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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rhael" data-source="post: 242444" data-attributes="member: 5269">Player's Perspective (002)Aborted attempts at adventure...Unfortunately, Matthias was unable to tell us much about the scroll himself, but directed us to an associate of his in Baronil, a town about a week’s walk south of Esgaro.  Without wasting time with too much detail, we travelled south to meet with the scholar in Baronil.  The only notable event being a stopover in Norgar where Mareth entertained himself with a buxom (and experienced) young serving girl.  I overheard her later complaining that she couldn’t feel a thing.  Just kidding.The man we were sent to meet was a surly bastard, but was able to provide us with a rough translation, but it took a couple of days.According to the translation, the document spoke of warriors named Enlor and Adrestus, the kingdom of Mareciot, Alinulindal, Ninrandir (which is apparently a sword), however the entire thing was quite cryptic in it’s references.  The tombs of Adrestus and Enlor were mentioned, 'Adrestus nigh the mouths of the Temmersel' told us that he was relatively nearby.  From it's description of 'verdent realms' we discerned that the possible location of Adrestus’ tomb was the forest near Taureth – a major city on the coast, and near the end of the Temmersel (river) about a two week’s walk east of Esgaro.We thanked the man, paid him and set off for home, then Taureth.  The trip to Taureth was uneventful, and as soon as we arrived we headed for an inn/tavern I had been to before with my father, the Drum and Sword.  The innkeeper, Farrel didn’t recognise me, but was happy to take our money and give us rooms.That evening, sitting in the common room of the D&S we heard many rumours of the area, particularly relating to the area to the north-west of town known among the locals as the Hoardeep.  Reputedly haunted, rumours of great treasure, dragons, witches and a wizard’s tower reached our ears.  However, since many of the locals stayed away from the area, specific details were unavailable apart from the fact that the forest that lay approximately a half-hour walk from the city designated the beginning of the Hoardeep and we “really shouldn’t go there, it’s haunted!”To expand slightly, apparently, there is a dragon, supposedly chromatic, possibly green or black living in a large hill towards the centre of the area.  People also spoke of a wizard’s tower, apparently built by a crazed wizard to keep suitors away from his daughter, or possibly for the specific purpose of testing adventurers.  Whichever reason was given for it’s creation, there is a great treasure for the taking by those who can conquer the tower’s tests.As there was a decent chance that the crypt of Adrestus lay within this Hoardeep, it was there we decided we must go.Some investigative work by Reikon told us of a reclusive scholarly group in Taureth referred to as the Loremasters who may be able to help with the finer points of the document we found.  Entarsis and I decided to visit them the next morning.The LoremastersThe door was answered by a curt, but rather attractive red-headed woman in her late twenties or early thirties (perhaps) who inquired as to the reason for our presence.  When we explained that we sought information on a document found in an ancient tomb and we were taken into the sanctum.  I had never seen so many books in one place!  The rooms were oak-panelled, well lit, and very quiet.  We were lead through to a smaller room, still packed with books, with two large couches in it.  Sitting on one was a wizened man with a long white beard, who looked very scholarly.  I imagined Entarsis would like to look like that one day…  I chose my position on the couch very carefully – next to the red-head who answered the door.  She did not appear impressed.The old man looked up from the scroll he was perusing, and I felt a little more at ease.  His first question was: “How did you find us?!”  I was surprised at the vitriol in his voice.I stammered a reply that a man one of my friends met in a tavern had mentioned them and that was all I knew.“Ah.  I believe I know of the person you speak of.  He shall be dealt with.  We do not condone the publicising of our presence or our work.  Now that you are aware of our existence and our location you are sworn to secrecy.”I nodded my compliance with their request.“Of course, sir.  We were unawa-““Of course you were!  How could you know?  However, if you remember nothing else from our conversation, warrior, remember that if we find out you have betrayed us we will not be inviting you back here for a little chat about it.  Am I understood?”Once again, I nodded, wondering at the sort of power these people could bring to bear.  “I understand.”  I said.  Hoping to placate the old man, I continued. “We merely came seeking information and were told that the Loremasters were the most likely to be able to assist.”With that, the interrogation appeared to be over, but the remainder of the meeting was quite tense.  Entarsis and I began explaining our situation and our reasons for being there.Leaving the original document in Enlor’s tomb cost us time, as the Loremasters requested the original document, not trusting the translation we had been given.  They also requested a hundred gold for their troubles which we paid our of our increasingly small collection of coins.  They were able to give us some information for free, however.  When we described our meeting with the old man back in Esgaro, the black riders and the symbol on their armour.  They guessed, and they stressed ‘guessed’, that the black riders may have been representatives of the ‘Fists of Hextor’, an order devoted to the service of the evil god of tyranny (and half-brother of Terjon’s and, indeed, my own chosen deity, Hieroneous) numbering in the hundreds and “were not a foe to be trifled with.”Warramayl and I travelled back to the tomb in Esgaro by horse (we could only afford two at the time), cutting the travelling time down considerably.So, now two weeks after first arriving in Taureth and after travelling to Esgaro and back again we were prepared to head off into the Hoardeep the next morning.</blockquote>

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