You opened the door and stepped inside. The inside looked much like the outside. Fancy enough for any lord to call his home. Perhaps the guildhall even got its start that way. Two humans were nearby. A male behind a counter close to the door and a female walking across the large room with twice the normal height to the ceiling.

There were corridors to the left, the right, and further inside the building. There were also two curved staircases going upstairs. There was a geometrical pattern in the marble floor between them.

Being raised to a baron unfortunately came with no instructions on how to act more lordly, and though Olven Wolf accepted the king’s choice, Wolf still finds the condition uncomfortable, like walking around in another person’s clothing. Raising an eyebrow, Olven says, ”D’aden, if I didn’t know you better, I’d suspect you were making a joke at my expense.” He smiles wolfishly. ”What would you name our group, if we had a name?”

Olven surveys the hallways. ”Now where do we go to find a guide?” Spying the man behind the counter, Olven Wolf saunters over.

”Excuse me, sir. My companions and I are looking to hire a local guide. Who should we talk to?”

"[Language unknown: O setack enwand comnd tr ons ndestaout tainprun, Il proverast.]"
"Considering our situation, we might be better off bartering the guides services. They help us to where we need to go, we help them to whatever it is they're trying to get done. Let's be flexible, like that elvish dancer we saw last night."

"There are many members of the guild who know these parts well enough," the man said. "Is there anything, in particular, you are looking for?"

To D’aden, Olven Wolf says, ”Exactly. Or we could offer whoever is available an equal share in whatever we find. But your meaning continues to go right over my head, D’aden. If we are to be as flexible as that wonderful dancer last night, I’m going to need her to give me some more lessons.”

Turning back to the representative of the Guild, Olven says, “We want to explore the ruins of the palace of the Dragon regents. We’ll need someone who can handle themselves in dangerous situations. For payment, we can offer a share of what we recover, or, as my friend here says, we can help our guide with a problem of their choosing.”

D'aden smiles, and says "we have traveled far to get here, please correct us if we say something that isn't true. I'm mentioning this because if there are multiple places called 'palace of the dragon regents' and only certain ones are ruined, we might not be correct in assuming the one in ruin is the one we want."

"Yes, yes of course," the man said. "There are two of our members here, in particular, that could help you with that."

"Hey," he called out to a nearby halfling and she turned to look at him. "Get Aerynn and Nassrin." She nodded and hurried away. Soon she returned with an elf and a dwarf.

Aerynn entered along with the halfling and dwarf, looking around to the group that was gathered there before finally speaking up, "Good day. I was told there was something that could potentially use some assistance...?" he remarks, glancing to the halfling who had fetched him before looking back.

D'aden decides to speak up, "[Language unknown: Ame ssospl ort M aitoet i meeeat whe amerutrut ad ent oreioupro nc lofi Lesoulcom wiplpr. Eiro'timoenwh, ei di dinred-omevor wewies mi but esis wilencort a thto ereeauugh.] We were hoping to find guides to get us there, who would accept a share of whatever we find as recompense."

An odd-looking dwarf strolls over with elf and halfling, eyeing the crowd a little doubtfully. She carries a large mug of ale she clearly did not want to leave behind. "I am Nassrin, the Silver Lion. I hear you need someone with my talents." Her clothing prominently displaying her more-than-ample bosom suggests she is more of a tavern wench than an adventurer, but she does look quite strong and fit.

”Greetings,” Olven Wolf says, inclining his head. Wolf is youngish, brown-haired, above average in height, muscular and lithe. ”I am Baron Olven Wolf. As my friend here D’aden might have said if I could understand your language, we seek the ruins of the dragon monarchs. We are strangers here, which is why we need your assistance.” He looks sideways at D’aden and raises an eyebrow. ”Or did I completely miss that part of the conversation?”

With raised eyebrows, D'aden replies to Olven, "that would have been too serious. I'm trying out the whole 'jester' thing to see if I like it. I'm also trying to be sure any problems with communication pop up before we're facing something life threatening."
[Language unknown: Atntnt, St li u ompasi ameme a ortntidayson ntiono k acwe nde diivas no ast ere lesnotive ivday se evehouand, men. Mi rut noter iv llpr unpeli laiou o adecei ughear'aveine infor omwa it o unday naort.]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Mon 28 Oct 2019.

Aerynn looks between the individuals gathered, a puzzled look showing on his face at the dialogue going on in a language he doesn't quite understand it seems - at least based on the look on his face.

"Going to the ruins might find some interesting things, but it could also be trouble that is found. That place has claimed more than a few over the years," he remarks, looking to Nassrin also and then back to the group  "It might be interesting to see the place, however, as long as everyone went prepared. Is there something specific you are looking for there or is this just a.. resource gathering trip?"

D'aden nodded. "That would be a long tale, and I've not finished setting it to music yet. Would an excursion to these ruins be lucrative if there was some singular item required by some members of the expedition?"

The dwarf has been sipping on her ale while listening and visually sizing up the others in the group. "That is just the sort of place I would enjoy exploring. And getting my share of what could be lucrative treasures sounds just right... As for communication, all this translating will become problematic at times. We'll have to explore each other's tongues... And I would be interested to hear your long tale, especially set to music. Do you play an instrument? I have been known to sing a good tune, myself." She follows that with a large swallow of her ale.

Olven Wolf grunts and shoots a glance at D’aden. ”You and your jokes. I can’t take you anywhere, D’aden.”

He grins slightly and turns back to their new acquaintances. Without a trace of irony, Wolf says, ”Indeed, I welcome the opportunity to understand your tongue better. As for our reasons for undertaking this journey, as my friend said, we seek two things. One is a cowl that we’ve been asked to retrieve. Another is an item that may cure a condition of mine. I’m under a curse, you see, and the Dragon King once possessed something that may be able to cure me. Unfortunately, we do not know what this item is. Perhaps it is the same thing as the cowl, and perhaps not.”

Olven glances at his comrades and turns back to the newcomers. Has he been too stilted, too wooden? He is the same Olven that he was before, before the King of Kalaman made him a baron, before that frightening attack that night that forever changed him. Calmly yet seriously, he says, ”As a servant of the High God, I need to tell you that my curse is dangerous. Olven and Roisin lock me up at night, and Roisin’s golem restrains me. This arrangement has worked well so far, but I am still a danger, and it’s only fair that you know before signing on.”

”We four have already successfully explored one ancient ruin and dealt with the inhabitants we found there. You can have full confidence in our group, and I welcome your help in this endeavor.”

D'aden nodded, replying, "I don't go anywhere without my mandolin."
Looking towards Roisin and laying it on thick with a grimace, D'aden goes on, "To my chagrin, there are those that find my own singing somewhat less than desirable. Oh, woe is me I can't hit that C!"
"I suspect they would welcome a change."

"Curses do not scare me, but prudence is wise. What exactly happens at night?" Nassrin locks her eyes on Olven Wolf and drinks more, looking far more interested than worried.

In reply to D'aden she says, "Then we will have to perform together, at least once we know a common song." She does have a melodious voice, suggesting her singing would be welcome.

Shaking his head, Olven says, ”Roisin may not appreciate D’aden’s performance, but in truth, he’s not half-bad. It’s true that he’s a better fighter than a singer, but he could make a living as a performer.”

Olven Wolf grimaces a bit and lowers his voice so that only those present can hear. ”I can go into detail about my affliction later, but for now, suffice it to say that I am transformed when I sleep and lose control of myself.  It is a grievous curse, and were it not for my friends, I do not know what I would do. Their support has helped me survive, and I am forever in their debt. I am confined every evening, and by morning, I am once more in control of myself.”

Baron Olven looks troubled. ”I may have said too much, but I want you to be forewarned, and therefore forearmed.”

Aerynn nodded as he listened on, thoughtful it appeared before he added, "I'm sure you know the source of the affliction at least, but as you say, something that can be discussed at a later time. I've studied a bit about the old dragon kings' holdings, though haven't strictly visited any of them of course. All things considered, it could certainly be a beneficial visit," he agrees, thinking about it for a moment longer himself before he finally nods.


"I'd be willing to go along as well. At the least, seeing how the ruins have held up over the years and what - if anything - has taken up residence there could be useful information."

Soberly, D'aden repeats an old saying, "[Language unknown: Ho illin laisth po verwi cononeessing evesonart, ut pretertin ncthe ere mahond ieilme.]"
"We'll take care of the curse together, friend Olven, evil shared is evil divided."

"Sounds like we're in agreement, then, and a new company is formed. Shall we drink to the success of our new venture?" Nassrin downs what remains of her mug of ale. "I'll need a refill first. Anyone else need more?"

”I’ll gladly share a drink with you any time,” Olven Wolf says to the strangely pretty dwarf. He finds his natural disinclination to spending time with other falling away in the face of Nassrin’s conviviality. ”I rarely turn down the invitation to a drink, especially from such good company. But we do have a job to do, and I’d like to get on the road. Perhaps if there’s a tavern between here and the dragon monarch’s palace, or otherwise, after our mission’s successfully completed.”

Having found some local talents to help you, the new and larger group left town. You hiked for two days without incident through the forest leading you to the Dragon King's Court. A fragment of a thick-walled keep seems to be all that remains. It's now covered in vines, but still taller than the surrounding trees.

Within the crumpled stump of a keep, the floor was made of flagstones, cracked by age. Though someone has recently cleared away obvious rubble to the edges. A significant amount of vegetation has recently been cut away, leaving cut branches on the surviving shrubs and trees.

A set of bronze gates, twice as high as you are tall and even wider, stood at one end of the interior. They are battered and corroded with age. But the hinges of the locked door have been recently oiled.

"Lovely."
D'aden begins to look around for suggestions that traffic has gone somewhere other than through the gates. As he does so, he says to Olven, "Isn't this the point where someone asks if we should knock or just barge in while someone else does one or the other?"

OOC: 01:31, Today: D'aden Tor VIII rolled 13 using 3d6.  tracking -13.