The Inn of the Conquest's End

As you arrive at this fine inn, you discover, after checking with the barmaid, that your lodging has been prepaid, and in fact she has a letter for you.  As you glance around the inn, seeing no sign of Heschen, your fingers break the seal of the envelope.

It reads:

Dear friends,

I am happy you made it here, hopefully undelayed and rested from your recent difficulties in Belhaim.  As you can see, unfortunately, I am not here to meet you.  There has been an emergency of sorts, it would appear that some magics, especially divination types, have been weakened throughout the realm somehow.  This has caused several of my acquaintances to have great concern.  As you can imagine, this has development is most troublesome.  Some sages are suggesting that the rise of the dragons, including the one you dispatched, may be siphoning off the inherent magic from the realm.  I can’t say that it is a far-fetched theory.  Over the next few days, I will be meeting with priests, wizards, and fellow druids to try to develop some sort of explanation of the phenomenon.  

In the meantime, I have contacted those I know at the Palace, and I have been informed that you are fortunate indeed.  It would appear that Prince Stavian only bestows titles upon the “Day of Joy”, a national holiday that celebrates the anniversary of his rule.  That event is in the first of the month, which, if my calculations on your travel are correct, will be in two days’ time.  If I am not there to join you, do not worry, you have all proven yourselves to be skilled at both the art of battle, and the art of social grace.  Besides, from what I understand, Prince Stavian is interested in the tales of adventure that you can, and will, certainly relate.  I have been told that formal invitations will be arriving here at the inn for you within the day.  

Finally, if you recall, I mentioned one of the Prince’s lovers, Lady Lashonna Nance.  I hear she has quite the interest in all things dragon.  If you get the chance, please, gather what she can tell you about what you have experienced, especially regarding the artwork found in the vault of Nhur Amethon, it might prove useful.  One word of caution, I have heard that she tends to open up to those who the Prince favors, so do your best to impress!

At the latest, I shall arrive back in Oppara in time to travel with you to Absalom, perhaps 3 days at the latest.  I look forward to sharing what we all have learned.

Heschen

The Gilded City

As your group approaches the Black Cliffs of the mighty Porthmos river, you realize you have finally arrived at your destination, Oppara.  A long line of people appear, waiting to enter the city through the fabled Lion’s Gate.  In the distance you can see the city, its many stone and mosaic buildings standing as a reminder of one of the greatest empires the world had ever seen.  Still, there is an electricity here, as if the city is almost a living thing, full of chaos and energy.  Rising above the walls is the Imperial Palace, home to the Grand Prince Stavian III himself.  You recall what Heschen told you, that he would meet you at the Inn of the Conquest’s End in the district known as Aroden’s View by tonight. 

As  As you walk through the Lionsgate district your senses are assaulted with the sights and sounds of cooking food, street performers, and corner philosophers spouting theories about every such subject.  Robyn tells you that she is headed to the Pathfinder Lodge, and will check in with you later at your inn.  She says that she will look into transportation to Absalom, that perhaps they can catch a ride on a society vessel. 

you are ushered through the gates, Tala is eyed up and down by the guards, but beyond that, your entrance is uneventful.

The hustle and the bustle is a far cry from the calm of Belhaim.  Shops of every sort, selling almost anything the mind can conjure, seem to exist here.  Yet, while the excitement of this smorgasbord of possibilities is intoxicating, each of your minds drifts to your real purpose here…the letters in each of your pockets, addressed to the Grand Prince, naming each of you Knights of Taldor.

To the Victors

All in a day's work

Thorbjörn bellows, "Now is not a time for crying! Now is a time to revel!" He looks at each of his companions, "We are alive. Our enemies are not. We defeated them in fierce battle after fierce battle, pushing our limits as far as they could stretch. What could be better than that?" Thorbjörn paces as he continues. "As for the fallen... what better way to go than to die in combat? Akeela fought well and died well. We killed a dragon together. A dragon! He could have lived a thousand lives and never achieved a death as glorious. Would it be better for him to have died old and toothless at his master's hearth? I can't think of a worse fate myself. Thus, I am not sad--I am proud. I am happy for him." Thorbjörn grins and raises a mug of ale towards the pyre in salute. "Your watch has ended, my friend. Rest well."

Thorbjörn turns to Robyn and eyes her openly and appraisingly.  "As for you, my dear... heroes is it? That's as may be. You are a comely lass and it would have been a shame to let you die. If you want to call that heroism, so be it." Thorbjörn grins and says, "If you want to show me gratitude, you could tell me where to get a bauble such as that one." He smirks and gestures at the wayfinder. "Or, after you have rested and recovered, you could come with me and we can find out together whether your love truly has no bounds." Thorbjörn laughs and winks.

Remember the fallen

Kulman has been silently sitting beside the fire listening to Robyn, his back slumped forward and his face lightly kissed by the fire. His demeanor is one of sadness and anger tempered with purpose. With a heavy heart and exhausted soul Kulman turns to Robyn, his eyes glazed with the sheen of loss and tears.
His last few hours had been spent creating a funeral pyre using the bodies of the ravagers and placing Akeela on top in a position of authority and triumph. Kulman had stayed until the fire had subsided and used his hands to remove the bones of Akeela and buried them under an ancient oak tree off of the beaten path. When he returned he sat by the fire… It was clear he had received burns on his hands and chest during the ritual in which he set Akeela to rest.

Kulman’s eyes red with the fire in his heart places his hands together as if in prayer, the burns clearly visible down his forearms, “My soul weeps for the loss of Akeela, and he was my dearest friend….”

 Kulman struggles to choke down the tears from those words, “yet he was as noble a creature as has ever traversed this world. His anger at your treatment was visceral and complete, when we saw what was being done to you there was only a single action that was reasonable and we followed that course of action to the end. I thank you for your kind words and soft heart. What you endured is unforgivable. .. Unforgivable and those who committed that foul act deserved to be eradicated from existence and used as funeral kindling. Akeela was a noble companion. I raised him from his time as a puppy. The family who my Father and I worked for in Lastwall thought it was cute to give me the runt of a littler of wolves they discovered in the woods outside of the ranch. All of the other pups were slaughtered as they could have become a threat to the horses, yet Akeela.. I begged for his life as he had done nothing wrong. He was innocent of crime, innocent from malice, an innocent soul. In taking him as my own he saved my soul. He showed me that being born into cruelty does not make one cruel, that witnessing evil one need not embrace that darkness. He never wavered, not once did I sense him questioning our decision to protect you, he knew his life might end, even in the moments before his throat was cut he was calm knowing that you would be safe.”…

 Tears begin to course down Kulman’s face as the sense of serenity at the moment of Akeela’s death returns to his memory. “I thank you for paying him honor, for I know that it would have made his heart pump with pride. He was a great companion, he will be missed, and he would not change his decision to help you, knowing that you will survive him and continue his memory places him at peace… thank you for remembering him. I feel it is my time to retire. I look forward to learning more of your past and your future Robyn, Akeela would have enjoyed you.”

 With that Kulman takes his leave, he walks back to the tree where Akeela’s bones are laid to rest and prays for the soul of his fallen friend, tears consecrating the ground.

I just want to save you while there's still something left to save....

“I thank you once again” says Robyn as she sips from a tin cup around the campfire.  She looks off into the distance, remembering the horrors of two nights before, the night of her rescue.  A tear forms in her eye, followed by a contrived smile.  “I wish my companions were as lucky as me.”  She turns her wayfinder over on her hand, tracing the symbol of the open road with her fingers.  Her voice cracks.  “My heroes…”  She buries her hands in her face.  After minutes of crying, she seems to compose herself.  She looks at Kulman.  “I am sorry about your companion.  I know what that means, I know your loss.  When I was younger I remember my father having a badger.  I know, a badger, right?  His name was Squinto.”  She seems somberly happy as she reminisces.  “Anyway, that thing would do anything for him, even when he was older, it would help him get dressed."  She sniffles.  "When that badger died, my father not only lost a friend, he lost himself…he died soon after from the grief.  It was part of him…”  Her eyes swell with compassion as she looks into the gnome’s face.  “Those bastards were monsters, the things they did to me…”, hatred and anger, followed by shame, fills her eyes.  She wipes away tears and continues.  “…the appreciation…the love I feel for you and your friends, especially your fallen companion…it knows no bounds.  I owe you my life.  I may never be free from the nightmares, but I am alive.”  She puts a hand on her crutches.  “I’ve lived with nightmares before, people have them all the time.”  Her hand moves to Kulman’s knee.  “But saviors, honor, and kindness, that is a rare gift that I have been given, which in these time is usually unheard of.”  She looks around the fire at all of your faces.  “It’s funny, you know so little of me…you knew nothing of me…and yet you came to my aid…you risked…”, she looks once again at Kulman, then corrected herself, “…you gave your lives for me.  I owe you my life, if there is anything I can do for you please tell me.”

Thomas Rankin

With "The Window" destroyed, the party takes a moment to rest and assess their surroundings.  Having seen the group in action and finally having a quiet moment to speak, the disheveled male that was found hooded and beaten clears his throat...

"Ummm... Thank you.  I think I should start by saying Thank You.  I'm not sure how long I've been down here, and honestly, I was starting to give up hope of ever leaving.  So, Thanks for saving me."  He looks quiet uncomfortable for a moment.  He lowers his head. As he begins speaking, he does not really address anyone in particular. 

"No one has ever really saved me before."  Looking down at the borrowed armor and weapon, "No one has ever trusted me before.  Bouncing from boarding school to boarding school as a child, I never really made much in the way of friends.  Even when I was drafted into the Army, it always seemed like I was kept at arms length.  The distance was my armor, and the solitude my shield.  I've spent most of my enlisted time alone, studying in one library or another all across Taldor.  And that same solitude is part of the reason I am in this mess.  You see, as is customary for my commander, I was told to find something to occupy my time.  There were some grumblings in Oppara of strange tales coming from this area.  Partly from curiosity, partly from boredom, I came north to see what the grumbles were about.  I guess I made an easy target for those bandits.  Ok... so they might not have been 100 giant kobolds... Anyway, what I'm trying to say is Thank You.  I owe you all.  I'm not sure exactly what brought you here or what your mission is... but seeing that I am in your debt, I will aid you so long as you will have me."

"And if along the way you guys could help me find any of my gear that the thieves didn't take, I would appreciate it.  Hopefully we can find my books and my whip.  Oh, and I guess I didn't tell you my name.  I am Thomas Rankin, and I am truly in your debt."

Wakey Wakey Eggs and Bakey...

After a restless night, (that damn moonlight shined through your windows all night long) you awaken to the smell of eggs and bacon in the air....