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A New Home

Started by Wildfire, November 15, 2005, 12:33:35 PM

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Wildfire

"It would appear that Dale has you covered for the meal. In any case you need not worry about that sort of thing...Zarion owes me anyway."

The three enter into the eating area of the lodge. Placed about are a few rugged and seemingly worn people. Their clothes are torn and frayed in places, boots are faded and creased, their faces are hard and unshaved. Eyes glance up and down over the trio and Wolf.

The inside of the inn is lit by the occasional lantern. The walls are decorated with antler sculpters creating surreal, twisted shadows. Ashe escorts the group over to a large booth and sets in.

Ashe says, "Dale, Zarion is of an ancestry that as an affinity to wolves. Not in the sense that he turns into a wolf like the boys turned into rats but rather an affinity like Maccabeus here has."

A serving woman dressed in plain brown clothes, flowing brown hair, and slightly elven features approaches and says, "Hello Ashe. Zarion says that the pheasant is very good this catch and he recommends it. Is that what you would like? We do have other foods if you prefer."

"Kymberly, pheasant will be perfect for me tonight. I'd like you to meet my friends Maccabeus, Dale and Wolf." Ashe says

"Hello," she says leaning down to Wolf. "you are a beautiful King aren't you? I'll bet you have the pick of the bitches wherever you go, eh? I've got something special for you to eat. After all, one so strong as you needs hearty food to keep you going" Kym says scratching behind Wolf's ear and rubbing his shoulders. Wolf doesn't seem to mind at all! "Is he a friend of yours?" she says looking to Maccabeus.
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Blackspear

"Not to worry my friend.  I have enough coins for all of us.   It will be my pleasure to share a meal with you....

After listening to Zarion, Dale's curiosity gets the best of him yet again.  "Hey Ashe, what did Zarion mean by that comment about his ancestry?"
Blackspear
"My first encounter with a dragon was fortuitous.  I lost my mount, had the chain torn from my chest, and was pinned to the ground by a claw that pierced my leg.   I would limp for the rest of my life, but I never felt more alive...

Johan

The walk up the trail to the Hunter's Lodge was sheer delight for Maccabeus, especially so as they walked further and further from the cacophony below.

As the trio approached and entered the Hunter's Lodge, however, a horrifying thought occurred to the little man. "Ashe," he whispered hoarsely and urgently. "I'm such a ninny I forgot: people hereabouts expect payment for service, don't they? I've not a single coin to my name." Maccabeus was clearly embarrased to not have proper tade on his person. "Do you think that master Thunderfist might be willing to trade some kind of service for a meal? If not, then I'll reconsider and be off back to -er- my new home where my own kill lays awaiting dressing and eating. I'm sorry to not have thought this out earlier." He said abashedly.
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Wildfire

"I did just show you, yes?" Ashe asks. "No matter. The Hiddenmount is the temple to Grumbar. After the Shadow Wars many years ago it was carved into the face of the cliff after the other temple was fouly defiled."

Ashe sniffs the air, "So Zarion, is there any of those pheasants to be had?" He turns his head to the other two and whispers, "This is the only place to get pheasant. They cook it just right so that the meat practically melts with each bite."

"You don't mind if our wolf friend here joins us do you? he's very well b ehaved. Probably moreso than the rabble that's usually here" he askes Zarion.

"Ashe, my friend, this the Hunter's Lodge is it not? The wolf here is a hunter. And given my ancestry wolves are always my friends. Please come in and settle...have some food"
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Blackspear

Dale's stomach begins to rumble as he catches a sniff of dinner when he enters the lodge.   Still, his curiosity proves to be more insatiable than his stomach.   "Hey Ashe?   What exactly is the Hiddenmount?"
Blackspear
"My first encounter with a dragon was fortuitous.  I lost my mount, had the chain torn from my chest, and was pinned to the ground by a claw that pierced my leg.   I would limp for the rest of my life, but I never felt more alive...

Wildfire

"Well okay then. It's up around this way." Ashe nods his head to the right and begins to walk up around the tapering cliff. Ahead of the trio is a building with a short round tower connected to a square structure. The building is very well kept but does show age. over the front door is a sign the reads, 'Dragonbones'. The sign is a carving of a dragon with the words etched along it's body.

"That building there is the shop of Torrent of Clan Thunderfist. He works valuable metals and does much of the gilding work you see about the town. His brother is Agar and he runs the Knightstar armory. Between the two of them they make Threshold quite rich in meatalworking skill." Ashe explains.

As the three walk up the road they pass by several houses and can see that the forest starts to reclain some of it's land. The road gets steeper and the cliff to the right gets taller offering a commanding view of the town below. At a fork in the road is a stone tower sitting to the right. "That tower actually connects down to the Hiddenmount and is actually poart of the temple." Ashe says "That road there leads of to many of the trails throught the forest. Hunter's Lodge, which is up ahead, is conveniently located for those that want to explore the wilds."

The houses on this stretch of road are far more rugged than the ones in the town center. There is rustic ornamentation but mostly the cabin are funtional almost exclusively. The sounds of the forest are as music to some's ears as they are away from the noise of the town. Ahead can be heard a raging waterfall that is no doubt plump with the waters from snow melt from the mountains.

A few of the residents cast a curious look and some rough looking passer-byes offer a kind but quiet hello. Ahead on the road is a large building with multiple eves for a roof. the porch on the building has a large overhang and a guardrail made of antlers. Some men are sitting on the porch smoking pipes and resting after a days work.

Ashe calls out, "How was the hunt this day?"

One of the men, a half-elf, gets up and calls back, "It was okay. A few pheasants, some rabbits. Huro here got a turkey!"

"Well with the way you smell Zarion all of the game will run for fear of choking!"

"Ashe you flatter me too much! Come on in and get some food you old dog!"
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Blackspear

"I'll be joining you.   Good food and good friends is a rare combination not to be passed up."   Dale hopes that he will truly be able to call both druids friends.   Both men seem to be honest and sincere.   Something Dale highly values.   He only hopes they will accept him for who he is...
Blackspear
"My first encounter with a dragon was fortuitous.  I lost my mount, had the chain torn from my chest, and was pinned to the ground by a claw that pierced my leg.   I would limp for the rest of my life, but I never felt more alive...

Wildfire

"As you wish. Hunter's lodge is actually sort of above us on the cliff set away amidst the trees." Ashe replies. "As for the night viewing that's up to you. I can show you about or we can continue another day."

Ashe escorts Maccabeus and Dale along the clifface to the north of the Hiddenmount. The music that was heard before gets louder and the group can hear whooping and shouting from ahead. Easily seen is a group of dancing folks wearing brightly colored clothes and sparkiling jewelry. In their circle is a fire with food roasting over it the smell of which gets Wolf's attention.

"These are gypsies from the east. They have a very free lifestyle and go to where their whims take them. They have a zest for life that is not commonly seen from settled people. They are free-spirited nomads that have broken from the binds of oppresion. They are good people."

The three arrive to the tapering of the cliff. The road ahead goes right up the around the cliff and left back towards the rest of the town. Hunter's Lodge is to the right. Dale, will you be joining us or do you have business elsewhere?"
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

"The Hunter's Lodge it is, then. A meal with kindred can never be beat. Then, depending upon the time, I'll either head back to the Ring or tour a bit more after dark; we shall simply see where time and spirit lead, yes?"
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Wildfire

Ashe looks out towards the rest of the town trying to make some sort of judgement but finds only confusion. "Well, that depends on the type of activity you seek. Threshold has a variety of different venues. Generally, the inns and taverns near the center of the town are pretty busy right now. If you want a more peaceful setting then we can go to one of those. They're usually on the outskirts. The good thing is that there isn't bad food to be found in any of the places. One of my favorite places that I find to be one of the best secrets here is Hunter's Lodge. It's usually quiet, not quite so bright, and has people that...well, find peace in the wild."
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

"Gads, man!" Maccabeus exclaimed. "There is more to see here than there is time; night will be falling soon, and I realize that I haven't properly eaten since yesterday morning. Where might we find some faire?"
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Wildfire

"You make an interesting point. Given your circumstnaces I might very well think the same thing. However, ahead and to the left in the clifface is the Hiddenmount, Grumbar's temple. Opposite of that, way up on the Goldleaf Ridge to the right of the start of the trees is The Temple of Open Skies. So you see, by rough placement the temples are located oppossed to their elemental opposite with the Circle of All in the middle. The Ring of Mists has the same configuration with the outer stones."

Ashe stops and points to the right to a white marbled building with silver and gold trim. It had grand pillars in the front and dome bubbling up from the building center. "That is The Alter of Virtue, the Temple of Paladine. On the river island is The house of Crimson Eyes, for Sardior. And on the far side of the river is The Temple of Shadows. Goodness on one side, indifference in the middle, and evil opposing good. Threshold's layout was no accident. But you wanted to see Grumbar's temple so ahead we will go."

The group bustled their way through the crowded streets. Arriving to a large field on the left Ashe simply turns towards the clifface beyond. The field was tight with tents, wagons, and people. Ashe shakes his head and grumbles under his breath. ahead can be heard music floating out through the late afternoon air. Kossuth was starting to settle in past the west wall but was still shining brightly among the passing clouds lighting the face of The Hiddenmount. It was a stone double door that was framed with ornate relief carvings of various weaved knots set on each side was a large column of stone which looked as if it could hold up a mountain if necessary.

"This is the Hiddenmount. The doors do open but right now they're locked to prevent any vandalism. As a matter of fact there have been no priests here since last Rynnyx. The dark soul Severen arrived recently but I've not had the chance to speak with him. He was the first of many priests to arrive. Julius informs me that they should all be here very soon. So, what catches you eye now?"
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

"You seem to have representation from all the Divinites. It seems that Threshold is really a bit of a shadow of the Ring, isn't it? You have the Spike, which would obviously represent Kossuth, the Crystal Fountain, which is would think would be a dedication to beloved Istisha, the fog is clearly a manifestation of Akadi, and the Circle would be representative of Grumbar. You say that Mahiya is venerated at the circle; this would suggest that Grumbar must be elsewhere?"

The little gnome pointedly ignored the gawkers that seemed to surround him. He held firm to Wolf's fur to assure his friend that he was not alone. He surveyed the surrounding peaks of the mountains and the growing forest. "Were I here on my own, I'd suggest that the little Circle is for Grumbar" he said, pointing towards the Circle of All. He then lifted his hand and the staff therein to indicate the surrounding mountains saying "and [size=18:4aad19ff47]that [/size]Ring would present as Mahiya."

"But forgive me, please. Can you point me towards the sacred place where Grumbar is honored? Perhaps I need only get my bearings."
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Wildfire

"Yes, People go there to pay respect to Mahiya. It is centrally located in Threshold to signify that Mahiya is at the center of all. Hence it is called The Circle of All. It was built I suspect about the same time as The ring of Mists. Through the many wars often the Circle was the only thing left standing in Threshold. Rather fitting since Mahiya is always enduring in the same way. Now, Maccabeus, as I showed Dale earlier to the left is the Shrine of the Crystal Fountain. It feeds the stream that we just crossed over. Ahead of you is The Spike of Fire. It's flame burns ever on. If you look close on the ridge under the Spike you'll see the Circle of All. In the morning it is almost always shrouded in mist as is much of Threshold. The river is called the fogveil because of that. It's as if a veil of fog is always surrounding it's clear waters."

Wolf had again grown nervous being amidst so many people. Ashe led the way down the street and no one got in his way. Passerbyes stayed full clear of wolf not knowing what to expect. Many also noted Maccabeus taking a second glance. Not one person ever laughed or mocked the little gnome. It was instead more a matter of wonderment.

"Come, let me show you the Goldleaf Trees. You'll no doubt be enraptured by them. If you look to the far side and end to river you'll see them on the ridge."

Looking in the direction that Ashe pointed to, Maccabeus could see on one of the highest flats in the river valley a line of pale gold lacing the edge of a cliff. It was bright to look upon but not painful. In all of his days Maccabeus had never seen any tree such as that.

"Extraordinary aren't they?" Ashe askes "Dale, have you ever seen trees like that in your homeland? Why am I asking? Of course you haven't! They only exist here!"
Wildfire

One should never underestimate the stimulation of eccentricity

Johan

"I think that you've mentioned this ring earlier. What exactly is it?" Maccabeus echoed Dale's curiosity. "Is it religious or something that was there prior to this town? A geological anomoly?"
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