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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Crothian" data-source="post: 1325854" data-attributes="member: 232">The wine cellar was well kept and just a little dark.  But there were stairs going up and Cyree took them two at a time.  She gently opened the door at the top to look out and see what was around.    “Ahhh!!!!!!” CRASH!!!      A waitress screamed as she dropped a tray of empty dishes.  “Where…who….what….” breathed the very frightened waitress.  She was a human, here face at this point was a bit on the pale side but under more usual circumstances she was probably quite attractive.      “Deborah, are you okay?” a man came running in to check on the commotion.  He looked at Cyree and gave a warm smile.  “Welcome to the Grinning Goblin.  I’ll assume you came by means other then the front door.  I need to place a bell down there or something to warn us when unplanned arrivals happen.”    “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.  Let me help clean up.  I didn’t mean to frighten her.” Cyree spoke embarrassed.    “Nonsense, just a little excitement.  Deborah got this little mess.  So, you be needing a room? “ The man asked Cyree as he lead her into the main room.  The whole room was filled with people, mostly humans of Caladonian stock.  The place got real quiet as they stared at Cyree.  However, it didn’t seem to phase the man.    “My name is Justin Dreigh, and I’m the owner of this little inn.   I’ll put you up in a private room, is that okay?”  he asked.    “Ummm…sure, that sounds just fine,” replied Cyree a little unsure of herself.      “Here you are,” he continued “third door on the left, just up those stairs.” He pointed on up and she nodded, took the key, and went on up to check out the room.  The room was lightly decorated.  The bed was comfortable and she soon was asleep on it.  The next morning she awoke to the pleasant smells of breakfast.  Breakfast was a thick stew of potatoes and beef with plenty of warm bread.  She sat alone at the only unoccupied table.  The conversations around her were low and there were many sideward stares her way.      Cyree spent the next few days wondering around Thesden.  As she walked the many roads of the city the people parted for her.  Even in the busiest times of the marketplace there would be a parting of people as she walked through the crowds.  People gossiped and stared at her.  Mothers pulled their children out of her way and they few people who would talk to her were intimidated and very nervous.      After a week she found herself outside a small dwarven establishment called Fudd’s Beer.  She ducked in and found a small, cozy bar.  There were a few dwarves and humans drinking from think mugs.  She went up to the bar and order a mug of ale.    “You want the reguliar stuff and can you handle a mug of Steeltoes’s?”  the dwarven barkeep inquired.    “What’s Steeltoe’s?”  Cyree asked.    “Only the best ale period.” The barkeep said with conviction.    “Then give me a mug of that.” He poured her a mug and set it in front of her.  She took the mug raised it above her head and yelled out “Grum the Stout!!”  The bar went completely silent and then everyone raised there mugs and echoed “Grum the Stout!!” and then everyone downed their drink in a swift motion.    “Takes a brave Avelar to Grum Steeltoe’s Ale.  I like you.” He said with a smile.  Grum the Stout is the most famous dwarven hero.  He was a companion of Flynnderon the Sage and one of the Heroes of the Valentane.  It is dwarven tradition that whenever Grum the Stout is toasted, they all echo the toast and finish drinking whatever is in front of them.  It’s a time honored dwarven toast and they take it very seriously.  Few non dwarves have what it takes to properly Grum the Stout.      Cyree looked down at her empty mug thoughtfully. “Damn, that’s some fine Ale.”    “It’s Steeltoe’s Ale, I told best in the world.  Period.”  He answered solidily.    “Well, I’d like to get another then.  Name is Cyree.”    “I’m Norzin, great grand nephew to Steeltoe.“ He replied as he poured her a second mug of the ale.  This one Cyree drank much slower.      “What brings you to Thesdin?  From what I hear you seem to be wondering around looking for something that can’t be found?”  he asked.    “Not really looking as much as just seeing what’s there.  Can’t find something that I don’t know is there.”  She answered.      “That’s peculiar elf speak.  But if you’re looking for something along those less defined lines, perhaps you should seek out Belinda.”      “Who’s she?”    “Why, the Seer of Thedin.” Norzin answered with a serious look.    “I hadn’t heard anything of her.” Cyree stated.    “Well, the people around here aren’t really fans of her.  She does her thing and they mostly ignore her.  Lots of tall tales about her and whatnot.  She’s a pleasant enough person though.  Never gone to her for a seeing, but the few talks I’ve had with her see seems like a good person.  Just private.  Thesdin is a small town of a city.  We have more passer throughs then residents and people around here are used to jabbering.  So, they get a little funny about people that want a bit of privacy and don’t shed their life story with in the first week.” He grumbled.    Cyree finished up her ale. “Well, I’ll make a point to seeing her then.  Thanks for the fine Ale.” She paid up and waved as she walked back to the Grinning Goblin.  The next day she sought out Belinda’s place.  It was a small building on one of the smaller back streets of Thesdin.  It was small yet well maintained.  The shudders were closed and the place was not very welcoming.  She knocked gently on the door and waited.    A moment later the door opened.  Inside was a pretty woman with blonde hair that was in need of a brush looked at Cyree with a smile.  “Please come in” She said in a voice that seemed distant.    “Um…thanks.  I’m Cyree and I heard you’re a Seer.  I was wondering if I you could help me.” Cyree inquired.    Belinda momentarily had a surprised look on her face.  Then the small smile came back.  “Welcome Cyree.  I unfortunately cannot help you at this moment.  There’s a Storm coming and it clouds my sight.”    “Oh…I’m sorry.  How’s that?”  Cyree asked.    “Time flows and at times I can see small things that can happen.  But ever now and then there appears something that will happen.  The events causing it are already in place and they can not be changed.  Such is this Storm.  And until it passes my sight sees nothing else.”      Cyree stayed the day and talked with Belinda.  Belinda was not intimidated or uncomfortable with the Avelar.  They had some good tea and talked long into the night.  Cyree could easily tell that Belinda was very lonely.  She felt a bit of a kinship with her, for in the week Cyree had been in this town she had been mostly isolated from people.  She had an idea of what it must be like having that happen when one lived here and with ones own people.  The next day Cyree went back to Belinda’s after shopping for some things in the Market Place.  Belinda was happy to see her again and the two women talked and did a bit of decorating.  They talked quite a bit about Thesdin.  Cyree learned of Palos’ Pyramid.  It used to be a tower but one night the town woke up to it having changed and the town had spread away from it to provide room.  Palos was a very respected and intelligent wizard.  He might have been the most gifted of all time.  He grew up in Thesden and never moved away.  He was always approachable by the people and enjoyed their company.  However, since his death his place of residence has been used by wizards who wanted nothing to do with the city.  People avoided the pyramid.  It was not a place of warmth and friendship that the tower was.          Cyree also learned of Karen’s Hospital; a set of buildings a few hours north of the town.  Karen was a herbalist in Thesden many centuries ago.  At some point a hospital was built for her and she teaches people how to heal through mundane means.  Karen is still leaving even after a few centuries.  She is something of a mystery to the people of Thesden but they are thankful to have her near.  Cyree went there the next day.  The buildings have a familiar sense about them like she’d been here before.  Over the next few days Cyree found herself helping out at the hospital.  It is a large extended family, and everyone who is well enough to help does.  Cyree began teaching children.  Many of them were orphans that Karen took in to try to help.  No one has ever been turned away from the Hospital.  Cyree stayed up there for a while and every now and then came back to town for supplies and to visit Belinda.  The itch in her brain was still there though and she really wanted to figure out what was causing it.</blockquote>

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