Session 80: "The Long Road to......." or "Keep right on to the end of the ....."

                             

16th day of Fellnight: Moonday 

The group arose early, ate a hearty breakfast, and left as soon as they could taking the Long Road, north out of Waterdeep towards Amphail. There first stop would be the small hamlet of Rassalantar, halfway to Amphail.

The group made suitable time as they swung of the Coast Road north, passing the Stag & Harp Inn at the road junction. They rode into the farm hamlet of Rassalantar in the early evening, but it was already dark. The proprietor of the Sleeping Dragon Inn bade them welcome. The group saw several armed soldiers sitting around, definitely Waterdhavian by their uniforms. One, obviously an officer by the braid on her cloak approached.

I am Gheldarm Tassor, Civilar of Waterdeep. These two are my Armars, Blaskos Ulraven and Timmer Longschal. Tassor was a human female, a Civilar or captain, and from her posture was very sure of herself. Her two human sergeants, Armars, were grizzled veterans, from the look of their armour with a few facial scars to enhance their charismatic appearance.

She asked the group their business and seemed satisfied at their response. When asked Tassor told them that the small community of Rassalantar consisted of six walled farms. They centred around a spring-fed pond which drained into a stream and emptied to the east into the Sump Bog, a sprawling, desolate marsh haunted by monsters. The two Armars laughed aloud when Tassor said monsters.

The Inn was to the east of the pond and to the west of the farmhouses, a narrow patch of trees known as Keep Woods masked the ruins of Rassalantar's Keep.

17th day of Fellnight: 

The group made suitable time after their departure, emboldened by the added security of 15 mounted warriors from Rassalantar ordered by Tassor to patrol the road to Amphail then return the next day. They arrived in the early evening and found lodgings for the night at the Stag Horned Flagon Inn, and the jovial proprietor, Krivvin Shamblestar. Aramar Blaskos Ulraven was very chatty and informed the group much about Amphail.

1. It had a population of 600, supporting 250 more in outlying farms. The population was mostly humans, but there were a few half-elves, dwarves, halflings, and other races.

2. Amphail was named after one of Waterdeep's early warlords, Amphail the Just, who had estates here.

3. The village was three days' ride north of Waterdeep.

4. Its main trade was growing food for Waterdeep, but it was also known for its outstanding horses —including Amphail Gray’s, glossy black chargers, and Amphail Fancy’s. Due to this, the village suffered from the stench of horse manure during the warmer months.

5. The wealthier inhabitants or landowners of Amphail were the ones who bred horses. The largest horse breeder was the Roaringhorn family of Waterdeep, but others included Amcathra, Ilzimmer, Jhansczil, and Tarm, as well as individual breeders Rorth Baldasker, Ohm Oglyntyr, and Elraghona Selember. Although not breeders, the Eagleshield family made tack for the horses and operated a farm for the treatment of sick animals.

6. The village had no standing militia of its own, but benefited from Waterdhavian guards who patrolled from Rassalantar.

7. The spirit of Amphail the Just, called the "Ghost of Amphail," was said to patrol the streets.

8. The village was led by Lord Warder Briiathor Alougarr, a muscular Tethyrian loyal to Piergeiron the Paladinson. Also notable were the 8-ft-tall (244 cm) Dlara, a Chultan wrestler; Mother Gothal who ran Mother Gothal's, a festhall; and Krivvin Shamblestar, the proprietor of the Stag-Horned Flagon.

18th day of Fellnight:  

The group bade farewell to Aramar Blaskos Ulraven and as he headed south back to Rassalantar with the 14 others mounted Waterdeep troops the group turned their horse north and the 3-day ride to Red Larch.

19th day of Fellnight:  

In the early afternoon Aramils horse reared up as a large bush to his right suddenly shot out tendrils of branches which engulfed him and pulled him off his horse. Distracted Bandur missed a second bush explode to his left and tendrils just flew passed him but failed to grab him. 

 

Aramil was now totally engulfed and was constricted. He managed to cast fire and the creature released its grasp slightly. Anor jumped off his sword and swung into the mass of the bush creature as Karion took on Dire Wolf form. Aerie took to the air and Garet jumped off his horse and raced to assist Bandur.

The bushy creatures kept shouting out tendrils of branches trying to ensnare members of the group. The combined efforts of Aerie, Garet and Bandur finished off one as Anor Grog and Karion finished off the 2nd with more help from blasts of magical fire from Aramil. Soon Aramil was free.

Aramil: "Why is always bloody me that gets hit, why?"

Karion: "It is a quite simply a matter of fact that most creatures are colour blind, but the colour Red seemed to attract them".

He stated bluntly without emotion, such was the way of druids.

Karion: "You can't even pull your Elven Cloak hood up wearing that ridiculous hat. Nor ride, fight, cast with it wrapped tight around you. Your Evoker Red will always show through. Change your clothes or learn to live with it".

Karion turned his horse and followed the others.

Aerie had managed to catch both horses that had bolted, the 1st when Karion turned into a wolf and the 2nd when Grog cast firebolt.

Karion stayed in wolf form and led the way out of the area, then returned to Elf form and remounted his horse.

Garet thought to himself; 'Nice trick. I'll have to ask Karion if he has anymore tricks up his sleeve'.

20th day of Fellnight: 

It was towards evening that the group rode into Red Larch. The first building they came to have a sign outside: Endrith Vallivoe - Supplies (22). The very person they were looking for. A knock at the door brought little response but eventually they could hear a timid voice inside. After explaining who they were and with Anor and Karion confirming it was they who he spoke to of the Dwarven tome he let them in.

 

Endrith was very forthcoming about the book. The group covered his costs in purchasing the book and asked if there were strange goings on.

Endrith confirmed that a shadowy figure had come to the village and had seemed to sway the village elders, well some of them into his way of thinking. What that was he did not know. However, he had overheard a discussion in the tavern, The Swinging Sword, the Elders were calling themselves the Believers. He also said there are funny goings on at the Quarry, the Dornen Quarry (12) and the Mellikho Quarry (18). He had also heard a rumour of a skull stuck to a tree by a black arrow sticking out of it on the Larch Path, half days walk outside of Red Larch. Some kind of dire warning written under it.

The group not wanting to draw to much attention to themselves asked for direction to the Swinging Sword Inn and made a show of telling Endrith they would return tomorrow to pick up the stuff they had ordered and apologising for the lateness of their arrival.

Garet noticed that although the town was quite that someone was watching them from the shadows. He did not say anything. Arriving at the Swinging Sword Inn (2) started a bedlam of activity. The proprietor, Kaylessa Irkle, her family had run the inn for a few years now, a human originally from Waterdeep. Servants ran to take horses to the stables; rooms were offered and more importantly a hot bath. Once the group had sorted themselves out Kaylessa promised a hearty meal with good ale or wine.

Aramil and Bandur agreed to share, so too Aerie and Garet. Karion and Grog took single rooms whilst Anor settled for the common room to sleep in.