"Ah, I am...uh, sorry to have interrupted your privacy. I am Valtiro." "Well met and well mannered, lady. I can almost certainly assure you we have not met, but I was hoping that I could talk with you for a time. At some later time, of course, when you are not so-"
"Uh, is everything alright in there?"
~the dagger disappears back into its sheath and the balls vanish is a puff~
"Belch"
Kael is a bit nervous but goes in the room. It looks like he's expecting something.
~stands very quietly by the door~
"How might we serve?"
I step quietly back from the door
"This is... not mine to disturb. I do not know the bereaved as you do. I will wait in the tavern." I turn and start to head back downstairs. "Sorry for your loss."
"If there is someone in need of rescue, my Lady, I humbly request leave to be among those sent to help," Merian says at once. She refuses to look at Granger, but her offer is nonetheless quite clearly sincere - even eager.
Valtiro,
Idiah takes your hand before you have a chance to go downstairs, and whispers in your ear.
"This sounds like a serious matter, but if you can't stay, and I have the time, I will talk to you later."
Merian,
"I think it's agreed then, we will help. Provide us with the details Lady, and I assure you, we'll do our best to retrieve Quintus' apprentice. If anyone has an objection, feel free to excuse yourself." Aldan looks to the rest of the group with a look of seriousness, waiting for someone to speak up.
~looks at his own feet and stands stock still~
"But the mage's concerns are not why thou asked us here. Thou mentioned a proposition, and didst so afore His Eminence came to thee with these, his troubles."
Merian,
Undercommon:
~shuffles nervously, and looks around the room~
Idiah enters and looks around the room, noting that the wizard's staff lays against the wall. Good. If he gets upset again I wouldn't want him using that thing, slinging spells at us!
I consider Idiah's words. After a brief pause, I nod, and follow the group into the room.
~looks carefully at Valtiro as he enters the room~
"Milady is there anything that we can do?"
|
~Lady Chauntessa gets up and then makes sure that Quintus is sitting comfortably. She then motions for Tess to help her~ Please have a seat everyone. I have a proposition for you. As you can see, this town has some problems. I am unable to do much because I am a public figure and watched. Anything I would attempt to do would be either countered or negated. Quintus is in a similar situation. In his case, his age is against him. ~Lady Chauntessa gets some drinks and snacks~ Would anyone want something to drink? ~she pours something strong in a cup, obviously meant for Quintus~
Since my efforts would be severly weakened or negated, that means that I must look for outside help. You all are good people. ~wry smile~ I have obseved you and what I have seen I have liked.
"Prithee, say on."
|
|
~Lady Chauntessa smiles at Brother Seamus~ I think that you all would stand a good chance on helping us out with this little problem that we are facing. However, I must warn you that Castle Whitrock and the surronding area are dangerous! You must use caution. But, all dangers have a way to be either defeated or avoided. In this case, some of the dangers are rooted in the history of Castle Whiterock. ~Tess starts to distribute some drinks and Lady Chauntessa sits down in another chair~ I am sorry if history bores you, but in this case, a little bit of knowledge may save your lives or help you out some.
"Please bore me."
~I say with a smile
and pass on the offered drink
Merian listens with a speculative air.
|
|
~Lady Chauntessa smiles at Priapus~ Ok. I will "bore" you some. ~she gets comfortable and motions for Tess to have a seat too~
Originally, the area that Castle Whiterock now is in was once a monastary known as Clynnoise. The monks who lived there were known as the Order of the Dawning Sun. They were dedicated to preserving knowledge in all its forms. Unfortunatly, the monastary was sacked many times. Each time the monks managed to survive and revive the order. Unfortunatly, one time they failed. A large force of orcs known as the Broken Tusk tribe managed to defeat all the monks and destroy most of the monastary.
Idiah, seated, sips at the drink Tess hands to her and listens to Lady Chauntessa. She doesn't meant to interrupt, but blurts out,
"Orcs? Why would anyone oppose driving them off?"
|
|
Idiah, seated, sips at the drink Tess hands to her and listens to Lady Chauntessa. She doesn't meant to interrupt, but blurts out,
"Orcs? Why would anyone oppose driving them off?"
Idiah,
~Lady Chauntessa smiles~ Eventually, they were. The native people called for some help of Dwarves and they managed to drive the orcs out. Some of the dwarves stayed and formed the Clockwork Academy and a village named Stoneham. Unfortunatly, the Orcs of the Broken Tusk retunred and this time with allies of their own. Rogue clud giants. The orcs resetled the site and built a castle made out of the white stone that is so common in this area on the site where the monastary once was.
|
|
About 50 years later, a party of adventurers called the Company of the Black Osprey clear out the castle and the lower dungeons, defeating the Drow. They discover some orc gradditi mentioning "whiit rok" and dub their new home Castle Whiterock because of that and the white rock material that it was build out of.
With the area cleared of the orcs, giants and drow, the village of Stoneham is renamed Cillamar in honor of the first mayor, a wise and kind person.
Eventually, the members of the Company of the Black Osprey die or disapear and Castle Whiterock falls into disuse.
Eventually, the castle is used for a military outpost for a while, but later it is sold to some dwarves who were looking for mithril. However, with no mithril to be found, the dwarves went out of buisness and left the area.
|
|
Around 350 years ago, there was an increase in volcanic activity in this area around Castle Whiterock.
This increase in volcanic activity brings the red dragon Benthosruthsa to the area. He sets up his lair below Castle Whiterock and he raids the area over the course of the next 300 years.
|
|
~Lady Chauntessa stares into her drink for a minute or so before she starts to speak again~ The red dragon has not roused himself from his lair in about a year or so. Unfortantly, the dragon is just one of my worries. The other is that people from the surrounding area have been disapearing lately. I have tried to investigate the disapearances to no avail. However, we have paid a high price for a clue to what has happened to the people abducted. ~Quintus stiffles a cry as Lady Chauntessa speaks those words~
|
|
~Lady Chauntessa sets her cup aside and gently picks up the cat~ This is Lyssa's familiar, Avros. Lyssa nd her Master Davris were ambused. Davris died trying to proted Lyssa. Lyssa was then captured... ~Tess gasps and Quintus starts to softly cry~ ...and this scap escaped and came back here to try and get some help. The local Druid was able to talk to Avros and he told his tale. What we need is for someone to scout out the area and rescue Lyssa, and any other captives that are there, if at all possible. I hate to ask you to go into harms way, but we have no choice. Would you all be willing to help us out? Avros will do his best to lead you to Lyssa, but their link only operates fully at short distances. Less than 50 feet.
"Stalactite and stalagmite. Two things grown into one, Kael.
"Good lady, thou didst say that, wert thou and Quintus to attempt this rescue yourselves, you would be checked and stymied. By whom? Who favors this string?
And, might I ask, what have these assaults and kidnappings to do with the orcs, the drow, the dragon? Slavers are one matter; a blood-red drake in his full fury is another."
To Quintus, "Whereabouts did this attack take place?"
** spoiler omitted **
Merian suddenly gasps quietly. "The dreams...!" she whispers to herself.
"My lady," she says louder, "I have aleady volunteered to help in any way I can. I begin to think I may even have been sent to you by the Inheritor for the purpose."
"That is true."
"I am with my friend and I want to help too."
I nod at Kael. Bare is the brotherless back.
I wait patiently for Lady Chauntessa to answer my other question, and for Quintus to answer the one I posed to him.
Actually, an idea occurs to me.
"Good lady, honored mage, have ye heard of a man named 'Ankiel'?"
I push through from where I was leaning outside the door, listening.
"Excuse me Lady, I don't know much of these people, but what I do know I am hopeful about, and I would rather aid a worthy cause than wander idle. I apologize for listening in, and I ask that I be allowed to join you in your efforts to help your community. My name is Valtiro."
I drop to a gentle kneel.
~Raises one eyebrow and watches intently.~
Bump