CHAPTER ONE: It all starts, oddly enough, in a tavern...

[Nuke66]

Gordon starts out at ease during the ride, feeling comfortable on the road. He make small chat with Savik in hushed, broken bits. (see PM). When they get a view of the the mysterious man in the distance, he doesn't appear to be much of a concern.

He relaxes a bit once they get to the tower, and dismount, leaving the guards to their duty.

"Thanks for the uneventful ride Captain. Can we have a few moments to get some of this road grime off before we meet your Lady?"

[Alethan]

Bran hops down from his ride and kisses the ground in the courtyard.

"Gads, but do I hate riding..."

After hearing the sergeant's comment, he asks, "What about you, then, sergeant? Did you recognize him?"

[emirikol57]

Ulfronde dismounts. He carefully brushes his clothes and then takes a few seconds to re-wax his mustache.

I am most thankful this ride is over, but my throat and mouth are rather dusty. Would you have some nice cool ale around?

[onlyme]

Iomhar Maclyr dismounts and hands off his horse. He gathers his belongings and makes himself the most presentable he can. Fine riding. One of these days I will save my ale money for a good horse like that... He starts laughing. No horse is worth giving up ale... He casually starts walking around to check out the tower, looking at the craftmanship and an escape route, just in case.

He asks the guards, Who is this Sgt Lasmind and patrol? Does she need an entire army to protect her, or are they recruiting other help?

I am back from vacation myself so should be able to post more often from here on...

[Gelatinous Q]

After hearing the sergeant's comment, he asks, "What about you, then, sergeant? Did you recognize him?"

Sgt. Dalthellan: Nay, can't say that I did.
Sgt. Kinghalter: Ta-ha! At 300 yards, I'd be lucky to recognize me own mother!

]He asks the guards, "Who is this Sgt Lasmind and patrol? Does she need an entire army to protect her, or are they recruiting other help?"

Sgt. Dalthellan: It'd be a pretty sorry fiefdom indeed if Alcastra lacked hard men to ride and clear it of brigands and other scum.
Sgt. Kinghalter: Had you ever run afoul of our Sgt. Lasmind, you'd not have to ask who he is.

Gordon's and Ulf's questions are left unaddressed until Captain Ollenstask re-emerges from the wizardess's tower.

"Gentlemen," he announces, "Alcastra shall receive you upon the tower battlements at dusk.

"You will arrive, of course, unarmed and unarmored; to that end you may store your weapons and mail in my own personal quarters.

"In the meantime, you may enjoy free use of the garrison mess for refreshment, and of the well behind it should you wish to present a clean countenance to milady, which I would advise. Should you need rest after the day's ride, you may billet in the barracks next to the stables — Sgt. Lasmind's squad isn't scheduled to return to quarters until tomorrow.

"I will meet you here just before dusk to escort you to milady."

He dismisses Sgts. Dalthellan and Kinghalter to return to their squads.

OOC: A few points:

• Dusk is about 2 hours away.
• The garrison mess is keyed number 6 on the map posted above. The well is not shown on the map; it is centrally located about 10' behind the western wall of the mess building.
• The stables are keyed number 3; the barracks Ollenstask indicated are number 2.

[Alethan]

... to that end you may store your weapons and mail in my own personal quarters.

"Well," says Bran, "We've come this far; no use balking now. Show us where we can store our gear, then I'm gonna wash this grime off and take a nap."

And Bran does just that. He will stow his armour and weapons in the Captain's quarters and then wash up as best he can at the well before laying down for an hour or so in the barracks. He is sure to wake up with enough time to re-straighten his clothes and be back out in the courtyard just before dusk to meet up with the Captain again.

[Argennian]

Savik will follow Bran's leader, placing his armor and weapons neatly in a spot off to the side in the captain's quarters. While within his quarters, Savik will casually look about the chamber to see if he notices anything interesting or unusual, books, scrolls, heraldry, paintings, etc.

The elf will also spend some time cleaning up at the well with his fellow party members and then at the barracks, writing in his journal and contemplating what the evening and near future will provide.

[Gelatinous Q]

OOC: as per the above, forgot to mention that Captain Ollenstask's private quarters are keyed number 4 on the map.

[Nuke66]

As the invitations begin, Gordon plans on removing and cleaning his gear, leaving time for a full dunking at the well, including a shave.

A bit of a snack, fresh clothes, and he is ready.

"We are a wee bit better than strangers here, what gives you thought to complete 'whatever' mission that this Mage has in mind?"

"We can hear her out, but I think we should discuss options in private if we can."

"Although, I for one NEED the gold."

[emirikol57]

Ulf sets his leather armor and weapons where instructed. He'll wash up and get some grub. He'll spend some time wandering around the compound, looking and listening.

[Argennian]

..."We are a wee bit better than strangers here, what gives you thought to complete 'whatever' mission that this Mage has in mind?"

"We can hear her out, but I think we should discuss options in private if we can."

"Although, I for one NEED the gold."

Savik peers up from his journal, starring blankly with a far away look in his eyes. After a moment he nods his head towards the half-elf and smiles.

"I, too, am light of resource, friend Gordon. That is to say, of course, save what knowledge and possibly appreciable skills I have accumulated in my travels. I will have to arrive at a decision myself, based upon what mistress Alcastra has to tell and then offer to us. I am... hopeful it will not involve a... malevolent aspect?"

[onlyme]

As the invitations begin, Gordon plans on removing and cleaning his gear, leaving time for a full dunking at the well, including a shave.

A bit of a snack, fresh clothes, and he is ready.

"We are a wee bit better than strangers here, what gives you thought to complete 'whatever' mission that this Mage has in mind?"

"We can hear her out, but I think we should discuss options in private if we can."

"Although, I for one NEED the gold."

Iomhar takes advantage of the hospitality to properly prepare for the evening's meeting. He ponders Gordon's question and replies, You saw how close I came to shoveling s*** for a night's stay. Gold buys trouble quite easily, but it keeps it away even better. With the ports closed, I cannot complete my employer's request for some time. Until then, I need to stay fed. I agree that we should talk it over a bit. He pauses a moment and continues. My father placed a bow in my hands before I could walk. I wouldnt use it nor this As he checks over and sharpens his sword unless it is necessary. I don't kill hard-working law abiding folks just to get some gold. Just couldn't live that way.

[Opabinia]

Glogs will clean off the road filth at the well, then check out the mess hall. "I could use a bite, especially a free bite, if conditions aren't too awfully foul. I don't know how long my rations will need to last."

Glogs will take the rider 2 position in the future.

[Nuke66]

"Well Goodmen, I hope we all feel as capable as the next guy when there are different circumstances. but in the mean time, we can agree on a private discussion of risk/reward nature of this, this......task? "

[Gelatinous Q]

You take your leisure until the appointed time then return to the tower, unarmed and in plain clothes, where Captain Ollenstask is waiting for you. He inspects each of you to make sure no weapons have been concealed, then nodding his satisfaction, says, “Very good, then, gentlemen — let’s not keep milady waiting.” He opens the door to the tower and waves you inside.

The entry room (40’x20’) is obviously a reception and banquet area. Several ornate tapestries adorn the walls and a large table with a dozen chairs stands in its center; otherwise it is empty. Captain Ollenstask beckons you toward a stone spiral staircase winding upwards in the right-hand corner of the room and after a short climb, you emerge on the battlements.

The temperature is dropping rapidly as the sun dips below the horizon. Five braziers gutter in the stiff breeze, providing light and warmth, while the standards of the wizardess (a gold orb encircling an eye borne upon the backs of two falcons) and of the Barony flap tautly from a central flagpole. Four figures stand on the far side of the battlements, their backs to you.

Clearing his throat, Ollenstask announces you.

A woman turns and strides toward you. She is tall — as tall as Ollenstask — with bronze skin, long straight blue-black hair and disarmingly piercing grey eyes — a woman of preternatural beauty. She is clad in diaphanous white robes that hardly seem fit for this climate, and carries a staff crowned with the same orb-eye-falcon figure represented in her standard. Her speech bears the vague but discernible accent of the Flanaess’s far western lands.

“Friends,” she says, “it is good that you have come here. I apologize for keeping you waiting. I hope that you find the custom here, such as it is, adequate. A little rusticated, perhaps, no?

“Captain Ollenstask has given you some indication of my need, though he was by necessity not privy to all the facts of the matter. What I am about to tell you therefore is a matter of the strictest confidence.”

With a wave of her hand, she dismisses Ollenstask, who joins the other figures on the far side of the battlements.

“The scholars of the Great Library of Delleb in Rel Mord have long counted among their most valued holdings an ancient volume known as The Illhiedrin Book. It is a mere academic curiosity, a concordance to another volume whose whereabouts have been nameless for centuries, largely unintelligible according to legend … and yet, in certain circles, of which I am part, it is a trophy of intense interest and debate. At any rate, a recent audit of the library’s collection revealed that what the priests had long thought to be The Illhiedrin Book was, indeed, a fraud and a forgery.

“In truth, I had long suspected as much. My own arcane researches long ago led me to believe that one Charrellsfane, a mage of otherwise trifling consequence who lived in this region over 300 years ago, was the last known possessor of the true Illhiedrin Book. Since moving to Ratik to further my research, I have carefully searched through all records concerning the time after his death, and nowhere is any mention made of the fate of this tome. I must therefore assume that either it was spirited away immediately upon the death of Charrellsfane by persons unknown down to this very day, or that it remains hidden in his tower, the location of which remains a mystery.

“While the discovery of this imposture in Rel Mord has been a vindication of sorts, it has come at a cost. You see, in the quest for The Illhiedrin Book, I now enjoy the great advantage of proximity, but the equal disadvantage of notoriety. I cannot afford to appear overly ambitious in my search for tower or book; to do so would serve only to embolden my rivals — some of whom I fear have already dispatched their agents to these lands — and further chisel away at whatever goodwill I have struggled to engender since moving to this region, which I fear is very little. Nor can I in good conscience neglect the duties of my new fiefdom — a development I assure you I did not foresee when I undertook my search.

“This is why I seek to sponsor an expedition possessing the necessary courage, intelligence and discretion to act as my agents. I wish you to either return here within a fortnight’s time with the Book, or, if you feel the challenge too great, return with an exact location of Charrellsfane’s tower. Your reward will, of course, be much greater if you return with the book.

“I offer aid to those willing to embark on this quest on the following terms: if you return with the book, those items which I have given you shall remain yours. If you return without the book, those items shall be returned to me. In addition, to all those who are here today and return upon completion of the mission, the sum of 500 gold imperials will be paid. One half this amount will be paid in advance to those who accept these terms in order that you might be better able to equip yourselves.”

She pauses, weighing the effect her words have had upon you.

[onlyme]

Iomhar is intrigued to say the least. This task sounds interesting. A book worth more than its weight in gold...He pauses for the laughter to end.Please tell us more of this quest, Milady.

[Alethan]

Bran crosses his left arm in front of his chest and tugs at his beard with his right hand as he ponders Alcastra's offer.

"It seems to me," he begins, "That there are three separate issues at hand here. The first is the question of what items you are proposing to loan (or give) us before we set out on our journey. The second is one of divisibility," he looks around and exaggerates a nodding head count as he looks at each of the guests in turn. "It is much easier to divide 6 into 600 than into 500." He raises his eyebrows and continues, "The difference is no small some, I'll grant you that, but the faith and good will it buys is worth every coin."

"Finally," he pauses, "the third thing... well, if we only have a fortnight, then I sure hope you at least have some idea as to where we should start looking for this tower." He coughs into his hand, "I mean... we could spend a year combing the land, looking for a tower and still not find it. Surely you have some information to start us on our way?"

[Argennian]

After the young human and the dwarf say their piece, Savik nods his head in agreement. He presents his hands palms up, as he bows towards the wizardess, in a manner meant to show of honor and respect. "I am willing to offer my services in this quest, milady. As both my fellow guests have queried, any and all additional detail you could provide would be useful and most appreciated."

[Nuke66]

As the Lady approaches Gordon feels a little flush. He can appreciate why Alcastra prefers face-to-face meetings.

Listening to the comments, Gordon formulates a couple of questions himself.

"How many other groups are searching for this book? How many others have you employed on this task?"

[onlyme]

Milady, my apologies for asking so many questions, but we must understand the detailed nature of this quest before each of us can announce our intentions. You mentioned, “In truth, I had long suspected as much. If you have been researching for some time, where are the ones who assisted you previously? Could they not provide much needed information to narrow the search? Or shall we take it that they are they not as 'Expendable' as we?

Also, you said, Nor can I in good conscience neglect the duties of my new fiefdom — a development I assure you I did not foresee when I undertook my search. Can we hear a detailed state of recent activities within this region, including locations of both rivals and allies alike? What unforseen developments should we be made aware?

Finally, you offered us this, “One half this amount will be paid in advance to those who accept these terms in order that you might be better able to equip yourselves.” When a lady of your obvious wisdom and intelligence suggests such improvements are necessary, I can only deduce that you know of particular perils in this quest, in which posessing certain assets would increase our likelihood of success. May we hear more?