Abishai's Dragons of Icespire Peak

"It is a bit odd. I'll grant you that," Gareth nods. "They did come to us as a pair though so I guess it only makes sense for them to leave as a pair...or a couple." 

The ranger grows quiet for a moment and then says, "We're close, but Sylvie wishes I was closer. She doesn't like when I leave, when I'm gone for so long." He sighs. "She's told me on several occasions that I should just get a real job, a normal job, not traveling all over the Sword Coast chasing down and killing monsters and selling their parts. We've fought about it...a lot, actually. I hope the dragon doesn't swallow me whole, because the last words we said to each other before I left..." Gareth stares at the ground, a distant look in his eyes. "The thing is...I'd go crazy if I got a job in the city. Sure, I could probably get in with the city guard, but I'd go stir crazy inside a week. Sylvie deserves better, not sure why she's even put up with me this long." The ranger gives Lyra a sad smile before suddenly laughing. "Sorry, I'm probably not the best person to be giving relationship advice."

As the Neverwinter guards approach, Gareth shakes his head ruefully. "Speak of the devils now," he mutters. "Sorry, we haven't seen anyone like that around here. The leader likes to think he's a pirate? What does that mean? Does he have a ship?"

"They killed one of my men on their escape from Neverwinter. They are armed and dangerous, and wouldn't think twice about attacking innocent civilians traveling along the road. I appreciate the offer to help, but we'll handle it once we find them. Just steer clear of them if you see them and report it to a passing patrol when you can. We've increased our patrols in the area. We'll find em, just a matter of time."

The leader's gaze stops on Lord Kithran for a long moment... his hand instinctively lowers to the hilt of his sword and his head cocks slightly to the side in confusion. Gareth's question breaks his thought and he answers his question, "Right... no ship that I know of, but he likes to talk like he's a pirate on the high seas. Maybe he used to be, or maybe he's lost his marbles. Either way, we're going to bring him and his gang to justice."

Finishing the conversation with Gareth, Meira gives him a grin. "Sounds like you might have great advice, I'm on the road while she's off somewhere safe. It certainly is similar. Thanks for talking with me though, I appreciate it." 

Continuing the talk with the guards, Meira replies quickly, "We understand, let the patrols know if we see these bandits. I wish you luck on bringing them to justice. We'd best be on our way."  Having caught their notice of Kithran, she hopes they will forget about him and just let them move along. 

"Yes, I will accompany you." Kithran responds to the ranger. "Dragon barrow used to be a better place. We need to clear it of its filthy inhabitants."

As the Neverwinter Guards approach, the undead paladin makes no move to conceal himself. Lord Kithran mirrors the leader's actions. he begins fingering his maul, and he holds the guard's gaze until the guard looks away. Kithran's maul begins smouldering, thick embers dropping into the path.

Gareth watches the embers drop from the undead paladin's maul. He's glad the dwarf is on their side, because he's painting a pretty intimidating picture at the moment.

"Right, well, we'll definitely let the guards know if we encounter this pirate pretender of yours," says the ranger, trying not to look too amused by being referred to as an innocent civilian. "We'll be on our way. Farewell and good luck." 

The ranger moves to pass the mounted Neverwintan patrol, hoping they move to pass as well. If Sylvie found out he fought with Neverwintan guards, even in self-defense, he would never hear the end of it. He hoped for the guardsmen's sakes that they would just leave the matter of an undead dwarf in their midst alone. 

Zephyros puts up a hand in greeting to the fellow soldiers. "Hail!" 

"I'm sorry but we haven't seen any bandits on the road, but we did clear out a coven of hags at the lighthouse to the south." He mutters, "Yer welcome." Under his breath. He watches the captain's gaze resting on Kithran before he continues to speak.

"We are not innocent civilians as you may have noticed." Placing his trident firmly on the ground as a walking stick, the armored warrior continues, "If we find these bandits, we will dispatch them for you. Can't have evil run amuck, now can we. The innocent civilians must be protected."

"Safe travels Neverwintain guards. Thank you for the report. May we meet again." With that, the battle hardened veteran casually walks in between the horsed guardsmen, continuing their journey to the Dragon Barrow.

It takes a lot of effort for Meira to not roll her eyes at Zephyros when he so bluntly declares that they will dispatch the bandits. It's not that he's not right, but she felt like it would have been so much better to just keep going and stay mostly inconspicuous. There was nothing else to do though than to simply follow the warrior, walking along right after him. "Again, best of luck," she says to the guards in what she hopes is a friendly tone. 

The horses part ways to allow the group to continue as the leader says, "Yes, well be careful. Best not underestimate this group of bandits. Take care."

They watch your group for a few minutes and seem to be talking amongst themselves as you continue down the road. Eventually, they turn and gallop down the road heading South.

You continue your journey to the Dragon Barrow as the sun begins to set again. You surmise the final push to the Barrow would take another 3 hours. Do you stop and make camp or push on?

"I think I'd rather approach a barrow by day," Meira suggests. "I would just find a good spot to camp here tonight and continue on in the morning."

"Probably a wise decision," Gareth agrees. 

He turns to look at Lord Kithran. "What else can you tell us about this Dragon Barrow? You've been there before?"

Anyone who wants too, can make a survival check to find a place to camp for the night.

Gareth Survival (advantage due to using the compass) - 23

"Aye, I've heard that the spirits are the most restless at dusk. Best to wait 'till dawn." Zephyros affirms Meira and Gareth's decision, while he listens to the ranger inquire of the Death Knight. Afterward, he will continue joyfully communicating with his wife.

As the sun sets beneath the western sea, it leaves thin strips of violet and gold along the horizon. Gareth finds a narrow trail that veers off the road between moss-covered stones that leads into a hollow sheltered by ancient oaks. The place feels forgotten. Safe enough for weary travelers and hidden enough to avoid unwanted eyes. A place where the light of a campfire is protected from prying eyes from the road. You make camp in this place and rest for the night.

The night passes by uneventfully and you all begin to wake the next morning as sunlight slowly replaces the fading moonlight. After breaking down your camp, you leave the ancient oaks behind and continue traveling along the High Road North for a short while before turning East along a rocky path. A few hours into your journey you approach a thirty-foot-high hill that rises ahead of you, its top too flat to be a natural occurrence. Jutting from the grassy hilltop is a row of ten-foot-tall, bone-white rocks that arc toward the sky like outstretched talons. This is the Dragon Barrow.

[[OOC: Everyone, please give me a perception check.]]

As the group finds a sheltered hollow to camp for the night, Meira soon finds a spot to set up for the night. She sits comfortably, getting out her dulcimer to play once everything is settled for resting. The strings eventually take up the melody she was playing last night, and she eventually continues singing the tale: 

'We sailed then on, till the wind had failed,
and we toiled then with the oar,
and hunger an thirst us sorely wrung,
and we sang our psalms no more.
A land at last with a silver strand
at the end of strenght we found;
the waves were singing in pillared caves
and pearls lay on the ground;
and steep the shores went upward leaping
to slopes of green and gold,
and a stream out of rich and teeming
through a coomb of shadow rolled.

Through gates of stone we rowed in haste,
and passed and left the sea;
and silence like dew fell in that isle,
and holy it seemed to be.
As a green cup, deep in a brim of green,
that with wine the white sun fills
was the land we found, and we saw there stand
on a laund between the hills
a tree more fair than ever I deemed
might climb in Paradise;
its foot was like a great tower’s root,
it height beyond men’s eyes;
so wide its branches, the least could hold
in shade an acre long,
and they rose as steep as mountain-snows
those boughs so broad and strong;
for white as a winter to my sight
the leaves of that tree were,
they grew more close than swan-wing plumes,
all long and soft and fair.

We deemed then, maybe, as in a dream,
that time had passed away
and our journey ended; for no return
we hoped, but there to stay.
In the silence of that hollow isle,
in the stillness, then we sang-
softly us seemed, but the sound aloft
like a pealing organ rang.
Then trembled the tree from crown to stem;
from the limbs the leaves in air
as white birds fled in wheeling flight,
and left the branches bare.
From the the sky came dropping down on high
a music not of bird,
not voice of man, nor angel’s voice;
but maybe there is a third
fair kindred in the world yet lingers
beyond the foundered land.
Yet steep are the seas and the waters deep
beyond the White-tree Strand.’

As her voice fades, she continues to play a few soft chords on her instrument, until she allows those notes to fade away as well.  Setting aside her dulcimer, she seems to just stay put, propped up a bit in a comfortable spot but not lying down.  Eventually she drifts off to sleep like that. 

The morning finds her awake as other rise. Stretching, she continues on for another morning at least of travel.  As they approach the flat-topped hill she doesn't make any remarks but takes a moment to study the place. 

(Perception: 28)

"I haven't been there for a long, long time." Lord Kithran tells the ranger. "But i know that a hundred years is enough time to desecrate any holy site. It was built to look like a dragon from above, and it holds the legendary dragonslayer sword until time of need."

When the undead paladin views the hollow Gareth found, he rumbles, "Perhaps fate is on our side." He rests his back against an ancient oak tree and falls asleep listening to Meira's song.

After travelling for some time and coming across Dragon Barrow, the disgraced paladin speaks to the party. "Best to not disturb the dead. I do not take you all for grave robbers."

Perception: 14

"The dead have no need of anything in there- And by who's standards are the dead robbed? If we were concerned with disturbing the dead we would not seek the dragonslayer sword, nor secure Axeholm." Zephyros explains by what he thinks is logical. He puffs his pipe- an action his sea-elven wife did not approve of. He continues, almost distant, as if he was involved in another conversation. "The dead don't have a dragon- or two for that matter- to worry about. If I were you, I would begin to realize that the resting need nothing more than a peaceful slumber."

Perception: 23