Conversations on a boat

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**Conversations On A Boat (Days 109-125)**

**DM Note: Extracts from conversations.**

## Elven Houses - Areistan

Xanthgil: “I’m sure the Areistan name rings a bell, Oaktesiel?”

Oaktesiel: “Yes dear, they are a minor Noble house that has based itself in one of the Southern cities. If you remember some of them passed through Dalzon a month or so back on the way to White Beach.”

Xanthgil: “Oh yes, that oh so boring Priestess, the one who tried to lecture me on the correct protocols for worshipping the Monther.”

Oaktesiel: “Well, I do think you managed to hold your own in that argument….. it was quite amusing to observe actually.”

Xanthgil: “Anyhow dear, I would suspect that nobody will know of that House in Willston, they aren’t one of the larger houses. Their views are somewhat conservative and they are sticklers for observing protocols, the Priestess you met in White Beach is probably a good example.”

Quercius: “Well you may not be aware but……” (tells tale of Kilan and the assassins)

Oaktesiel: “So Kilan was a questor eh? Makes sense.”

Xanthgil: “….and she is returning with the Manifest, sheesh this will feed her sense of superiority.”

Oaktesiel: “Still, probably good that she managed to get to the Manifest before it got free though.”

Xanthgil: “Agreed….hmmm so Solara is moving against the Questors”

Oaktesiel: “Well not surprising dear.”

Xanthgil: “I guess not.”

Oaktesiel: “You may not be aware of this but the Empire has shifted its attention to a Westward campaign and is currently sieging Dumas. One suspects that Solara is not happy about this….”

## Familiars

Ginver: “Yeah, I have a familiar, but thankfully so far nothing nasty has happened to her.”

Joshua: “Are you aware of any negative long term effects of multiple deaths of ones familiar?”

Ginver: “Well Joron, the battlemage on the Fairweather has lost his familiar quite a few times I believe, you think I am a gambler….. you should see him in action…..”

Joshua: “….has he said anything about what happened after the deaths.”

Ginver: “To be honest have never really quizzed him about it, I do remember him saying that his rat was getting tougher and more useful….but that was a while ago.”

Joshua: “…and do you know if you get the same ‘toughening up’ with totems.”

Ginver: “No idea to be honest.”

## Gossip About Willston - General

Amwine: “Well the rumours going around are that Rasten has big plans afoot but he is keeping his cards very close to his chest. Personally I suspect that Oaktesiel knows more, but despite his manner he is as hard as nails – him and his wife are known to be troubleshooters…..and long time friends of Rasten. So whatever is going to happen, my money would be on it kicking off fairly soon. Rasten is a similar character, charming and appearing slightly ineffectual, but everyone knows that he is ruthless in driving to meet his goals.”

Saver: “…and the walls”

Amwine: “Yes, sorry nearly slipped my mind, Rasten has now started work on strengthening the city walls, adding additional towers, deepening the moat and the like. He is obviously expecting Ghoulagabba to kick off in a big way before the year is out. Of course the labour force is not quite so enthusiastically loyal nowadays.”

Joshua: “How do you mean?”

Amwine: “Well, with the stories reaching Willston about the atrocities carried out at some of the Southern Cities, most of the non-Elven inhabitants are getting suspicious of Rastens motives.”

Saver: “…bloody idiots the lot of them.”

Amwine: “Well, you do have to see their point of view, but I do admit that Rasten does seem to be cut from a different cloth than the likes of Eliezure and Sorlor. Though I do note that Rasten does seem to be a devout Hahsandra worshipper, so one wonders how and where his views diverge from the Elven Zealots.”

Saver: “Xanthgil seems similar in outlook.”

Amwine: “Yes, it would be good to understand more about the Hahsandra religion, the disparity in views we see amongst fervent followers of the faith is somewhat confusing.”

Saver: “….all bloody religions are confusing.”

## Gossip About Willston – House of Rogues

Oaktesiel: “Luan could almost be Rastens brother, so alike are they in outlook and approach to life. His motto has always been ‘Never confront, confuse’, and he has got that incorporated into the family coat of arms. He runs a college on the edge of his estate that provides training and facilities to those that shall we say follow the more covert path.”

Oaktesiel: “Non Elves are welcome at the House of Rogues, and indeed Luan and his staff tend to insist that there is no segregation, apparently he sees it as a way of cross learning. Rasten effectively supports its activities, and has recruiting more than a few scouts from its students.”

## Gossip About Willston – Mithrilton

(Over dinner)

Joshua: “Why is the district called Mithrilton?”

Amwine: “That’s a good question, and certainly I am not aware of any Mithril being mined in the area. If there was, we would have seen trade in the metal and Willston would be a lot more prosperous than it it.”

Catriiel: “Yes, I had heard that Willston was not really the place to make ones fortune, personally am heading much further South. If there is Mithril near Willston, I might plan to stop off for a while.”

Amwine: “Well Marnit’s is not aware of any.”

Amwine: “Lord Oaktesiel, do you have any view as to the origin of the name Mithrilton?”

Oaktesiel: “I am not familiar with the area, but I believe Grevel knows it well.”

Grevel nods

Oaktesiel: “Well come on Grevel, let us hear what you know.”

Grevel: “If you insist Lord Oaktesiel.”

Grevel rises to his feet, from the style and delivery – you would expect him to have bardic training.

Legend 7 - The Mithril Status of Willston

Grevel: “…and that is all I know.”

The Dark Elf sits back down.

Oaktesiel: “So, sounds like the area is named after some fabled statue. I would imagine the Orcs or the Pirates simply melted it down, that much Mithril would be extremely valuable.”

## Gossip About Dalzon

Shola: “Hmmm, Dalzon. Well Eliezure is certainly a lot more orthodox in his approach than Rasten, nearly all of the original inhabitants have been enslaved and there are few areas in the city that non-elves are allowed into.”

Joshua: “Sounds like a difficult place to operate in”

Shola: “Indeed, although the authorities there have obviously begun to realise that they need to interact with the wider world and so there are some signs of relaxation. For instance, Marnits’ has been allowed recently to open an office in the city.”

Joshua: “Is that Empire policy, or just something locally do you know?”

Shola: “Not sure to be honest, I do know that there is some tension with the Lizardfolk and the recent peace treaty between Solara and the Lizardfolk has left Dalzon somewhat stuck in the middle, no matter what strength Eliezure has gathered in Dalzon. Solara has recently started positioning himself as the saviour of humankind protecting all humans from the depradations of the Elven Empire. Of course this fits nicely with his Gemihadist beliefs, and somewhat undermines Alveras’ position.”

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