Flald 11, 653 DR: Bookshopping. Dammon’s familiar leaves a mark. Dammon hears an old wind and finds an old darkness. Gargoyles dive from the sky. Wrecking of the Koldam nar Uvra Por. Securing passage on the Widower. Ezíkus and the box are missing. Group visits Kzar Boron and meet with “King” Kaylyar. Tensions rise. Night descends upon the ancient castle.

Continued from Ruins of War.

Padídor, 11 Flald 653

Morning brought the sounds of low talk and the ringing of spoons against plates and bowls from the common room below. A new day had dawned across Boronon. After a short meal, Dammon ventured out to see what the Ezmìri city had to offer. Finding magical auras proved easy as most shop doors were enchanted with a warding hex of some kind. Once the magician learned to ignore those, finding more interesting Weavings proved a bit more difficult. Eventually, Dammon found an Arcanist’s shop along the south bank of the Nybir Rin. While perusing the store’s wares, a commotion and scream from outside interrupted the library-like quiet of the store. Dammon was beat to the front door by a large woman who shrieked at what she saw. A cat lay upon the steps of the stores, clawed into slices like a load of bread, blood and entrails pooling on the stone step. The hysterical woman grabbed at her chest and collapsed in the doorway. Dammon pushed around her bulk and looked around for the culprit. Soon, his invisible companion rejoined him, explaining that the woman’s familiar had detected him and couldn’t be suffered to live. Removing himself from the shop, the magician returned to the inn where he Weaved another Orádra. Every door in the inn, it appeared, was similarly warded by hexes. Following this Weaving however, Dammon noticed a large bug crawling from his sleeve. He swatted it away with disgust. His Conscience however commented that he was always crawling with insects, and it had been so since they’d left Oð. Dammon refused to believe this and experimented with a number of cantrips. With each of these Weavings, another bug appeared somewhere on his person. As he sat on his bed to contemplate was happening a dream-like voice entered his head, telling him to seek the “highest tower”.

Elsewhere, Jak, Saldus, and Tressta walked from shop to shop. Jak was looking for books that he could read, while the Taládan was looking for a Lapidarist to replace the gem in her brooch. After visiting a number of bookstores, Jak gave up on his quest to find an Oðic book, and instead looked for a primer on Taládic. After midday, Tressta found a gem-cutter who offered to cut the gem she wanted for 450 silver. She agreed to this and was told to return the next day. On the way back toward the inn, Jak stopped to purchase some parchment, ink, and a quill. As Tressta waited outside she saw three men stepping from an alley, which retreated as Jak emerged from the Lexigrapher shop. As she pointed toward the alley where the men had come, Jak was looking into the sky at three birds circling to the South. Studying the creatures more closely it became apparent that each had a long serpentine tail. The crowded streets grew still as everyone stopped to watch the strange birds circling lower. As they neared the inn, one of the monster veered and dove at them, raking at them with its claws. As it flew lower they could see that it was not a bird at all, but a large stone anthropoid with wide wings. The three ducked under the diving Gargoyle and into the inn. Outside the monster flexed its stony wings and landed heavily upon the street. The crowd quickly dispersed except for a terrified small girl who stood nearby, watching the monster, but too afraid to move. The Gargoyle however did not seem concerned with the child, and was instead glaring over the heads of the crowd as if looking for something, or someone.

Inside the inn, Dammon’s reverie was broken as something crashed through the roof of the inn, splintering timbers and knocking bricks from the walls. On the ground floor, a great commotion had begun as Dammon’s companions pushed inside and slammed the door closed behind them. While Tressta set to locking the door, Jak and Saldus charged upstairs to check on Dammon and Ezíkus. Reaching the top of the stairs, Jak stopped to see a Gargoyle wrestling with the door to Dammon’s room. The far wall and ceiling of the hallway had been obliterated as if a comet had struck the inn. Jak and Saldus engaged the monster as it began ripping the door to splinters. Below, the inn’s front door was being dismantled plank by plank until the giant stone creature could pull itself into the common room. Customers screamed, pleaded, and cowered against the walls. Tressta drew her sword and backed slowly up the stairs toward her companions as the stone monster scanned the room. Backing out of sight, Tressta tried to activate her cloak, only to remember she’d dropped-off the stone at the Lapidarist. Below, the Gargoyle advanced toward the staircase with heavy footsteps. As Jak, Dammon, and Saldus battled the Gargoyle upstairs, the inn shook again as a rear door was ripped from its hinges and the third monster entered the establishment. The fight turned as Jak jammed his spear into a widening crack on the Gargoyle’s body and the thing exploded into rubble. Tressta scrambled passed them to the top story as the second monster squeezed up the staircase behind her. In a near bedroom, they could hear the third Gargoyle breaking through the heavy wood floor. Within moments it was tearing at the walls to Dammon’s room. The magician responded with Mesral’s Arcane Arrow, causing the monster to hesitate for the first time. Tressta stabbed at the Gargoyle in the hallway, but her rapier glanced off its stone hide. The monster slashed savagely into Jak before he and Saldus were able to fell the second one. Dammon Weaved bolt after bolt at the monster as it clawed through the timber and plaster wall, reaching nearly to the far side of the room where the magician stood on his bed. Saldus pushed through the splintered door into Dammon’s room and hacked at the last Gargoyle. The thing burst through and smashed the soldier against the door frame. Tressta followed him in, grabbing one of Jak’s magic swords and stabbing at the monster. The thing’s claws tore into the rogue, and dashed her to the side. Seeing the state of his companions, the wounded Jak joined the fight and soon they were able to surround the monster. Another spell from Dammon and the thing stopped, jerked, and collapsed into rubble. Exhausted and bloody, the group settled to the floor of Dammon’s room wondering what had provoked the attack. Eventually, city guards arrived to question all witnesses to the afternoon’s events. The guard captain claimed that he’d never seen anything like it. He went on to say that he’d heard stories from his father that the castle’s Gargoyles would awaken only to defend the City of Boronon, but he couldn’t figure out the reason for this. Until he figured it out, he asked that the group remain in the city. To this they agreed.

After tending to their many wounds, the group headed to the docks to arrange passage to Taldàna. After speaking with many people, they found a ship called the “Widower” that would be leaving in five days. After discussing terms with Taryur, the ship’s captain, they returned to the ruined inn. Despite the late watch, the streets were filled with onlookers marveling at the building’s damage. The roof had a large gaping hole, one of the chimneys had been demolished, and its doors had been ripped to shreds. Laborers were still carrying rocks from the place that might have been chunks of wall, or pieces of the monsters. As the group stepped passed the workers on their way toward bed, the proprietor stopped to them. He spoke quickly at first, but then repeated himself so that Tressta might follow his words. The innkeeper explained that soldiers had stopped by recently and arrested their companion, the old priest. They took him, his chest, and some weapons to the castle, seeking answers for the day’s events. When asked why the castle appeared to be ruined, the innkeeper told explained that some believed a Dragul had settled upon the tower in ages past. The monster had coiled around the central tower and slept for many years before leaving. The group thanked the innkeeper for his help and went upstairs to gather their remaining possessions.

Once they’d gathered again in the common room, Dammon explained that he would stay in the city. If the Gargoyles had reacted to him, he didn’t want to go any nearer the castle. The group agreed to this and headed out into the night. Passing through the castle’s outer wall they climbed the switchbacked road to the high castle. Behind them, Dammon’s Conscience followed. At the front gate the group was met by Lord’s Men who insisted that all weapons be left with them. Jak protested, announcing that as a Ðard of the Old Empire, he did not have to disarm. The guards bristled at the suggestion but allowed the exception. Tressta politely offered her own weapons to the guards, comforted by the hidden stiletto strapped to her thigh. An attendant led the group to a stately dining hall filled with ancient paintings and tapestries, all covered in dust and cobwebs. As they entered, a older woman stood from the table and left the room. After several minutes, an attendant stepped through a double door, and closed it before opening it again, announcing “King Kaylyar Boron the Third of Ezmir.” Unsteadily, the attendant bowed deeply as a large man in a mottled velvet tunic and silver crown stepped into the dining hall, followed by a small group of pikemen. Jak stepped forward first, introducing himself in Oðic as “Ðr. Jak of Cænden, Ðard of Princess Nolda Rott of Oð”. The “king” nodded, glanced at the others briefly, and hearing no more introductions asked about their business. Tressta stepped forward and asked about Ezíkus and the chest. The king grinned and explained. “The Gargoyles of Kzar Boron have not stirred for many years, but today not only did they move, they attacked the very inn where your company, an Old Empire company, had just arrived the night before. Some might say this is coincidence, and perhaps, perhaps they would be right. But I will learn the truth of this, for you see the Gargoyles have only one purpose. Their purpose is to defend the City of Boronon from evil. They have no choice in their duty, it is all that they do. The fact that they attacked your inn, on this day, means that there was evil there. I cannot sit idly while such forces are rampant in this city.” The king motioned to an attendant and soon food was brought through the doors. “But enough of these matters, it is evening and you are my guests. Please enjoy our simple hospitality and tomorrow we can discuss other business.” Graciously, the group sat at the old dining table and ate their fill of the king’s food. After they had eaten, Kaylyar returned and spoke with them longer about news from afar. It didn’t take long until the subject of Ezíkus was again breached, and the confiscated Dragul Chest. When Jak explained that the chest contained a message from the High Lord of Oð that was meant for the High Priestess of Taldàna, the king finished his wine and retired for the night.

Continued in Guests of Kzar Boron.

Characters

• Dammon Shroudson
• Jak of Cænden
• Tressta Drynsval
• Alkand Kolkor (Innkeeper)
• Azylaryx Nurchulkyx (Witch)
• Ezíkus of Roð
• Familiar
• Lord Protector Kaylyar Boron III of Ezmir
• Saldus Greymane
• Taryur
• Terzyr Ryllaryn (Witch)
• Urynax Arygaz (Witch)
• Valus ur Saldus

Played: 09 Feb 2002