Chapter 2

### The road to the Red Charger Lodge

Upon waking at the Birch Row Manor, the Lord's staff chaperoned the party to the dining chambers for breakfast. At breakfast, Lord Birch revealed to Sansarya that he had traveled with a countrymen of hers, Elmair Sateen, and in doing so also passed on his former companion's silver short sword over to her. He thanked Synkronos for his help with local agrarian matters, told Alexander that he was familiar with his father's work, and acknowledged Maegor's on his chivalry.

An hour and a half into the extraordinary breakfast, the footman entered the hall. He approaches the table and announced to Lord Birch that the carriage has arrived and all arrangements had been made. The footman turned and began to walk out. As he reaches the door, the party heard him release a loud “oof” as he staggered straight into the broad chest of what looks to be a grizzled veteran. The man entering announced “Jotunheim Sol, at your service”.

Lord Birch clasped his hands “Good, our orc slayer is here. You five have been capable thus far, but it never hurts to have an extra man on the job. Jotunheim was instrumental in my past campaigns against orc invasions. You should be able to make it to the Red Chargers Lodge by sundown. Angharad is particular about her patrons and most of her rooms are under reservations for use by one noble family or another. I have sent word to her to have my suite ready and available for Merkorios and company. The Inn will be on the other side of the Valiant Bridge, about six hours out from the crossing.”

The party was escorted outside, where they found an exquisite burgundy carriage fit for royalty led by two white horses. After saying their goodbyes, they set off east towards the Valiant Bridge. Along the way, the party passed a number of mysterious monks, shrouded in simple black robes chanting in dwarven, making their way to Ashden.

Reaching the edges of the River Poyle, the party was awestruck by the stone bridge erected to celebrate the victory won their against the giants by Ash and his elven allies. Statues on the left side of the bridge depicted commanders leading Ash's outriders and the marble statues on the left depicted key commanders leading Rho's forces. A guard booth was set up on the bridge after the prior day's mishaps. However, the soldiers recognized the wagon baring the royal seal and motioned for the party to cut ahead of the traffic bottlenecked in front of them. After an hour of travel on the Northern March, the party encountered an overturned wagon blocking the road accompanied by a group of Kordian monks. Keenly noticing that the wagon's horses were absent and that the pacifist monks had hidden weapons, the party was quick to deduce that this was an ambush. The bandit's leader, a hairy man with baggy eyes, transformed before the party's eyes into a were-raccoon. He, and his band of bandits, were no match for the party, who quickly dispatched the entire ambush. Searching the bodies, they discovered a note from a mysterious "Z", detailing a conspiracy.

My contacts in Ashden have notified me that the party in possession of the relic will be traveling down the Northern March today. Although our original agreement stands, I must modify the terms. It seems that the pesky Birch has added one of his cohorts to their retinue and I would like our deal to encompass him as well. I believe that an extra 100gb is more than fair compensation for this adjustment. As I stated before, it is of the utmost importance that you capture the Purebreath prodigy and Iordanos’ bastard and secure the orb our master requires. Once you have the orb and the prisoners, bring all three to me at the Red Chargers Lodge at the ambassador’s suite.
Z
PS. I don’t know why I keep having to tell you this, but destroy the note after reading. This job can not be traced back to me and my associates.

The party also found a map of the surrounding area and some gold.

### The lodge

Despite the thick forest foliage around them, the party noticed a red glow on the horizon. As the tree line opened up, those driving the carriage began to make out parts of the Red Chargers Lodge above on the hilltop.

The building was not exactly the sort of inn they were expecting - it resembled more of an ancient temple rather than a hunters lodge. The main central portion of the building was cylindrical. A large brass dome rested on top of it - roughly 300 feet across and maybe six stories at its highest point. Eight smaller brass domes rested atop tower like sections, evenly spread around the central cylinder. The walls of the lodge were paved with red clay. A wooden palisade surrounded the building with two guard towers at the front gate and four more spread evenly across the walls. Each guard tower was manned by a single guard who had the head of a hippo atop a humanoid body. Each guard was dressed in a similar fashion: a short baby blue cloth coat with golden pads with drapes hanging off their shoulders, a puffy white shirt underneath, a blood red sash across their side, and white pants. Each guard carried an odd wooden and metal club contraption, carried at their side, with what looks to be an opening sticking up and away from them. Red banners, depicting Angharad’s family crest - a hand of three playing cards, each with a spade at the center, hung from the walls of the lodge.

As the party approached the gate, a guard on the ground - who to their surprise did not have a hippo head - approached. The man was a dwarf in his early adult years. His long red hair and beard were woven into thick braids. He wore a bulky fur coat that almost hid the fine chest plate underneath. Leaning on his right hand on the top of an axe, with the stone handle digging into the ground, the man said: “I am Logan Hillflower, fourth son of Angharad Hillflower. How may I and the Red Chargers Lodge…. No, no, that's not quite it… Sorry, How may the Red Chargers Lodge and I be of service to you.”

The party informed Logan of their reservations and he led them through the gate and down the path to the front of the lodge to the two two 10 ft. tall hard maple doors. The dwarf tapped his axe on a tile three times and the party heard the creaking of chains as the doors opened outwards.

The doors opened into a very large cylindrical room at the center of the lodge. The ceiling, which at the peak of the dome was roughly 60 feet high, was adorned with old battered war banners - some which they recognized and some which look completely foreign - hanging at various heights. Four wrought iron staircases - two leading to a set of rafters that housed the second floor’s side rooms and two leading to a set of rafters for the third floor’s side rooms - sat equidistantly from each other on the outer edge of the room. The outer ring also contained a collection of booths and fireplaces. The mantle of each fireplace was adorned with a military portrait. Flanking the fireplaces or resting above doorways in a somewhat militaristic organized fashion were pristine yet aged and worn swords and pikes. The center of the room housed a large circular bar with a column shelf at its center, coupled with several contraptions that lower and raise trays to and from the basement kitchen.

At the center of the arc of the bar facing the doorway was an older dwarven woman wearing a blue shirt with puffy white sleeves which had ties at the elbows. Her mostly white hair, which still showed some traces of a hue similar to her son’s red hair, hung to her side. Her handless left arm, wrapped in a clean white bandage, rested on the mahogany bar as she shuffled a deck of cards single handedly, all the while studying the party up and down with the utmost interest. The party took up seats at the bar, introducing themselves and noting their benefactor to the older dwarven woman. They discovered that, Angharad, was the owner of the establishment after her foremother won the fortress in a card game with Gol and Ash after the war. She was also an old flame of Braden Birch. After grabbing their drinks, the party further surveyed the establishment.

Despite its imposingly large demeanor, the common area only had a few hot spots of activity. A giff - one of the hippo looking guards outside - sat on a stool while playing an odd folding contraption with buttons while drunkenly bellowing out an old war tune. His comrades, also in uniform, were playing cards at a nearby table. Most of the other guests were random nobles from an assortment of notable houses from Ol Gholon to Colharbor.

### The Yuan-Ti in the back

The party did catch a familiar face in the far back corner of the bar. In one of the booths, they made out the face of the Nimth Yuan-Ti ambassador from the prior night's council meeting - Hadid Al Zi. He however was too preoccupied in a conversation with a large individual, sitting with his back to you. Maegor instantly recognized the Beaconian cape adorning the man’s back. As Maegor made his way towards the table to greet his fellow comrade, Sansarya, Synkronos, and Merkorios realized that the mysterious "Z" was likely the ambassador from Nimth.

Maegor approached the large man adorned in silver Beacon chainmail coupled with the signature Royal blue cape bearing the lighthouse sigil of the knightly order embroidered on gold. Picking up on the sound of armor approaching him, the gruff man instantly made eye contact with the paladin and his mouth formed into a cruel scowl. He set his cigar down on the table and presses his right hand into the edge of the booth to push himself up and barked: “Puppy!”

Maegor instantly recognize the man as his former sadistic drill master, Cladius Briggs.

The ambassador replied: “As always, your methods are too sloppy. You take too much pride in cruelty and forget the importance of our master’s work." Looking towards the young paladin, he continued: "Now!, shoe away vermin. We have no business with you pleebs.” The ambassador whisked his hand and motioned for his associate to sit back down. The drill master remained standing, rolling his hand along the grip of his flail, baiting the his former pupil into action. “Well puppy… cat got your tongue again? I see that you already found a replacement to hang onto now that the Renora girl is gone. Tsk tsk, that was a shame. I had such high hopes for that one, but alas, she had to go and try to warn the colonel.”

By now, Jotunheim and Alexander had noticed the commotion and joined to reinforce their friend. Although Briggs initially held his ground, the ambassador beckoned him to let cooler heads prevail and the party let them pass as they left their booth for their room. After a round of drinks, most of the group chose to do the same, leaving for the second floor accommodations in Lord Birch's name.

### A restless night

Deep in slumber, Maegor found himself once again wandering the familiar hallways belonging to his former home, Beacon. He found himself surrounded by classmates who drifted by him like a schools of fish. He reached out to towards them, aching to return to that happy past. Yet, as he drew closer, he suddenly found himself completely alone in the spartan hallway. Frantically, he turned a corner, and with a deep sigh of relief he saw his peers again. That respite was brief however. A moment later, Maegor heard that agonizing noise. As before, it started with a soft distant chipping sound that gradually built to pincers sheering stone. He followed the noise deep into the library. As he drew near the wall, he froze as the bricks began to crumble, revealing a large mantis like crustacean.

### The journey to Ríc Hathaoir

The party was awoken the next morning by a booming thunderstorm. They met in the hall for breakfast, at which point Sansarya relayed the the events from the prior night. After some discussion of possible trying to chase down the ambassador and his bodyguard, the party decided to leave with haste. Setting off, they ran into some trouble navigating the road, but quickly got the hang of it after digging a wheel out of the mud.

About a mile out from Ríc Hathaoir, the trees opened up to a field of tents. A few at first, then more, and more. The scale of the tent city, at first, made it look like a military encampment. Did Nimth send reinforcements? Windskeep? The sight of a larger orange striped one suggested maybe foreigners from Coimeád Chósta. A red striped tent, followed by a blue one, then another orange, emerge soon after. Mercenary companies from the east weren't even this disorganized.

As the carriage approached the first set of tents, a clearer view of the multitude of motley tents stretching all the way back to a hamlet, almost small enough to be swallowed by the sea of colors, engulfed the party's view. Patches of structure began to emerge in this chaotic favela. Fancier fur covered yurts crowded into pockets close to the hamlet. Tents bearing merchant colors lined the road leading into Ric Halthaor. The ones closest to the edge of town were in the worst shape. Some were makeshift sheets and broom handles constructions. Others were quickly sewn together tarps made up of a myriad of spare fabrics.

Despite conditions, this district was buzzing with life. A battalion of Gholontian Guards, identified by their polished chain shirts, blue and white checkered kite shields, and well made longswords fastened at the hip, patrolled the edges of the settlement, ensuring that the inhabitants were safe from potential outside threats. A gang of kids had organized themselves into a game of orcs and soldiers. One of the more charismatic and boisterous ones proclaimed himself to be Commander Downta, the savior of Ol Gholon. He and his cohort valiantly "galloped" into a fray of orcs. However, a lucky blow from a bigger kid left the "Commander" playing dead. The party heard one of his "knights" call out “Oh no, Lord Downta has fallen” as two other knights carried the "injured commander" away. The rest of the cohort valiantly held the orcs at bay as their leader was rescued.

As the party traveled deeper into the tent city and closer to the town along whose edge it was stationed, they saw more affluent and colorful tents belonging to merchant shops lining the road. Most sold horses out of makeshift stables, furs, wool, or articles of clothing. Unlike the poorer district the party had just passed through, this area was predominantly guarded by private security.

Two shops caught the parties eye. The first was a large cream tent decorated with swirled pink and orange stripes. The sign on it read: Ziqasain The Bountiful's Shop of Extra-Worldly Wonders!. Sansarya, Jotunheim, and Synkronos decided to investigate this shop. Inside, they found a Djinn with a jovial demeaner selling a number of magical items. Jotunheim procured a horn of alarm while Synkronos was drawn to a candle that was immune to the effects of water.

Meanwhile, Maegor and Alexander investigated a large complex of tents forming a beer garden. There they met the proprietor, Cedrik Umpos, who sold the pair two pints of cider each. Merkorios meanwhile set off on his own to procure warmer clothes for the trip north. Regrouping after their shopping spree, the party relayed what they had learned to each other as they continued onwards to Ric Hathaoir.

On the way to the city, they passed a number of fur yurts belonging to the wealthier inhabitants of Ol Gholon. Inhabitants here were preoccupied with preparing for battle, with most of them likely serving in a retired reserve role. Children residing in this district were preoccupied with military drills, while those too old to serve in a combat role were working on producing tents for the poorer residents along with other home front functions.

### Ric Hathaoir

Arriving at Ric Hathaoir proper, the party was thrown back at how small the hamlet was compared to the tent city, with the actual town center only having two or so dozen buildings. A crowd was gathered at the village square, around a large fountain. The inner part of the fountain depicted a halfling knight standing over a swooning beauty while the outer circle depicted menacing bandits. Somewhat amused by the ostentatiousness, Merkerios relayed the tale of how Sir Bandobras Bandawax was given the title to the dilapidated Ric Hathaoir after he, as the sole surviving member of his party, rescued a princess.

In front of the fountain was a middle aged halfling dressed in fine silk, standing on a barrel. Initially out of earshot to catch what he was saying, the party saw the man whip himself into a passionate frenzy. His face occasionally shifted from a pink shade to a deep purple, at which point his arms seemed to wave in a much more animated fashion.

As they approached, the party began to pick up on his tantrum directed at what looked to be members of the tent city:

“Yes, Yes, I understand that you have YOUR concerns. However, I am the governor of Ric Hathaoir and therefore MY responsibility is to my subjects ONLY. We Bandawax’s have worked tirelessly to restore this land to a state that honors our beloved king. And as a FAVORED subject of our grand King King Iordanos XV, I must beseech you to leave MY lands at once and not besmirch them with your rabble. If you do not, I will contact the crown at ONCE and demand for your removal. It is bad enough that you brought that smut cider into my village but now I must also deal with thieves. No, this ends tonight!”

As the halfling finished, a servant awkwardly approached him to help him off the barrel. The halfling, still red in his face, shoved him off… pondered the height of the barrel, only to motions the servant back to help him down. The crowd began to disperse while discussing the event that had just transpired. Making his way quickly through the crowd, Merkorios caught up to the pompous ass and dressed him down in public on matters of the crown. The sniveling halfling quickly bent the knee to the royal emissary and offered his estate. The party grabbed a few drinks at the near by Bandawax Brewery, finding the mead there to be significantly worse than the drinks Maegor and Alexander enjoyed at the beer hall in the tent city. Before settling in, the party grabbed a seat to catch the opening night of “The Bastard and the Ambassador, A Most Royal Fiasco and a Comedy of Errors” at a traveling theater that was set up within the town square only to realize that the events were a political parody of their encounter at the Red Chargers Lodge. Before the play reached its conclusion, a couple of goblin bandits stole a baby from an attendant and a sandbag from the stage, causing the screen to collapse onto the actors.