We got a lay of the land from Twilick and disembarked at the Airship docks in Tilani. We got the ok to leave a few things on board should need be and he mentioned that the Kaiser gave him a scrip to pay for food and lodgings for us as long as we stayed at a middle of the road establishment. We asked and were directed to the House of Silk and Smoke in East River district, just shy of the Cliffs.
We went to the aviary first and met with Lady Labades, Mistress of the Aviary. A kindly elder elven woman, she asked how Scotar Bork was holding up. The ravens would be brought to the Vael Th’anar (elven for “The Silver Branch”), the local circle that used to tend to the Lifetree but now make sure Tilani is well taken care of. We learned the ravens will be reimprinted to recognize Tilani as their home base and be made useful again. They are also taught to fight other birds, especially falcons which we found interesting.
We asked about the Winsome Maid, a place that Nate used to know. In this time it's still in existence in West River, but is more of a rough and tumble place with a larger footprint as a brothel.
We went north and arrived at The House of Silk and Smoke. Godrick and Nate let us know this place did not exist in our time. It was an old 4 story tall hotel in what in our time is a manufacturing district. In fact, most of the nicer elven business and homes are pretty much gone in our time. We went in and the proprietor was a middle aged elf named Cargalene and he was more than happy to meet with us.
He knew about the Windshade and asked about a scrip, assuring him it would be here later. He told us that we could two rooms on the 4th floor with an adjoining door to house the 10 of us. Animals over 30 pounds would be in the kennel which we had a chance to see and it was seriously top notch. Room cost includes Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and supper. Two glasses of wine, beer, or cider with each meal. Laundry service is included for free. Each room had an internal lavatory as well as a full shower. A barber was on staff should need be for a small cost as well as a masseuse. There is no brotheling here at the Silk and Smoke but there is a sister operation at the top of the Cliff that would cater to anyone’s needs.
We were blown away. And dinner was at 4. We went upstairs, dropped our stuff, took a fast shower (how is this possible!?!?) and then went down to eat. Duck and Chicken were the main course meals as well as salads and delicious wines and cheeses. We ate and were served by a young half (maybe ¾?) elven wench named Meena. She was thin and lithe, but her human heritage was on display with a deep cleavage. Asher tried to chat her up but she was unimpressed.
We ate till we were stuffed and then left a large tip. We went up to our room and cleaned up, left and looked around, heading south to the aviary and having Lady Labades guide us to the local druids. They were doing some irrigation to the Farms here and after talking a bit about getting a raven and not really making headway, we headed off to meet with Twilick in a section of the town called Little Gorok.
On the central western part of town, Little Gorok (crudely referred to as Stuntietown to some of the older elven inhabitants in town), is a series of 10 to 12 squat buildings with canopies and lattice blocking the space between the buildings. Gorokian dwarves are a bit agoraphobic so this makes them feel better. We met with Twilick at a place called “The Open Cave” where he introduced us to the Gorokian Representative, Siskel Brawndyarms.
Looking pretty much like a wide shouldered Gorokian, he once again sort of surprised us with how friendly and open he was (something we were still getting used to). He asked if we were hungry and even though we ate only a bit over an hour ago, we were up to get another meal. A meal called “roadkill”, it was assorted goat and lamb meat chopped up and baked in a long trencher with split potatoes and topped with spices and cheese. As for a drink, there is a local elven beer called Long Ear Stout that they’ve been making for a century and a half.
We all drank and he asked a number of questions about the front. Some young Gorokian dwarves want the chance to join the front if need be. Supplies are coming. And everyone is doing their part for the war effort.
Eventually we asked questions as best we could. Sort of narrowing it down to where would you hide something that almost no one would be able to find. Something important. He thought about it and narrowed it down to 3 places. The Palace of the Speaker of the Sun. It’s been there a bit over 5,000 years and Logari Simuscene, the last Speaker, makes his home there along with his household. The Crater, the place where the original Lifetree once stood. It’s now sealed and warded and has been so for a good centuries plus since the tree fell back in ’14. And finally the Schools of Magic. There are chambers and rooms that have not been entered or seen the light of a candle for centuries if not millennia.
We asked about the crater and learned it was sealed. There is a dome that covers it and only 1 person enters every couple of months, Scortine Honeywine, the Most Beloved of Frey. We can look at it tomorrow if we want at the Overlook. He did say that of everything that happened in the Kinslayer wars, the knocking down of the Lifetree is something his people are not proud of. Face it, the dwarves were on the back foot for a large portion of the war, losing to the elven might and magic along with their orcish support troops. The tree had been here since the 14th age – it was supposedly directly related to Alefheim. And the dwarves knocked it down. Yes it turned the tide of the war and they won, but could have done it better.
The elves eventually signed the peace compact maybe 30 years later and agreed to pay reparation to the Gorokian Empire for 500 years. Since the elven nation is in decline, they have not been able to pay their share. So the High Thane of Gorok about 50 odd years ago agreed that they would take young elven wizards and sorcerers and indenture them in Gorok for 1 year. During that time their magics and mana would be used to help the city under the mountain and then after that time they’d be returned home. Hmmm, things we know…but also not quite how it is in our time.
After thanking and leaving, we headed back to the Silk and Smoke. Nate and Godrick let us know that in our time, the crater is an open thing that everyone can go down, and there is a remembrance pool at the bottom of it. Ok, something has changed since now and then.
At the House we had Meena again and ate…again. The harpsichordist was playing well and we were entertained as well as eating meat pies and cream stuffed berry torts. Eventually we went to bed and were feeling really good. And really full. And Asher went off to sleep with Meena. Ugh.
We awoke early enough the next day to make sure we were going to breakfast. After that we had the barber come where we got shaves and haircuts. Massagers followed and Connal and Wilhelm got directions to a good tailor named Maudilant , and he runs the Thorn and Thread up Cliff in East Canopy.
They walked the stairs and found the place, actually the building was attached to the trunk of a growing tree maybe 15’ off the ground. Mauilant was a tailor of good skill and taste and outfitted the two men in some very nice finery, hats, scarves, vests, boots, and even moccasins. They paid the funds (not too bad) and made their way out and back to the Silk and Smoke.
Meanwhile Eoghan and Nate went off to the druids near the aviary, hoping to talk to the Vael Th’anar about getting one of the ravens. The druids were running the irrigation canals and did not understand why the ranger wanted a fighting raven. It takes months to train and not typically for sale. But they could work with him to train it. Meanwhile one of the druids coaxed a rat out of the fields, made friends with it, and gave it to Nate. “This is Frederico,” he was told, the rat happy to sit with the fighter. Eventually he climbed to his shoulder and sat there, paws holding tight.
“Why did you get a rat?” Eoghan asked. “Dude! This is the best thing ever!” Nate replied, handing Frederico some grain to chew on.
Back at the House we settled in and the party went off to the Overlook to check it out. There was a series of small walls and statues, showing who had been here when the tree was struck and some of the names and deeds of those who tried to save the tree. There are then some art establishments and displays and then eventually the Overlook itself. It extends over the crater. It’s 150’ in diameter and maybe 25’ deep. There is a 20’ down of black translucent crystal covering the entire thing.
We followed the path and trail to the bottom where we could see it closer but not too close. There are guide posts and fences and wards preventing anyone from coming too close. And the Vael Th’anar are always patrolling, weeding and moistening the soil. There is a shrine to Frey here and it is indicated that the God of Sunshine and the Elves helped to erect this dome to protect the place where the Lifetree once stood. A series of complex runes are here in 4 rows of 5, 6, 5, and 6 (22 runes in total). Beyond this is a 10’ diameter circle of stone 4’ thick. Has to be 13 tons. According to the Vael Th’anar, Frey himself put it here and only the Beloved of Frey can move it. Which he does every 2 months to go into the crater and see if the soil is fertile and ready and for any signs of the Lifetree regrowing. No one else is allowed to go and the rock moves for 2 minutes total time, once per day.
We thanked them and left, heading back to the House to discuss options. It was Plantmonth 12th, 3 PM, 289 of the 29th age.
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