Chapter 3 – Meeting at the Nightengale

AUTHOR NOTE: Most of Aliana's quotes and actions are from David Fry, who plays the character in the campaign. Just wanted to throw in that some the quotes are taken pretty much verbatim from his quotes in the sessions and forums. DMDapperDan supplied the quotes of the NPC's in the story, as well as the story idea itself, which is still currently ongoing. Thanks Dan and David.

Chapter 4 --------------------------------

The woodsmen opened his eyes as trickles of light began to stream through the closed shutters, signaling a new dawn. He felt some of the energy return from the long, rigorous journey through the snow covered forest. The pot of embers next to the bed was now little more than grey ashes, making the room chilly, but thankfully absent of the biting, cold wind. The bucket of water the chambermaid left was also cold, but far better than the frozen water of the outdoors. The woodsmen removed a cloth from his pack, dropped a bar of soap in the bucket and freshened up, wiping clean the soot and grime from his travels. He dressed quickly and donned his leather jerkin and pants. After clasping the grey cloak at his breast, he slung his composite longbow over his shoulder, buckled on his belt holding his sword scabbard and two leather pouches. Making sure his items were secure, he headed out the door and downstairs to the common room, the smell of breakfast wafted down the corridor, an aromatic invitation to join the morning meal.

The grey-haired innkeeper was busy adding some logs onto the fire, sending glowing ashes flitting in all directions. The three caravan guards from last night were slumped over on their table still grasping mugs and snoring loudly. He rolled his eyes, not understanding why people would willingly leave themselves vulnerable and in such a condition. The room was otherwise empty and Velarus at an open table waiting for the Innkeeper to finish with the hearth.

After a few minutes, the innkeeper walked over to the ranger. "Good mornin' to ye."

"And to thee, innkeeper."

The older man paused for a minute, waiting for the customer to order and prodded him to begin, "What can I get ye for breakfast? I have some hot meat soup ready in the kitchen"

"That will be fine. I'd appreciate some apple cider as well," he added.

The innkeeper nodded and scuttled back to the kitchen, just as the two merchants descended from the upper rooms. Velarus watched the two men as they sat at a nearby table.

The grey-haired innkeeper reappeared and took their order and headed back into the kitchen. The two sat and talked quietly as they waited. After about fifteen minutes the grey-haired man emerged with a tray full of food and drinks. He deposited two bowls and two mugs, as well as a small plate of cheese on the merchants table. Then he brought the remaining bowl to the ranger, as well as a flask of cider.

"Thank thee," Velarus remarked, thoughtfully.

The old man nodded nonchalantly to the woodsman and returned to his chair behind the counter. The young lady with the white dress with silver trim stitching entered the common room and after spotting her acquaintance she sat down with the ranger.

"Good morning, Lady Aliana." He followed her gaze to the soup. "Meat soup. It is pretty good, but more importantly hot."

"Good morning Velarus." The young mage smiled to the woodsmen. "I am hungry. That sounds good." He could tell it was not her usual fare, but being on the road did not allow for one to be to picky about their meals. She motioned to the barkeep and he took her order, and brought out another steaming bowl of food.

The two merchants finished their soup and stood up to leave. The dark haired, heavy set merchant gazed at the three men snoozing at the corner table. "Well it looks like our hired hands went and got drunk. Can't find any good help these days." Blaris shook his head in resignation and turned to Velarus. "We have business at the Citadel and so does the young lady."

The ranger turned to regard the two merchants, not sure why the man was explaining his future plans to him. He spoke up in return, "Aliana mentioned ye have picked up several items from a skirmish. I would like to take a look at some of the contents. I've been investigating similar scenes of battles in the Storm Horns."

The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow, "Ah. Yes. Well, since our men are out we will need some help digging the wagon out of the snow. If ye help with that ye can search through this junk."

The ranger nodded, "Very well." He hadn't plan digging snow to start the day, but if it would help with his investigation he was determined to do what was necessary.

The quartet headed out into the cold, cloudy day, wrapping themselves in their various cloaks. The group came to two wagons a little more than half buried in a deep snow drift. The merchants handed out shovels and the four spent nearly and hour digging out the wooden wagons, and then a path to the main road.

The blonde merchant began checking the carts and counting the wares contained within them. Aliana leaned on her handle, while breathing hard from the physical exertion. She removed a silver flask from her cloak, unscrewed the cap and took a long drink. Velarus just watched her and the merchants, not fazed by the labor.

The thinner merchant threw shut the canvas covering on the first wagon. "I'm missing twenty bars of iron ingots.. and have gained three sheets of hide."

The dark haired merchant eyed the younger man. "Sounds like ye counted all wrong Emanus."

The younger merchant's face turned a slight shade of red. "I think I know how to count, Blaris! Twenty bars is a lot to miscount."

"It was probably one of the mercs who left the caravan a while back. I wouldn't worry about it."

Velarus checked around the cart. "I don't see any other tracks in the area, so it must have gone missing before ye arrived."

Blaris shrugged and looked to the ranger. "Ah, he's imagining things... The Purple Dragons equipment is in the second cart.."

Emanus crossed his arms across his chest. "It was stolen by one of those slack-jawed mercenaries from Easting."

The two merchants continued to argue for several minutes. Velarus started chuckling at the two men as they carried on. "Tsk. Tsk. City folk."

Aliana just seemed vaguely puzzled by the whole affair.

Emanus turned to the ranger, who tried to stifle his amusement to avoid offending the merchants. "Ye wanted to look at the knight's equipment we found?"

Velarus straightened up and drove the shovel into the snow. "Yes. But I didn't want to hold up the trip to Suzail. I'll check the equipment as ye make thy way to the city. I promised the young lady I would accompany her on her search."

"Good. Let's get these carts on the road." The burly merchant began to strap the horses to the cart. After several minutes of rocking back and forth the cart finally moved and the horses carried it up to the hard packed snow of the main road. The merchants tied up the other horses to the second cart and had a little bit easier time getting it on the road.

Velarus hopped in the cart with the knight's equipment and they began the short trip to Suzail. The ranger browsed through the Purple Dragon equipment looking for any symbols like the one on the bone fragments, but found nothing out of the ordinary with the items.

The caravan arrived after about two hours to the South Gate of Suzail. The spires and towers rose into the air above the ramparts and battlements of the outer city walls. It was quite an impressive sight, sprawling over a great distance with many large stone and marble buildings, temples, and towers.

A Purple Dragon soldier peered out through a slit in the tower, and two knights armed with spears, bearing a banner of Cormyr appeared before the small group. He checked over the caravan and it's occupants. "A trader, eh?"

Blaris nodded to the knight.

The second guard stepped up pulling his cloak around him, slightly shivering in the cold. "What are ye trading and who are ye carrying?"

Emanus turns to the others. "Alright kids, off the wagons."

Blaris pointed his thumb behind him. "We got some iron ingots, and some leather. All Western."

Velarus hopped out of the wagon deftly and crunched the snow as he landed, while the burly merchant made his declarations.

The thin merchant walked up to the guards. "We also found some of your soldiers equipment out near Storm Horn pass."

The guard opened the canvas flap covering the cart. "Where did ye find these?"

Emanus repeated himself to the guard, somewhat agitated, "Storm Horns."

The guard looked his partner, and the other guard motioned for the merchants to pass through then turned to Aliana and Velarus. "Ye two wait there."

Aliana waited patiently, looking at the guard with a bit of a quizzical stare. Velarus remembered the city rule about peace ribbons, and presented his sword scabbard.

The guard commented, "All weapons must be bound with a peace ribbon while within the city. Failure to do so will get ye a stiff fine and possibly jail time." The guards pulled out some purple ribbons and tied the ranger's sword to prevent removing it from the scabbard, as well as the lady mage's dagger and sheath. "Ye may pass now."

The group passed through the massive gate and entered one of the main roads through the city, catching up to the merchants. The road was kept pretty well clean, with some snow piled in large hills to either side.

Emanus turned his head back toward the passengers as he spoke, "This here is the Promenade. The main street of Suzail."

"Aliana, which tavern did ye say the menu came from that ye found?" The ranger asked, loud enough for the merchants to hear.

The lady thought for a moment and asked, "Have you ever heard of a tavern called 'The Shining Blade'?"

Emanus shrugged. "If it belonged to the Orc yer lookin' for, it probably is down by the docks."

"I shall check there then," she stated, simply.

Velarus added, "I haven't heard of this place either m'lady, though I have only been to the capital thrice, not including this trip."

Emanus turned his head back as he shook the reins to the two horses pulling the cart. "The Purple Dragons at the Citadel will know. They might be able to tell ye about that Orc friend yer lookin' for. I doubt an orc half-breed would walk through the city without getting the attention of the Dragons."

Velarus chimed in, "especially in light of the recent troubles."

Aliana gave the ranger a questioning glance. "There has been trouble?"

Emanus sighed. "Ye don't know the half of it girly."

The ranger cast a condescending glance at the merchant at his manner of addressing the young lady, then turned to the mage. "We have had long and brutal wars against the Orc and Gnoll tribes in the region. Many of those loyal to Cormyr lost their lives, including my father."

"Oh...yes. All right. I am sorry to bring that up, then. My apologies."

Emanus spoke up again as the crossed another intersection, "Yeah, it was bad back then. But I'd take a whole tribe of orcs over walkin' corpses any day." The blonde haired, middle-aged trader shuddered at the thought.

Aliana also looked a little pale over the new subject. "The corpses that lie around and decompose are most preferable, relatively speaking."

The Promenade is usually bustling with activity, but due to the inclimate weather of late, the streets are nearly deserted. Blaris pointed out a side street to Emanus. "That's the one. Yep. Street of Staves. That'll take us to the Citadel." The merchants steered the wagons down a side street which is still relatively wide and clear and headed toward the Citadel, the Purple Knights headquarters and main keep of the city.