Durham at last

[patransom]

Resting in the monastery is quiet and peaceful, if not completely comfortable, with no beds provided. In the morning it takes you little time to make your way to Durham.

Durham is a medium-sized town that surrounds a large stone keep, just like most major towns in Caithness. Kolan, Tana, and probably Yasmin would be somewhat familiar with Durham. Tana and Lorn would likely find it nearly identical to their home towns. Jericho would find the town small and rather disorganized in comparison to the cities of the Viridian Empire. Jase, and possibly Sunny, would be quite impressed with the number of buildings and people.

Making your way through the town, you find the main gates of the keep wall open, with some traffic passing through, and the guards pay you no mind as you do the same. Once you reach the doors of the main structure, and Yasmin and the rest of you explain your business, a well-dressed gnome comes out to escort you inside to see Lord Peredur himself.

The gnome leads you to a nearby chamber that, although clearly a throne room, is not particularly regal. It well-appointed, but not ostentatious. Upon the “throne,” which is really nothing more than a finely crafted, high-backed wooden chair, is a man in his eighties. On a step beside him sits a smiling girl of no more than 16.

“My Lord Peredur,” says the gnome, “may I present Yasmin Sendars of Duvik’s Pass. She and these companions bear news and letters from your vassal, the lord mayor, there.”

Peredur looks at you with a sharp interest unusual for a man of his years, and waits for you to speak.

[I’ve got a picture of Peredur somewhere that I’ll post in the NPC thread]

[Tech Trooper]

Yasmin steps forward and bows to Lord Peredur. "My lord, I bring you best wishes from my father, the Mayor of Duvik's Pass. He has asked me to deliver you this letter (which she hands to the gnome) and to introduce you to my companions here who have helped Duvik's Pass in our hour of need." She then steps back and allows Lord Perudur to read the letter.

[patransom]

The gnome carries the letter to Lord Peredur. He reads the first page carefully, and then examines the second, turning it sideways and upside down. “This second note appears Viridian, Yinta.” He hands the note to the gnome.

The gnome studies the paper and reports, “It is High Viridian, milord, the language of their nobility. It is a short note only, reading: 'Strike now for your god and your Emperor! Weaken the Caiths, for these lands shall be ours!'”

Peredur frowns at this, but turns to the party, “It seems you have done us a service and Durham is in your debt. Come, introduce yourselves.”

[Bazzatard]

Lorn steps forward and bows, careful to let Bronin remain perched on his shoulder. "Greetings my lord. I am Lorn Blackhand, at your service."

[Jayel]

Kolan steps forward and bows as well, "Greetings my Lord and thank you for taking time out of your day to meet with us. My name is Kolan Torndar, Monk of the Order of St. Cuthbert.", then steps back in line.

[Icefire]

Tana steps forward after Kolan, "I am Tana Lattia, also of the Order of St. Cuthbert. And if possible, Sister Lenore has requested that we be allowed to take the letter back to the monastery to allow some of our order to study it." She offers a bow before stepping back with the others.

[Sunbolt]

Sunny steps forward and gives a flourish of a sweeping bow:

"Great Lord, I am Sunny" and he rises, his face a glow with a bright and wide smile as if to illustrate the point, "Servant of the Beloved Goddess Bes, storyteller and actor. It would be my distinct pleasure to tell you the tale of how we came upon this note - and what dangers it might herald should it prove as authentic as I fear it might well be!"

[klakxor]

Jericho steps forward a gives a small bow.

"I am Jericho, cleric of the lord Ugtargnt from the temples in Augge. Thank you for the honor of your presence."

[Icthius]

"I'm Jase," the barbarian says, eyeing the girl's legs, "and I hit things. Hard."

[patransom]

After the introductions, Lord Peredur answers, “You all have our thanks for the service you have done Durham. The Lord Mayor says in his message to us that some of you may seek a reward for your actions. Such is certainly due, but we will discuss that later.”

He turns to the gnome, “Yinta, make preparations for a feast this eve. There has been little enough entertainment of late with so many of our men away at the summer jousts. Thus, we take this opportunity to dine well and celebrate the noble deeds of these few.”

“In the meantime, see that these adventurers are assigned rooms in the north tower so that they may rest before dinner. We are certain their journey has been difficult.”

To the group he says, “We trust you will honor us with your presence at tonight’s feasting. We may discuss what rewards you seek then.” To Sunny he adds, “And you may tell your stirring tale of adventure as well, for the entertainment of all who attend.”

“To the matter of this mysterious Viridian message … Yinta, send for Sister Lenore and Justicar Penol. We would have their advice in this matter, as the message mentions some deity or other.” For Tana’s benefit, he notes, “Sister Lenore will be able to study the letter, as you have requested, when she arrives.”

The young women smiles coyly at Jase’s glance. Noticing this, Lord Peredur says, “Bronwyn, do cover yourself.” He says pointedly to Jase, “Allow us to introduce our daughter, the fair Bronwyn.”

“Now, with your pardon, we will turn our thoughts to this letter and other matters of state. Yinta will show you your rooms and offer whatever hospitalities you may need that Durham can provide.”

If you have nothing further to ask Lord Peredur, then Yinta will show you to accommodations in the north tower. It’s about 8 hours until dinner, so if have some business, such as money changing or shopping, you’d like to do in Durham, Yinta can direct you. Post such things here, and we’ll skip to the feasting with the next validation

[Jayel]

Kolan will ask Yinta after we are shown to our room, "Yinta, could you please direct us to a nearby place that we may exchange silver coin to gold or even platinum?"

[patransom]

You are each given a separate room of your own in the north tower. Although the rooms are rather spartan, they each contain a bed with many blankets, a bathtub, and a small window that looks out over the curtain wall upon the town.

Yinta says, "Certainly, there is a shrine of Nepthtlys in town," he points it out through one of the windows, "The priest there will gladly exchange coins."

If you go out to the shrine, you'll find that the priest will charge 1% for any coin exchange and offers another service: you can deposit coins with him for the same fee and he'll give you a script that can be used to withdraw your deposits from any other shrine of Nepthtlys in Perearth.

[Sunbolt]

Sunny checks to see if he can't get a better dagger, while the others get their money changed out.... but other than that retires to his rooms and takes a long hot bath while ordering his thoughts and actions for tonights performance.

(ooc - I'll be out of town for the week... so please go on with Sunny telling the story using his acting talents to entertain and win over the audience. While every aspect will certainly be true - he makes certain to play out his parts 1/2 sympathetic hero in over his head and good for comic laughs, and 1/2 dedicated hero striving to keep his friends safe from all harm. Even the parts where he is knocked out should be blamed fairly on the cowardly actions of his invisible attacker, or the single mindedness of the evil zombie, whom he was manipulating the entire time.

Proper credit is given to other members for their heroic deeds - but special care is given to make Jase a hero in name and increase the man's reputation - especially in the eyes of the ladies. (Well, given who I worship, how can I not help him get lucky?)

[Tech Trooper]

Yasmin rests for a bit in her room, then getting a little bored she decides to take in the sights of Durham.

[Icthius]

"Bored Yasmin?" Jase says (if he notices her leaving). "Want some company? I'm going to drive myself to madness sitting here cooped-up."

OOC: Sunny's the best wing-man

[klakxor]

After being shown his room, Jericho will begin to wander around the town. If he runs into any of the other party members while about, he will join them in whatever they are doing. He is still trying to get used to his new surroundings in Caithness.

[Icefire]

Tana will exercise and bath in her room in the morning. Then wander out after a few hours to see a bit of the town. Tana will also see about converting her money to gold. Convert all 1000sp to gold if she can.

[Bazzatard]

Lorn heads out to deposit most of his money (950sp), then to explore the town for any places of intrest.

[Tech Trooper]

"Sure Jase. I would welcome the company." Yasmin replies.

[Jayel]

Kolan turns to Lorn, "I will accompany you to deposit some money. That is if you don't mind me tagging along."

Kolan will deposit 900sp and convert the other 100sp to gold.

[Bazzatard]

Lorn shrugs at Kolan's request. "If you wish I suppose."

[patransom]

The Priest of Nepthtlys gladly writes out scripts recording deposits for Lorn of 940 sp, 50 cp and for Kolan of 890 sp. He also changes Kolan's 100 sp for 10 gold (taking the fee for the money changing out of his deposit script).

You all find that there is a bustling marketplace near the Shrine of Nepthtlys. All sorts of items are available there for sale, including weapons of masterwork quality, if anyone (like Sunny wants to buy one).