Plantmonth 8th, 289 of the 29th age, 8:30 PM. Party revisited everything that had occurred during the day, and went back over their purchases, cross checking with one another to make sure nothing was lost or forgotten. Eventually we fell asleep, knowing that we were going on the Zephyr’s Windshade tomorrow to eventually arrive in Tilani.
We awoke early on the 9th as per the Kaiser’s servants, ate a hearty breakfast, and then were escorted out of the center ring to the airship docks on the north end of town. Three gnomish battlewagons, 4 civilian/merchant airships, and 1 smaller sloop were there. The small ship was captained by Twilick One-Eye Taperton who immediately took to Shim.
Introductions were made all around and he gave us our itinerary. The Windshade without stress can make 30 miles easily a day but it was best if it was not stormy weather to end up in a way station each night to load up on water. So we were going to Bork Keep, then Bogon, and then TIlani – expecting to make it to the former elven home city by the later afternoon on the 11th.
We took off and made our way across the massive Enderlyn Bridge (which does not exist in our time), the air ship passing through a set of spell locks to keep it working as it trailed through the mile and a half long expanse. Once across we rose to roughly 4, 500 feet and set off to the east south east. The road below matched what we knew in our time but where Erylond was in our ime, was a much smaller town. Maybe 30 thousand. It was on the same hill, but there was construction going on there. Were told that was Randaz and the Kaiser was using it as a destination for evacuated families and important objects and artifacts.
We sailed along for some time, the road did veer north from where we were used to it in our time, heading to the trees and some hills and small cliffs. According to the map, this was Cradel, and on top of the Cliffside was Mother’s Peak. The Cathedral to Frigga. We passed over what we knew to be Canaslan in our time, just farmers and farm land, and eventually came to Bork Keep.
We were told the Steward of Bork Keep would meet with us, a black orc named Scotar Bork. Not a lord? In our time it’s Lord Corface Bork, and decidedly a human. The grounds were more finished and there were 4 cavalier training encampments below – in our time only one and its inside the keep. We did note the building that housed the entrance to the Terror Dungeon does not exist here.
The Windshade docked and a number of workmen and workgnomes came out, hooking up guides and ropes, eventually some hoses from the water tanks. Twilick met with the Steward’s man and we were invited to dine with the Steward now even though the hour was late. We all went off and into the keep itself.
Scotar Bork met with us. Older, in his late 40’s or 50’s. Again, Black Orcs are not normal for us so this huge muscled, noble looking oversized black/green skin was a bit daunting. We did invite us to sit and eat and we chatted for a while with the Steward.
Bork Keep was commissioned by the Randari Ympire a bit over a hundred years ago. Since Timber comes from Nightwoods and stone from Jarlborrin, it was assumed that these two groups would be handling the building. However, the Jarlborrin were involved in a number of expansive keeps and forts throughout Morata and did not have the time or stone to do the work in a timely fashion.
The Gorokian Dwarves thought they had a lock on it and were already upping their price for stone and laborers. Since the Nightwood Gnomes were tasked this, they contacted their neighbors to the east, the dwarves of Daro. They were willing to do the job for 60% of Gorok’s cost and in the intervening 2 and a half years, the land was reshaped and the keep constructed. This has been a point of contention for the Gorokian Dwarves who have taken a dim view on the Keep.
Scotar Bork currently acts as Steward for the keep. It sounded like he was 3rd or 4th generation to do so and he willingly relinquished his nobility title due to a quarrel his eldest (Gunther) had with a human woman (Litha). She had been enamored with the younger Bork and they had been due to wed but Gunter’s arrogant ways and sense of superiority as well as his racism turned her off. She had sought to get out of the marriage and one of her guards, an ogre named Luddock had agreed to help her out. They grew to love each other and Luddock acted as her champion when they petitioned the Friggan elders at Mother’s Cathedral in Cradel to vacate the betrothal.
It was done but Gunther did not accept it, blows were exchanged, and Luddock was mortally wounded. Gunther then took his anger out on Litha, who was pregnant with Luddock’s child, daring to hit her. Scotar had his son punished, recompense was given to Luddock’s family, and Litha was brought to Cradel where her and her son, Ludson, currently reside. To prevent a shit like his son ever getting the title of Lord, Scotar renounced his own nobility and agreed to act as Steward for his family’s Keep until the Kaiser can find a replacement to take over.
Party is asked to take a crate of ravens to Tilani since they are going there. The Steward ends up collecting the ravens after a time when the animals lose their ability to return to their home. Both locales have an aviary on site, with TIlani having a Druidic Circle as well to reimprint their crate of avians. The orcish lord spoke of responsibility and the 5 circles that command the varying layers of importance. We rested, thinking about this time in the Randari empire. There is a mix of height of Roman Empire and Camelot feel to everything.
The next day we left early with the crate in question. We also did note Gunther. He was a brutish looking black orc with a pretty big “M” branded on his right cheek. He kept his head down, is disliked, and works on the breastworks doing concrete repairs.
The Windshade took off at 8:30 Am on the 10th, heading north to Bogon. There were a number of hills and mountains in the way, so the Captain brought the ship up to 1,200 feet, and reminded everyone that this was flyover country. It’s mostly older dwarven and elven battle sites that have been long abandoned. A few dragons are known to inhabit the area and they have been accorded a mutual protection pact with the Kaiser and the Council of 6.
Bogon, Flight, and Stivil are located to act as midway stops for airships that want to navigate north to south and not follow the trade routes. Right on the edge of the Gameron Woods is Bogon. This frontier style town is home to about 600 people, about a quarter orcs, a quarter human, a quarter gnome, and a smattering of other races. The primary industry here is wooden spars and airship parts. A number of large hydrotanks are on site and the place is pretty rough and tumble.
The mayor is a wormy looking gnome named Harpis Tank Locknut. He talks to the Captain for a bit before turning to the party. After looking them over he asked that Wilhelm and Asher join him for the time being. Twilick and his gnomes were going to make some small repairs here in Bogon and stay at the ship. We would be leaving in the morning by 8, 8:30.
Once inside the Bogon Crossed Arms, Harpis brought the two men to his “office” – a small room in the back of the Crossed Arms. He is not only the mayor, but he manages the Crossed arms? Yep – and some other businesses as well. He started off with questions: Who are they? I hear they are special. Why are you special? They’ve been at the front? Anyone on the Windshade is pretty important to the Kaiser.
Word is they are going to Tilani. Going to try and talk to that angry fossil Logari. (Logari seemed to be the leader of Tilani, a very old elf who was a bit of a racist and skinflint). It seems that Logari agreed to a trade some time ago (3 years) with Mayor Harpis for a number (30) of elven crafted exact specification 4’ silvered engine rods in exchange for some Bogon crafted gnomish weights and scales for skyship crystal gears. The scales have been completed and have been ready to send to Tilani but Logari has not set up a date to arrange the trade. The Mayor doesn’t want to send the weights and scales as he suspects he won’t get paid. The Speaker has pulled that crap before. Letters are not answered or answered tersely. And even the Mayor’s own emissary had been left waiting twice for an audience with the Speaker (3 days and 7) before returning frustrated.
These were not cheap to make and the market for them is sparse at best. If Logari doesn’t want them, say so and he’ll find another buyer at a discount somewhere. Since the group can actually go and talk to Logari (its known he only has interest these days in meeting with elves), he’d like it if they can at least find out about the silvered rods / scales trade and eventually let him know.
Conversation broke down as Captain Asher got upset with the Mayor’s tone and things he was saying. There were some derogatory comments about Hairy arms bandied about. Eventually the Mayor felt that this was not going to work. Just bring back and answer. 10 Crowns if they come back with a no answer , 110 crowns if they come back with a positive answer. Then Asher asked for something up front. The Mayor felt he was being extorted and tossed a small pouch at the Half-elf. “Here, take 100 brass bits.”
After some back and forth, Harpis took the original contract back and told them to “get the fuck out”. He then stormed out and yelled at his staff, to “Stop serving those fuckers from the Windshade” and “They can get water and fuel somewhere to fuck else. I want those hoses taken off!”
Captain Asher was escorted outside and told to wait in the gutter. The food was taken off the table and we all were like, “Asher, what the fuck did you do?” He tried to explain and Connal and some of the others tried to fix the problem. They spoke to the Mayor and eventually got a place where we agreed to go and ask. Asher was not allowed back in, go sleep in the gutter. Captain Twilick showed up pissed off and wanted to know what the fuck was going on. The Mayor gave the ok to refuel the Zephyr and we were given room at the Crossed Arms – but shitty rooms at the end of the row.
We went to the dirty alley afterwards and set up Leomund’s hut. Then Asher was invited to stay and we all rested well. In the morning we snuck back in and the waitress (new staff in the AM) thought we were the lumbersmiths from Rooms 1 and 2. We ate well, she was named Greta, and was not a good looking woman at all. Fell in love with Darius and we all left, getting on the Windshade and we took off heading north.
We had clear skies and made good time, arriving during the afternoon (3ish) at Tilani. From a distance Tilani looks like a wonderful elven city. There are wide streets and thoroughfares, a small river runs from the forest to the north, south, cascading over a set of falls and then widening to a pond where the local kids are playing. A series of well irrigated and laid out farms on the southwest and the northern part of the city is on a rise of stone like a ledge some 40’ over the rest of the ground. Fanciful stairs run up the sides of the rises as well as counterlifts. There are three wizard towers just north of the pond each sticking 80 feet into the air and connected by gossamer bridges.
A huge elven fanciful palace is in the center of town where an observatory and over sized prism turns slowly across the sky channeling the sun’s rays into the castle. Just south and west of that is a 150’ crater covered by a black prismatic dome, the site of the original Lifetree.
Airship docks are on the southeast part of the town and a number of residents seemingly come and visit.
The city houses about 10k, and is about 1/3rd elves, most of which are very old. There are a number of half elves here and near the river south of the magic school is a tight packed section of squat stone homes and businesses all close together, the architecture is different than the rest of the town and there are covered streets and lattices blocking most of the sun. Twilick let us know that we had 60 days from this point on before he had to take off and bring the party back to the Kaiser and Erylond – Kaiser’s orders. The Windshade came down low and settled in one of the 4 cradles where ground crews came up to attach lines and lay out a gangplank.
We have arrived. Plantmonth the 11th , 289 of the 29th age. 3:13 PM
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