Alder nods to Ariael to show one of the gems.
"We found this on one of the goblins that came seeking the talisman I've described to you. It seems valuable in its own right, but perhaps the more so for a scholar like yourself. Provided you can tell us something useful, it is yours."
Muriel stares at the gem for a minute before taking it. After turning the gem over and over in her hand, she shruggs "Well, this looks derivative of ancient Illusk. Probably Brotherhood related. You haven't been in Luskan lately, have you? Without being able to view the item or know specifically what its marking are, I can't be for sure about your talisman. Is there any other information about the item? Markings? Where you found it? Names?"
Alder shrugs, unwilling as yet to give any specific information about Glimly, or to reveal that he is nearby. He describes the amulet as thoroughly as possible, including any marks he remembers.
"I know that the amulet was found in a ruin in Luskan, hidden by an illusion but seemingly unused. That, I am afraid, is where our store of information runs out. Is there nothing else you can tell us? Who are the Brotherhood?"
Alder:
Muriel looks at each of you, "You have never heard of the Arcane Brotherhood? Some say that they secretly run Luskan. You see that rune on the gem? Ancient Illusk practiced glyph and rune magic in addition to the magecraft of ancient Netheril. The Arcane Brotherhood holds much of the magic of ancient Illusk."
Muriel takes a sip of wine and smiles at the hawk. Throwing the bird a hunk of cheese, she continues, "This glyph is designed to increase the duration and power of enchantments of suggestion and domination. I would bet that the creature was under some form of enchantment. By chance, was there a mage nearby?"
Anasth, the hawk, pecks at the cheese. But swiftly puts it down, as he would expect any other bird of prey to do.
He does however, bob his head in response to Muriel's question, and stretches out his wings in pretense of flight.
"It did appear that way, although we didn't get a good look.
The figure in question...flew from combat before we could approach."
For a moment, Alder seems more Uthgardt than Silverymoon. "Bah. A coward! Sending others to fight his battles for him. Let him face us squarely, instead of hiding behind goblins. Bah."
He regains his composure and nods to Muriel. "We thank thee. The gem is yours; if we discover anything else, we shall bring it to your attention. Now, if I may ask, what brings you here? They say you're seeking every bit of information to be found on old Illusk."
She smiles at Alder, "You know, you're cute for northerner. Old Illusk has much history and magic. I seek knowledge."
Alder smiles back. "As do we, it seems. And it is always a pleasure to speak with one wise in lore. The Uthgardt say that our great-grandfathers' tales are tales about us; let us hope that we are not stumbling into an evil story. Old Illusk," he murmurs. "It is a name of foul fortune among my people."
Alder pushes back from the table and turns to Ariael.
"Ari, is there anything else you'd like to ask? If not, we should be going. We've had a long journey and leagues still to go."
He addresses Muriel.
"Thank you. Perhaps we will meet again before this tale is through."
When the party is alone again, Alder floats the possibility of asking Muriel to accompany them at least until they meet up with Glimly.
The oddly quiet swordsman shakes his head no "Magic and I don't really get along" He too is ready to leave.
Finding the world of a hawk much more to his liking than living among the "civilized", Anasth stays on Alder's shoulder until they've further away from the tavern.
With nothing further, your group leaves the ale house and begin heading back to the barracks.
Kythorn 8, Year of Wild Magic
After a much needed rest in a warm bed, you all gather before the barracks. The day is warm and it looks as if there is a storm brewing to the east. Your fellow legionaires wish you well and give you two days worth of rations a piece.
As you prepare to leave, a tall man in shining full plate, a red cape, and a tabard with the mark of Helm approaches. "Greetings, you must be the lot that Glimly sent with his driver. I am Bob, servant of Helm and formally of Cormyr. If I may ask, how is my old friend doing?"
Ari nods in greeting. "Alive and secretive" the swordsman says, as if that's all the answer anybody would need.
"Bob, I thank you for being surety for our wounded. We found ourselves traveling with Glimly by coincidence, but, if I may ask, how do you come to know him?"
Bob laughs at Ariael's comment. "Yeah, he can be a little on the short side." Turning to Alder, "I met him on the road years ago when I was working as a caravan guard from Cormyr to Luskan. We got along once I understood that he was a guardian of the Cloakshadow. We both protect we just have different methods."
"Yeah, he can be a little on the short side." "[/b]
Cal tries to hold it in, but can't help laughing at the priest's joke.
Anasth remains silent, keeping an eye on the developing weather situation.
The Priest smiles at Jaxon, "You sound Lantanese if I don't miss my mark. What brings you to the Silver Marches?"
Turning back to the rest, "Do you happen to know where my friend is? I've been meaning to catch up with him."
"We'll be meeting him some ways out of town, hopefully today. If you'd like to accompany us, we'll be leaving shortly."
"I would if I could but my vigil remains here. Where will you be heading?"
"I'm here for work, mostly. My kind of craft is a copper a dozen back home. Out here I'm a rarer commodity. I have some ideas I'd like to try out, maybe start developing some new kinds of weaponry. Just need to test them out in the field. For now, I think I'm sticking with these guys, wherever they're headed."
Perception:
Anasth & Jaxon:
"Well, I wish you all well. Please tell Glimly to look me up next time he is in the vally." At that, Bob turns and starts walking toward the Citadel of Helm.
By mid-day you find yourselves on the outside of Sundabar heading toward the old Ascore road. After a few miles, you see a grove of trees to the north that sounds like the place Glimly said that he would want to meet you. As you get closer to the grove, a gnome with a crossbow crawls out from under a bush and waves, "Hail! We are about to leave. Are you ready to head out?"
To the east there is a crack of thunder as the storm clouds continue to gather.
"I had hoped we would avoid this weather." Despite that, he nods to the gnome to show he is ready to leave.
Alder shakes his head at the gathering clouds.
"Aye, we'd best be off."
The wind picks up as you go down the road. By mid-afternoon a warm rain begins to fall. As you make camp tonight, Glimly approaches Jaxon "How is Gresh doing? Was Bob there?"
Alder, as usual, shares tales and songs with the gnomes before retiring.
The cook, Baerven, comments on Alder's stories, "You have many tales of the tall folk but do you not know any of the old gnomish tales? Do you know the tale of the great escape and the curse of the spriggan? How about the search for the Sister Gods of the Golden Hills? Gond's appearance on Lantan during the Time of Troubles?"
"I know that one." Cal says with a grin. "By all accounts, Gond is a pretty nice fellow."
Alder smiles broadly at the prospect of hearing some new stories. "I've heard tell of Gond and his gift to Lantan, but my stock of tales does seem to run tall, Baerven. Tell me one, or two if you're not tired."
As Baerven continues to pour out hot soup into bowls, he begins, "As you well know, the Lords of the Golden Hills are all men. It is said that long ago before Garl Glittergold found the gnomes in gems within the earth, there were Ladies of the Golden Hills. Some say, that all the Lords, including the Crawler Below, were named as brothers in those days. It is not known what became of the Sister Gods of the Golden Hills. When the gnomes sprang forth from their gems they cast about at the Lords of the Golden Hills, 'Where oh Great Lords are your Ladies?' our ancestors asked. A pale calm came over the Lords, 'We can not say our sons and daughters, they have gone away and no more will we speak of it.' Since that day, the Lords of the Golden Hills have never travelled alone, whether it is Baervan Wildwanderer and his racoon Chiktikka Fastpaws or Garl Glittergold and his sentient axe Arumdina the Justifier. When the wonderlust takes young gnomes, it is still said that the gnome does not leave their love ones but goes and seeks the Sister Gods."
As Glimly listens to the story a sad looks crosses his face, "Jaxon, please tell me that Gresh is with Bob. No gnome should be without a companion."
"Of course. Bob looked us up last night. He sends his regards."
"Of course. Bob looked us up last night. He sends his regards."
Glimly smiles as Jaxon's comment. "Thank you Jaxon. I'll not forget it."
Kythorn 9, Year of Wild Magic
The rain tapers off around midnight. By morning a strong wind is blowing off of the desert bring a warm, forgotten fealing. The day is clear as you set out. The wind continues to increase as the temperature rises. By mid-day, there are no birds in the air as the wind is too strong to fly in. You pass by the turn to the town of Newport in order to make up for lost time and camp along the road that night.
Anasth
Kythorn 10, Year of Wild Magic
As a new day dawns, the wind and the temperature retreat a little.
When you stop to eat lunch, Ansath and Areal notice a set of strange tracks that cross the road.
Anasth
The elf notes the tracks "Strange tracks, careful" he says as he pulls out his rapier.
Cal hadn't slept well the night before. As soon as they stopped for lunch he found a tree to lean against and shut his eyes.
"There's a large predator trailing us ahead of our movements. Could be hunting us, hard to say." Anasth pulls back from his position to the side of the group.
"Here we go again." Cal muttered grumpily without actually opening his eyes. "With that bird-man out there directing things our way, I'm not willing to assume this is a coincidence."
A moment later he gets up with a groan and checks his gun in it's holster. "Which way?"
"Possibly shapeshifters." He places emphasis to indicate the possibility of more than one.
Cal stops midway through checking his weapon. "What kind of shapeshifters?" he says uneasily.
Alder scans the woods near the road and puts an arrow to his bow. He begins softly chanting the hunting song of the Tree Ghost clan [Inspire Courage spellnote, all of us get +1 to attack and weapon damage rolls and +2 to saving throws against charm and fear effects].
Perception (if it's fair to take another shot now, if not ignore):
If no threat is immediately evident, he continues his song as they walk down the road.
Anasth calls out with a howl of inquiry to his wolf, making sure she is alright, but he also readies bow and arrow.
A wolf howls back at Anasth from the north. After a few minutes, Desfra comes lopping up from the west. As you continue down the road, you hear a wolf's cry to the north followed shortly there after by another to the south and to the east. Desfra growls as his ears go down.
Perception:
Initiative:
Alder continues his song, and readies an arrow.