Mysteries of Khatara IC (Labyrinth Lord)

[IfanYFfwl]

The thud of the trade cog coming to rest against the stone pier jars you from your private thoughts. You have arrived at last, and the uncomfortable journey from Daular is finally over. The only passengers on the cog, you have come to know each other passably well on the journey, and have decided to travel together, at least for a time. You glance briefly at the faint edges of the vast Maelstrom in it's lazy turn, before turning towards Suraksha as it swelters in the noonday heat. As you disembark, you eye the trade port, comparing the reality to what you have heard.

Established about a year ago, the docks, tradehouses and warehouses are already completed. The temples to the Prophet and the Thirteen are completed and in the process of being embellished, and several taverns and tea houses have been thrown together. Wooden barracks and a wooden palisade look already weathered. Blacksmiths, general stores, herbalists, and a cartographer can be seen around the town. As for housing, this mainly consists of simple wooden structures, though here and there more impressive structures can be seen.

Apparently, the two nations of Daular and Impireacht are sharing garrison duties; no doubt this is a source of tension in the town. You have heard that little effort has been made so far to explore the island, but this may soon change, as Imperial cartographers and explorers from both nations are beginning to make their way to the continent, along with a few mercenaries and adventurers like yourselves.

Now you must decide your first step. Obviously striking out into the wilderness is a definite option. However, it may be more profitable to find employment in the town before doing so. Some individuals may be desperate enough to hire complete unknowns with whatever is troubling them.

[thirdkingdom]

Gorg the Unwary

With gold burning a hole in his money pouch, Gorg decides to visit the cartographer and see if he can't obtain a map of the surrounding environs.

[Mordae]

Envyn steps lightly from the gangplank, the hood of his somewhat careworn green cloak pulled up over his mane of pale blond locks to conceal the distinctive pointy ears that protrude from under the flaxen mass. He had learned through experience not to reveal his origin until he could be certain there would be no... repercussions. He would need food and lodging, and the small fortune he had managed to purloin from his father's purse would not last forever without work. He had spent much of it equipping himself for the purported dangers of this island colony.

With an exaggerated sense of urgency in his mind, he quickly settles on the nearest tavern and heads there to gather information on potential employment situations.

[Elbeyon]

To the side of the dock, out of most peoples way, he takes in the sights. A deep breath of sea air, mixed with a month's worth of hard earned odor, and the following exhalation leads him mumbling to himself, "Oh, Laermara we're finely here." Beyond tempted to stay hauled in the town for the next week exploring all that she has to offer, he knows that he can't fall into his old trappings. He's here for a cause which can't be furthered by sitting within the safety of the town's walls. Easing off some goods he found to sit on he starts off away from the docks for the first times.

Limited in time by his companion's patience an evening's stop is all that he's guaranteed. Whatever water source is available to the public he'll take advantage of to wash himself down, sorely missing the sensations of a proper bath. Cleaner than he was he starts exploring the town. Stopping to talk to folks that seem not to mind a light conversation he asks about the relations between the town, Daular and Impireacht. Who holds the town's rights, who is in charge, and whatever tensions that has seemed to have caused between the two. Barely confident he won't make some faux pas he makes his way to each garrison.

Introducing himself and his two missing companions to both groups, he'll ask what type of problems they've been dealing with. What type of problems they've had with the wild in particular. And, what type of aid they are seeking if any.

[Lt. Tibbles]

Coraan came off the boat feeling like he was going to empty his stomach, but he managed to keep it down. "I swear if dwarves were meant to be on the water we would've been born with gills...I could use a drink." With Coraan makes his way after Envyn hoping to find an inn nearby to get some ale and maybe information if they were lucky.

[Mordae]

Envyn had been... intrigued by the dwarf on the boat, to say the least. All his father's stories had spoken of how dwarves and elves were as oil and water, except someone had set the oil on fire. But Coraan had proved to be neither antagonistic nor friendly, just... very hairy. And so Envyn treated him politely and largely left him alone throughout the voyage.

The fact that the dwarf was following him might have set off alarm bells in a more experienced elf, but Envyn was too naive or curious to care. He continues on his way to the tavern and, with a bit of an elbow, pushes the door open.