|
|
|
01/19/04 02:53:56 PM D&D, Dungeons and Dragons, Greyhawk, and the D&D and Greyhawk logos are full copyrighted property of Wizards Of The Coast, Inc. ©2000. The information on the Greyhawk pages is also copyrighted ©2000-3 property of Wizards Of The Coast, Inc. This website is in no way a challenge to those property rights. All information on this site that is not property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., is copyrighted property of Dale R. Thurber., ©2000-3. You are adventurer # |
We plead for our lives in front of the gate while the Orcish hordes march swiftly behind us under a white flag. The captain, wishing to avoid a battle, asks to hear the Orc Commander speak. It is Red Tusk himself! Imagine our disdain to see him. He demands that Greatwall deliver the orcs (us!) back - that we are deserters of the clan who need to be punished, and that the hordes will leave if they get them. Somebody talks quickly. Was it Al-Hasma, or myself - we were certainly panicking, and attempting to make our story sound true to the ears of Guard Lieutenant Trivain. Something we said must've been convincing or luckily the Lt. Trivain is at at least somewhat informed of Celandra's scheme. He asks us to wait outside the wall while a message travels through the city. Red Tusk is impatient and sternly demands our return. We are caught between the anvil and hammer. Desperation sets in. Close to a half-hour passes. Meanwhile, the orcs look to be preparing for war. We spot two siege engines rolling into focus, and a large throng of humanoids following behind in the distance. Apparently Iuz is serious about retrieving the key, and not letting us return to safety and with word of Jalahandar's treachery. [ Insert details of RumbleFest™ 2003 here ] Battle-weary and exhausted we fall to the earth, to be carried by women and children inside the city. Tyrbog carries me (imagine my surprise, being lifted off to some giant lair...) We find refreshment and clean beds in one of the barracks and sleep off our fatigue. It is late the next day when we wake to the sound of trumpets. (Thus ends RumbleFest CY 593...) As life springs anew this season, the week of Growfest nears. Ah Growfest! It couldn't be better timing for the Greatwallers, who desperately need to plant seeds of hope. Second only to Brewfest as my favorite holiday, Growfest is a time to sow anew. I sense Magnor in particular may seek the sowing of certain seeds soon enough. We have been summoned to Jakartai to conference about a few items of note. First, the reconstruction of the city and the labors involved after the decimation. Jakartai asks if we would spend some days amongst the cityfolk and speak heroically of Greatwall's fallen defenders. It would improve morale and probably boost productivity among the workers. We agree to do so for a few days; and get to see the destruction first hand - especially of the East Gate. Our next summons are for discussion of the keep - the retrofitting and expansion of Defender's Hold, as I'm calling it. Apparently there is a sum of coin available for its improvement and a monthly sum for upkeep and caretaking. We’ve made a
trip to the keep and will head back to Greatwall shortly for another summons. Bioth
seems to have scouted the place pretty well and has made note of most items of
importance. I have a few goals here. We've hired an engineer from Greatwall (Rosen “Razorwit”) to construct our suggested improvements. The engineer (who will be paid 10gp monthly to oversee the construction), imagines it will be near Ready’reat before the construction is finished, given the labor shortage – that’s about 8 28-day months, plus Richfest and Brewfest, two one week festivals, for a total of ~ 238 days, he surmises looking thoughtfully into the sky. Later… I've managed to establish a sort of roadside shrine just outside the new keep - it blesses the travelers who may pass by. I spent the better part of a week consecrating it. I know that the cleric Bioth frowns upon such mundane tribute to a deity, but hey what does he know or believe? His boots are not as worn as mine. Besides, this shrine is mobile, unlike the sedentary halls he haunts. Meeting Jakartai again, we are relieved to find things calm in Greatwall, and reconstruction happening at a steady, if slow, pace. The Count (Paladin of Heironeous) is pleased to see us, and asks if we are ready for another assignment. The wizened man speaks softly in a deep voice of word from Duke Tyneman of The Duchy of the Reach (renowned for its hedonistic ways and self-indulgent lifestyle) of the Growfest festival happening in Baranford. The halflings of Moonfoot Shire are preparing to regale revellers in entertainment, games and acrobatics, among other festivities. The population in the city should near double during this time (close to 5,000.) The Count expresses his wishes for us to find merriment and rejuvenate ourselves in Baranford. He has a proclamation for us to post at the adventurer's guild in Baranford once we arrive. It mentions that followers of Trithereon are greeted with open arms in Greatwall, and that there is work available for strong young men and women at competitive salaries. Acting as emissaries of sorts, we are asked to attempt a recruitment of hopeful souls, while at the same time enjoy ourselves ("within reasonable limits of course", he says and winks, looking up at the lightning bolt in the hand of Heironeous, as if to remind us of inner discipline)... After securing supplies and making arrangements, we will ride for a few days, south past Spinecastle, and passing just west of the Capital City of Chendl, beyond to Baranford. Travelling by horse for 5 days and over 120 miles, we should arrive in the middle of Growfest. Magnor, grateful for a respite from fighting Iuz’s hordes (“I’ll never forget when I was just a lad (CY 582) when “Vatun”, really Iuz, swept in with his forces and corrupted Sevvord Redbeard with his ensorcellments – I fled the Hold to the cold hills, and found warmth among the dwarves in the Griffs.”) is looking forward to a little revelry and entertainment, as is Hildae. “Sure will be nice to tell our tales for coin, and swap with other minstrels in the city. New audiences, new minds to shape, new legends to build. We are quite due for a vacation, and another chance to wander the horizon…” the dwarf bard/cleric muses to nobody in particular, even though she knows her audience. The party looks forward to some much-needed rest and recreation...
After travelling for 5 days along the King's Highway, the party pulls into Baranford. Ruby and M. Bell Tower. Godsday, Growfest 4, CY 593 The market is alive today. Duty. Beholder cultists attack. Grimlock's. Reality Wrinkle discovered. Waterday, Growfest 5, CY 593 Day dawns, fire reigns in the Temple of Pelor. Fight to close the city gate. Rest. Earthday, Growfest 6, CY 593 Temple fire shut down. At night the party sneaks into the Duke's manor. Freeday, Growfest 7, CY 593 Temple fire shut down. At night the party sneaks into the Duke's manor.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
