#oc: ghurvoon

[firelight-tales-of-exandria]

Firelight Tales of Exandria, Ch.11 - “Dungeons and Dragons”

Thank you all for coming, and let us tell some stories...

“Our party had completed their mission and had filed their claim on the bounty at the Freeman’s Lodge. Unfortunately, several other adventuring parties had done the same, and, in order to sort everything out and get to the bottom of the matter, the Westruun Shields launched a series of investigations into each individual claim. This also meant, that the party had become “persons of interest” in the investigation, and so were “invited” to stay at the Garrison barracks for a period of five days while the voracity of their claim was being investigated. This did not sit well with a few members of the party, Song especially, who seemed particularly averse to getting involved with any sort of law enforcement or being under scrutiny from authority figures.

“As such, Song dismissed himself, saying he would meet up with the rest of the group soon, and, despite the protests and reassurances of the others, he said a tentative goodbye and departed alone into the night. This reminds the rest of the party that, despite getting along so well and having weathered dire tribulations in such a short time, they are all very much relative strangers to one another. It is here we rejoin our heroes, as Song bids them, a hopefully brief, “fare-thee-well.”

Cezika, begrudgingly, makes a point that the group should leave for the Garrison. Shadow asks if the Margrave’s word can be trusted, to which Cezika says that she doesn’t make it a habit of trusting politicians in general.

With Song having made himself scarce, the rest of the party make their way to the Westruun Garrison, but not before Cezika buys a couple bottles of "not good” wine from the Sloppy Satyr (having finally asked the owner/manager his name, Aeden Brors).

Upon reaching the sentries posted at the Garrison, a clerk is summoned to process the group. The clerk, one Sergeant Jenkins, asks each of the party their name, occupation, and place of origin.

Cezika: Cezika, “tourist”/dilettante, Ank’harel

Nakiya: Nakiya, mercenary, Cliffkeep Mountains

Leaf: Leaf, healer (?), *did not list point of origin*

Ladryssa: Ladryssa, hunter, “the woods near the mountain city with the white stones” / rural Whitestone

Shadow: Shadow of the Moon, “mehrsinaree”, Syngorn

When asked about the absence of “Storyweaver”, Cezika says they were “eaten by a bear”. She says they left his name on the claim as “penance for the dead��.

The group is then taken to a guard station and each receives an arcane mark that will allow the Shields to keep track of the party’s whereabouts as part of the investigation. They are then asked to surrender their weapons while lodging at the barracks, and are in turn given a claim ticket for their arms if they choose to leave each day.

Jenkins explains that the party will be lodged for five days, and they are to remain within the Garrison premises from dusk until after dawn each day, and may be called to provide testimony to the official inquiry council. When pressed as to why they are to be confined to quarters and tracked, the clerk explains that claimants are being guarded against foul play and tampering by other parties, making specific mention of the difference between the conduct of Westruun Shields and the freemen and mercenaries they are playing host to.

Though the party has been given two barracks units, they choose to pass a wary night sharing one unit, with Shadow and Nakiya keeping a mistrustful watch.

For the first time, the party witnesses Shadow perform some type of short ritual with a pendant of black volcanic glass/stone they wear. It briefly glints with an internal flash of power, but then falls limp once more.

Our haggard heroes are woken before dawn by reveille, and the sound of the Westruun Shields’ morning exercises. In spite of the disturbance, they finish their rest before the smells of breakfast rouse them.

++PARTY LEVEL UP – LVL. 4++

Before heading out to morning chow, a courier, Redshirt McGillicuddy #1, gives Leaf and Ladryssa a summons to the Margrave’s Manor, to the court of inquiry, later that morning. Cezika says they are all being called separately that the group’s story lines up. They all agree to omit Ladryssa’s past with the hag and that “Storyweaver” was eaten by a bear after the hag was slain.

Nakiya is delighted to discover that she can still have eggs under her new “diet”. Meanwhile, Shadow gives the cook the warm and fuzzies by asking for seconds and then thirds.

The time of Leaf’s hearing comes, and they are escorted to the judicial chamber of the Margrave’s Manor. The rest of the party finish breakfast and wait by the guarded passageway for Leaf to be done.

After Leaf returns from their inquiry, a soldier approaches them, the brother of one of the injured lumberjacks Leaf saved. The soldier overheard Leaf’s concern about the Green Men, and offers to call in a favor with the floor warden of the Garrison Dungeon to allow the firbolg to visit them briefly.

Leaf takes Cezika with them, and the two are escorted through a few checkpoints and under one of the Garrison towers, into the dungeon. The warden leads them to a cell with two wounded Green Men and gives Leaf and Cezika five minutes to speak.

One of the Green Men is well enough to speak, but still severely injured. Leaf apologizes for their predicament, tells them of their efforts to clear their names, and expresses grief over their friend’s death and thanks them for his sacrifice. The druid is distraught, but thanks Leaf for everything they have done for them and asks Leaf to plant the dead Green Man’s staff to memorialize him.

As the warden signals for their time to be up, Leaf casts a healing word to ease the pain of the Green Men. The warden barks a warning as the spell is cast.

As Leaf and Cezika turn to leave, they hear a muffled whimper down from the end of the dungeon. Cezika tries to usher Leaf out, but the firbolg will not be deterred. In the darkest corner of the dungeon, Leaf finds Buddy, bound and muzzled amidst a cell of long-deceased prisoners. The irate, menacing floor warden threatens to throw both of them in with the gnoll unless they immediately leave.

The two meet back up with the rest of the party and lead Leaf out into the square, under the comfort of a tree. Cezika explains what happened. The party has a range of reactions: Ladryssa and Cezika try to comfort Leaf, while Nakiya walks off, looking for something to hit and not wanting to be near people.

Cezika: “The way they are being treated downstairs... They definitely think that Buddy and/or the Green Men are responsible for this.”

Leaf: “But I told them they were not.”

Cezika: “I know, aile, I know.”

Shadow: “Cezika, I think I know what you mean now; that certain people cannot be trusted.”

Cezika: “I wish I could say this was the first time I have seen things like this happen, but I would be a liar.”

The party simmers in despair and impotent rage, but they resolve to make things right. A little old lady peddles fruit nearby, which puts the group on edge, since they no longer trust little old ladies.

Cezika asks Shadow to stay with Leaf for a moment and excuses herself down an alleyway. When she returns (in a fouler mood), she is followed by a broad, looming, blue-scaled dragonborn. Shadow and Ladryssa inspect him within his personal space, as the dragonborn follows each with a different eye.

The dragonborn introduces himself as Cezika’s cousin, Ghurvoon. Leaf, Shadow, and Ladryssa are introduced, but Ghurvoon asks where the others are. The dragonborn, with a broad smile, offers to buy lilies for Shadow, which perplexes the group. Ignoring their concerns, Ghurvoon calls a nearby flower girl over, grilling her about appropriate flowers for new friends.

Ghurvoon: *sends obvious facial cues drawing attention to the flower girl*

Cezika, tired of his shit: “This is why I don’t send you letters.”

Ghurvoon: “You really learn nothing I try to teach you.”

Cezika: “I don’t pay attention to half the shit you try to teach me.”

Ghurvoon: “Well, if you did, you may not be in *this* situation.”

Cezika: *mumbles in Marqueesian* “Yell at me later. Let’s just-- 12 dasies, I think? I don’t even care anymore.”

Shadow: “I do no longer want flowers.”

As Shadow looks around to see if the guards are taking notice of them, and wary of any move the Dragonborn makes to give them flowers, Ghurvoon continues to press the flower girl.

Flower girl: “It doesn’t really sound like they want flowers, now does it?”

Ghurvoon: “Perhaps not. Perhaps, a Song or two?”

Song, disguised as the flower girl: *sweating across dimensions and astral projecting into space from anxiety* “.......ah....I...well there are places where they could go grab that, not here, as you can see, I sell flowers--”

Ghurvoon suggests to Cezika that her whole party be present for what needs to be said. Shadow points out that Ladryssa will be summoned to the inquiry soon, so Cezika suggests they all meet up at the Satyr before dark to talk.

Ghurvoon draws attention to the flower girl once more, and they start to notice she looks similar to someone they just said goodbye to, as the dragonborn disappears into the crowd. The group finally recognizes Song, and Cezika catches him up on the day’s events.

Cezika asks if Song could find where Nakiya went, and he asks her to take care, before beetling off once more.

The temple bell rings ten tolls, and guards escort Ladryssa to the doors of the Chamber of Judgement.