You all finish dinner. It was a nice welcome distraction from the chaos of the last few weeks. Once your meal is done Fembris takes her leave promising to work on your requests first think in the AM. You leave the mansion and head back to the House of Rest.
Your next two days are quietly pleasant and you can achieve your meager goals without much trouble. If you were to visit the Mansion you would find an army of gnomes and elves causing a mostly controlled chaos as they manipulate the magics of Fistandia's Mansion. There a few explosions, floods and even an invasion of small poodles leading to an epic cat vs dog war (the cats won mostly due to their superior leadership from Pockets. They allowed 5 of the poodles to stay at the mansion while others were exiled). Despite all this they seem to be making progress on your requests. Perhaps another week or two and the Mansion will be ready for you to move in. Assuming it does explode or cause a rift in reality obliterate all of creation.
@Pardot
You spend a day tracking Parmak. You learn a number of things. She arrives in the Court of Air around 8AM and head directly to the PIllars to Study. She uses the same room every time. She doesn't talk to anyone and if anyone tries to talk to her she is very short with them. She seems to be studying a number of topics. Most of them involve manipulating the weave to create new magics and spells. She works through lunch. In the evening she meets her crew for some drink in the Hearth before they walk back to the Inner Sanctum together. You are unable to follow them any further.
The second day you spend at the House of Binder. Initially they are resistant to your presence but as you explain your intentions they allow you to help with transcribing some requested texts. You find the work very boring but your help makes the day go faster. Exhausted at the end of the day they welcome you back anytime you earlier transgressions forgiven. You retire early that day exhausted from the work.
@Triäsa
When you retire to you room at the House of rest you find an a sealed letter and a single flower on your bed. In flowing elegant handwriting the letter reads as follows:
My Dear Triäsa ,
My heart is weary from not seeing you again before you left the Keep. I came to find you, hoping to get just one final glance but alas I was too late. If you are reading this then my stay here has indeed ended and I have taken back to the road, a heartbroken and lonely scholar. I thirst now not just for knowledge but also love, companionship. While our time was brief I feel that we shared a certain spark which I hope one day we can nurture to a flame.
I decided I will return to the North and travel to Herald's Holdfast. I shall continue my work there and each day I shall sit in sight of the entrance and hope each time the door opens I see you walking through.
With Love,
Yalerion Highscroll
It takes you about a day and half to read and get through a Deep and Creeping Darkness. A Deep and Creeping Darkness tells the tale of a mountain village, Vermeillon whose residents went missing over the course of several months. The book presents a series of vignettes allegedly collected from “those who were there”: survivors, traveling merchants, and (in secondhand accounts) residents of nearby settlements. It is unclear whether it is a fictional tale, folklore, or history. The content seems factual, but the language is extravagantly dramatic.
According to the book people began to disappear though not all at once, however. One or two would vanish in a single night, then a tenday might pass before the next disappearance. These unexplained disappearances terrified the remaining inhabitants. The villagers tried to protect themselves by sleeping with weapons and taking shifts on watch, but nothing changed. Traveling in groups didn’t help, since a companion might vanish while even briefly out of sight.
Fears began to mount that Vermeillon might be cursed, merchants and other travelers stopped visiting the village. The end of the patchwork story claims that the village is still there, though whether anyone inhabits it is a mystery.
@Ludolf
Your time is well spent as Matreous is able to find a number of factual texts regarding Vermellion you learn the following:
Vermeillon, established after settlers discovered a platinum vein in the mountainside, did a booming business in both the raw ore and the refined metal for around a decade. Due to the rough terrain and the harshness of the cold climate, the village never grew large. It intermittently hosted a succession of traveling merchants who came to the village for a week or two, sold and traded their wares, then left again. The nearest civilized settlement was three days’ ride on horseback down the mountainside. The inhabitants named in the books include Mayor Lei Duvezin, a kind and talented dwarf smith named Tormun, and his wife, Blenyss.
Seventy years ago, an explosion rocked the platinum mine, collapsing the tunnels and burying workers under tons of rubble. Sixty miners were underground that day. Over thirty of them died in the initial collapse, and the instability of the tunnels made rescue of the others slow and dangerous. The miners who survived the collapse were trapped for days or weeks before they were rescued—or perished in the deep, alone and terrified. Sixteen came out alive. Eleven were never found. Following the collapse there is a strange lack of information or accounts of the village.
The remainder of your time is spent transcribing the spells as you requested you are not able to make much headway in the Dark Hunger.
@Klin
You spend your days reading and in quiet meditation. You feel at peace and ready for whatever the world has in store for you.
@Daventry
Each time you channel your power you feel more comfortable with the arcane. Your body and mind seem to be sharpening and you can feel a gentle hum of power in your mind, your sword and the markings on your skin as you practice. It's a surprisingly pleasant feeling though you know you are just scratching the surface. Interestingly, as you read your tome and study it you find yourself again puzzled by the runes. Even the ones you bonded with in Baulder's Gate now seem foreign. Almost as if the book has sealed itself to you, hiding it's meaning, it's beyond frustrating.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM -- The Candlekeep Mysteries 1 & 2Discord PCs -- Christian Dembele Forum PCs -- Edryd Breckon, Fizzlebit Forton Thornberry the Fourth
Once the meal wraps up and everyone seems ready to head back to their rooms at the House of Rest, Triäsa closes up her book and heads over to catch Daventry. "I would really like to continue our sparring Dav. If you do not mind still working with me. I know I am not much help in a fight, but maybe if I just keep training." She shrugs, giving the other woman a slight grin. She tries to agree to a time to meet up in the training room at the mansion.
She then comes over to Ludolf before he goes. "If you want me to help with decorating ideas for your room at the mansion maybe I could meet you later, back at the House of Rest?" she says nervously. "Fembris will likely need the information soon if the work will be done while we are gone."
She then says a good evening to Pardot and Klin. "I hope to see you at The Hearth!"
Over the next day and a half, she spends most of her time reading A Deep and Creeping Darkness until she has completed it. In the mornings she would meet Ludolf and any others for breakfast at The Hearth. Not lingering there long she would then go to the pillars to have quiet for reading. She invites Ludolf to join her as he does his reading as well. She would have a very light lunch, again checking in at The Hearth for a brief time. Then after lunch she would go to read in the mansion - probably staying in the library or study depending on other activity going on there.
At whatever point Daventry has time she will take a break for sparring, likely hanging out at the mansion after to continue her reading.
The evening of the first night, Triäsa arrives at The Hearth (I'm assuming there to allow work to proceed on the mansion) exactly at the time agreed on to dine. She quickly finishes her meal and retreats to her room to rest and of course read a bit more.
The second evening she has completed the book. She tells the others, "It is basically the story of a mountain village called Vermeillon. Over several months the residents went missing, a few at a time. The language seems a bit dramatic, but it seems factual."
"According to the book people began to disappear though not all at once, however. One or two would vanish in a single night, then a tenday might pass before the next disappearance. These unexplained disappearances terrified the remaining inhabitants. The villagers tried to protect themselves by sleeping with weapons and taking shifts on watch, but nothing changed. Traveling in groups didn’t help, since a companion might vanish while even briefly out of sight."
"Fears began to mount that Vermeillon might be cursed, merchants and other travelers stopped visiting the village. The end of the patchwork story claims that the village is still there, though whether anyone inhabits it is a mystery."
@DM:
Their first night back to Candlekeep, Triäsa finally gets back to her room after the meal. She gets a huge smile and immediately rushes over upon seeing the letter and flower. She picks up the flower, smelling it briefly before unsealing the note to read it. As she reads her smile fades and she seems a bit confused. She quickly scans to the bottom, and as she sees Yalerion's signature she frowns slightly. She goes over and sits at the desk, then starts over again, reading the entire letter. When done she rapidly folds it up, pushing it aside, the flower set with it as well.
She slowly grabs a piece of paper and her pen and begins to write: 'Dear Yalerion, I was also disappointed to not see you before I left. I do hope that we might remain friends but I think it is only fair that I tell you...' She stops, crumpling up the paper. Taking another she begins again: 'Dear Yalerion, I am not sure how to say this...' She stops and stares at the page for a while, then shakes her head, whispering to herself, "Why is this so hard?"
She then is interrupted by a soft knock on the door and opens it to find Ludolf. She looks at him with a grin. "Here to talk about decorating?"
As Triäsa finishes her briefing on Vermeillon Ludolf continues. "Thanks Triäsa, well done. Now, I have done some research of my own into this mining village." Ludolf says and goes on to tell the others of what he found out from the books Fembris found for him. "Vermeillon, established after settlers discovered a platinum vein in the mountainside, did a booming business in both the raw ore and the refined metal for around a decade, but due to the rough terrain and the harshness of the cold climate, the village never grew large. It intermittently hosted a succession of traveling merchants who came to the village for a week or two, sold and traded their wares, then left again. The nearest civilized settlement is three days ride on horseback down the mountainside. The inhabitants named in the books I read include Mayor Lei Duvezin, a kind and talented dwarf smith named Tormun, and his wife, Blenyss." Ludolf pauses briefly before continuing again. "Now, seventy years ago, an explosion rocked the platinum mine, collapsing the tunnels and burying workers under tons of rubble. Sixty miners were underground that day. Over thirty of them died in the initial collapse, and the instability of the tunnels made rescue of the others slow and dangerous. The miners who survived the collapse were trapped for days or weeks before they were rescued—or perished in the deep, alone and terrified. Sixteen came out alive. Eleven were never found. Following the collapse there is a strange lack of information or accounts of the village." He pauses briefly again. "It would seems as the disappearances started with that mine collapse, suggesting something was released from the mountain, whether it was a curse or a monster. When we get there we should make that mine a priority though I think." Ludolf finishes and looks around to the others for thoughts.
Daventry nods at the briefing. "So, pack for cold and rough terrain in the mountains. Good to know. Hopefully the wagon will be able to make it to the mine. Thanks for looking into all of that... Though it leads to more questions about what could have been in those mines, now out in the wide world... "
She'll head to the outfitters before they depart, acquiring some climbing gear and warmer clothes.
"I would think Chalet Brantifax to be a much finer place than Baldur's Gate Klin, and I consider the prospect of finding a portal to another plane to definitely be a step up." Ludolf comments to Klin. "But I admit that investigating that mine could prove hazardous."
Ludolf will visit the Erudite Outfitters and Clothiers to purchase cold weather clothing, stylish if available, and 20 rations that he places in the cart. He is then ready for the next adventure :-)
"What about Chalet Brantifax? I do not recall seeing anything about that in the book I read." Triäsa asks. "But I do think the mine might be a good place to start."
She looks at Klin, confused. "What are you talking about? The chance to explore a planar portal and you are worried this is not interesting enough!" She shakes her head, waving her hand at Klin dismissively.
"Anyway, we head out tomorrow? Those able to muster up the interest at least?"
She also will visit Erudite Outfitters to make sure she has cold weather gear. And she will ask Pardot if he needs any help with planning supplies for the horses.
She also tries to see about what sort of treats a raven would enjoy, and buys a small supply that she could keep in a little pouch. (Nature check to think of good treats: 18, or she'll ask at the outfitters)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
You all go about your preparations. A quick trip to Erudite Outfitters the proprietor looks at you sideways. He explains that it is early summer and he does not carry winter traveling clothing or mountain climbing gear. While it could be ordered he suggests you stop at a town named Maerin if you are heading south. It sits at the foothills of the mountains and is generally more well prepared to outfit adventurers by his account it will take you about 3 days to get there. He is happy to sell you rations for 5sp per day. Triäsa you try feeding the Raven a few different things but quickly discover the he absolutely adores peanuts. You are able to get a small sack of peanuts from the Hearth without any trouble.
The next morning you all meet at the gates and head out. The father and son at the stables bring around your wagon and you notice there have been a few improvements. The loose boards along the side have been fixed. The wood has all been sanded and stained. Similarly, your horses have been meticulously groomed and fed. There is plenty of hay in the back to make the trip a bit more comfortable. Overall, things appear to be off to a fine start.
Assuming there is nothing else you start off down the road, south this time along the Trade Way. Your first two days are uneventful. As you make camp the second night you can see the high snow covered mountains looming over you. Their presence casts a heavy shadow over the final day of travel as the road winds meticulously through a well traveled valley. Given the early summer heat and generally good weather you see a number of other travelers and merchants. Most of which are passing quickly on the way north to Baulder's Gate.
Mysterious DM roll: 8
The final leg of your journey is also quiet. The third day just before noon you come to small settlement marked with a signpost that reads "Maerin". While its not quite large enough to be consider a city it is rather busy with a number of traveling merchants and adventurers walking the streets. In the center of the village is a busy open air market, surrounding the market are a number of small shops and a tavern.
(I don't mean to rush you I just didn't want the game to sit still too long and folks get distracted:) if there is anything else you want to do any point totally cool to rewind to any point)
Daventry snorts awake, having been napping in the back with her hat over her head. She pokes her head up from the back of the wagon, looking around. "Well, guess this is it, huh? Shall we get a cooked lunch and make purchases for the mountain pass? Maybe ask the locals if the pass up is wide enough for the wagon, or if we should board one of the horses and load up some saddlebags on the other?"
Pardot has enjoyed the trip in the wagon and talking with his companions. Nearly every day brings new surprises that he didn't expect. The stars must have led him here for a reason though. At nights he spends a half hour or so with the horses, talking with them, feeding them, and explaining what and where they're going (though obviously keeping details of extra planer travel out of the conversation, as that's too much for simple beasts to understand). Though others may enjoy their rations more, Pardot always has a goodberry or two to handout in the evenings if people would prefer to keep their rations for later.
Once in town Pardot follows the lead of the others and heads to buy some simple, but warm clothing if it will likely be needed. He has been studying spiders as they camp so isn't so worried about climbing though, so leaves any climbing gear to the others. He also explores the market looking for any interesting local snack foods to try, as well as some fruit for the horses. They said hay is great, but treats are always nice.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Throughout the three days of travel, Triäsa would make a point of trying to coax Ludolf's raven Edgar to come over to her. She speaks to it a bit, lets it perch on her shoulder as she walks alongside the cart, and of course, feeds it a peanut every time.
The first night on the road, once everyone has eaten and settled in, Triäsa grabs her lute and starts to play. This time, she sings a song - it's the first time any of you ever recall her singing, besides for when casting spells:
'Beloved, gaze in thine own heart The holy tree is growing there; From joy the holy branches start And all the trembling flowers they bear. The changing colours of its fruit Have dowered the stars with merry light; The surety of its hidden root Has planted quiet in the night; The shaking of its leafy head Has given the waves their melody. And made my lips and music wed, Murmuring a wizard song for thee,
There the Loves a circle go, The flaming circle of our days, Gyring, spiring to and fro In those great ignorant leafy ways; Remembering all that shaken hair And how the winged sandals dart Thine eyes grow full of tender care; Beloved, gaze in thine own heart.'
She glances to Ludolf, keeping her eyes on him for a moment as she starts. Then continuing, her eyes close as you have seen before. She sways a bit to the gentle tune as she sings in her typical soft voice. (Performance: 24) After singing she looks a little embarassed and she grabs the lute and excuses herself to get to sleep.
In Maerin, Triäsa would join the others in finding a shop that will sell cold-weather clothing. She nods to Daventry, "A cooked lunch would be good. Do we continue on today or spend the night here and press on in the morning? We can probably talk to folks wherever we grab some food. But if we stayed a bit longer maybe we could poke about for any information on Vermeillon."
"No Triäsa, Fembris didn't find anything on Chalet Brantifax but it is supposed to be near Vermeillon so I presume we will be able to find it at least." Ludolf answers the half-elven bard back at Candlekeep.
During their journey to Vermeillon Ludolf spends most of his days in the cart reading the book with the title The Hunger, but pauses occasionally to walk beside the cart with Triäsa, not seeming to mind Edgar being spoiled by her. During the evenings he tries to be pleasant company, generously using a ritual from his black tome to summon an unseen servant to take care of menial tasks. Before going to rest he would use another ritual from his black tome to ward their camp from intruders. If he gets wind of Daventry's star mystery he would inquire her and Pardot about it. At the first night when Triäsa sings Ludolf would seemingly drift off into bliss, just looking at her with a stupid smile on his face as she sings. "That was...." He bigins to say as Triäsa leaves. "...wonderful."He finishes quietly to himself.
"Yes, first we go to the market for the equipment we still need, and then we should get lunch at that tavern and find someone there to talk to. We could use with some more recent information on Vermeillon, and hopefully also this Chalet Brantifax." Ludolf suggests walking beside the wagon as they slowly roll into Maerin.
If he gets wind of Daventry's star mystery he would inquire her and Pardot about it.
I would assume that Pardot and Daventry have spoken openly around the camp regarding her additional shooting-star shaped brand. She doesn't seem to buy into any implications of some greater fate, but does wonder how and if she will change the further she delves into the magic. She'll be honest with the group - she is still trying to study the tome. She was looking at it when she discovered, however briefly, the meaning of one of the pages of runes, and she was able to use that knowledge for greater control of light, both for weal and woe. Her new spells allow her to summon light, much like Triasa, but also focus it into a blinding beamlike attack, or into smaller focused beams that she can direct at will. She can't tell you exactly what the runes of light she has placed on her weapons say, but she knows that they bind them to her and she can make them briefly float freely as if her own gravity is the only force controlling them, or have them return to her like a shower of shooting stars.
It's hard to say if the hot streak in her personality, displayed against that red-haired mage, was a pre-existing condition or is something new :)
Ludolf would find a moment alone with Daventry, again warning her in a friendly manner to be cautious when dealing with her tome as it seems to be some sort of conduit for an entity of immense evil.
Daventry certainly would have sparred with Klin. She would compliment the counters you've developed, both from a time when you caught a thrown dagger from midair, and another when you turned a near-miss on you into a counter-attack on her, deflecting her blade with the flail's chain and clocking her in the chest with the other fist. "Hells, Klin. Between the two of us, I think anyone who faces off against us will be in real trouble."
Daventry takes that as a challenge. "We'll just have to keep at it, then. Our duels will be the rivalry for the ages! Four decades down the line, my cosmic arcane power rending worlds each strike, your mastery of mind and soul as Faerun's only defense." She grins.
Pulling into town during the hot midafternoon sun you are a bit struck with the sheer number of people this quiet little village is currently holding. There are all manners of races and personalities walking from stall to stall in the open air market. There are street performers juggling, singing and dancing. It's almost as if the Midsummer Festival has come early. A brief bit of thought leads you to the conclusion that this pass is the only way through the mountains and so it's rather possible hundreds of people pass through here daily on their way up the sword coast. There is stable that offers to house your horses (they do not have names, feel free to name them yourselves:)) and wagon for 1 gold per day or any part of a day.
As you take in the surroundings you are struck at the simplicity of the surroundings. The buildings are quaint wooden structures but they stand starkly against impossibly tall mountains which are capped in snow. The buildings are spaced comfortably apart with some larger buildings acting a perimeter around the central open air market. A quick glance and you are able to find a few areas that seem interesting.
The Bored Weasel -- Appears to be mid-ranged tavern/inn. It has a comfortable wooden porch with a few patrons sitting at tables drink wine.
The Central Market -- While not as large as the Wide there is a diverse array of goods from jewels, textiles, fresh fruit, flowers and meats. There are about twenty different stalls.
The Authors of Iron -- A general purpose Blacksmith
The Challenging Boulder -- A general good store.
You know that Vermeillon lies to the east and the map seems to indicate some sort of trail or road into the mountains that should take you in that direction. Whether that road exists or not is unclear as the book appears to be very old. How far is difficult to judge. Outside of that you do not have any other clues or reasonable bits of information.
You all finish dinner. It was a nice welcome distraction from the chaos of the last few weeks. Once your meal is done Fembris takes her leave promising to work on your requests first think in the AM. You leave the mansion and head back to the House of Rest.
Your next two days are quietly pleasant and you can achieve your meager goals without much trouble. If you were to visit the Mansion you would find an army of gnomes and elves causing a mostly controlled chaos as they manipulate the magics of Fistandia's Mansion. There a few explosions, floods and even an invasion of small poodles leading to an epic cat vs dog war (the cats won mostly due to their superior leadership from Pockets. They allowed 5 of the poodles to stay at the mansion while others were exiled). Despite all this they seem to be making progress on your requests. Perhaps another week or two and the Mansion will be ready for you to move in. Assuming it does explode or cause a rift in reality obliterate all of creation.
@Pardot
You spend a day tracking Parmak. You learn a number of things. She arrives in the Court of Air around 8AM and head directly to the PIllars to Study. She uses the same room every time. She doesn't talk to anyone and if anyone tries to talk to her she is very short with them. She seems to be studying a number of topics. Most of them involve manipulating the weave to create new magics and spells. She works through lunch. In the evening she meets her crew for some drink in the Hearth before they walk back to the Inner Sanctum together. You are unable to follow them any further.
The second day you spend at the House of Binder. Initially they are resistant to your presence but as you explain your intentions they allow you to help with transcribing some requested texts. You find the work very boring but your help makes the day go faster. Exhausted at the end of the day they welcome you back anytime you earlier transgressions forgiven. You retire early that day exhausted from the work.
@Triäsa
When you retire to you room at the House of rest you find an a sealed letter and a single flower on your bed. In flowing elegant handwriting the letter reads as follows:
It takes you about a day and half to read and get through a Deep and Creeping Darkness. A Deep and Creeping Darkness tells the tale of a mountain village, Vermeillon whose residents went missing over the course of several months. The book presents a series of vignettes allegedly collected from “those who were there”: survivors, traveling merchants, and (in secondhand accounts) residents of nearby settlements. It is unclear whether it is a fictional tale, folklore, or history. The content seems factual, but the language is extravagantly dramatic.
According to the book people began to disappear though not all at once, however. One or two would vanish in a single night, then a tenday might pass before the next disappearance. These unexplained disappearances terrified the remaining inhabitants. The villagers tried to protect themselves by sleeping with weapons and taking shifts on watch, but nothing changed. Traveling in groups didn’t help, since a companion might vanish while even briefly out of sight.
Fears began to mount that Vermeillon might be cursed, merchants and other travelers stopped visiting the village. The end of the patchwork story claims that the village is still there, though whether anyone inhabits it is a mystery.
@Ludolf
Your time is well spent as Matreous is able to find a number of factual texts regarding Vermellion you learn the following:
Vermeillon, established after settlers discovered a platinum vein in the mountainside, did a booming business in both the raw ore and the refined metal for around a decade. Due to the rough terrain and the harshness of the cold climate, the village never grew large. It intermittently hosted a succession of traveling merchants who came to the village for a week or two, sold and traded their wares, then left again. The nearest civilized settlement was three days’ ride on horseback down the mountainside. The inhabitants named in the books include Mayor Lei Duvezin, a kind and talented dwarf smith named Tormun, and his wife, Blenyss.
Seventy years ago, an explosion rocked the platinum mine, collapsing the tunnels and burying workers under tons of rubble. Sixty miners were underground that day. Over thirty of them died in the initial collapse, and the instability of the tunnels made rescue of the others slow and dangerous. The miners who survived the collapse were trapped for days or weeks before they were rescued—or perished in the deep, alone and terrified. Sixteen came out alive. Eleven were never found. Following the collapse there is a strange lack of information or accounts of the village.
The remainder of your time is spent transcribing the spells as you requested you are not able to make much headway in the Dark Hunger.
@Klin
You spend your days reading and in quiet meditation. You feel at peace and ready for whatever the world has in store for you.
@Daventry
Each time you channel your power you feel more comfortable with the arcane. Your body and mind seem to be sharpening and you can feel a gentle hum of power in your mind, your sword and the markings on your skin as you practice. It's a surprisingly pleasant feeling though you know you are just scratching the surface. Interestingly, as you read your tome and study it you find yourself again puzzled by the runes. Even the ones you bonded with in Baulder's Gate now seem foreign. Almost as if the book has sealed itself to you, hiding it's meaning, it's beyond frustrating.
DM -- The Candlekeep Mysteries 1 & 2 Discord PCs -- Christian Dembele Forum PCs -- Edryd Breckon, Fizzlebit Forton Thornberry the Fourth
Once the meal wraps up and everyone seems ready to head back to their rooms at the House of Rest, Triäsa closes up her book and heads over to catch Daventry. "I would really like to continue our sparring Dav. If you do not mind still working with me. I know I am not much help in a fight, but maybe if I just keep training." She shrugs, giving the other woman a slight grin. She tries to agree to a time to meet up in the training room at the mansion.
She then comes over to Ludolf before he goes. "If you want me to help with decorating ideas for your room at the mansion maybe I could meet you later, back at the House of Rest?" she says nervously. "Fembris will likely need the information soon if the work will be done while we are gone."
She then says a good evening to Pardot and Klin. "I hope to see you at The Hearth!"
Over the next day and a half, she spends most of her time reading A Deep and Creeping Darkness until she has completed it. In the mornings she would meet Ludolf and any others for breakfast at The Hearth. Not lingering there long she would then go to the pillars to have quiet for reading. She invites Ludolf to join her as he does his reading as well. She would have a very light lunch, again checking in at The Hearth for a brief time. Then after lunch she would go to read in the mansion - probably staying in the library or study depending on other activity going on there.
At whatever point Daventry has time she will take a break for sparring, likely hanging out at the mansion after to continue her reading.
The evening of the first night, Triäsa arrives at The Hearth (I'm assuming there to allow work to proceed on the mansion) exactly at the time agreed on to dine. She quickly finishes her meal and retreats to her room to rest and of course read a bit more.
The second evening she has completed the book. She tells the others, "It is basically the story of a mountain village called Vermeillon. Over several months the residents went missing, a few at a time. The language seems a bit dramatic, but it seems factual."
"According to the book people began to disappear though not all at once, however. One or two would vanish in a single night, then a tenday might pass before the next disappearance. These unexplained disappearances terrified the remaining inhabitants. The villagers tried to protect themselves by sleeping with weapons and taking shifts on watch, but nothing changed. Traveling in groups didn’t help, since a companion might vanish while even briefly out of sight."
"Fears began to mount that Vermeillon might be cursed, merchants and other travelers stopped visiting the village. The end of the patchwork story claims that the village is still there, though whether anyone inhabits it is a mystery."
@DM:
Their first night back to Candlekeep, Triäsa finally gets back to her room after the meal. She gets a huge smile and immediately rushes over upon seeing the letter and flower. She picks up the flower, smelling it briefly before unsealing the note to read it. As she reads her smile fades and she seems a bit confused. She quickly scans to the bottom, and as she sees Yalerion's signature she frowns slightly. She goes over and sits at the desk, then starts over again, reading the entire letter. When done she rapidly folds it up, pushing it aside, the flower set with it as well.
She slowly grabs a piece of paper and her pen and begins to write: 'Dear Yalerion, I was also disappointed to not see you before I left. I do hope that we might remain friends but I think it is only fair that I tell you...' She stops, crumpling up the paper. Taking another she begins again: 'Dear Yalerion, I am not sure how to say this...' She stops and stares at the page for a while, then shakes her head, whispering to herself, "Why is this so hard?"
She then is interrupted by a soft knock on the door and opens it to find Ludolf. She looks at him with a grin. "Here to talk about decorating?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
As Triäsa finishes her briefing on Vermeillon Ludolf continues. "Thanks Triäsa, well done. Now, I have done some research of my own into this mining village." Ludolf says and goes on to tell the others of what he found out from the books Fembris found for him. "Vermeillon, established after settlers discovered a platinum vein in the mountainside, did a booming business in both the raw ore and the refined metal for around a decade, but due to the rough terrain and the harshness of the cold climate, the village never grew large. It intermittently hosted a succession of traveling merchants who came to the village for a week or two, sold and traded their wares, then left again. The nearest civilized settlement is three days ride on horseback down the mountainside. The inhabitants named in the books I read include Mayor Lei Duvezin, a kind and talented dwarf smith named Tormun, and his wife, Blenyss." Ludolf pauses briefly before continuing again. "Now, seventy years ago, an explosion rocked the platinum mine, collapsing the tunnels and burying workers under tons of rubble. Sixty miners were underground that day. Over thirty of them died in the initial collapse, and the instability of the tunnels made rescue of the others slow and dangerous. The miners who survived the collapse were trapped for days or weeks before they were rescued—or perished in the deep, alone and terrified. Sixteen came out alive. Eleven were never found. Following the collapse there is a strange lack of information or accounts of the village." He pauses briefly again. "It would seems as the disappearances started with that mine collapse, suggesting something was released from the mountain, whether it was a curse or a monster. When we get there we should make that mine a priority though I think." Ludolf finishes and looks around to the others for thoughts.
Daventry nods at the briefing. "So, pack for cold and rough terrain in the mountains. Good to know. Hopefully the wagon will be able to make it to the mine. Thanks for looking into all of that... Though it leads to more questions about what could have been in those mines, now out in the wide world... "
She'll head to the outfitters before they depart, acquiring some climbing gear and warmer clothes.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Let me know what you all want to do. Any preparations/supplies you want to purchase and if you want to leave, when.
DM -- The Candlekeep Mysteries 1 & 2 Discord PCs -- Christian Dembele Forum PCs -- Edryd Breckon, Fizzlebit Forton Thornberry the Fourth
"I would think Chalet Brantifax to be a much finer place than Baldur's Gate Klin, and I consider the prospect of finding a portal to another plane to definitely be a step up." Ludolf comments to Klin. "But I admit that investigating that mine could prove hazardous."
Ludolf will visit the Erudite Outfitters and Clothiers to purchase cold weather clothing, stylish if available, and 20 rations that he places in the cart.
He is then ready for the next adventure :-)
"What about Chalet Brantifax? I do not recall seeing anything about that in the book I read." Triäsa asks. "But I do think the mine might be a good place to start."
She looks at Klin, confused. "What are you talking about? The chance to explore a planar portal and you are worried this is not interesting enough!" She shakes her head, waving her hand at Klin dismissively.
"Anyway, we head out tomorrow? Those able to muster up the interest at least?"
She also will visit Erudite Outfitters to make sure she has cold weather gear. And she will ask Pardot if he needs any help with planning supplies for the horses.
She also tries to see about what sort of treats a raven would enjoy, and buys a small supply that she could keep in a little pouch. (Nature check to think of good treats: 18, or she'll ask at the outfitters)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
You all go about your preparations. A quick trip to Erudite Outfitters the proprietor looks at you sideways. He explains that it is early summer and he does not carry winter traveling clothing or mountain climbing gear. While it could be ordered he suggests you stop at a town named Maerin if you are heading south. It sits at the foothills of the mountains and is generally more well prepared to outfit adventurers by his account it will take you about 3 days to get there. He is happy to sell you rations for 5sp per day. Triäsa you try feeding the Raven a few different things but quickly discover the he absolutely adores peanuts. You are able to get a small sack of peanuts from the Hearth without any trouble.
The next morning you all meet at the gates and head out. The father and son at the stables bring around your wagon and you notice there have been a few improvements. The loose boards along the side have been fixed. The wood has all been sanded and stained. Similarly, your horses have been meticulously groomed and fed. There is plenty of hay in the back to make the trip a bit more comfortable. Overall, things appear to be off to a fine start.
Assuming there is nothing else you start off down the road, south this time along the Trade Way. Your first two days are uneventful. As you make camp the second night you can see the high snow covered mountains looming over you. Their presence casts a heavy shadow over the final day of travel as the road winds meticulously through a well traveled valley. Given the early summer heat and generally good weather you see a number of other travelers and merchants. Most of which are passing quickly on the way north to Baulder's Gate.
Mysterious DM roll: 8
The final leg of your journey is also quiet. The third day just before noon you come to small settlement marked with a signpost that reads "Maerin". While its not quite large enough to be consider a city it is rather busy with a number of traveling merchants and adventurers walking the streets. In the center of the village is a busy open air market, surrounding the market are a number of small shops and a tavern.
(I don't mean to rush you I just didn't want the game to sit still too long and folks get distracted:) if there is anything else you want to do any point totally cool to rewind to any point)
DM -- The Candlekeep Mysteries 1 & 2 Discord PCs -- Christian Dembele Forum PCs -- Edryd Breckon, Fizzlebit Forton Thornberry the Fourth
Daventry snorts awake, having been napping in the back with her hat over her head. She pokes her head up from the back of the wagon, looking around. "Well, guess this is it, huh? Shall we get a cooked lunch and make purchases for the mountain pass? Maybe ask the locals if the pass up is wide enough for the wagon, or if we should board one of the horses and load up some saddlebags on the other?"
(OOC: What are the horses' names?)
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Pardot has enjoyed the trip in the wagon and talking with his companions. Nearly every day brings new surprises that he didn't expect. The stars must have led him here for a reason though. At nights he spends a half hour or so with the horses, talking with them, feeding them, and explaining what and where they're going (though obviously keeping details of extra planer travel out of the conversation, as that's too much for simple beasts to understand). Though others may enjoy their rations more, Pardot always has a goodberry or two to handout in the evenings if people would prefer to keep their rations for later.
Once in town Pardot follows the lead of the others and heads to buy some simple, but warm clothing if it will likely be needed. He has been studying spiders as they camp so isn't so worried about climbing though, so leaves any climbing gear to the others. He also explores the market looking for any interesting local snack foods to try, as well as some fruit for the horses. They said hay is great, but treats are always nice.
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
Throughout the three days of travel, Triäsa would make a point of trying to coax Ludolf's raven Edgar to come over to her. She speaks to it a bit, lets it perch on her shoulder as she walks alongside the cart, and of course, feeds it a peanut every time.
The first night on the road, once everyone has eaten and settled in, Triäsa grabs her lute and starts to play. This time, she sings a song - it's the first time any of you ever recall her singing, besides for when casting spells:
'Beloved, gaze in thine own heart
The holy tree is growing there;
From joy the holy branches start
And all the trembling flowers they bear.
The changing colours of its fruit
Have dowered the stars with merry light;
The surety of its hidden root
Has planted quiet in the night;
The shaking of its leafy head
Has given the waves their melody.
And made my lips and music wed,
Murmuring a wizard song for thee,
There the Loves a circle go,
The flaming circle of our days,
Gyring, spiring to and fro
In those great ignorant leafy ways;
Remembering all that shaken hair
And how the winged sandals dart
Thine eyes grow full of tender care;
Beloved, gaze in thine own heart.'
She glances to Ludolf, keeping her eyes on him for a moment as she starts. Then continuing, her eyes close as you have seen before. She sways a bit to the gentle tune as she sings in her typical soft voice. (Performance: 24) After singing she looks a little embarassed and she grabs the lute and excuses herself to get to sleep.
In Maerin, Triäsa would join the others in finding a shop that will sell cold-weather clothing. She nods to Daventry, "A cooked lunch would be good. Do we continue on today or spend the night here and press on in the morning? We can probably talk to folks wherever we grab some food. But if we stayed a bit longer maybe we could poke about for any information on Vermeillon."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"No Triäsa, Fembris didn't find anything on Chalet Brantifax but it is supposed to be near Vermeillon so I presume we will be able to find it at least." Ludolf answers the half-elven bard back at Candlekeep.
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During their journey to Vermeillon Ludolf spends most of his days in the cart reading the book with the title The Hunger, but pauses occasionally to walk beside the cart with Triäsa, not seeming to mind Edgar being spoiled by her. During the evenings he tries to be pleasant company, generously using a ritual from his black tome to summon an unseen servant to take care of menial tasks. Before going to rest he would use another ritual from his black tome to ward their camp from intruders. If he gets wind of Daventry's star mystery he would inquire her and Pardot about it. At the first night when Triäsa sings Ludolf would seemingly drift off into bliss, just looking at her with a stupid smile on his face as she sings. "That was...." He bigins to say as Triäsa leaves. "...wonderful." He finishes quietly to himself.
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"Yes, first we go to the market for the equipment we still need, and then we should get lunch at that tavern and find someone there to talk to. We could use with some more recent information on Vermeillon, and hopefully also this Chalet Brantifax." Ludolf suggests walking beside the wagon as they slowly roll into Maerin.
I would assume that Pardot and Daventry have spoken openly around the camp regarding her additional shooting-star shaped brand. She doesn't seem to buy into any implications of some greater fate, but does wonder how and if she will change the further she delves into the magic. She'll be honest with the group - she is still trying to study the tome. She was looking at it when she discovered, however briefly, the meaning of one of the pages of runes, and she was able to use that knowledge for greater control of light, both for weal and woe. Her new spells allow her to summon light, much like Triasa, but also focus it into a blinding beamlike attack, or into smaller focused beams that she can direct at will. She can't tell you exactly what the runes of light she has placed on her weapons say, but she knows that they bind them to her and she can make them briefly float freely as if her own gravity is the only force controlling them, or have them return to her like a shower of shooting stars.
It's hard to say if the hot streak in her personality, displayed against that red-haired mage, was a pre-existing condition or is something new :)
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Ludolf would find a moment alone with Daventry, again warning her in a friendly manner to be cautious when dealing with her tome as it seems to be some sort of conduit for an entity of immense evil.
Daventry certainly would have sparred with Klin. She would compliment the counters you've developed, both from a time when you caught a thrown dagger from midair, and another when you turned a near-miss on you into a counter-attack on her, deflecting her blade with the flail's chain and clocking her in the chest with the other fist. "Hells, Klin. Between the two of us, I think anyone who faces off against us will be in real trouble."
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Daventry takes that as a challenge. "We'll just have to keep at it, then. Our duels will be the rivalry for the ages! Four decades down the line, my cosmic arcane power rending worlds each strike, your mastery of mind and soul as Faerun's only defense." She grins.
Aldrik Reinholdt in Dragon Heist
Daventry in The Candlekeep Mysteries, and her bag
Pulling into town during the hot midafternoon sun you are a bit struck with the sheer number of people this quiet little village is currently holding. There are all manners of races and personalities walking from stall to stall in the open air market. There are street performers juggling, singing and dancing. It's almost as if the Midsummer Festival has come early. A brief bit of thought leads you to the conclusion that this pass is the only way through the mountains and so it's rather possible hundreds of people pass through here daily on their way up the sword coast. There is stable that offers to house your horses (they do not have names, feel free to name them yourselves:)) and wagon for 1 gold per day or any part of a day.
As you take in the surroundings you are struck at the simplicity of the surroundings. The buildings are quaint wooden structures but they stand starkly against impossibly tall mountains which are capped in snow. The buildings are spaced comfortably apart with some larger buildings acting a perimeter around the central open air market. A quick glance and you are able to find a few areas that seem interesting.
The Bored Weasel -- Appears to be mid-ranged tavern/inn. It has a comfortable wooden porch with a few patrons sitting at tables drink wine.
The Central Market -- While not as large as the Wide there is a diverse array of goods from jewels, textiles, fresh fruit, flowers and meats. There are about twenty different stalls.
The Authors of Iron -- A general purpose Blacksmith
The Challenging Boulder -- A general good store.
You know that Vermeillon lies to the east and the map seems to indicate some sort of trail or road into the mountains that should take you in that direction. Whether that road exists or not is unclear as the book appears to be very old. How far is difficult to judge. Outside of that you do not have any other clues or reasonable bits of information.
DM -- The Candlekeep Mysteries 1 & 2 Discord PCs -- Christian Dembele Forum PCs -- Edryd Breckon, Fizzlebit Forton Thornberry the Fourth