Session 48, part 1

The group heads to the peaceful town of Grandi, where they prepare to find Aden Farren.

08/10/08

Players: Gante (Jon), Epona (Elizabeth), and Kerwyn (Will)

6th of Summer’s End

With Marlak now freed from the Tower of Silence, the adventurers decide to head on to Grandi. Ahead, they find the old sign pointing the way to the Tower, just off the main mountain road. They begin traveling north along the road, the same way they had gone just two days back. The stark mountains provide no greenery for shade, so the trip is a warm one. The day drags on, and the sun sets over the western peaks. The cool of night is welcomed, but Marlak is far too tired to carry on through the night. They set up camp for the night.

7th of Summer’s End

The following morning brings them back to the spot they had met the merchant caravan headed by Dresdon. The team remembers Dresdon saying Grandi wasn’t far from there, so they pick up the pace a bit. They see some greenery on the hills as the mountain peaks gradually blend into rolling hills. From the heights of the road, they see stretches of farmland about five miles ahead, where the road leads lower into the hills. They continue down the road, just making out the outline of a city on one of the hills. Nearing the city, they pass by several large orchards and plots of farmland. About a dozen men are tending each field. They also catch sight of some cattle grazing in pastures. To the north, the road continues towards the city. On a hill west of the town stands a large stone tower.

“Hmm…. Do you think that’s like those other beacons we’ve seen?” Gante wonders.

The road draws close to the buildings. Though there is no wall surrounding the city, a pair of armored men stand at the point where the road meets the city streets.

“Hail, soldiers.”

“Good morning to you, travelers. Welcome to the city Grandi,” one says. The other gives the team a sincere smile accompanied with a nod of his head.

“We bring good will, and tired bodies.”

“You may be able to seek shelter at the inn, right on the north side of the square,” the guard offers.

Gante thanks them, and tosses them a coin for the help. They make their way into town. They can hear the guards speaking to each other as they walk off, but can’t tell what they’re saying through the sounds flooding the city streets. Carts of plump fruits and vegetables are being carried into the city as merchants make their way to and from the square. The town is abuzz with people, trading goods in a sort of town marketplace. A two-story, wooden building stands to the north. A steepled building on the east side of the square seems to be the local church, or at least the nearest to the square.

“How are you feeling Marlak?” Gante asks.

He takes a deep breath. “I wouldn’t mind a good rest, at least.”

“Would you like to stop by the church and have their clerics check you out, or shall we just go on to the inn?”

“Perhaps some rest is in order first. It’s been a while since the last time I’d walked that far…”

The team walks into the building on the north side of the square. The innkeep greets them with a warm welcome. “Greetings, travelers. Seeking some rest from a long trip?”

The team gets a set of rooms for everyone, and Marlak begins resting. Gante and Epona head to the local church, while Kerwyn browses for information on Farren. He manages to learn that Farren’s home is on the northern side of town, so he goes to check it out. It’s a pretty nice looking place, between two other similar houses. There’s a garden out front, and the name “Farren” inscribed over a small archway that starts the short path through the lawn to the door. Satisfied with knowing he has the right place, Kerwyn returns to the inn.

Marlak, seeing him arrive, asks if Kerwyn could bring him some paper, ink, and a pen from the market. Kerwyn obliges, buying the pen and paper, and swiping the ink from a merchant who was too busy watching a juggling bard. Kerwyn meets up with Gante and Epona on his way back to the inn. They walk back up to the rooms.

Marlak is sitting on the edge of the bed, looking out the window. “Ah, good to see you. I trust the day was eventful for you all.”

“Yes,” Gante says. “Always good to meet up with old friends.”

“Well, I saw a juggling show,” Kerwyn says. “But here’s the stuff you wanted.”

“Ah, excellent. This may do some good for us…”

“What are you going to do with that? Some sorta spell?” Gante asks.

Marlak takes the supplies. “Hmm.” He pauses. “Well, I don’t have my spellbook with me… It must have been taken, I assume. Not to worry, though. I kept a copy back in Karkin of most of my spells and research, so not much has been lost. The paper will just be to collect what I already know about the Soul Stones, and see if I can make any connection to the events that have occured.”

“I see.”

“There’s some greater mystery here, and I fear it may extend far beyond what we’ve seen.”

“I’ve been getting that feeling too,” Gante says.

“Don’t know how much it would help, but we have that device that you wizard friend gave us…”

Marlak takes the device and examines it. It’s much like a compass, though it has no markings on its face. Marlak turns it over in his hands, looking for any clue as to its activating mechanism. “It’d be just like Melrain to make something so difficult to operate… This may take some time to figure out.”

“Well you’ve got time,” Gante says. “There is something we need to check out here in town.”

8th of Summer’s End

After grabbing most of their gear, the team heads downstairs and asks the innkeep about Farren, and also a place to find some breakfast.

“Aden Farren? Oh yes, mighty fine fellow. The Farren family’s been running a mine for a few years now, I think. Doing well off nowadays.”

“Do you know where he’s usually at during the day?” Gante asks.

“Nope. But I guess his place is good as any to start. You seeing him for business, or what?”

“Yeah, a past employer of ours wanted us to check on something with him,” Gante says.

“Well, you need directions to his place?”

“If you wouldn’t mind, sure.”

The innkeeper gives him directions to a place on the north side of town.

“Ah, thank you. By the way, you wouldn’t know of any place around here to get a good meal, would you?”

“There’s a tavern just ‘cross the way. They’ve usually got something cooking.”

“Thanks for your help.”

Across the square, the team can smell some type of meat cooking, and hear a good crowd of people on the other side of the door. They enter the tavern, where several farmers and other tradesmen are gathered around the many tables in the room, eating and laughing. A bard near one corner of the room is juggling a few brightly colored balls and putting on some kind of routine: “…and the man says, ‘could’ve sworn she was half-orc!‘”

A man behind a counter, smiling widely, sees them come in. “Ah, take a seat lads, I’ll get your breakfast out in a bit.”

The three take a seat a nearby table.

“So an elf, a human, and a dwarf walk into a bar and order a round of ale…“

Gante takes his eyes from the show across the room. “I knew you’d found Farren’s place already, Kerwyn. I just didn’t want to arouse suspicion.”

“…and a fly lands in each one. The elf pushes his drink away, looking disgusted. The human flicks the fly out of his and drinks up…“

“Oh, I understand. It was a good call on your part.”

“…The dwarf grabs the fly by the wings from his drink and says ‘Spit it out right now!’“

The team buys an extra meal to bring to Marlak. They drop it off at his room and head to the marketplace to look for any items of interest, first. They find some scrolls for sale, and Gante buys a scroll of resistance.