@Archon Basileus, assuming there are no more planned encounters, you could fast-forward to Dram with us describing what we're doing in the meantime (such as Marius asking Shayuri to identify his sword.
[My thoughts exactly! I wanted to gather all opinions on the matter before moving on! Thanks!
]
Despite the many risks involved, the party bets against the odds and rests for a while. The plan pays off, as it seems, since no more scouts or troops find them. Under the cover of dark skies, the companions depart once more, crossing the white deserts as crude, restless winds oppose their advance.
A few hours later, the sight suffers a radical change, becoming a mental effort to navigate gorges and shadows. Soon enough the desert begins to surrender its white dryness, giving place to a scarce, livelier savannah, dotted in the distance by the presence of scouting parties. Hagadark immediately identifies them as watchers from Lenath Valley, Dram's allies. The others recognize a peculiar, mixed party, composed mainly by halfings and humans.
It doesn't take long till they're approached by one of these groups, turning towards them from the south on purpose. Their steeds make it clear that there's no outrinning the watchers, and their manners show that they recognize Hagadark from a distance. The column greets the adventurers hastily, giving loose explanations about a ghost city, saurian troops and men from Odros before leaving. If war isn't here, it's certain to arrive soon enough....
The soft climb that follows the encounter drives the entourage straight towards a set of distant hills, surrounded by valleys of unnatural beauty. Within them, green pastures and long lakes become the home of a few small, wooden villages, inhabited by dwarves and humans, halflings and gnomes alike.
The small settlements reveal their complexity as the entourage crosses the oasis. The small races took to the hills and surrounding cliffs, building excavated complexes that might even be called cities, given the proportions of all other gatherings. Outside, by the open field, men make their homes, surrounding enviously a trading post. Adjacent to it, a permanent fair allows local and distant merchants a chance to earn their living, all races gathering through multi-colored tents. The place is open and receptive, and even so the greenskins will keep from coming down from the hills. As Hagadark knows well, they're not always welcome, Dwarven mistrust beng the main reason. It's all the same for most of them: they'd rather remain at the walls and up in the hills, where they managed to build their own gathering, the Conclave of Thunder. Either way, it's rare to see struggle between the Conclave and the people of Lanath. Whether this is the result of mutual tolerance or the device of Dram's authority the companions cannot tell. For the time being, uneasy glances and stern postures make the group move forward, towards the manor. Uphill, the situation is no less alarming: most of the greenskin warriors are gone to the edge of the valley, readying themselves for a possible conflict. The manor itself seems to be in uproar. The old construction, a palatine building of impressive architecture, meets an impressive flow of servants and students, all of them concerned with the chance of conflict. In hushed tones and weary gestures, people speak of the advent of terrible days, when the mettle of all living men will be tested, while others, less concerned, try to set such concerns aside, even though their fearful thoughts cannot be entirely hidden.
And so, under heavy expectations, the adventurers are led to meet Adalous Dram.
***
EVERYONE
The travelers are placed in the central study, being left to deliberate and rest as they arrive. Ale, wine and meat are placed before them in hasted paces, covering the long table that covers the center of the room. Around them, several portraits depict noblemen in strange outfits, completely unknown to them. The heavy darkness in the room is barely traversed by the dim light that enters from the tall, thin window panes, in multi-colored chokes that contrast with the fine tapestry that covers the white marble on the floors.
They barely have the time to relieve themselves of their loads when Adalous Dram enters.
The bronze double doors swing open as the man comes inside. At first, the adventurers ask themselves if this isn't a decoy. Dram would be far older than a hundred years, if some of the stories are true, and yet here stands a man in his early forties, bearing a well-shaved face, a hair that hints white by the temples and the vigorous body of a young man. As soon as he starts, though, no one doubts his identity: the strong voice and the deep gray eyes are as decided as they are charismatic, as experienced as they are jovial.
"Welcome, friends, to my refuge! We've been expecting you with great anticipation." - he gestures towards the arrivals, letting a subtle, enigmatic smile flourish upon his face. "And I am glad to see my close ally return to safety unharmed." - he stares at Hagadark with a friendly, yet calculated, scrutiny. Cunning and power seem to flow from him as he studies the arrivals with careful curiosity.
[You may use the trip downtime as you see fit, and you may plan stops at any point. Just include them in the next post.
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[MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=6801311]KahlessNestor[/MENTION] [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION]