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Glancing about Wrafton's tavern with the veil of a whimsical traveler, the Eladrin notes the locals and more exotic patrons, particularly the elven woman guarding the door with her alert eyes. Familiar with the mannerism of his remote kinsmen, Dyrnwyn marks her watch with curiosity and hidden interest.
Appearing to notice Drynwyn's gaze, the huntress looks studiously at her drink.
At the approach of Eilinan the Old, he tips his ale and drains the remainder with an optimistic look toward the bar maiden.
"I am Dyrnwyn, and it is true, I am not of these parts," he offers genially. "I am from a vanishing tower in the east and my folk make their passage when the Feywild manifest itself in your world."
"I thank you for your welcome and confess that I know little of Kalarel, as well. It was our hope that one here might."
"Vanishing tower . . ." Eilian trails off, then recovers. "No, nothing like that around here!"
"Well if you don't know Kalarel perhaps you could tell us of Sister Linora and the Temple you have here?"
Eilian the Old brightens. "Oh, Sister Linora? Do you know her? Fine woman, fine woman. Keeps us all right with Avandra! If you're looking for a priest, maybe she knows. She goes down early, has to be up for early services, you know. If you're wanting to talk to her, right after sunrise would be the best bet."
"Sorry! I think I will go to take a chamber, because I want to be fresh tomorrow." Frivry says to his companions and walk to the innkeeper.
Frivry says to the innkeeper and wait for an answer "I want a chamber, please!"
The woman who first greeted you meets Frivry at the bar. "Yes, certainly. You can have number 3, up the stairs and to the left." Frivry's share of the silver will suffice for the drink, meal, and room.
Eilian looks after the halfling's departure. "That was sudden. Is your little friend alright?
Eilian the Old brightens. "Oh, Sister Linora? Do you know her? Fine woman, fine woman. Keeps us all right with Avandra! If you're looking for a priest, maybe she knows. She goes down early, has to be up for early services, you know. If you're wanting to talk to her, right after sunrise would be the best bet."
"Then it looks like I'll be speaking to her in the morning. Tell me how long have you lived in this fine town and how old is the town it self?" Silo says the old man before Frivry leaves to find his room.
Eilian looks after the halfling's departure. "That was sudden. Is your little friend alright?
"I believe he is fine we had a rough day with bandits on the road he must be tired" Silo replies to the old mans questions.
Rhiannis enters the inn and looks about for his compatriots. As he sees everybody except Friwry, he raises an eyebrow and pulls up his shoulders in an asking gesture. Silo just points above with his finger. Rhiannis gives a thumbs back to his friend and contniues to the bar.
"Excuse me, milady. I'd like to have a glass of wine, plus a selection of bread, cheese and grapes, and a small room to spend the night in for later."
"Then it looks like I'll be speaking to her in the morning. Tell me how long have you lived in this fine town and how old is the town it self?" Silo says the old man before Frivry leaves to find his room.
"Me? I don't live in the town proper, y'see. I've got a farm down the King's Road a piece. My da farmed there before me. The town . . . hmm . . . even I don't go back that far, son. 120, 150 years?"
He calls out to the man with the spectacles. "Valthrun, how long has Winterhaven been here?"
The other man looks up and answers calmly, "One hundred and forty years, very nearly."
"I believe he is fine we had a rough day with bandits on the road he must be tired" Silo replies to the old mans questions.
"Bandits on the road? The Old King's Road? Really? I hadn't heard!"
"Bandits on the road? The Old King's Road? Really? I hadn't heard!"
"Yes, a pack of kobolds. With the organization they had I'm surprised you hadn't heard of them, they ruffed up my companions and I especially Dyrnwyn over there." Silo points to Dyrnwyn. Silo chats small talk with the old man for a while longer when the hour gets late he politely excuses himself and heads to the tavern owner to secure a room for the night. In the morning he searches out Sister Linora.
The innkeeper overhears this last, and she chimes in. "Kobolds! Those buggers are braver all the time. Lord Padraig would probably be interested in hearing your story. He's been trying to get the militia to clear out those vermin for the last few months with no success."
"Hmm, then I'll speak with Lord Padraig in the morning thank you.""
In the morning Silo first seeks out Sister Linora to ask about Kalarel.
"Ah! It is great to take a night of sleep." Frivry says when he wakes up from a good night of sleep, ready to visit the tow of Winterhaven and to hear the tales of the folks.
Frivry goes to take some news clothes and he goes to the chamber of his companions to begin this new day in a new environment.
Gran is able to pick up some fresh, good-quality fruit for a couple coppers before the group heads to the temple.
Services seem to be over. A middle-aged, kindly-seeming woman in vestments of Avandra is tending the altar. As you come in, she looks up. "Ah, the travelers. I'd heard you might be looking for me. How can I help you?"
"Hi! I'm Frivry from the Ruchedoréé village." Frivry says to the sister Linora when he accompanies Silo and the others that come to the temple.
Frivry looks at the landscape and the folks near the temple.
Sister Linora greets Frivry kindly, "A pleasure."
The walled town is quite small. The main section probably does not hold more than 2-300 residents. There is an inner gate, closed and guarded.
The square in front of Wrafton's is busy, with carts and wagons loaded mostly with produce, but also with other supplies it can be difficult for a small village to maintain.
"No, I do not believe so I am unsure what deity he worships but I would be surprised if it was Avandra." With a bit of hesitation Silo continues. "We were sent here by Marla a priestess of Pelor from the Great Church. She believes that this Kalarel has set up a secret death cult in this area and has sent us to destroy it. Any help you could provide us with would be greatly appreciated.
"No, I do not believe so I am unsure what deity he worships but I would be surprised if it was Avandra." With a bit of hesitation Silo continues. "We were sent here by Marla a priestess of Pelor from the Great Church. She believes that this Kalarel has set up a secret death cult in this area and has sent us to destroy it. Any help you could provide us with would be greatly appreciated.
Sister Linora looks surprised, but answers, "The villagers of Winterhaven are good people. You won't find any evil here, I can assure you of that. I'm sure that if a cult were really operating in the area, I would have heard about it. And I would have taken action in the name of Avandra -- of that, you can rest assured."
"Sister Linora? I am called Rhiannis." He nods to her in greeting. "We were also ambushed by kobolds on the road to Winterhaven. Do you know anything about other organized assaults on travellers or caravans?"
"Oh, no. The kobolds aren't only striking at targets along the road. They've begun to make forays into the distant farms, raiding livestock and attacking homes in the dark of night. I have appealed to Lord Padraig, but he has neither the resources nor the means to raise a force to fight back. I fear that this is only a harbinger of a disaster to come."
Bowing his head Silo says. "I am sure that the people of Winterhaven are good people but perhaps there is someone who is not as good as the others. Is there not any direction you could point us in to find Kalarel if he is indeed in this area? The kobolds perhaps has anyone in the village gained form there actions even inadvertently."
Bowing his head Silo says. "I am sure that the people of Winterhaven are good people but perhaps there is someone who is not as good as the others. Is there not any direction you could point us in to find Kalarel if he is indeed in this area? The kobolds perhaps has anyone in the village gained form there actions even inadvertently."
She bites her lip. "Would this Kalarel work with kobolds? Or goblins? There's an old ruined keep up in the foothills of the Cairngorms, northeast of town, but I've heard that goblins live around there now. Nobody from Winterhaven goes there. That's the only place I can think of where a group of ill intent could hide. Valthrun, our sage, might know more. He's made a study of the history of the area."
She is happy to direct you to Valthrun's tower if you're done here.
Finishing his drink, Dyrnwyn rises from the table to secure a room for the evening. Passing the elven woman, the Wizard pauses and smiles.
"I've just come from the road, sister," he explains with a genial quality. "I saw naught but the scourge of kobolds on the path. Do you seek someone?"
The Eladrin examines the carts and purveyors in the square, keen to note potions or exotic items that would enhance his arsenal and natural inquisitiveness. As the company makes for the chapel, Dyrnwyn thinks to return again once their interview is completed.
Dynwyn cringes at the word that kobolds have taken to raiding the outlying farms and domiciles. Perhaps we should deal with those vermin before the Death Cult, he thinks to himself, plotting revenge against the lizardwhelps.
"Agreed," Dyrnwyn nods to Rhiannis's assessment, motioning him aside.
"While I tend to believe Sister Linora's trust in her flock is sincere, I suspect that this well-intentioned faith in her followers is simply that ... well-intentioned," the Eladrin confesses in subdued tones.
"Unfortunately, I have no spell to determine whether subterfuge is at play here. We should be cautious ..."
Finishing his drink, Dyrnwyn rises from the table to secure a room for the evening. Passing the elven woman, the Wizard pauses and smiles.
"I've just come from the road, sister," he explains with a genial quality. "I saw naught but the scourge of kobolds on the path. Do you seek someone?"
She looks at Dynrwyn, then back at ther drink as she answers, sullenly. "Please leave me alone. I just came here to have a drink in peace. I've heard something about marauders on the road, but I haven't personally had any problems, so please leave me be. And I'm not your sister."
The Eladrin examines the carts and purveyors in the square, keen to note potions or exotic items that would enhance his arsenal and natural inquisitiveness. As the company makes for the chapel, Dyrnwyn thinks to return again once their interview is completed.
There is, however, also a permanent general store nearby, "Bairwin's Grand Shoppe."
She looks at Dynrwyn, then back at her drink as she answers, sullenly. "Please leave me alone. I just came here to have a drink in peace. I've heard something about marauders on the road, but I haven't personally had any problems, so please leave me be. And I'm not your sister."Finishing his drink, Dyrnwyn rises from the table to secure a room for the evening. Passing the elven woman, the Wizard pauses and smiles.
"I've just come from the road, sister," he explains with a genial quality. "I saw naught but the scourge of kobolds on the path. Do you seek someone?"
"I ask your forgiveness," Dyrnwyn says with a slight bow before leaving the common room.
There is, however, also a permanent general store nearby, "Bairwin's Grand Shoppe."
The Eladrin examines the carts and purveyors in the square, keen to note potions or exotic items that would enhance his arsenal and natural inquisitiveness. As the company makes for the chapel, Dyrnwyn thinks to return again once their interview is completed.
"Ah, interesting. Come in, come in. I am Valthrun, but I suppose you knew that. They -- the Haveners, I mean -- call me 'the Prescient,' you know, but I merely read a good deal."
Valthrun leads you up three flights of stairs, past empty, dusty rooms. The stairs open into a cozy den, with chairs piled high with books and papers. He starts busying himself trying to clear seats, but it is clear there is not enough room for the papers in areas that are not seats.
While he works, he begins, "The keep was built during the height of the old empire. Some sort of watchtower. I can't recall what for. Some think it was to guard against gnoll marauders, but I don't think that's right. Whatever, the keep outlived its usefulness. It's been a ruin since before I was born. Probably a goblin lair by this time. But you've whetted my curiosity. I'll look through my library."
Valthrun looks around the cluttered room helplessly. "The next time you see me, I will know more -- but maybe it should be at Wrafton's. I'm there most evenings."
"Ah, interesting. Come in, come in. I am Valthrun, but I suppose you knew that. They -- the Haveners, I mean -- call me 'the Prescient,' you know, but I merely read a good deal."
Valthrun leads you up three flights of stairs, past empty, dusty rooms. The stairs open into a cozy den, with chairs piled high with books and papers. He starts busying himself trying to clear seats, but it is clear there is not enough room for the papers in areas that are not seats.
While he works, he begins, "The keep was built during the height of the old empire. Some sort of watchtower. I can't recall what for. Some think it was to guard against gnoll marauders, but I don't think that's right. Whatever, the keep outlived its usefulness. It's been a ruin since before I was born. Probably a goblin lair by this time. But you've whetted my curiosity. I'll look through my library."
Valthrun looks around the cluttered room helplessly. "The next time you see me, I will know more -- but maybe it should be at Wrafton's. I'm there most evenings."
"Wrafton's than", Gran starts to rise. "Tell me Valthrun have you heard of a person by the name of Kalarel? You see, he's the reason I ask about the keep."
"We were sent here by a priestess of the Great Church. Witnesses saw a group of cultists, lead by Kalarel, heading here a year ago. The priestess is concerned that they are in the area, and performing foul rites", Gray gives stretches slightly. "So it is up to my friends and myself to search the area."
"We were sent here by a priestess of the Great Church. Witnesses saw a group of cultists, lead by Kalarel, heading here a year ago. The priestess is concerned that they are in the area, and performing foul rites", Gray gives stretches slightly. "So it is up to my friends and myself to search the area."
Valthrun pushes his spectacles up on his nose and peers at Gran. "A Pelorite? Very strange. There hasn't been an honest-to-goodness evil cult in or around Winterhaven in more than a hundred years. Someone, I fear, is trying to lead your preistess astray."
"Still this rejection of the cult's existence," the Wizard thinks, furrowing his high brow.
Dyrnwyn is visibly intrigued by the vast, yet curiously chaotic, collection of tomes and parchment and struggles to make note of the myriad writings.
"Valthrun, please pardon my inquisitiveness," the Eladrin apologizes. "It is merely an aspect of my nature. Are you, as am I, a mage, sir?"
"I would dearly love to peruse you spellbooks and lore, if such relics are available," he asks with reverence, however fawning its appearance.
"Valthrun, please pardon my inquisitiveness," the Eladrin apologizes. "It is merely an aspect of my nature. Are you, as am I, a mage, sir?"
"I would dearly love to peruse you spellbooks and lore, if such relics are available," he asks with reverence, however fawning its appearance.
Valthrun looks startled. "A mage? Oh, no, but you flatter me. Merely a scholar. I cannot help with spellbooks, but I am always glad to meet a man of learning."
He observes Dyrnwyn peering at the books. "What is your specialty?"
Dyrnwyn:
Valthrun looks around the cluttered room helplessly. "The next time you see me, I will know more -- but maybe it should be at Wrafton's. I'm there most evenings."
"Or perhaps we might know more, I'm beginning to believe that if this cult dose exist no one in the town knows of it so perhaps we should go out to this keep and see if we can find clues out there perhaps we could interrogates on of the goblins. If you could give us directions to the keep it would be much appreciated." Says Silo as much to Valthrun." Says Silo as much to his comrades as to Valthrun.
"Or perhaps we might know more, I'm beginning to believe that if this cult dose exist no one in the town knows of it so perhaps we should go out to this keep and see if we can find clues out there perhaps we could interrogates on of the goblins. If you could give us directions to the keep it would be much appreciated." Says Silo as much to Valthrun." Says Silo as much to his comrades as to Valthrun.
Valthrun gives directions -- it is about two days' journey, most of the distance east out the King's Road, but most of the time on an abandoned track cutting north to the Cairngorms.
Dyrnwyn glides a finger along the spine of an aged tome of an historical nature and turns to Valthrun.
"Practically speaking, my specialty is the arcane arts," he offers in a respectful tone, appreciative of the scholar's interests. "However, I do dabble in History and the Natural world. More of a hobby than a vocation, I confess."
"I would hope that, once our investigations are at an end, I might visit with you again to add to my own research."
"Silo, I must say that I am in agreement with you," the Eladrin says to his companion. "And the sooner we embark, the better. Will we require any further gear?" he asks.
"And Valthrun, are there any ... hindrances that you might make us aware of"
Dyrnwyn strikes out on the road, leaning casually on his staff and watching the skies for changing weather patterns. Turning his eyes toward the land about him, the Eladrin seeks out the flora and fauna of the unchartered, to his experience, region.
"Why do you suppose that these villagers, from all stations of life, seem either ignorant or in denial of the Death Cult we were sent to investigate?" Dyrnwyn asks his companions, as he treads along.
"Perhaps, we have been mislead..." he offers.
"But to what end?"