Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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As they pass by, Zeltheris stops and turns to one of the guards, "Tell me, have the tales of the incredible tales of the legendary heroes of Chalice made it up here? You wouldn't believe some of the rumors swirling in the south. Did you hear they were responsible for wiping out a nest of rock demons in an abandoned dwarven hold?"
The two swarves give Zeltheris slightly bemused looks, " I did hear about a citadel that fell from the sky or somesuch......we were mainly concerned with those Mirewater buggers stealing the Kings hammer but now that thats over with you'll have plenty of eager ears for your tales elf-lad."
" Head on in."
"Glad to hear it." murmurs Enwynn with a smile, pleased to see Stonebridge's folk peaceful and content. Corwyn sits quietly on her shoulder, shaded against the sun by a fold of her cloak's hood, a pair of watchful blue eyes peering out at the world as she walks over the bridge.
Herman bows his head smiling and walks by the bridge
As Ennwyn walks through the small town she ( and any others that have been here before) can see and point out the Silverheart Smithy, the acclaimed carpenters, Fagran Chislehand, Oins Furriers and ahead the stocky granite palace that overlooks the town. A dock sits slightly to the east of the bridge where passage can be purchased to places such as Kaad along the Red River.
Signposted roads leading east to Silent Wood, west lies the village of Quarry Path, the Iron Rapids river, and the Iron Hills. The diamond mines lie north of Stonebridge; they are the source of much of the towns wealth.
Herman looks around: he likes the place and its position near the river.
“Shall we head directly to the granite palace? I am actually thirsty but I am eager to meet with the king and, if he is welcoming, he may think about something to eat and drink as well… and our mounts need rest and feed”
While patting his horse back gently
"Yes, we are here to see the King and it's best not to keep him waiting."
Banzo will cross the Stonebridge and nod in greeting to the dwarven guards as he passes.
Herman nods at Banzo and heads towards the granite palace, sure some guard or servant will escort them inside
"It would be polite to at least send word to him that we have arrived in Stonebridge." Enwynn says pensively, then offers a compromise to Banzo and Herman "If we seek a stable on the way it should not take long to find one."
She looks Herman up and down critically and adds "And a water trough would not go amiss either."
OOC: Does Enwynn know where to find a good inn with stables in Stonebridge? If not, does she know who to ask about that, other than Gilibran?
( Scuppers Saddlery and Stables lies on the central street of Stonebridge; stabling would normally be 2 cp per day but that is dropped to 2cp a week when they recognise Enwynn.)
"Well we have to stop somewhere to saddle the horses. It's not like we're going to ride right up to the King now is it?"
Banzo nods to Enwynn.
"I guess we'll all be following your lead Enwynn as you already have an edge over us in dealing with the King."
"It is possible to ride into the great hall, it's certainly spacious enough..." Enwynn offers to Banzo, then after a little more thought concludes more diplomatically "...But I doubt it would be wise to do so without specific invitation."
She is somewhat sharper when she replies to their second comment with "If I do have an edge over his good opinion, it is only because I did what needed to be done, and swiftly." then in a gentler tone explains "I did not expect that he would also willingly be a friend to me when the task was carried out, but I count him as one and I am both surprised and grateful for the unexpected favor of his comradeship to an outsider, and one who is not even fluent enough in Dwarven to thank him properly for it."
She stops and points to Scupper's Saddlery & Stables, and is about to say something when Corwyn wakes up from dozing in the shade of her hood, looks about, then promptly flies up onto the roof of the establishment.
"Will this suffice?" she asks with a smile "I have it on good authority that the owner doesn't stint on the oats in their horse feed."
"Nice, fine"
Says Herman looking at Corwyn with a smile
Once the horses are squared away the companions continue along the main street towards the squat stone palace attracting a retinue of older dwarves who follow the group muttering about what their business might be.
The group arrives at the base of a long set of stone steps leading upward and begins to climb, at the top outside the solid building on an ornate wooden throne sits a sinewy old dwarf with a long silver beard. He is wearing a squared golden crown and looks perturbed but smiles when he sees Corwyn and Ennwyn.
" Last time you came bearing gifts, this time companions.", he chuckles.
The elderly dwarves flanking the group all go down onto one knee before him, some with creaks and grunts...
Herman, feeling ignorant in etiquette, just follows suit and kneels down
Banzo glances at Enwynn briefly to see if she approves of Herman's actions with a slight nod or shake of her head, or any other signal.
Option 1:
(If she signals disapproval in any way he will not kneel.)
Option 2:
(If she instead signals approval or doesn't signal at all then he will also kneel.)
(ooc: can tortles kneel? their shell is weighty and bulky, maybe trying to kneel on one knee causes him to tip over and land on his back, lol)
((Ahah))
After ensuring that the horses are stabled, and putting the coins for a day in advance into the hand of Ma Scupper's eldest Sindri, Enwynn spends a moment chatting with the talented young dwarf about the charcoal sketches of a plan for a bird-shaped iron-wrought weather vane drawn out on the lime washed wall of one of the stable's wattle and daub stall dividers.
The elf smiles as she grasps the concept behind the artisan in training's meticulous design "So even a strong wind will not tear it down from perched upon high, but the slightest breeze will catch its iron wings, thus spin the bird by its feathers to show the direction the breeze comes from? That is truly a marvel of both wisdom and beauty, Sindri. But why an open beak if it is to serve as a pointer for the wind? A whistle? So the bird sings louder the stronger the breeze? How wonderful! You have outdone all your previous designs if this works as well in the wind as it does on the wall."
Corwyn flits from roof to stable door to see what attracts Enwynn's attention beyond oats and fresh water and paces back and forth in front of the charcoal-annotated wall, examining it from all angles, then preens in front of it, apparently pleased at the likeness.
Sindri looks contemplatively at the preening crow and muses "If I put a perch rail underneath the wings, it would stop the real ones sitting on top of it, and keep the rain off their feathers..." then grabs a stub of charcoal to add to the sketch.
The stable dwarf asks Corwynn in utter seriousness "You like that idea better, Master Corwyn?" The crow nods and utters a rasping cry of "Clever bird!" before flapping away back to the sunlit rooftops outside.
Despite the trailing crowd behind the party on the way, the elf is close-lipped, and only smiles and says "You'll know soon enough." in answer to all questions.
Enwynn greets King Gillibran with a formal curtsey, using her cloak in place of skirts she does not currently wear after a moment's thought. She cheerfully replies to his question as she explains "They might be said to be gifts of the road, your majesty, but the peoples of Chalice have a prior claim to their heroism, and I would not bring another domain's champions to your hall if there were not a need for them here and now."
The elf hold up a hand in warding as she offers "I would not put words in their mouths though, your majesty, and prefer to let them make their own introductions. I am again grateful to you and your people for your courtesy in using Common speech with one poorly educated in Dwarven."
She concludes "Three things I can tell you now with certainty. Firstly that these gentlefolk are the Heroes Of Chalice, brave explorers and fine warriors all in their own diverse ways. Secondly that they have uncovered much ancient lore that may interest you to know of in an exploration of an underground site of Dwarven making. And thirdly that they also seek knowledge of an equally ancient foe they met and defeated there, whose malevolent spite yet lingers upon them."
OOC: Thank you for your patience and Happy Holidays to you all. :)
As the guards and some of the others kneel, Zeltheris gives a florid bow, ending down on one knee, in part hoping the excessive flourish will help distract from others who might not be as comfortable in such settings.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!