IC II

[shaidar]

Newton plans to go looking for the best weaponsmith in the Barony.

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"Is there a temple or place of worship here, Baron Xelazo? I am a servant of the Mnencir in Kimrid, and am eager to establish relations with your holy orders."

Baron Xelazo

"Indeed there is! Father Odos is our chief priest here, of Yster, the Craftsman. If you attend the banquet tonight you will no doubt be introduced, as Odos never fails to miss revelry!"

"Very good. Thank you, sir. I look forward to it."

[thirdkingdom]

Fifthmonth, Fifthday
Draea

As the sun is setting the adventurers are led to the same meadhall they feasted in before. It is much more crowded now; a third table has been brought in, and fires burn in all the hearths. There is an excited buzz in the air that at the same time is somewhat offputting to the adventurers -- a metallic buzz akin to the sound a saw makes upon vibrating. But the companions sense no malice, only a slight sense of other.

Before the feast begins Baron Xelazo rises, mug in hand, and speaks to the hushed crowd. "Several weeks ago these strangers from the south arrived at our doorstep, and once they convinced us of their intentions they set off to the north, to fulfill their own quest. I asked them to, if it were not too much trouble, complete a quest of ours, and they have done so!" He holds up a hand, where, barely visible, a ring can be seen. "They have returned to us the ring of Draea, my ancestral heirloom, that has been buried for decades where my grandmother fell! A new Cycle is beginning, and this ring will enable us to prosper and grow and expand!" He raises his mug high. "To the humans, long may they live, glorious be their exploits, and heroic their death!" It sounds like a ritual saying, and is echoed by the three score ironskins in attendance, with a sound of a hammer on a forge. "While they are here they are to be treated as honored guests!"

Servers -- mostly human -- begin to bring out plate after plate of food -- roast pigs and chickens, slabs of beef, stewed and roasted vegetables, brown bread just out of the ovens, and beer and wine and brandy. Their hosts' skin may be of iron, but their appetites are apparently that of mortal Men.

Let me know if there is anything specifically you (inidivduals) want to do at the feast; anyone you want to talk to, etc.

[sulldawga]

Telemachus

The mage is interested in talking to spellcasters, if any are present. Absent that, he's interested in anyone knowledgeable about history.

The mage is, as always, interested in learning more about the location of magic (items, spells, etc...)

[shaidar]

Newton is interested in any local legends, or stories, that might lead to treasure. In particular he tries to subtly direct the discussion to bandit and bandit queen's, but he wants to do this without mentioning any names in particular.

He also wants to find out from the warriors who they consider the best weaponsmith in the Barony.

[thirdkingdom]

Telemachus

The mage is interested in talking to spellcasters, if any are present. Absent that, he's interested in anyone knowledgeable about history.

The mage is, as always, interested in learning more about the location of magic (items, spells, etc...)

The only spellcasters that Telemachus is able to identify are those of a priestly bent followers of Yster, the Craftsman, Nondro of the Bellows, and other, more obscure deities. It does not appear that arcane spellcasting occupies a place in the sidereni culture. The two that, after subtle inquiries, he is directed to as being interested in matters historical are Dreksme and Kitac, identical twin ironskins and the musicians that had played the previous feast. They are, he is told, what the siderenos call "skalds", not disimilar to bards in the Principalities.

[thirdkingdom]

Newton is interested in any local legends, or stories, that might lead to treasure. In particular he tries to subtly direct the discussion to bandit and bandit queen's, but he wants to do this without mentioning any names in particular.

He also wants to find out from the warriors who they consider the best weaponsmith in the Barony.

No one seems to be aware of bandits, or queens thereof, but there is plenty of talk of orcs. In fact, Newton seems to get the distinct impression that the orcish raids the captain mentioned upon their arrival might be more serious than was initially admitted to. As to weaponsmiths, to the man he is told that the best metalworkers in the community are the craftpriests of Yster.

[sulldawga]

Telemachus

The mage chats up the twins and asks them about ancient legends of hidden treasures and lost artifacts of puissant sorcery.

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

Zellar looks for Father Odos and introduces herself. She asks about the flock of Yster, what facilities they have here, and if his god has sent them any portents.

[thirdkingdom]

Telemachus

The mage chats up the twins and asks them about ancient legends of hidden treasures and lost artifacts of puissant sorcery.

Kitac

"Legends of like, our people, or local legends? Stuff around here."

[thirdkingdom]

Zellar

Zellar looks for Father Odos and introduces herself. She asks about the flock of Yster, what facilities they have here, and if his god has sent them any portents.

Odos

The priest is small for an ironskin, maybe about the same height and build as Zellar, with the burnished skin of a knife that has been sharpened for decades and has been honed to an almost transparent edge. "These are all Yster's flock," he says, gesturing around with his half-empty flagon. "Our temple is by the smithies and forges of the ironworks. I can take you to see them on the morrow, if you would like. Portents? I guess you could consider your return a portent. The road has been closed for so long, and we rely on shipments of ore from Kimrid that we are running low." He looks sidelong at Zellar. "Yster is not a god of subtlety, though. He does not send vague signs and omens for his priests to agonize over and interpret. When he has something to say to us he does!" He taps Zellar's forehead with a heavy fist. "When Yster knocks you cannot ignore him."

[sulldawga]

Telemachus

"Legends of things I can find and keep for my own without the locals getting angry at me for digging up their burial sites. Doesn't have to be right here but 100 miles away is less interesting unless you're talking about, say, a Staff of Wizardry."

[shaidar]

Newton looks around for Father Odos. Seeing him busy talking to Zellar, he waits for an opportune moment.

[thirdkingdom]

Newton looks around for Father Odos. Seeing him busy talking to Zellar, he waits for an opportune moment.

Go ahead and assume Newton is talking to Odos as well.

[shaidar]

Newton

"Father Odos, it is good to see you again. I've been speaking with the warriors, and to a man they swear that the best weaponsmiths in the realm are the priest's of Yster. I was wondering, with the greatest of respect, how a man might earn such a weapon "

[thirdkingdom]

Telemachus

"Legends of things I can find and keep for my own without the locals getting angry at me for digging up their burial sites. Doesn't have to be right here but 100 miles away is less interesting unless you're talking about, say, a Staff of Wizardry."

Skaldic Twins

The two look at each other, eyebrows arched. Dreksme, or maybe it is Kitac, strums his zither as the other one speaks. "Well, if it is legends you seek I know a few. The Baron's own mother died not fifteen years ago, repelling a dragon with scales the color of new spring growth; the dragon was not slain, but fled to lick its wounds, and has not been heard of since, although the tales say it is curled in its lair, plotting revenge. No doubt it has a great hoard, as do all of its kind." He stops and the other brother continues. "About three years ago a party of softskins . . . I mean, humans . . . rode through here on their way west, seeking what they called the Fane of Laingal, supposedly the burial place of an ancient king. They stayed the night, spoke to the Baron, and then left in the morning, never to return."

[beniliusbob]

Zellar

"It would be a great honour to visit your temple, Father Odos. I have not ventured far from Kimrid in a long time, and I am interested to see how worship here differs from our rituals in Kimrid."

[thirdkingdom]

Newton

"Father Odos, it is good to see you again. I've been speaking with the warriors, and to a man they swear that the best weaponsmiths in the realm are the priest's of Yster. I was wondering, with the greatest of respect, how a man might earn such a weapon "

Odos

"Likewise. What sort of weapon are you looking for? We can craft the finest non-magical blades with relatively little effort, but if you are seeking a quality that can be enchanted . . . well, we haven't had the ore for such a thing for quite some time. Yster led us here because of the rich seam of firerock, or coal, as the Ancients once called it, that can be mined here, but we are far from the those iron mines that produce a high enough quality ore that can be magicked."

[thirdkingdom]

Zellar

"It would be a great honour to visit your temple, Father Odos. I have not ventured far from Kimrid in a long time, and I am interested to see how worship here differs from our rituals in Kimrid."

Odos

"Stop by on the morrow. Not too early, as I intend to drink my fill tonight, but earlyish!"

[shaidar]

Newton

"Father Odos, it is good to see you again. I've been speaking with the warriors, and to a man they swear that the best weaponsmiths in the realm are the priest's of Yster. I was wondering, with the greatest of respect, how a man might earn such a weapon "

Odos

"Likewise. What sort of weapon are you looking for? We can craft the finest non-magical blades with relatively little effort, but if you are seeking a quality that can be enchanted . . . well, we haven't had the ore for such a thing for quite some time. Yster led us here because of the rich seam of firerock, or coal, as the Ancients once called it, that can be mined here, but we are far from the those iron mines that produce a high enough quality ore that can be magicked."

Newton

"I would be honoured to have just a fine blade forged by your church. I have an enchanted axe, but am seeking another axe to wield alongside it. It is a shame about the iron, if we come across such superior ore then we shall have to let you know"