Vernon does encounter the priest, Hiral Mystrum, a Tetheryn human man. He was also trapped in the caves with the other villagers, and he does seem a little skittish and meek, despite the resolve he has for his faith. "Thank you, my son... it is gracious of you to return this holy symbol to our temple. Those cowardly, ghastly goblins are such savages, stealing and looting and killing... it is no wonder they have no souls. But a fellow like you... you are clearly worth of Mielikki's good graces, and I'm sure that The Forest Queen will smile on you with favorable fortune and during your adventures."
Regarding the blood hawk, no one seems to recognize this item, or at least no one comes forward to claim it when you show it to people.
Arisa's and Belkas's efforts to help the villagers are met with much appreciate and gracious thanks from those with whom they interact. The children especially enjoy Belkas's illusions and stories. Despite the hardship they have faced, most of the villagers seem to be working hard to repair and rebuild and get things back to normal. The Osstra family offers to take in the orphaned Nesper children, and both the Osstra's and the Hulvaarn family agree to help tend to the Nepser pumpkin and squash farm.
Since no one is around to run the trading post, the guard Kaelen offers to step in and do her part to run the store, at least for now.
So, after a night of rest and a full day of helping the people of Nightstone get their lives back to normal, you settle down in the dining room of the inn at the end of the second day and ponder what comes next, which it sounds like a trip to the town of Goldenfields. Morak serves a pretty good meal of mutton and roasted squash with fresh bread.
Vernon feels exhilarated after returning the symbol, knowing he made the right choice. He is somewhat disappointed by his inability to return the blood hawk, but eventually comes to terms with it. "I shall call you Rezinkronus, after the sparrows in my dream, or Rezi for short." Vernon is completely up for a trip to Goldenfields, "to seek out new cheese knowledge."
During your travels around the lands of the western Faerûn, Arisa has passed through Goldenfields a few times, and she know the following.
To reach Goldenfields, you would return to Waterdeep via the High Road, (one day travel,) the turn north and follow the Northfurrow Trail northeast for about two days.
Arisa
Goldenfields is a huge, walled temple-farm dedicated to Chauntea, the goddess of agriculture. Called “the Granary of the North,” its harvests are crucial to cities throughout the Sword Coast, Waterdeep in particular, and the town produces and ships large amounts of grain, fruits and dried, oil-packed, and salted foodstuffs, and in addition to the large grain fields, there are also fruit orchards, and vegetable gardens, and smaller gardens that hug the outer walls. These gardens grow berries, rhubarb plants, and other such fare.
Run by Abbot Ellardin Darovik, Goldenfields is a stronghold of the Emerald Enclave, which you've heard is a far-raging group of like minded individuals that works to opposes threats to the natural order and help others survive the many perils of the wilds. Members of that faction are as welcome here as clergy of Chauntea; many of them stay for months at a time to help with the work and the vigilant defense of the farm against insects and blights, as well as would-be vandals and plunderers.
Most of Goldenfields’ workers live in a small town situated near the abbey, where the abbot hosts morning, noon, and evening prayer. North of town is an enormous inn called Northfurrow’s End. Visitors planning to spend the night in Goldenfields are often directed here.
The sprawling temple-farm is built on higher ground than the surrounding fields, and it’s enclosed on all sides by an expansive wall of mortared stone. The outer wall is 60 feet high (20 feet high inside the compound) and 30 feet wide. The wall 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.
Arisa tells the others what she knows of Goldenfields, and says we can return to Waterdeep en route, if there’s anything we want to purchase or do there. Fully rested and ready, she suggests we head out soon .
At some point ( whether we're still in town, or while on the road ) Zyllith tries to find the time and place to speak with Vernon at least somewhat privately.
"Oy mate, tha's a bloody nice blood hawk ye got thar. What ye end up namin' 'er again?" She begins as she give's the gnome her honest compliments on the pretty pet.
"Hey, Vern', ye mind if I aske ye somethin'? 'Tis somethin' whot been botherin' me since we made it back with tha' village folk." She asks the paladin hoping not to be intrusive.
"Rezinkhronus. Only a little tweak to it and I can understand animals, or so my dream told me." He pulls it from his bag and strokes it, before putting it back in. "Now, what's this that's been bothering you?" He looks up attentively.
Zyllith looks apprehensive for a moment as though she wonders if it's something worth bringing up at all, but eventually she begins speaking, "Could'nae help but keep thinkin', talkin' ta' all them folk whot lost their kin'. No' to tha' giant droppin' rocks an' tha' like. Tha's bad enough, but no' whot really ticked me off. It's was them folk kill by tha' gobbies an' ogres, folk lookin' ta' stay safe after bein attacked, an' end up bein' killed by then's whot takin' advantage of their misery. At tha' time I was goin' wit' tha' flow, tryin' ta' make a good haggle and solve tha' problem with a good deal fer everyone. But when I was hearin' them talkin' 'bout killin' an' eatin' tha' village folk, I thought might be we'd best kill 'em all rioght thar' n' then. Only reason I did'nae do tha' was 'cuz figured would be very dangerous ta' deal with all them gobbies an ogres at tha' same time." Her head looks down at the ground with a deep and rare frown across her features, "Part o' me still feels 'twas tha' rioght call. Woulda' been dangerous ta' them village folk as well as us. But all tha' same, just dun' sit rioght wit' me. An' now 'nother part o' me kinda wished we'd kill 'em soon as they started talkin' 'bout eatin' us. Make 'em learn hard that it's nae nice ta' eat yer neighbors." She looks over at Vernon still frowning a bit, "So now I figured I'd ask ye', an' get a differn' perspective and opinion. Should we 'ave jus' taken tha' risk an' killed tha' whole lot instead?"
"Our first priority was to protect the villagers. Until they were safely back to the village, we risked losing all of them. I could have fought them, but as a group we were stretched enough to lose someone. The Goblins aren't going anywhere--we can always come back later when we're stronger and verify they're holding up their end of the bargain. I believe we did the right thing."
Zyllith nods solemnly before looking up at Vernon with a happy smile, "Aye, 'twould hav'ta agree wit' ye then. I'm glad for yer counsel, mate. 'Least now I feel a bit better 'bout dealin' wit' how it all turned out."
As they walk along the road, Belkas says to Arisa, "You know a lot about Goldenfields. Have you been there before?"
"I have no need to enter Waterdeep, and I have no money for food and lodging there, but if the others want to stop by, I can try to gain some coin. I am no bard, but with my illusions I can entertain a little."
Crowley flies overhead, keeping a lookout for ambushes or potential threats on the road. He humms annoying tunes in Belkas's mind. 'You know boss, that winged kitten is kind of cute. It would be nice if I could keep it...' He humms some more, '...in one of Osmord's pickle jars.'
Arisa says “once, when I was a young girl.. my mother took me when she was selling her remedies. She was an herbalist and before.. well in the early years, we traveled.” She changes the subject quickly, clearly not willing to discuss her past. “but I’ve read more about it since. I don’t know anyone there personally, or anything. Important place for feeding the people of the north.”
“I also don’t need anything in waterdeep, if we keep this pace of battles up sometime I may need some better armor, but it’s nothing I can afford yet.”
After a full day of doing what you can to help the people of Nightstone repair and rebuild some of the damage to the town, you enjoy one last meal at the partially destroyed, but still somewhat functional Nightstone Inn, courtesy of Morak, and then you get one more night of rest before departing the next morning.
As you prepare to pass through the gates, Morak, a few of the villagers, especially those few who you got to know a little bit during the past couple days, and the four guards you fought with during the orc attack, Alara, Torem, Sydril and Kaelen, bid you farewell and thank you for your service to their village. They wish you luck and good fortune on your travels, and indicate that they would like to see you again, should you pass through this area in the future. Morak, especially insists that you come back and visit, at the very least so that he can hear more tales of your adventures.
Leaving Nightstone behind, you turn south and head back down the trail for ten miles to the junction of where the Nightstone trail meets back up with The High Road. Travel along this section is fairly easy and you spend the morning walking through the gentle rolling terrain, occasionally thinking back to a few days ago when you first traveled this way on your way to Nightstone.
Much has happened since then, and what began as a simple call for help ridding a small village of a few goblin raiders has turned into so much more, with evidence of a devastating giant attack and a missing chunk of obsidian that was apparently stolen by the cloud giants who appeared out of nowhere and dropped rocks on the village, before drifting back into the sky.
At around noon, you turn north on The High Road and begin making your way back towards Waterdeep. Rillix the Tressym, who has warmed up considerably to you by now, flies and darts along with you as you make your way down the well-traveled trail. Sometimes he sits on Arisa's shoulder, and other times he dashes off and disappears for a half hour at at time, only to return and travel by your side.
When you've been on the High Road for about an hour, you see up ahead a wagon being pulled along by a single draft horse, and accompanied by four humans, (three man and one woman). All are wearing armor and are armed with swords and crossbows.
As the party approaches the group, Arisa says a quiet prayer and casts Guidance on Zyllith) “Hopefully they are just peaceful travelers, but if not, I bet you can talk them into it!” She smiles at Zyllith, clearly impressed by her ability to resolve things peacefully.
Zyllith smiles back at Arisa, "Aye, we'll see if me luck holds up then."She looks up at the approaching wagon, giving the group of humans a warm smile and a simple wave.
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Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
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Vernon does encounter the priest, Hiral Mystrum, a Tetheryn human man. He was also trapped in the caves with the other villagers, and he does seem a little skittish and meek, despite the resolve he has for his faith. "Thank you, my son... it is gracious of you to return this holy symbol to our temple. Those cowardly, ghastly goblins are such savages, stealing and looting and killing... it is no wonder they have no souls. But a fellow like you... you are clearly worth of Mielikki's good graces, and I'm sure that The Forest Queen will smile on you with favorable fortune and during your adventures."
Regarding the blood hawk, no one seems to recognize this item, or at least no one comes forward to claim it when you show it to people.
Arisa's and Belkas's efforts to help the villagers are met with much appreciate and gracious thanks from those with whom they interact. The children especially enjoy Belkas's illusions and stories. Despite the hardship they have faced, most of the villagers seem to be working hard to repair and rebuild and get things back to normal. The Osstra family offers to take in the orphaned Nesper children, and both the Osstra's and the Hulvaarn family agree to help tend to the Nepser pumpkin and squash farm.
Since no one is around to run the trading post, the guard Kaelen offers to step in and do her part to run the store, at least for now.
So, after a night of rest and a full day of helping the people of Nightstone get their lives back to normal, you settle down in the dining room of the inn at the end of the second day and ponder what comes next, which it sounds like a trip to the town of Goldenfields. Morak serves a pretty good meal of mutton and roasted squash with fresh bread.
Arisa will confirm the route to golden fields and try to understand any hazards expected on the way.
"Goldenfields sounds like a wonderful destination. With a name like that, what could go wrong?"
Vernon feels exhilarated after returning the symbol, knowing he made the right choice. He is somewhat disappointed by his inability to return the blood hawk, but eventually comes to terms with it. "I shall call you Rezinkronus, after the sparrows in my dream, or Rezi for short." Vernon is completely up for a trip to Goldenfields, "to seek out new cheese knowledge."
Have Arisa roll an Intelligence check to see what you know about Goldenfields.
History check of a 22, (intelligence check of a 20) in the roller.
During your travels around the lands of the western Faerûn, Arisa has passed through Goldenfields a few times, and she know the following.
To reach Goldenfields, you would return to Waterdeep via the High Road, (one day travel,) the turn north and follow the Northfurrow Trail northeast for about two days.
Arisa
Goldenfields is a huge, walled temple-farm dedicated to Chauntea, the goddess of agriculture. Called “the Granary of the North,” its harvests are crucial to cities throughout the Sword Coast, Waterdeep in particular, and the town produces and ships large amounts of grain, fruits and dried, oil-packed, and salted foodstuffs, and in addition to the large grain fields, there are also fruit orchards, and vegetable gardens, and smaller gardens that hug the outer walls. These gardens grow berries, rhubarb plants, and other such fare.
Run by Abbot Ellardin Darovik, Goldenfields is a stronghold of the Emerald Enclave, which you've heard is a far-raging group of like minded individuals that works to opposes threats to the natural order and help others survive the many perils of the wilds. Members of that faction are as welcome here as clergy of Chauntea; many of them stay for months at a time to help with the work and the vigilant defense of the farm against insects and blights, as well as would-be vandals and plunderers.
Most of Goldenfields’ workers live in a small town situated near the abbey, where the abbot hosts morning, noon, and evening prayer. North of town is an enormous inn called Northfurrow’s End. Visitors planning to spend the night in Goldenfields are often directed here.
The sprawling temple-farm is built on higher ground than the surrounding fields, and it’s enclosed on all sides by an expansive wall of mortared stone. The outer wall is 60 feet high (20 feet high inside the compound) and 30 feet wide. The wall 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.
Arisa tells the others what she knows of Goldenfields, and says we can return to Waterdeep en route, if there’s anything we want to purchase or do there. Fully rested and ready, she suggests we head out soon .
At some point ( whether we're still in town, or while on the road ) Zyllith tries to find the time and place to speak with Vernon at least somewhat privately.
"Oy mate, tha's a bloody nice blood hawk ye got thar. What ye end up namin' 'er again?" She begins as she give's the gnome her honest compliments on the pretty pet.
"Hey, Vern', ye mind if I aske ye somethin'? 'Tis somethin' whot been botherin' me since we made it back with tha' village folk." She asks the paladin hoping not to be intrusive.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
"Rezinkhronus. Only a little tweak to it and I can understand animals, or so my dream told me." He pulls it from his bag and strokes it, before putting it back in. "Now, what's this that's been bothering you?" He looks up attentively.
Zyllith looks apprehensive for a moment as though she wonders if it's something worth bringing up at all, but eventually she begins speaking, "Could'nae help but keep thinkin', talkin' ta' all them folk whot lost their kin'. No' to tha' giant droppin' rocks an' tha' like. Tha's bad enough, but no' whot really ticked me off. It's was them folk kill by tha' gobbies an' ogres, folk lookin' ta' stay safe after bein attacked, an' end up bein' killed by then's whot takin' advantage of their misery. At tha' time I was goin' wit' tha' flow, tryin' ta' make a good haggle and solve tha' problem with a good deal fer everyone. But when I was hearin' them talkin' 'bout killin' an' eatin' tha' village folk, I thought might be we'd best kill 'em all rioght thar' n' then. Only reason I did'nae do tha' was 'cuz figured would be very dangerous ta' deal with all them gobbies an ogres at tha' same time." Her head looks down at the ground with a deep and rare frown across her features, "Part o' me still feels 'twas tha' rioght call. Woulda' been dangerous ta' them village folk as well as us. But all tha' same, just dun' sit rioght wit' me. An' now 'nother part o' me kinda wished we'd kill 'em soon as they started talkin' 'bout eatin' us. Make 'em learn hard that it's nae nice ta' eat yer neighbors." She looks over at Vernon still frowning a bit, "So now I figured I'd ask ye', an' get a differn' perspective and opinion. Should we 'ave jus' taken tha' risk an' killed tha' whole lot instead?"
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
"Our first priority was to protect the villagers. Until they were safely back to the village, we risked losing all of them. I could have fought them, but as a group we were stretched enough to lose someone. The Goblins aren't going anywhere--we can always come back later when we're stronger and verify they're holding up their end of the bargain. I believe we did the right thing."
Zyllith nods solemnly before looking up at Vernon with a happy smile, "Aye, 'twould hav'ta agree wit' ye then. I'm glad for yer counsel, mate. 'Least now I feel a bit better 'bout dealin' wit' how it all turned out."
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
As they walk along the road, Belkas says to Arisa, "You know a lot about Goldenfields. Have you been there before?"
"I have no need to enter Waterdeep, and I have no money for food and lodging there, but if the others want to stop by, I can try to gain some coin. I am no bard, but with my illusions I can entertain a little."
Crowley flies overhead, keeping a lookout for ambushes or potential threats on the road. He humms annoying tunes in Belkas's mind. 'You know boss, that winged kitten is kind of cute. It would be nice if I could keep it...' He humms some more, '...in one of Osmord's pickle jars.'
Arisa says “once, when I was a young girl.. my mother took me when she was selling her remedies. She was an herbalist and before.. well in the early years, we traveled.” She changes the subject quickly, clearly not willing to discuss her past. “but I’ve read more about it since. I don’t know anyone there personally, or anything. Important place for feeding the people of the north.”
“I also don’t need anything in waterdeep, if we keep this pace of battles up sometime I may need some better armor, but it’s nothing I can afford yet.”
Vernon chimes in, "I'm now broke, so I can't afford anything in Waterdeep either."
After a full day of doing what you can to help the people of Nightstone repair and rebuild some of the damage to the town, you enjoy one last meal at the partially destroyed, but still somewhat functional Nightstone Inn, courtesy of Morak, and then you get one more night of rest before departing the next morning.
As you prepare to pass through the gates, Morak, a few of the villagers, especially those few who you got to know a little bit during the past couple days, and the four guards you fought with during the orc attack, Alara, Torem, Sydril and Kaelen, bid you farewell and thank you for your service to their village. They wish you luck and good fortune on your travels, and indicate that they would like to see you again, should you pass through this area in the future. Morak, especially insists that you come back and visit, at the very least so that he can hear more tales of your adventures.
Leaving Nightstone behind, you turn south and head back down the trail for ten miles to the junction of where the Nightstone trail meets back up with The High Road. Travel along this section is fairly easy and you spend the morning walking through the gentle rolling terrain, occasionally thinking back to a few days ago when you first traveled this way on your way to Nightstone.
Much has happened since then, and what began as a simple call for help ridding a small village of a few goblin raiders has turned into so much more, with evidence of a devastating giant attack and a missing chunk of obsidian that was apparently stolen by the cloud giants who appeared out of nowhere and dropped rocks on the village, before drifting back into the sky.
At around noon, you turn north on The High Road and begin making your way back towards Waterdeep. Rillix the Tressym, who has warmed up considerably to you by now, flies and darts along with you as you make your way down the well-traveled trail. Sometimes he sits on Arisa's shoulder, and other times he dashes off and disappears for a half hour at at time, only to return and travel by your side.
When you've been on the High Road for about an hour, you see up ahead a wagon being pulled along by a single draft horse, and accompanied by four humans, (three man and one woman). All are wearing armor and are armed with swords and crossbows.
As the party approaches the group, Arisa says a quiet prayer and casts Guidance on Zyllith) “Hopefully they are just peaceful travelers, but if not, I bet you can talk them into it!” She smiles at Zyllith, clearly impressed by her ability to resolve things peacefully.
Osmord silently watches the approaching strangers. With a silent gesture he sends worm up ahead to get a better look at them.
DM - Warlock of Firetop Mountain
Zyllith smiles back at Arisa, "Aye, we'll see if me luck holds up then." She looks up at the approaching wagon, giving the group of humans a warm smile and a simple wave.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn