The hotter days have completely gone as Vellama (Last Harvest) begins. The fields of the tobacco as well as all the produce have reached their peak, and working in the fields have become necessary for those who wish to survive the long cold winters Celestryia produce. Most of the livestock are plump and have already begun to grow their winter coats. It is the time of preparation for the town of Tykren, as it approaches its’ Fall Festival.
The town’s folk have worked very hard in the fields and shops. Blades have grown dull, boots and gloves need repair, and shops are beginning to burst with supplies. The streets are filling by the hour with travelers from distant villages, towns, and cities. The inns are filling up fast making harder on those seeking comfortable beds. Decorations have been placed all over the streets, shop doorways, inside the taverns and inns. The Fall Festival begins on the morrow and everyone is excited to see their hard work pay off.
It is Thulsday as the sun begins to set on the day before the Festival. It has been a beautiful day and the sun is gracing everyone’s presence with a glorious array of amber hues mixed with streaks of gold off the horizon. The reflective surface of the lake doubles the effect and the gentle wind rolls through the town bringing with it the crisp clean air of Lake Zale.
About this hour a group of traveling merchants and entertainers begin to pull into camp. They come every year, and while they set up their tents up and prepare for tomorrows early morning shoppers. Their story teller begins his campfire.
The festival is always a good time for Pollyana. The crowds of new people give her new opportunities. She watches the crowds until she spots a decent mark, then goes in for the ol'bump and grab. Wow that was almost too easy She thinks to herself smiling.
As the caravan pulls into Tykren proper, one could notice behind the caravan, a simple wagon, no where near as decorated as the others, has taken the rear of the line of wagons and carts. Sitting in the driver seat, sits a handsome young man, wearing a well-made suit of scalemail armor, driving a cart with it's contents covered tightly by a tarp. Waiting for the wagons ahead of him to safely park, Parnell Ludington, paladin of Ceana, takes a moment to ponder the harrowing experience he had on his way to Tykren from his home in Asmerade.
Strange. It was strange. Hmm. Perhaps I shall council the High Priest of the Order here in Tykren, if he has time after the delivery. I'm sure he's quiet busy.
After the way is made clear, the young human flicks the reins, urging his two donkeys to move the cart forward, toward Tykren's tallest building, The Order of the Star Church of Ceana.
A man in colorful fancy dress, several pieces of jewelry, and a posh feathered hat, stands outside of a once empty now overly stocked building. The man is barking orders irritably at a couple of younger looking humans, "NO! YOU Idiot! I told you it goes on the Right Side! Can't you flea ridden, no good, son of a whore, Follow the Simplest Directions!" He lifts his hand with a slender cane and goes to bring it down upon the boy. The boy obviously from the poorer side of a neighborhood.
Just then he is bumped into...which only causes him to be more irritable.
Liek watches the spectable with the boy. I came hear looking for a corrupt guard, not to watch fools being fools.
He dusts himself off, his chain shirt rustling under his brown overcoat. The halfling looks around for suspicious activity, hoping to solve yet another case.
Meanwhile, outside of the Church of Ceanna, a large protection detail is being well underway. There are four guards stationed just outside the large reinforced gate. One Large white pavilion has been constructed just on the other side of the stone wall inside the courtyard opposite of the large stone fountain. Decorations of elegance depicting the Order of the Star, are on display along the stone walls, and hanging high above along the second floor of the Cathedral building.
The people there seem to be growing worried and irritable at the lateness of an order they had placed from Asmerade. A light skinned woman of slender body, black hair tied in a tight bun, small narrow glasses, and dark eyes; dressed in garb of higher ranking importance for the Order of the Star steps outside the gate for the fifth time in the last ten minutes to see and ask if it has arrived.
She looks to the sky to estimate the time, and then looks up the main highway, her fingers holding tight to a clipboard as she chews on her lower lip. Where in the blazes is it? If the order doesn't arrive soon we will never set up in time! She murmurs to herself. She begins to pace.
Nothing so far, the halfling will mumble to himself. He looks back and forth between the woman pacing around and man bullying the kids. I could be a hero to a boy, or get information about a case from someone with a high ranking in a honorable order.
Sighing, he will turn and walk toward the woman in the Order of the Star.
Hello ma'm. I am Detective Liek. I am currently investigating a bunch of items that have been stolen from merchants entering the city. He pauses, realizing what he implied. Don't worry you aren't a suspect. But by your rank, I figured it was best to ask you some questions. If anyone would have heard anything I would think it would be someone as noble as yourself.
He pauses again, this time thinking of what to say. DO you know of anything that is missing? Or have you heard any rumors that could help? I have been chasing a lead of a corrupt guard, but I don't know if it is true or not. So umm if you hear of anything missing, something coming from out of the city, please let me know. It could help with the case, and bring about a lessening of criminal activity.
Pyrrhus arrived at the Giant's Ironworks to find Tyra, his 'apprentice' waiting for him to close the shop so she could go home. He asked her if she had any news and if everything was alright before sending her home and closing the shop. She was a little strange, as if hiding something, but Tyra was like this and Pyrrhus thought little about the matter.
He spent the last hour after a couple merchants, buying everything he needed for his famous brews and almost the whole day preparing his also famous salumi and sausages. It was a long day but the winter would eventually come and Pyrrhus was always a man of caution.
As he stepped into the his kitchen he saw it... or, in a better word, he didn't saw them: many of his precious sausages were missing. Without thinking twice, Pyrrhus dropped everything he bought into the table and bolted outside.
Pyrrhus moved around the crowded street, searching for his 'former-aprentice' in the see of halflings. One of the advantages of being 7 ft. tall, especially in a Halfling city, is that he could see pretty far and everyone used to move away from you... probably afraid of being overrun.
Podlow bumps into the man haranguing the young people and issues a sub-par apology as he turns at him with his cane held high.
"Ah ah," Podlow says with a grin. He holds one hand out towards the man as if to say stop and one hand over his shoulder on the pommel of his sword.
"No violence in the streets my friend."
Podlow winks at the young men who are now smirking and walks away from the frustrated man dressed in fancy clothing.
Podlow plants himself on a tree stump off the street a bit and eats an apple he bought on his way into town.
He grins widely. "Festivals," he says to himself.
Where in the blazes is it? If the order doesn't arrive soon we will never set up in time! She murmurs to herself. She begins to pace.
Parnell Ludington pulls on the reins to stop the draft donkeys about 10 ft. from The Church of Ceana's iron gate.
"Hello", shouts the young human from the driver's seat. "I bring a delivery from Asmerade! Please let me pass!"
Happy with her haul, Pollyana discards the purse and keeps the coin. Pollyana decides to walk around and have a look at the festival, but she is too street savy to drop her guard. He hears screaming about a thief, but knows it couldn't be her she was too careful and her mark probably didn't even know it was missing yet. Still she keeps an eye out for this thief. Can't have sloppy amateurs ruining her festival season.
Sierra looked around in awe, as the wagon she hitched a ride with, came into the city of Tykren. She was very excited about being here, away from her family's tavern and inn back in Osmered. The festival was a lot more crowded than she thought it would be.
Well, father, look at me now. Wonder how long it took you to notice I wasn't around? She chuckles to herself. Oh well, no since thinking about home now.
Sierra slips off the wagon, since it was going so slow, and starts walking towards the Church. The young girl was walking past the Giant's Ironworks, when this, no other word for it, giant rushed outside and started yelling about some girl stealing something. If he was the owner, Sierra could understand well where that name came from.
One would have to have a very good reason for stealing from a man like that. I should stop and see if I could help him find what was stolen but I'd rather just go straight to the church.
Once at the church, staring in wonderment is about all she could do. The building, heck, even the gate, was so much more than what Sierra expected. Not that she knew what to expect, excatly. It wasn't often that her mother got to talk about the Church of Ceanna.
The woman pacing in front of the church gates pauses and look down to Liek, "Oh hello there?" She looks at him puzzling not yet certain of what he could have been referencing not realizing that once again she spoke allowed. As one of her quirks she tends to speak allowed when she believes she only thinking the words.
"Things missing you say? Well that is interesting, yes yes, well of course we have heard of things but then again who isn't missing things, we all miss things don't we?" The woman begins to ramble and evading a direct answer to any sort of question.
She looks up thrilled when she sees a man call out, "I bring a delivery from Asmerade! Please let me pass!"
"Oh Yes Finally!" She begins to wave down the man frantically wanting to draw his attention. She quickly points to a path around back for him to take his cargo for drop off. She looks back to Liek, "Good sir, many answers you seek you will find tomorrow, when we open the gates to the public!"
Sierra arrives just in time to observe all the transactions between the woman, Liek, and even the driver Parnell who she hitched a ride with.
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A large pause happened in the masses as a giant of a man lumbers his way out of the Giant's Ironwork shop and begins to bellow over the crowd. Even the stuffy pompous man who was ready to wallop the halfling attempting to stop him from caning his meager hired help had to look over his shoulder to see the Giant. Through the pause a Small halfling girl, one that was recognized as TYRA, was weaving through the people with a flying string of sausages tailing under her arms. The scene itself causes many of those who lived in Tykren to burst out into laughter, for once more little Tyra pulled one over on "Big Red"
She just makes it past Pollyana before making a turn heading towards Podlow stump, most of the crowd lost track of her in her quick spirited flee with her prized meats.
At this hour the sun has fallen to barely a crisp above the horizon. As the hour wanes a small caravan of people arrive along the main road west of town. The sound of drums beating, then tambourines begin to clamor, and finally lutes and harps chime in. Along with the wonderful sounds of the lively fun melody comes exotic women dancers who skin has been touched by the sun, dressed in loose fitted clothing made of silk and sheer fabric. As they dance little bells chime in perfect rhythm with their movements, some with feathered fans, others with long pieces of fabric to aid in their foreign dance.
Along with them, a few people with tricks of juggling fire torches, some blowing fire into the night air, and two small twin boys, able to do acrobatics in ways most people could never bend. The show heads into the town, stops briefly in front of the Giant's Ironwork, turns south between the buildings into the open grassy area. Once there the show begins to simmer down as the Caravan beings to unpack leaving a few of its people to continue their music and dance as a distraction to them setting up camp.
Amazingly enough, within minutes a roaring bond fire standing five feet in diameter and two feet tall was ablaze. Small tree stumps, several flat benches, even large stone have surrounded the fire.
As the caravan continues its unpacking; a single old man whose long hair long turned snow white, having small grey blue eyes, a crooked nose, and looking over all well beyond his years. He carries with him a walking stick which looks as wrinkled as he with many gnarled knots, he is dressed in dark red and brown patchy robes, and topped with a turban of red with golden trim. The old man stands near the fire watching as the crowd that lingers in the streets begin to take their seats before the fire.
A story is about to begin.....
Evading the question. I will be back to talk to her later. For now...
The cry of their rings in Lieks ears, and he takes off towards the source of the Ruckus.
As the sun goes down, Tipene starts getting ready. Tonight, work will be hard at the . It will be full of visitors, coming for tomorrows' Fall Festival.
-I'm going to do overtime tonight, but it'll hopefully pay off. I need to save some more if I ever want to leave.
He finally sets off for work and, while on his way, he feels the atmosphere.
-There goes one with some stolen sausages... another counting his penny, probably cutpursed... nah, I hate when the place is that crowded.
When he arrives at the , he greets everyone and braces himself for a long evening in company of drunks and ne'er-do-wells.
Well she has spirit I'll give her that Pollyana thinks to herself seeing the Halfling running with the sausages.
Pollyana joins the others for the story. She isn't greedy, pulling one job a day keeps her fed and the authorities from locking down to hard. She decides the best vantage to hear and see the storyteller is to climb a nearby tree.
After helping to unload the training gear from Asmerade, Parnell parked the empty cart behind the church several dozen feet from it's northeastern corner.
Turning to his fair-haired travel companion, Parnell comments, "Well, I think I'll be sleeping out here with the cart tonight. I'm guessing most inns full at this time."
Looking in the distance through the twilight, the young paladin points to the distant bonfire.
"Sierra, shall we walk over to the fires and get the road chills off ourselves?"
Walking along the trade routes, politely declining the offer of a ride on multiple occasions, Zel contemplates his current situation. What is wrong with these people...why can not a man walk with out being pestered. Arriving a few days before the festival he will take some time to visit his older brother and his family. how many children does that step daughter of his have now...4 or is 5..I can not keep track of that litter anymore
He will informed the guards at the gate that he is here to visit his brother Eugenicus and his wife Panga.
He visits the merchants several times trying to find something new that he has not studied. A scroll, a book, maybe even a page.
He will mumble to himself
I hope I can find something of value before the crowds show up.
The old man straightens himself, adjusting his robe slightly, and clears his throat with a gruffled cough. He moves his right hand in a waving motion towards the fires as they flare up into blue hues, and he begins without ever speaking his name.
“When time began…there was darkness, a pitch of black with no light.” With that the fire seemed to vanish and the moons and the stars disappeared in a second, “But it did not stay this way, for that which has been forgotten spoke. “ The old man throws dust into the pit and crackling of a fire once more begins to swell, and the moon and the stars are once more shining in the night’s sky. “And with the breath of life spread richly into the heavens and the world as we have forgotten came into being. In that moment, Magic thrived and weaved into the reality that is.” As he speaks the fire dances and swirls into two pillars of red and blue which twist together like two giant snakes. “More than just man was given life, and creatures great and small roamed this world in a way we can no longer imagine. Life was good, and stories of legend were made by those who lived in that time.”
The old man calms the fires, and it crackles and dances slowly as if waiting for its next attraction, “But joyful times apparently are not meant to last forever. And that which breathed life onto this world met with a tragic fate, and darkness blanketed and began to destroy all that was.” The man pauses and he looks up into the night sky, viewing a moon which is broken. “The seas became as violent as we know them today, with unpassable waters. And far off lands disappeared from sight. We have lived upon this small piece of dirt barely surviving ever sense. Whatever history this world once held, those that once lived upon this world in times long past we have all seemed to have forgotten. We have forgotten that once, a long time ago, things were different…and Magic was Alive.”
With that the fire flares up once again into a golden hue and a giant beast covered in scales, with a long tail, four strong legs with several daggers for sharp talons’, long neck and elongated snout with smoke rising from two holes for a nose, a mouth filled with pointed teeth, eyes as big as small saucer plates, and wings which appear to be leather spread wide. It opens it gapping maw into a silent roar, and shoots into the air and explodes over head into orange sparks.
As the crowd looks on in a mix of fear and delight at the spectacle; a few look for the storyteller who has vanished without a trace.
Several onlookers cheer and roar at the event they were able to see this night. Many speak of it between each other with amazement. There are several who choose to rise and head towards the Drunken Pony, there are those who choose to find the comforts of their inns or tents, and a few obvious couples who seek romantic strolls.
Leaving certain people alone around the fire to choose what is it they shall do next before the night is through?
Pollyana is a bit shaken by the story and decides she can use a drink, but the drunken pony seems to rowdy for her current temperament. She will seek out a booth that is selling a drink for the festival and find a quiet place to sit and think about what the story teller said.
The night is starting to get busy. Customers come and go and, during the most hurried moments, Tipene lends a hand taking the drinks to the tables.
Most of the time, though, the waiters suffice to do the serving, and Tipene has time to do his own job: watch.
Even though the place is called The Drunken Pony, drunks are not really welcome inside. You can get drunk, of course, but no drunken behaviour will be tolerated. Tipene's job is to detect the signs of this behaviour before something disgusting happens, and kindly show the client in particular how to get to the door. If he resists... well, no one resists, really. Tipene is not extremely tall for a human, but most of the people here are halflings - they should be very drunk to really don't care about his size (and the perimetre of his biceps). Not letting them reach this point is the key - Tipene could easily win the fight, probably, but a fight indoors wouldn't be good for business.
He's thinking about the business and his choice of not to follow his father's when a bunch of customers appear through the doors. The waiters will probably need him, so he takes a tray full of beers from the bar and gets to the tables.
-Your beers. Anything else? We've got cold soup and seasoned chicken today.
Sierra looks at Parnell, it was his wagon that she hitched a ride on from the crossroads.
Sounds good, Parnell. She follows the handsome young man up to the fire. Can we sit up close, please?
Pointing at one of the last logs up close, There. We can sit on that side.
After the old man was done, Sierra wasn't sure what she wanted to do next. It was getting late but she wasn't tired. The story had her wired for some reason. Think i'll go get a drink. Wonder if he'll join me.
Looking over, she asks Want to join me in getting a drink, Parnell?
Parnell Ludington picks himself off the log, and offers his hand to help Sierra up from her seat.
I suppose it would be the decent hing to do, considering she hasn't been to Tykren before.
Stifling a yawn, Parnell responds, "Yes. I will. Might I recommended the Drunken Pony. It's not far from here."
I hope I do not fall asleep in front of Sierra.
After giving up in the chase for his sausages, Pyrrhus throws his hands into the air in frustration and walks towards the Drunken Pony... it wasn't his favorite tavern in Tykren but the amount of brawls that usually occurred in the Boar Eye during festivals was too much for him to endure in his state of humor. I could kill someone by accident...
Pyrrhus enters the tavern and quickly spots Tipene. "Hey Tipene, how are you doing in this crazy night! I'll have one of your watery ales please! And put it in a mug appropriate for my size!" He then approaches the man before completing. "And a porting of that delicious fried morcillas (blood sausage)... and tell the cook that my offer is still up if she is willing to tell me her secret recipe... I swear I'll never tell anyone..."
He then looks to his left, eyeing a small Halfling (taking in consideration that halflings are already small), probably a visitor during the festival and not used to seeing the 'giant'. "Hey, not need to look me this way lad... I'm thirsty and hungry and you are too small for either purpose..."
-Ale and black pudding, right.- Tipene pauses while Pyrrhus talks to the halfling. An image of the huge blacksmith having half a dozen halflings for breakfast assaults his mind. -If they are afraid of me, when Pyrrhus is around they must feel like ants. Even I do feel like an ant when he's around.
-She did it again, right? Tyra, I mean.
Pyrrhus sighs at Tipene's comment. "Yes she did... and why? I'm pretty sure she does this just to annoy me! That pest... I asked her yesterday 'Hey Pest, I'll make some sausages and salami tomorrow, wanna some?' and she said NO!" Pyrrhus punches the bar counter.
Liek enters the Drunken Pony, after failing to chase down the thief he heard about. If only he had reacted sooner. Noting that Pyrrhus was in, he relaxed. Not many people would commit crimes with the giant around.
The detective will walk up to the two humans, trying to carry himself with a certain swagger.
Ahh Pyrrhus, Tipene. How goes? He pauses, realizing he interrupted. My apologizes for interrupting, just had a waste of time interviewing someone I thought could help me with a case. And, err Pyrrhus I do apologize for accusing you of hiding a real giant in your shop that one time.
-Pyrrhus could hide a giant behind his own back.- Tipene tells the joke but doesn't laugh. -I'm going to get his order, do you want anything, Liek?
"Well... I can't actually blame you, can I? That belch was indeed loud, I guess!" Pyrrhus laughs hard. "I was working on a new brew."
A cup of Ale please. I heard a tale of a man who drank a lot and it helped him with cases.
"I'll have one as well."Podlow says cheerfully as he plops down at the bar. It's been a long, hot day.
-Three ale, black pudding for three, alright. Be back in a minute- says Tipene, and leaves before they can argue about the food order, allowing them to chat between themselves a bit.
The night continues on for the most part. A ruckus begins in a corner between a group playing knuckles calling someone a cheat. Near the entry three drunks from out of town grow louder and louder from an argument.
And the signal for Last Call for within the hour the Tavern will be closing until the morning. The day everyone has waited for.
-You! Fights outside!
By the end of the night, Tipene is exhausted. Some nice hours of sleep will surely help fix him for tomorrow's festival...
I saw the yawn, Parnell. Forget the drink. Go sleep. I'm going to stay by the fire for a bit and then find a place to sleep. Night. With a slight wave, she turns her attention back to the fire.
Sitting on the ground with her back to the log, she looks up at the stars.
Pollyana watches the tavern from afar Just as I thought, too rowdy a scene for me. Some drink just to fight I think. Pollyana stands up and stretches and finds a place to rest for the night.
I saw the yawn, Parnell. Forget the drink. Go sleep. I'm going to stay by the fire for a bit and then find a place to sleep. Night. With a slight wave, she turns her attention back to the fire.
Sitting on the ground with her back to the log, she looks up at the stars.
Hesitantly, Parnell agrees. "Alright. Be careful. Good night." The human paladin walks back to his wagon, gets in the back, taking a bunch of tarp to use as a pillow, while using the rest as a blanket, gets comfortable, and goes to sleep.
Liek smiles as things get rowdy. Taking the last sip of his ale, he says All this condition could help with the case. But let's see if we can't move it outside the bar. It's a bit too loud to think.
He then turns to Podlow, Pyrrhus, and Tipene. I ask you fellows in confidence. Anyone hear something about a new 'Tax' on merchants? I am investigating missing items from shipments entering and exiting town. So far evidence is pointing towards a corrupt guard. I tried asking a member of the Order of The Star and got stone walked.
"I haven't seen anything beyond the usual angry merchant and hungry streetsnipes. The guards tend not to bother me."
Night falls and aside from a few roaming torches carried by the night watch, darkness falls upon the town of Tykren. The day was a happy one full of life.
While everyone, sleeps, a visiting dream enters into your mind. In the morning after the night of rest when you wake up all you can really remember is a pair of beautiful grey blue eyes, and a lingering desire to help.
Podlow finds a cart with fresh straw and helps himself to warm place to sleep under the stars.
Pollyana is disturbed, but hopeful about her dream. Who are you blue eyes? How can I help you? she thinks to herself.
Tipene wakes up full rested, relaxed and intrigued. -I... I know I had a dream, an interesting one... but can't remember anything.
After having a morning wash and a copious breakfast, he sets off to the place where the Festival is going to take place.
-It seems a beautiful day. I hope that is a good omen.
-Hi! Nice day, uh?
After his trips back and forth through the merchants, he enjoys some time playing with the wee little ones. Once they are asleep and all the dinner dishes are done he delves into his latest acquisition. He reads, rereads, takes notes and more notes till he is asleep with his head on top of the book. Come morning he awakes with a hunger to go over his notes and check the book at least two more times.
looking at the book..
oh yes that clears up a few questions, but now about that halfling.....more questions
Liek wakes up in his "office". One heck of a dream. Anyhow back to work.
That night when all went to sleep outside, those noticed there was no night sounds; no owl Hooted, no wolves howled, no chattering from raccoons. The air became colder but only slightly, a dense low-laying fog rolled across the ground, giving anyone who carries any pure of heart or Holiness with them, a creepy eerie vibe.
"Great, fog to go with my odd dream and hangover this is the start to a truly bad day." Pollyana says to herself, then looks around embarrassed that she was so loud. She tries to guide herself through the fog to drink some water from the lake to nurse her hangover.
As the morning begins to stir everyone up, and push the fog away. The streets once again swell to the brim with busy locals and tourist. Shops open up their doors and the sounds of merchandise being sold rings throughout the town. The caravan from last night are already preforming song and dance to entertain as others from it begin to barter for goods.
Just before noon, many of the shops come to a pause in sales, they take a temporary close moment. A large crowd begins to congregate near the church. For once a year the church opens its' gates for special task and services allowing honorary Order of the Star members apply. And even in this, it is only very few people who are chosen to become full members.
This is a very special occasion, this year they have been far more secretive about it than any other year before. The guards outside the gate have placed up a small rope gate to stop people from getting to close. There is a special location just to the right of the gate for those Seeking their chance to become an honorary member.
Everyone knows that the task are usually very difficult, meant to challenge the persons skills, knowledge, and faith. However, the rewards are always of good value, the pay is rewarding, and the service always means more jobs in the future. In the past many who become leave the town to travel to various cities to continue doing jobs and duties for a single year.
So many people are there today, wanting to see who gets chosen this year, several parents on edge about their own children seeking to be volunteers.