The city of Phlan was once known as the Jewel of the Moonsea. Sitting on the northern shore at the mouth of the Stojanow River, Phlan has been through many cycles of growth, destruction, and rebuilding.
The city government is currently primarily under the control of the Knights of the Black Fist, a military force that started as a sect of the Church of Bane over a century ago, but over the decades has become much more focused on consolidating control over Phlan and is now only tenuously connected to the Banites. The city guilds, religious leaders, and the the local thieves guild, the Welcomers, jockey for power and influence.
You are staying at Madame Freona's Tea Kettle, a place where adventurers can find work and avoid the various hassles associated with other places in Phlan. Here, although you have to share a common bunk room, at least the rates are fair and the rooms are warm and dry. The Black Fist maintains a police presence in this quarter that keeps the peace without being as oppressive as other sections of the city, and the Welcomers deal in more subtle and lucrative crimes than the mugging and daylight robbery they commit elsewhere.
Madame Freona is a stout and officious halfling who runs the Tea Kettle with her five daughters, and she has a reputation as an excellent hostess. Madame Freona’s Tea Kettle is a tavern and inn frequented by skilled laborers and traveling merchants, people of moderate means. The inn also has a reputation as a place where reliable mercenaries and would-be-adventurers can be hired by business owners looking for guards, caravaners looking for escorts, and other good citizens looking for a little extra piece of mind or help sorting out a problem. Madame Freona makes sure that sell-swords with unsavory reputations aren't welcome in her establishment.
After a peaceful night’s rest, Briez, one of Madame Freona’s five daughters, is serving a delightful breakfast to the overnight guests in the common room, approximately 20 people, including all of you. The room has a large trestle table that can seat a dozen off to one side, and 13 smaller tables that seat 2-4 each. Most of the guests are sitting by themselves or in groups of two or three as Briez moves through the room serving plates from a large (for her) tray.
A young man dressed in fine clothing with a trimmed black beard and hair to match catches the eye of the passing halfling, "Miss Briez, may I get another cup of this lovely tea when you get a moment, please?" He smiles at the girl as he makes his request, who would probably only come up to his waist if he were standing at his full six foot, two inch height.
His accent isn't exactly that of a local, perhaps further south across the Moonsea, but is decidedly also not one of a commoner. The refined crust of aristocracy can be heard in some of his spoken vowels. Still, he doesn't seem to mind sitting in the common room amongst whom could be perceived as his social inferiors. He is perfectly happy to make conversation with anyone around him that seems to be keen.
At the half-full trestle table an air genasi is excitedly talking to people and handing out glittery pamphlets to anyone who makes eye contact. She seems to know how to command attention, and despite her obviously trying to sell/promote something, a surprising amount of people seem to be interested in her pamphlets.
A Harengon with brown fur sits between two patrons at the trestle table. His legs sway impatiently, dangling far from the tavern floor. The armor he wears fits loosely on his small frame as if they were meant for a bigger man. A longbow leans against the back of the Harengon's chair, comically large when compared to its owner. His ears prick up, taking in the murmurs and conversations of the other patrons in the tavern. He munches slowly on his breakfast despite his restlessness as he recalls his master's words. "Remember, Token. There's a time to eat, a time to sleep, and a time to hunt. A good hunter focuses on the task in front of them."
Token notices the Air Genasi handing out pamphlets to the other patrons, a twinkle in his eye. "Could those be recruitment pamphlets? This might be a chance for somethin' big!" he thinks to himself as he looks eagerly towards the Genasi.
A young half-Elf waits patiently for her breakfast to come. She doesnt seem impatient, but her eyes follow Briez as she goes back into the kitchen. She has long blonde hair combed into a ponytail and golden eyes. She wears a scale mail and sits completely still and with a perfect form. Her armor has the holy symbol of Sune carved into it. At the moment, she seems solely focused on having her breakfast, doesnt even glance at the rest of the room.
Valde Is a tall, blonde man that when you see him, you can't not notice that is a foreigner. His clothes, well furs, cover him like he just climbed a mountain. These white furs of unknown beasts, probably wolf or polar bear, compose his whole clothing, starting from his pulled back hood to his knees. Trousers are made always of hide of some sorts but of a brownish color. He has some new boots that he bought recently because he couldn't walk here with the snow boots from where he came from. It's easy to wonder how he doesn't sweat dressed like this in this climate; maybe he's crazy or simply he doesn't wanna give away his trusty furs for personal attachment. He also wears strange scrimshaw bone necklaces that can give a hint of him being a sorta of shaman. Valde has a warm attitude, besides the cold climate he grew up in, but is not very affable. He tries to talk with people around them, with a recurring theme of asking about local fishes and ways to cook them. If you talked with him for more than half an hour you can probably remember and label him as the fish guy because of his obsession with fish. His ethnicity is clearly Illuskan because of his fair skin and blonde long hair and beard. Age looks around 40ish year old. He has already asked Miss Freona if he could be reserved a small size of fish for breakfast, any fish will suffice. From the way he drinks you can clearly notice he's not used to local beverages. He looks with much curiosity at fruits. He sits among others along the long table, watching how they eat, to learn their costumes. He probably sits close to the fancy dressed guy and Valde thinks that guy is a local and he can answer him some questions about Phlan.
The air genasi takes a survey of the room and notices a harengon. She excitedly skips over to where the harengon is and quickly introduces herself as Evara. Evara simultaneously puts out one hand to shake hands and with the other pulls out a pamphlet which leaves a golden arc of sparkles streaming dreamily behind it. As the glittery shimmer starts to fade, she says “hello friend, are you acquainted with your lord and savior Garl Glittergold?”
Token is taken aback by Evara’s bedazzling aura, the spoon in his hand clattering onto the table. After a few seconds to return to his senses, Token hastily downs his mouthful of breakfast before standing up on his chair to offer one paw to shake Evara’s hand while the other accepts the pamphlet. Though Evara’s approach is rather strong, her friendliness puts Token a bit at ease.
“Pleasure to meetcha, Sister Evara. The name’s Token. Token Telltail. And I must confess that I don’t visit the temples offen nor am I much of a worshippin’ man. Can’t say I know this Garl Glittergod but judgin’ from your demeanor, he must be a kind and compassionate lord. May I ask if that’s the reason you’re passin’ out them pamphlets?” he asks.
It's not all legends and heroics when it comes to working for the city watch, and Mavis learned this first hand with her designated post this morning being patrolling the local Madam Freona's inn. She entered the common room of the establishment and took a look around, absorbing the surroundings and all the patrons in the room, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Her stunning beauty is offset by the commanding presence of her strong figure, and uniform designated to Phlan's local guards. She spots an Air Genasi handing out pamphlets. "Hope they have a permit for that" she thinks to herself. She also spots a suspicious young fellow in black clothing. "I'll have to keep an extra eye on that one" she continues thinking to herself, as she elects to lean against the wall of the establishment, before realizing the casual posture of a lean might diminish the intimidating vibe she's trying to give off, and instead elects to stand up straight with her arms folded.
As soon as a guard enters the room, Hana's eyes go to her. She wasnt sure what to do next, now that she was on town. Asking a guard seemed like the best option. But her eyes sparkled with a special intensity. The guard was a real beauty. It couldnt be anything else than a sign from her goddess. She stood up immediately, forgetting her breakfast, and walked all the way to the commanding figure.
"Good morning, Miss Guard. May I have a word with you, please?" Hana was swift to move around the room and completely polite when talking to her, bowing her head a little as a salute.
Mavis looks the girl in front of her up and down, gauging her intent based on how she presents herself. Her outward politeness and elegance almost takes Mavis off guard, since she's become accustomed to dealing with miscreants and malcontents. Mavis clears her throat before speaking. "Yes citizen, what is on your mind?" she replies.
"Thanks, Miss Guard. You see, I am a Sune's Cleric. I have come to the city to help its citizens. Something really bad is going to happen soon. I thought you may have some clues on where I may start looking. Maybe you noticed more trouble lately or a part of the city or a faction is specially tense. If so, I would like your help finding out what is going on."
I smile at her, hoping for some cooperation on her end.
Mavis is a little perplexed by her foreboding statement, but she was trained to take any and all threats seriously, no matter how farfetched they may be. "Perhaps you could be a little more specific as to what bad event may transpire here... miss?" Mavis trails off with a hand gesture and a tone of voice signifying that she's trying to get her name.
"Well, its not clear. I had an omen from my goddess, I saw the city and then something came from the west. Something dark and terrible. In the end it looked like a dragon made out of bones. I am not saying a literal bone dragon is going to attack, but some kind of metaphorical death is coming. Those bones... I fear the citizens may get hurt."
As Hana stops talking she realizes what Miss Guard meant with her last word. "Oh, my name is Hana Lightwarden. Yours?"
"Just call me Mavis" she responds, whilst rubbing the back of her neck nervously. "Bone dragons might be a little outside our jurisdiction, but is there any more details you can provide that would be helpful?"
"Nice to meet you, Miss Mavis." She answers politely. "I know, but maybe we can stop it all before it begins. I dont have more details and I dont know much about the city, but you do. Or at least where I should go to find that information."
Hana looks at Mavis with hope. Completely trusting she will help her.
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The city of Phlan was once known as the Jewel of the Moonsea. Sitting on the northern shore at the mouth of the Stojanow River, Phlan has been through many cycles of growth, destruction, and rebuilding.
The city government is currently primarily under the control of the Knights of the Black Fist, a military force that started as a sect of the Church of Bane over a century ago, but over the decades has become much more focused on consolidating control over Phlan and is now only tenuously connected to the Banites. The city guilds, religious leaders, and the the local thieves guild, the Welcomers, jockey for power and influence.
You are staying at Madame Freona's Tea Kettle, a place where adventurers can find work and avoid the various hassles associated with other places in Phlan. Here, although you have to share a common bunk room, at least the rates are fair and the rooms are warm and dry. The Black Fist maintains a police presence in this quarter that keeps the peace without being as oppressive as other sections of the city, and the Welcomers deal in more subtle and lucrative crimes than the mugging and daylight robbery they commit elsewhere.
Madame Freona is a stout and officious halfling who runs the Tea Kettle with her five daughters, and she has a reputation as an excellent hostess. Madame Freona’s Tea Kettle is a tavern and inn frequented by skilled laborers and traveling merchants, people of moderate means. The inn also has a reputation as a place where reliable mercenaries and would-be-adventurers can be hired by business owners looking for guards, caravaners looking for escorts, and other good citizens looking for a little extra piece of mind or help sorting out a problem. Madame Freona makes sure that sell-swords with unsavory reputations aren't welcome in her establishment.
After a peaceful night’s rest, Briez, one of Madame Freona’s five daughters, is serving a delightful breakfast to the overnight guests in the common room, approximately 20 people, including all of you. The room has a large trestle table that can seat a dozen off to one side, and 13 smaller tables that seat 2-4 each. Most of the guests are sitting by themselves or in groups of two or three as Briez moves through the room serving plates from a large (for her) tray.
A young man dressed in fine clothing with a trimmed black beard and hair to match catches the eye of the passing halfling, "Miss Briez, may I get another cup of this lovely tea when you get a moment, please?" He smiles at the girl as he makes his request, who would probably only come up to his waist if he were standing at his full six foot, two inch height.
His accent isn't exactly that of a local, perhaps further south across the Moonsea, but is decidedly also not one of a commoner. The refined crust of aristocracy can be heard in some of his spoken vowels. Still, he doesn't seem to mind sitting in the common room amongst whom could be perceived as his social inferiors. He is perfectly happy to make conversation with anyone around him that seems to be keen.
Enzo Ballantine - Shadow Sorcerer
“On my next trip back, love!” as she swaps plates of fresh food on one table with dirty dishes from another and begins to head back to the kitchen.
At the half-full trestle table an air genasi is excitedly talking to people and handing out glittery pamphlets to anyone who makes eye contact. She seems to know how to command attention, and despite her obviously trying to sell/promote something, a surprising amount of people seem to be interested in her pamphlets.
A Harengon with brown fur sits between two patrons at the trestle table. His legs sway impatiently, dangling far from the tavern floor. The armor he wears fits loosely on his small frame as if they were meant for a bigger man. A longbow leans against the back of the Harengon's chair, comically large when compared to its owner. His ears prick up, taking in the murmurs and conversations of the other patrons in the tavern. He munches slowly on his breakfast despite his restlessness as he recalls his master's words. "Remember, Token. There's a time to eat, a time to sleep, and a time to hunt. A good hunter focuses on the task in front of them."
Token notices the Air Genasi handing out pamphlets to the other patrons, a twinkle in his eye. "Could those be recruitment pamphlets? This might be a chance for somethin' big!" he thinks to himself as he looks eagerly towards the Genasi.
A young half-Elf waits patiently for her breakfast to come. She doesnt seem impatient, but her eyes follow Briez as she goes back into the kitchen. She has long blonde hair combed into a ponytail and golden eyes. She wears a scale mail and sits completely still and with a perfect form. Her armor has the holy symbol of Sune carved into it. At the moment, she seems solely focused on having her breakfast, doesnt even glance at the rest of the room.
Valde Is a tall, blonde man that when you see him, you can't not notice that is a foreigner. His clothes, well furs, cover him like he just climbed a mountain. These white furs of unknown beasts, probably wolf or polar bear, compose his whole clothing, starting from his pulled back hood to his knees. Trousers are made always of hide of some sorts but of a brownish color. He has some new boots that he bought recently because he couldn't walk here with the snow boots from where he came from. It's easy to wonder how he doesn't sweat dressed like this in this climate; maybe he's crazy or simply he doesn't wanna give away his trusty furs for personal attachment. He also wears strange scrimshaw bone necklaces that can give a hint of him being a sorta of shaman. Valde has a warm attitude, besides the cold climate he grew up in, but is not very affable. He tries to talk with people around them, with a recurring theme of asking about local fishes and ways to cook them. If you talked with him for more than half an hour you can probably remember and label him as the fish guy because of his obsession with fish. His ethnicity is clearly Illuskan because of his fair skin and blonde long hair and beard. Age looks around 40ish year old. He has already asked Miss Freona if he could be reserved a small size of fish for breakfast, any fish will suffice. From the way he drinks you can clearly notice he's not used to local beverages. He looks with much curiosity at fruits. He sits among others along the long table, watching how they eat, to learn their costumes. He probably sits close to the fancy dressed guy and Valde thinks that guy is a local and he can answer him some questions about Phlan.
The air genasi takes a survey of the room and notices a harengon. She excitedly skips over to where the harengon is and quickly introduces herself as Evara. Evara simultaneously puts out one hand to shake hands and with the other pulls out a pamphlet which leaves a golden arc of sparkles streaming dreamily behind it. As the glittery shimmer starts to fade, she says “hello friend, are you acquainted with your lord and savior Garl Glittergold?”
Token is taken aback by Evara’s bedazzling aura, the spoon in his hand clattering onto the table. After a few seconds to return to his senses, Token hastily downs his mouthful of breakfast before standing up on his chair to offer one paw to shake Evara’s hand while the other accepts the pamphlet. Though Evara’s approach is rather strong, her friendliness puts Token a bit at ease.
“Pleasure to meetcha, Sister Evara. The name’s Token. Token Telltail. And I must confess that I don’t visit the temples offen nor am I much of a worshippin’ man. Can’t say I know this Garl Glittergod but judgin’ from your demeanor, he must be a kind and compassionate lord. May I ask if that’s the reason you’re passin’ out them pamphlets?” he asks.
It's not all legends and heroics when it comes to working for the city watch, and Mavis learned this first hand with her designated post this morning being patrolling the local Madam Freona's inn. She entered the common room of the establishment and took a look around, absorbing the surroundings and all the patrons in the room, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious. Her stunning beauty is offset by the commanding presence of her strong figure, and uniform designated to Phlan's local guards. She spots an Air Genasi handing out pamphlets. "Hope they have a permit for that" she thinks to herself. She also spots a suspicious young fellow in black clothing. "I'll have to keep an extra eye on that one" she continues thinking to herself, as she elects to lean against the wall of the establishment, before realizing the casual posture of a lean might diminish the intimidating vibe she's trying to give off, and instead elects to stand up straight with her arms folded.
As soon as a guard enters the room, Hana's eyes go to her. She wasnt sure what to do next, now that she was on town. Asking a guard seemed like the best option. But her eyes sparkled with a special intensity. The guard was a real beauty. It couldnt be anything else than a sign from her goddess. She stood up immediately, forgetting her breakfast, and walked all the way to the commanding figure.
"Good morning, Miss Guard. May I have a word with you, please?" Hana was swift to move around the room and completely polite when talking to her, bowing her head a little as a salute.
Mavis looks the girl in front of her up and down, gauging her intent based on how she presents herself. Her outward politeness and elegance almost takes Mavis off guard, since she's become accustomed to dealing with miscreants and malcontents. Mavis clears her throat before speaking. "Yes citizen, what is on your mind?" she replies.
Hana nods politely.
"Thanks, Miss Guard. You see, I am a Sune's Cleric. I have come to the city to help its citizens. Something really bad is going to happen soon. I thought you may have some clues on where I may start looking. Maybe you noticed more trouble lately or a part of the city or a faction is specially tense. If so, I would like your help finding out what is going on."
I smile at her, hoping for some cooperation on her end.
Mavis is a little perplexed by her foreboding statement, but she was trained to take any and all threats seriously, no matter how farfetched they may be. "Perhaps you could be a little more specific as to what bad event may transpire here... miss?" Mavis trails off with a hand gesture and a tone of voice signifying that she's trying to get her name.
"Well, its not clear. I had an omen from my goddess, I saw the city and then something came from the west. Something dark and terrible. In the end it looked like a dragon made out of bones. I am not saying a literal bone dragon is going to attack, but some kind of metaphorical death is coming. Those bones... I fear the citizens may get hurt."
As Hana stops talking she realizes what Miss Guard meant with her last word. "Oh, my name is Hana Lightwarden. Yours?"
"Just call me Mavis" she responds, whilst rubbing the back of her neck nervously. "Bone dragons might be a little outside our jurisdiction, but is there any more details you can provide that would be helpful?"
"Nice to meet you, Miss Mavis." She answers politely. "I know, but maybe we can stop it all before it begins. I dont have more details and I dont know much about the city, but you do. Or at least where I should go to find that information."
Hana looks at Mavis with hope. Completely trusting she will help her.