Dungeons and Dragons
The Heroes of Dolmar

Chapter 1
"Lady Illara Belthane"

On a bright summer day, the streets of Dolmar were bustling with activity. Talathar, a young elf, walked down a crowded street, observing the many travelers and merchants. Talathar paid no attention to the merchants who called out to him, for he was already well stocked in his usual adventuring gear. Despite all the excitement it provided, Talathar was growing annoyed with the tournaments. They always attracted extra foreigners to his hometown, and made it impossible for one to walk from one's home to one's favorite tavern without twenty or so offers of "the best deal in town."

Talathar pushed open the door to the Inebriated Mouse, his favorite tavern in the local area. He would visit the Drunken Rat, but their prices were too high. Talathar took a seat at the bar, beside an out-of-town dwarf, whose warhammer was propped on his stool, and whose beard was nearly drenched with ale.

Talathar glanced around, but saw no sign of his compatriots, who were to meet him. He did catch a glimpse of a hooded figure sitting beside a rather large man in the corner of the room. He couldn't see the hooded person's face, and didn't recognize the man. The bartender came over to Talathar.

"Welcome back, good sir. Will you have the usual today?"

Talathar nodded and accepted his drink a few moments later, still remaining silent. The dwarf beside him was nearly passed out, and his beard was in danger of becoming even more soaked as it hovered precariously over his mug as his head began to nod. Talathar shook his head. It wasn't even lunchtime yet, and this dwarf was already drunk.

Talathar took another look around the bar. He still didn't see his friends, and figured they would approach him when they arrived, so he wasn't really sure why he was looking around. Then, he noticed the large man in the corner motioning for him to come over. Talathar wasn't sure of the man's intentions, but Talathar had only had one drink so far, and was a competent swordsman, should things come to that.

Talathar picked up his drink and walked over to the table. The man motioned for him to sit, and he did. Before Talathar could speak, the hooded figured lifted her head, and Talathar instantly recognized Lady Illara Belthane. Lady Illara was half-elf, and was a friend of his since their meeting on board a pirate vessel, which, as it happens, Talathar was serving aboard, and Lady Illara's ship was the one being raided.

"Talathar, I need your help."

"Anything for you, my lady." Talathar replied with a slight bow of his head.

"Keep quiet. I do not wish anyone here to know who I am. Father passed away recently, and while I was going through his study, I came across something rather unsettling."

Illara passed a piece of parchment to Talathar. Talather unfolded it and looked it over. "Well, I'm no expert on such matters, but these look like arcane markings."

Illara nodded. "They are. As a cleric of Yarra, I recognized those markings as the symbol of Asgoth. Although, the other symbol is foreign to me." Illara pointed to a drawing of a curved claw.

Talathar shook his head. "I do not recognize it either."

"I feared that father was involved in dark magic. I was afraid of what else I might uncover, so I left the study alone, but before I left, I could have sworn that I heard voices coming from behind the wall."

"Are you certain?"

"As sure as I am that you are sitting here. Will you come over and investigate?"

"I would be honored to assist."

At this point, their conversation was interrupted as a fight suddenly erupted at the bar between the nearly drunken dwarf, and a rather large, dark-skinned man.

Talathar lept to his feet. "Excuse me, my lady, my friend there may need my assistance." Talathar drew his rapier and rushed to the fight.