Book 1 - Chapter 4: Forward, to Conflict

[pringerbeam]

     The choice between staying stuck in the village and watching a fence get built or returning to the closest thing to a city he had seen since leaving Albion seemed clear enough to Thedrin. "Of course, our glorious victory must be reported to the Righ. I'm sure that our skills can be put to better use heading for the capitol than here."

[Asta]

"I will leave the reporting to you then. Your departure is naturally at your discretion, though I wouldn't tarry for too long. Be sure to collect Calcote before you depart."

[pringerbeam]

Purchases
20x Elven Train rations (2 gp each for 40 gp total)

[Asta]

The morning after the feast you gather your things and say your farewells to any that may worry for you on your travels. After collecting Private Calcote from the encampment you begin the ride north once more to Aite-Aerd, knowing that it may be some time before you find the chance to return.



Location: Aite-Aerd
Date: Naev 26, 795
Time: 1200

Again you find yourselves at the capital of the Steppe. The fifteen day ride to the city was surprisingly without conflict albeit the cold certainly has taken hold with the turning of the season. Once you are past the city gate Calcote turns to ask a question: "Will you be heading straight to the keep or do you need to clean up first? If it is the later, I will secure us a chance to report on the goblin subjugation."

[pringerbeam]

     "Of course we should prepare ourselves. It is a meeting with the Righ after all. You can go ahead and make the arrangements. We'll be cleaning up." Replied Thedrin. The road had been long and even more boring than before with not even a minor animal attack to liven up the monotonous march and he was in need of a bath.

[Asta]

"Of course." Calcote responds before heading to the keep.

With some measure of expedience, you find a tavern that will allow you to quickly wash up and change clothing. Once you are presentable, you head inward and upward to the keep.



True to his word, Calcote has secured you a quick entrance to the keep to make your report. Once again you find yourselves in the audience chamber, surrounded by courtiers and standing before the Righ. Private Calcote hovers nearby, in his hands the box containing the strange crystals that were recovered from the cave. To the left of the Righ stands an older man you had not seen on your last visit.

The individual in question would be more accurately described as "ancient". Clothed in lengthy robes of muted colors, he stands bent backed and silent. An impressively long white beard extends nearly down to the floor and serves as a sharp contrast to his entirely bald pate. You note that despite the man's advanced age, his eyes watch you with a honed interest.

"You return, successful in the venture I hope?" the Righ questions.

[pringerbeam]

     "Of course my lord." Said Thedrin with a bow. "The goblin menace was no match for us. We handily crushed their attempt at rallying an army in a great battle at their home base. As proof of our deed we bring you these crystals." He said motioning to Calcote. "Some kind of crude magical fetish that appeared to have been used by the equally unrefined leader of the goblin army: soothsayer or witch doctor of some stripe."

[Asta]

"Excellent, and I assume Captain Maddox and his men will be staying in Telan for some time to re-secure the town." The young monarch smiles easily, pleased at the news, before sitting forward. "Crystals you say?"

At Thedrin's indication Calcote steps forward with the wooden box, opening it to reveal its contents. The exposed crystals glow with their strange anti-light, seeming to drain some of the color of their immediate surroundings. The familiar murmur of courtiers washes through the audience chamber at the sight. From the dais the elderly bearded man turns to the righ.

"My Lord, may I?"

Righ Marr nods his aproval and before you realize it, the ancient man has hopped down from the platform near the righ with an uncanny spryness and already stands next to Calcote looking over crystals in the box. A mixture of curiosity and concern knit his brow as he reaches into one of the sleeves of his robe to produce two items: a set of silvery tongs and a pair of glasses that emit their own soft glow. After sliding the spectacles onto his face he uses the tongs to remove one of the crystals from the container and turns it about, examining it intently.

After a moment he turns his attention to the group. "Fetish indeed," he harrumphs softly. "Do you know what it is you've got here? I suspect not, or you would have left these where you found them." He narrows his eyes, appraising you. "Did any of you touch them...?"

[pringerbeam]

     "But of course." Replied Thedrin as he pulled the necklace from his belt pouch. "These crystals came from the hobgoblin leader itself. What magic ensorcelled it appears to have faded with the life of their owner."

[Asta]

"Your apparent sanity is... impressive" The aged man says with a raised eyebrow and a tone that indicates he is less impressed at the intactness of Thedrin's mind, and more that he was foolish enough to pick up a sinister looking magic rock in the first place.

"Forgive my master wizard, he is a man of brilliance and eccentricity. What is it we have here Baeddan, don't keep us in suspense" the Righ apologizes before pressing the wizard to continue.

"Of course my lord" Baeddan replies, removing his glasses and stuffing them up a sleeve once more. "Crystalized negative energy" the wizard continued, holding the glowing shard at arms length still clenched tightly in the silver tongs. "A kind of concentrated malice, or dark essence if you will. Insidious little baubles really. Touch them and they corrupt the mind, then the flesh; stirring every dark thought a man can hold before twisting his body to match. They are a powerful catalyst for fueling esoteric spells of dark design, and in turn require potent sorcery to create."

Baeddan carefully returns the crystal to the box in Calcote's hands. "Sorceries far beyond the ken of hobgoblins." The wizard shut the box and flipped the simple latch before patting Calcote on the shoulder lightly. "Best to keep that shut lad, and mind your fingers."

Returning his gaze to the Righ, he continued: "No, its likely the hob found them somewhere..." he paused a moment, "Or was given them."

[pringerbeam]

     The implication of the wizard's last words were not lost on Thedrin whose mind quickly jumped to the possibility of an even greater foe he could vanquish. Something that would make a more epic deed than slaughtering the underwhelming goblin menace would and better increase his odds at claiming a decent title. "And uh... who might have been able to provide the crystals then?" He asked, trying not to seem too eager.

[Asta]

"Who indeed?" Baeddan asked rhetorically.

"A troubling revelation... I will need to think on this matter," mused the Righ behind steepled hands. "For the moment though, let us turn to rewarding the outstanding service of these individuals."

From a side room a pair of servants emerge, one holds a tray upon which rests a small cloth sack and the other carries a bundle wrapped in a dark colored velvet.

"From the treasury and armory I bequeath these to you in service of your deeds for crown and country."

The sack contains 600 gold, and the bundle is a masterwork longbow.

"In addition to this, I grant the use of an ambassadorial apartment on the third ring to use while you remain in the city. I would request you do so as I may need your services once more in the very near future."

The apartment is more precisely a two story building in one of the nicer parts of the city. You will not need to pay for lodging there, but food is still the responsibility of the party.

[pringerbeam]

     When the Righ had mentioned a reward Thedrin had reflexively knelt and prepared for the knighthood he had hoped would come but looked up at the Right at the granting of the actual prize. "A most generous reward my lord... And this apartment... the property is... ours?" He asked with a hint of timidness sneaking into his inquiry.

[Asta]

"As long as you are agents in my employ the property is yours to use as you see fit." The Righ replies, implying that he most likely has more work for your group yet.

[pringerbeam]

     "Of course my lord." Replied Thedrin as he slowly rose and backed up a step. "We shall remain at your pleasure." He finished as he indicated with his eyes to the others that it seemed time to leave.

     After making it out of the hall, Thedrin looked around to see if there was anyone that might be around to eavesdrop on them.

Perception

Rolled 1d20+2 : 14 + 2, total 16