Chapter 1: A Peaceable Kingdom

[Paul]

Definitely bury him along the way. Cutter's not walking into a city carrying a dead body. Somehow I feel there'll be questions. :-)

[Darren]

Okay, Jeff, I'd call that decision made. Cutter will carry the body for a bit. The party will move parallel to the road for at least a half hour to get away from where the unconscious soldier is. When they find a reasonable spot, they'll stop to bury Fenwolt (Oss can provide a bit of ceremony if he wants to). Then the party will continue on to Fairhaven along the road. If anyone disagrees, speak now...

[Jeremy]

"Nope, let's bury him, remember the spot, and move on. Quickly."

Goran offers to locate a good spot.

______________________________

Jeff, will a spot check help here? Especially in regards to remembering the location, or will his experience/skills as a ranger be sufficient?

[Jeff]

With very little in the way of ceremony or reverence, you set off to a place a half hour away from the soldier. With Goran heading the task, a shallow grave is dug; the work would be hard indeed if it were a larger person, but Fenwolt's body fits easily into the shallow pit.

Then you move on.

Returning to the road and resuming your northeastern trek, within the hour you begin to pass other travelers on the road. With foot traffic back on the road again, you know by this time the dead Emerald Claw soldiers will have been found. It's difficult to guess what the local reaction would be, or how the authorities would respond.

Goran and Grafth continue to lead the group around travelers they have some advanced warning of, and the group casually sidles by those you can't avoid. The rest of you get a sense that both the shifter and the half-elf have not only studied the ways of the land but have spent a good deal of their lives outside of cities and even "civilized" towns. Even here, on the road to Fairhaven, you feel confident they could lead you safely into the wild places of Khorvaire.

At last, when the late morning nears highsun—almost exactly when Grafth predicted—you see the white spires of Fairhold, the Queen's palace, rise into view. Then the rest of Fairhaven's towers spring up on the horizon, followed in short order by the high walls of the city. You had first arrived there—and left—feeling like regular travelers. Somehow as you approach the city now, you feel vaguely like refugees. The last twenty-four hours seem like a week.

The foot traffic increases near the high walls of the city. The southwestern gate looms before you. Chainmailed guards at the gate only casually check the identification papers of those entering and leaving the city; they seem to only scrutinize if they're expecting a problem. Right now, you don't think they do.

The watchmen of Fairhaven are Aundairian and as a body answer only to the queen's brother, the governor of Capital Affairs (effectively the mayor of the city). The watchmen are not Deneith-employed. A cluster of such guards mill about the wide gate and massive, raised portcullis. Some carry heavy crossbows, while most carry ranseurs—a three-pronged variety of polearm.

How will you approach the gate? Unless the group is somehow marked, Kal doesn't expect the group to look overtly suspicious so he doesn't think there should be any problem getting in.

_______________________________

If you ever return for the gnome, Grafth or Goran can attempt checks to relocate the grave site, marked only by a small cairn of stones.

[Darren]

Stopping to momentarily turn to the rest of the group, Kalarian quietly addresses his companions. "There shouldn't be any reason that they give us trouble going in. If they question us, let me do the talking. I'll tell them that we're on our way to the Deneith enclave, that I'm taking you there to see about possible work with the house. If any of you have any sort of outstanding warrant or other reason why your identification papers won't clear, do tell me about it now, would you?" Kal pauses to gauge everyone's reactions.

"Once we're inside, there are two things I think we need to do. First, we need to see Fenwolt's brother, give him the bad news, and see if he can shed any insight into what Fenwolt was up to. Second, I'd like to visit the house enclave and let them know that someone is trying to implicate them in something. Pellorien, I think we should also try to find out more about that book you took off the changeling. There may be trouble ahead. There are clearly groups that mean us harm, and we don't know enough about them yet to properly defend ourselves. I suggest we stick together until we do."

Unless there are any objections, Kalarian rolls the sleeves of his shirt up, once again exposing his dragonmark, and leads the group towards the gate.

[Jeremy]

Goran shakes his head 'no', he has no reason to be sought by the authorities (except of course for two recent battles and being involved in an attack on the Rail!).

"You trusted me, and Grafth, in the wild. Now, here, this is more your world than mine. I'll trust you to speak for us, if necessary. Your arrogance, if you don't mind me saying so, is probably an asset here. No doubt it's where you learned it. A survival skill, no doubt."

Goran's tone is friendly, but clear in its meaning.

"With any luck, no one will need to speak at all. And I suggest no one brings up Fenwolt at all, not for any reason."

---

Goran will use a Diplomacy check, should he need to speak for himself.

[Josh]

Grafth nods in approval, straightenening his clothes and posture, trying his best to form the semblance of the traveler who once stoodamong at the edge of a rail platform, waiting for a quiet trip to Passage.

[Jeremy]

"Seems a long way to come so far...right back where we began, as it were."

Goran, seeing Grafth's attempts at decorum, does the same, as if needing to be reminded, like a child.

[Lara]

Sizing up the guards, Pellorien nods at Kalarian.

"It's fine by me if you do the talking. The dragonmarked can often get things done when others can't. Fenwolt suggested that his brother might have a contact who could help make sense of Gurend's notes."

[Jeff]

You approach the gate, Kal leading the way with his dragonmark prominently displayed. Three of the guards turn to regard your group while the rest speak with other travelers entering or exiting the gate. They ask for your identification papers, then only glance briefly at them before waving you on.

One of the guards smiles at Pellorien. "Miss," is all he says.

The lead guard nods sternly to Kal after he sees his papers and then glances at his dragonmark. "Welcome, my lord. I've heard tell that House Deneith is investigating the rail accident." The arrival of more travelers at the gate has him waving you through before any further discussion can happen.

You pass through the gate unhindered and enter the city proper. The wide, well-paved avenue you’re standing on stretches far before you. Lined at its center with an orderly parade of trees and sculpted bushes, you can see straight down the road into the heart of the city—where the queen’s alabaster palace rises like a work of art. Everywhere else, buildings range from single story businesses and residences to towers many stories high.

Citizens and visitors alike crows the streets. While humans clearly dominate the population, you see a smattering of all the rest as well. Some of them glance your way when they pass. One adolescent boy points at Grafth (seeming to hone in on his attire and the unusual black, flat iron bar he wears around his neck), laughs something to his friend, then moves on. But it doesn’t seem your group draws any undue attention.

A handful of skycoaches—airships that resemble very small sailing vessels but without masts or sails—float about the city. To Cutter, these skycoaches are clumsy and less maneuverable than those where he’s from. Several flying steeds also carry the privileged or wealthy about through the air: you see at least one white-coated pegasus and several hippogriffs flitting from tower to tower. Two majestic dragonhawks—little more than silhouettes to you from here—wheel about the palace with riders; most likely royal guards.

Though you're not familiar with this city by any stretch, there are few places here you've generally heard of for when you’d arrived the first time:

• Fairhold, of course. The seat of Aundair’s royalty and power. Said to include museums and gardens open to tourists.
  
• The University of Wynarn. Arguably the most famous and impressive institution of learning.
  
• The Chalice Center, a plaza for travelers, full of hawkers and vendors, as well as where you can purchase passage aboard either the lightning rail or Orien road caravans. Also, House Lyrandar’s airship docking tower for faster—and more expensive—travel.
  
• The Sovereign Ward, district of temples, churches, and shrines, and the Whiteroof Ward, a rougher part of the city that houses the majority of the city’s fluctuating half-elf population. It’s a ward centered around the river shipping industry.
  
• Enclaves to nearly every dragonmarked house, including a large House Jorasco citadel well known as the place for healing, and of course, the House Deneith enclave.
  
• Oss knows of a shop called Haldran and Sons from past visits, a large bookshop connected to the Arcane Congress, and also knows of a powerful wizard named Larishea, who also operates out of this city and alumnus to the Arcane Congress.

As you look around to get your bearings, trying hard not to look like a gawking tourist yourself, you hear a shrill voice call out nearby: "Citizens! Citizens! Lightning rail sabotage! Mysterious attackers! Read the story here!"

You spy an adolescent elf girl waving a chronicle in her hand, with a stack of them rolled up in a satchel at her side. "Two crowns to learn of Orien peril!"

Nearby, a clock tower chimes the 12th bell of highsun. Twenty-four hours ago, you were getting ready to board the rail...

[Josh]

Grafth looks a bit lost amidst the dizzying scenery and bustling populace, but he does manage to make his way to the papergirl.

"I'll take one," he replies, exchanging three crowns for the paper, smiling awkwardly at the young one.

To Kalarian, he asks, "Do you know this place well? I wonder if we might find some food, perhaps ... take a look at this," he motions to the paper, "and form a sort of plan."

________________________
Grafth is hungry.

[Jeff]

"Here you are!" the elf girl says, louder than she probably needs to. She's a twig of a thing, dark hair and green eyes, and almost impossible to determine her actual age; she's likely older than most humans in actual years.

She hands Grafth a rolled up chronicle, then pockets the single gold galifar he is forced to offer—having no small change at hand. She deftly swaps the gold coin for nine silver sovereigns and seven copper crowns. Grafth hears the chink of many such coins in her pocket. "And a fine day to you, good sir!"

Grafth sees its heading—The Fairhaven Gazette—but then his attention is immediately drawn to a nearby food cart....

A pastry merchant, manning a cart near the gate, making a killing on departing travelers. He appears to be selling two different varieties of honeyed, fried pastry items. The scent of sweet glaze is faint in the summery breeze, but it's a siren cry to Grafth and his shifter nose.

Tangat advances until he stands by Grafth, nose pointed in the same direction. He looks up, tail wagging, as if bonding with a kindred spirit.

Then, as an afterthought, he glances back to Kal. Tangat barks.

[Darren]

Kalarian sighs a good-natured sigh. "Two, please," he says to the vendor. He then gives one of the pastries to Tangat and the other to Grafth, as he takes the newspaper from the shifter and reads the article.

[Jeff]

Kal hands the vendor two copper coins and earns two pastries for Grafth and Tangat. The latter scarfs it down beyond fast, as if worried it will be taken back.

Kal rolls open the two-page chronicle. Mostly it looks like a handful of mini-articles, none of them comprehensive, including the central story:

Terror on the Rail!

An attack by unknown marauders on Mol resulted in the destruction of a lightning rail steerage cart and the damaging of another during the Fairhaven-Passage route. At least a dozen passengers are believed slain by the attack.

Until now, attempts to rob the lightning rail have been few. Not since the repeated sabotage of the lightning rail between the Karrnathi cities of Vulyar and Irontown last Dravago has any terrorist activity so caught the attention of Fairhaven’s rightfully concerned citizens.

House Orien officials are still investigating, while other sources claim that House Medani may dispatch inquisitives to identify the guilty parties.

“Do not fear,” one House Orien official told the Gazette. “Rail service to Passage continues unimpeded. In fact, I can say with confidence that no route is more safe than this one at this time. Orien caravans, both on the roads and by rail, have been bolstered by Deneith Defenders. I am confident that the amoral bastards who made the attack will be found and dealt with accordingly.”

[/color][/blockquote]
Kal gets the feeling the Fairhaven Gazette is more of a rumor rag than the more respectable and weekly chronicles like the Aundairian Scroll or the Korranberg Chronicle.

[Darren]

Folding the paper back up, Kalarian hands it to Pellorien. "Let's go find the gnome's brother quickly. I need to speak with the members of House Deneith as soon as possible. What was the address you were given?"

_____________
If the opportunity presents itself to pick up one of the other papers you mentioned while they are on the way to the address Fenwolt gave, Kalarian will do so. I assume that no one in the party will really know how to find that particular address, so Kalarian will also nicely ask someone for directions.

[Jeremy]

Goran purchases a pastry for himself as well, inhaling it.

Wiping his honey-sticky mouth on his sleeve...

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I think it would be best, as Grafth has pointed out, to make a plan. First of all, let's get some lodgings and a proper meal, something none of us have had for at least a full day, for me it's been longer. And a bit of a rest would be nice, but mostly we need to sit somewhere safe, and quiet, and make best the use of our time in the city."

He lowers his voice and moves closer to Kal, and gesturing for the others to sidle up to them.

"There's no point in a huge clumsy group of us tromping about the city, asking out loud about a gnome who, incidentally, is also being tracked by one of the deadliest sects in these lands. As far as we know, the Emerald Claw folks might not be the only ones...maybe someone's paying them. And you can bet it won't be long before word of us gets out, whether we'd let that soldier live or killed him outright, they'll still know our faces by now, or soon. They'll be seeking a Dragonmarked, and a shifter, and a grumpy half-elf with a long sword...you get the picture.

I say we get some rooms somewhere...the cheaper and blander the better. Off the main road. Let's get a table full of food, some good deep mugs of ale, and a stack of local news rags so we can compare notes. Maybe Oss and I can do a bit more healing on us all, too. That's my two crowns' worth."

[Darren]

"If you choose, that is your decision. I will head to the Deneith enclave and meet up with you later, and then maybe we can find the gnome's brother. Agreed?"

[Jeff]

A DM's nightmare: a group splitting up.

I may need to make a couple of different threads, in this case.

[Jeremy]

well, you know, we're only doing it to make you're life hell. HAH!

Yea, I say let's wait until we have everyone's opinion before we move ahead.

---

Goran looks at Kal and nods.

"But I think you should at least come with us to choose the inn, so you'll know where to find us, yes?"

[Josh]

Gulping down the last of his pastry, the shifter returns to the group.

"May I suggest that Goran here has the best plan for the next few hours? There is no need to rush headlong into this matter. And besides," he adds, looking around the group, "you all look quite unkempt and filthy. I have a hard time believing that anyone wants to see you this way.

"No, a quick respite for all of us seems, to me, to be quite warranted right now."

[Darren]

Kalarian scowls. "I'll follow you to the inn, but let's be quick about it! I have no time for relaxing right now. I have more pressing issues than your stomachs." Irritated, Kalarian moves off to find an inn somewhat near the Deneith enclave, assuming the rest of the group will be following him.

[Jeremy]

"Right then. I guess we're following you. It's your city."

He beckons the rest of the party to follow.

"You know, Kal, there's no need for you to join us, if you don't wish to do so. You can meet us later."

"But, try to keep your cool. Coming in from the wilderness grumpy, wounded and dirty is a really good way to attract the sort of attention we don't want right now. Your call, of course."

[Lara]

Pellorien buys a couple pastries from the vendor, and quickly gobbles up one and nibbles at the other.

"Unless you're putting us up at your own place, Kalarian, we do need a place to use as a home base. That's assuming we're all going to keep trying to figure out what happened with Gurend and on the rail and to Fenwolt...." She looks around at the rest of the group, a troubled expression on her face. "Someone's been trying to kill us, perhaps because of one or all of those events. Maybe we'd be harder to target in smaller groups or on our own, after all."

[Jeremy]

"Pellorien makes a good point, and in fact we owe each other no specific allegiance except, I hope, for the honor of keeping secret about the others, should we part ways. You can count on that from me."

Goran looks around, as if concerned others might be listening. He is never fully at ease in crowded cities, especially during an abrupt change of scenery such as now.

"But, parting ways just now does not seem wise to me-" he nods politely at Pellorien, "-if you'll permit my saying so. Together we may draw attention, yes, but separately we will all be easier to hunt down and slay. Imagine if we'd not had each other on the road here! Surely we each would have perished, alone in the wild. I suggest we stick together, parting in groups only as necessary and for short periods of time...until we can at least discover who hunts us and assure some measure of safety for ourselves."

[Jeff]

If the party would like to break into two groups (please no more than that!), state which group you're going with—Kal to the Deneith enclave or Grafth to find an inn?—and I'll create two subthreads for the party's time in Fairhaven, or until the party is reunited.

[Jeremy]

Wait, I thought we were all going to go to an inn first?

[Jeff]

As the group discusses where to go, or what groups to go in, you see a pair of armored men—they look like mercenaries—purchase a copy of the Gazette from the elf girl. They scan the chronicle, and walk off together.

"I heard a warforged sabotaged the rail," you heard one of them saying to the other. "That's what happens when you give them the rights of people..."

_____________________________

Unless/until a "party leader" is established, I need there to be some kind of concencus to determine direction. That's not my call.

[Darren]

I did suggest earlier that we should stick together and not split up, and I'm still okay with that. However, Kalarian hasn't actually heard any of this previous conversation between Pellorien and Goran as he's already started off to find an inn as close to the Deneith enclave as possible (see my previous post). Unless, of course, the rest of the group has been walking with him and talking this whole time. Kal's plan was to find an inn, put the rest of the group there, and either head off to the enclave by himself or with the rest of the group after they get their rooms, etc.

[Jeff]

He may just be walking by himself, Darren. I really couldn't tell you. But...we should avoid lots of out of character discussion here. Please see my last couple posts here.

[Paul]

Cutter will go with to the inn.