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Return Again to the Temple of Mythal

Page history last edited by Michael 5 years, 7 months ago

back to the Index, or to Chapter 23:  The Black Hounds

 

Chapter 24

Return Again to the Temple of Mythal

Or, Our Dinner With Werewolves

 

9:30 Dragon, 12th Day of Wintermarch

 

     A cloudy day, but it had stopped snowing. Our Heroes had found the Black Hounds mercenaries, near the Brecilian Forest, and had made an agreement -- they would leave the empty box at a fake camp, we would take the papers, and they would take the valuables. They themselves would head in the hills to the south.

     Our Heroes returned to Plumbrock, arriving about an hour after sunset. The group consisted of:

 

  • Bran - a big warrior from Honnleath, one of the Helwyr, with a notable resemblance to the King

  • Alpheus - a Gray Warden

  • Eornan - an elven scout and guide, born in Denerim

  • Landon - a Gray Warden

  • Fi - a female Mabari hound 

  • Sobrata  - a Mabari hound, and a Gray Warden 

  • Alistair - human male Gray Warden, and a former Templar

  • Tienan - an elven warrior, Gray Warden, and Eornan's cousin

  • Laney - a skilled elven rogue from Denerim, she was until recently part of Dyeir's gang

 

9:30 Dragon, 13th Day of Wintermarch

 

     A warmer day, but still overcast. Some of the snow was melting into slush and mud. We walked the eight miles past the village of Dunmoe to High Creek House, where bann Pyne Amril had his official home. The bann wasn't home to receive us, so we waited for three or four hours -- Landon healed the wrenched arm of a local lad, and studied the Paralysis spell. The house was located a few hundred yards from the lead-and-silver mine operated by the bann.

     The bann arrived with a large bodyguard warrior wearing ring mail, and a smaller, beady-eyed fellow in leather armor. Laney and Eornan waited outside, while Bran told our story of finding the box's location. The bann agreed to send some men the next day, to assist us in recovering the box from the Black Hounds. For some reason, the bann seemed uneasy about Alpheus, and didn't want to meet his eyes or even to be seen full-face by the mage.

     We took our leave, and returned to the Purple Frog in Plumbrock. Eornan skulked off into the woods instead of returning with the rest of us, and followed the bann and his big guard back to the bann's secret home. A good number of large, well-armed men were guarding the secret home. The beady-eyed rogue was sent off on some other, unknown mission. Eornan made it back to the Purple Frog in time for dinner.

 

The Purple Frog

☆☆

     A tavern in Plumbrock, in the South Reach. No rooms available, the food is excellent but beverages are average at best. Clean and convenient, however. Visit soon, before the cook leaves for a more prestigious inn.

 

Landon:  2 hours of Paralysis study today; total 10 hours

 

9:30 Dragon, 14th Day of Wintermarch

 

     Before dawn, Eornan and Landon set off to scout for any ambushes, by either the bann or the Black Hounds. A bit after dawn, 13 of the bann's tough, large warriors arrived at the Purple Frog, led by Captain Robert. They followed us to the fake camp, and received the broken box. Robert signed a letter acknowledging that the box was found at the Black Hounds camp.

     Our Heroes returned to South Reach by two in the afternoon, and went to the magistrate to arrange Mythrellen's release. Alas, she was now in the magistrate's lockup, instead of being confined to her cell in the Chantry. On the 12th or 13th, while we were out of town, the commander of the local Templars -- Sir Greer -- had discovered some of her, hmm, excessive freedoms, and charged her with "chronic influence".

 

Bran:  "So she's accused of being too hot for Templars to turn down?"

 

     We came up with a plan, and did some shopping. We sent some food over for Mythrellen in jail. She let us know that Sir Cody was in trouble for helping her -- Cody was going to be sent to Kirkwall. She herself would be sent to a secret Circle prison, called Bodmin.

 

Stonebridge Abbey, and Bodmin

     As described by Alistair:  Stonebridge is a sort of retirement home for old Templars. It's not too far from South Reach. Bodmin is close to Stonebridge, and is a very secret, very secure prison for Circle mages that the Templars don't want to execute. What crimes or mental disorders will result in being locked up at Bodmin, how many mages are there, and what other unfortunate souls have made their way there Alistair couldn't say. He did mention the terrible screams that could be heard nearby. 

 

     Bran and Landon got expensive clothing for themselves, and big collars for the Mabari; a suite at the priciest inn in town was rented for the day. An impressive, legal-looking document was made up, and Sir Greer was asked to come by for an "important meeting". He seemed to fall for the Bran-as-Cailin disguise, but didn't quite agree to let Mythrellen go.

     We decided to proceed with Plan B, and had Laney steal the Revered Mother's signet ring, to make the seal on the "release Mythrellen" document respond as authentic. Laney returned the ring to the Chantry ("We've been in and out of there far too often"), we bought some winter traveling clothes for Mythrellen, and slept for the night at the Winterberry Inn.

 

The Winterberry

☆☆

     An inn at South Reach. The menu has items favored by elves, including a few Dalish specialties, and in fact elves will find good service here. Elves should add a star to the rating.

 

Landon:  2 hours of Paralysis study today; total 12 hours

 

9:30 Dragon, 15th Day of Wintermarch

 

     We woke before dawn, and prepared to leave town. Landon (as "the chamberlain") and Tienan (in armor and Templar regalia) visited the magistrate, and presented him with a document ordering the release of the mage Mythrellen into the custody of the Gray Wardens. It didn't actually say "the king", or "royal" or anything official on it, but was carefully crafted -- with Ink of Splendor, fine paper, glossy silk ribbon, red wax (with the Revered Mother's seal on it), and a large but meaningless signature -- to make one believe it was important. The magistrate, with breakfast crumbs on his doublet, hustled off to release Mythrellen.

     While we waited, Landon left a book on the Chantry library shelves:  "A Phonetic Guide to the Orlesian Tax Code."

     Landon and Tienan took Mythrellen to the Winterberry; she and Landon quickly dressed in their traveling clothes. With that, we set off from South Reach, headed for the Brecilian Forest. Eornan slipped off to find Sir Cody, and to give him two gold sovereigns to cover some expenses related to saving Felsi, his sister ("Talk with Garrick, in Denerim; he'll have a lot more information about this."). On his way to catch up with the rest of our party, Eornan also dug up and brought along the odd tube found in the wagon.

     While we traveled, we briefed Alpheus on some of the facts about the Celatus Tower. At the end of the day, we stayed at the tavern at Dunmoe.

 

Goods Purchased in South Reach (or earlier in Denerim)
Quantity  Cost Description Who
      Alpheus

1 bushel

1 bushel

1 bushel

1 bushel

0.5 bushel

4 lbs

4 lbs

2 lb

1

1 gallon

1s

1s 16c

1s

1s 60c

72c

3s

2s

36c

1s 80c

1s 75c

Parsnips (approx 50 lbs)

Turnips (approx 58 lbs)

Carrots (approx 50 lbs)

Oats (cut for oatmeal, approx 32 lbs)

Dried apples (approx 12 lbs)

Dried cherries 

Mixed nuts in shell (walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts)

Loaf of Waybread (1 lb is meals for one for 2 days)

Pot, iron, 10 quarts

Lanolin, pot with lid (cost based on modern $70 for 1 gal bulk)

more to come

Bran
      Eornan
60' coil of rope
2 s
  Landon

 

9:30 Dragon, 16th Day of Wintermarch

 

     Heading uphill into the hills, under gray skies. The Mabari hounds weren't too happy to be drinking the anti-werewolf "tea".

     The Brecilian Forest was filled with ancient oaks, tall pines, moss, and (at night) the howls and calls of wolves. We came to the old site of the Dalish camp we had been familiar with, and camped there. The tracks of elves, wagons, etc. led to the south.

     During the night, wolven howls increased, and during the second watch the camp was approached by a number of werewolves. Bran did most of the speaking with the Laidir; they in turn were represented by Farineya, one of Daniella's sisters. We explained that we had come to speak with Verell, and that Duncan was coming in a week or two. Some info from Faena:

 

  • the Green Company:  where to, what up to

  • the local Dalish clan had gone 40 or 50 miles south

  • there were four Dalish elves at the Temple of Mythal

  • many Laidir didn't want to follow Verell

  • these Laidir were hunting the bestial fiain (mindless werewolves)

 

     Once Faena and the Laidir had left, some of Our Heroes slept more happily, knowing that the werewolves were watching about. Others in the party, though, were a bit unnerved by the whole thing.

 

9:30 Dragon, 17th Day of Wintermarch

 

     A bit less grey, still sort of cool -- frost on the ground before dawn. Our Heroes headed south to a ford, crossed over a stream, then back north to the mountain. We had a fair amount of work hauling the wagon over rocks, fallen trees, etc. The ancient trail was familiar to us from our time in the Fade, but of course nobody had been traveling on it for centuries.

     We met another of Daniella's siblings, Roi, also a Laidir; she led us the last mile into the camp at the base of the mountain, near the ancient crypt. The Laidir and Dalish were using the Darkspawn tunnels to reach the bottom of the stairs to the Moon Temple -- the next connection to the stairs was around 1,000 feet up, where the griffons and griffon eggs were, back in 2:20.

     At the Laidir camp, there were a half-dozen Laidir "staff", a couple of Dalish elves, and Valerie, Daniella's mother.  We spent a while talking with her, and sharing news. More items of note:

 

  • a group of more than a hundred Laidir were moving off to live separately

  • the Green Company were (as we knew) mercenaries

  • there were at least three other breakaway groups of "sane" werewolves, including at least one group that hated elves (the Forsaken, about two score in number)

  • about 100 Laidir were working with Valerie

  • there are over 300 Laidir who haven't made up their minds yet

 

     Landon stayed at the camp to talk with Valerie, and help with paperwork; most of the rest of the group climbed the 2000' of stairs to the actual Temple. Alpheus, Alistair and Tienan had a slightly annoying time of it -- the fresh, cool water falling down the stairwell was entirely toxic to them.

     Up at the Temple were Kiera, along with another Dalish elf, Verell, and a couple of Laidir. Much rejoicing -- Kiera was especially happy to see Eornan! The temple had been entirely cleared of debris and monster spoor; most of the damage had been repaired (except for the broken mirror) since Our Heroes had last been here two months ago.

     Again, there was a lot of news back and forth; Verell was very glad to hear of Duncan's upcoming visit. Many of the Laidir, both in the "temple" group and others, were somewhat naively hoping that joining the Gray Wardens would allow them to return to society (or at least to not worry about being hunted). Once again:  the Forsaken really, really hated elves.

     Verell took the party up onto the mountain top, for more discussion about the situation, history, plans, etc.

     As the sun set, the Secret Tower could sort-of be seen. Verell mentioned that some Laidir had gone over there to explore, but returned unsuccessfully, scared by something nameless but ... scary.

     Afterwards, they went back down to the Temple of Mythal, and had dinner with Kiera and the elves and Laidir -- lots of meat! They stayed until the rising of the moons, to see its reflection in the pool, and then returned to the bottom of the mountain.

     Tienan explained that he'd be staying with Verell and the Laidir, as a sort of liaison. He certainly couldn't come with the rest of us to the Tower of Celatus.

     We settled in for the night ...

 

Landon:  one hour of Paralysis study today. Total 13 hours

 

+500 Experience Points

 

Onward to The Tower of Celatus Part I 

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