Zoom 2023-03-28 21:00

The party have an uneventful boat trip to Northlake. On arrival, they are met by a city official, and a ‘scribe’. Garaf immediately sees that the scribe is in fact, the dwarf Vinmira. We are taken to the citadel, where we are lodged in the barracks, where we are left to our own devices – but Vinmira soon return with a bottle of Hightower brandy for us.
We debrief Vinmira on what recent venture, and he agrees to take the bodies from our bag-of-holding to ‘interrogate’ them. He also promises to get us access to Restorations, Spells and equipment at ‘normal’ rates – these would be currently unavailable to the likes of us due to the war.
We learn the following from Vinmira:
*The Lizardmen have set up a picket line about 8 miles south of Northlake. They are not making any attempt to advance – there is a bit of a phony war between the Lizardmen and Duke Adamas. However, Adamas does seem to be hiring mercenaries for attack rather than defence now.
*The walls of Far Haven are down – placating the ThunderClan
*Progress is being made in freeing Alvera from the Mana storm.
*The Empress will probably be arriving in Granger now – though the Elves have been gutted by the advance of the Lizardmen and the loss of Stormhaven.
*The Elves still hold the Central Palace in Stormhaven, and it is still their centre of power.
*Thirson was last seen in Bristol
*When Lizardmen die in the service of GARM, they are reborn.
We give Vinmira Eliezure’s prophecy (having taken a copy) to see if he can recover the unreadable portions. He identifies Zorak as the ‘King’ of the Lizardmen. He does not know who Brontox is. He says that the Lizardmen would expect the golem-arm to be taken to either an Elven or Alveran stronghold – so we should avoid both. He suggests that we hide the box where we first found it – ie the Diamond Fort. The party thinks that continuing with the Wyldwood pilgrimage would be a good way to disguise the purpose of our journey to Far Haven.
Or in verse:
Upon a boat, they make their way,
To Northlake, with little fray.
A city official and a scribe,
Upon arrival, their eyes imbibe.
Garaf, quick to observe and see,
Identifies the scribe, a dwarf was he.
To the citadel, they are taken,
In the barracks, their rest unshaken.
Vinmira, the scribe, returns in haste,
A bottle of brandy, to their taste.
Debriefed on their recent venture,
He agrees to take the bodies for inquiry's pleasure.
Vinmira promised access to gear,
At normal rates, to us right here,
Not available in war's dark fear,
Restoration, Spells, and all gear near.
He told us Lizardmen had a picket line,
Eight miles south, waiting for a sign.
They don't advance, it's a phony war,
But Duke Adamas hires mercenaries for more.
Walls of Far Haven are now down,
Placating ThunderClan's renown,
Alvera's freedom, progress has found,
Mana storm's grip, soon unbound.
Empress may arrive in Granger now,
Elves gutted, Lizardmen allow,
Stormhaven's loss, a heavy bow,
Central Palace holds, Elves' power vow.
Thirson seen last in Bristol town,
Lizardmen, when dying, to GARM are bound,
Reborn they are, with their King renowned,
Zorak, of Lizardmen, his name unbound.
Eliezure's prophecy, we gave to Vinmira bold,
To recover parts unreadable, a task to uphold,
Zorak as King, he identified, we're told,
Brontox unknown, the mystery to unfold.
Golem-arm to Elven or Alveran hold,
Lizardmen expect, so we're told,
To avoid both, Vinmira made us bold,
Box hidden in Diamond Fort, we're told.
Wyldwood pilgrimage, we'll continue now,
Disguise our journey's purpose, we'll vow,
To Far Haven, we'll get there somehow,
Through challenges and trials, we'll take our bow.