Adventures in Cormyr - The Doorway from Everywhere.

[Bloodweaver1]

Nira begins to looks noticeably uncomfortable as her _expression changes to that of a frightened little girl. No this cannot be happening. Not again… Slowly, and somewhat obviously Nira begins to shy away from whom she originally thought was an attractive Lord but now reminds her of the very thing she rebelled against. Gripping the symbol of her Mistress with her hand, she closes her eyes and whispers a soft pleading prayer in her mind. Mistress please! Please not again! You promised… You promised… So lost in her prayer is she, that she hardly notices the white sheen of her knuckles or the piercing of her skin for the sharp edges of her Holy Symbol.

OOC: She is not going to bolt. She just has a hugh thing about swearing allegiances to an organization. Considering the last time she did, she inadvertently killed the man she loved and his entire family.

[D20Dazza]

Glandred nods at the Lord "You seem a fair man, I will pledge my allegiance to Cormyr, at least for the time being. Perhaps in the future I might call on your kingdom's scholars to help me find the answer to a riddle that plages me?" the dwarf says, her cheeks reddening further than normal as she draws the attention of all in the room momentarily.

[Rhun]

"It appears as if we shall accept this endeavor," says Thodan, glancing around at his companions. "And that we shall pledge our loyalty to the realm of Cormyr, as long as the crown serves the best interests of her peoples."

[Lord_Raven88]

Seeing that everyone is in agreement Lord Hawklin swiftly gets you to swear loyalty to Cormyr and to Secrecy regarding the current mission, and issues the minor writs to each of you. Asking for your adventuring charter he examines it in some detail to ensure everything is correct.

"Well everything seems to be in order, if you wish to purchase anything in preparation for the mission, speak to my man Thomas as we leave in two hours, he'll see that everything that you need will be here by then, then we'll head off for Tilverton"

~~~~

After making your purchases and getting your equipment in order you meet back up with Lord Hawklin in two hours time, Lord Hawklin leads the way away from his cozy manor and towards the Palace grounds, gaining entrance to the palace grounds he leads you around to what appears to be a warehouse that is used for storage, leading you to the side doors he opens the double doors and motions for you and your horses to enter.

You enter the brightly lit 60' square warehouse, looking around you can that the warehouse is currently empty and contains another pair of double doors on the opposite side of the room, smiling at your quizzical looks Lord Hawklin motions for you to remaining standing by the front doors, closing them he then turns to face the doors at the opposite side of the room.

"In the name of the Forest Kingdom and of Alusair the Steel Regent, I bid you open." he says in a loud strong voice that echoes in the large room. Swiftly the doors on the far side of the room vanish, replaced by a whirling, sparkling pool of grey light about 16 feet across, hovering about a foot of the ground, the pool of light then slowly sinks to the floor until it is only a half circle, 8 feet high and 16 feet wide. The grey light filling the half circle fades, and you see a landscape beyond it.

The scene is of a rocky wasteland among high hills, at the same time of day as it is in Arabel. Several dozen armoured men with drawn longbows, obviously Purple Dragons, watch you through the magic portal, arranged in a semi circle facing you. Other soldiers behind them gaze at you with mild interest that is quickly lost. One yawns and two others continues a conversation after a scowl in your direction. One soldier in a Purple Dragon officers uniform walks over to the portal and peers through without entering.

"The sun has not set on the forest kingdom" she says stiffly

"Nor shall it, so long as we hold it in the sky" replies Lord Hawklin. "Captain please see that my companions here get some food and rest. They've come to clear away the vermin you reported. Their paperwork is in order" he pauses "All is as before?"

"No change your lordship" says the army captain. She looks tired and grim old beyond her youth and her eyes have a dark haunting look "Our friends from Waterdeep are preparing a report for the regent, it should be ready tomorrow."

"Thank you captain we will be ready to receive it. The Gods be with you."

"I pray that they are, your lordship" The captains weary voice and expression make it plain that she has her doubts, looking expectantly at the party. Lord Hawklin turns a solemnly waves you onwards, through the portal.

As you step through the portal the Captain silently escorts you to a large circular tent nearby, inside are three Purple Dragon Sergeants, taking your papers from you she hands them to the sergeants who examine them in detail.

Seeing that everything is in order Captain Dunman leads you toward a mess tent as you walk thru the camp you notice that the army camp is situated on a ridge which over looks the western end of Tilverton's gap and provides an excellent view of the region.

"Get some food into you, I expect you all to be gone first thing in the morning, also be warned that any spell that is cast within a 5 miles radius of the Black Crater is likely to malfunction" nodding curtly she leaves you to get settled in.

[Rhun]

"Well," says Thodan mirthfully, "I guess we will just have to hope that we find our foes further than five miles from the crater..."

[Amazing Triangle]

"I second that!"

[Bloodweaver1]

The past few days have been long and tiresome for Nira. She has felt the joy and sorrow of finding and then suddenly loosing new friends. Her body and mind aches from the fearsome fighting and server emotional turmoil. Leaving her horse in the cares of others, she sorts through her few belongs and settles in for the night. Finding a comfortable spot on the ground outside her tent she ruffles though her bag and with withdraws both her mandolin and drum. Closing her eyes she whispers a simple incantation (Ghost Pipes) over her drums. Opening her eyes, she smiles as she watches the drum take a life of its own and then as if on some silent que she begins to strum the strings to her mandolin.

OOC: Just plain Perform 14 +2 from Ghost Pipes (Lost Empires of Faerun) No bardic music

[D20Dazza]

Glandred settles down and listens to Nira's playing, something about it tugs at her memories, something that doesn't rise to the surface no matter how much she wills it.

[Rhun]

After finishing a meal in the mess hall, and listening to Nira play her music for a while, Thodan stands to retire. "I suggest we all get a good night's rest. We may not get another for quite some time." With that he walks to his bedroll, content to sleep out under the stars.

[stonegod]

Vardrin keeps to himself after arriving near the Crater, not out of any need to be alone, but in order to take time to study some spells. He nods in time to Nina's music, a small smile coming to his face. He closes his book at Thodan's comment, as prepared as he will every be for the following day's work.

[Lord_Raven88]

Leaving early in the morning you follow the map Captain Dunman gave you to the ruins, following the newly made roadway around Tilverton you manage to catch a glimpse of the Black Crater, the crater itself appears to be a circular depression a mile across, three roads can be seen leading up to the pit.

Even from a distance you can see that the pit appears to contain thick black fog, as you stare at the black fog within, you begin to get a sense of sinister movement, which sends a shiver down your spines.

Resuming your trek you follow the trail north around Tilverton until it meets up with the old Moonsea Ride, after travelling for 3 hours you spot the cairn you were told about, looking southwards as directed and see the remains of the ruins approx 5 miles southwest of your current direction.

Leaving the Moonsea ride means travelling across five miles of gully-ridden, rock-strewn, sun-baked, snake-infested wasteland.

OOC: I forgot to mention that before you left Lord Hawklin's manor you were given a piece of parchment which contains the Netherese alphabet, this is to let you confirm whether or not the ruins are Netherese in origin, also you were advised to keep the mounts you had requisitioned from Eveningstar, and you were each given leeway to buy standard supplies up to the value of 1000gp.

And finally the reward for this mission is 6000gp worth of gems each with a further 6000gp's each in three months time, also you were allowed to purchase items from the crown repository of magical items, so any and all expenditure should be completed before we progress any further.

[Thanee]

“I'm glad we only have to face a band of brigands. I don't really want to know what kind of vile forces lurk inside this blackness,” Leonara says as they can see the Black Crater. Even this far away, Stalker is visibly uneasy while they travel, but as they put more distance between themselves and the crater, the large canine seems to grow calmer.

[D20Dazza]

Glandred eyes the crater speculatively as the group passes"I wonder whether that has soemthing to do with my missing memories?" she muses to herself as she rides.

"Glad we have the horses to ride over that land, it looks snake infested to my untrained eyes" the she-dwarf mutters to no one in particular.

[Rhun]

Thodan surveys the land before them with a practiced eye. "Indeed, friend Glandred, the Stonelands are snake infested. And not just by the snakes that slither. These lands are truly untamed. From the stories I've heard, all manner of foul beasts infest this place."

[stonegod]

Vardrin shades his eyes as he looks over the Stonelands. "Barren and desolate. Good to hide in, good to disappear in. Probably should have someone scout ahead, look for any potential trouble. Might be best if we can find an alternate way in."