Day 64 – The Vinmira Monologues

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**(Date: 18th April)**

Having stabled the mules with the Orc nomads, the party entered the city and made their way to the Flagon inn. Booking rooms for the week, the party then decides to discharge its duty to Olg before the end of day. Somewhat surprisingly, Miriam Silverhair seems more than a little annoyed to be receiving a gift from Olg – and throws the items back at Garaf, refusing to have anything to do with the items. Just prior to departing, Caradoc notices a familiar Dwarf hanging around at the back of Silverhairs shop….Vinmira. Caradoc's assessment is that Vinmira was looking to be spotted…

Heading back to the Inn, the party decides to take a private dining room for the evening meal, so that they can talk through what to do next. The food is served, Goat again – somewhat spicier than anyone is used to but palatable, The plates are cleared by a Halfling member of staff, but once everything is cleared he returns to the room and shifts shape back into the familiar form of Vinmira.

Vinmira: “Wothcher folks, guess you ain’t that ‘prised to see me?”

Vinmira: “I would ‘preciate it if you could stay away from Silverhair, might cause some embarassem’nt to all concerned.”

Vinmira: “For me, you can keep the jewlry, the writin’ reminds me of summat, but can’t think what right at this moment. Could be useful, could be valuable, but if’n I were you I would check out it’s limits.”

Vinmira: “Anyhow, what’n you folks bin up to?”

The party spends a whilst bringing Vinmira up to the speed on what they have been doing and the discoveries they have made. Vinmira remains interested throughout, although Joshua notes that he seems a little annoyed when you mention the Centaur clans heading out East along with the Maratasen, but it may be nothing – because Vinmira does not follow up on the point.

Vinmira: “’kay, well you folks have bin busy I would guess. Cagrun tol’ me that you would more’n’likely end up here altho’ it seems lucky that we met up. I’ve bin in town for ‘bout 2 weeks now and will be headin’ out in ‘bout one or two days dependin’ on what comes up. Still, from what you’ve tol’ me, Cagrun will find the info you sent him usef’l an’ hopef’ly be able to use it.”

Vinmira: “Anyhow, afore I bring you up to speed, my throat is getting’ parched.”

Vinmira goes to the door and shouts for some service, the hobbit waiter arrives quite promptly.

Vinmira (in a local accent): “A bottle of Hightower brandy, and make it quick – do point out to the cellar master that I can tell the difference between Hightower and any inferior brand.”

The hobbit turns to leave.

Vinmira: “Hang on, I assume my friends will want some as well – so better make that two bottles and some glasses.”

The hobbit heads off, leaving the door open, from the sounds you can hear – the common room is getting fairly boisterous with some loud singing.

Vinmira: “Pretty shit weather for the time of year innit?”

(A period of irrelevant small talk until the Hobbit returns with two dusty bottles and some glasses.)

Vinmira opens one bottle and sniffs…

Vinmira: “Seems ok to me, I will call if we need more.”

Vinmira gives the hobbit a couple of coppers as a tip and then closes the door behind him.

Vinmira: “Pardn’ me while I make sure that we have some priv’cy.”

Vinmira then casts a spell, there is no visible effect of the spell – but everyone does note that it feels as though sound is slightly muffled.

Vinmira: “Right then, firs’ some confirmin’ of what you folks ‘lready kno’”

(DM gives up on accent!!)

Vinmira: “Clearsight is an ability that only a few people seem to have, although it’s prevalence is growing – it doesn’t seem to be a from birth ability but comes on at seemingly random times. There appear to be three broad levels: those who are able to receive and process but cannot instigate investigation/analysis personally; those who are able to in addition investigate and analyse; those who are able to spot the ability in others. As you guessed, Gohde and Cagrun are both in the third tier, your folks are second tier, me unfortunately I am apparently first tier.”

Vinmira: “What you suspect, and what I believe to be true is that the emergence of clearsight started here in Far Haven at about the same time as the Wyldwood shrine was assaulted by the Shanah.”

Vinmira: “The actual sequence of events that I have been able to work out around that time is that.”

Vinmira: “Onwen, a mid to high level priest of Wyldwood, known to be fascinated with history, approaches Bez Drock.”

Vinmira: “A few days later Saratak summons Bez Drock to a private meeting. Immediately, following that meeting Bez Drock seeks out Onwen.”

Vinmira: “The next day, the church of Shanah assaults the Wyldwood temple. Onwen would appear to have lowered all of the protective wards, but still the assault takes a few days.”

Vinmira: “After the temple had falled, Bez Drock and Onwen have a private audience with Saratak. Shortly thereafter Bez Drock and Onwen leave the city heading West taking some loot from the Temple apparently. Saratak also heads out, going South, with the goal of ‘Checking something out’.”

Vinmira: “When Saratak returns, he is found to be a lot more volatile shall we say and gains a reputation for madness.”

Vinmira: “Saratak himself is dangerous, his only professed concern is protecting the city and the nomads, he will happily sacrifice any other bystander. If he for some reason or other gets into his head that you could be putting the city at risk, then he will not hesitate to have you removed – permanently. He was, and I suspect still is, a very powerful Seer – and that combined with some degree of clearsight, which I am assuming he has, must be driving a lot of his so-called follies. This armband initiative for instance, there is some logic, however warped, behind that and some of the possibilities are not pleasant. Whatever knowledge he has, is driving him down a path….which leads who knows where.”

Vinmira: “Who is the enemy? That is a really good question actually. Well at present we can count Solara, the Elves, the Orcs and the Wild. Solara is at least a known quantity, and though in theory should be easiest to turn into an ally, the personal relationship between Alvera and Solara makes that impossible. The Elves, whilst in the long term they have to go, at least show signs of being open to discussion and negotiation, and from what we now know are trustworthy. The Orcs are implacable enemies, and of recent are obviously adopting a different approach from their usual muster and invade strategy – so worrying. Then, the Wild, obviously enemies of the Elves for whatever reason, so far all encounters with them have been hostile – but from what we know nobody has had friendly contact with them, so who knows? Personal perspective, we need to cut a true deal with the Elves, but I don’t trust them an inch and get a more formal treaty with the Lizardfolk – so they can keep Solara busy – after that pick an enemy.”

Vinmira: “The Temple of the Book has been pretty much gutted of any Wyldwood heritage as far as I noticed. Those Wyldwood followers amongst you needn’t worry though, despite all of the official proclamations – I have seen any number of Wyldwood followers pass through it’s doors, just make sure you don’t broadcast the fact and you will be fine. The edict obviously served some purpose a few years back and now is superfluous – but nobody can be arsed to cancel it. Don’t expect to find much in there, although of course you might be looking for different things to what I was expecting.”

Vinmira finishes the bottle of brandy that he has been swigging throughout the conversation thus far. The brandy is extremely potent, and even the least cautious of the party have been sipping small glasses.

Vinmira: “Hang on, will be back – you don’t mind me ordering another on your tab do you – after all Alvera is paying!”

Vinmira is gone for about 10 minutes, and returns with another bottle of the Hightower Brandy – which he proceeds to demolish with the same abandon as the previous one.

Vinmira: “So where were we….”

Vinmira: “Dalzon and Willston eh? Why there? Well that is a tricky one, since I believe I know why, but it might be above your pay grade so to speak. I think you know a lot of the jigsaw pieces, so let me say that ruins similar to the old Starport were identified as being near those two cities. With the Skyfleet as number four, that leaves one unaccounted for – lets just leave it at that shall we?”

Vinmira: “Look, East of here is getting pretty hot now, and it is related to the previous topic, plus growing Wild presence. You guys have come a long way, but I don’t think that you would last long out that way for the moment, either that or……shit!”

Vinmira: “Just remembered where I have seen that script before.”

Vinmira picks up one of the empty brandy bottles and cleans off the dust on the label, then shows you in small script just below the logo a small fragment of the runic script – not really visible unless you are looking for it.

Vinmira: “I can tell you what it says….’Quality keeps’ – but I do not believe it is magical, definitely the same script though.”

Vinmira: “The script is used by master Enchanters at Hightower, generally as part of their masterworks I believe. Unfortunately, I flunked at the guild there so can’t give you any more details.”

Vinmira: “Suspect I had better not order another bottle, though I do see that you folks haven’t finished yours and it is such a shame to leave it go to waste.”

He picks up the half empty bottle and begins to demolish that one. Thus far he has seemed totally unaffected by the copious amounts of alcohol he is consuming.

Vinmira: “Yeah, there are a few refugees from the kingdom up here, although most have returned back to Northlake. I don’t recall meeting anyone from Riverside, but if I do – will let know know. Unless you have relatives up here, it is a pretty unpleasant place to be without money or income. With the developing non-aggression pact with the Elves, most Alverans are now heading back down South, to at least return to their own kingdom.”

Vinmira: “The clans have always had a fair proportion of Shanah worshippers, particularly amongst the warriors. Normally the Ur-Khan is Wyldwood, but as conflict and warfare grows the natural inclination of the clans is to switch to Shanah. From what I understand, this has happened in the past, and given that nearly all Speakers are Wyldwood, will only continue for as long as deemed necessary.”

Vinmira: “Look, it has been nice sharing info and some decent brandy with you but I do have a lot to sort out this evening.”

He drains the last of the Brandy and stands up.

Vinmira: “Where next folks? Obviously you could go haring off after Onwen – and I might be able to dig out some info for you on that one. But there are other places I can think of, such as Hightower or Stormhaven. Personally I think the most important thing is that you need to get some miles under your belt so to speak so Onwen or at least heading for Tobar might be your best option.”

Vinmira: “I’ll pop in quickly tomorrow evening, just to see if I can help in anyway. Catch you then.”

Vinmira then casts a spell, nothing obvious happens.

….and leaves by the door.

**(Note: The brandy costs 11sp per bottle)**

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