In the interim before the party returned to Erylond, a few things had occurred in no discernible order. Impressors from Nightwoods, Gnomish Zealots and Bounty Hunters employed by the Theocrat, had arrived in Erylond with a list of 20 gnomish names. During that time they had visited many shops, stalls, homes, and guilds. Many of the gnomish population were concerned but the Duke had assured the populace that the Impressors were only looking for the named gnomes who were wanted for questioning by the Theocrat and no others. No one was on the list who hadn’t emigrated from Nightwoods more than 2 years ago. But still, some of the populace was concerned.
In fact, one full adventuring party was currently listed as on hiatus, its members scattered and unable to be located at their normal addresses. Assumption is that some of the members might be named from the Impressor’s list and Pha-iyr Carom suggested strongly that they disperse for now.
Speaking of the Adventuring guilds, the Gorokian Collective had been making a blitz, advertising that they were willing to pay 500 nobles bonus to the Adventuring party or band that went into the Terror Dungeon and came out with proof of the most interesting kill. To sweeten the prize even more, they were also willing to pay for any training costs to the winner and expanded the contest for 2 plus months before a winner would be decided.
This has resulted in more adventuring parties being formed, the total number now reaching 27 official groups. This does not count the almost 200 unaligned members of the GRSAG. This means there are more people in the guild now than in recent history, and many of them are at Bork Keep and in the Terror Dungeon at this time. Concern is WHY the Gorokian Collective has sponsored this…feeding frenzy at the Dungeon. Is it the supposed Black Orc sightings? Or something else?
The Reetersbeard Spring Caravan arrives in Erylond in about 3 weeks. The Ironcamp Road Crews have already been through the area correcting and fixing the Randari Highway and Traderoads in anticipation of the caravan arrival.
The Sunrise Rabbits Orphange (that the party has been working in and at) due to their notoriety and the party’s efforts, have gotten a number of private Bequeathments from some of the lesser members of the Council of Lords as well some well placed merchant and trade houses. As an aside, it has been noted from Hisvild that the 16 kids that had been saved earlier and reunited with their families, have displayed a small but subtle shift in matters of chance. Not much, but random effects and causality are less detrimental to and around them than most everyone else. Not a great degree, but enough that the Taskmaster Hisvild had noted it and reported it to the party.
Dizzy and Sybil finally had a long explosive back and forth where the dwarven cleric was fed up with the Halfling thief and her lack of “anything” for the party. Words grew heated and Sybil left, making her way to the Sunrise Rabbits to offer her abilities and days full time.
One of Thalin’s students back in Tilani had arrived, Godrick, an untested wizard of some skill. He was looking for a friendly face after taking Thalin’s advice on the mage’s guild and branching out on his own. He did eventually get hired on with a group and made 3 forays into the Terror Dungeon before a falling out with the adventurer leader had him leave and head here looking for help, work, and a friendly face. He met with the party and was welcomed to come and stay, as well as join Thalin at the Scriveners for some per diem work until we knew what we were doing as a group.
When we did arrive on the 6th of Birthmonth, we made our way to the GRSAG where we waited at the entrance hall for a few minutes. There were very few people here and the roster board was rather full, something we didn’t expect to see. Some of the locals filled us in on the recent happenings and we made our way upstairs to meet with Pha-iyr and report in. He had a line of people outside and Connal attempted to move past when he was confronted. “Go to the back.” “We’re here to check in.” “Great. Not your turn, go to the back.”
Things got tense and eventually Pha-iyr did open the door to let 3 others leave. On seeing the party he greeted them but did say that he was swamped and would they please wait. As we were sitting there, a dwarven guy named Halfring Deepbeard dropped some snubs at the group and eventually got into a back and forth with Shim. He threatened to report the gnome to the “Impressors” and did eventually get up, coming back 20 minutes later and chuckling at the gnome. “Good luck getting re-educated shrimp.”
We did meet with Pha-iyr and the record keeper and they heard the entire story. It was almost too much and he suggested that we go and talk to our respective guild soon to see about training. We wanted to avoid the Impressors and instead took a different way out that led us to the 2nd ring and the Erylond Royal Bank. We were let off here under the guise that we were looking to talk about putting some money in the back, under the auspices of House Carom. We would need 10,000 nobles (yeah, right) but thanked them for the information and then left.
The party then went to the various guilds and reported their skills and findings there. They had notarized paperwork from the GRSAG delivered as well and it was discovered that Wilhelm, Eoghan, and Connal all were going to go up in level. Hooray.
Connal was eventually called though to meet with the Abbess and a few others from the Church of Sif. He expected to be commended for his efforts regarding the valkyrie and saving her but was instead upset to learn the Abbess had a different view on it. A valkyrie, a damned Angel of Sig, and you didn’t think to bring her back here to Erylond? You had her spend some days with a lapsed Friggan priest in some backwater lodge for half a week but not here? Did you talk to her? Chat with her? Learn things about Asgard that scholars or theologians would kill for? And a Cathedral? What about this one here in Erylond? Right here, you’re sitting in it. Instead, some…again, Friggan, Cathedral in goblin infested and ogre inhabited area? That was the best bet?
They went at it for a while – best for Sif vs best for the entire collective and church. 1 day. Hell, 12 hours of actually meeting a representative of Asgard here. The prestige, the pageantry, the glory. And now for naught because you did what YOU thought was best. Not what’s best for everyone. Connal grew wroth after an hour of discussion and stormed out to go and meditate for a bit. The Abbess has a quick vote with her people and it was decided that Connal would be rebuked for his actions in not supporting the glory of Sif AND the Church and would have a note appended to his docket. If he were to do another grievous dereliction of duty to the church again, his enrollment would be rescinded.
Connal took it…poorly but stormed away for now.
We trained for a bit and filled in the party about what we had done and what we had learned. Shim had some back and forth with the Falsers and eventually paid a decent chunk of coin for Halfring Deepbeard to get beat up on one knee and one hand – making Shim smile on seeing the nasty dwarf limping about the guild hall with limbs bandaged up.
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