8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
Father Dent pauses, "A problem with Lodging? We have more than enough room for six Revered Sons and Daughters".
Remy clears his throat and half distracted responds, "There's more than that that came".
Soze remains quiet giving Huru and opportunity to speak.
Greetings cleric of Astara, the Song of Life. she says with a smile of greeting. We did bring more than 6 members of House Cleric with us, members of House Protector came with us to help to keep the elven delegation safe. Would it be an inposistion on your most kind hospitality to grant succor for the elven delegation. House Protector will insist on staying with us, for our protection.
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
She turns to you, "Equal parts fulfilling and unfulfilling. I await my chance to prove myself to my superiors but it never seems to come. Someone or something always seems to stand in my way".
She smiles in a seductive suggestive sort of way, "Tell me, what is a nice sailor like you doing with a bunch of wizards and clerics?"
Zsar huffs. "We... are looking for someone to help... my order was attacked and I have been sent to seek assistance by my master..." he thinks for a moment but can't seem to find out what to say.
Theo grins wide, as he hears the girl group him in with wizards...
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
Father Dent grimaces, "I should have expected this. I fear that all delegations brought along their own protection as did yours. Peace has reigned for many years, so many years here in Tarsis that I forgot just how dangerous the world can be.
I cannot arrange for housing for such a large contingent. At least not all in the same location. Not today anyway, perhaps by tomorrow..."
Soze speaks, "Revered Daughter, I believe that I can arrange for a place to stay this very day and night".
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
Falseed spreads his hands, "I fear I am just a merchant and these men my guards. The Knight that just left is one who could have better helped you, or he could have killed you, these Knights are not very trusting of non-humans but I suppose you know that yes?
If you come with us to Tarsis you may be able to find help for your master. If not, I can always use more hands to help me..."
Eddie deftly avoids returning the smile. Normally, he'd consider it - but because of the circumstances he decided it'd be best not to try his luck this one time.
"Well, like I said, I'm a professional. I kind of washed up on a beach and fell in with these folks to hitch a ride. I had a...well, maybe you can shed some light" he muses, scratching his chin "You ever heard of a big ol' glowing granite rock? I think it was called 'greygem' or something like that."
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
Gaurm stands quietly, looking at the others and allowing Fibrial to do the talking for their group as was proper while he was Fibrial's employee.
Zsar bows, smiling. "you shall be in Chislev's favor..." he says, motioning to Sliss to stay close.
"It's better than standing here all day." Red say's to the merchant and looks at Zsar then back at the two other large men, sizing them up. Then starts to walk down the road to the merchants cart.
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
Heading down Market Street the Bazaar looms before you.
Knowledge History
Her eyes pop open and she stops mid-walk, "You found the Greygem, are you sure?"
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
Fibrial grins, "Excellent. Excellent. We shall be the talk of the town. While it is mid-day, if we set a brisk pace we can reach Tarsis by early evening. After lunch of course".
He heads to the wagon and pulls it a bit farther off of the road to give shade to the group from the sun. He then pulls out a sack, from it springs forth a bounty of a meal! Garum and Brogg are used to seeing such wonders from Falseed before.
He begins to munch on watermelon the pink shows bright against his dusky skin, "While this is a trading city, the bulk of the populace will find the sight of all of you disconcerting. Keep yourselves as polite as you can and try and avoid altercations at all costs".
He pauses for a moment, "I just thought of something Zsar, it could well be that the contact I go to meet can help you after all! Keyzer Soze is the representative for his more powerful Master".
"I am curious, what place do you have in mind?" The question, an understandable one Eldren feels, is directed at the Black Robe. "I am sure, all things considered, that our new... acquaintances would probably need a little more information before accepting your invitation," he adds, thinking to himself, 'As would I for that matter.'
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
Soze points at an Inn nearby named Winged Victory Inn, "That Inn is large and only a few buildings away from the Temple".
Father Dent shakes his head, "The Inn is full. Many tradesmen and travelers from around the world come to Tarsis on a daily basis good sir. We reserved as many roos as they would allow us".
Soze smiles at Eldren and Father Dent, "My Master is good friends with the Proprietor. I am sure once I meet with him he will be more than happy to accommodate the Elven contingent. With my assistance of course".
Zsar nods and smiles. I will be calm and quite conscientio he makes sure his lizard his close, not running off and messing with anyone.
Eddie scratches his chin. Based on the girls reaction he'd guess he'd said something interesting, but he wasn't really confident that the whole thing wasn't some sort of hallucination.
"I mean, maybe? Why? Is that bad or something?" he asks in return.
Red accepts the food given by Fibrial and nods a thanks. He stays silent, thankful that others are talking now and so that he doesn't have to.
"If we stay together people will probably just give us all a wide berth," suggests Brogg.
Gaurm nods in agreement with Brogg, "That is how it went, for the most part, after Brogg and I started traveling together."
I believe that the elven contingent would best served by staying in the Temple of Astarin. However, a distance between the Silvanesti and Qualanesti peoples would be advised since the Kinslayer War is still within recent memory on both sides. she says.
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
The new traveling companions head south on the road to Tarsis. The same road that the Knights and their charge took not an hour past.
After a few more hours the city itself looms in the distance. As the road is of slightly higher elevation than the city you can see a view of the port itself. Even from land the city is truly an architectural wonder. Including a few sleek towers. The buildings themselves have a flight motif. Almost without exception the buildings of the city have carved into them wings of various birds or statues of birds. Those that do not utilize an ocean motif in some cases spells create the illusion of motion in others your movement creates the illusion of motion.
The volume of ship traffic is breathtaking, the ebb and flow of so many ships, so close together with not one striking another is a testament to the sailing prowess of the ship Captains. The ships of Tarsis stand out among all others, the winged ships are made of vallenwood, or so Falseed claims. Lighter and yet sturdier in craft and appearance, the winged sails seem to lift the ships right out of the water.
He slows the wagon to a full stop. "The city is more crowded than I anticipated it would be. Be prepared for thick crowds my friends and beware pick pockets! I have reserved two rooms at the Red Dragon Inn. My contact should either already be here or within the next few days".
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
She steps closer to you, "It is a good thing. A legendary item that is shrouded in mystery! Do you remember where you saw it? With it we could be wealthy and if the rumors are true, powerful..."
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
Remy shrugs and points after Kara and Eddie, "I am not sure where the Qualinesti contingent has gotten to, Kara was their contact..."
Father Dent responds for the absent Kara, "They are staying at the Red Dragon Inn for the same reason that the Silvanesti contingent is having issues, they brought protection as well as Clerical representatives". He sighs "These Inns are not close to one another Revered Daughter Huru. However, the purpose of this meeting is to come together and smooth over such old wounds for the good of all".
Soze turns to Huru, "It seems I have proposed the only solution that could work for you this day Huru. Are you willing to accept my offer of assistance?"
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
She steps closer to you, "It is a good thing. A legendary item that is shrouded in mystery! Do you remember where you saw it? With it we could be wealthy and if the rumors are true, powerful..."
"Nope. I was unconscious for...most of it, memories a little fuzzy. I remember...putting it in my pocket? That doesn't sound right. Can you usually stick a legendary item in your trousers?"
"You're getting awful worked up. What exactly is this thing supposed to be?"
The Daughter of Queneti Pah nods in the affirmative.
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
Gaurm stares at Tarsis, feeling once again that nearly open-mouthed sense of wonder at the beauty and scale of the place. Though he had been to Tarsis before, it was many years ago.
Heeding the advice of the merchant, Gaurm takes his coin pouch and hangs it around his neck, tucking it inside his chain shirt. Most of his coins were carefully stowed in his backpack, in any event. Remembering an old soldier's words about cities and cutpurses, he took a few silver and copper coins and put them in a decoy pouch which he placed in its usual spot at the front of his right hip. "City life seems very complicated."
Even from this distance Red admires the craftsmanship of the ships. And after a moment or so turns to the merchant. "Thank you." he says after the merchant has spoken. Then waits for everyone before heading down to the city.
Zsar remains silent, knowing he looked rather like a poor choice of pickpocket, he let Red do the thankong
Bragg nods, but doesn't say much. He adjusts his baldric and takes in the sights of the city with a slightly downturned expression.
Theo listens to the problem, concerning the elves.
The small gnome turns repeatedly around in circle to view the area of the city.
It looks as if everybody in the world is here. I wonder how the animals feel about that back from their homelands?
"It does seem that we have our solution," Elder remarks, though his tone is somewhat lacking in enthusiasm. It is true that Black Robe has been decidedly... not unpleasant, but if his former experiences with one of his Order are any indication, there is usually a catch of some sort. Still, there is not much to do at the moment but watch and stay vigilant, even though he is not entirely sure what to look out for.
"And now that is more or less taken care of, then perhaps us mages could have a proper talk," he adds, affording the gnome a look and a smile.
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
As the group nears the city a pair of guardsmen call the wagon to a, "Halt!"
Their eyes nearly pop out of their heads when they see the size and appearance of the travelers arrayed before them.
"What is your business here merchant? Half-Ogres and Minotaur are not normally beings who trek to our fair city".
Falseed spreads his arms innocently, "I have silks and spices for sale kind sirs. I travel to exotic places, you can translate that to the word dangerous as it is applicable in my line of work. I require those who intimidate and if that fails, can then back up their words. Such are the skills of my allies. I of course vouch for their behavior!"
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
Soze smiles at Huru, "Wonderful! Then see to your Revered Father for final approval. In the meantime I will secure rooms for your group". He looks to Eldren, "That shall give us the time alone we need with Theo yes?"
Remy speaks up, "I am your guide for your duration here Revered Daughter. I'll accompany you back to the ship".
Father Dent looks chagrined at the turn of events but says nothing further about it. He instead address Huru, "Once you are settled in, do send Remy along to let me know that a formal introduction be made".
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
"I shall tell you the story of the Greygem.
When he created the world, Reorx needed the assistance of men to help him with the work. To this end did one-eighth of all men and their families follow Reorx across the sea, in hopes of learning the crafts of Reorx.
For many years, men worked happily under the guidance of Reorx. Yet men tended toward either good or evil, and rarely remained neutral. The men became proud of their skills and used them for their own ends.
Reorx was angered. In his wrath, he remade these men into a new race. As they had become tinkerers, so they would remain for all time. He took from them the crafts he had taught, leaving only their burning desire to tinker and build, invent and construct. He made them into a small people they became the gnomes.
Hiddukel saw all of this and smiled. Reorx had worked long and hard to forge order out of chaos. Yet now, Reorx saw that the balance of neutrality was not maintained. Hiddukel knew that Chislev also felt this swing in the balance. Herein was the foundation of mischief.
Hiddukel went to Chislev. With cunning words, he convinced Chislev that the forces of evil were losing. Their only hope, he said, was for neutrality to take ultimate control. Chislev agreed, and, at Hiddukels insistence, asked Reorx to forge the Greygem.
The Greygem was a marvelous artifact. A large clear grey stone of many facets, it was designed to hold and radiate the essence of Lunitari, the red-sphere of neutral magic. Hiddukel had convinced Chislev that this stone would anchor neutrality to the world of Krynn and solidify the neutral position on the planet. Chislev convinced Reorx of the same thing and thus the stone was created. It was placed within Lunitari and magic swelled within it.
Reorx, although still angered by the gnomes, had never forsaken them. He loved them, and now could see how they might yet serve him. He appeared unto their priest, and presented a plan for a Great Invention he wished the gnomes to construct. It would be powered by a magical stone that Reorx would provide. The gnomes, as was their wont, built the machine thirty times the required size and with mechanisms that never served any purpose. Their general consensus was that it would work once the stone was in place.
Reorx now finalized his plan. Among his servants he found a lowly gnome that truly worshipped his arts. In a vision, the little gnome saw the Greygem and wanted it more than anything. He approached the problem of getting it like any gnome . . . he invented some- thing.
His invention was truly worthy of the gnomes —a mechanical ladder that lifted itself into the sky. The strange device had pulleys and counterweights and wheels and cogs. It made a terrific racket when it worked. Yet Reorx smiled upon that gnome and gave to him a secret device. The gnomes ladder worked. One could set it upright on the ground, winch up the top section and then climb up to the top. From there, the bottom part could be winched up off the ground so that the ladder hung steadily in mid-air. Then, the operator would climb up the new section and repeat the process. Slowly, the ladder pulled itself up into the sky, and eventually reached the scarlet moon itself.
With a magical net given to him by Reorx, the little gnome captured the Grey- gem. He lowered the ladder back to the ground, and went to place the Greygem into the Great Invention. But the moment he opened the net, the stone leaped into the air and floated quickly off to the west. All the gnomes rushed to pack up their belongings and follow it. They followed it to the western shores of their land and quickly built ships. The Greygem floated westward across the waters with the gnomes in pursuit until the gem finally approached the shores of Ansalon.
Reorx was deeply disturbed, for the gem created magical havoc wherever it passed. Beasts and plants were reshaped in magical ways. New races of animals sprang up over- night and spells cast went wild. Instead of anchoring neutrality, the gem only made the pendulum of good and evil swing more rapidly than ever before. He then understood how he had been tricked by Hiddukel and Chislev.
At that time, there was a great ruler among men, named Gargath. He was a barbarian prince who loved well the gods of neu- trality and served their purposes.
One spring day, Gargath was in prayerful communion with Zivilyn. When he looked up, he saw a grey gemstone floating above the altar. It pulsed with a steel grey light. Gargath took this as a gift of the gods and placed it high in a tower. Here, by various traps and magic, did he secure the stone so that all could see its light and yet none could take it away.
The grey light shone as a beacon for two armies of gnomes who had been pursuing the Greygem for many years. One army was filled with desire for the wealth the gem repre- sented. The other army was made up of those most curious about the gem and its workings. The two joined forces to recover the gem and proceeded to march on the castle.
The gnomes first demanded the stone. Gargath refused. They threatened war. He welcomed the fight. The gnomes were outnumbered. There was only one thing left to do: they invented something.
Two weeks later, a giant siege engine came thundering toward the gates of the fortress. It broke down just short of its goal. The gnomes retreated with heavy losses.
Three weeks later, a second great siege engine approached, sounding like a hundred ghosts wailing. This one rammed the first siege engine and caught fire. It burned to the ground and the gnomes retreated with heavier losses.
Nearly a month and a half later, a towering colossus of a siege engine roared toward Gargaths battlements. Charging through the ashes of the first two siege engines, the drive mechanism broke. The siege engine fell forward and shattered the outer wall of the castle. Although this wasnt exactly what the gnomes had planned, the result was good enough. The gnomes charged in through the broken wall.
As the gnomes rushed into the courtyard, both sides were amazed to see the steel grey light from the tower suddenly fill the area with unbearable light. When men could see again, the two factions of gnomes were suddenly fighting each other. One side was filled with lust for the gem and the other side was filled with curiosity.
Under the power of the gem, the gnomes changed. Those who lusted after wealth became the dwarves. Those who were curious became the first kender. True gnomes yet remained in the far-off islands, but dwarves and kender quickly spread throughout the continent of Ansalon.
Of the Greystone of Gargath, none knew where it had gone. Some say the gem returned to the heavens, and others say it is hidden somewhere on the world of Krynn, where it will one day be rediscovered.
The gem you see is chaos personified. Those who wield have great power, as you can see from the story in some ways uncontrollable power. Tell me, has contact with it... changed you in any way?"
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
Gaurm stands quietly, trying to be non-threatening and letting Fibrial do the talking. Convincing others with words is not his usual way of doing things.
Brogg slowly sticks one meaty finger in his nostril, then flicks away an enormous booger, which simply underscores his apparent "big dumb guy" facade.
Red stands quietly, glad as usual to not be doing the talking. Though when the guard mentioned "half-ogre's" there was a notable flinch from Red-Ohn Gathas.
Zsar chuckles, seems no-one found him the strange one for once in a while...
he notes the wiggling fingers, and looks close at the man's mannerisms
Theo nods up at the two wizards.
What is this grand decision, they keep speaking about?
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
The three wizarding acolytes head to the Winged Victory Inn. The place certainly is quite crowded though there are seats to be had. Soze turns to the to of you, "Get us a table. I will secure rooms for the elves. Then we can talk".
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
The guard grins, "Well if you will vouch for them then I can certainly let them in remember you will be responsible for them should they get out of hand".
Falseed smiles, "That would never happen!"
The guards let you in after charging Falseed a small toll for the import of goods into the city. He grins at you all though the look on the crowds being cast in your groups' direction is altogether different. "There we are, now to find the Red Dragon Inn. Have any of you been here before and happen to know where it is?"
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Tarsis the Beautiful
Remy assists you in heading back to the ship, "Do you think that your people will accept aid form a human? One that appears to favor black robes in wizardry nonetheless?"
"Err... no, can't say I have," says Brogg.
Zsar whispers the information to Red, but doesn't mention it out loud. He watched Falseed closely... figureing he wasn't a true mage, but perhaps a bard? I know not where I even am...
8th Day of Autumn Twilight - 1030 PC - Torath Forest Near the Road to Tarsis
The guard grins, "Well if you will vouch for them then I can certainly let them in remember you will be responsible for them should they get out of hand".
Falseed smiles, "That would never happen!"
The guards let you in after charging Falseed a small toll for the import of goods into the city. He grins at you all though the look on the crowds being cast in your groups' direction is altogether different. "There we are, now to find the Red Dragon Inn. Have any of you been here before and happen to know where it is?"
Gaurm shakes his head, "I was here briefly years back, but I cannot say I remember such an inn."
Red listens closely to Zsar about what Falseed did and slowly nods his acknowledgment. "We will have to watch out for one another around these new "friends" of ours." he whispers back to Zsar.
Eddie does his best to listen to the entire story, though the history lesson was becoming more than a little esoteric.
He snaps back to attention at the end, managing to answer "Well, I've got all my fingers and toes and I'm certainly not a dwarf so...no, I don't think so? Maybe it was a premonition? A vision of things to come. I've got funny luck like that."