Hail and Happy Equinox, friends!
Spring is in the air and so is the feeling that adventure and excitement await our noble champions.
If you’ve don’t have the line-up memorized, here it is:
Fiona: Lightfoot Halfling Rogue (Jenny)
Thalia: High Elf Wizard (Kurt)
Gallan (Sidekick): Wood Elf Fighter (Kurt)
Ahfa: Human Paladin (Brent)
Zulu (Sidekick): Dwarf Cleric (Brent)
My most beloved readers – indulge me, please. Let me weave for you a tale of the day’s adventures…based on particularly memorable quotes from our fearless fighting coterie.
But first, some context: The party has just arrived in the Free City of Greyhawk after rescuing Ricard Damaris from the near-fatal attack on Zagig’s Bridge. After retiring to his rooms to convalesce, the party remains in the Green Dragon Inn to take advantage of the free drinks. Dendra is the Day Barkeep and she’s a thin woman with a sarcastic, short manner of speaking. When Thalia asks about libraries, she curtly mentions the Guild of Wizardry; when Fiona asks about shopping, Dendra replies over her shoulder that they are on Cargo Street and there are shops abound; when Ahfa asks about evil, she rolls her eyes and says they are in Greyhawk – evil is everywhere.
On that pleasant note, the group goes out into the street and sees a bright blue awning across the way. Geeridan’s General Store. Inside the shoppe is a huge room, crammed with shelves and cases of goods of all kinds. Weapons, gear, home goods, kits…it would appear Geeridan’s has it all. Gern Geeridan is the owner, friendly enough, and when the party asks about jobs, he directs them to the Public Board in front of the City Watch Station, back to the east on Cargo Street.
And now, we are at the first of many quotes that especially illustrate this particular session.
1. “The End is Near.” “Repent, Citizens of Greyhawk.” The Eyes of the Old One are Upon You.”
These quotes are plastered on parchment flyers all over the job board, along with prints of a ruby-studded starburst. The paladin recognizes these as the symbol of Saint Cuthbert of the Cudgel, a hard-nosed, strict deity of law and order. Later in the day, the party runs into a small group of brown-robed zealots who wear the same starburst symbol. These zealots make for an uncomfortable evening at the Green Dragon Inn as they mean mug everybody and spout words like the ones on the flyer. Fortunately, their message is lost as the GDI patrons pay them very little mind.
2. “It’s so good. It’s soooooo good.” (Fiona)
Our questers have spent a very interesting afternoon out and about in Greyhawk, exploring areas like Clerkburg (and the college there), making friends, looking for the library, learning about the vaulted Guild of Wizardry and the like. They arrive back to the GDI as the dinner hour descends and the change in atmosphere is tangible. With evening on its way, the River Quarter vibe now to turns to one of pleasure instead of business. And our warriors are thirsty! While the party, save Ahfa, is willing to imbibe the dwarven ale, Fiona asks for something special. And Gulthen, the Night Barkeep, delivers. He’s snuck some of the cook’s best Elderflower Mead to Fiona. After making a studious acquaintance at Clerkburg College (named Claara), the party now waits for a group of the college kids to arrive to enjoy the evening with them.
3. “I’m what you call “Christian”. (Zulu) ” And “Hey, Brownie!” (Gallan)
Remember those St. Cuthbert zealots? Yeah, they’ve come into the Green Dragon Inn. Just to stand there and judge everyone’s sins, probably. Zulu strides right up to them to have a chat and the clerics go on with their apocalyptic words of fire, brimstone, repent, catastrophe, etc. They speak of the Old One, whom Ahfa knows is another name for Iuz the Tyrant. Even though Iuz disappeared many, many years ago, the zealots claim the time has come for his re-emergence and subsequent destruction of Greyhawk and its environs. Again, hard to take these guys seriously – they’ve got crazy eyes and carry cat o’nine tails in their hands, as if they’re looking to flog themselves at the slightest provocation.
4. “I’m the designated driver.” (Ahfa)
First of all, Ahfa doesn’t need to drive; they’re walking everywhere. Anyway. Ricard Damaris finally arrives to the Green Dragon Inn’s pubroom, amid hurrahs and shouts of welcome. He beckons the party to his table, where they are guests of honor. They eventually are joined by about three or four more others. He breaks out the Gnomish port after about hearing Fiona’s quaffing of the mead, and the rogue is feeling pretty buzzy. Which, of course, kicks Ahfa’s protective instincts into overdrive. Everyone wants to hear about Ricard’s rescue at the bridge, and a particularly curious black-haired elf named Tirra is interested in the details. She explains that she’s a lifelong adventuring friend of Ricard’s, as is the red-coated, battle-helmed gentleman at the other end of the table. Tirra then switches gears, now asking about the raid, the ambush, what the party saw at Zagig’s Bridge. At Gallan’s description of the scene, the orcs, the plundered caravans’ logo description, Tirra starts and turns to the elf sitting next to her…and Gallan hears the words “Able Carter” pass between the two. Hmm.
5. “Let’s go get his autograph.” (Fiona)
The evening is in full swing at the Green Dragon Inn. The live music will be playing soon and the kids from Clerkburg College should be arriving any moment. The weirdo clerics of St. Cuthbert have left, thank the Gods. But, then the door to the tavern swing open and in walks…
Someone that makes Thalia gasp in surprise. A tall, dark-haired, blue-garbed man strides across the room and stands in front of the red-coated military man at the other end of Ricard’s table. He removes a small object from his coat and sets it in front of the red-coat. A decent Perception check allows the party to see that it is a dragonchess piece…namely a paladin, who represents a major power player in that game. The blue man says nothing before turning and stalking out of the GDI. The red-coat picks up the piece, tucks it into his own pocket and smirks. The party is at a loss at what exactly just happened, until they look at the stunned expression on Thalia’s face. “That was Tenser,” she whispers, barely audible. She goes on to explain that Tenser is a world-famous, powerful wizard. Which is what prompts Fiona to propose the autograph thing.
At this point, the hour is late and the session winds down. But, for posterity’s sake, the band is about to strike up at the Green Dragon Inn. The party is JUST getting started.
Until next time, dear readers,
Heather