Dor Leðúrēa 12446. Group receives task from Chalor the Councillor. They ride torg from Dirapzir to the aerie of the Arag-galora. At the pinnacle they fly to distant Dun Gnur where they find a dead land populated by the quiet and strange Listeners. At the Palace of Oberyl, Vorén falls in love with a harp artifact as the group battles a legendary henchman.

Continued from The Forest’s Edge Inn.

Day 12446

Passing the small throngs that mill outside the gate to the Outsiders’ Ring…

Missing…

Within the Outsiders’ Ring there was a central platform. On the platform stood a man in long gray robes holding an over-sized book; his knee-length beard was braided and tied into three parts. Everyone seemed to be passing without noticing him. As the group approached, the robed man turned to greet them. “Welcome visitors, I am Chalor, Giver of Tasks” he recited wearily. “If you are seeking citizenship, I will need your names.” After checking to see whether each person’s name was in the book, Chalor closed the tome and straightened his back. “Newcomers seeking citizenship. An ancient tradition… Where outsiders’ prove their value to the great cities and in the process make these places, their new homes, better places for all to live… The cities have much to offer you. They are the only places in this vast land where people may live in peace, and without fear of the Chaos which is the blood of this land. Should you complete the tasks you will be given entry to the great halls, and a voice. May the Creator provide for you, and guide you on your path.” With that, the man turned the giant book end over end. When he was done, the book looked different. He then opened the “new” book to a page of paragraphs, lists of names, and red lines drawn through many, many names. Scanning down the page, Chalor’s eyebrows rose with an “Ah ha, yes. Very interesting.” He then wrote names near a paragraph with many red marks, withdrew a folded piece of paper, and closed the book. “Can any among you ride?” Voren answered that he could. “Very good. It is no surprise that the Temple should provide for the city so well. There is a place, far from here, which must be visited. In times long past, the place was given to a spectator of great power and influence. This spectator remained there for a long time, though none that live remember him. If he is dead or gone, the land must be returned to the city. Your task is only to visit the place, discover what has become of this honored guest, and return with news of your findings. For your efforts, two of your six circles shall be struck from the book.” Once the group agreed, the exhausted Chalor managed a smile. “The spectator’s name is Oberyl, his palace lies on the island of Dun Nugr. To reach this place you must first visit Orn Fardar, the distant peak. A Torg will be provided for this journey. Seek the handler Rul-Emor within the ring. He will secure a Torg for you.” Chalor then gave Voren a paper that read: “Emissaries of the Great City Dirapzir. Councillor Chalor begs provision of a Torg to and from Orn Fardar and necessary Arag-Galora to and from Dun Nugr. Offer these good and humble servants hospitality fitting citizens.”

Missing…

Rul-Emor was a tall hairy man with large arms. Voren showed him the paper from Chelor. He looked at the note and then at the group, shaking his head. “Dun Nugr, never heard of it. Another suicide march. Just bring her back in one piece, okay?” He sighed. “Follow me.” Rul-Emor then led the group out of city and into the lush countryside. Soon they came to a large barn on the forest’s edge. The barn was filled with giant meaty reddish-orange leaves lined with yellow-veins. “This is Ordach” he explained. “Stay away from it unless you want to be sitting up there for a few cycles. The Torg will tell you that she’s hungry but she’s not. Not really. Well, they’re always hungry, but she’ll be fine without it. Otherwise, there’s not much to say. Let’s grab some tackle and saddle one up.”

Leaning against a tree bound in red vines was a large oddly-shaped woven basket. Inside the basket were spars, like those in a boat. Rul-Emor led the group into the many-hued forest. After a short walk he stopped and whistled. Hearing no response, he moved some more and whistled again. Finally, after several more calls there was a distant roar and the sound of splitting trees. Soon, a pale violet-skinned behemoth appeared among the foliage. It turned and began moving toward the group with a strange cadence, borne of six trunk-like legs. Shaking its giant head, six tusks snapped tree limbs as the thing answered the handler’s call. The beast stopped an arm’s-reach before Rul-Emor and lowered its majestic tusks docilely. The handler then explained how to saddle the Torg and led it back to the barn. There, the group helped Rul-Emor hoist the basket onto the creature’s back with a series of ropes, block, and tackle. Leather thongs along the Torg’s chest cinch could then be climbed to the basket.

Missing…

The Torg ride eventually led to the aerie of Orn Fardar where the group met Lasa Mir-gor, Keeper of the Arag-Galor. The keeper looked over their paperwork and inspected them skeptically. “The City is running out of reasonable tasks I see, sending outsiders on such dangerous missions. No matter I guess, my pets will return to me.” After handing back their documents, Lasa led them up a staircase that wound around a pinnacle of stone. Atop they emerged onto a wide circular platform. Around the edges were a series of large perches on which rested ten scaled and feathered “birds”. Lasa donned a pair of heavy metal gauntlets and then proceeded to las saddles to several of them. As he worked, he gave some basic instructions. “The handle at the front of each saddle, hold onto it with both hands or you will die. You will guide the Arag-Galora with your knees and your feet. That will require these.” The keeper walked over to a large central wooden chest and lifted the heavy lid. Lasa pulled out some rusted metal kneepads, gauntlets, chausses, and boots with large spikes on them. The knee-spikes pointed inward and the foot spikes point down. “You will need these,” he repeated. “But beware, you cannot walk in them, not well at least.”

Continued in The Problem with Broken Strings.

Characters

• Ferveo
• Goldang
• Kendra
• Voren
• Chalor the Councillor
• Lasa Mir-gor
• Ōbèryl
• Rul-Emor

Played: 06 Jun 2002