A Little Learning - Rune Stones/Savage Blight part 3 (Inactive)

Game Master Rev Rosey

Namarth

Basic map for orienteering. The majority of the University is in the centre, but there are enclaves all over the town. Otherwise the residential areas mingle freely with shops of all kinds. On the whole the senior staff members live in their colleges, with students housed in separate, but adjacent buildings.

You will be arriving from the north.

Arianwyn grins as the party ride in and seems to revel in being back in a city rather than Riggarth.

Unless informed otherwise, you've each spent 10gp on your traveling accommodation. Please deduct from your profiles.

Namarth's streets are certainly an enormous contrast to Riggarth. In place of the rugged practicality of your home base, Namarth offers a cornucopia of architectural styles. Some of this is dictated by the age of the town.

Buildings dating back hundreds of years jostle next to the latest styles in brickwork and fantastic confections of glass and wood, seemingly held together by magic. The sheer flamboyance works to combine it into a cohesive whole.

Overwhelmingly, this is a city of possibilities and confidence. Nothing is off limits, no thought is banned. The predominantly young population of this student paradise is balanced by the wealth of knowledge and experience in the merchants, scholars and entertainers who flock to savour and contribute to the unique ambiance.

In order to sample these delights to the full, you will have to find somewhere to stay. Hroaldr was vague on the subject, but looking around as you ride down the street, there will be no shortage of choices. To your right you see the ancient inn, "The Scholar's Plume" and to the left the serene elegance of "The Way with Words."

There are other options of course, but I thought you'd like somewhere to start. Both are expensive and will cost you 3gp per night, although that figure will include stabling for your horses. Meals are not included. No buffet breakfast here.

For potion contributions, I was thinking 50, but could do 100 if needed no problem. Rev, how are people likely to react to a gnoll in the city?

Whiteclaw would have preferred to wait longer, if for no other reason then to let her fur regrow, but she's ready to go when the others are. However, she leaves the Dragon Egg in the care of the druids, not wanting to bring it anywhere near an arcane academy.

Whiteclaw:

"Ah, the 'Way with Words.' Shall we?"

Whiteclaw will certainly attract attention, but most the the citizens will be too busy showing how open-minded and cosmopolitan they are to be obviously negative. In the surrounding farmland you can expect the fear that any seven foot gnoll would cause.

Anyone else chipping in for potion creation? Your mage has a long, long memory.

Day 6

The outward serentiy of The Way with Words is slightly offset by the bustle of the interior. A circular desk dominates an atrium which extends upwards to the full height of the building, allowing a flood of natural light to enter. Night falls a little later than you've become acccustomed to in the far north and as the sky turns gradually to a darker blue, lights come on from above.

A flurry of serving staff whisk around the many smaller tables, bringing food and drink to the patrons and everywhere you hear the buzz of lively and sometimes argumentative conversation. The pretty dwarf at the desk looks up as you enter. "Can I help?"

I can chip in as well, how much is needed?

Gobi stands behind the others and peers out around his friends to glance at the dwarf before tucking back into cover.

Noticing Gobi's furtive appraisal, the dwarven girl smiles slightly at him. Unconsciously, she shifts her blond plaits into a more becoming position and waits for someone to speak to her.

Vel's only got a limited amount of ingredients at the moment, but if you all chip into a communal kitty for them, she can make stuff as you need it. It's up to you how much you want to keep on hand.

I think Seraphiel is broke.

I think Seraphiel is broke.

Seraphiel

For Rev

Seraphiel takes the initiative and tells the girl that, "Our party needs shelter and refreshment for the night, may be more. The horses stabling and oats, of course."

"And that fine gentledwarf over there," pointing to Gobi, "probably needs some ale to wash down the dust of the road."

Rent.

Rev

Arianwyn

All of you

Seraphiel

Vel, Rev

Whiteclaw does her best during our travels too not look that threatening - though she likely doesn't pull it off too well, given her new axe, her barbarianistic hide armor look, and the fact she's a gnoll. But, she does try!

I so want WotC to get the Character Viewer online. I *know* how I see Whiteclaw in my head, and want to be able to get a visualization done, or at least something close.

One warhorse is mine. Sweet. I'm getting some gnoll minis soon, I will have to try a Whiteclaw conversion.

Day 6

The dwarven girl smiles up at Seraphiel. "Of course sir. How many rooms would you be wanting? I should just warn you that we'll be filling up at the end of the week. The colleges start their Changetime Festivals, as you probably know."

All:

Rev:

Vel

Heh, I already took off all of Whiteclaw's 50 go donation and am much too lazy to add it back on, so consider it an investment in future materials. Really, I don't see her as being a cash intensive character, so I should be able to contribute often to party needs.

Gobi looks down at his clothing dusting it off quickly, he smiles up a big embarrassed grin. "Some of us might like separate rooms, but if you've got cots that we can bring in I'm sure we could all bunk together as to save you some rooms for your business."

"Oh no sir." she blushes slightly. "I didn't mean that. It's just that if you wanted to stay longer, it would be a good idea to book now."

Seven rooms seem indicated. Tell me if any of you want to share.

"I'm Roswitha and if I can do anything to make your stay comfortable, you let me know. There's an open poetry reading tonight, down here in the Atrium."

The rooms are extremely comfortable and each has an adjoining bathroom. The evening is yours to spend as you want and you can lay your plans for the coming day in comfort.

Specifically, you need to deliver the copies of the Rune Stones to Hroaldr's friend Pirot, who lives in the Arcane Tower at the University.

Arianwyn smiles, "Indeed? I shall endeavour to partake of its delights."

He's so going to the poetry evening, even more so if he gets to speak.

Roswitha explains that there is guest poet who will read some of their work and open a discussion on it. After that, the audience are invited to share their own poetry if they wish.

"It can get a bit heated. Last month I had to call the Watch in," she adds warningly.

"Splendid!" the eladrin exclaims. His eyes light up.

"Splendid!" the eladrin exclaims. His eyes light up.

And Vel's eyes roll. "Just have someone show me my room, please."

Reason asks if he might examine the copies before we turn them over.

Kia is temporarily unavailable, I'll run her if needs be.

Kia exchanges a resigned glance with Vel at Arianwyn's enthusiasm for an evening of poetry, sighs slightly and goes to her room, all too aware that any comment is likely to spur him on further.

Arianwyn makes a mock courting face, and says to Vel "Nishka si yenta wux re hefoc vi erthnetora kear?"

Draconic

Washed and newly fragrant, Arianwyn duly descends the stairs at the appointed hour and finds that the Atrium has been transformed into a small theatre.

Comfortable chairs are placed in rows facing a small table set on a particularly beautiful carpet. The guests mingle, chatting lightly while they wait for the guest speaker to arrive.

Roswitha smiles at Arianwyn as he passes. "I hope you enjoy your evening sir. I'm told tonight's poet writes lyric verse. He's very popular in the city at the moment. Making quite a name for himself they tell me."

Feel free to join Arianwyn at the culture-fest if any of you would like to.

"Indeed?" Arianwyn replies, "This will be most entertaining, in any respect."

Gobi will be joining Arianwyn, if for nothing more than to see Roswitha.

Whiteclaw goes, too, hoping to see a poet fight!

Arianwyn makes a mock courting face, and says to Vel "Nishka si yenta wux re hefoc vi erthnetora kear?"

Draconic

** spoiler omitted **

Vel does not appear to hear this.

Seraphiel will be joining Gobi and Arianwyn after he settles in.

Day 6 - evening

Within a few minutes, the anticipatory chatter dies down as a striking pair enter the atrium through the glazed doors. Preceded by a discreetly muscular footman, a blonde human carrying a slim volume walks directly to the table and composes himself. There is an air of feverish intensity about him, as though he can barely contain his own life force. Not conventionally handsome, he nonetheless compels attention and the others in the room seem suddenly colourless. He is astonishing enough, but the woman who follows him truly takes the breath away.

Dark and voluptuous, her height and presence would draw every eye in any company. Her beauty, though making an immediate impact, is not the only reason every eye follows her. Narissa Sul-Malla is as renowned for her sparkling wit and great learning almost as much as her more obvious skills, as Arianwyn has cause to know.

Seating herself in the front row of chairs, she smiles warmly at the assembled company. "Riordan and I beg your pardon for our tardiness and welcome the opportunity you offer us." A murmur of appreciation breaks out and the company seat themselves or stand clustered, waiting for the poet to speak.

There is no preamble. Riordan simply drops his book on the table, looks at Narissa and speaks.

You who hear the sound, in scattered rhymes,
of those sighs on which I fed my heart,
in my first vagrant youthfulness,
when I was partly other than I am,

and shame is the fruit of my vanities,
and remorse, and the clearest knowledge
of how the world's delight is a brief dream.

Gobi looks a little unsure as to whether or not he should clap. He looks around to find someone else on the verge of making a response to the poetry in order to follow suit. For Gobi, he is dressed rather oddly. For the rest of the room, He is wearing day-to-day clothing; brown pants, a white shirt, and brown vest with yellow accents. All and all it is not the best look but, It is a rare opportunity for him to be able to do so. His hair is quaffed and he is doing his best to look like he could fit in to this lifestyle.

Rev

Should I click my fingers? "Yeah, groovy, cat."

Rev** spoiler omitted **

Reason

A smattering of applause breaks out as Riordan finishes his poem. He bows very slightly in acknowledgment and sends a questioning glance at Narissa, as though asking if he should continue.

Roswitha somehow appears at Gobi's side. "Do you understand it?" she whispers quietly to him.

Arianwyn applauds, although his eyes rarely leave Narissa.

Narissa gently inclines her head to Riordan and he speaks again, always watching the lady.

There is a garden in her face
Where roses and white lilies blow;
A heavenly paradise is that place,
Wherein all pleasant fruits do grow;
There cherries grow that none may buy,
Till Cherry-Ripe themselves do cry.

She looks quietly around the room, watching for reactions to Riordan's verse. As she sees Arianwyn, a smile crosses her face, but her eye moves on, intent for now on other things.

Gobi jumps a bit upon the appearance of Roswitha. "Oh um, Well what he's saying is.. well no I don't really understand it to be perfectly honest." Gobi looks embarrassed and shrugs as he whispers this back to Roswitha

Gobi jumps a bit upon the appearance of Roswitha. "Oh um, Well what he's saying is.. well no I don't really understand it to be perfectly honest." Gobi looks embarrassed and shrugs as he whispers this back to Roswitha

"Then I'm not the only one. It's a bit high-brow for me to be honest, but the patrons like it. That's a nice vest," she adds apropos of nothing in particular.

"Then I'm not the only one. It's a bit high-brow for me to be honest, but the patrons like it. That's a nice vest," she adds apropos of nothing in particular.

"Do you just come to these events because you work here then? what's it like living in this town? I imagine it must be great."He looks down at his vest " Oh thank you, it belonged to my pop. I don't get much of a chance to wear it."

"Do you just come to these events because you work here then? what's it like living in this town? I imagine it must be great."He looks down at his vest " Oh thank you, it belonged to my pop. I don't get much of a chance to wear it."

"Namarth? I've never lived anywhere else. My father is the part owner of this place - he deals with all the practical side and he wants me to take it over when he retires. It's nice to have the future planned I suppose." She sounds little wistful.

"Maybe when you run this place you can shoo off some of the high-brows." gobi quietly chuckles. " I know what its like to have a dad with plans for ya, what is it you want to do? having a secure life is good but doing what you want is more fun." he whispers

Roswitha smiles at Gobi's conspiratorial tone, then blushes herself.

"I know it sounds really stupid coming from a city-bred dwarf, but I want to be a weaponsmith. I'd give anyt ... well, a lot anyway ... to get into a smithy and work with metal. I've always wanted to do that."

She pauses and blushes even deeper. "I never told anybody that before."

Changing the subject, she looks at Whiteclaw, Seraphiel and Arianwyn. "Have you known each other long? You're quite an unusual group, even for Namarth."