Lando, steps down from his steed, kneeling, he rubs his hand across the dirt on the ground. A sharp but brief pulse flows through his veins.
“Finally” he exclaims softly.
He looks at Yvara’s eyes, they have a barely visible violet glaze to them. Lando knows she felt it too. Lando can’t help but wonder if Roman has had a similar feeling since making it here.
Lando stands up, turning in Moksads direction,” it might be best we find lodging and a place to rest our steeds. We are already a peculiar looking bunch with diverse dialects. Last thing we need is to label ourselves as wealthy or having a bunch of stuff parading around town.”
Lando takes his War Hammer and Shield to put them on his back.
Yvara speaks, “Perhaps we should head the lord’s suggestion young Moki, then we can load up on gear and have a good place to store them”
"ok I only recently learned of currency and monetary mediums of exchange but a fortnight ago all. Appreciate, please that I may overestimate our capacity from time to time or all the time. Thank you.
Elena looks around Emberwood Village with dread in her heart. This is it. This is finally it. She's actually here. Not really in Drakkenheim proper but much closer to it than she would like. She isn't particularly surprised that they would be facing exorbitant prices. It looked like there were few opportunities for making a living aside from extorting adventurers desperate enough or dumb enough or both to come here. "We may be better off lodging our steeds here when we go into the city," she says. "Cities are perilous travel for horses as it is. The Flame knows it'll be worse in Drakkenheim."
The dust falls from Lando's fingers and joins the rest of the clouds of it kicked up by the wagon wheels, but in another minute it settles down on the meandering road into Emberwood village as Danore's wagons rattle off in the distance towards the center of town.
Abandoned homes line this section of the road. It appears that Emberwood village was never too tightly packed, as the tenements and manors are arranged with some trees, gardens, and privacy in mind. Whatever they had in mind, though, certainly isn't fulfilled in the dead, dried out thorn scrub and crackled shambles of trellises and fences, and the hunched over, split figures of dead trees that looks as if they perhaps once towered in majesty.
Perched in one of the dead trees is a young girl, perhaps ten years of age, freckled and with long red hair. She wears an undyed dress and apron, and a cap over her hair, the fabric of her clothing old and worn, but carefully mended to leave no rough edges. She turns her head away from the dust as the wagons rattle by, and then goes back to staring at the party with great interest for a minute before leaping down from the tree and skipping over to them. Her freckled face glows with a beaming smile. "Howdy!" she says, and skids to a halt right in front of Lando's steed's nose, which she pats in a friendly greeting before turning her winning smile to the party. "I'm Crowe! Emma Crowe, of Crowe and Sons Smithy. You look like a very important lord, sir. You've got such a pretty horse, and such a big entourage! I always wanted a horse, but we can't afford one. It's really hard to feed them here." The little girl straightens herself up proudly, as if remembering her business. "By the way, since you're new, if you'd like a tour, I'm a tour guide! And I only charge one gold piece to show you where everything is!"
The dreams start again after Todesfeld. The endless void, a rock drifting through it, it's poison and corruption. A blue green gem in a sea of stars. A blazing comet and bustling city. Fire, death, and then darkness. Strange lights appear, haze, monsters, horrors. The haze and strange lights cover the blue green gem. The stars are winking out. And then on that blue green gem choked in haze, there is a blinding flash of golden light. Roman awakens with a start sitting up in his bedroll. The small fire casts enough light for him to make out the sleeping forms of his comrades, across the camp Lando is on watch. He looks to the horizon, in the distance he can see a faint glow of some kind of strange light. Danore said that was Drakkenheim, they should be arriving in Emberwood Village by early afternoon. Too be so close to their goal after so long filled him with excitement. Settling back down in his bedroll, he drifts off thinking of the road behind him.
The next day the arrive in Emberwood, saying their goodbye to Danore. Roman turns to Lando with a grin "It has been a long road to get M'lord, my thanks for getting me here" Bowing his head "I agree lodgings first. And somewhere to stable the horses" He says nodding to Elina. Looking at the few remaining gold given to him by father Perrin "I doubt I have enough coin for more than a few nights at an inn. Maybe on of those cabins that Danore spoke of" As the party ride up the the edge of small village and the meet the plucky young Emma Crowe, grinning he flips her a gold coin "Your most preceptive young one we are newcomers. Please lead on"
Lando moves his hand as to lead emma on after receiving Roman’s coin.
Lando say,” Now my entourage, please look out for the best looking in for lodging. Once found allow me to talk the price down, surely if Im recognized as a lord here, that should serve us well in negotiations. *turns gives a wink to the party* *Turning back to Emma, we are here on official business of House Spire.
Oh and Emma dont skip out on the juicy details of every location, the rumors, the gossip, and who really runs the place we need it all.
Emma beams widely as she reaches to catch the coin, snatching it from the air with a practiced grab. She then carefully places it in a small pouch hanging from her belt. "Thank you, sir!!" The girl bounces in place excitedly, and she beams at Lando, dipping an awkward but confident little curtsy as a commoner to a lord. "Okay, my Lord Spire, we'll start with lodgings, then! I bet you'll want to see the Red Lion Hotel first! But we'll pass lots of other things on the way. And, oh yes, I've got lots of stories! So many adventurers come to Emberwood village, and they get in all kinds of trouble!" Looking back and forth between Roman and Lando, she peers up at each of them shyly. "May... may I ride with one of you? You can see me point the way easier from up on your horse!" Doubtless she would have little trouble leading the way on foot, but it's pretty clear that she really just wants to ride on a horse.
Elena doesn't even bother to suppress her eye roll at Lord Lando. Typical Elyrian noble. Absolutely ignorant of the local laws and customs and ever so eager to throw their weight around. Instead she turns to Emma Crowe and finds herself intrigued by her spirit. She reached down her hand and said, "You can climb up, child."
Ah yes perfect, says Lando. *Looking at Elena* Child Ill give you an extra gold piece if your warm spirit can melt that chip on my companion Elena’s shoulder. * He looks at Elena just over his glasses with a sly grin*
Emma beams as she runs over and reaches up to grab Elena's hand, the freckles on her face dancing as her smile seems to cover her whole face. As Elena pulls her up and seats the child in front of her on the horse, Emma shouts out, "Now let's lead the way to the Red Lion Hotel!" She flushes at Lando's teasing offer of another gold piece, but is clearly far too excited to be riding to be much discomfited. She leans forward to stroke Cassa's mane with one hand, and points ahead down the road with the other. "The hotel is on the other side of the village, so we'll pass through Caravan Court and the village center first!"
The group rides on, a very impressive looking formation with a grand warhorse at its head bearing Lando and his bride, flanked by Roman on the guard's horse with Moksad clinging behind, Elena on her own horse coming behind, with Emma perched in front of her, waving her arms to indicate the way. Elena has had enough military training to call out the direction succintly, and Lando has had more, as has his horse Elusive and Roman's guard's horse, both of which step smartly as soon as they hear the commands. Emma is clearly enthralled by the sight of the haphazard little procession, that big smile staying on her face.
The road winds through a neighborhood of abandoned small farmsteads, and, closer to the village center, townhouses and a few manors. "Before the whole land died, and nothing could grow anymore," Emma chatters on, "a lot more people lived in our village. But there's so many abandoned cottages and farms, sometimes travelers will come and try to fix them up. This one here," she points at an old farmhouse on small acreage, "two men from Altbruke started repairing it, and built some furniture. But it was just the two of them, so when they were out in the ruins, bandits snuck in and took all their stuff. But then, they didn't actually ever come back from the ruins, so they didn't mind." She giggles.
As the group rides along, Emma points to a partially-burned two-story manor house as they pass it. "That's Eventide Manor. It's haunted! Nobody goes there."
The abandoned buildings begin to cluster closer together as the town square comes into view ahead. A wide expanse with a boarded-up well at the center, and what probably used to be a village green when the grass still grew, is now filled with a bustle of activity. Covered wagons, canvas tents, and makeshift market stalls crowd the old green, and milling around them are all manner of travelers, adventurers, and merchants, exchanging goods and coins, talking, laughing, and you can even hear the music of a few fiddles and pipes from minstrels amongst the stalls, waiting for coins to be tossed their way. There is an excitement in the air, even in this lazy afternoon hour, as that of prospectors hoping to make their fortune even in this ugly, dreary, dangerous land. Amongst the more usual rabble, the party can see a few armed and armored thugs loading heavy, leaden chests into a wagon.
"This is Caravan Court!"Emma explains, bouncing excitedly. "This is where everyone buys supplies for going out into the ruins. You can buy all sorts of things here, but it's all expensive. Dad only takes me to shop here about once a year. So, like, never." She pouts, but quickly moves on. "The well water is contaminated, so that's why it's boarded up, and there's no grass on the green anymore, so it's just a market all the time. Coming and going, all kinds of different people!" She points up to a road that leads off to the left from the square. "The Red Lion Hotel is that way!"
"Wow! look at this place! I wonder what we can buy! I wonder what shopping actually is!" " I hear people have haggling negotiations while they barter-- can we do that please!?"
*bumps into a prospector absorbed in himself, knocking fellow's hat to the ground*
As they ride through the outskirts of the various abandoned house of Emberwood Village. He was surprised that anyone still lived here, all the farmland seemed withered and dead. As his listens to the child talk, he looks out to the horizon toward Drakkenheim. On the wind he can smell ozone, to be finally so close after such a long time. As they enter Caravan Court he looks about at the various stalls and vendors. "I am surprised to see so many merchants, are they all here for Delrium?" Looking to Emma "We heard there was cottages for rent, where could we find them?
The man that Moksad bumped into is on the shorter and stockier side, and a bit older, too, with white hair and mustache and a face tanned and aged from years under the sun. A serious scowl ripples over his face as he picks himself up from his stumble, turning to face his accidental assailant, but his expression softens with curiosity as he accepts his hat back and regards the woodman's strange attire, and behind him, the imposing entourage on horseback. "No trouble at all," he says, pleasantly. "New in town?"
Emma laughs and waves from her perch on the front of Elena's saddle. "Make way!" she shouts. "Make way for the great Lord Spire and his entourage!" She smiles at Roman. "Most everybody comes here for delerium, yeah. There's folks here that will pay a LOT for it... a LOT! More than my dad makes in a year working as a blacksmith! But it's REALLY dangerous to go get it. Lots of people come, but lots of 'em go into the city and they don't come back out!"
Her expression turns thoughtful. "Cottages? Karin at the Bark and Buzzard will rent those out to travelers. Homes that were abandoned, but she's fixed them up. They're nice! I stayed in one once. But the Red Lion Hotel is such a better fit for Lord Spire and his entourage!" The child sits up straight and proud, as if she's just as much a part of the entourage as Elena and Roman are. Then she giggles. "But it's up to you! Where to? Red Lion Hotel, or Bark and Buzzard?"
"Please continue your fine tour young lady. And we will decide after seeing both." Looking about the various people "We have heard on that not all the visitors are here for Delerium. Some are on some kind of pilgrimage? Is that true?" Spying a few less then savory looking individuals "Is there anyone who maintains law and order here? Do you have a Lord who protects you?"
The stocky prospector nods. "There's a lot of them folks coming for the pilgrimage. Crazy lot, just walk into the ruins barefoot, no weapons, nothing. They gather down the road, southeast of here, at one of the old farms, to get ready to walk in there as a group."
Another man, round-faced, his brown hair in matted braids and looking like he hasn't had a bath or proper maintenance of his leather armor in days speaks up, grinning to show a mouthful of rotted and missing teeth. "No one protects us. We protect ourselves. Why? You want the job? You've got a pretty nice cavalry there." He eyes Lando's warhorse appreciatively.
"This is Lord Lando of House Spire," Emma says to the man, proudly. "And don't you forget it, Montag! Lead the way, Elena, we're off to the Red Lion Hotel!" She points past Caravan Court to a road that leads northeast up a small hill that rises up to overlook the town at the curve of a large creek. Despite the misty haze, a large manor house is visible sitting prominently on top of the hill.
Elena looks around the village with a slight curiosity. She find herself intrigued that this village has thus far managed to etch a living so close to a catastrophic site. She hears as the man with the disheveled appearance talk about the lack of any protection. As they pass through what appears to be this town's market square, she notes that while the merchants appear to have many sorts of goods, she doesn't see anything that looks like delerium. As she steers Cassa to the direction indicated by Emma, she asks, "So who is in charge of this town? Do you have a mayor or someone who leads everyone here?"
The entourage clops its way through the town square and begins to head up the hill. Emma waves to people she knows as they pass. "Well," she says, in answer to Elena's question, "there's the Reeve. Lord Stavros, who owns the Red Lion Hotel. But," she giggles, "Papa says he's really not the Reeve anymore, because he only manages his own affairs at the Hotel. Everybody pretty much does their own business in Emberwood village, now. There's no King to answer to, and not even any lords, because all the nobles in Westemar do is squabble and nobody even pays attention to them anymore. They have got the Hooded Lanterns here, but they don't do anything either, they're crawling around in the ruins just like everyone else, saying they're going to restore the city! And the Reeve, or, I mean, Lord Stavros, all he does is drink wine with rich travellers and make bets on which adventurers coming into town will die first in the ruins. Oh, there was a fellow that sure stiffed his bets one time. He was young and pretty clumsy and full of ideas and Lord Stavros told everyone he wouldn't come back from his first trip in. Well, he did! And then he came back five more times, and with a lot of delerium, too! And then he thought he was getting such a good enterprise going that he tried to fix up the old Eventide Manor and make it his home, and, well, you remember I said it's haunted, well, nobody ever saw him again after that. You see, everybody thought it was a bad idea, but nobody wanted to tell him. I did, though. I tell everyone it's haunted. Still, he thought he could handle it..." Emma rolls her eyes dramatically.
"Sounds like we will soon be meeting this Lord Stavros then," Elena commented dryly, flicking her gaze towards Lando and Yvara. "Who's been buying the delerium? I'm guessing the Academy but have there been other buyers?" She wonders if House Giorgione really needed delerium to make their fortune here. By the looks of it, she could make almost as much by just arranging and negotiating contracts for food supplies and mundane weapons to the adventurers. But she supposes that delerium hold a certain prestige that other trade goods don't. "And who are these Hooded Lanterns? I don't think I've heard of them before."
Nudging his horse closer to Lando, Roman leans over and quietly says to him "Sounds like this farm to he south might be our first step, M'lord. Perhaps there may be someone there we can speak too." Giving his horse a slight kick he moves up to Elina and Emma "You said your father was the smith? Where might thart be? And what of the Scared Flame, is there a temple here in town?"
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Lando, steps down from his steed, kneeling, he rubs his hand across the dirt on the ground. A sharp but brief pulse flows through his veins.
“Finally” he exclaims softly.
He looks at Yvara’s eyes, they have a barely visible violet glaze to them. Lando knows she felt it too. Lando can’t help but wonder if Roman has had a similar feeling since making it here.
Lando stands up, turning in Moksads direction,” it might be best we find lodging and a place to rest our steeds. We are already a peculiar looking bunch with diverse dialects. Last thing we need is to label ourselves as wealthy or having a bunch of stuff parading around town.”
Lando takes his War Hammer and Shield to put them on his back.
Yvara speaks, “Perhaps we should head the lord’s suggestion young Moki, then we can load up on gear and have a good place to store them”
Moksad
"ok I only recently learned of currency and monetary mediums of exchange but a fortnight ago all. Appreciate, please that I may overestimate our capacity from time to time or all the time. Thank you.
Elena Firavanti
Elena looks around Emberwood Village with dread in her heart. This is it. This is finally it. She's actually here. Not really in Drakkenheim proper but much closer to it than she would like. She isn't particularly surprised that they would be facing exorbitant prices. It looked like there were few opportunities for making a living aside from extorting adventurers desperate enough or dumb enough or both to come here. "We may be better off lodging our steeds here when we go into the city," she says. "Cities are perilous travel for horses as it is. The Flame knows it'll be worse in Drakkenheim."
The dust falls from Lando's fingers and joins the rest of the clouds of it kicked up by the wagon wheels, but in another minute it settles down on the meandering road into Emberwood village as Danore's wagons rattle off in the distance towards the center of town.
Abandoned homes line this section of the road. It appears that Emberwood village was never too tightly packed, as the tenements and manors are arranged with some trees, gardens, and privacy in mind. Whatever they had in mind, though, certainly isn't fulfilled in the dead, dried out thorn scrub and crackled shambles of trellises and fences, and the hunched over, split figures of dead trees that looks as if they perhaps once towered in majesty.
Perched in one of the dead trees is a young girl, perhaps ten years of age, freckled and with long red hair. She wears an undyed dress and apron, and a cap over her hair, the fabric of her clothing old and worn, but carefully mended to leave no rough edges. She turns her head away from the dust as the wagons rattle by, and then goes back to staring at the party with great interest for a minute before leaping down from the tree and skipping over to them. Her freckled face glows with a beaming smile. "Howdy!" she says, and skids to a halt right in front of Lando's steed's nose, which she pats in a friendly greeting before turning her winning smile to the party. "I'm Crowe! Emma Crowe, of Crowe and Sons Smithy. You look like a very important lord, sir. You've got such a pretty horse, and such a big entourage! I always wanted a horse, but we can't afford one. It's really hard to feed them here." The little girl straightens herself up proudly, as if remembering her business. "By the way, since you're new, if you'd like a tour, I'm a tour guide! And I only charge one gold piece to show you where everything is!"
Roman Silverstar
The dreams start again after Todesfeld. The endless void, a rock drifting through it, it's poison and corruption. A blue green gem in a sea of stars. A blazing comet and bustling city. Fire, death, and then darkness. Strange lights appear, haze, monsters, horrors. The haze and strange lights cover the blue green gem. The stars are winking out. And then on that blue green gem choked in haze, there is a blinding flash of golden light. Roman awakens with a start sitting up in his bedroll. The small fire casts enough light for him to make out the sleeping forms of his comrades, across the camp Lando is on watch. He looks to the horizon, in the distance he can see a faint glow of some kind of strange light. Danore said that was Drakkenheim, they should be arriving in Emberwood Village by early afternoon. Too be so close to their goal after so long filled him with excitement. Settling back down in his bedroll, he drifts off thinking of the road behind him.
The next day the arrive in Emberwood, saying their goodbye to Danore. Roman turns to Lando with a grin "It has been a long road to get M'lord, my thanks for getting me here" Bowing his head "I agree lodgings first. And somewhere to stable the horses" He says nodding to Elina. Looking at the few remaining gold given to him by father Perrin "I doubt I have enough coin for more than a few nights at an inn. Maybe on of those cabins that Danore spoke of" As the party ride up the the edge of small village and the meet the plucky young Emma Crowe, grinning he flips her a gold coin "Your most preceptive young one we are newcomers. Please lead on"
Lando moves his hand as to lead emma on after receiving Roman’s coin.
Lando say,” Now my entourage, please look out for the best looking in for lodging. Once found allow me to talk the price down, surely if Im recognized as a lord here, that should serve us well in negotiations. *turns gives a wink to the party* *Turning back to Emma, we are here on official business of House Spire.
Oh and Emma dont skip out on the juicy details of every location, the rumors, the gossip, and who really runs the place we need it all.
Persuasion Roll: 19+6= 25
Emma beams widely as she reaches to catch the coin, snatching it from the air with a practiced grab. She then carefully places it in a small pouch hanging from her belt. "Thank you, sir!!" The girl bounces in place excitedly, and she beams at Lando, dipping an awkward but confident little curtsy as a commoner to a lord. "Okay, my Lord Spire, we'll start with lodgings, then! I bet you'll want to see the Red Lion Hotel first! But we'll pass lots of other things on the way. And, oh yes, I've got lots of stories! So many adventurers come to Emberwood village, and they get in all kinds of trouble!" Looking back and forth between Roman and Lando, she peers up at each of them shyly. "May... may I ride with one of you? You can see me point the way easier from up on your horse!" Doubtless she would have little trouble leading the way on foot, but it's pretty clear that she really just wants to ride on a horse.
Brother Roman, would you mind? My steed is a bit full, *Looking at Yavara*
Elena Firavanti
Elena doesn't even bother to suppress her eye roll at Lord Lando. Typical Elyrian noble. Absolutely ignorant of the local laws and customs and ever so eager to throw their weight around. Instead she turns to Emma Crowe and finds herself intrigued by her spirit. She reached down her hand and said, "You can climb up, child."
Ah yes perfect, says Lando. *Looking at Elena* Child Ill give you an extra gold piece if your warm spirit can melt that chip on my companion Elena’s shoulder. * He looks at Elena just over his glasses with a sly grin*
Emma beams as she runs over and reaches up to grab Elena's hand, the freckles on her face dancing as her smile seems to cover her whole face. As Elena pulls her up and seats the child in front of her on the horse, Emma shouts out, "Now let's lead the way to the Red Lion Hotel!" She flushes at Lando's teasing offer of another gold piece, but is clearly far too excited to be riding to be much discomfited. She leans forward to stroke Cassa's mane with one hand, and points ahead down the road with the other. "The hotel is on the other side of the village, so we'll pass through Caravan Court and the village center first!"
The group rides on, a very impressive looking formation with a grand warhorse at its head bearing Lando and his bride, flanked by Roman on the guard's horse with Moksad clinging behind, Elena on her own horse coming behind, with Emma perched in front of her, waving her arms to indicate the way. Elena has had enough military training to call out the direction succintly, and Lando has had more, as has his horse Elusive and Roman's guard's horse, both of which step smartly as soon as they hear the commands. Emma is clearly enthralled by the sight of the haphazard little procession, that big smile staying on her face.
The road winds through a neighborhood of abandoned small farmsteads, and, closer to the village center, townhouses and a few manors. "Before the whole land died, and nothing could grow anymore," Emma chatters on, "a lot more people lived in our village. But there's so many abandoned cottages and farms, sometimes travelers will come and try to fix them up. This one here," she points at an old farmhouse on small acreage, "two men from Altbruke started repairing it, and built some furniture. But it was just the two of them, so when they were out in the ruins, bandits snuck in and took all their stuff. But then, they didn't actually ever come back from the ruins, so they didn't mind." She giggles.
As the group rides along, Emma points to a partially-burned two-story manor house as they pass it. "That's Eventide Manor. It's haunted! Nobody goes there."
The abandoned buildings begin to cluster closer together as the town square comes into view ahead. A wide expanse with a boarded-up well at the center, and what probably used to be a village green when the grass still grew, is now filled with a bustle of activity. Covered wagons, canvas tents, and makeshift market stalls crowd the old green, and milling around them are all manner of travelers, adventurers, and merchants, exchanging goods and coins, talking, laughing, and you can even hear the music of a few fiddles and pipes from minstrels amongst the stalls, waiting for coins to be tossed their way. There is an excitement in the air, even in this lazy afternoon hour, as that of prospectors hoping to make their fortune even in this ugly, dreary, dangerous land. Amongst the more usual rabble, the party can see a few armed and armored thugs loading heavy, leaden chests into a wagon.
"This is Caravan Court!" Emma explains, bouncing excitedly. "This is where everyone buys supplies for going out into the ruins. You can buy all sorts of things here, but it's all expensive. Dad only takes me to shop here about once a year. So, like, never." She pouts, but quickly moves on. "The well water is contaminated, so that's why it's boarded up, and there's no grass on the green anymore, so it's just a market all the time. Coming and going, all kinds of different people!" She points up to a road that leads off to the left from the square. "The Red Lion Hotel is that way!"
Moksad
"Wow! look at this place! I wonder what we can buy! I wonder what shopping actually is!" " I hear people have haggling negotiations while they barter-- can we do that please!?"
*bumps into a prospector absorbed in himself, knocking fellow's hat to the ground*
"please excuse me sir, here is your hat."
He proceeds to hand the hat to the prospector.
"my sincerest apologies"
Roman Silverstar
As they ride through the outskirts of the various abandoned house of Emberwood Village. He was surprised that anyone still lived here, all the farmland seemed withered and dead. As his listens to the child talk, he looks out to the horizon toward Drakkenheim. On the wind he can smell ozone, to be finally so close after such a long time. As they enter Caravan Court he looks about at the various stalls and vendors. "I am surprised to see so many merchants, are they all here for Delrium?" Looking to Emma "We heard there was cottages for rent, where could we find them?
The man that Moksad bumped into is on the shorter and stockier side, and a bit older, too, with white hair and mustache and a face tanned and aged from years under the sun. A serious scowl ripples over his face as he picks himself up from his stumble, turning to face his accidental assailant, but his expression softens with curiosity as he accepts his hat back and regards the woodman's strange attire, and behind him, the imposing entourage on horseback. "No trouble at all," he says, pleasantly. "New in town?"
Emma laughs and waves from her perch on the front of Elena's saddle. "Make way!" she shouts. "Make way for the great Lord Spire and his entourage!" She smiles at Roman. "Most everybody comes here for delerium, yeah. There's folks here that will pay a LOT for it... a LOT! More than my dad makes in a year working as a blacksmith! But it's REALLY dangerous to go get it. Lots of people come, but lots of 'em go into the city and they don't come back out!"
Her expression turns thoughtful. "Cottages? Karin at the Bark and Buzzard will rent those out to travelers. Homes that were abandoned, but she's fixed them up. They're nice! I stayed in one once. But the Red Lion Hotel is such a better fit for Lord Spire and his entourage!" The child sits up straight and proud, as if she's just as much a part of the entourage as Elena and Roman are. Then she giggles. "But it's up to you! Where to? Red Lion Hotel, or Bark and Buzzard?"
Roman Silverstar
"Please continue your fine tour young lady. And we will decide after seeing both." Looking about the various people "We have heard on that not all the visitors are here for Delerium. Some are on some kind of pilgrimage? Is that true?" Spying a few less then savory looking individuals "Is there anyone who maintains law and order here? Do you have a Lord who protects you?"
The stocky prospector nods. "There's a lot of them folks coming for the pilgrimage. Crazy lot, just walk into the ruins barefoot, no weapons, nothing. They gather down the road, southeast of here, at one of the old farms, to get ready to walk in there as a group."
Another man, round-faced, his brown hair in matted braids and looking like he hasn't had a bath or proper maintenance of his leather armor in days speaks up, grinning to show a mouthful of rotted and missing teeth. "No one protects us. We protect ourselves. Why? You want the job? You've got a pretty nice cavalry there." He eyes Lando's warhorse appreciatively.
"This is Lord Lando of House Spire," Emma says to the man, proudly. "And don't you forget it, Montag! Lead the way, Elena, we're off to the Red Lion Hotel!" She points past Caravan Court to a road that leads northeast up a small hill that rises up to overlook the town at the curve of a large creek. Despite the misty haze, a large manor house is visible sitting prominently on top of the hill.
Elena Firavanti
Elena looks around the village with a slight curiosity. She find herself intrigued that this village has thus far managed to etch a living so close to a catastrophic site. She hears as the man with the disheveled appearance talk about the lack of any protection. As they pass through what appears to be this town's market square, she notes that while the merchants appear to have many sorts of goods, she doesn't see anything that looks like delerium. As she steers Cassa to the direction indicated by Emma, she asks, "So who is in charge of this town? Do you have a mayor or someone who leads everyone here?"
The entourage clops its way through the town square and begins to head up the hill. Emma waves to people she knows as they pass. "Well," she says, in answer to Elena's question, "there's the Reeve. Lord Stavros, who owns the Red Lion Hotel. But," she giggles, "Papa says he's really not the Reeve anymore, because he only manages his own affairs at the Hotel. Everybody pretty much does their own business in Emberwood village, now. There's no King to answer to, and not even any lords, because all the nobles in Westemar do is squabble and nobody even pays attention to them anymore. They have got the Hooded Lanterns here, but they don't do anything either, they're crawling around in the ruins just like everyone else, saying they're going to restore the city! And the Reeve, or, I mean, Lord Stavros, all he does is drink wine with rich travellers and make bets on which adventurers coming into town will die first in the ruins. Oh, there was a fellow that sure stiffed his bets one time. He was young and pretty clumsy and full of ideas and Lord Stavros told everyone he wouldn't come back from his first trip in. Well, he did! And then he came back five more times, and with a lot of delerium, too! And then he thought he was getting such a good enterprise going that he tried to fix up the old Eventide Manor and make it his home, and, well, you remember I said it's haunted, well, nobody ever saw him again after that. You see, everybody thought it was a bad idea, but nobody wanted to tell him. I did, though. I tell everyone it's haunted. Still, he thought he could handle it..." Emma rolls her eyes dramatically.
Elena Firavanti
"Sounds like we will soon be meeting this Lord Stavros then," Elena commented dryly, flicking her gaze towards Lando and Yvara. "Who's been buying the delerium? I'm guessing the Academy but have there been other buyers?" She wonders if House Giorgione really needed delerium to make their fortune here. By the looks of it, she could make almost as much by just arranging and negotiating contracts for food supplies and mundane weapons to the adventurers. But she supposes that delerium hold a certain prestige that other trade goods don't. "And who are these Hooded Lanterns? I don't think I've heard of them before."
Roman Silverstar
Nudging his horse closer to Lando, Roman leans over and quietly says to him "Sounds like this farm to he south might be our first step, M'lord. Perhaps there may be someone there we can speak too." Giving his horse a slight kick he moves up to Elina and Emma "You said your father was the smith? Where might thart be? And what of the Scared Flame, is there a temple here in town?"