Prologue (Move 1)
30 Flamerule 1372 DR, Caerrhen, Damara-Impiltur border
It is currently unseasonably warm and uncomfortable in northwestern Impiltur, with uncharacteristically high humidity. There is no noticeable wind.
Yanis Princetonson — Approximately 0900 hrs
The Miner's Tankard is a rather large, if poorly lit and dusty, stone box of a tavern located just outside the western gate of Caerrhen. Two large circular tables dominate the half of the Tankard nearest the entrance (one to either side), with the other half occupied by a large, well-crafted, horseshoe-shaped stone bar. Apparently the owner has given no thought to any sort of decoration of any kind — the walls are bare, devoid of anything other than a few small rectangular windows spotted here and there. As you enter, a small grey and white cat brushes past your legs, mews, and hops out the door...
Even this early in the morning, the tavern buzzes with energy; the bar is crowded with miners — some are eating breakfast before their shift, while others, apparently off work for the while, drink ale and talk at each other. Dispersed in the crowd of working men are a couple of smaller children and a few women playing and eating breakfast — clearly some of the miners and their families live here. It's hard to tell if Karok is here quite yet, all the miners look vaguely similar in the Tankard's dimness. At any rate, for all it's faults, the Tankard itself is comfortable, even in this heat.
Sir Zichard Danilk, Fezzin Verghenheim — Approximately 1100 hrs
After a long morning, you've finally arrived in Caerrhen via the dusty South Road. The village is very isolated, and looks rather worn down. Although it's clear that Caerrhen is not a very poor place, it feels well-used and old. The buildings are mostly stone, reinforced with wooden beams, roofs, and windows — they are also largely indistinguishable from each other. For midday, the village is rather quiet. Moving through the village center, you can see a large, new (and thus, distinctly out of place) temple of Ilmater. The symbol of Ilmater — white hands, bound at the wrist in red cord — dominates the side of the temple, ostentatiously carved out of ivory and bloodstone.
In front of the temple, the dusty road swings west, cutting a swath through the village and off into the mountains. Following the road with your eyes, you can see two large buidings outside town — one, a veritable stone box, has a sign depicting a pickaxe and a flagon hanging from it's wall; smoke pours from the chimney of the other.
Ezra Geonora — Approximately 1200 hrs
The dust and soot of the Caerrhenian foundry, combined with the oppressive heat and humidity, make the first impression of Caerrhen you receive rather unpleasant — an idea reinforced by the general decrepitness of the village and the dead silence of it at midday — aside from a few cats, hardly a soul is stirring. From your vantage point, just outside the town on the Mine Road, you see boxy, old, stone houses with rotten wooden roofs interspersed with the occassional tree. Maybe more notable than this, however, is the obscenely new and well designed Temple of Ilmater in the center of town, the upper levels of which you can see clearly from here.
Daan — Approximately 1300 hrs
A small pine grove just southwest of the village proves to be the best spot for a campsite that you've found yet. Barely adequate, but secluded and quiet. You can see little of Caerrhen over it's stone walls from this vantage point, but you can hear a few workers starting to pitch tents a little bit north of you. Laughing and singing, they're clearly getting ready for the Shieldmeet festivities tomorrow.
Aside from these noises, Caerrhen, and the small grove you're standing in now, are all but silent. The occasional bird breaks the silence with a plaintive chirp, but otherwise, there's nothing.
Oskar Dankil — Approximately 1400 hrs
Arriving in town a little later than expected, you're stricken by the eerie silence. Stone and wood houses are scattered throughout the town, but only the occasional person wanders outside. A child here, a man there, but not the usual bustle of a typical village. It is oppressively hot here (almost like a forge, but not quite), but the pervasive calm is odd, to say the least.
Judging by the smell and the smoke, the Foundry (and therefore, the Miner's Tankard, as well) are located just outside town and to your west. If you're to find Keargrynn Andelspar, these places look to be as good as any to start...
OOC — Next turn Saturday 13 July...
