NYR02 - The Willowstrand Dilemma - October 7, 2017
Oct 7, 2017 21:01:37 GMT -5
Kenneth New likes this
Post by hubertbartels on Oct 7, 2017 21:01:37 GMT -5
Just after Richfest, CY591, Aerwyn was asked by her great-uncle, Kerselar, if she and her friends would be willing to travel to Willowstrand, to the Abbey of the Sacred Light, to return three books that her great-uncle had borrowed years and years ago. The library of the Abbey of the Sacred Light had been burned during the wars with Iuz and now the priests of Pholtus were calling back books to re-establish the library. Aerwyn asked how much she could offer her friends as a reward - he said that 50 silver pieces should be enough but he was willing to pay 100 silver pieces.
Aerwyn traveled down to the tavern at Severan's Mill to meet up with the others. There was a new face at the table - a young man, rough and plain, that introduced himself as Gideon of Charwood Glen. Aerwyn asked everyone to come to the Wizard's Tower for High Tea and that her great-uncle had a task for them. Then she returned to the Wizard's Tower for she had a lot of work ahead of her - both preparing the breads and stuff for the High Tea as well as finishing up copying the books.
The next day at High Tea, Kerselar made an appearance and presented the task to Aerwyn's friends and Gideon. He showed three books - The Return of the Old One by Tobias of Greyhawk, The Demonicion by Quintan Prelixary and Earthlion Geomancy - the Arcana of Henges, Monoliths and Menehirs by Tribly of Onwal. They were to be brought to the Mother Superior of Pholtus. The party members haggled over the reward before settling on 100 silver pieces - it was almost as if someone had been overhearing Aerwyn and Kerselar the day before.
We set out in the morning - traveling throughout the day to arrive in Willowstrand near nightfall. The village is smaller than Severan's Mill, 600 people and around a hundred buildings. It is strung along the Little Shady Creek. The mass of Brewer's Ridge overlooks the small village. On the crest of the ridge, the ruins of the Abbey of the Sacred Light could be found. The first building, Aerwyn and the party arrived at was a tavern called the Chestnut Cottage. From the music spilling out through the doors, it promised good food and ale. The Chestnut Cottage was run by a group of Tallfellow halflings. As we enjoyed their baked chicken or their stew, we learned about the area. The farmers were complaining about taxes and that someone was taking their livestock. There's strange things going on at the Abbey, including ghostly singing. The priests of Pholtus could be found in temporary clapboard buildings, preparing to start work on restoring the abbey. A recent large bequest left to the church made the restoration possible.
After a good night's sleep at the adjoining Lavender House inn, we went to visit the Abbess Wilhelmina. She welcomed us and gracefully accepted the books. Then she explained that she had a problem - she sent three priests north towards Tovy, to accept the bequest. However, there has been no word from Belina, Griselda or Terence since they left the "Dancing Hare" roadhouse in Haresfeld. Would the party be willing to go check on them? As reward, she offered 10% of the bequest - if the priests and the bequest was returned.
We could make the Dancing Hare in a day's travel if we left at dawn and traveled all day. It was now noon-ish so it was decided to wander up to the Abbey. For Kerselar had not merely wanted to return the three books - he also wanted Aerwyn and the party to see if the old rumors about a secret library underneath the Abbey of the Sacred Light might have been true. Rumor had it that the old Pholtans hid various books including books on lore and spell books in the hidden library. Kerselar was especially interested in the 5 volume spellbook written by Grathrim Silverstar. Our reward for finding and recovering those books would much greater than the 100 silver pieces we were getting for delivering the three books.
As we climbed up to Brewer's Ridge, we came across a farmer arguing with a guard. The guard turned away and we asked the farmer what the problem was. He mentioned that his goats were disappearing and that neither Sir Colin nor Sir Maddox were doing anything to help. We agreed to help him and went to the place where his goats had been taken. Gideon changed form into a wolf and followed the tracks and scent. He mentioned that the prints were larger than a goblin's and they smelled of death and decay.
The tracks ended in a cave opening. The farmer mentioned that there were caves running through Brewer's Ridge and that was where they used to age goat cheese. But the faint smell of cheese was overwhelmed by the smell of death. Entering the cave, we were set upon by ghouls and ghasts. After destroying them, we found a rusted iron door in the cave.
It was getting late so we decided to return to our inn. In the morning, we would head up north after the three priests and the missing bequest - the iron door would have to wait for our return.
Aerwyn traveled down to the tavern at Severan's Mill to meet up with the others. There was a new face at the table - a young man, rough and plain, that introduced himself as Gideon of Charwood Glen. Aerwyn asked everyone to come to the Wizard's Tower for High Tea and that her great-uncle had a task for them. Then she returned to the Wizard's Tower for she had a lot of work ahead of her - both preparing the breads and stuff for the High Tea as well as finishing up copying the books.
The next day at High Tea, Kerselar made an appearance and presented the task to Aerwyn's friends and Gideon. He showed three books - The Return of the Old One by Tobias of Greyhawk, The Demonicion by Quintan Prelixary and Earthlion Geomancy - the Arcana of Henges, Monoliths and Menehirs by Tribly of Onwal. They were to be brought to the Mother Superior of Pholtus. The party members haggled over the reward before settling on 100 silver pieces - it was almost as if someone had been overhearing Aerwyn and Kerselar the day before.
We set out in the morning - traveling throughout the day to arrive in Willowstrand near nightfall. The village is smaller than Severan's Mill, 600 people and around a hundred buildings. It is strung along the Little Shady Creek. The mass of Brewer's Ridge overlooks the small village. On the crest of the ridge, the ruins of the Abbey of the Sacred Light could be found. The first building, Aerwyn and the party arrived at was a tavern called the Chestnut Cottage. From the music spilling out through the doors, it promised good food and ale. The Chestnut Cottage was run by a group of Tallfellow halflings. As we enjoyed their baked chicken or their stew, we learned about the area. The farmers were complaining about taxes and that someone was taking their livestock. There's strange things going on at the Abbey, including ghostly singing. The priests of Pholtus could be found in temporary clapboard buildings, preparing to start work on restoring the abbey. A recent large bequest left to the church made the restoration possible.
After a good night's sleep at the adjoining Lavender House inn, we went to visit the Abbess Wilhelmina. She welcomed us and gracefully accepted the books. Then she explained that she had a problem - she sent three priests north towards Tovy, to accept the bequest. However, there has been no word from Belina, Griselda or Terence since they left the "Dancing Hare" roadhouse in Haresfeld. Would the party be willing to go check on them? As reward, she offered 10% of the bequest - if the priests and the bequest was returned.
We could make the Dancing Hare in a day's travel if we left at dawn and traveled all day. It was now noon-ish so it was decided to wander up to the Abbey. For Kerselar had not merely wanted to return the three books - he also wanted Aerwyn and the party to see if the old rumors about a secret library underneath the Abbey of the Sacred Light might have been true. Rumor had it that the old Pholtans hid various books including books on lore and spell books in the hidden library. Kerselar was especially interested in the 5 volume spellbook written by Grathrim Silverstar. Our reward for finding and recovering those books would much greater than the 100 silver pieces we were getting for delivering the three books.
As we climbed up to Brewer's Ridge, we came across a farmer arguing with a guard. The guard turned away and we asked the farmer what the problem was. He mentioned that his goats were disappearing and that neither Sir Colin nor Sir Maddox were doing anything to help. We agreed to help him and went to the place where his goats had been taken. Gideon changed form into a wolf and followed the tracks and scent. He mentioned that the prints were larger than a goblin's and they smelled of death and decay.
The tracks ended in a cave opening. The farmer mentioned that there were caves running through Brewer's Ridge and that was where they used to age goat cheese. But the faint smell of cheese was overwhelmed by the smell of death. Entering the cave, we were set upon by ghouls and ghasts. After destroying them, we found a rusted iron door in the cave.
It was getting late so we decided to return to our inn. In the morning, we would head up north after the three priests and the missing bequest - the iron door would have to wait for our return.