And now to tie everything together.....
A Meeting With A Lord
Two guards in full plate armor with red sashes stand at the door to this room as you approach they make room for your group to enter. As you enter this stately room you notice that it is divided into a living area and a sleeping area. The entire floor is newly refinished hardwood unlike the pine in the rest of the inn and there are strategically placed oval rugs near the sofas and bed. The living area is adorned with a pair of matching sofas and two small end tables. A table with chairs is pushed against the west wall. There is 4-6 stools in the center of the chamber. Hanging on the south wall is a large oil painting of a forest scene in spring, full of vibrant greens. Hanging on the east wall is a matching oil painting depicting the same forest scene but this time in autumn, displaying dazzling brown, orange, and yellow hues. Both paintings look of superb quality. A single guard in full platemail and a red sash and a Elven archer stand on either side of the table. Sitting on one sofa is a noble yet rough looking gentleman with a eye patch over his left eye. Sitting beside him is a rugged man dressed in a chain shirt with a shield with the crest of the town upon it. On the other sofa sits a frail bearded old man with a long beard and pointy cap. Lady Chauntessa takes a seat beside him. You notice a couple more guards moving around the bedroom area. You take a seat on the stools that were obviously provided for your benefit.
(The noble looking yet rough around the edges gentleman with a eye patch over his left eye rises.)
Patriarch Franz Mentzer Speaks :
“Welcome adventurers! Let me introduce myself and everyone here. I am Franz Mentzer, Lord of Cillamar and former adventurer just like yourselves. I spent much of my youth ranging across northern Morrain and much of the Northlands in the defense of the weak. Of corse in my older days now I spend most of my time dealing with the political struggles of a city such as Cillamar. “
(Pointing to a rugged man dressed in a chain shirt with a sheathed longsword, crossbow and quiver on his back along with a pole and lantern, his shield bears the crest of Cillamar.)
“This is my trusted Captain of the Lantern Watch and esteemed associate. Sir Ivanos . He oversees the towns lantern watch guards and keeps order in the town.”
(Looking over at one of the guards with red sash and dressed in full platemail.)
“These are part of my personal security detail. They are elite of the elite and are known as the Magn’gard.”
(Turning to one of the elven archers)
“And these my friends are esteemed members from the Anseur Forest High Elves on loan to us from the Elven Queen herself. They are known as the Anseur-lyth, a company of elven master archers serving at the pleasure of the fae Queen of the Anseur Forest.”
(A frail bearded man in a pointy hat clears his throat.)
“Ah yes least we not forget Or’dimisas of Kassantia, an expert in ancient esoteric tomes and devotee of Delvyr. Our resident sage and owner of the Hall of Worms our vast library.”
(Or’dimisas gives the lord a stern look.)
“I mean he owns the Academy of Ars Ollamh. Forgive me my old friend. I did not mean to offend.”
(Now quickly turning to the lady of the Inn)
“And I believe you have met Lady Chauntessa (He reaches over and kisses her hand). The town has been truly blessed by her presence and astute magical capabilities since she reopened the old Inn.”
Lady Chauntessa Speaks:
“Enough with the introductions my lord, I have an Inn to run and we have a lot of information to cover.”
Patriarch Franz Mentzer Speaks :
“Very well my lady. Always to the point, and usually correct. It is my duty to welcome you to our yearly call for adventurers to plunder the depths of Castle Whiterock! Unfortunately it is not the best of times this year, I will go into all that in a few minutes. You see each year for the last five years we have sent adventurers like yourselves into Castle Whiterock to plunder its halls and dungeons. But to little success I might add. A few groups have come back with a few coins or trinkets over the years but refused to search the lower tunnels further, and then some have never returned at all. We are not to sure if they just lost their nerve or lost their heads to some fowl creature either at the old castle or en route to or from it or maybe they went to dance at Morro’s Ball. You see Morrain can be a very unforgiving place in the harsh of winter, especially during a Breakfrost! If you don’t keep your heads about you, and with summer now waning it will soon be winter and we are expecting a downright horrid Breakfrost this year! Well on to business then, I do tend to be long winded, it’s the diplomat in me I guess. Well I told you earlier that it was not the best of times this year, well let me let my Captain of The Lantern Watch fill you in. Umm captain?”
(Captain seeming distracted for a moment.) (Clearing Throat) Captain of the Lantern Watch Speaks: “The local wizard’s apprentice, a human lass by the name of Lyssa, has been kidnapped! Her cat familiar returned a few days later, and after a local druid used a speak with animals spell, the familiar revealed that Lyssa is in the hands of a vile slaver band. She was taken to the ruins of Castle Whiterock, and the familiar senses she is still alive. We would like you to retrieve her if she is there.” (Interrupting)
Patriarch Franz Mentzer Speaks : “Least we not forget The Genth family (Ren, Carlia, and little Jath) has gone missing as well. They were farmers, who had a homestead not too far from the ruins of Castle Whiterock, and the tracks near their empty home looked to belong to reptile-folk, who commonly live underground. They to should be on the list, to look out for at the castle. They resided in the small druidic community of Fairweather, it’s a small settlement just at the base of the old volcano that the Castle sits atop, it’s the last civilization you will see before you ascend the mountain toward Whiterock.” (Give the party time to react here.) Lady Chauntessa Speaks: “Well since we all seem to be handing out task for these brave souls, I have one to add to the mix. At least I’ll offer some monetary gain for them in my proposition. I will pay them 25 gp for each intact book they recover, plus a small finder’s fee for any ancient texts, scrolls, or information on the ruins. She seems to be searching for something specific, but doesn’t elaborate.” (Interrupting) Librarian sage Or’dimisas of Kassantia Speaks: “Speaking of books, I am trying to gather material for a scholarly book on the Company of the Black Osprey, but I have a severe aversion to getting killed, so if you find anything related to this company of adventurers along your travels. Let me give you a brief history of the castle as I understand it.” “Somewhere around 1,200 years ago, the original site of Castle Whiterock was settled by an order of monks called the Order of the Dawning Sun. Their monastery, called Clynnoise, consisted of the tower and adjoining living quarters, plus a small stone library set against the volcano’s caldera wall (which they later converted to a small keep). It is rumored that this order of monks, dedicated to the preservation of lore, erected a vast, hidden library called the Halls of Forgotten Lore in the natural caves under the site. This has never been proven but I suspect it does exist on the site somewhere.”
(Interupting)
Captain of the Lantern Watch Speaks:
“And a small group from that order of monks returned to the Castle only a year ago to setup a exploration dig of the old monastery. And now everyone is turning up missing. I say we take a squad of soldiers and……”
(Cutting Him Off And Raising The Temp Of His Voice)
Patriarch Franz Mentzer Speaks:
“and do what? My dear captain? Show em the short end? Kill a group of lore mongering monks. We have enough to worry about with all these war refugees as it is. The warrens is teething with criminals and the Thieves Guild is completely out of control. The Truemen are only making things worse with their constant rides through the refugee camps. Let these brave adventurers determine who or what this order of monks have or have not done. What say you adventurers have you heard of this order of monks before?”
(Give the party time to react here.) Librarian sage Or’dimisas of Kassantia Speaks: “Ok if I may finish with the history of the castle…. “ (Clears Throat) “Thank you.” “207 years after the order founded their monastery a huge tribe of orcs attacked Clynnoise and, through more luck than skill, managed to slay all of the monks. Most of the monastery was destroyed and the orcs constructed a crude permanent keep.”
“53 years later the gnomes from the surrounding foothills united and, with the aid of dwarven allies, manage to rout the orcs. The gnomes settle in the keep and worked in the caves below the keep founding what some believed to be the Clockwork Academy which was an Academy developed to the study of Golem craft and mastery some of which the world has never seen. At least that’s what the legend says. Anyway the legend goes on to say there is a book called the Codex Autonomica, a book which is said to hold all the secrets of golem-craft, the gnomes also started a small settlement near the castle named Stoneham. Which is said was the beginning of what we now know as Cillamar.”
“The gnomes held the castle for about 158 years, then the remnants of the orc tribe returned for revenge, bringing cloud giant allies and a flying castle. While orc footmen swarmed Stoneham, the cloud giants pelted the gnomish keep with boulders, overwhelming the gnomish defenders. The orcs resettled the site and, with their giant allies, rebuild the castle. In so doing, they used a white stone common to the architecture of cloud giants. “
“After about 120 years a powerful disease ran rampant through the orc tribe, killing them off one by one. During the next few decades the castle fell into disrepair as the surrounding lands was besieged by raids from Drow elves from deep within the earth.”
“Then 664 years ago a party of adventurers called the Company of the Black Osprey spent several years cleaning the dungeons of all dangerous creatures. They dub their new home “Castle Whiterock,” the name by which it is known today. The adventurers spent years and a fortune restoring the castle. It is said that some of them made their tombs their, but again another legend of the castle.”
“ 75 years past and the last surviving member of the Company of the Black Osprey, Lythe Abysstalker, disappeared, and the site fell into disuse.”
“Over 200 years passed, then a red dragon named Benthosruthsa”
(Lady Chauntessa shivers)
“laid waste to Cillamar and the surrounding region, returning about every 50 years over the next couple centuries. As you can see it still unsettles people to talk of the drake.”
“And then 88 years ago, after several centuries without a single dragon sighting, the town of Cillamar growed and prospered as trade routes were reopened in this region. Most of us now believe that old Benthos has moved on or was slain.”
“And just 38 years ago the Fellowship of the Humbled Hen, an adventuring company, entered Castle Whiterock to loot the dungeon. They had a falling out and gave up the effort after 1 year.”
(Interrupting)
Lady Chauntessa Speaks:
“I believe I’ll take over here now, and tell them the rest. Well now just 31 years ago The Paladins of the Order of the Sundered Scale, acting on information that I gave them, swore an oath to destroy Benthosruthsa. I believed him to still be alive within the mountain. They went into the depths of Whiterock and I have never heard from any of them again. I am telling you all Benthos is still alive. I just know it. I have dreams and visions. He must be destroyed.”
(Give the party time to react here.) Lady Chauntessa Speaks:
“11 years ago I opened this Inn and made Cillamar my permanent home. I behested the Lord to begin the open calls for adventurers. He decided it would be best to make it a yearly event. To bring attention to Cillamar overtime. I am not a politician, neither do I care about political struggle. The things below Whiterock must be dealt with and swiftly or Cillamar will lay in waste again.”
“5 years ago the challenge began, in 5 years we have sent 16 groups in there, out of the 16 no group has ever made it more than a few levels down before they either ran off scared or took what they found and left. If any of them did make it further down they are probably the ones that never returned. And this year so far you are the only group that has answered the call at all, I hope there are others in the coming days but for now you are all we have. The Lord refuses to send in a garrison of armed soldiers.”
Captain of the Lantern Watch Speaks:
“Fairytales and hodgepod the fact is simple, A year ago is when this supposed remnant of the order of the Dawning Sun Monks returned to Whiterock and ever since people have come up missing around that general area. It’s that simple, not a dragon or big bad orcs or giants or any of them old stories hold weight now. It’s the monks I tell you. Besides The Lord himself and his men slew the only dragon around here already. He even lost his sister to the thing and had to take her place as leader of Cillamar.”
(Slamming his fist down on the table.)
Patriarch Franz Mentzer Speaks:
“Enough of this.”
(Throws a bag of coins to each party member)
“These are special coins made from the rock of the castle itself. They will spend just like gold here in the common quarter. In most places at least. Buy whatever gear, pack animals or things you’ll need or think you need and set out first thing in the morning.”
“You will report your findings to Lady Chauntessa here at the inn. I would advise you to keep clear of the High Quarter, they don’t like the rough and rowdy types up there it would only upset the residents and nobles, and I would stay clear of the Warrens unless you want a knife in your back or to have your pockets picked. Besides those coins don’t hold any weight down there anyways.”
“I believe our meeting is adjourned, I have business with an embassy from the Elven Anseur-Woodlands to the west this evening and they do not like to be kept waiting.”
(He moves toward the door)
(Interputing again.)
Librarian sage Or’dimisas of Kassantia Speaks:
“One more thing.”
“The library is open for research and study daily for a charge of 100gp per day. We will do the research for you, you supply the gold. Up to four topics per day can be researched. Depending on the subjects we can not guarantee that we will get to all subjects in one day.”
“We also offer the following services:”
Academy of Ars Ollamh Services
One Days Research For Up To 4 Subject Topics: Up to four topics per day can be researched. Depending on the subjects we can not guarantee that we will get to all subjects in one day. 100 Gold Pieces.
Decipher/Decode/Translate Normal Documents Or Manuscripts With Different Languages Or Dialect: 50 Gold Pieces Per Book Or Manuscript.
Decipher/Decode/Translate Magical Or Devine Manuscripts: 50 Gold Pieces + 50 Gold Pieces Per Spell/Magic Level. (50gp paid upfront, remainder to be paid after translation)
Transfer Spells From Scroll Or Spellbook To A Personal Spellbook: 100 Gold Pieces + 50 Gold Pieces Per Spell/Level Per Spell. (This does not include deciphering the spell. See decipher above.)
Scribe Scrolls: The base price of a scroll is its spell level × its caster level × 25 gp + supply any components needed. (We do not supply components but we can help locate rare components for a reasonable fee.)
Identify Magical Item: We can determine all magic properties of a single magic item, including how to activate those functions (if appropriate), and how many charges are left (if any). 100 Gold Pieces + 50 Gold Pieces Per Item/Level. (50gp paid upfront, remainder to be paid after identification)
Identify Potions: We can only identify potions we have information on. 25 Gold Pieces For Standard Common Potions.
_________________ Want to play in an old school Fighting Fantasy PBeM Campaign? We now have openings for new players. http://www.kingdomofmorrain.com/pbemgame/
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