*Eryic, you take the time to rough out and show the correct technique for beginning a short sword. Master Quill seems to be pleased, and finally he nods.*
"That'll do lad. You'll do fine here. Hax Packs is run by a giant, his name is Ku-Germo. He's a good man, keeps his place is good order, and there's plenty of elbowroom. He tends to get plenty of metalworkers, and keeps a large clean bathhouse."
*In the Weary Chisel, speaking to Sharn.*
"Sharn," Eryic asks, "Is it possible these dreams... that they do not allude to a literal storm? Do the spirits have a reason to be angry? If not, then perhaps they are trying to warn us?"
"I honestly don't know. I came here to learn how to make my spells and witchery beautiful, not study the ways of the spirits. For that you'd need a more mystical witch. Try my teacher Quelsa, she'll know anything worth knowing. I don't always follow what she says, but she knows more than me. She's at the Wind Temple in the priest's quarter," he says wearily, drinking more of his ale.
Lo-Duran furrowed his brow. "I have participated in the required minimum training, but my talents principally lie elsewhere. Though if you have need of me, I will serve to the best of my ability." Lo-Duran paused. "Do you foresee such trouble ahead, Se-Garam?"
"Last year I would have said know, but there's been a great deal more trouble recently and I worry it could come to a head during the festival. There's been more fights, more thefts, more assaults, everything. I've had my officers running ragged, and an extra trained pair of eyes during the festival would be more than welcome. I know you're on vacation, so I'll only ask that you come to me the day before the festival to review the places you'll be at, and for the festival itself," the Steward says, running her hand over her tightly-braided hair in a gesture of nervousness.
*Agracahn, after a few more minutes of posturing, finally the human woman remembers where Barlereen's dwelling is.*
"Down Dancer's Lane, turn right on Quarter Street, second house on the left. Lovely place with the painted walls and exotic gardens all draped with silks. And her
servants," she exclaims, "Beautiful, all of them, a feast for the eyes."
*Agracahn, you would know that Barlereen is a noted exotic dancer and choreographer, well known for her sensual performances. The real thing of note to you is that Barlereen is a litorian woman.*
*Matzerath, in your asking you get some odd glances. While you're impeccably dressed for a noble, no amount of clothing, jewelry or makeup will conceal your race. However, your bearing and manner seem to convince most that you do indeed work for a noble. In opportunities for robbery, you can see many. There will be public performances all over the city of musical, magical, and dance shows, as well as open-air galleries and shops, in addition to all of the city's galleries being open at once. There will be huge crowds, all focused on the art in front of them instead of their pocketbooks.*
*As for the subdued nature of the city, you discover there's been more than the usual amount of crime in the city lately. Also, many of the more famous artists have not been seen in public for weeks, which has set a current of unease through the populations of artists. In addition, the rumors of some terrible impending storm have a portion of the city's magicians thoroughly spooked.*
*Urgo, you've heard historically on a strange magical storm once before. In the time of the dramojh wars, one of their fortresses was not brought down by the giant forces. It was brought down by a terrible storm of wind and fire, which was recorded faithfully by the besieging giant army in terrifying detail. The storm roared from the east and engulfed the fortress, burning it to ash. No one inside escaped, including the captives. No one knew where it had come from or why.*
*Magically, it might be possible to cause a wide-scale storm-like disturbance, but it would be a spell of frightening power. Whoever had the ability to wield it would not be a person to cross.*
"So, Soen how would you determine what is causing this, any ideas of the source? Where would you go?"
"Quite honestly, I think it's coming from the mountains. I want to go to the Elder Mountains and search for whoever or whatever is causing this. I don't know why... but I think that's the place. I can't give you any better explanation than a gut feeling," Soen says, his wings trembling slightly.
"I have more than a gut feeling. Wind rushes down fastest from the mountains. It's logical, and I've seen mountains in my dreams once or twice. It's better than sitting here waiting for a storm to break over our heads," Pai chimes in.
