The Grand Griffon Tavern and Inn

[TheUtilityBelt]

[After Durkon gets a drink, he leaves to Krells table.]

Durkon: I'm looking for Lord Vladivus. I thought he could better inform me than my scouts.

Krell: he just left. Maybe you can catch him if can.

[Durkon leaves]

[Lord Vladivus]

[interruptions! Would they never cease? At least Gaius seemed suitably disturbed by Krell's history.]

Krell: "There are others that oppose the Spire. Though Nocturnus falters, there are those that will see it stand proud once again. Vladivus is but a servant of greater powers."

[Mike S]

[Gaius looks confused.]

Gaius: "Some Nocturnians would say that Nocturnus stands as proud as it has ever stood and that the Spire is the greatest regime that has ruled Nocturnus for centuries. Further still, I have heard Noturnians arguing that Nocturnus was decaying under the leadership of Lord Ssilyrrlith and even though Lord Raavage is hated by the other guilds, he has made Nocturnus relevant once again. Should Lord Vladivus serve greater powers it seems that they are weaker than the powers Lord Raavage serves... Unless of course should Lord Vladivus serve powers from one of the other guilds!?"

[Lord Vladivus]

[Hmmm. Gaius seemed woefully under informed.]

Krell: "The Spire will not align itself with Cedrica and the rest of Historica. Nocturnus may secede, which will not benefit Historicans. There are many Nocturnians that do not agree with Ravaage. Indeed, many of his supporters come from the Hand of Corruption, Drow, and rebel Varylioans. Not true Nocturnians. The powers Vladivus, and, by extension, myself serve, seek to reunite Nocturnus, and realign it with Historica. This is common knowledge amongst many, and there are those that have pledged their swords to the cause from other Guilds. The time is coming when things shall come to a head. Sides must be taken. War comes. Whom shall you and your masters serve eh?"

[Mike S]

[Gaius still looks confused.]

Gaius: "Has the king been found? I thought that Lord Raavage was only able to make so much progress because the guilds no longer were unified under Cedrica's banner. In fact I had thought that Lords of the four guilds were each vying for the throne of Cedrica and that it is Lord Raavage's goal as well. I had no idea that Lord Raavage had intentions to secede. Pardon if I seem ignorant but I usually don't follow politics as I serve whatever cause my master chooses."

[Lord Vladivus]

[After a long silence, Krell deigns to answer.]

Krell: "Perhaps it is not right that I discuss this with you. Care for another drink?"

[Mike S]

[Gaius looks at what Krell is drinking.]

Gaius: "Sure, but I would like something a bit.. hmm.. tastier than what you are drinking. Seems you have the same taste as my master."

[MKJoshA]

[After a long silence at his table Natolyth speaks up]

Natolyth: I'm sorry if I appear rude, I did not mean to shock you both into silence. I am a man more of actions than of words and I think it is time I take my leave. Heinsen, Morgan, I hope you find many allies and answers to your own questions. Perhaps we will meet again sometime.

[Natolyth rises from his table and heads to his room. He hopes to find more answers another day. He thinks back to all the patrons who have been in the Tavern tonight and wonders if perhaps the vampire he saw might have more answers to his questions.]

[TheUtilityBelt]

[Heinsen also rises]

Heinsen: I too hope our paths will croos again.

[Heinsen leaves]

[Lord Vladivus]

[Krell's eyes glittered with opportunity. Get this man drunk, and maybe information will flow.]

Krell: "What would you like?"

[Gideon]

[A man in a broad-brimmed hat, carrying a crossbow and fierce-looking knife in his belt, enters]

Master Gabbold: Roger Farstrider! It has been a while since we saw you around here! Let me take those weapons to the armory. Are you having the usual?

[Roger hands over the weapons]

Roger: Of course! And I also need a room for a few days. Your best available, please.

Master Gabbold: It sounds as if your adventures of late have been profitable! Have a seat and we will bring you food and drink in a moment.

[Master Gabbold hurries on. Roger looks around for known faces, maybe someone has or knows of a new profitable endeavor which could use one of Kaliphlin's best crossbow sharpshooters...]

[gedren_y]

[After a passable meal, Shay Liih prepared herself for a meeting with a well known herbalist. Dressing first in her finest, pale blue riding dress, securing a small packet of emeralds in the hidden pocket under her neckline as she did so. Next her new black leather boots, purchased this morning from a cobbler as she entered Cedrica. Third came her father's throwing axe in a small loop at the small of her back, there for just that purpose.]

[shay stepped away from her weapons, electing to leave her swords in their scabbards. Just as she passed her two throwing knives in their clip scabbards, Shay felt her sense of impending danger spike. Quickly she attached the daggers to her boots, and the danger sense softened to a small buzz. She chuckled to herself softly.]

Shay Liih: Ya two will do.

[A knock comes at the door.]

Mora's voice: You wished to know when the city guard made their third round of the evening.

Shay Liih: Come in Mora.

[Mora enters cautiously. She had listened to Heb babble about his encounter earlier. She eyed warily Shay's weapons.]

Mora: Is there anything else I can help you with misselle?

Shay Liih: Jus' let yer master know that 'e may have some patr'ns in need of stitchin' later.

[Mora's eyes widened as she nodded. She fled the room, not unlike Heb had done earlier. Shay enjoyed the feeling intimidating the young staff gave her.]

[Returning to her previous trajectory, Shay crossed to her saddlebags and pulled from them a fine blue overcoat with whorl designs stitched in golden thread. After a quick shake to break the wrinkles, Shay slipped it over her shoulders, hiding the axe. She loosely secured it under her bust with a large round brooch made of blue crystal, a gift from her mentor. A quick glance down reminded her to cover the daggers in her boots with the edge of her dress.]

[Over at the nightstand, Shay retrieved her satchel, a large tome, and the lads' room keys she left there. Soon she was out the door, locking it with her own key, and heading down the stairs.]

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[Down in the tavern room, Ehfrik is nursing goblet of schwipper spirits. He peered between the two half-eaten bowls of lamb stew, through the empty blue mead bottle at the goings on of the bustling tavern. He had only gotten one glass of that bottle. Turning his attention the reasons the bottle was empty, he grumbled.]

Ehfrik Daffys: Idjit Zuurees.

[incoherent, the twins continued to make noises in their drunken-sleepy state. Lohp badly singing a randy ballad in the old tongue, and Wahl making bird noises. Wahl's helmet had fallen off, and it showed his precious line of dyed black spikes flattened and limp. The dye job at home had been a good idea, so he and his brother could be told apart. The extreme hairdo done at that Mpya Stedor barber, though, was a mistake.]

Lohp Zuuree: Cohn ah gok, cohn ah bah, cohn miimi miimi. Doona kuun, doona ahhf, cohn miimi miimi.

Wahl Zuuree: Twitwit, coo, braahk, aaek, fhweet.

[With his attention diverted, Ehfrik didn't see Shay come down the stairs and walk to the table. The dull thunk of keys hitting the table startled him.]

Shay Liih: Yer keys fer room seven. Ah'v gotta d'livr tha herb tome ta Doc Gooshi.

Ehfrik Daffys: Ooh lookitchya. Ah'ight, go be fanceh, but don' ferget, da twins' bro akxed ya ta keep ya eyes peel'd fer info on da Egg.

[shay bristled at his tone.]

Shay Liih: I know mah duties, lad, you jus' see to it that the ahr reddeh in the mornin'.

Ehfrik Daffys: Don' chya worrit none, ahv got sum viuls of r'storat'v potion. Ah'll make sure we all'r gettin' sum b'for beddin' down.

[Reassured, Shay heads out the front door, the tome under her left arm for a careful drop. Taking a left, she passes some city guardsmen. She nods in greeting with a direct look, and centers herself for the coming ambush from behind the city guards.]

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[back inside, Ehfrik returns to watching the rest of the tavern through the blue mead bottle.]

[Scaevola]

[The Curate looks up from his readings to regard the new company. He studies a man garbed in a wide-brimmed hat. A soldier of fortune perhaps? He also notes a large group of people whose voices are heavily accentuated in the Nestlandic dialect.]

[-Carson Haupt-]

[A man in red robes enter the room. He is quiet and unobtrusive, and waits patiently for the innkeeper to notice him standing there. As the man comes over, he straightens up, appearing slightly taller than he did before.]

Red Robed Man: I am in need of two rooms, as well as four stalls in your stables. They don't have to be anything fancy.

Master Gabbold: I'll get right on it.

[He grabs a serving boy, instructs him to ready two rooms, and then returns to conversation.]

Master Gabbold: What is your business in these parts? There seems to be an awful lot of travel, seeing how there's all this conflict, Personally I'd stay home. Most of these blokes don't seem to think this way though.

Red Robed Man: We are simple servants of the Faith, headed to the port of Carn in hopes of rekindling a following there. So far we have been traveling unbothered, but there are several that know how to defend traveling with us just in case, as well as some that know how to repair our wagon, I case of damage.

Master Gabbold: I see. Will you be needing anything?

Red Priest: I will take some Kaliphlinian wine. Might as well start getting used to what we will be drinking while there. Some of the others might be in later. If you would, just start a tab for our band of travelers.

[The priest walk to a bench near the fire and sits down, gazing at the flames.]

[Scaevola]

[The Curate notices the priest enter the room. He contemplates the priest's surprising order of wine, knowing alcoholic victuals are generally abhorred by the clergy. He walks over to the priest]

Curate: "Greetings sir. What sect art thou inclusive in?"

[-Carson Haupt-]

[The Priest notices the Curates befuzzled expression, and realizes it must be because of his choice of beverage. Smiling to himself, he chuckles under his breath.]

Red Priest: Greeting! I can tell by your mannerisms you are a man of learning! I am a humble priest of the Divine Family. It's is a small religion, tis true, but it once was the faith of an empire. Now it only remains in Burnby, which was once a region of that same empire, and among the nomadic sand elves. However, the High Priest has dispatched wagons, carts and caravans to ancient homes of the Faith in hope of rekindling a revival. What deity do you serve?

[Scaevola]

[The Curate listens attentively to the priest. I suppose not all religions are so dour and ritualistic as the Ormai)

Curate: "I art a servant of the Ormaic Gods, comprising the deities Ormaian, Tsaulkoth, and Rhamul. Our sphere of influence is largely in the Spice Islands of Kaliphlin, and the southern regions of the Siccus Badlands. I am also charged with resurrecting our crippled sect, similar to your situation as my religion lost considerable power with the overthrow of our Living Gods, which was quite a heretical, destructive, and sanguinary affair. We still however, influence many of the politics and government of the minor nations and colonies dotting the southern spice islands. On another note, I did not catch thy name. I art Henri Qaemil, the Curate of Na Ghiian,"

Edited June 29, 2014 by Scaevola

[-Carson Haupt-]

[noticing the similarities between the two orders, the priest smiles.]

Well, my name is a complicated story. I was born as Edward Malflaven, but upon joining the Faith I left that name behind. I now am called Father I serve, and Son by those above me. It is interesting that you mentioned a heresy. That's actually the reason for our journey to Kaliphlin. Hundreds of years ago, the was a priest who gained a great following in the south. After he built up a suitably fanatical crowd, he issued an edict that the Father and the Other were the same being, one and the same. Due to the patrons of justice and magic being fused, he declared that magic was to be used to expand the Faith. The crimes committed by that sect are to horrible to even mention here. He also believed that magic users had a sacred duty to rule others, and usurped many thrones, replacing their previous occupants with his most powerful followers. Needless to say, they were cut off completely, and after a short period of war were all but destroyed. Before then, priests had used their staffs to channel magical energy, but now the clergy is banned from the use of any magic and our staffs are merely ceremonial. Tell me more of these "living gods."

[gedren_y]

[Wahl and Lohp had settled down to a quiet giggly hiccuping, and Ehfrik was finally able to ignore them. His ears perked up at the mention of old faiths revivals and "living gods." Suddenly Sdair's insistence on finding the Egg of the Armored Eagle Goddess seemed prudent.]

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[The front door opened with a strong push, and in stumbled three of the Cedrica City Guard. The outer two holding up the bloody third.]

Right guardsman: Master Gabbold, we need a room. Now.

Left guardsman: And needle, thread, linen strips, candles and a bottle of your strongest whiskey.

Master Gabbold: Take him to room four. Mora! Get them what they need.

[Mora runs up with a basket already filled with the items.]

Mora: The lady said . . .

Master Gabbold: Yes, I remember. Thank you for telling me, and for being prepared. Go with them, and fetch anything they ask for.

Left Guardsman: I've got this Hirum. You let the new lads know what's happened. Master Gabbold, Doc Gooshi should be along shortly.

Master Gabbold: I'll send him up.

[Mora leads the two guardsmen up the stairs to the room. Guardsman Hirum stretches, then walks over to the table with Ehfrik and the Zuuree twins.]

Guardsman Hirum: You three are gonna be on the wall with us tomorrow, right? Hope you boys are as good as your lady captain. She kept those Hand orcs from taking us by surprize. You best get your rest, 'cause tomorrow is going to be a busy day.

[Guardsman Hirum leaves to help tend his fallen comrade. Ehfrik slaps each of the twins on the cheeks and grabs their room keys.]

Wahl Zuuree: Whah?

Lohp Zuuree: Huh?

Ehfrik Daffys: Geet yer drunk butts upst'rs. We're gonna be needed t'morrow. An' don' ferget yer packs. I'll find out what's goin' on.

[As Ehfrik herds the twins upstairs, he gives the religious men a sidelong glance.]

[Scaevola]

[The Curate pauses for a while, observing the rancorous new arrivals. He then turns back to the red robed priest]

Curate Henri Qaemil: "As for the Living Gods, there are entire annals filled with the history of their regimes,"

[The Curate lapses out of his archaic dialect as he warms up to his company]

"A couple centuries ago in the secluded Chimeti archipelago, the cornerstone of my great religion, the people established a new government, the Orieqa Concordat, which was a secular government. My sect did not take kindly to its sudden ostracism, and it turned to a coalition of its staunchest followers, the powerful mages Qaemil-Dres, Almec-Ulath, Amur-Daguith, and Oresi Bal. These mages were deified as living gods, and the Primate Hlaesius Quiniant II subordinated the Sultan and established the Living Gods as the rulers of the land. Before long, the Living Gods proved to be absolutist despots, but were nonetheless ingrained in church ideology. The populace, under the leadership of the new Primate Hlaemon I, led a rebellion that displaced the Living Gods and their loyalists. The Orieqa Concordat was then amended to make it more agreeable to the Ormai, with the Primate gaining powers over the Sultan. Their regime only lasted for a century, but it became part of our sect, and the Living Gods' alienation made many of our followers commit apostasy and follow Qaemil-Dres, the only Living God who was able to resist. We eventually recovered, but lost our influence in northern Kaliphlin, Avalonia, and Varlyrio,"

Curate Henri Qaemil: "On another note, it seems strange that the Living Gods were powerful mages and usurped power similarly to the fanatics you spoke of. Perhaps they were joint factions in a common union?"

[-Carson Haupt-]

That is certainly interesting. We have no way of being sure all of the heretics were killed. It's entirely possible they developed into or helped found the sect you speak of.

[Jakon]

[The Black Coated Man scans the room, and latches on to the two priests, 'ah' he thinks 'other servants of the faith, perhaps they will help me on my quest']

[The Black Coated Man gets up from his table, messes with his belt and he re-situates it while slipping his hand axes into their holders, picks up his hat, and slowly walks over to the table]

Black Coated Man: Excuse me for eavesdropping a bit, but I but I heard tale of heretics, and recognizin you as men o' the faith, I decided to check in, allow me to introduce myself, m' name is Malcolm,I'm a cleric in the Inquisitor's Order, and heretics are what keep me employed.

[At this Malcom bows, placing his hat on his chest]

[Scaevola]

[Qaemil observes this newcomer, seemingly some sort of clerical paladin or crusader]

Curate Henri Qaemil: "Well met Sir. I am the Curate Henri Qaemil of Na Ghiian, Kaliphlin,"

[Qaemil mimics the cleric's bow, as it seems to be customary in his culture]

[the lego dwarf]

[The door crashes open and in strolled Lord Magnus the look on his face told people that he was in a foul mood]

Magnus: Ah Master Gabbold would you be so kind to get me a glass of your most refreshing wine.

Master Gabbold: You don't look like your from around here which guild do you hail from?

Magnus: I hail from Nocturnus Master Gabbold.

Master Gabbold: Ah Nocturnus, I haven't had many visitors from their. {Passes Magnus the drink}

Magnus: Thank you for the drink Master Gabbold do you mind if I stay the night preferably in one of your best rooms, oh and if you here a commotion outside it is just my retinue of seers. They don't like sleeping inside.

[Magnus walks over to the table and casually sips from the glass]

[Jakon]

[seeing the reluctance of the Red Priest to say anything, malcolm decides the best thing to do would be just to sit down, so he pulls up a chair, and does such]

Cleric Malcolm: Now, I believe you were discussing Heretics, that is my area of expertise, their patterns, their behavior, what tactics they use, the knowledge collected over a decade of hunting them means that they have nothing they could trick me with, so, I wish to strike a deal Father. I help you deal with these heretics, and you help me on a certain quest.