Jaskir, and the Sunlight Citadel

**Story Arcs**

###### **ARRIVING AT JASKIR & THE RED LOUNGE**

   Approaching the gates the party is stopped by the guards who ask their name and business. Everyone answers honestly, but the guards want an explanation as to why a goliath from Amertia is doing outside of their "sacred forest". Telling the guards of his religious connection towards Lathander, the other guard who is also of the same faith easily and quickly becomes chummy with the hulking paladin, and is allowed through with no further questions.

Heading deeper into the city, the group make their way through the Trade Hub; found in the center of Jaskir, and push past towards the Upper Commons of Jaskir, where Dinhk Donhk leads them towards a inn known as the Red Lounge, a reputable establishment owned by a wizened dwarf woman named **Orin Lavashield**.

Dinhk Donhk explains that this is where he and Valorous initially found the job listing, and points towards the job board where a green piece of paper is posted telling of job opportunities with the Jaskir Lumber Company. Ashes thanks them, and the Logging Camp survivors part ways; thanking the heroes and praying for Leopold's recovery.

Ashes pays for food and board, and the group finally get to enjoy a pleasant night of food, drink and rest, while Bogladin lays comatose but in a stable condition inside his room, laying peacefully on his bed.

#### 📅**DAY FIVE (THE CITY OF JASKIR)**

##### ☀️**THE ASCENDANT GOLIATH - CHAPTER 3**

###### **THE LUMBER COMPANY DUO**

   Ashes wakes up first and heads downstairs into the main eating area, looking around the room Ashes spots two male individuals sitting near the window by the entrance who are drinking and chatting, wearing strange green sashes that match the color of the advertisement posted on the job board, and even share the same emblem printed on the ad.

Approaching the duo, the goliath asks if they could share any information regarding the Jaskir Lumber Company. One of the men speaks for the both of them and asks his business, attempting to deflect the question back; asking why a goliath is in Jaskir.

Opening up about his desire to stop his peoples forest from being destroyed any further, Ashes elaborates on how his life was changed for the better after finding a great tome containing stories and scriptures of Lathander, studying it since he was just a young man.

The quiet man looks up to Ashes, not saying a word but the tense energy surrounding the table seems to have slightly dissipated. He seems to do some sort of sign language towards the other man, who seems surprised by what he has to say. Eager to hear what the quiet man has to say, Ashes waits for a translation.

The quiet man seems to be tired working for the Jaskir Lumber Company, who are partially responsible for his muteness, places down his sash on the table and looks again towards Ashes who hears the translation of the final thing the quiet man has to say; offering to give his sash and to quit the company then and there if he would be able to channel some of his divine healing energy to help with his disability.

Agreeing to this, Ashes uses his lay on hands energy towards his neck and vocal chord area, shining with warm and radiant light. After the light fades, the quiet man coughs and attempts to speak; though broken sounding and having issues saying certain things, the quiet mans muteness is slightly reversed and is able to finally speak after being mute for god-knows how long.

The quiet man gets up from his chair, hugs the massive goliath clad in plate, and heads out of the bar; his friend following after him. Holding onto the green sash, Ashes plots to use this to infiltrate their offices to learn more about this shady company.

###### **PALADIN SHOPPING & RECONNAISSANCE**

   Utilizing the early morning light Ashes decides to explore Jaskir and restock supplies within the Trading Hub. He finds many interesting stalls containing various goods, but the most catching to his eyes are the weapon and lumber stalls.

Speaking to the owner of the weapon stall, he is shown a plethora of interesting blades and maces, but nothing quite catches the goliaths eyes quite like the golden glint of the Light Hammer of Lathander, a beautifully intricately crafted light hammer made from some sort of golden metal, etched with many symbols and sayings from Lathander.

Asking the owner about the weapon, he learns that it was commissioned by a human paladin of the Sunlight Citadel who unfortunately passed away before being able to see the weapon completed. It was crafted by a great smith named Smitty Jaskir, a half-dwarf related to the namesake of the same port city they are currently standing in. Asking why he lives so far away from the city, he gets no useful answer except to ask the person himself; as well as directions to his home. Ashes buys the golden hammer for a slightly discounted price because of his strong beliefs in Lathander, and thanks the merchant.

While shopping in the trade hub, Ashes spots the distinct green sign hanging off a well off looking building, labeled as the "Jaskir Lumber Company". This was a good chance to peer inside the inner workings of this remorseless business; so the goliath dons the green sash and knocks at the door.

The door opening slightly ajar with a lock still keeping it shut, the woman inside the building asks what business he has with the company. Deceiving the woman by stating that he is also a company man, he asks if he could speak with the owner regarding something to do with his payments. Convincing the person behind the door, the lock unlatches and Ashes is allowed inside, where a messy office full of wood carvings and papers strewn around on the tables and floors is seen.

The woman, a mature looking hill dwarf, who's name plate is left on her desk referring to her as **Gurn Merrybringer**, tells the goliath that **Cedric de Mowbray**; the owner, is currently not in Jaskir and is conducting business outside of the city. Feigning misfortune, Ashes tells the woman that he will come back at a later time then to discuss this in person with Cedric.

##### 👥**MAIN GROUP - CHAPTER 3**

###### **HEADING TOWARDS THE LIGHT**

Heading back to the Red Lounge, Ashes greets the still waking Leopold who teeters down the stairs towards his meal. The duo meet the two active servers in the room, a half-elf man named Berinon Cloves and a half-elf woman named Emeline Writingham. The two dance around the mildly busy tables serving food and drink to the few patrons in the room, as well as the party who dig into their meals.

Still munching on food, Leopold watches from across the room a bardic performance being played as he lights his pipe. Soon after, the groggy and still weak frame of Bogladin makes his way down the stairs connecting to the bedrooms on the second floor. Praising his god and happy to see the monk not dead, Ashes and Leopold greet and feed the traumatized monk who chows down eagerly after not eating for more than a day.

Stuffed and revitalized, Ashes asks the group if they would like to go shopping within the Trade Hub. The group agrees and heads off, Bogladin uses this opportunity to find and speak to the owner of a strange medical stall owned by a ancient looking human woman who concocts a strange thick medicine for the monk, telling him to take the doses slowly over the course of a few days.

Thanking the medicine woman, Bogladin takes the first sip right then and there; a bitter and thick liquid which tastes like metallic cough syrup. It makes the monk shudder, but is left feeling somewhat better after his first dose.

Ashes and the rest of the party explore Jaskir some more, eventually coming across a massive church emblazoned with the emblem of Lathander known as the **Sunlight Citadel**. Like a moth drawn to flame, Ashes is pulled towards this religious site, dragging along a groggy monk and uninterested catfolk with him inside the holy space.

As they entered it seemed like a sermon had just ended, as the churchgoers prayed in silence towards a woman standing at the pulpit in the far back of the room who had just finished speaking. The members of the church, a mixed bag of various races all began to stand and exiting the building, leaving just the woman and party inside.

##### ☀️**THE ASCENDANT GOLIATH - CHAPTER 4**

###### **ENTER THE SUNLIGHT**

The woman introduces herself as Hope Genovie, head priest of the Sunlight Citadel, and devout follower of Lathander. Ashes and the rest of the party introduce themselves, but its clear as day that Hope Genovie is more interested in the goliath paladin, armed with a crudely painted symbol of Lathander on his shield and armed with a glistening hammer adorned with sayings and icons relating to the religion.

Ashes explains his story and shows her the Banner of the Awakened he found at Lathander's Clearing inside of Amertia. In return Hope Genovie gave Ashes a Signet of Lathander, and tells him to come and pray towards the Sun of Lathander, a massive amber gold looking orb which radiated with divine energy.

Ashes knelt before the Sun of Lathander, and prayed. He almost felt like he heard a voice calling towards him, speaking directly through the massive and looming sphere; which at closer inspection looked like it was suspended in the air, but it was actually placed on top of a clear glass-like pedestal.

**Story Arcs**