9 Eleint

After re-supplying with ammunition, the party decided to leave the town of Jalanthar. They had found themselves a guide who would take them through the Moon Pass, Talia Verathalyn, a local resident and druid. They would not have to wait long before reaching the pass, it was a mere 2 miles from Jalanthar. The Moon Pass is a canyon which the River Rauvin has cut through the Nether Mountains. It ranges in width from 800 feet at its narrowest point to just over a mile in several spots. The cliff walls of the pass vary in height climbing to over 100 feet in some spots, but averaging 50 feet.

Within the first 1/2 mile of the canyon, the group came upon several bears fishing in the river, they decided to move around them staying closer to the canyon walls. The two young black bears, being in a curious mood followed the party until they crossed paths with a large brown bear. The two smaller ones headed back to their fishing hole, while the larger brown bear, ignored the party in favor of the rivers bountiful fish.

Shortly after the encounter, the party came to the Verbeeg Narrows, the narrowest point in the canyon. It is here that the local tribe of Verbeeg have constructed a bridge, and also the point at which the River Rauvin completely fills the gorge. Talia lead the party up a narrow pathway to the top of the cliffs. The ledge, 15 feet wide in most spots, winds its way up the cliff wall, then back down creating the only route by the Verbeeg Narrows. It is also the route which leads to the bridge. The party was on its way back down, when they happened upon a small orc hunting party, 4 total, who had just killed three deer and were preparing them for transport.

The party began to discuss the what to do. Not wanting to wait any longer, Phineous Fingers, dismounted from his pony and moved his way down the remaining length of the path to the canyon floor. He was able to sneak past the Orcs and into some bushes which were close by. The rest of the group remained on the path, discussing what to do. The Orcs having finished their preparations, had picked up the largest two deer and began to make their way up the path toward the top. Seeing the group on the path, the Orcs dropped the deer and pulled out their long bows.

Having a position behind the Orcs, Phineous came out from his hiding spot and move up behind the trailing Orc. Talia summoned a Hawk which she had circling, and then Phineous ran the trailing orc through with one thrust from his short sword, the Orc never made a sound. Pheldas then cast Mage Armor on Xalen, Pimm cast Sanctuary on himself, and Calin then charged down the hill. The Orcs responded by firing arrows at Calin, but the arrows harmlessly hit the canyon wall. Xalen, then spurred his mount on and joined in the charge. Calin killed the first orc he came upon with deadly blows from his Short Swords, and Xalen missed with his Bastard Sword. Talia moved down the path on horseback, while the summoned hawk dived at the Orc on Xalen, it tore at the orcs face with its talons. Phineous then moved up to the next orc in line and proceeded to run it through with his short sword. Calin finished off the last Orc with a blow from one of his short swords, and the Orcs were dead. Phineous grabbed the Long Bows and arrows, while Calin took one of the deer.

OoC: Each party member received 100 xp.

The party reached the end of the pass, and moved onto Sundabar, the next stop in their journey to Ascore. At the gates, they are stopped by a guard. “Hold there. What do you have to declare. There is a tax on all commerce to help support the Army.”


[This message has been edited by Baldak Oakfist (edited September 17, 2001).]

Calin said to the guard, "We are not merchants, sir. We are travelers. We carry food and weapons, for the most part. Any commerce we do in the city will more then likely be simple purchasing, or perhaps selling loot." Turning to Phineous, Calin continued, "Speaking of which, may I have a bow, and a quiver of arrows?"

Pheldas spoke to the guard:
"Aye, as my elven friend here has told, we hold no merhcandise with us, but just wish to stay for a night after a day of travels."
As he looked in the guard's eyes, he continued.
"So, probably we wouldnt be the best ones to support the army of yours. But, may I wonder, is Sundabar mobilizing and preparing its army for a conflict? I cannot recollect any happening around, might you bring us some insight?"

The Guard observed the party for a moment. "Looks OK to me. I guess you can pass. As for war, Sundabar is attacked every two to three years by some Orc army or another, and I would keep to yourself about anything you see in the way of defenses. Anyone paying too close attention to what they see in the way of the layout of the city or troops is liable to end up in the dungeon, as a spy. Just some friendly advice."

OoC: Anything you purchase in Sundabar will cost 5% more than the listed price, Taxes. Similiarly, Anything you sell will yeild 5% less.

The guard's "friendy advice" quickly diminished the mage's will to speak, so Pheldas turned to the troupe --
"I suggest we use their hospitality and get inside..."

Turning to the guard, Calin said, "Perhaps we can be of assistance. We have come from Quavarr and spoken with Lord Juillian, we can tell you of the condition of the Verbeeg narrows, etc." Perhaps, Calin thought, we might have a chance to aid the Sundabarian army.

Pimm growing increasingly impatient with the banal yattering between Calin and the guard, abruptly interrupts:

"Excuse me sire," he says to the guard, "could you perhaps tell us of a decent Inn we could rest at, it was a tiring journey through the pass, and we do need some rest..."

Realizing that they do in fact have a guide, Pimm turns to Talia, "...or does m'lady know of an affordable location of quality?"

Speaking to the city dunderwhelp at the gate was making him very grouchy, and he was thinking about sitting down someplace warm and having a drink or two.

The Guard looks over at Pimm. Sensing his impatience, the Guard points toward the center of the city, "Straight up to Mattock Lane, then follow it to the Trumpet. Most adventuring types stay there." He then turns back to Calin, "As for your help, we have been able to repel every army that has ever attacked this city. I doubt that your assistance will be necessary. Besides the threats aren't from the Verbeeg in the pass. They're but a minor nuisance."

[This message has been edited by Baldak Oakfist (edited September 20, 2001).]

Thankful for Pimm's interjection, Talia heads towards the direction of the inn the guard spoke of. She is not quite sure where these men are headed and for what purpose they head there. No longer is her guidance needed through the pass, so she can't help but wonder for what else she might be accompanying them for..... Putting an end to her thoughts for the moment, she concentrates on acquiring a restful place for the time being and hopefully a drink to settle herself. Undoubtedly the rest of the group will do the same.

Eyeing Pimm dangerously, Calin said, "I was merely trying to help, Pimm." Calin continued, walking toward the inn, "No one demanded of you that you had to stay next to me." Calin chuckled, "Unless your scared, that is."

Xalen slowly rides his mount through the streets toward the Inn, slumped in the saddle and obviously still bothered by his latest round of combat, this time against simple minded orcs no less. He keeps his distance from the rest of the group, not wanting to hear anything they might have to say about his abilities. I was trained better than this, he thought....

Eventually, he makes his way to the stables of the Inn and, after his horse is taken care of, enters the inn. As his eyes adjust to the dimly lit inn, he can tell it is nothing fancy, but it will do none the less. Throwing his hood down, he steps to the bar and takes a seat. Pulling a gold coin from his purse, he raps it on the bar to get the keep attention. "Some decent ale, please sir...and keep them coming. Also, does your establishment have anything in the way of foodservice? *not that it will be any good he thinks*" Xalen stares down the bar awaiting a quick response, obviously in little mood for smalltalk.

Sundabar... Grr... I should have read more o' the northern lands. the mage thought while walking the streets of the city towards the place of rest and observing the surroundings.
"My greetings, sire", Pheldas addressed the inkeeper as he entered the inn, quickly evaluating his options for the evening. Maybe luck shall be with my he thought, and continued: "Be it true that Sundabar has a library?"

[This message has been edited by Skedaddle (edited September 21, 2001).]

Departing from the guard, Pimm snickers, at Calin's remark...

"Yes Calin, I was scared - I was afraid you were going to get us drafted into the Sundabarian army... lets hurry to the Inn, I need a warm place to eh.. commune with the spirits, heh, if you get me."

Having trailed behind Xalen the way in, he is delighted to see his colleague already downing the drink, and drops down on a nearbye stool.

"Bartender I'll have whatever he's having!"

After she settles her horse, Talia enters the inn to see that Pimm and Xalen have already ordered drinks. Talia takes a seat next to Pimm and orders her drink as well. Awaiting her drink she addresses Pimm. "Might I inquire as to the... uh.. destination of your group, I should like to know what my purpose here would be?"

Waiting for the bartender to serve up his clients, Pheldas turned to Talia. "We hold our way towards Ascore. If you wish to continue your way with us, I think none of us will object fiercly [looks inqusitively at Xalen and Pimm]. What of purpose... 'Tis for you to decide, be my guess."

Pimm taking a quick glance around the room, "Now where's that Halfling now?...

Leaning over to Talia with a smirk on his face and speaking in a whisper, "Well hopefully the little spyfink isn't hiding under my cloak, but if you really want to know... I don't know what OUR purpose is here, we are tracking down some criminal named Serena Novamyst, who is evidently making deals with..." he takes another look around to see if Phineous is around, "...the Zhents, the Drow and the Shade Lords, though what we're supposed to do when we find her is anyone's guess. That halfling we're with is a Harper - well, as far as we know anyway... oh, yes and evidently there's a pair of Zhent assaassins trailing us somewhere, but I have yet to see them, the halfling may have just made that up to get himself into our group..."

Pimm reaches idly into his purse and pulls a single gold coin out, placing it between his thumb and his index finger, and looks over at Xalen slouching a few stools down. Lining him up, Pimm flicks the gold piece at Xalen, sending the coin whurring through the air, only catching a bit of Xalens hood as it goes bouncing off into the tavern somewhere... "What are you so glum about?"

Turning back to Talia, "Me and the depressed sot over there seem to have gotten ourselves in a bit of a fix. See, it seems that the drow part of problem thinks we possess some gem," and Pimm continues to tell the rest of the story.

OOc: sorry, been outta town for a few days, I'll be home later today.

Slightly perturbed at Pimm's irreverent remarks, Calin entered the tavern. Seeing Pimm already at his...communing, Calin walked to the bar, addressing the barkeep, "Good day, would you be interested in buying some meat we happened on recently? It is deer meat."

The bartender calmly handed out drinks to all who asked, never saying a word.

From the area of the guest rooms, a tall poised human enters the dining area, with a halfling in tow. The tall figure addresses Pimm, "Excuse me sir, but does this belong to you?" He gestures at Phineous, whom he has by the collar. "Oh, Pardon me. I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Gaurlar Darym, the Proprietor of this Establishment. I found him poking about the guest rooms. Usually I don't care, but he could get himself into a lot of trouble today, as we have some very powerful guests staying with us tonight." Gaurlar releases Phineous.

OOc: OOPS! I posted under my bro's name, will someone please delete that post?

Calin chuckled at the sight of Phineous finally being caught. With another look to the barkeep, Calin walked to the proprieter and repeated his offer concerning the deer. Calin then said, "I am certain Phineous will refrain from further 'exploring'." Walking away, Calin whispered to Phineous, "I hope that you were investigating something suspicous, and not robbing these men and women, we do not need anymore enemies.

Deleted as requested...Baldak

[This message has been edited by Baldak Oakfist (edited September 23, 2001).]

Xalen, feeling the coin zing past his head, wheels around in his seat and stares at the obviously mad cleric. For a moment, he thinks about standing and making a scene, but somehow he is in little mood for grandstanding. He simply turns the other way and walks away in just enough time to see the hafling being pushed away by what apeared to be the Inn's proprietor. Xalen shakes his head in dismay, quickly finishes his ale and heads out into the fading sunlight, already tirering of the establishment and his compatriots for the day. After stading and stretching for a moment, he stops the first non peasant on the street, wondering what might be to his intrest in this town. "Ah, exucse me my good man. Sorry to interrupt your walk to...ah..well, wherever. I've just arrived in your quiant city and was wondering if it perhaps had a library, a depository of magic knowledge perhaps, or just some interesting shops selling something that isn't run of the mill hopefully?"

[This message has been edited by Crawl (edited September 23, 2001).]

Seeing Xalen, the human stops and looks at him. "Well, if its arcaane knowledge your looking for, I would suggest trying to gain entrance to the Wizard Loft. It is a tower on the east side of the city and is a guild house of sorts for the Wizards who reside in the city. If its trinkets and such, I would suggest the shop called Furjur's Flying Carpet. The three women who run the place are delightful and the place is full of all sorts of odd trinkets. I here that they even have a real flying carpet."

Gaurlar speaks to Calin, "Don't mind ol' Dolnik behind the bar over there, he can't speak, his tongue was cut out by some orcs who had caaptured him. As for the Deer meat, I might be interested. How much do you have and where did you get it?"

OOc thanks, Baldak

Calin spoke to the owner, "The good news is that we have most of a deer. The bad news is that we won it in battle from a band of hunting orcs. I thought you might be interested, since I assume a lot of the food is going to the army."

Observing that Gaurlar is verbally tied up with Calin, Pimm decides to see what the halfling is getting them into now.

After a nice big drought of his ale he gets up from his place at the bar. To Talia, "Excuse me for a moment m'am"

Grabbing a the scruff of Phineous's collar, he drags the halfling slightly away from Calin and Gaurlar, and leans in very close.

In a whisper to Phineous: "Ok halfling talk. What are you up to? When a man has to displace someone from his residence due to the presence of 'powerful guests,' and the displacee happens to be a Harper it makes me a wee little bit suspicious Phineous... See the words 'powerful guests' and 'Harper?' Do you see where I'm going with this?"

After a thought and with a grin, "Oh... and did you get anything good off the tall guy?"

Seeing that the tavern's masters started developing a negative attitude to the troupe, Pheldas decided to leave the inn and let the tensions fade. The Harper has to know a way of escaping trouble, more so, a halfling Harper..., he thought of excuse for him not to aid Phineous.
The mage walked the streets, watching around for some lead to the cultural center of the city, but getting nowhere near. By the Black Doom, a guardsman has to know everything here, does he? Pheldas walked up to a person that seemed very much of a city guardsman to the mage.
"Sire, excuse me for the interruption, but might you be able to give me a direction to Sundabar's place of knowledge? A good dwarf out there [points in teh city gates' direction] has told me that I can find all the lore I be needing in this city's library."

Talia realizes that she must think about this new information given to her by Pimm.
As Pimm excuses himself to question Phineous, she sips the rest of her drink and decides to leave the tavern to take a walk with Kanir..... hoping to properly analyze the situation in a more peaceful environment then the present. It is clear that these men are not simply on a quest for adventure and fortune, although Phineous seems to partake in the fortune part in his own.... ahem........ interesting way. Obviously there is a bit more danger involved in this than she had expected. Not looking forward to returning to Jalanthar at the present time she decides to continue her journey with these men, if they approve ofcourse. She continues her walk with a bit more ease now upon arrival at her decision..........

"Ahhh...most fascinating. Good day to you." With that, Xalen heads to the Flying Carpet. Hopefully he can find a few interesting things to spend his money on, and perhaps these women might know of a way he might be able to gain acess to the Wizards Loft's archives for the evening. As Xalen walked the streets, parusing the stalls and small shops on his way to the Carpet, his apetite grew more and more hungry as he thought of the emence knowledge of magic lore the Loft must surely contain. Always drawn to books as a child, magic had always been one of his favorite reading pastimes. His grandfather always said he would teach him some of the basics when the time was right, but alas... Xalen turns his head and looks down, whiping his eyes, hopefully where noone could see. Eventually, he made his way to the shop and stepped inside. Thankfully, he sees the ladies aranging the shelves in preparation for tomorrow's business. Upon entering, one of the women looks his way. "Why hello. Hopefully you can help me. I was hoping to find some interesting trinkets and whatnots while I was in town, and a local said this was *the* place to go." Xalen smiles and removes his hood. "Also, he mentioned something of a Wizard's Loft. I would so love to peruse their tomes, just for an evening of course. Magical knowledge has always been a love of mine. Is there anyway that you ladies might know of that this would be possible for a non wizard such as myself?"

"Most of a deer, you say." Gaurlar looks up for a moment, apparently thinking. "Won from some orcs, you say. If you obtained it from the Moon Pass region, then I'll buy it for 20 gold. otherwise only 10. And I hope that your friends don't think I'm angry with you, I'm not even angry with your halfling friend."

The woman looks at Xalen, and calls out to her sisters. "Come, we have a customer waiting." Five other women come out from the shelves. "Now, what sort of trinkets are you interested in. We have such a large variety, each of us manages a different area. And as for getting into the Wizards Loft, all you would need to do is be the guest of one of the members, and 'we' are all members."

Phineous smiles at Pimm, and winks. "I was just out on a...a recon mission." He then whispers, "The Zhents have agents all over, and I just wanted to make sure none were here. And the tall fellow only has keys, I left him with them." Then more loudly, "I just happened upon him in his room taking a nap. I just wanted to see what the guestrooms were like. How was I supposed to know that the owner was naping in one."

OoC: The Trumpet is not a Tavern, It is an Inn.

[This message has been edited by Baldak Oakfist (edited September 24, 2001).]

"Looking for ever-present Zhents eh? Yes, yes of course," Pimm says to Phineous.

"You didn't find any I take it? We should talk more about these Zhents that have been trailing us at a more convenient time and place. I had some ideas about the relationship between the Zhents and the Drow, and how we might complicate that a bit...," Pimm smiles arrogantly.

"Oh, and I suppose you are going to look into those guests that our proprieter mentioned? I can't imagine a Harper passing up the opportunity to invetigate a meeting with those of influence, yes?"

"I don't think that I'll check up on this particular group of 'powerful' guests. Gaurlar already told me who they are. It would seem that an adventuring band called the Ready Blades use this Inn as a home base of sorts, and they are currently in residence. I think I'll go out into the city a while and check out the sites." With that Phineous slips out the door and into the street.

[This message has been edited by Baldak Oakfist (edited September 25, 2001).]

"10 gold is fine, we captured the deer in the Verbeeg Narrows." Calin bowed to the inkeeper, then turned and left the inn, deciding to explore the city a bit. Calin moved to the City center, and began inquiring for a place to test one skills, or to learn from other fighters.

Eyeing Pheldas, the grim looking guard points to the eastern section of the city. If it's knowledge your looking for, the Wizard loft is the place to go. We don't have a public library, and they have all the books.

Gaurlar looks a Calin with a puzzled look on his face. "If you obtained this deer in the vicinity of the Verbeeg Narrows, then you did get it from the Moon Pass region for the Verbeeg Narrows are in the Moon Pass. But if all you wish is 10 Gold then you shall have it."

[This message has been edited by Baldak Oakfist (edited September 25, 2001).]

"My thanks, sire." Pheldas addressed the guard and started his way to the east of the city.
Wizards Loft... That be a good name for a guild. And it suren sounds like something you dont get into just of curiosity. I shall see for myself still.
The mage walked the streets of Sundabar in search for the Wizards Loft, until he saw a tower and suggested that this must be his destination. He approached the building to look for entrances or guardians...

ooc oops, jusy give the money to one of my companions, I suppose.

"Ahh..such an entrapenouring set of ladies, and with such beautiful faces to match," Xalen says as he smiles at the group of women that he suddenly finds crowded around him. Well, ladies, I was more interested in trinkets an adventurer such as myself could wear, perhaps a ring or pendant, though anything an adventurer might fing useful would interest me if you would have anthing unique to show me. And you are *all* members you say. Fascinating...you all must be exceptional at procuring, or making perhaps, items for your establishment here? I am truly impressed."

Standing at the base of the tower. Pheldas can see no apparent entrance. Upon close inspeciton, he can discern an inscription carved into the side of the tower, it is written in magic.

The woman again speaks to Xalen, "Well, for a warrior such as yourself, we have many such trinkets that may be of use, the question is 'Can you afford them'? So just how much do you have to spend?"

Gaurlar turns to Pimm, "Well, it seems that your friend is somewhat embarrassed about not knowing that the Verbeeg Narrows is within the Moon Pass. He wishes me to give this to you." With that, Gaurlar hands Pimm 20 Gold. He raises his hand and a large burly human comes over to him. "Gunthar, follow this gentleman to where thay have the deer we just purchased and then take it to the kitchen."