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"
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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.
