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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8546510" data-attributes="member: 7015827">The morning of Tarsakh 3, 1373, the mage Aerikoth Ankharat rejoined his companions Dermot Kenner and Darrow Ironhelm in the newly rebuilt Gatereach guesthouse, having chosen to sleep elsewhere. The previous evening, he and Dermot had met Rosten Foregallow for the first time. The morose but tough-looking halfling had arrived in Westgate just days before and was introduced to them by Jandrico Swift. According to the innkeeper, Rosten had come from Cormyr and was known to Jandrico as the associate of a former business partner. Rosten's introduction to the city had been a heart-pounding and nearly fatal one, as he had met the elven wizard Lomilith at the Black Boot in River Gate and defended him from a vicious vampire attack. Rosten seemed more interested in gold than in vampires, but the former sailor was willing to join forces with the group, apparently not having any better current offers for employment.As he walked into the guesthouse behind the Gatereach's serving woman, Goruna, Aerikoth spotted the three of them and another dwarf, who introduced himself as Njord Vindastig, one of the volamtar - a wandering priest of Marthammor Duin. Njord had been asked to seek Darrow out in Westgate. Goruna placed the large breakfast tray down and pinched Dermot's bum as she departed, in line with her history of hopeful attentions paid to the ranger. Rosten took a look at the tray's contents and excused himself for a "hair of the dog", none evidently having been included for him, although there were two ales for the dwarves. (It is a wonder to me how alcoholic adventurers manage to survive for any length of time. That said, I've known more than one like that. And called him friend. --R)As Rosten returned, Aerikoth was reminding the others of the need to make contact with the Westgate associate of the Vampire Lord of the Crypt; the associate was supposed to appear at midnight in the Market district. After general agreement was reached that they should go meet the (person?) as a group, for safety reasons, the wizard turned to Njord and asked the dwarf why he had been seeking Darrow. Njord briefly explained that the high priest of Clan Ironhelm, Iskar, had sent him; apparently a schism was brewing within the clan. Njord said no more on the matter, declaring that he planned to help the group against the vampires and then go on with them to the clanhold. (It is true that the company left certain matters unresolved the last time they visited Clan Ironhelm. This included the status of Prince Dalgan, both in terms of his health and royal title. Although perhaps something more has occurred as well, since the dwarves were last heard from. --C)After finishing breakfast and drinks, the five departed the guesthouse and headed for the house of the Ascetic One in the West Gate district, where they had agreed to start the process of gathering allies. Darrow also had the unfinished business of carrying the bones of Aronson, the ghostly paladin and former companion of the Ascetic One, who had been bound to guard the entrance to the vampire lord's crypt. Arriving at the unassuming house, Dermot knocked loudly on the wooden door, and one of the Ascetic One's students let them in.The monk greeted the adventurers, noting the two newcomers Njord and Rosten, and observed that one of their original number was missing. He was reassured that Shanni had departed them after meeting the Lord of the Crypt, due to a difference of opinion over their actions, rather than as a result of her death. Dermot, never one to mince words or use too many of them, declared that they had found the castle of the vampire lord and also the bones of someone the Ascetic One knew.When the monk wondered aloud how this could be, Darrow stepped forward with his parcel of bones, and Aerikoth said one word: "Aronson" - which caused a look of pain and suffering on the monk of Ilmater. The Ascetic One said that he would bear this burden now - something which he could not do before - describing the lesson of self-mastery as the hardest one. The monk was surprised and pleased to hear from Aerikoth that "Tougal" - a name which the Ascetic One had not used since Aronson's death - had not been borne any ill will by the ghost of Aronson. (I am rarely accused of being a sensitive person, but for some reason - perhaps that the story also involves a fellow monk who is seeking a form of redemption - this touches my soul in a way that little else does. --R)Talk then turned to why Shanni had abandoned the group, namely their agreement to work with the Lord of the Crypt - an ancient evil - against the Westgate vampires. Aerikoth explained that a new Night King had risen in Westgate, having nothing to do with the vampire lord they had spoken with. Dermot shared that the Westgate vampire had found artifacts from the previous Night King which had aided his rise. The Ascetic One knew of the legend of the original Night King and his defeat at the hands of the Lathanderite paladin, Gen Soleilon. The monk stated that he saw no reason for the Lord of the Crypt to be lying about the situation, despite what he was. Aerikoth agreed with this stance. Dermot was less sure of the benefits of their bargain with the vampire lord, but observed that if they could get the Night King away from his "baubles", they perhaps had a shot.The monk agreed to assist them by seeking out further allies. He mentioned in passing that he knew of Thessar the Warrior, after Dermot referred to allies in the Shore. The group, having accomplished what they came for, turned to depart, intending to head next to the Temple of Lathander.</blockquote>

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