perhaps we should all stick together in this place, Noisy One, if fiends run rampant in the streets they can haunt buildings as well." Dorian replied with a smile and offered the Dwarf his hand "Krakor Steelfist.  I know not your Clan, but I sense you are a good fellow to have around.  Well met."


"Who hear do you not know, besides me?"

After greeting Krackor he paused to listen...

13:57, Today: Dorian rolled 87 using 1d100.  Hear Noise.

Krackor and Dorian

With the departure of the fiends, an unnatural calm has descended again over the ruins and the house. You're both familiar with regular forest noises, and you're hearing none of them. It's as if every animal in the ruins has either fled, or knows that the least noise will bring swift death. If there's anything on the floor above you, you don't hear it.

((ooc: Based on the size of the house, the next floor would be the top.))

In reply to Dorian (msg # 132):

Taking the proffered hand.   Officially well met Dorian, I know half of those here gathered, Kora, Corym and Elorfindar.  Like you, I have only just met Talathel, he said his family lived in this city; Katarn of Citadel Adbar, a Priest of the Finder-of-Trails; I have not heard the Red headed Gnome mention a name yet.  Do you know these others?


Listening and hearing nothing, not even the creaking of wood, Krackor was able to relax a little, the others would know more about the forest creature noises, but he knew that none were moving right now.

Do you hear that? pausing a moment, no noise at all, a good sign after the noise that has just gone by us.  Appears we are at the top anyway, a quick look around won't harm any, better safe than not.

He was sure that the upper level would be safe-ish, but knowing if there was a roof on the building would help. Lets just make sure there is a roof and it is secure

"We've undertaken a number of missions together on behalf of the People.  Elorfindar seeks to reclaim the lost Lore of the People, and I look to reclaim the secrets of our lost Craft.  When we can we reunite the scions of fallen houses with their heritage.  I also want our People to be able to benefit from the lost treasures of their forebears.  So many of us are scattered now or meekly obeying the call to Retreat, when really so much of our strength lies mouldering in ruins about us if only we had the will to take up our history be worthy of its legacy!

While presently our circumstances are dire because the dangers are unknown, I can only think that there is a real purpose that has reunited us here.  There is something that we're supposed to find.  But no need to rush.  Lets escape, reconvene, plan, and return. And maybe find out what we should find in the mean time."

You get the distinct impression that Corym has a pronounced and vigorous sense of elven nationalism.  He is not one to go quietly into that good night--ironically, since as a profession he's exactly the person that goes quietly into every night to accomplish the People's work.  His demeanor is odd.  He definitely has the sound of Evereska on his tongue, but his manner, his--diction?--reflects long travels away from home.  He's lost much of the elven love of vagueries, implication, and verbal subtlety in terms of style.



"I remember you Dorian. I fought in the Greycloak Hills reclamations as well.  We never fought together, I don't think, but there weren't many of our generation in that campaign.  It's your family that I remember.  Your mother was native to Evereska, but not your father.  My family is not originally of Evereska either.  My father was a bladesinger from a high old house from the Elven Court, but wed a maiden of the Yuirwood." 

"Of course I remember you," Elorfindar said to Dorian, his tone friendly. "If I am not mistaken, your mother was acquainted with my mother before she..." He paused for a breath too long before he continued. "...left Evereska. Anyway, I am glad, if much surprised, to see you again particularly under these circumstances. Let us talk more later when we have escaped our current predicament..."



At Corym's words, joy and optimism flooded Elorfindar for a few moments, despite their dire situation. He nodded, a smile on his face. "I agree, friend Corym. And I am so glad to see you again, too - if possible, even doubly so, given where we seem to have been directed to..."



"I wholeheartedly agree with such a course of action, too. And coincidentally - or not, actually -, I have recently learnt a dweomer designed to divine the designs of the Philosopher - as far He sees fit, of course. However, I have not tried it yet, and I am not prepared to attempt it today, I am afraid."

The moon elf stared into the canopy for a few breaths. Then a thought struck him, his cheeks turning slightly red because of the embarassment he felt for not having thougt of it earlier. "Ahem... You do not happen to know where Karilla is by any chance?"

The atmosphere in the house appeared a little more relaxed, maybe with such dire circumstances having just passed them by or the adrenalin having time to recede, he knew not and listened. All, it appears we are as secure as we could be without this being a fort.  I for one will rest now so as to be ready for a nights watch.

Katarn nodded at Krakor's words and released his enchantment of invisibility and walked over to the gathering group.

"I'm glad to know what for whatever purpose the gods are gathering us they are gathering old friends, and perhaps forging new friendships even as we forge new trails through the wilderness."

He looked at the three gathered elves. "So none of you know how to get out of Myth Drannor? Or the quickest way to get out? If anyone has a rough idea of the shape of the area, perhaps we can choose a direction we think might be the shortest route out of the influence of the city."

Since one of the dwarves had already gone upstairs, Sirenya set herself to searching the ground floor. In particular, she looked around the kitchen area to discover if there had been a root cellar of some kind. Not all dangers in such a place would fly overhead. While it seemed, from the bits of conversation she overheard, that for now they had evaded discovery by the creatures of air, some of those traipsing about in here were not light of foot.

If she didn't find a root cellar near the kitchen, she'd expand her search outward from there -- just in case. Even if nothing lurked hidden below them, she might need a place to hide from whomever had followed her through the gate.

“Myth Drannor is shapes like the head of a woodsman’s ax. The broad end is west, and the narrow end east. A vast lake is oriented in the center on the Southern edge. And that’s all I know. Not knowing where we are the fastest reliable way out is North or South. If we’re west of the lake, that’ll take longer than if we’re East of the lake. “

Answering Katarn "I have never been to Myth Drannor, if this truly is that place.  I know a little about its lore, but hardly an expert."

"Is there any link to this Dwarf?" Dorian pointed toward Katarn "or this Gnome?" motioning toward Sirenya.

"So far we have a small adventuring party which contains a few of the People of Evereska and a vaguely associated Greycloak from the same place."

"That hardly narrows down likely suspects."

“Seemingly, the over danger has passed. I’ll resume my scouting overhead. Let’s get out of this city! We have hours left before the night terrors come out in the sun’s absence.”

He was trying to rest, just in case. However, the call was made and he listens.

Begrudgingly, Krackor follows. He doesn't particularly want to stay in this building but wants to even less be wading through Gargoyles, Fiends and who knows what.

His demeanor faltering for barely a moment, it may have been seen. Lead on so we can find a good place to prepare the next day

Hearing the eager exclamation to get out of the city, Sirenya hurried back to peer into the room they'd first entered. She watched to see if the others really meant to continue; if so, she'd follow as well.

Corym scales the side of the building as the rest of you come out of the building and start moving down the lane. For the first time since your arrival in the ruins you don't see anything in the skies. To the east, Corym sees a few hobgoblins poke their heads out of the building they had taken shelter in, but they don't seem to be moving in your direction.

The lane ends in a street running more or less due south. You go south and follow it for about a hundred feet before it dead ends into a street running east to west. The buildings around you are in good condition, seeming to be more damaged from centuries of neglect and weather than battle. You even see the occasional pane of glass in upper windows.

In front of you, and stretching east along the street to your left, are a series of long two and three story buildings. They're elven in design but rather uninspiring. West of you the row of buildings becomes increasingly damaged, to the point that some of them are burned out shells. To the southwest and south is another debris field that goes for at least another two hundred feet. Beyond it are a lot more trees, closer together. It might be the edge of the forest. On the other hand, it might just be an overgrown city park. You can't tell from this distance.

Before they headed out, Katarn responded to Dorian. "I've no connections with any of the lot of ye that I know, 'cept Krackor's a dwarf like meself. Just the humor of the gods I suppose."

Katarn activated his ring's power as they exited the current safehouse and walked ahead of the group as an advanced scout. He was used to long days and nights traveling the trails alone, so that was nothing new. The level of danger is higher here though, he thinks to himself. He tried his best to remain alert as they came to the end of the south running street.

He let the rest of the group catch up and rumbled when they arrived, "head for the trees off to the southwest or east to more buildings?"

"There's also across the debris field.  If that's the forest edge, it's only 200 feet away.  Katarn and I can cross the debris field to see what's behind those trees.  I'm no ranger, but I know that you don't want to deviate too far off your course.  The fastest way out of the city is a straight line."

"Are you with me Katarn?"

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 147):

If either of you two invisible ones wish greater alertness for the next 12 hours, come stand by me and hold my shoulder. Corym, if I had known about this as we went into the area with the gate, I would have already cast it on you. The Vigilant Host grants me this spell once today.

((ooc: If had known of danger when got near the gate, would have already cast this. As haven't said so already, going to take it Krackor hadn't cast it, if he had, Corym would have it on him already.))
This message was last edited by the player at 18:29, Fri 01 Feb 2019.

Katarn goes and stands by Krackor's right hand, "I'm here for yer spell, then sure Corym, I'll accompany you across the field."

Corym too will wait for the spell and then proceed with Katarn to the forest edge.

In reply to Katarn (msg # 149):

Realising both want his Lords blessings, the priest makes Wisdom lead.

Corym, you know of the Blessed Watchfulness yet my Lord brought us here for a reason. I will cast on you and the Sacred Guardian on Katarn so I can find him if he gets in trouble.

Katarn, this blessing will let me know if you are in danger and how much. Go with Gorm's blessings.

(ooc: Blessed Watchfulness:: it takes a roll of 1 to surprise someone under
this effect. Those under the effect of this spell resist sleep spells and similar magic as if they were 4 levels or Hit Dice higher than their actual level, and they gain a +2 bonus to saving throws against other spells or effects that could lower their guards or force them to abandon their watches, including charm, beguiling, fear, emotion, and similar mind-affecting spells.)
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Sun 03 Feb 2019.

Corym and Katarn

You advance cautiously into the debris field as the rest of the group shelters in the shadow of one of the buildings. It's much like the larger debris field you explored further north, full of uneven mounds and sudden dips, of half-buried piles of stone and half-fallen walls.

You don't see anything as you make your way to the forest on the other side. Looking into the mass of trunks, you don't see any further buildings. It looks like you may have found the edge of the city.

A moment of exuberance seized Corym. To walk in Myth Drannor and survive! “Katarn, we’ve made it. Let’s go get the others—I’ll be happy to yield the lead to the Rangers.”

Corym returns to the group and explains the situation. “... though I suspect that the denizens of Myth Drannor May venture some miles into the wood, it’s is known that there is some radius beyond which they cannot pass. I happily yield the lead of the March to the wood-wise.”
This message was last edited by the player at 11:21, Mon 04 Feb 2019.

Katarn too liked the look of the tree line, "it seems we have made it out. Though I wonder... go fetch the others I will keep a watch here on the groups progress."

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 153):

When Krackor hears the news of the Forest being outside the City, he was more than happy to get moving.

"But we will be back, won't we, brother?" Elorfindar whispered to Corym in Elven, before preparing himself to follow the rangers' lead, still not letting his guard down.

"Dorian seems to think this the work of an enemy, and Talathel that we have violated some taboo, but I believe that this is fate.  We are summoned here for a purpose.  We must return, but we must also reflect and refine our methodology.  I think we have among us the right talents to proceed from site to site unmolested.  But we need an agreed upon set of signals.  It would be ideal if we could cloak our presence once we arrive at a site...  There is much to consider."

Dorian follows Corym out into the woods so he can get his bearings.

In reply to Sirenya (msg # 144):

Looking at everyone as they left the city, Krackor found it refreshing to see so many smiles.  He moves over to walk beside Sirenya.

Young Gnome, if you may honour me with your name, it is good to find one as cheerful as I in this troupe, your colours really do brighten the scene up too.  Very nice to meet you.

You follow Corym south through the field of destroyed buildings. The silence of the ruins presses down on you like a blanket, and you cast frequent glances both over your shoulders and into the sky. Fortunately, you manage to make it to the treeline without spotting anything dangerous and disappear under the boughs.

Once you've put about a hundred feet of trees between you and the ruins you all stop and take stock. Myth Drannor is still barely visible as a few distant shards of stone standing between tree trunks. You're in the forest of Cormanthyr, and everything you've heard says it's almost as dangerous as the ruins.

What do you do?

((ooc: You have escaped the city. Where are you going, and what is the marching order? Are you all going together, or is someone/multiple someones taking point?))

Katarn trailed along with the group once they made the treeline where he had been watching their progress. As they walked and talked, he shook his head. What an odd day, he thought to himself. "Well, which way to a town or such? Those who know where Myth Drannor is compared to others, point the way and I can help lead us there."

As they settled in, Katarn settled in to walk beside whoever set themselves as point. "Hope you don't mind some invisible company. I've a good head for direction, though little for stealthy footsteps."

OOC: so whoever is point, Katarn will go with them Invisibly to act as another set of eyes and also a surprise to any surprisers who might be out there.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Tue 05 Feb 2019.

Distracted from her search for animal tracks by the dwarven priest's approach, Sirenya watched him come closer, then decided she'd better stand up; he was a tall dwarf. At his greeting, she cocked her head slightly, warily uncertain, before deciding to go along. They couldn't all have come after her, after all; she'd have heard a crowd that large last night, no matter how much wine she'd had to drink.

"I'm Sirenya," she answered, keeping to the basics. "Did you have a name, too, or just titles?" She recalled he'd given out a slew of titles earlier, back by the gate, and maybe she'd simply missed an actual name somewhere in the midst of them. The discussion had already gotten boring by then, though, and she'd wanted to find a critter she could chat up. Dominance squabbles were never very interesting, after all, unless they progressed past words into fighting. Sometimes that was interesting.

Looking around at the others to keep an eye on them -- and an ear out for the noisily invisible dwarf -- she added, "Did you all come through the gate together, then?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:43, Wed 06 Feb 2019.

((ooc: I’ll stay within sight of the main column but strayeast to expand our range of vision.))
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:54, Wed 06 Feb 2019.

Realising that the Gnome hadn't taken in what he had said earlier, he reiterated.  Well Met Sirenya, I did have a name and still do, I think.  I am Krackor Steelfist, call me Krackor.


Looking around as Sirenya did.  Oh, no, I was with Corym and Kora when we got separated from our friends, were you with anyone else when you arrived?  You keep looking around as though expecting someone or something, what is it you are looking for?

Dorian found a sheltered spot to observe the ruined city.  His gaze ran over each building, wall and tree "Myth Drannor.  If this truly is that mythical place there is much that we have lost that may still lay hidden here."

"I have heard the stories, of course, but seeing it stirs my blood.  Would that we could retake this place one day."

Oh, Sirenya thought, pulling back slightly with a wide-eyed, worried look as the priest introduced himself. Krackor had come through the gate with the elf who knew who she was, even though she was sure she'd never seen him before in her life. That meant the dwarf was one of the dangerous ones!

Consequently, when she answered his question, she intentionally misunderstood him and answered, "Animals," quite seriously. It was what she'd just been looking for, after all. "Anytime I go into a forest, or any new place, except not usually towns and cities, but sometimes even there, because mice and moles and ground squirrels are almost everywhere, you know -- I try to find some of the locals to chat up. They usually know if there's a serious predator in the area, or if humanoids of some sort pass through the area frequently." A sudden impish smile curled her lips up as she added, "Of course, even if they do tell me about local predators, it can be hard to decipher what they mean. They have a much different perspective, you know -- you'd look like a giant to them, so if they tell me there are giants about, they might not mean giant giants, just humanoids that are giants to them. So even if they tell me about something, it doesn't always help a lot -- except when it does, of course!"

Pausing, and trying to be casual about it, she asked, "So, you came here with the bossy elf and, and, the woman?" She was pretty sure the human woman's name was Kora; if it wasn't, she expected Krackor would correct her. "Where were all of you before you were here?"

"That is a dream shared by many," Elorfindar, who had followed the ranger, remarked quietly in response. Changing the subject, he asked: "How did you get here? I was doing research in Waterdeep when a magical gate opened in a back alley - apparently someone wanted to reunite me with Corym, Kora and Krackor, with whom I had shared a few adventures before..."

In reply to Sirenya (msg # 166):

I have heard of people talking with the animals before but not met anyone who did it so openly, this is nice. Animals can make fine guardians and watchmen.

Where were we before? In the central part of the Western Heartlands unless I am mistaken, which I may be. We were looking in a ruin on the edge of some woods, a tower or keep, it happened so fast that we were as shocked as everyone else here abouts. I suppose that is why Gorm, my God, the Lord of the Bronze Mask, has sent me here, to help protect.

I know I am talk but a Giant! I supposed from their perspective I could appear as one, unless you are talkibg with an Ox or a Horse.

"I had been on my way back to Evereska after finishing a long scouting mission near Darkhold.  Just the day before I had been relaxing in a small, nameless hamlet that I am fond of visiting.  I was back on the road, I had just shed my cover identity... and then I was here."

Corym waits quietly on the rest of the party to get ready to move.

Sirenya shook her head vigorously. “Oh, no!” she exclaimed at Krackor's remark. “I don’t talk to animals as big as horses and oxen!” Still smiling a little she explained, “My people only talk to those animals who are like us – those who live near the earth and in the earth. Things dangerous to them can be a threat to us, as well as the other way round. Sharing that information makes it safer for all of us.”

She tilted her head a little as she fell silent, smile fading as she considered the dwarf towering over her. Finally, expression sober, she said quietly, “I knew a priestess of Gorm once. She was a good woman.”

Ah, I think I understand, what would you consider a Carrion Crawler, Animal or Threat?  They can have their uses so I am told!


Krackor remembered that not all Priests of Gorm were Female, especially after the quick reduction in Dwarven numbers with the fall of so many Citadels, he recalled the stories of some falling, devastation. We serve the Lord of the Bronze Mask as best we can, to keep safe Dwarves and their families, to increase Dwarven numbers.  They may not be Dwarven, but Corym, Kora and Elorfindar have become like Family, the latter less so but still the travelling family I have chosen.

Smile having faded slightly at the thought of the Citadels falling, his cheery presence returned as he spoke next. Maybe you will become part of my travelling family if we are together long enough and see enough Adventure to make it so. You will be, if you wish it, part of my rounds for divine magic that tells me if you get into imminent danger, so I can hopefully come to your aid.  Not that you may need it but just in case.

Sirenya shuddered at the mention of carrion crawlers. "Ewww! That's an insect! We don't talk to those! I don't think they even really think -- those things are just walking appetites!" She shuddered again, and shook her head vigorously. A little more calmly, she clarified, "We don't talk to insects, or birds, or big animals. Just things like mice, and badgers, and chipmunks.... We try to avoid wolverines mostly, because they're really prickly and take offense at the twitch of a whisker."

Listening to Krackor speak of his beliefs, she glanced around again to check on where the others were. Then she looked at him a bit skeptically and asked bluntly, "And I'm not in imminent danger now, from you and your friends? Jonkhari didn't send you through that gate after me? Because no one else knew I was in that area."

At this, Krackor laughed a little louder than he anticipated and then checked himself with a huge grin.

I sense nothing for Corym or Kora, so no, I don't think you are, even in the city, we were not in any immediate danger.  Sorry but I don't know who or what this 'Jonkhari' is, an organisation or a person?  Forgive me but, did you do something wrong or were they just bullies chasing you?

Krackor became rather quizzical as he wasn't sure if he should be watching out for more people coming through the Portal or not, plus with not being there now, was he doing wrong?  He felt he needed to pray, so he did the next moment they stopped.

"Darkhold... Is that not a stronghold of the Zhentarim? If so, that might be a connection," the priest of Labelas mused ominously. "One more topic to talk about later," he added, then trying to find cover near the Evereskan ranger while they were waiting.

"That depends on who you want to believe," Sirenya answered Krackor evasively. Giving the dwarf a warily suspicious look, she stopped to look under some leaves at a slight gap between plants, where a small game trail might be hidden – and incidentally put a little distance between them in case she herself needed to play rabbit and run.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:22, Tue 12 Feb 2019.

My faith is unwavering Sirenya, if the Vigilant Host thought imminent danger was around, the spell would show me. Fear not on that one.

Krackor watched the Red Haired Gnome move off to look at a few leaves and niticed the marks left by animals. He was no tracker so didn't know what animals or how long since one move along the track, that was others realms of expertise.

We all seem to have made it out of tge city Corym. Sirenya here is just checking with small creatures for what is around, unless I misunderstood her.

Are there town far enough away but close enough to get to before dark?

"Not before dark," Kora said. "Father had several maps of this forest. He loved to look at them. If we go south we'll find one of the dales eventually. I don't remember which one. But it'll take us several days." She glanced over her shoulder at the ruins. "We should probably get moving."

In reply to Kora Roustinghorn (msg # 178):

Krackor's understanding of Kora's words settled in his mind, urgency and relief, memory and longing. He nodded as she spoke.

"Aye, Dorian lead the way. I'll be with you and we'll take it nice and slow since we're still near the city." Katarn's voice called out from near the southern edge of the group. "South it is!"

He set off, keeping pace with Dorian a little off and behind him so that he could reach the ranger but also keep another field of view.

Corym's disembodied voice chimes in to Krackor and Sirenya's conversation.

"I'm afraid I don't know your name in any nefarious way. When in Hardbuckler I took a couple of days to study the architectural stylings of modern gnome construction.  While doing so, I often overhear the conversations of passers by.  On this occasion there were two young gnomes debating the merits of females wearing trousers.  I'll dispense with their vernacular, but one held the position that it was immodest, that it showed too much of your form and left nothing to the imagination.  The other held that it increased the breadth of his imagination in terms of what a woman so willing to dispense with convention might be willing to do in other facets of her life and relationships.  At some point, curiosity got the better of me and I turned to regard the object of their discussion. So while we've not met, I do know your name and am familiar with your appearance. "

Corym clears his throat, "I never developed a position of my own on the discussion and soon returned to my sketches."

Dorian nodded and disappeared into the underbrush and began slowly traveling southward.  Knowing that flying monsters are in the area he paid particular attention to the trees and hidden perches.

This

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 183):

Guess I'm west then ;)

You start moving south. As the last pieces of Myth Drannor is hidden by the trees, Talathel breaks out into convulsive shivers. Krackor tries his best to comfort him, but the elf withdraws into himself, muttering things like "Promised I wouldn't," and "Never again." Reluctantly, you decide the best thing to do is to push onward. Getting out from the shadow of the ruins will hopefully both decrease the personal danger and the weight of Myth Drannor on Talathel's mind.

Progress is slow. The forest is ancient and thick, with tall trees and dense undergrowth. Corym and Dorian move through it easily, and Elorfindar does his best to help the rest of you, but it's tough growing. A mile or two outside Myth Drannor the ground starts to rise and fall to a greater degree, and you find yourselves scrambling up and down trackless hillsides, feet slipping in decomposing leaves.

It's as Dorian and Corym are coming to the top of one of the hills several bells later that they hear something. Somewhere not too far away a group of people are trudging through the forest. Whoever they are, they aren't elves. There's too much noise; branches snapping, the sliding of occasional lost footing, and the clink of metal armor. You can't see them yet, but they seem to be heading more or less in your direction.

"I'lll try to get closer to see what it is." Staying invisible this long was mentally troubling, but occasionally worth it.

Move Silently
22:47, Today: Corym Ildroun rolled 27 using 1d100.

Dorian signaled the others to stop.  He cocked an ear to listen...

On Dorian's signal, Elorfindar stopped and tried to hide himself as well as possible given that he also readied his staff sling.

Seeing the aignal at the top of the hill, Krackor knew he had time to prepare anything he felt he would need to do.

The Priest checks his Crossbow is loaded and then listens.

After a Skype session with the DM...

Corym returns to the party and gives a quick report:

"A large, well-equipped band of human adventurers headed North toward Myth Drannor.  We need to veer a bit to miss them.  They're 12 in total, and heavily armed and armored. Multiple wizards. They have to scouts but no party-wide proclivity for stealth.  They pose *no* danger if we should manage to avoid them, but depending upon their level of opportunism even a diplomatic encounter could prove fatal."

If Corym's eyes were visible, the party would see them glittering.

"Based on our experience, I think they're doomed if they go into the city.  I think I could follow them to see how they fare. If they're successful, we'll know the secrets of their success.  If their journey proves fatal, we could know more about the strange creatures that inhabit the City, and perhaps salvage their fallen arms. I'd like another person to go with me--I was thinking, perhaps, Sirenya or Dorian.  Either one ought to be able to keep up and concealed.  Dorian would be able to help me track find my way back to you all faster, but given Telathel's state, you all might need him to get clear of the forest."

"Thoughts?"

Katarn quietly replied, "what do we gain by following foolhardy humans into a place of death? We've seen much of the dangers already ourselves. I agree that we need to get Telathel out of here, if you want to follow them with Dorian, feel free, but I'm to keep headin south me self."

Hearing Corym's words reminded Krackor of others that his Captain had uttered previously.
Corym, may I remind you of your own words when we got out of those dreadful Castle grounds where we lost Vesna! "Let's not just go foolishly into something we do not know", or something like that.

We need to head to a civilised location, I agree that there is a prospect for discovering something, what if this group you have spied discovers you?  What is to say that this isn't a rescue group that heads into Myth Drannor every so often?

Having said this  He hoped he had read this right as his smile beamed once more. We could always find a place to stay ready for your arrival back to us.  I am torn, I have a duty to protect you and the party, splitting us makes me wonder which was to go, with you would be the obvious choice as there are enough here to protect each other already, but I would make too much noise.  His roaring speeches of Wisdom did go on a bit but he wasn't aware of the impact.

I shall go with these others as must be done, one is incapable of looking after himself.  I will know if you are in danger no matter how far aware you are.  Don't get into this danger

Dorian gave a moment of hesitation before heading off in an attempt to lead the others to bypass the Humans "No time for debates." 

Once they were safely out of the path of the other group he said "I wish to see this other group so that I might recognize them later.  I doubt that Myth Drannor or our tormentor is done with us just yet."

“Of course! Perish the thought!” Corym nodded to Dorian, “ They should be easy to find. Stow yourself here and they’ll walk right over you. I can move the rest out of the way and you can find us.”

Dorian leads you west and a little north, putting a hill between your group and the one approaching from the south. You settle on the reverse slope and stop moving. Soon all of you can hear the noise of the other group passing by on the other side of the hill. They're not singing battle songs, but they certainly aren't making any particular attempt at stealth.

Corym and Dorian watch from the top of the hill. There are a total of twelve, eight men and four women. Most of them are either heavily armored or obviously wizards. There are two lightly-armored men in the group, but they look more like urban thieves than woodsmen. They aren't scouting their flanks, and they pass you by with barely a glance toward your hill. Once they're satisfied that they won't turn back, they return to the group.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:43, Mon 18 Feb 2019.

“We were walking blindly South through the woods, but these passerby should have left a sufficient trail to get us back to a settlement. Perhaps there we can learn more of them. Let us make haste!”

Once they have passed, Dorian sneaks down and checks over the adventuring party's tracks.

Dorian

You look over the tracks and basically just confirm what you saw. Big, heavy boots moving through the forest without the least care about how to move with it rather than against it. The wizards are wearing lighter boots, and it looks like the thieves are wearing the kind of shoes common in cities. None of them look particularly notable. You'd definitely recognize them if they were all together. One individually? Eh, maybe.

Having spent the last few hours after Corym's declaration alternately watching for signs of animals -- or dangers; whichever presented itself first -- and brooding over what the elf had said -- Sirenya was sure she knew exactly who one of those gnomes had been, and had a few suspicions about the other's identity -- when the others pulled up short and sought cover, she quickly did the same. Ducking under leaves into a much smaller space than anyone else could manage, she waited with her crossbow loaded and ready to fire.

Nothing happened. She kept waiting, as everyone else was doing. And eventually, the invisible Corym's voice started reporting on another, larger group moving through the area. When he suggested following them and spying on them, possibly with her, she felt a resurgence of paranoia, so didn't immediately speak up. Just as well; it seemed even his friends weren't too keen on the idea.

After having listened to the other group tromping past, though... "If you're thinking of returning to the ruins, it would be useful to know what's lying in wait watching for visitors -- other than fiends and gargoyles and hobgoblins, of course. And the thing in the building to the east, on the other side of that field of destruction.  Oh, and that thing that was flying way far off in the distance...."

She frowned, ticking things off on her fingers again. "Okay, so maybe it'd just be a question of discovering what finds them first, and discovering its tactics in attacking. And if it calls in other creatures, or attracts competitors. I mean, it's not like they're all cooperating... is it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Tue 19 Feb 2019.

“Some of them almost certainly are. How would they survive individually? But Krackor is right. Easily distracted scouts are dead scouts. Let’s reach safety.”

The group heads south, following the trail already broken by the other adventurers. Time passes. This is heavy forest, with thick trees and dense underbrush. Even with the trail it is slow going. You have to pick your way carefully, scramble down leaf-strewn hills, clamber over fallen trees. Occasionally something howls or roars in the distance.

It is always dim under the trees, but after several bells it begins to grow noticeably darker. It is evening in the forest of Cormanthor, racing on towards nightfall.

Just as you start thinking about setting up camp, you encounter the remains of one. A small clearing, no different than several others you've passed during the day. There's a circle of stones with the ashes of a fire, and enough disturbed dirt that it's obvious the other party must have camped here last night. And since there don't seem to be any traps or lurking monsters, it's a good a place for your camp as well.

You busy yourselves setting things up and gathering fallen wood for a fire. Talathel seems more coherent. The hike away from the ruins has helped; the ranger drawing strength from the forest and the journey. He's very withdrawn, but you're no longer particularly worried about him.

((ooc: I'm going to stop here to let you chat over the evening fire.

Also, just so everyone is aware, thanks to the heavy forest and the slower speed of gnomes and dwarves, you're going to be making about four miles through the forest every day. It would be three, but the trail is making things a little easier. Just so you can factor that into your calculations.))

In reply to DM (msg # 201):

Krackor sees the camp site, heeds the call for camp, then sets his normal routine into action, circling the site, going slightly further into the woods, listening to sounds, checking the ground, preparing for guard.

Corym, withthe dangers of this place, I'll not be setting the sentry as watch but taking it myself.

Does anyone know that horse spell or the disk one? May help us speed up tomorrows trek.

The Guardian sets his place, prays and becomes the guard he has known almost all his short life.

"I know the disk one."

Corym looked around at his new companions.

"It seems that most of us are of one mind--we ought to return.  Similarly we also think that we ought to gain some information regarding that place first. Obviously there are things there that none of us have ever seen--for good and ill.  And yet, in my experience, people can be of a highly divided mind on the idea of salvaging cultural treasures from ruins.  I'm sure that will be a particular sore spot for the remnants of Cormanthor.

"I think it's best to have an open discussion between us about what our intentions are relative to Myth Drannor."

Corym clears his throat a bit.

"I think I've been fairly open about my motives.  I think that the move to Retreat is alarmist.  Our People don't make adequate use of the resources at their disposal in order to defend their lands and thrive.  It's my intention to put the cultural treasures of my People into the hands of the People that desperately need them in order to hang on.  Our father may have wished to be buried with their treasures in their day, but if they knew the ruin their children had come to, I have no doubt that they would freely give of their gifts.

"I'm also of the opinion that the true treasures of our people aren't just the enchanted swords, oxidized coins, and gems for spending.  The *true* treasures are the making of these things, and the construction of the cities and buildings.  I tend to publicize my engineering and architecture studies to distinguish me from looters and pillagers."

Katarn shrugged into visibility as they all came into the camp and started to chant while looking around at his companions. Suddenly a buzz of invisible activity took place as a horde of invisible servants grabbed bedrolls and tents off of people's packs, cleared the debris left by the previous group, shored up the ring of fire stones, and quickly and efficiently set up camp for the night for everyone.

He nodded when that activity started, then fished out his cooking equipment, and pulled out a few handfuls of spices and different food from his belt pouch that didn't look like it had anything in it.

As he prepared a nice warm meal for people he answered Krackor's question, "I don't know such enchantments meself. The best I have is being able to hide one self's trail through the wilderness fer a time to throw off pursuit." Wonderful smells started to emanate as he cooked for the others.

"I've no intentions on Myth Drannor meself. The Finder of Trails brought me here for a purpose that I can't see yet. I'll accompany you lot and fight beside ye until I hear elsewise from the Finder, then I'll set off on the next path he lays before me feet."

OOC: Create Campsight, Tome of Magic with some liberties on people's equipment.

He could smell the trees, the grass, the food....Food!, he realised he was hungry.  OOC: I love that spell but don't have access to it.

As the Finder sent you, I was also sent by the Vigilant Host.  I stay as before, with my family.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:43, Fri 22 Feb 2019.

Dorian started to investigate the camp site when Katarn’s spell went off.  At first, the Elf’s reaction was one of alarm and resistance, going as far as pointing his bow at the Dwarf, but once he realized what was happening he relaxed and even smiled.

“An interesting spell, friend, but perhaps a bit of prior warning would be appropriate?  Especially under these circumstances.  I almost jumped to the top of yonder tree when those invisible hands touched me” he laughed.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:10, Mon 25 Feb 2019.

Katarn chuckled into the stew pot he was stirring, "...sorry 'bout that Dorian. I don't travel with groups usually, less it's a rescue or some such. Just me and tha' trails of the north. I didn' think 'bout what it'd do fer yer lots equipment. I'll give a warnin' next time. This here should be ready soon, get yer kit ready ta eat if'n ye're hungry"

Elorfindar cleared his throat after Krackor had followed Katarn and Corym in declaring their intentions.

"Now that we are all gathered, it seems to be the right time for a proper introduction. I am Elorfindar Silveroak, a servant of Labelas Enoreth, the Lifegiver. Until fairly recently, I had been travelling with Corym, Krackor, Kora and our other companions, some of whom I accompanied to Waterdeep, where in an alley I happened upon a magical gateway that lead me to you. Like Corym, I look to recover that which has been lost by our people, material and immaterial, so we might learn from it and from its history. This is what the Sage of Sunset teaches us."

A bit later, after Katarn had declared that the food would soon be ready, he approached the dwarf. "I am not particularly hungry at the moment but I would like to taste your stew if I may, good sir," he said in a friendly tone.

"What of you, Sirenya?  What are your thoughts on Myth Drannor?"

"Well, I think it was incredible!" Kora says from where she's sitting atop her bedroll. She's rooting around in her pack. "We walked the streets of Myth Drannor and lived to tell the tale! That's the adventurer's dream, right there. I can't wait until we go back."

Dorian's joviality fades away and he become thoughtful for a few moments before speaking; "I have completed my tasks for Evereska and was on my way home when this...event occurred.  I must at least send word home before undertaking an exploration, but perhaps this is a chance of a lifetime and not to be cast aside easily."     

Katarn nodded and handed a bowl up to Elorfindar, "I've no need to eat meself, but it's a mighty comfort after some heavy frights of the day. Here ye are lad."

He turned and smiled at Kora in her delight at having escaped one of the most notorious places on Toril. "Not sure ye can saw we walked so much as skulked, but aye, we escaped to tell the tale." Then nodded along with Dorian, "aye, if any of ye can do any spells of sendin' I'd like to get a message to me fellows too so they don't throw me things out or divide them before I'm back."

To everyone he motioned to the pot of stew after a while, "it's ready.  Eat now or later your choice. Longer it stews the richer the flavors. Enjoy."

Poking through the underbrush just beyond the cleared area of the campsite, having forgotten about gathering firewood with the distraction of what might have been a game trail, Sirenya looked up in surprise at hearing her name. "What?" She looked around, then shrugged. "Didn't seem that hard to get away from. It's clearly occupied and patrolled, so I think that noisy group going in is going to be in trouble, but maybe they wanted to be noticed, draw the things in there to them. There were a lot of aerial observers, so anyone staying in the open is going to get seen pretty quickly. Unless they're invisible, of course."

She sniffed a little, looked down again thoughtfully, then sighed and headed into the camp. "That smells good." Fishing around in the pockets of her belt as she walked toward the source of the scent, she muttered, "I've got a bowl in here somewhere..."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 22:51, Mon 25 Feb 2019.

"It's good to know that we're of one mind on the matter."


"Doubtless wherever we go people will interpret our motives as mere grave robbers.  That can be a dangerous accusation in the presence of the relatives of the entombed," Corym nods reverently to Talathel.  "Such an accusation will earn enmity and suspicion where ever we go.  I suggest that whatever our individual motives that we maintain the more high minded position of scholarship--learning about their forebears and preserving their works.  I further suggest that, to the degree possible given the current situation, that we obtain some formal right to enter Myth Drannor should the opportunity arise."

"You're about to have two adventures on your hand.  I'm been mindful of your progress, and I believe that your body is sufficiently developed that further emphasis will only yield diminishing returns on the investment.  As soon as we arrive at a suitable location, we will begin your arcane training and discuss what that will entail for you."

"My friend.  In my patrol it was said that your musical gifts were unparalleled and could rouse the spirits of many a weary soul.  We sit now in the shadow of the fallen City of Song.  Do you have music that will fill us with the spirit of Myth Drannor? My knowledge of the city and this land are deep, and I may be able to summon up a poem from my studies if my memory were so stirred."

Dorian smiled "I may know a few of the classics.  I feel that now, so close to a place where Demons lurk and fly about, is not the time for such things.  Unless a rousing battle against the Abyss is what stirs your spirit, friend Corym?"

“If that other band camped here before us, it should be safe enough shouldn’t it?”

Katarn snorted a bit in his stew as he ate, "sure if that lot of humans didn't rouse the demonic horde here, a bit o' song from you shouldn't either I'd think. They tromped louder'n a plate wearin' dwarf. Probably camped like it too."

Dorian shrugged "Is it worth risking our lives on the chaotic hunting patterns of Demons to hear a song?"

"As you like--we'll wait until we're farther out. My apologies."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:05, Thu 28 Feb 2019.

((ooc: It's early evening, and getting really dark under the tree cover. You can keep moving, of course, but Kora is going to need light. She has a hand held object with continual light on it that can be revealed/closed at will. You'll be able to keep moving, but you'll be blatantly obvious in the dark. She's not going to be able to move through the forest after dark without light. Your call.))

let's camp
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Sun 03 Mar 2019.

I didn't here them but you heard this plate wearing Dwarf, or were you speaking metaphorically Katarn?

If there is a spare bowl of that stew, would someone please fetch me some, I'm trying to keep aware of all around us.
Krackor then reasserts himself for his watch.
Tomorrow I shall prepare the Sentry of Gorm
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Thu 28 Feb 2019.

As she finished off the last of her stew, Sirenya looked up and around at the others. "So what's your watch rotation? Might want to boost the last one, or maybe the last two, just in case there are any survivors from that earlier group fleeing back this way. Something might be chasing them." She inspected her bowl one more time, adding absently, "Or back-trailing them to see if they had a staging area."

“We let Krackor set the rotation. His church makes a divine study of guardianship and surveillance. Krackor? As you will.”
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Sun 03 Mar 2019.

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 226):
We were not expecting to need the spell tonight. Corym, I used the Blessed Watchfulness on you my friend, you may find it difficult to sleep for a few more hours.  I require no sleep, I will require sleep in order to reaffirm my connection to the Vigilant Host though, at that time I shall call forth the Sentry of Gorm, which, will create an invisible sentinel that, should anything come our way bigger than a cat, that isn't in my view when cast, shall awaken me.  If you choose to sit watch, please let me know which you would prefer.

He was certain everyone understood, well, almost everyone, that he was going to take watch and then have divine magic take the rest of the watch with whomever wants to.

Mistress Lightbearer, your torch may be needed for a short time as usual.

“So we’re well cared for tonight. Do you think you could run down our standard procedures for those unfamiliar? Along with the spells you normally prepare and cast for our night camp?”

Corym redirects his attention more broadly after Krackor gives answer. “The planning and preparation of spells is a communal interest. If we were going into Myth Drannor on the morn I’d be cycling invisibility spells to conceal our approach. That is I’d cast a full compliment of invisibility, just before entering reverie, and then after preparing new spells cover the rest. This should allow more flexibility in my second order spell preparations. Can anyone else here make the weaves for invisibility?”
This message was last edited by the player at 19:30, Sun 03 Mar 2019.

"Katarn, you'll forgive me if my forwardness offends.  I'm little familiar with the gods of the dwarves.  What can you tell me of yours?"

Katarn looked to Krackor on his question about the 'plate wearing dwarf' and just gestured to his own plated form with a chuckle. "No master Krackor I meant all of us plate wearin' dwarves. There are none of us quiet as we tromp about, visible or otherwise. As fer watch an' what not, I for one welcome the watchfulness of Gorm to guard me sleep. I be so use ta campin' and marchin' about on me own, 'tis a welcome respite ta have others help with all that. I've a ring that lets me sleep but a couple hours a'night fer a few days at a time, but I don't have ta call on its power."

Then he turned to Corym as he discussed plans and spells, "well, ye've seen me other ring at work. I can cloak meself invisible whenever I need. Has been a right useful boon as I travel the wilds by meself I tell ya." Then he laughed when the elf thought himself presumptuous.

"Nah lad, ye're fine. What would ya know of The Finder of Trails, Marthammor Duin? He's a god that looks after us dwarfkin what find ourselves messin' about travelin' the wilds o' the world above. He sends the likes of me n'other Trailblazers out ta make the trails an' passes from mountainhome to mountainhome or elsewhere safe as we can. Every now and then he'll send us ta find some lost er lonely soul out in the wilds 'n bring 'em back ta their tunnels safe."

"Like a dwarf ranger?  I can't say that I've heard of any before, but it gives me some insight into why you might be with us."

Corym regards members of his party, and addresses the group at large.

"I was never allowed admission to Evereska's Academy, but my friendship with Elorfindar and the clergy of the Lifegiver gave me ample opportunity to study the history of the people. Cormanthor, its nations, and it's cities were a special study of mine.  What is perhaps not known to you is that Myth Drannor was not and elven city.  Cormanthyr, as it was first named, was the largest city of Cormanthor. At the raising of the mythal--the great magical field that enshrouds the city and imbues it with its exotic features--the city was Opened to all men and women of good heart.  Dwarves, gnomes, halflings, and men all came to walk its streets and for centuries called it home.  The influence of the dwarves on the city was felt in its stonemasonry--yes--but also in great works of magic."

"Artox Frayhammer--a high priest of Moradin bound together the faithful of all temples in the years before the Weeping War.  His word resound in my heart even now--'“All creeds are of one truth when we stand together. No matter the voice you follow, its truth stands strong and brave in alliance and unity with the voices of other gods. Stand apart, believe your creed stands alone, and you die alone. All are the truth and all survive together, or none are true and all die alone."

"Ulnorn, the Blood of Jalabar, a royal guardsman of the kingdom of Roldilar journeyed to Myth Drannor and made his home here with Sargathuld the Orcbane.  That mighty blade, blessed by Clangeddin's priest and enchanted with human wizardry and elven sorcery at its making.  Here Sargathuld was further enchanted by the high masters of Art, and Ulnorn abided here until the end of his days lifting the Orcbane in common cause with his adopted kin. Here stood temples to Moradin, Dugmaren Brightmantle, and Dumathoin.  I'm afraid I know the names, but not the faiths--except for the all-father Moradin, of whom all must know who know aught of dwarfkind."

"But further back to the founding of Cormanthyr, one of the city's first inhabitants bore the blood Moradin.  Labrad had and elf father and a dwarf mother, but was orphaned.  Here at the founding of the city he tended the gardens that grew the city.  So wonderful were his gifts with the fruits of a soil and entire ward of the city was named for him after his passing.  Dlabraddath--the ending of Labrad it was called."

"So you see, Katarn, you are called home as surely as Dorian, Elorfindar, or Talathel."

Katarn nodded as Corym spoke, "well, I don't know about all that, I've some skill in the wilds, but I've met a few rangers in my time and they've a skill with animals and such that I've never managed, quiet too they were. If it weren't for me ring I'd never pass anyone unseen. I also don't know much of the history o' this city. I only know it's more recent reputation. So I'll have ta take yer words 'n explanations on dwarfkin and their history here. Certainly the Finder sent me here for somethin more than makin' you lot supper. We'll just have to see why that is as we go eh? "

"A broken dream.  The only thing that unites the Free Folk now is military alliances to stave off destruction by Evil.  We were stronger, all of us, when we shared culture and not just swords." said Dorian.

"If we can somehow...tame? rediscover?  However we frame it, perhaps we can do some good for, not just Evereska, but the entire North." Dorian nodded to himself "Yes, there would be value in that."

Katarn listened to Dorian speak and gave a sigh, "a worthy dream ye've got there Dorian. But even with all it's power 'n sharin 'n whatnot, Myth Drannor was but a single city. Don' know how big this forest is, but did their influence stretch across it? Would any single realm in the North achieve the impact ye're thinkin'?" Katarn looked thoughtful for a moment, then added, "Have ye been ta Silverymoon afore? I hear it's like Myth Drannor here with all the good folk of the North minglin and such, even got themselves a mythal from the tales I heard. But for all that their influence is limited..."

"There is power in dreams.  Power in hope too.  Just as a song or poem can inspire a man, so too can a dream." Dorian answered.

Dorian turned to Corym "Whether or not the others decide to return once we have found safety, I wil return with you."

Corym smiles truly and warmly at Dorian’s words. “To the Dreams of the Ancients! May we fulfill their promise!”

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 236):

Listening to everything around him, Krackor didn't miss the conversations that were going on.

Almost a whisper but loud enough for those hearing their names called."Indeed Corym. To the Dreams of the Ancients Exploration Company"

The night passes uneventfully. This far from the ruins, the normal noises of a healthy forest permeate the night air. You keep watch in shifts, but nothing comes out of the forest to bother you, and the adventurers who camped here yesterday do not return.

Over the next several days you make your slow and careful way south, following the trail already broken. It's a tense journey, the weight of the ancient forest pressing on your shoulders, and when a small pack of orcs try to ambush you two days after your arrival in the ruins, it's almost a relief.

It's not much of a relief for the orcs. Dorian spots them before you get into their range, and the group destroys them with little difficulty.

After another few days of marching, the woods begin to thin slightly. Then, a bit after stopping for highsunfeast, the trail emerges onto a road. Two roads, in fact, one heading south, the other east and west. Standing where they meet is a large plinth of gray rock. Sunshine scatters across its face in little dazzling rainbows, and bands of elven letters spiral upwards from where it touches the ground.

You have reached the Standing Stone.

Dorian happily examines the standing stone.

"Ahh, now here's a bit of history indeed!" Katarn said when they spied the stone, "this was old before me sire's sire was born." He looked in the offered directions, "what do ye lot know of the towns in the different directions? If we're to resupply and return to the crazy place we just left, which is best suited to that task?"

“This stone marks the pact between men and elves that legitimized the Daleslanders claims to the clearing between branches of the wood. It is either a great mistake or the first time that Cormanthor recognized the limits of its ability to project power.”

“As for the modern communities nearby, I have no knowledge of them. I was hoping that Talathel would guide our steps for in the Dalelands, though that prospect now seems dim. I know that the Vale of Lost Voices was an Elven community—though it may not be now since the Retreat. The only Dale I know of other than that is Deepingdale which is supposed to have high Art, Lore, and Elf Friends.  But I do not know the way.”

In reply to DM (msg # 238):

Having explained the order of watches, the days after leaving the immediate area of Myth Drannor seems almost a relief to the Dwarven Guardian, he didn't lessen his focus though.  Offering the Blessed Watchfulness spell that informs him if the recipient is in immediate danger seemed almost a matter or course, he had gotten so used to offering it.  Corym and Kora had already received the gift before arriving at the Ruins, Katarn the first day on arrival.  He followed this up with Elorfindar then Sirenya and Dorian.  He didn't let Talathel out of his sight anyway, so on the 5th morning cast his Weighty Chest spell on his axe.


Explaining again that the Watch would consist of the following:

* Setting up camp and cooking, he would take watch himself, then after food and a chat time his Sentry and another person (1st) would take over.
* After 2hrs, another (2nd) would join the 1st
* 1hr  later, the 1st would waken the 3rd and get some sleep
* 2hrs later, the 2nd would waken the 4th and get some sleep
* 1hr  later, the 3rd would waken the 5th and get some sleep
* 2hrs later, the 4th wakes the 6th as the 5th starts to cook breakfast.
* Each will report findings no matter how insignificant to the next and communicate with the other on watch regularly.
* Each will take responsibility for the whole camp, so that no single person is responsible but everybody is.
* If you need to be the one of duty for a 2nd night, take the first watch with me (Krackor).

Each person does 3hrs except the 6th who keeps watch whilst the camp gets busy.  This also means that 1 person would get a night off and nobody gets over tired.

Although Krackor explains that he only has a short watch to start, he would be awoken by the Sentry of Gorm the moment danger is sensed.  He also explains that in really dangerous areas, he will remain awake all night, which he does for the first 2 nights.


On the 2nd night, Krackor takes a handful of Rose Petals out of his pouch.
I have a spell that would instantly waken anyone whom is willing to take the blessing of the rose petals I hold out now.  If you believe your spell learning would be affected, I suggest not taking the blessings.  He would then cast the Alert Allies spell.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:10, Mon 11 Mar 2019.

Never having ventured as far east as the Dalelands, the region was little more than some recognizable names to Sirenya -- much as Myth Drannor itself had been. She looked at the huge stone rather more fascinated by the way the light refracted off of it -- intently taking mental notes of the effect for future reference. Would it react the same to lantern-light in the dark? More gold-toned, perhaps....

“Do we have anyone that knows about any of these places?”

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 244):

Corym, pick one and give me a question to ask, see if Gorm could say if good or bad idea, Katarn, didn't you say you could divine answers?

"Doesn't seem so lad, so I suppose we pick a direction and pray to our gods its right."

To Krackor he replied, "I've not prepared any divination's today, 'cept those that the Finder grants to find dwarves who need aid. So lets choose at random. I pick keepin' on south. Surely something was built direct south of Myth Drannor on a road." Katarn with a shake or two of his head, beard wagging in the sunlight. He put a hand on the stone and marveled at is construction and beauty while the others talked more of their path. He trusted the Finder of Trails to lead him to another path regardless of destination.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 00:30, Wed 13 Mar 2019.

Dorian turned his palms up to the sky and said in a yokel accent "Tarnations, but I'm not from 'round these parts, ya here?"

Switching back to his normal voice he added "It serves my purposes to move in a westerly direction, but otherwise I have no objections if someone else has a better idea."

"I would stay away from Hillsfar, which I think this road goes to if we walk far enough east," Kora says. "I wouldn't have a problem, but they'd hate all of you on sight." She slides her fingers along one ear and then further up to form an elven point.

"To the west is Mistledale. They have good horses, and there's a dwarven town somewhere that makes excellent steel. To the south is either Deepingdale or Battledale. I always get them mixed up."

She frowns. "Or was that Harrowdale? No. No, that's on the coast, further east." Looking around at you, she shrugs. "It was my cousin who was being groomed to marry back into Cormyr's nobility. I'm afraid I didn't pay much attention in geography lessons."

"Back into Cormyr's nobility?  There is a tale worth telling in that small detail, I'm sure!" said Dorian.

"Oh, sure!" Kora grins. "I may not pay much attention to geography, but I know all the good stories about my 'you're not exiling me, I'm wandering this way anyway' ancestor."

Krackor couldn't hold it in, he burst out laughing. That my dear is definitely one for the camp fire tales.

"An analysis of the names of these places gives us some insight as to what we might find there...

Mistledale--sounds like a region, not a place of lore and adventurous resupply
Vale of Lost Voices--essentially Arlington National Cemetery, but for elves.
Battledale--sounds like a region, not a place of lore and adventurous resupply
Hillsfar--too dangerous, we've got enough danger on our hands
Essembra--must be a city(?) sounds like our spot

I therefore propose that we head towards Essembra if what we want is Myth Drannan lore and supplies.

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 252):

Did you mean Deepingdale or Harrowdale Corym?

Mistledale sounds like a place with Mistletoe and Battledale soubds like a great battle was there, a good place to get tales of lore and possibly goods!

If all these places be close together, wouldn't a central place be best? I will go with the majority on this, I don't know who geography is but from what you say, they knew their way around.

Deeping Dale wasn't one of the options given us, and OOC, I know that you have to cross MOST of the Dales to get to Deepingdale. Moreover, you'd have to go by way of Battledale, the capitol of which is Essembra.  Essembra may do for now anyways, and if we can ever get teleport, Deepingdale will be much more accessible.  Mistledale is basically the Shire.

"Country sages in human lands are few and far between.  For the most part academics are found in cities, and Essembra has the sound of a city."

"There aren't any cities in the Dales," Kora puts in. "That's sort of the point out here. Or at least that's what the stories I've heard say. I haven't heard of Essembra, so don't expect Waterdeep in the forest."

"Sounds like the wilds I wander, but in a forest 'n not the mountains. Few cities, more towns or villages if anything. I'm for this Essembra, 'n I agree. Sounds like the only place that's a place." Katarn chimed in on Corym's side.

"There aren't exactly a lot of Waterdeeps in Faerûn either,"  Corym returns.  "If we could manage something Hill's Edge-ish in size that would be better than nothing."

"Your god enables you to find the right path, but also the right turn-of-phrase.  Well said."

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 258):

With all these Dales, maybe we are still close enough to Daggerdale! Or have I got this mixed up again? At least I still have a bottle of that Ale.

Krackor was starting to confuse himself, he was lost and wasn't used to this.

Then chuckled to himself once more Kora "I'm going to go this way anyway", nice one, sounds like Obar at that Castle. I'm up for anywhere you choose, especially if it has a good Inn
This message was last edited by the player at 10:17, Fri 15 Mar 2019.

After a short time when everyone is still discussing options for where to go, Krackor, the Guardian Priest, finally understands.

Corym. I think I understand part of why I am here and possibly why Katarn is here too, at least for the start of why!

Talathel. He is from around here but look at the effect it has had on him. If it's a place to go to get information and things, we can sort two things at once. You and everyone has already said that we should escort him home, then this is what we should do.

Katarn seemed like he suddenly remembered his holy calling, though usually for dwarves, was to care for the lost and endangered in the wilds as light dawned in his eyes. He rubbed his beard while looking at Talathel, "there's truth there Krackor. Finder o' Trails'd want me to escort the lad to his home. He said he was from Deepin' dale, so I suppose that's the way we should go. If it leads to better sources of lore, then so much the better."

Dorian nodded his consent at Katarn's words.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:01, Sat 16 Mar 2019.

Corym ponders. "It's hard to argue with that.  The rest of us are from far off, and he from near.  He was also somehow adversely affected.  We can't merely send him home, we must take him there.  His grandfather was a resident of Myth Drannor and yet draws breath.  If we return him, perhaps we will further clarify our purpose."

Corym draws upon his knowledge of the ancient doings and goings of this land.




"In Ancient Cormanthyr, before the founding of the Mythal, it was said that the communities of the empire were joined by a river which flowed from foothills North and West and proceeded to the South and East until it met the Dragon Reach.  If we're to take Talathel home, and the human communities are organized along the same lines, having the ability to access the river would be a great help.  That would mean West.  We should go west towards Mistledale in the morning.

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 263):

Krackor was smiling before Corym had even said half of his words, knowing full well what he was going to say, knowing that Corym valued his words even if he didn't act on them, after all, he was an Elf who liked Ale.

Listening to the discussion while examining the ground around the stone for animal tracks, absently drifting away from the area the group had already trampled, Sirenya looked up at the mention of traveling by river. That could speed things up, and make for some easy travel, at least.

You turn west along the Moonsea Ride, and immediately your pace begins to quicken. It's more a trail than a road, but it's obviously used quite frequently by wagons. Trees tower over you, their branches linking arms above your heads, but at least your feet aren't finding as many obstructions.

For the next two and a half days you press on through the forest. Now that you know where you are and are certain you're not going to be getting lost, it's almost pleasant. The Elven Woods are an ancient forest, and the trees are a riot of autumn colors. Cool northern winds set the branches to swaying and the leaves to singing. Game is sufficiently plentiful that you're able to eat fresh rabbit eat night that Dorian shot along the march.

Talathel slowly recovers. He rarely speaks, but his eyes are losing the blank terror Myth Drannor had evoked. He even manages a quiet "Nice shot," when Dorian hits a leaping hare in mid-stride.

For the most part, the walk has been peaceful. On the second day you're attacked by a young owlbear, but after it's shot with several arrows and singed by a few spells it turns and races back into the forest. Apart from those moments of excitement, the journey is peaceful.

Late in the afternoon of your third day of travel you see ahead of you an opening in the forest. The trail has gone through a few clearings before, but it soon becomes clear that this is no mere clearing. As you step forward the forest falls back on both sides, revealing a dale of low, rolling plains covered in tall grass shining golden in the sun. About a mile ahead of you is a small village; you can see stone walls and yellow thatch poking up above the ground. There doesn't seem to be anyone in your immediate area, but you're too far away from the village to see people there.

Katarn had lost some of his wariness as they'd traveled the well trod road. He tended to do all of his traveling invisibly as it saved hassle and dangers both, but after a half day or so on the road, he stopped walking invisibly and ambled along with the rest of the group. Even the owlbear attack didn't shake his sense of ease on the road.

"Well, no river yet, but there's us a town. It's not yer Deepin' dale yet though right Talethel? We got to still sail there right?" he asked expecting not much of a response from the elf. "I kin get outta sight 'n go scout'n around fer us. Or we kin assume the best 'n walk ahead boldly."

Talathel shudders. "N...no. M...istledale."

Dorian takes a few moments to observe the far off village.

Is there smoke coming from chimneys?

Are there people out in the fields or along the roads?

There aren't many farms around the town. Most of the ones you see are close to the buildings and much brighter in the daylight than  you would expect. There's a lot of light being reflected.

All of the chimneys have smoke coming from them. There's obviously a lot of activity, even if you don't see many folks out and about.

"Strange no one being about.  Perhaps there is a festival or town meeting going on?" suggested Dorian.

"I'm not sure, but let's continue on and meet the folk of this village.  They've rung themselves in with a stone wall which means they fear vulnerability. This is not a trait I correlate with danger."  Corym presses on towards the town walls.

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 272):

Krackor was acutely aware of the length of time his spell had been in affect and knew he was good for a few more days at least. He had slept, eaten and drank every day, but knew that when it wore off, he really needed to be somewhere secure, just in case.

He was grateful to see a group of building of any sort, the group needed something more to smile about that chasing an Owlbear off, for the road was long. Even with the distance behind them from Myth Drannor, there was talk each night of it.

Oh, look there, lots of smoke from chimneys says happy to me, much better than smoke from broken walls and roofs

"I hope they've a good inn down there," Sirenya says, stretching up to see as much as possible. Someplace comfortable and fit for relaxing, hopefully. Even if the house drinks were bland, she still had almost half a decanter of an exceptionally good wine left. If she drank it there, she figured she'd probably wake in the same place, this time.

Unless it was the wine that had caused her to awaken so far from where she'd lay down...? That was a worrisome thought!

Katarn carried his shield loose but ready and his hand itched to grab at his weapon, but for now, left it on his belt as the group headed into town. "Let's head in then 'n see if we can't get a proper rest and a proper bed fer a night before headin' out again."

Dorian nodded in agreement and started after Corym.

As he walked he pulled back his hood and tossed the edges of his cloak across both shoulders.  With the Sun kissing his face and hair he seemed a different Elf.  Even his gait was different, no longer the halting, careful step of the hunting predator, but the confident, carefree stride of an innocent.

Dorian retrieved his long ignored harp and began tuning it while he hummed a jaunty tune.  When they were about half way to the walls Dorian began to sing "Starfall Pool"; the wary woodland sentinel was completely gone, replaced by a smiling and honey-voiced Elf.  The kind, perhaps, that once blessed Faerun in happier times when the world was young.

((ooc: Okay, I screwed things up a little in my "approach to Glen" post. I blame it on my writing it at work. It's actually twenty miles from the edge of the forest to Glen along the road.

Since you have a ranger with you, I don't have a problem giving you exact milage. Here's the totals:

* 25 miles from the ruins to the Standing Stone (5 in light forest)
* 30 miles from the Standing Stone to the forest edge (trail through light forest)
* 20 miles of plains to Glen

Your base overland movement speed is 12 miles/dayIt's been a total of 10 and a quarter days since you arrived in the ruins (6 from Myth Drannor to the Standing Stone). Since the gate spat you out around noon, it's now getting on towards evening.))

I suppose Dorian sings Leo Tolstoy's 'War and Peace", the musical, then.  Otherwise I don't think his song will last long enough =)

((ooc: You can still sing as you approach. I just wanted to let everyone know that there was a day and some of walking through the plains before you see the town.))

Yeah, that's fine.  I start singing about a 1/2 mile from the walls.

Marpenoth 19

Outside of moderating influence of the forest it is very much late autumn. The sun is setting as you approach the town, and a chill northern wind whips about your feet. The air bites, promising a frost-covered morning.

Fortunately, unlike the previous night, tonight you hopefully won't need to spend it sleeping outside. The village quickly starts coming into focus as you walk. At first it seems to be a small place, several dozen single story stone buildings stretched out along the road east to west.

Then you get close enough to see that the road actually dips down into a steep defile. It looks like a giant slammed his axe into the earth and dragged it slowly free. Most people would have moved the road around such an obvious hazard, but the people of this town evidently decided that this was the perfect place to build. Those simple buildings actually stretch three and four stories down to the ground at the bottom of the defile. Many of them are built directly into the valley wall; there's no telling how far back their owners might have tunneled.

The village's few fields are kept close to the houses. Their sunlit gleam coming from them puzzles you until you're very close, at which point you can make out that the "fields" are actually many large planter boxes that have been topped with glass. And unlike a normal field that would long since be harvested, there are a riot of green growing things underneath the glass.

There isn't a wall around the village, though by the looks of the tightly-spaced buildings their walls are thick enough to serve in a pinch. You see people out and about now. Most of them are in the town streets at the bottom of the defile, but there are several people checking the fields. They're mostly dwarves, but you see an occasional halfling. Hearing Dorian's singing, a middle aged halfling woman closest to you pushes herself to her feet and waves, smiling. The others continue their work. It looks like they're securing things for evening; you suspect there will be many people heading inside for eveningfeast shortly.

In reply to Dorian (msg # 276):
Seeing Dorian getting his harp from his pack and starting to sing, a stern look crossed Krackor's face, quickly replaced with a cheery smile as he hummed along to the tune being played. You didn't tell us you could play, a tune or six would have gone down well over the last few days.  Keep going though, please

"Surface based dwarven designs?" Corym whispered.  His voice raised several octaves even as it diminishes in volume, "With glazing applied to agriculture to artificially--but non-magically adjust the climate to the desired crops?" Corym looks at Dorian, eyes brimming with excitement, "The efficiency! Can you imagine if these designs were more broadly applied and scaled?"

"This is what I was saying!  We called his band the "Singing Swords" he kept his compatriots in such high spirits!"

"Let's go further and find an inn.  There are many things here I'd like to study, but let's first wash the road from our limbs!"

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 285):

Sounds like a great idea, I have a feeling I'm going to sleep for a few days soon when this spell wears off, I missed a couple of nights sleep and will need to catch up.  Food and drink before that then don't wake me for at least a day and a half.  Krackor was sure his spell would only last a couple more days, better to prepare now so as to lessen the after effects.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Fri 22 Mar 2019.

Dorian laughed "If we had been attacked by Devils while I sang you would be the first to say 'keep down that bloody noise, can't you see there are devils about?'"

Hearing the lightheartedness in the sound of Dorians words... You know, you may be right there and then winks at the harpist.

Katarn just looked back at the other's banter and shook his head as they walked into this town. He too was interested in the little glass houses that grew crops. "Never heard of anything like this before... dwarven or not. Could be really useful for some isolated dwarven holds to actually get greenery into their diets though."

It was at this that Krackor noticed the glass boxes. Katarn, I never liked the greenery in mmy diet, liked the carrots though, help with eyesight in the dark, or that's what we were told anyway. If big enough, could grow hops though!

He the saw the distant person waving and heartily waved back.

Dorian also waves at the woman and says "To the Inn!" He then changes his tune to an amusing ditty about the Bargewright Inn and it's bumbling and incompetent owner.

The road dips down sharply as you reach the edge of the village of Glen. It's cobbled and the grade has been given a gentle rise in the middle so as to shunt rain water into the gutters on either side. As you would expect for a dwarven village, the stonework is in excellent condition. Still, the slope is nearly thirty degrees, and you find yourselves pitying any horses that need to make their way up or down.

Glen fills the bottom of the ravine. In addition to the buildings built into each of the long walls, there are several ranks of free-standing buildings, locked together in long rows as they march westward along the length of the ravine. Their first story is of quarried stone before they switch to wood and plaster-covered brick for the remaining floors. About half the buildings are thatched; the others are roofed in slate.

An industrious bustle fills the valley streets, which have already had their lanterns lit to pierce the gloom of the long shadows. Most of the people moving about are dwarves, though there are a number of halflings and a very few humans. Most of the halflings pause to watch you go by, their feet tapping to the rhythm of Dorian's song. Aside from glances to take you in, most of the dwarves pay you little notice.

Shortly after reaching the valley floor, you find a tavern. An elaborately painted sign, with gilt letters that sparkle in the lamp light, proclaims it as the Undercellar. Glancing through the windows you see that it has a number of tables sized for elven bodies. Figuring that such accommodations might be less common in a dwarven town than normal, you stop here.

The taproom is well-populated. Its furniture is about equally split between small folk and big folk. You pull two tables together, and for the first time since you arrived in Myth Drannor everyone is able to sit comfortably. A smiling dwarven lad, the merest hint of fuzz on his chin, comes by. He sets tankards of small beer on the table, and inquires about whether you'll be staying for evenfeast. He says that the ham is particularly good.

((ooc: I found a nice picture of what Glen looks like. Just replace the river with the road, and add some doors on "ground" level.))


This message was last edited by the GM at 23:47, Wed 31 Mar 2021.

"Gys Sa Salen" Corym sighs as he lifts his vessel to cheer his company.

"I am surprised to find a dwarf-hold in the Dales.  Of old the nearest settlement was the Mines of Tethyamar in the Desert Mouth Mountains.  They were redoubtable trading partners of Myth Drannor and fallen Northkeep." When he speaks the names of these three fallen lands he whispers a prayer over his vessel and drinks in memory.  "These dwarves seemed to have adapted uniquely well to country living!"

The urbane elf considers the common room of the Undercellar.  "In a moment I'll need to try to book rooms for us.  Typically the Company takes care of it's own from the general fund, but in light of our amazingly good fortune I'll extend largesse to include all our companions.  What must be considered, however, is how long we should stay."

Corym places a hand on his breast, "I know just from the walk in that I could stay here for months making a study of their building and agricultural techniques and styles.  I'll forgo that in favor of some sketches.  If this is the nearest settlement to our site, then I suppose we may become frequent visitors. I didn't note a temple on the way in, and so I assume our reverend members would like to host a religious service for their people who are otherwise removed from their cultural context. Personal pursuits of knowledge and faith aside, however, we have genuine business to attend."

"As best I can reason it, our agenda should include:

• Acquire two maps--one of the broader region and one of the specific area we'll be focusing not. Not the City of Song, specifically, but the forest, this town, and a few nearby towns so that we can annotate it over the course of our actions.
• Determine the fastest path to Deeping Dale.
• Determine whether Talathel's sanity can be restored or whether we can find a more specific location for his grandfather.
• Acquire provisions for a journey after the length and duration of the journey have been ascertained.
• Determine what special wares or places of interest are here in Glen, so that items and provisions that are unavailable here may be procured in Deeping Dale.
• Begin Kora's arcane instruction such that we might broaden our capacity by the time we return.

"Can anyone else thing of business that we must attend to while here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:21, Tue 26 Mar 2019.

Katarn is somewhat amazed at this little dwarven outpost in the country lands. He nodded at the beardless lad when he came over, "aye lad. We're stayin' for evenin' feast an' then some. Ham'll be nice. Didn't see anything on the way in, does yer town have a proper temple or some such to the Morndinsamman round here that I an' the Vigilant over there kin visit?"

To Corym he replied, "all that sounds well and good. Krackor there'll need a few days at least to overcome his spell. I've seen priests of the Vigilant one over do that spell before to dire consequence. I'm good ta help with anythin' needs doin here before we set out again."

In reply to Corym Ildroun (msg # 293):

Smiling, nodding, waving and saying hello as the group moved through the outer edge of the town and even into the inn. Taking in the defenses, the potential capabilities of the residents, and holes that may be utilised by attackers. The Guardian took it all in as easily as taking a breath. He walked tall, proudly displaying his Gods marks on arms, chest and shield. It felt a bit like home, just more open.

Food, drink and then sleep. We need to discuss the Company Charter with our newest friends. You may have done so whilst I slept already. If it means splitting what we have then starting again, so be it if it makes it fairer. That can be done without me, I'm glad of everyone here. This can wait though until I'm recovering, my vote already known.

Friend Katarn, your words are wise. I'd like to think there would be a temple here, in the hills is my guess.

With drink in hand, Krackor stands To companions of the roads and ruins. The Lord of the Bronze Mask sees you well, good health with raised vessel, he surveys the tavern as though only sharing the toast, witnessing people, routes, egress points and the bar. He the empties the contents of his drinking vessel in one go and sits back down.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:55, Tue 26 Mar 2019.