Quiet Before the Storm (Part One)
27 Gildember thru 27 Darkember 348 AC
Arthur sheaths Lawbringer and picks up his winged shield. "By Malazzarr, I hope I can get this fixed," he breathes heavily and leans on his sword for a bit of support "Everyone okay?"
Romulus looks at the shield. "Most of that should buff right out. We'll grab some walnut oil back in town and get you set up."
Once the party returns to Silvanost, the halfling fits the newly enchanted onyx into Dickory's Clock. The other two gems, an amethyst and a tiger's eye, flash as their new companion piece is inserted. The entire bracer glows for about a minute, emitting an aura that extends perhaps a finger's width above the leather before slowly being absorbed back into the material. Once the mystical, time-manipulating bracer has been repaired, Romulus returns it to Raven.
He then writes about the ritual the group performed and observations he made during the subsequent battle.
While Romulus is working on his academic report, Shadow performs the ritual to transfer the enchantment from his elemental resistance ring into his protective bracers.
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Shadow, Romulus, and Ra'ziir all return to the Tower of Wayreth. Romulus plans on submitting his report to the library. Shadow seeks to perhaps trade some magical items he has been unable to make use of, recharge his staff, and if time permits, learn some new spells.
"When I was at the top of the stairs, about to enter the test, a voice spoke to me from an all-black painting. It offered power in exchange for a small piece of my life force."
Ladonna frowns, "Other Aspirants have mentioned this before. We believe that the voice belongs to Fistandantulas, the most powerful wizard of his time and a member of our order. He owned no staff and took no familiar as such magics were 'beneath him'. Nobody knows when he was born but he lived for centuries, but he died during outside of Thorbadin when a spell of his either collapsed or backfired, collapsing the fortress of Zhaman, which we know today as Skullcap. It is rumored that his spirit has survived down through all of these years, offering power and knowledge in exchange for life. I wouldn't trust him, and if he approaches you again, I advise extreme caution."
Menathradon greets them and asks about the entire thing. Later that night, Par-Salian, Justarius, and Ladonna invite all three adventurers to a late night drinking and gossip session and listen to their recounting of the tale.
Kysek goes to see Ornforithalas. When he arrives at the guard captain's home, he discovers four watchmen standing sentry around it. The remains of rotten produce can be seen stuck to one of the exterior walls. Two broken windows flank the front door. One of the watchmen, a scout that Kysek recognizes but never learned the name of, nods in greeting. "Council rumors make the captain out to be a warmonger. A couple of citizens decided to do this in retaliation. Captain forbids that we clean up the mess or repair the damage. Won't let Tephysea do it either so a couple of us volunteered to watch over his place. Anyway, you can go in."
Inside, Kysek is greeter by Tephysea. The red-robed mage smiles and reaches out to clasp his hands. "It is good to see you again. My husband is in the study. I will have refreshments sent in shortly."
Kysek finds the captain seated at his desk. He is writing instructions for his sergeants on recommended training exercises, with an emphasis on cover and concealment and building to building fighting. Ornforithalas looks up and nods, "Tomorrow, I have to appear before the Council again. There is to be an inquiry into my 'recent activities'. Tephysea's brother, Elamyar and Councilor Rainbrook mean to discredit me should I spread the word about the Dragonarmies. Summerwalker promises her support and that kid, Adfaren is decent enough, if a bit dim, but Council Chairman Cuinar Elar wants to make sure I don't make the Council look incompetent."
Over the course of the next few weeks, the party puts the plan they developed with Agnes and Lorraine into action. Envoys from the Healers' House, accompanied by Grotto, Arthur and Agnes, or other party members begin quietly encouraging the elves from outlying settlements like Alinosti, Tarithnesti, and Balinost to begin making "prolonged visits" with family members living in the capital, disguising these trips to coincide with the upcoming holidays. While a few elves of Sithelnost see the wisdom of making the trip, many decline, confident in the local garrison of House Protector's ability to defend the city from goblin rabble.
The healers also begin preparing for winter by hanging storm shutters, laying in plenty of firewood, storing barrels of fresh water and root vegetables in the basement, drying herbs, cutting strips of cloth and boiling them to make bandages, collecting blankets, salting fish, and making pemmican for emergency rations.
Cassidy takes to entertaining the children displaced by
these quiet preparations for war. He takes an old sock, sews mismatched buttons on it to create eyes and thick yarn to make hair and acts out skits where he and his puppet talk with the kids in an effort to comfort and ready them for the potential hardships that lie ahead. The kids take to calling the puppet "Patchy". Amazingly, no one ever accuses the Kender of stealing anything during any of his puppet shows - although outside of the shows are a different matter entirely. Lorraine arranges for Cassidy to empty his pockets and pouches at the end of each day. She collects the items she is certain do not belong to him and leaves them in a "lost and found" box at the front door of the healing house for their owners to reclaim.
The weather takes a marked turn towards winter and within the next week, the first frost is on the ground and the northernmost edges of the Elven forest report flurries of snow. Sea travel grinds to a halt as late autumn storms lash the Bay of Balifor. That does not keep Raven from seeking out Councilor Summerwalker. He and Eilra meet several times for midday meals and dinners to discuss ways to prepare the elves for naval battles once this looming war begins.
Raven tells her about the Coberal Trust Company's school in Baldur's Gate and the mock ship it uses. Eilra asks if they could simulate the pitching of a ship's deck with some sort of see-saw to give her sailors some "safe" experience in fighting at sea. While she remains busy with Council meetings, Raven develops a training regimen for the sailors while still honing his own skills. Raven's personal regimen consists of squats, jumps with weight on his shoulders, running while dragging loads behind him, and anything he can do to strengthen his legs and increase his quickness. He combines these exercises with the rapid drawing of one or both of his blades for hours at a time.
Menathradon greets them and asks about the entire thing. Later that night, Par-Salian, Justarius, and Ladonna invite all three adventurers to a late night drinking and gossip session and listen to their recounting of the tale.
Kysek goes to see Ornforithalas. When he arrives at the guard captain's home, he discovers four watchmen standing sentry around it. The remains of rotten produce can be seen stuck to one of the exterior walls. Two broken windows flank the front door. One of the watchmen, a scout that Kysek recognizes but never learned the name of, nods in greeting. "Council rumors make the captain out to be a warmonger. A couple of citizens decided to do this in retaliation. Captain forbids that we clean up the mess or repair the damage. Won't let Tephysea do it either so a couple of us volunteered to watch over his place. Anyway, you can go in."
Inside, Kysek is greeter by Tephysea. The red-robed mage smiles and reaches out to clasp his hands. "It is good to see you again. My husband is in the study. I will have refreshments sent in shortly."
Kysek finds the captain seated at his desk. He is writing instructions for his sergeants on recommended training exercises, with an emphasis on cover and concealment and building to building fighting. Ornforithalas looks up and nods, "Tomorrow, I have to appear before the Council again. There is to be an inquiry into my 'recent activities'. Tephysea's brother, Elamyar and Councilor Rainbrook mean to discredit me should I spread the word about the Dragonarmies. Summerwalker promises her support and that kid, Adfaren is decent enough, if a bit dim, but Council Chairman Cuinar Elar wants to make sure I don't make the Council look incompetent."
Over the course of the next few weeks, the party puts the plan they developed with Agnes and Lorraine into action. Envoys from the Healers' House, accompanied by Grotto, Arthur and Agnes, or other party members begin quietly encouraging the elves from outlying settlements like Alinosti, Tarithnesti, and Balinost to begin making "prolonged visits" with family members living in the capital, disguising these trips to coincide with the upcoming holidays. While a few elves of Sithelnost see the wisdom of making the trip, many decline, confident in the local garrison of House Protector's ability to defend the city from goblin rabble.
The healers also begin preparing for winter by hanging storm shutters, laying in plenty of firewood, storing barrels of fresh water and root vegetables in the basement, drying herbs, cutting strips of cloth and boiling them to make bandages, collecting blankets, salting fish, and making pemmican for emergency rations.
Cassidy takes to entertaining the children displaced by
The weather takes a marked turn towards winter and within the next week, the first frost is on the ground and the northernmost edges of the Elven forest report flurries of snow. Sea travel grinds to a halt as late autumn storms lash the Bay of Balifor. That does not keep Raven from seeking out Councilor Summerwalker. He and Eilra meet several times for midday meals and dinners to discuss ways to prepare the elves for naval battles once this looming war begins.
Raven tells her about the Coberal Trust Company's school in Baldur's Gate and the mock ship it uses. Eilra asks if they could simulate the pitching of a ship's deck with some sort of see-saw to give her sailors some "safe" experience in fighting at sea. While she remains busy with Council meetings, Raven develops a training regimen for the sailors while still honing his own skills. Raven's personal regimen consists of squats, jumps with weight on his shoulders, running while dragging loads behind him, and anything he can do to strengthen his legs and increase his quickness. He combines these exercises with the rapid drawing of one or both of his blades for hours at a time.
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