Great-grandchild of the sister's gibbon's friend of the nephew of the Campaign that Would Not Die, now in 3.25e Møøse Trained By: Hugh Foster

Trip to Minensal

South of the Drachenfels and Minensal, 28th November 2100

• Minensal Region - click it for larger image!

  After some discussion about the disposal of the now considerable loot, the party heads to Minensal.
• The Valley The plains rise into a low range of hills, through which the road runs looping around the bigger ones (think Glencoe). Eventually, it begins to descend into a green and pleasant-looking valley. Centered in this is a small city, surrounded by the grass-covered ruins of a much larger city. A river bisects the valley and the city.
  The roads are fairly busy with trade caravans and other traffic.
• The Outer City – the Big Rubble The Big Rubble is a three-mile strip around the inner city. Tumbled ruins of buildings, parks and plazas are drowned in grass and small trees. Chambu and Talian discern strong Elvish influences in the design.
  Occasional disturbed places show where stone has been ‘quarried’ from the ruins for building within the city.
• The New Wall and Inner City
  The New Wall encircles the inner three miles of Minensal and all the inhabitants – except for a druidical community living in one of the small forests and the occasional eccentric.
  The city is fairly cosmopolitan. From time to time, one or more warriors in peculiarly specialized-looking armour can be seen. These are either brash, boastful-looking youths or (more rarely) scarred, grim older men with visible burn scars and battered gear. In either case, they are the fabled Dragon Hunters.
• Entering through the Mage Gate, the party takes rooms in the Lusty Giant (the sign is everything one would expect!)

• Minensal - click it for larger image!

  It emerges that there's only one place in Minensal to trade arms and armour; the merchant-smith Hesyas has the monopoly. His prices vary; mundane gear he pays little for, but anything that would sell to Dragon Hunters attracts a premium. After some haggling, Baggy, Chambu, Baylock and Nazariel order improved enchantments for their armour. Baylock goes ahead despite not actually having enough money; he's sure in a nice rich-looking city like this he should be able to make it back!
• In the street, a man in light mail, a knight’s white belt and a beautiful longsword spots the party and makes straight for them. A squire, two men-at-arms and 3 retainers trail him; they look fairly calm. Halting in front of the PCs he looks carefully from one to the other, then greets them politely. His accent is Tellaran. “Forgive my approach, ladies and gentlemen, but if the description I have heard is correct, I believe you may have encountered my nephew, young lord Darek, the other day?”
  Rather nervously, they agree that this is so.
  Smiling broadly, he introduces himself as Sir Jumar Febryn. “His father and I have been trying to beat some sense in and pride out of him for years,” he says wearily, “to no avail. I daily expected the young fool to end up killed, waving his sword at everyone as if he were Surya Himself. Then he comes home, no sword, tail between like a whipped cur, and next day he’s deep in his Land Management studies and being painfully polite to the servants. Eventually he was persuaded to tell us what happened. Lord Ranson and I owe you our thanks, and more than. If you are ever in Thallith and in need, call on either of us and we will do all in our power to aid.” He bows politely and shakes any hands that seem available, and heads on along the street. A collective sigh of relief and surprise is exhaled

• Thrallstone

  At the mage-guild, they enter the robust and impressive building and encounter Aglith in Acquisitions. He trades with them for their unwanted items (including four of the Water of Wending potions, despite discovering that the Guild will pay two thousand each for them!), the spellbooks from the cult stronghold, some pipes and scrolls. Baylock assists in the negotiations with a dwarf named Zaldan, trying to sell something he calls a Thrallstone.
• Baylock then unloads some cash on a Bag of Holding, which costs more than he'd hoped leaving him a bit short for his armour.

Minensal, 28th November 2100

• The next day rain batters the city and Baggy sticks to the inn. She tries to talk religion with a fellow half-orc and is rebuffed, and then a group of dwarves - just for the challenge. The latter listen very politely, but decline her offer of some religious comfort. She observes that there are two people in a corner who trigger her Detect Evil, but decides to leave them be for the moment. The others settle down with the inn's modest collection of books. They join the company in the bar that night and the evening is very convivial.

Minensal, 29th November 2100

• A bit after midnight, Baylock is walking near the theatre district (honest guv) when he encounters a group of eight drunken sailors. He considers pickpocketing them, but realizes they're so poor it's not likely to be much of a challenge or worth it
• He follows the thiefsign and makes contact with the Guild at the Monk and Wizard, at the seedy edge of the tavern district. Paying his dues as a visiting thief, he's instructed on how to avoid aggravating the Guild. His contact declines to provide jobs, however; there seems to be a probationary period.
• Returning to the Giant, Baggy is told a dwarf is asking to see her. It turns out to be one of the previous day's group named Berein, who confesses that his own Gods don't seem to be working for him. He's clearly racked with guilt and shame over this at the same time as he is yearning for something spiritually better. Baggy rolls up her theological sleeves and explains the Word of Bahamut. However, guilt seems to win out and Berein stumbles away in tears.

Minensal, 30th November 2100

• Talamas

  Baggy and Chambu visit the High Priest of Pelor in the city, Talamas, who is aware of the link between their church and his. Taking a risk, they unfold the entire story of the Cult of the Dragon and their quest to oppose it. Living in Minensal under the shadow of the Drachenfels, Talamas is all too aware of what a return to dragon rule could be like, and of the reality of the Dark Beast.
• Talamas recalls the events of March, when ten people tried - insane as it seemed - to rob Hesyas' weapon vault. Caught and turned over to Guild Law, they had been handed the worst sentence available - public death by fire in the market place. Adding the account of the transaction book to this, he realizes that these must have been the cultists.
• He promises to help where he can, and offers to set up a meeting with the First Citizen of the city.
• Baggy and Chambu pass this on to the rest. Baylock suggests others may remain in the city, and perhaps staging a robbery of Hesyas might draw them out? However, he also forms the suspicion that the First Citizen might be in league with the Cult.
  
  

Session Date: 17th August 2021; in Cyberspace!