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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Old Fezziwig" data-source="post: 263288" data-attributes="member: 59">Prologue (Move 3)30 Flamerule 1372 DR, Caerrhen, Damara-Impiltur borderIt is currently unseasonably warm and uncomfortable in northwestern Impiltur, with uncharacteristically high humidity. There is no noticeable wind.Yanis Princetonson, Approximately 0910 hoursKarok pulls a chair up to the other edge of the bar's corner.  After settling on a breakfast (eggs, cheese, mead) with Jannah , he looks around and reaches into his cloak with his left hand, pulling out a small object that he palms and keeps hidden from view.  "Work is plentiful and, so far, it suits me.  I'm much indebted to you for your aid, Yanis, and I know you won't be around Caerrhen forever, but I've talked to some men from the Foundry and the Mines (I've arranged to be staying in the dormitory on the second floor here) and it looks like everything should be fine."  Nearly breathless, he's saved from trying to add onto his sentence by the appearance of his breakfast.Placing it before him, Jannah gives the tab, "For the two of you, that'll be 3 silver, 4 copper each."  As she talks, your eyes begin to glaze over.  You blink.  When they open, you see the entire inn burning, flames licking the walls, melting the mugs and glassware, the smell of charred food and wood from the kitchen.  Jannah melts into a pile of viscous goo, while the skin of Karok's face begins to fester and ooze, his cloak turning a sickly yellow in the lights of the fire.  The timbers above you begin to crack, fall, miner's families pouring out of the dormitory.  The old miner on the far end of the bar cackles hideously, and starts to pull a squirming rat out from inside of his mouth..."Yanis?  Are you going to pay?"  Karok's voice breaks the flames, and the Tankard seems to be back to normal.  Both he and Jannah look downright puzzled. [Sanity Check: roll of 85 on d100; Yanis loses 2 sanity points from the vision.]Sir Zichard Danilk, Fezzin Verghenheim, Approximately 1110 hoursThe room itself is nothing terrifically special or offensive.  In short, passable, comfortable, and reasonably secure.  "So, y'be wantin f'r somewhere t'kep y'r harse?"  Draegor looks at you thoughtfully.  "Well, t'be fair wit' a man sich as y'rself, there's not a place in all Caerrhen in th'manner'f a stable.  Jus' me pitching post and a similar sarvice at th'Elk & Star.  Not much, but free, an' we can wark up some scraps f'r 's feed.  Spakin' of which, the room'll run you an' Clangeddin's servant, y'r friend, 7 silvers for the night, that's 3 an' 5 coppers each.  Long tarm residency negotiable, of carse, but no time off f'r gude behavior."  After collecting the money, he heads down the stairs and to the bar.Meanwhile, Fezzin has plopped himself down at the bar next to a rather old miner, who smells of strong ale.  It's your guess that the elderly patron has been deep in his cups for the better part of the day.  Jannah notices you, takes your order, and plops down a healthy looking ale.  She smiles, "Now, Draegor's not wanting for this to get spread, but he's a policy of making sure that his brethren are treated well."  She pauses for a second and adds, "Your first ale's free, as well as your companion's if he likes.  That's all, so, well met, I'm sure and welcome to the Tankard."At this, Draegor comes down from the second floor, followed shortly by Zichard, who goes to attend to his mount.  When that's finished, he settles in next to you, and ends up ordering a cider of sorts.  The cider is very aromatic and strangely bitter, but certainly not unpleasant.  In response to your inquiry about the horse, Draegor and Jannah plead ignorance, and even summon the cook, a man by the name of Arnich, to check with him.  Not a one has seen the horse.  Meanwhile, Fezzin, you notice that the old miner is showing a peculiar interest in the two of you.  He's gangly and scruffy, with a tattered yellow cloak over heavily worn clothes.  He looks like a typical drunk, with the exception of his eyes, which are bright and even somewhat menacing in their keenness.Ezra Geonora, Approximately 1215 hoursThe two men, clearly Moon Elves, as judging by their pale, blue speckled skin, and even more clearly twins, do indeed speak Damaran.  Introducing themselves as Brothers Masathael and Isannhen, they bow to you.  "A Brother in Ilmater is always well met." "The Yellow Rose is a most charitable and blessed order in the eyes of Ilmater."  Traditional, almost formal greetings, to be sure, which, although nice, still do not help you tell which elf is who.  As for the stained glass panel, neither is sure what it is supposed to be, although one of them does volunteer that "it came from far away, maybe from Athkatla or Calimport.  A travelling merchant, on his way north to Bildoobaris in Narfell brought it to us with a writ from his holiness, Father Alixanather of Athkatla, to accept it as a gift for the temple."  The other chimes in, motioning to the other panels on the other wall, "the rest of the panels were made in Lyrabar for us by the Ilmaterian glazier, Calannspyr Boranthel."  Each time the two elves mention a name, they beam proudly, the silent one nodding profusely.  By the moment, the two of them seem younger and younger.  They beg your pardon, bow slightly, and return to their work.The completed glass panels on the far wall are typical, in that you've seen the style and lines in some of the illuminated manuscripts that the monks back at the Monastery of the Yellow Rose spend so much time copying.  You still have the distinct feeling that something is watching you, but the temple is nearly silent, excluding the ministrations of the woman in white and the work of the Elven twins.  The largest plate itself is a scene depicting an Ilmaterian comforting the sick during a plague, very typical.  [Spot Check: (roll 18) + (Wis +2) = 20]  More interesting than the panels, however, is the odd dark shape behind the center panel.  The thing behind it on the other hand, seems to be moving, which makes the panel's focus indistinct and sometimes draws attention away from the Ilmaterian and to the plague victims, particularly a yellow cloaked corpse in the back of the scene.  As you study it, you become more and more certain that the shape is moving, almost pushing on the glass at times.  No one else in the temple seems to have noticed this.Oskar Dankil, Approximately 1415 hoursThe Foundry Complex of Caerrhen is a walled enclave just south of the Miner's Tankard.  A couple of middle-aged human toughs guard the gate, one slightly taller than the other, both overly serious; more flab than muscle, more attitude than aptitude, they've clearly passed their prime.  Not that their prime ever consisted of more than harassing the local youths after a particularly vicious prank.  The taller of the two men leans over you when you ask after Keargrynn Andlespar and grunts, "Andelspar?  You'll find him in the Third Forge, smallest building in the enclave."  He smirks at you with this last observation.  Half chuckling to himself at his cleverness, he moves aside to let you pass, he snarls out the directions to the Third Forge: "Go all the way to the southeastern corner of the Foundry, all the way in the back."  You can't help but notice that his partner has fallen fast asleep at his post.The actual complex consists of five buildings.  Just past the gate and to your right is the Administration Building of the Caerrhen Mines.  Rather new, it is still covered with soot from the forges.  On your left lies the Warehouse, guarded by a small group of rough looking men.  These men look considerably more competent than the two toughs you encountered at the gates.  Behind these three buildings are the three forges -- Forge One dominates most of the area, with the other two forges just to its left, Two sitting in front of Three.  As compared to Caerrhen proper, the din and bustle of this complex is astounding.  As you pass Forge Two, you hear something of a commotion within the building [Oskar made a Listen Check: (Roll 15) + (Wis 0) = 15]. As your head turns, the corpse of a badly charred dwarf flies out of one of the windows, quickly followed by a snarling creature in a flaming cloak.[Distance from creature, 10 ft., Initiative: (Roll 12) + (Dex +1) = 13; Snarling Creature covers the 13, and acts first.]  Cloak aflame, the creature snarls at you, a long studded tongue reaching out of its mouth, and lunges away, back and behind Forge Three.  As it turns away, you see the hint of a pinkish tail peeking out from beneath its robe. OOC: At the end of its move, the creature is at least 30 ft. away from you, and just about out of sight.</blockquote>

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