Leaving Stouthollow and feeling quite rested and refreshed, the six of you backtrack along the route you came yesterday afternoon, crossing over a series of low rolling hills and open grasslands. Before you left, Farmer Pinkett's wife Millie gave you a sac of one dozen freshly baked apple muffins, and Harriett Greenleaf, the village herbalist, presented you with two vials of blueish, flowery liquid that she hopes will aid you on your adventures. They are the equivalent of two Potion of Healing. (Greater)
As you walk through the morning, you see and hear the song of a variety of birds that flutter about and above the fields, and at one point you see a small herd of deer loping through the grass up ahead. After a couple of hours, you find yourselves back at the site where you fought the orcs yesterday, and the intersection of the road that leads left to Goldenfields.
(Nice!). “ Who wants to carry a potion? We should divide them up so we can access them in emergencies .” Arisa says. She’s excited to get on the road, finally feeling like the group are like the heroes she’s read about in the books she loved as a child.
To Arisa's question, Belkas responds, "Perhaps Zyllith could carry one for the front lines, and Osmord or Elion for the rear. Or if we find a small satchel, Crowley could carry it to whoever needs it the most."
Belkas walks over the burnt remains of the orcs they had fought. If nothing came up in town, perhaps the others would be interested in tracking the orcs back to their main camp.
The wind swirls the ash up into the air around him. He closes his eyes and feels a soft, warm kiss on the back of his neck. The warmth changes to heat, and it burns down his back and races through his veins. Nothing exists except that pain; he is blind and alone, and it seems as though it will never end, and then it is over. He is on his knees in the ash, breathing hard.
He gets back to his feet and says, "Sorry about that. I'm alright now. I think... I think I have some new powers."
"Aye, sounds fine ta' me." Zyllith confirmed Belkas's suggestion. She was feeling happy over recent events and was eager to see where their adventures would go next, which was noticeable in from the cheery skip that seemed to infiltrate her step.
Upon seeing Belkas go to his knees she stopped to see what was happening and soon saw him return to his feet. "Is tha' right? If tha's how ye' need ta gain power, perhaps ye need another path tha's less painful."
Arisa looks with concern at Belkas as well, but then doesn’t ask. She gives Zyllith one of the potions and hands the other to Osmord, to keep or pass to Elion. “shall we keep moving?” She says, and continues leading the way to goldenfields.
When Vernon sees the deer, he realizes that Mielikki hasn't departed as far as he thought. He can detect a faint undertone amidst the bird song -- "Mistikki, Moonikki, Mastikki ___", on repeat. He gets a distant look in his eyes as he realizes these words carry more power, then snaps back to the present, wondering if he'll get any advice on what these do.
Osmord takes the potion with a solemn nod, "I will use this well, should trouble befall you all. Thank you for your trust."
He observes Belkas drop to his knees and smiles, appreciating the path of pain that leads to the benefits of power. As they walk he will occasionally slip into worms mind and scout the lands ahead from on high.
"Aye, thank ye', luv. I'll be sure ta' use this when we best need it." Zyllith said as she accepted the potion, securing it along with the rest of her belongings. "Rioght, we'd best continue movin' then."
Leaving the pile of orc ashes behind, you step back out on the Northfurrow Trail and, turn left and begin heading along the last stretch of road to Goldenfields. The afternoon is pretty uneventful, and thankfully, the weather is quite agreeable: clear and sunny, but not too hot, with a slight breeze blowing on your faces from the northeast. At one point, you come across a large, heavily weathered stone sitting agains the north side of a particularly large oak tree. The stone is covered in a heavy blanket of moss, and it appears to have been a statue once upon a time, but any discernible details that might reveal who or what it was, or for what reason it was placed here are lost.
Eventually, the terrain gives way to the first of many farm fields that line the trail ahead of you. You see a few farmers out working, and a few of them give simple nods or waves as you pass by the large parcels that are chest high with wheat and alfalfa, and a little further on, a number of apple orchards. Much of these and other foodstuffs that grow in and around Goldenfields will eventually help feed the people of the Sword Coast.
After all, through Arias's knowledge, you know that Goldenfields is a huge, walled temple-farm that's dedicated to Chauntea, the goddess of agriculture. It's considered “the Granary of the North,” and it’s the only reason many Northerners ever taste soft-fleshed fruit larger than bush berries. Waterdeep and its neighbors consume the temple’s reliable output: carefully husbanded grains and dried, oil-packed, or salted foodstuffs preserved in vast storage cellars, vats, and squat stone grain-towers.
Soon you catch your first sight of the massive walls. The sprawling temple-farm is built on higher ground than the surrounding fields, and it’s enclosed on all sides by a wall of mortared stone. The miles-long outer wall, which appears to be 60 feet in height, is built out at several points, spaced at least a mile apart, with stone pagodas and barracks at those locations. These watch posts have unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside.
As you get closer, the sheer size and scale of the town become even more impressive, and soon, The Northfurrow trail ends before a magnificent stone gatehouse carved with images of a full-bodied woman (representations of Chauntea) cradling cornucopias. The gatehouse is a fortress in its own right. Above its tall, massive wooden doors are arrow slits that seem to peer down suspiciously on all visitors. You see numerous guards stationed at regular spaced intervals along the wall on either side of the gatehouse.
As you come to the gates, one of the guards on duty hails you. He's a stout fellow, clad in a shirt of chain mail, and carrying a mace and shield that bears the symbol of Chauntea. There are a handful more of them behind, all in similar dress.
"Hail, travelers. Welcome. Be glad to let you in, soon as you let us do a quick search o' yer gear."
Arisa
Having been to Goldenfields before, you know that the guards demand this formality of everyone who comes into the town, and almost always turn people away if they don't submit to a search. They're very wary of letting anything in that might damage the crops.
Arisa says “yes. I remember from the last time I came. They are looking for things which could damage the crops”. To the guards she says “certainly- here is my pack. I am Arisa, cleric of Mystra”. She alllows them to search Her gear
Vernon will set down his backpack and stand behind it with his banner. "I am Vernon Garrick, Knight of Myth Drannor, and you probably don't care about the rest of my self-applied titles."
The guards do a quick, but thorough search through your gear. Their efficiency shows you that they've done this countless times, and also that they clearly know what kinds of things they're looking for, and what they don't care about. They answer Vernon's proclamation with an eye-roll, and engage Osmord with a bit of confusion as they probe his shell in a curious manner.
When they're satisfied that you don't have anything that might be considered dangerous to the temple-farm, they step back, give you a nod and allow you to pass through the gates and enter Goldenfields.
The first thing you see as you pass through the gatehouse is a 20-foot-tall wooden statue of Chauntea, depicted as a plump, smiling woman standing with her hands on her hips in a garden of golden wheat, surrounded by a dirt roundabout. North of the statue is a stone building with an open front, above which hangs a sign that reads “Earth Mother’s Bounty.”
Beyond the gates, dirt roads crisscross the interior of the compound, providing passage between and through its fields and orchards. Roads also run along the inside of the wall, connecting the various watch posts. In addition to the large grain fields, fruit orchards, and vegetable gardens, smaller gardens hug the outer walls. These gardens grow berries, rhubarb plants, and other such fare.
Arisa knows that the town proper is located about one and a half miles down the road that runs straight into town from the gatehouse.
Arisa leads the group toward the town. “Isn’t this place amazing? They grow so much food here- and the walls make it so secure. It’s called the granary of the north”.
Belkas looks around in wonder. "This is a strange place. I can't decide if it is a giant walled farm or some sort of enormous and strange temple. Shall we go and see if we can find the heritor of our flying rat?"
Zyllith looks around the expands surrounding them with a bit of trepidation as she follows along with the others. Seemingly out of place here, at least more out of place then you've ever seen her before. "Aye, tha' land's here grand a'rioght. Would'nae know what ta' do wit' all this grain 'ere. Cannae imagine what sorta windmills they got 'ere."
Leaving Stouthollow and feeling quite rested and refreshed, the six of you backtrack along the route you came yesterday afternoon, crossing over a series of low rolling hills and open grasslands. Before you left, Farmer Pinkett's wife Millie gave you a sac of one dozen freshly baked apple muffins, and Harriett Greenleaf, the village herbalist, presented you with two vials of blueish, flowery liquid that she hopes will aid you on your adventures. They are the equivalent of two Potion of Healing. (Greater)
As you walk through the morning, you see and hear the song of a variety of birds that flutter about and above the fields, and at one point you see a small herd of deer loping through the grass up ahead. After a couple of hours, you find yourselves back at the site where you fought the orcs yesterday, and the intersection of the road that leads left to Goldenfields.
Also, it's time to level up again. ⭐️
(Nice!). “ Who wants to carry a potion? We should divide them up so we can access them in emergencies .” Arisa says. She’s excited to get on the road, finally feeling like the group are like the heroes she’s read about in the books she loved as a child.
To Arisa's question, Belkas responds, "Perhaps Zyllith could carry one for the front lines, and Osmord or Elion for the rear. Or if we find a small satchel, Crowley could carry it to whoever needs it the most."
Belkas walks over the burnt remains of the orcs they had fought. If nothing came up in town, perhaps the others would be interested in tracking the orcs back to their main camp.
The wind swirls the ash up into the air around him. He closes his eyes and feels a soft, warm kiss on the back of his neck. The warmth changes to heat, and it burns down his back and races through his veins. Nothing exists except that pain; he is blind and alone, and it seems as though it will never end, and then it is over. He is on his knees in the ash, breathing hard.
He gets back to his feet and says, "Sorry about that. I'm alright now. I think... I think I have some new powers."
"Aye, sounds fine ta' me." Zyllith confirmed Belkas's suggestion. She was feeling happy over recent events and was eager to see where their adventures would go next, which was noticeable in from the cheery skip that seemed to infiltrate her step.
Upon seeing Belkas go to his knees she stopped to see what was happening and soon saw him return to his feet. "Is tha' right? If tha's how ye' need ta gain power, perhaps ye need another path tha's less painful."
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Arisa looks with concern at Belkas as well, but then doesn’t ask. She gives Zyllith one of the potions and hands the other to Osmord, to keep or pass to Elion. “shall we keep moving?” She says, and continues leading the way to goldenfields.
When Vernon sees the deer, he realizes that Mielikki hasn't departed as far as he thought. He can detect a faint undertone amidst the bird song -- "Mistikki, Moonikki, Mastikki ___", on repeat. He gets a distant look in his eyes as he realizes these words carry more power, then snaps back to the present, wondering if he'll get any advice on what these do.
Osmord takes the potion with a solemn nod, "I will use this well, should trouble befall you all. Thank you for your trust."
He observes Belkas drop to his knees and smiles, appreciating the path of pain that leads to the benefits of power. As they walk he will occasionally slip into worms mind and scout the lands ahead from on high.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
"Aye, thank ye', luv. I'll be sure ta' use this when we best need it." Zyllith said as she accepted the potion, securing it along with the rest of her belongings. "Rioght, we'd best continue movin' then."
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Leaving the pile of orc ashes behind, you step back out on the Northfurrow Trail and, turn left and begin heading along the last stretch of road to Goldenfields. The afternoon is pretty uneventful, and thankfully, the weather is quite agreeable: clear and sunny, but not too hot, with a slight breeze blowing on your faces from the northeast. At one point, you come across a large, heavily weathered stone sitting agains the north side of a particularly large oak tree. The stone is covered in a heavy blanket of moss, and it appears to have been a statue once upon a time, but any discernible details that might reveal who or what it was, or for what reason it was placed here are lost.
Eventually, the terrain gives way to the first of many farm fields that line the trail ahead of you. You see a few farmers out working, and a few of them give simple nods or waves as you pass by the large parcels that are chest high with wheat and alfalfa, and a little further on, a number of apple orchards. Much of these and other foodstuffs that grow in and around Goldenfields will eventually help feed the people of the Sword Coast.
After all, through Arias's knowledge, you know that Goldenfields is a huge, walled temple-farm that's dedicated to Chauntea, the goddess of agriculture. It's considered “the Granary of the North,” and it’s the only reason many Northerners ever taste soft-fleshed fruit larger than bush berries. Waterdeep and its neighbors consume the temple’s reliable output: carefully husbanded grains and dried, oil-packed, or salted foodstuffs preserved in vast storage cellars, vats, and squat stone grain-towers.
Soon you catch your first sight of the massive walls. The sprawling temple-farm is built on higher ground than the surrounding fields, and it’s enclosed on all sides by a wall of mortared stone. The miles-long outer wall, which appears to be 60 feet in height, is built out at several points, spaced at least a mile apart, with stone pagodas and barracks at those locations. These watch posts have unobstructed views of the surrounding countryside.
As you get closer, the sheer size and scale of the town become even more impressive, and soon, The Northfurrow trail ends before a magnificent stone gatehouse carved with images of a full-bodied woman (representations of Chauntea) cradling cornucopias. The gatehouse is a fortress in its own right. Above its tall, massive wooden doors are arrow slits that seem to peer down suspiciously on all visitors. You see numerous guards stationed at regular spaced intervals along the wall on either side of the gatehouse.
As you come to the gates, one of the guards on duty hails you. He's a stout fellow, clad in a shirt of chain mail, and carrying a mace and shield that bears the symbol of Chauntea. There are a handful more of them behind, all in similar dress.
"Hail, travelers. Welcome. Be glad to let you in, soon as you let us do a quick search o' yer gear."
Arisa
Having been to Goldenfields before, you know that the guards demand this formality of everyone who comes into the town, and almost always turn people away if they don't submit to a search. They're very wary of letting anything in that might damage the crops.
Arisa says “yes. I remember from the last time I came. They are looking for things which could damage the crops”. To the guards she says “certainly- here is my pack. I am Arisa, cleric of Mystra”. She alllows them to search Her gear
Belkas nods to the guards, takes off his backpack, places it on the ground before him, and opens it so they can look inside.
"Ain't a problem, mates." Zyllith nods as she moves forward to allow the guards to search her.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Vernon will set down his backpack and stand behind it with his banner. "I am Vernon Garrick, Knight of Myth Drannor, and you probably don't care about the rest of my self-applied titles."
"My name is Osmord, alas I've no pack to search. My home is my shell." Osmord shrugs apologetically.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
The guards do a quick, but thorough search through your gear. Their efficiency shows you that they've done this countless times, and also that they clearly know what kinds of things they're looking for, and what they don't care about. They answer Vernon's proclamation with an eye-roll, and engage Osmord with a bit of confusion as they probe his shell in a curious manner.
When they're satisfied that you don't have anything that might be considered dangerous to the temple-farm, they step back, give you a nod and allow you to pass through the gates and enter Goldenfields.
The first thing you see as you pass through the gatehouse is a 20-foot-tall wooden statue of Chauntea, depicted as a plump, smiling woman standing with her hands on her hips in a garden of golden wheat, surrounded by a dirt roundabout. North of the statue is a stone building with an open front, above which hangs a sign that reads “Earth Mother’s Bounty.”
Beyond the gates, dirt roads crisscross the interior of the compound, providing passage between and through its fields and orchards. Roads also run along the inside of the wall, connecting the various watch posts. In addition to the large grain fields, fruit orchards, and vegetable gardens, smaller gardens hug the outer walls. These gardens grow berries, rhubarb plants, and other such fare.
Arisa knows that the town proper is located about one and a half miles down the road that runs straight into town from the gatehouse.
Map of Goldenfields
Arisa leads the group toward the town. “Isn’t this place amazing? They grow so much food here- and the walls make it so secure. It’s called the granary of the north”.
Belkas looks around in wonder. "This is a strange place. I can't decide if it is a giant walled farm or some sort of enormous and strange temple. Shall we go and see if we can find the heritor of our flying rat?"
Vernon agrees in plan, if not in sentiment. "We should find Miros, yes. I wonder how many windmills they have for all this grain?"
Zyllith looks around the expands surrounding them with a bit of trepidation as she follows along with the others. Seemingly out of place here, at least more out of place then you've ever seen her before. "Aye, tha' land's here grand a'rioght. Would'nae know what ta' do wit' all this grain 'ere. Cannae imagine what sorta windmills they got 'ere."
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
"An amazing place... have they be troubled by giants? It would appear not." Osmord looks around as the group move on, taking in the sights.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters