Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Medriev" data-source="post: 4498589" data-attributes="member: 21864">Chapter 7 - Winter Travelers (Part 3)“What think you of it,” said Berdar as he held out the knot of wood to Enlishia.“It is a map, clearly,” said Enlishia, speaking quietly as she and the companions now shared the attic of Wrafton’s Inn with nearly a dozen others from the vale who had come to Winterhaven for the Midwinter feast. They had given up their rooms for Berdar and his two companions at Enlishia’s insistence and now lived alongside dead chickens and salted sides of pork and beef that hung from the rafters in the hope that Lord Padraig or Sister Linora would buy them for their lavish tables.“That much is obvious,” rumbled Erlmoor but the words mean nothing to me.Two phrases, Nepenchil’s Rest and Fiendish Foot were carved in common runes beside the strange map that was carved into the wood. Dulvarna shrugged and the hooded woman who called herself Thira remained silent. At last, Lavren spoke up.“The Fiendish Foot I have heard of,” said the elf, recalling a tome he read three decades before. “It is a dark relic that grants its wearer some power of demons. That it is carved here makes no sense.”“And if the goblin is from this keep you spoke of,” said Kel turning her wide, almond shaped eyes on Lavren. They were all that could be seen from the depths of her hood and the elf was intrigued with what little he had seen of the woman. Her body was undoubtedly shapely but he did not even know if she was woman or elf maid or of some other race that walked the Realms.“And I have heard tell of Nepenchil,” she said then, turning to the others. “Lord Nepenchil was an eccentric Cormyte noble who moved his hold to a keep in the Hullack Forest a century ago during the reign of Palaghard II, great grandsire of Azoun IV. It is said that invitations to the week-long hunts he hosted were quite coveted by the nobles of his time.”They all looked to Kel then, wondering where she had come by such knowledge of Cormyr, intrigued as Lavren was.“We should seek out this tower,” she said then, turning to Lavren and seeming to wink at him. “The Hullack is along the East Way. We will pass it on the way to Suzail.” The last was directed at Berdar and he nodded gently.“Our business is not finished here,” said Dulvarna sternly. “The Keep is still a danger here and far from beaten.”“And as the goblin had this map then the Keep you fear may be tied to the Fiendish Foot and Lord Nepenchil’s keep,” answered Kel.“And what will you do while we seek this keep, Lord Berdar?” asked Dulvarna.“Lord Padraig has offered me the Purple Dragons who remain here as escorts,” answered Berdar. “I can spare my escorts for a little while at least.”“Very well then,” said Dulvarna. “When you leave we will come with you and seek this Nepenchil’s Rest.”“It is as settled as it can be then,” said Berdar. “But before you go on, my companions should reveal their true selves. Show them.”The two women hesitated but then, with hasty glances to be sure no others in the attic looked, they pulled back their hoods. Thira’s hood revealed a face that was pale and shapely but from her head grew two thick horns that curved back behind her ears. Her hair was short and bright, white blonde. Kel, meanwhile revealed herself to be an elf and a devastatingly beautiful one, though her skin was black as night and her hair as white as pale moonlight.“A drow and a tiefling,” gasped Lavren as the two women hastily pulled up their hoods.“Does this change anything?” asked Berdar. “It should not for Kel and Thira have served me well for years.”“No, it changes nothing,” answered Dulvarna at once. “We judge by deeds, not race.”“Agreed,” said Enlishia. “Friends of yours are friends of mine, Berdar.”“For that, we thank you,” said Kel then. “We should set out as soon as Midwinter is done.”It was agreed and a dark elf and a tiefling joined the companions for a while at least.</blockquote>

Verification