Harun waits for his companions to get done shopping.

Corym grabs the two maps that first drew his attention and calls to Torleth--"I believe we're finished Master Torleth! What do we owe you?"

Lexanna grabs one more of the treasure maps and tosses it on to Corym's pile.

The map Lexanna grabs is one of the loveliest of the maps. It's been drawn by someone with both a knowledge of cartography and an artistic flair. There are mountains and forests and a swamp, all depicted in multiple color ink and loving detail. A marked trail leads through them, ending in a heraldic crest you don't recognize. None of the landmarks seem immediately familiar, but anything with such detail must have some basis behind it.

Torleth looks over your purchases. "Eh? Oh, maps. Maps are promises, promises you can hold in a hand. So five gold each. You, master dwarf, are kin to stone, so I give you a kin price. Three gold."

((ooc: Each map is 5 gp. The runestone is 3 gp. Kora already paid for her armor.))

Rested and re-engergized from wandering through Torleth's you all mount up and continue on. Though the rain never really materializes again, the day remains cold and windy. All around you the trees are turning colors.

Aside from the usual caravans, the only people of interest you pass is a mounted patrol out of Daggerford, eight human  men and women in a variety of armor, one of whom is carrying a shield with Daggerford's device on it: a dagger dripping red on a blue field. When asked, they assure you that you can make the town before nightfall, and that they haven't seen any danger between there and here.

And so it proves. With the sun hanging just below the horizon to your left, you ride up to the walled town on Daggerford. The first part you see is Daggerford Castle, sitting on a hill over the rest of the town. A wooden wall hides the rest of it from sight until you pass through the gates.

Daggerford is a town of sturdy wooden buildings with thatch roofs. You've arrived through the south gate tower. To your left is the town itself, and you can see several dozen people walking through the early evening. To your right is a large open pasture, with cows, sheep, and horses clustered in herds and flocks scattered about. Even further to your right is the castle.

There is a guard at the gate, but she didn't challenge you when you rode in. Nor does there appear to be any gate fee. Welcome to Daggerford.

In reply to DM (msg # 175):

After thanking Torleth, paying the cost of the runestone and the journey, Krackor appreciates being back out in the open, but when the Daggerford patrol assures them all that they will reach the town before night fall, his thoughtful expression returns to joy as he envisages a comfy bed again.

Turning to the guard as the group enters the gate "Greetings, if you would, which inn and stables do you recommend for a comfy and pleasant stay for a day or two and what local rules must one abide by here?

"And a lore house--we'll have need of that."

Lexanna whispers to Harun, so we're here to do 'research' to know where to go next.  I get the feeling that 'we' is actually 'him.'  So what are we going to do until he finds what he's looking for.  Elves aren't known for their haste."

"Not really sure," Harun whispers back. "Daggerford isn't a big place. I'm sure there's a tavern about given the traffic through here."  He pauses for a second as he notices the cows. "A caravan guard once told me about this thing called 'cow tipping'. It seemed like a strange pastime... but now I'm oddly curious."

Well, this company depends on me to guide them, but I know next to nothing of the lay of this land. Nor do I have any maps other than the relics we just picked up. In many ways, if Corym is right, we’ll be going to places not often frequented by folks and may have to learn to make our own maps. I plan on heading out and learning the ways of the wilds around here, and a companion would be helpful. Maybe you could learn to make the maps while I learn to walk the trails. New skills, right?

Dwarvess and Elves don't always mix well, the aloof and the sturdy, yet Krackor was young, had learnt from many days standing guard in a single spot, that patience can help, however he had also learnt that when people focus too much, they can get lost in their task and miss important things, like friendship and family.

This was now a kind of family to the young Dwarf, he was finding out what their nuances were, Corym loved to Study, Harun wanted to see something different, Obar watches and takes his time before makeng the right choices, Kora tries to make it bigger, what ever 'bigger' was, Lexanna wanted to be out, out in the wilds.

He thought about himself then, wanting to see, to learn, to experience, to honour Gorm the best he could by following his tenants. Krackor had been shown this group, led to them specifically, mostly to help Obar, was he helped already? In part, maybe. The rest of his 'family'... They are just as important now.

How about we find this tavern that the helpful gate guard is about to tell us of, settle in then find out whats happening around hear whilst Corym searches for clues and maps? Between us we should be able to get something!

Wise beyond his years, he saw that in a town, the group could find somethings on their own, widen the net so to speak, to catch more information.

The gate guard smiles widely. "Aye, you've come to the right city. The Lady Luck tavern is what you want. You could go to the River Shining if you've got gold burning holes in your pouches, but Lady Luck is the one for people like you or me. Just don't drink from the goblet on the bar and you'll be fine.

"Lore-wise, well, you're not exactly spoiling for choice. Maybe Yellowknife has something, but he's more interested in training magelings. Kryptgarden Scrolls is the town library; if it's in town, it'll be there. You'll need to hire the scribes to do the research, though. They don't let just anyone read the books."

In reply to DM (msg # 182):

Many thanks and may the ever Vigilant Host see the good work you do.  My friend here will be very interested in the town library.

If you are allowed a gift of food, may this coin help you gain it  Krackor offers a couple of silver pieces to the Guard, just in case.

Once he has relayed the information to the group, the Guardian Priest exclaims I hear the pot calling along with the tankard, remember, don't touch the Goblet, I'm sure we'll see it when we go in.

"Excellent!" Corym exclaims.  "Though I'd rather do my own research.  Elorfindar probably could've gotten in as a friend of knowledge or what have you."

As they walk through the gate Corym rattles on, "I've heard of Kryptgarden.  They'll undoubtedly have what we need.  Everyone knows that Secomber was built atop the ruins of Hastarl, but the villages of Athalantar are largely undiscovered, and this map shows where they are.  What we need to find is some lore that will indicate which of them will present the richest target.  Athalantar was ruled by Mage Lords, and their secrets may prove both to he of great value for the present age.  A map for the present, an ancient travelogue, and we can be on our way."

"The Secomber area then? How long do you think it will take you?"
This message was last updated by the player at 22:09, Sat 20 Oct 2018.

The guard catches your coins and pockets them with a smile. "Glad to be of service. Welcome to Daggerford."

No telling.  We'll have to see how fluid Kryptgarden is.  Let's hurry on to the Inn.

On entering the tavern, Krackor moves to arrange food, drink and rooms for the company.

You walk into the Lady Luck tavern and instantly know that his place was made for you and your kind. Adventurers. Men and women who gamble on the blade's edge.

It's a converted warehouse, the tap room spreading out wide and far, only broken by the bar at the back and the wall separating the kitchen. Tables are scattered everywhere without any apparent pattern, more than half of them occupied by well-armed men and women. Most have some manner of weapon at their side, those who don't are fairly obviously magic users.

In the center of the taproom a single, massive, stone column reaches from the floor to the ceiling. It's studded with iron hooks and pegs, from which hang battered shields and blazons. More shields and weapons, along with severed monster heads, line the walls. The north wall, to your left and to the right of the bar, has been painted with a massive map of Faerun almost twenty feet tall. Around the circumference of the room on the second level are studded a series of small balconies, each large enough to fit a table for six or seven, with a narrow wooden stair leading to the ground floor.

Some heads turn when you enter; you're marked but no one seems to find you particularly of interest. There's a healthy hum of conversation throughout the tavern; it's still too early for the serious drinking to have gotten much under way. You take a seat at a table just large enough for you, and a barmaid comes by relatively quickly and takes orders for drink and food. When Krackor inquires, she says that the tavern doesn't have any rooms for rent. She suggests either the Daggerford Inn (dirty but warm) or Dragonback Inn (more rustic).

Lady, a large jug of Ale and enough goblets for one each please.
If you had to stay in one of those two inns, which would you choose?

"The Dragonback. I don't like dirt in my bed."

Thank you.

Once they were alone again "I'm sure rumours abound in here, we really should check out this Dragonback place though before rooms become full, I can go with one or two of you if preferred, procure sleeping space then return."

Once drinks had been emptied, Krackor vacates the tavern with whomever was going with him.

Harun quaffs down the first drink with Krackor then takes a seat next to Lexi. "When do you plan to head out and get a lay of the land?  I'll gladly accompany you.  Two are better than one if you're traveling."

He looks around the large room, "This is a comfortable place.  Not bad."

Harun, Lexanna, are you two going out of town?  If it's tomorrow, I wouldn't mind joining you although there may be some things I need to do here first.

It's nice enough in here but no beds

The Dragonback it is!

Corym keeps his eye out for interesting shops along the way.