Red's brow narrows by the comment of the male elf that just entered.
"It is as my friend here says," Eldren echoes Theo's words. "We have only recently arrived, so anything you could tell us would be not only welcome but useful as well. But even being a newcomer, I must say that having more than one group acting threateningly does not exactly feel like a coincidence to me."
Behind the Red Dragon Inn - Gaurm
Also, am I aware of the assassination attempt? No, not yet anyway.
Also, can I determine in which direction the voices were traveling? Yes, they were coming from the North and headed South.
You towel off and dress with some sense of urgency. By the time you walk through the back gate and down the space between the buildings and reach the street, the crowds are too thick to hear anything. The more commanding voice had a distinctiveness to it though, it was sinister...
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Red Dragon Inn
A much cleaner Brogg steps back in, he sniffs though and realizes that his clothes could use laundering... his thoughts melt away as he sees two elves standing near the table of his companions conversing with them.
Draven shrugs, "I am just arrived myself Wizards. I fear I have no more information than the fact that a few na'er do wells nearly ended the life of the half-elf Remy, our guide here in the city. They also very nearly would have ended me if not for the Revered Daughter and the timely intervention of yourselves.
I have lived much of my life distrustful of those races not of the People. Your decision to aid us at no benefit though leads me to believe non-elves cannot be all bad.
If you see the pattern of trouble then perhaps there is a pattern to be seen. All that can be done is look into it further for now. I'd not like to stand by waiting for those who await in the shadows to strike out at us! Jolith would take the fight to them! I intend to do that as well".
Gaurm pauses for a moment, trying to commit the more distinct voice to memory, I will know that one again when I hear it. I wonder what mischief they were up to...
With a shrug, Gaurm continues around the inn and enters by the front door.
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Red Dragon Inn
As Gaurm enters through the back, Gaurm enters through the front.
Draven seems taken aback by the two large and potentially fearsome foes entering the Inn.
Theo smiles...
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Red Dragon Inn
As Gaurm enters through the back, Gaurm enters through the front.
Draven seems taken aback by the two large and potentially fearsome foes entering the Inn.
Gaurm walks up to the group at the table, ignoring Draven's reaction. Often the best way to disarm trouble, at least among those capable of thought, is to pretend to not see the insults.
Freshly washed, his bearing is obviously non-threatening and he appears to be expecting no trouble, though he is equipped for war. He nods in a familiar acknowledgement of those seated at the table, and turns to the two elves, bowing slightly, "Hello, I am Gaurm. May the Immortal General ward your path. Please excuse me if my manners are poor by your customs; I have spent little time with any elves."
Brogg dusts off his hands, having just finished moving the troughs back into their old positions, and pauses momentarily to digest the scene beforehim.
Zsar nods to the elf, Well, then allies we shall be, are you aware if the war going on in the... Red which direction did we come from again? Zsar smiles at the Minotaur. It seems my memory has failed me... I have no idea where the worldscape is in the world from here...
"So what exactly do you want to do?" asks Eddie to Draven. "Don't get me wrong, I like the speech and all. I'm just wondering if you've got any idea of where you'd like to start."
Red scratches his head. "Er.." and shrugs " Do not carry a map with me."
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Red Dragon Inn
The elf warrior shakes off the initial impression as if it was Gaurm's imagination and does not even directly address the point with the massive half-man.
Draven cocks his head at Zsar, "A War you say? In the Worldscape Forest. Why that is on the other side of the world to the north! How would you know about it and more importantly, why would or should we care?"
Draven narrows his eyes at Eddie, "Well, joining with you lot may allow us to find more of these would be assassins. I cannot believe that there are not more about. This is why the head of House Protector insisted on bringing along a contingent of guards to watch over our Divine brethren.
Perhaps these same bandits and pirates your allies have spoken of are the ones behind the assassins? Pure speculation I know but I have always found it best to have some starting point than none at all".
This shall be exciting!
Red stands and the the chair he was sitting on sighs in relief.
"You should care. War is a fire that unless quenched will grow and spread till it becomes unstoppable. Should the enemy not be stopped, where do you think they will turn once the north is conquered?"
Gaurm cocks his head at the elf, "Assassins? I wonder if that is connected..." Gaurm's voice trails off for a moment as he focuses on his memory, then he leans closer to the elf and speaks quietly, "I have heard something that may be connected to assassins. It may not be, but it seemed suspicious to me. I would prefer not to speak of it in public; if an enemy does not know that he has been discovered, he loses the advantage."
A war? asks the Cleric. Between who?
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Red Dragon Inn
Draven shrugs at Red, "We elves have kept ourselves out of Wars for quite some time and we are better for it. Our presence here is...." He trails off as if he said too much already.
As Gaurm whispers to Draven the elf nods and grunts, "Indeed, you are right. Perhaps these conversations should be taken to your rooms my friends? Where we can speak with more privacy?"
Gaurm chuckles at the mental image of Red, Gaurm, and Brogg crammed into a single room with all the others here, "I will ask the innkeeper if he has a private room that will hold us all."
Gaurm approaches the innkeeper, "Sir, do you have a room where me and my companions can talk in private? One that we can all fit into?"
Theo begins scurrying for relocation by gathering dishes piled with food.
"Why don't we try the temple? They seem to like us well enough, and I doubt they're all that busy."
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8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Red Dragon Inn
The barkeep replies to Eddie's comments proving that indeed, there are ears in here listening, "Nah, they're getting it all ready for their big meeting pal. That place will be hopping like crazy!"
---
Gaurm knocks on the back door and the Innkeeper open the door, "Boy, that merchant wasn't kidding, yer a biggin!" He listens to Gaurm's request. "I tell ya what, I'll close down for an hour as I don't have a room o' that size. This time of day, business is slow anyhow. I bet my folk'd like some time to take a break!"
The Innkeeper gathers the wait staff and leads them to the front door, "I'll put a sign out front, you've all got an hour! No one upstairs right now except your employer as the rest of my guests are about town on business".
The Red Dragon now belongs the the group, and Draven.
Her armies are gathering those who would join her and killing or subjugating those who will not. As a Conscript, you did not know exactly who they attacked or what the plan was.
So what shall we endeavour to do?
Now that the room is just the group assembled Red says in a grim tone. "The dark queen Takhisis has armies led by a human named Crynus. They attacked the druids, which is where I met with Zsar here. This happened hours ago before Zsar's archedruid used his nature magic to teleport us here to this place. Her armies are gathering and conscripting those to join and those who do not are destroyed. That is all I know. Of their grand plan I know nothing but they must be stopped. Perhaps these clerics will help if we go to the temple."
Red ends with a sigh as if talking that much has exhausted him. Clearly not much of a talker it strained him a little.
Zsar sighs. Let us not forget this was less than a day ago... It is possible the archdruid still survived, but unlikely ... Zsar shakes his head. All I want is the war to end so none of my people are killed needlessly...
Brogg says, "So, deliver message, then off to fight? Basically?"
And where is this taking pkace, Red?
"That is... disturbing," Eldren, in a rather remarkable display of understatement, comments as soon as the minotaur speaks of Takhisis and her armies. "And here we were talking about bandits and pirates only moments ago. Now a war is coming? And the Dragon Queen herself is responsible?"
The pale mage sighs and shakes his head. "This is too big. People -especially people in power- should be informed. The Orders of High Sorcery among them perhaps?" He appears in thought for a moment. "What of the other Gods?" And then his eyes widen as he thinks of the Black Robe accompanying them. "And what of Nuitari and his Order?"
"Northeast, little gnome. By the Worldscape Forest." Red replies.
Theo grins.
I am not familiar with that part of the world. How far?
From what we've been told, halfway across the world... he sighs, I know it doesn't concern you as of yet but the Archdruid sent us here for a reason...
The DragonQueen and the other gods of evil are usually behind the evils that tempt and hurt the races of light and grey. says the priestess.
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Red Dragon Inn
Draven frowns, "Indeed, this is dire news but if it across the world are there not kingdoms in place there who shall battle against these dark forces?"
9th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Red Dragon Inn
The Companions head to bed after a long interesting day in a new city. The night passes by without incident. At some point the group notices that the respective employers too head to bed as soundlessly as they can.
Each of you awakens with a fresh sense of purpose. This began as a mundane trip for some, for others an unexpected journey, for the rest a simple job. Now each has a shared purpose this day these first steps, are the first upon what may be the greatest adventure of their lives!
The agreement was to meet Huru at the Winged Victory Inn and from there head to the Cathedral of Branchala.
9th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful - The Winged Victory Inn
Huru retires to her room and Draven to his. The Cleric Sisyl Nightstar greets her, "My dear, the Revered Son asked me to inform you that the day will begin at 9 am sharp. You should be there for the opening ceremony. After that meeting with your respective brethren is what will likely take place.
Let us hope that something comes of this but I doubt that anything will..."
As the sun rises there is a knock upon your door. Both of the Revered Daughters you share the room with are already up and out as you look around. Yo hear Draven's voice at the door, "Are you awake Huru?"
JUST a moment Draven say the cleric getting ready to attend the meeting. She finishes her solutions and prayers and exits the room smiling at Draven.
Waking at dawn, the gnome studies his spellbook for an hour.
After a quick trip to the kitchen, Theo gathers his possessions.
We're going on an important quest! , the excited gnome shares with anyone.
Going to sleep early and waking just as early, Zsar spends the time as the sun rises praying. He remains silent as to not wake Red with his rambling... When he hears the gnome below shouting he stands and heads downstairs with his animal companion...
Are you ever silent? he asks the gnome.
"Not what from I've seen" comments Eddie, joining the rest.
"The smaller the person, the bigger the words," observes Brogg.
Red has a fitful sleep. His dreams filled with ogre's yell's and a dark queen rising and in the smoke and fire, the eyes of the dragon.
He awakens with a start and the room is already empty.
He turns and shakes his head, his massive horns swaying as the sleep fades. Then he hears the gnome talking loud below. He grabs what little possessions he has and in silence leaves the room to head downstairs.
Theo smiles broadly.
I have been told that I..err...well...no.