"With so many grains, you would expect giant windmills, giant granaries, and," Belkas nods at Osmord, "giant giants. I know that if I were in a flying castle filled with giants, I would be more interested in finding a source of food than I would be in stealing large rocks from small villages."
Belkas cranes his head up as if half expecting to see the flying castle appear from between the clouds.
As you make your way along the dirt road from the gatehouse, you look around and try to get a feel for this unique and massive place and the people who are milling about with determined gaits. You catch wind of a couple of interactions, one of which is a slender Shou woman with dark hair that's pulled back in a loose bun and dressed in a simple light brown cloak that's tied with a black and blue sash, who seems to be scolding one of the guards, a splint mail clad half orc, for not improving the settlement's defenses after the recent attack.
His response is rather lackadaisical, "Everything's under control, lass... don't worry about it. Our walls damn-near reach the sky, and our guards are the finest the North has to offer. I'm telling you, we're fine."You can tell that his answer doesn't placate her much.
On the outskirts of the town are two large fields of roaming oxen and cattle, with cordoned-off pens for sheep, chickens, turkeys, and pigs. Each field is roughly a half-mile in diameter and enclosed by wooden fences with rearing horses carved into their posts. During the day, shepherds as well as workers with milk buckets and wool shears can be seen moving among the herds of cows and sheep.
As you pass one of the pens, a Turnami shepherd with thin braids eyes you with an intrigued look and a jovial smile. "Well well... I know an adventuring band when I see one! You folks look like you know your way around danger! What brings you to Goldenfields?"
"Well met ta' ye' and yers! Aye, we be adventurers grand, bringin' tidin's an' a winged cat from up North. Perhaps ye' can help us find tha' family we seek." Zyllith introduces the group with her usual flourish as she motions towards Arisa to fill in the details.
“We are here to find Miros Xerbrim who I’m told lives here. We bring sad tidings, and a friend, from Nightstone. This is his Tressym.” She scratches the chin on the cat who is for the moment, resting on her shoulder.
"Adventurers grand, you say!! Well, I can't fault you for thinking high and mighty about yourselves!! What kinds of adventures have you had lately? Anything good with telling? And you say you come from Nightstone...? What news hails from those parts? As for your friend, I don't know anyone named Miros, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help there."
“Nightstone was attacked by Giants, goblins and orcs- separate attacks. We managed to clear the goblins and fight off the orcs, we arrived after the giant attack had left it vulnerable. I heard something about a recent attack here- who was it? ” Arisa says.
As Arisa talks, Belkas leans forward, interested to hear who had attacked the town. He hadn't noticed the damage giants would have made, so orcs would be the most obvious culprits, but anything was possible these days.
"Ah... I don't even know if you could call it an attack, although I didn't witness it my self. 'Twas maybe a month ago or so. Word is that a couple o' bored hill giants waded across the river and threw rocks at the outer walls. Mostly they just caused a ruckus, but they didn't make it through and no one got hurt."
"So how long you folks plannin' on staying in Goldenfields? Got any other business besides findin' this Miros fella'?"
"We still be needin' ta' find 'tis Miros fella." Zyllith explains, "So if ye don' know of 'im, perchance ye' can guide us ta' one who might? Beyond tha', if ye' got any recommendations on other business we could partake of 'ere in Goldenfields, be it actual business or actually pleasure, I fer one would love ta' hear about it."
Belkas says, "It is interesting that there have been problems with giants here as well as in Nightstone, although obviously not to the same degree."
He tries to remember back to his childhood what he had been told about Chauntea, the Golden goddess. He remembered a priest, a Pastoral, coming at harvest time to lead prayers at sunset and talking on and on about the need to work hard and always be vigilant against the influence of Talona, whose pestulance could enter the soul as easily as it could the crops.
"Am I offering? Haha... well, I don't really knows ya, now do I? I guess if you like animals, you can help me look after 'em, but otherwise, I ain't really got "business" besides that. I s'pose you could let me know if you see anything out o' the ordinary. You know... we shepherds need to know what's going on if we're gonna look afterthelivestock proper!"
"Or have a drink wit me at Northfurrow's End sometime. That's the big inn up in the center o' town. You probably want to head up there anyway, seeing as how you just come from on the road. They got plenty o' food and drink up there, and entertainment as well. I could meet ya up there later if you want."
"Name's Shalvus, anyway. Maybe I'll catch you folks up there later."
"Drink an' entertainment ya' say? Now tha's music ta' me ears, pun intended. 'Sides, seems this Northfurrow's End is tha' place ta' go to get more info an' maybe even find Miros." Zyllith then turned Shalvus to introduce herself properly, adding a slight flourish with her charming smile, "Pleased ta' meet ya', Shalvus. Me' name's Zyllith. I look forward ta' seeing you later."
Shalvus responds pleasantly to your greetings, agrees to meet up with you later, and then bids you farewell with a wave as he gets back to tending his flock of sheep. Continuing along the dusty road that passes the huge tracks of growing fields, you walk almost another mile before you finally reach the large square surrounded by longhouses that serves as the town center.
Having been here a few times before, Arisa knows that the buildings that house most of the residents of Goldenfields are arranged in concentric half-rings around a central square where locals can socialize and gather for picnics after midday prayers. Orderly rows of wooden longhouses, each one large enough to house a hundred people, face inward toward a central plaza, with the abbey of Chauntea off to the southeast. Each longhouse is a work of art, its beams sculpted with images of a particular animal, thereby differentiating it from its neighbors.
Wagons and wheelbarrows are parked just about everywhere, free for anyone to use.
She also points out the grove of trees south of town, which is home to a small group of treants. If the town or the abbey comes under attack, their job is to animate nearby trees and aid in the town’s defense.
The first thing you see when you come into the town center is a large "awakened" tree that's surrounded by a score of young children, a couple of who are perched up in its branches. The tree appears to be entertaining, and as you get closer, you can hear it tell them about a drow ranger in service to the goddess Mielikki, who helped the dwarves of Gauntlgrym trap an ancient fire primordial underneath their mine, thus saving the Sword Coast from a great distastes. It's truly an epic story, and it has all of the children in a trance.
Belkas hears a bit of the tree's story and is fascinated. He sits down in the soft grass near the children to listen to the rest. When he had been in the Underdark, he had heard rumors of a well-born drow who had escaped from that dark society, but he had never had a chance to learn more. Belkas smiles warmly at the children and nods respectfully at the tree.
Vernon appears entranced. Inside, he is mulling over whether this could be him someday, or whether Flandal Steelskin will have a better option, or if the giant problem will be the death of him, or maybe he'll be stuck trying to solve the cheese mystery and doing nothing worthy of an epic tale.
"With so many grains, you would expect giant windmills, giant granaries, and," Belkas nods at Osmord, "giant giants. I know that if I were in a flying castle filled with giants, I would be more interested in finding a source of food than I would be in stealing large rocks from small villages."
Belkas cranes his head up as if half expecting to see the flying castle appear from between the clouds.
As you make your way along the dirt road from the gatehouse, you look around and try to get a feel for this unique and massive place and the people who are milling about with determined gaits. You catch wind of a couple of interactions, one of which is a slender Shou woman with dark hair that's pulled back in a loose bun and dressed in a simple light brown cloak that's tied with a black and blue sash, who seems to be scolding one of the guards, a splint mail clad half orc, for not improving the settlement's defenses after the recent attack.
His response is rather lackadaisical, "Everything's under control, lass... don't worry about it. Our walls damn-near reach the sky, and our guards are the finest the North has to offer. I'm telling you, we're fine." You can tell that his answer doesn't placate her much.
On the outskirts of the town are two large fields of roaming oxen and cattle, with cordoned-off pens for sheep, chickens, turkeys, and pigs. Each field is roughly a half-mile in diameter and enclosed by wooden fences with rearing horses carved into their posts. During the day, shepherds as well as workers with milk buckets and wool shears can be seen moving among the herds of cows and sheep.
As you pass one of the pens, a Turnami shepherd with thin braids eyes you with an intrigued look and a jovial smile. "Well well... I know an adventuring band when I see one! You folks look like you know your way around danger! What brings you to Goldenfields?"
"Well met ta' ye' and yers! Aye, we be adventurers grand, bringin' tidin's an' a winged cat from up North. Perhaps ye' can help us find tha' family we seek." Zyllith introduces the group with her usual flourish as she motions towards Arisa to fill in the details.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
“We are here to find Miros Xerbrim who I’m told lives here. We bring sad tidings, and a friend, from Nightstone. This is his Tressym.” She scratches the chin on the cat who is for the moment, resting on her shoulder.
"Adventurers grand, you say!! Well, I can't fault you for thinking high and mighty about yourselves!! What kinds of adventures have you had lately? Anything good with telling? And you say you come from Nightstone...? What news hails from those parts? As for your friend, I don't know anyone named Miros, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help there."
“Nightstone was attacked by Giants, goblins and orcs- separate attacks. We managed to clear the goblins and fight off the orcs, we arrived after the giant attack had left it vulnerable. I heard something about a recent attack here- who was it? ” Arisa says.
As Arisa talks, Belkas leans forward, interested to hear who had attacked the town. He hadn't noticed the damage giants would have made, so orcs would be the most obvious culprits, but anything was possible these days.
"Ah... I don't even know if you could call it an attack, although I didn't witness it my self. 'Twas maybe a month ago or so. Word is that a couple o' bored hill giants waded across the river and threw rocks at the outer walls. Mostly they just caused a ruckus, but they didn't make it through and no one got hurt."
"So how long you folks plannin' on staying in Goldenfields? Got any other business besides findin' this Miros fella'?"
"No other business, unless business is offered... are you offering?" Osmord enquires.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
"We still be needin' ta' find 'tis Miros fella." Zyllith explains, "So if ye don' know of 'im, perchance ye' can guide us ta' one who might? Beyond tha', if ye' got any recommendations on other business we could partake of 'ere in Goldenfields, be it actual business or actually pleasure, I fer one would love ta' hear about it."
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Belkas says, "It is interesting that there have been problems with giants here as well as in Nightstone, although obviously not to the same degree."
He tries to remember back to his childhood what he had been told about Chauntea, the Golden goddess. He remembered a priest, a Pastoral, coming at harvest time to lead prayers at sunset and talking on and on about the need to work hard and always be vigilant against the influence of Talona, whose pestulance could enter the soul as easily as it could the crops.
"Am I offering? Haha... well, I don't really knows ya, now do I? I guess if you like animals, you can help me look after 'em, but otherwise, I ain't really got "business" besides that. I s'pose you could let me know if you see anything out o' the ordinary. You know... we shepherds need to know what's going on if we're gonna look after the livestock proper!"
"Or have a drink wit me at Northfurrow's End sometime. That's the big inn up in the center o' town. You probably want to head up there anyway, seeing as how you just come from on the road. They got plenty o' food and drink up there, and entertainment as well. I could meet ya up there later if you want."
"Name's Shalvus, anyway. Maybe I'll catch you folks up there later."
"Drink an' entertainment ya' say? Now tha's music ta' me ears, pun intended. 'Sides, seems this Northfurrow's End is tha' place ta' go to get more info an' maybe even find Miros." Zyllith then turned Shalvus to introduce herself properly, adding a slight flourish with her charming smile, "Pleased ta' meet ya', Shalvus. Me' name's Zyllith. I look forward ta' seeing you later."
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
"It is a pleasure to meet you Shalvus, and a drink later this evening sounds perfect to wash down the dust from the road."
Vernon will pull his head out of the windmill hunt. "Vernon Garrick, at your service, or I would be if you were in need of it."
Shalvus responds pleasantly to your greetings, agrees to meet up with you later, and then bids you farewell with a wave as he gets back to tending his flock of sheep. Continuing along the dusty road that passes the huge tracks of growing fields, you walk almost another mile before you finally reach the large square surrounded by longhouses that serves as the town center.
Having been here a few times before, Arisa knows that the buildings that house most of the residents of Goldenfields are arranged in concentric half-rings around a central square where locals can socialize and gather for picnics after midday prayers. Orderly rows of wooden longhouses, each one large enough to house a hundred people, face inward toward a central plaza, with the abbey of Chauntea off to the southeast. Each longhouse is a work of art, its beams sculpted with images of a particular animal, thereby differentiating it from its neighbors.
Wagons and wheelbarrows are parked just about everywhere, free for anyone to use.
She also points out the grove of trees south of town, which is home to a small group of treants. If the town or the abbey comes under attack, their job is to animate nearby trees and aid in the town’s defense.
The first thing you see when you come into the town center is a large "awakened" tree that's surrounded by a score of young children, a couple of who are perched up in its branches. The tree appears to be entertaining, and as you get closer, you can hear it tell them about a drow ranger in service to the goddess Mielikki, who helped the dwarves of Gauntlgrym trap an ancient fire primordial underneath their mine, thus saving the Sword Coast from a great distastes. It's truly an epic story, and it has all of the children in a trance.
(Oh sorry behind on posts. Busy few days. Will catch up)
Belkas hears a bit of the tree's story and is fascinated. He sits down in the soft grass near the children to listen to the rest. When he had been in the Underdark, he had heard rumors of a well-born drow who had escaped from that dark society, but he had never had a chance to learn more. Belkas smiles warmly at the children and nods respectfully at the tree.
Vernon appears entranced. Inside, he is mulling over whether this could be him someday, or whether Flandal Steelskin will have a better option, or if the giant problem will be the death of him, or maybe he'll be stuck trying to solve the cheese mystery and doing nothing worthy of an epic tale.
Arisa also tells Shalvus” it is a pleasure to meet you, I am happy to be back to this wondrous place, we hope to see you later”
on arriving at the tree, she listens with a smile to the tale 18 (knowledge history) and determines if it is a story she has heard of.
(guess not! Sorry for my slow posting, work got busy.)