You press on again today towards the southeast, making your way through the Blackwood. Despite the name, the forest does not seem to be an evil place...in fact it seems to be considerably healthier than the Mississippi Forest. Perhaps the cold snap of a month ago did not strike so hard, here...
Late in the afternoon, though, the forest starts to thin out...and scrubby moors start to take its place. The terrain starts to look less healthy...and more decrepid.
"We're approaching Nolthen," says McTavish darkly.
At around dinnertime...as the scrubland starts to dominate the forest, the road turns more to the east, and you come to a smalled, walled hamlet. Unlike the previous four settlements you have passed through, this one is still occupied. This is the Free Town of Black Gate.
You pass through the gate after a cursory inspection and into the hamlet. For some of you, it has been several months since you were last in civilised surroundings, and the streets seem to be crowded. You see quite a range of races, here, though most seem to be either of human or orcish descent. Black Gate was founded by people who fled west from Nolthen when the Wizard Imrimil invaded it.
Walking towards the centre of town you pass several temples (Mielikki and Untamo), a tannery, a tailor, a smithy, a tavern and finally an Inn: The Trapper's Arms.
You stop, go in and take rooms for the night (18sp each).
Afterwards, you head down to the common room for dinner.
The common room is small but busy...filled with local workers (trapping and logging seem to be the major industries around here), traders and merchants. One person sits alone. Rather nondescript in clothing and appearance, he nevertheless does not quite seem to fit in, here.
He eyes the arrival of your party curiously...
Pillar meets the gaze of the man and shouts "Traitor!" then runs out of the room never to be seen in that tavern again, and not to be seen by the party for some time either.
McTavish the dwarf watches as Pillar goes running off screaming into the night, then glances at the stranger.
"Don't worry about him," he says with a nod to the receding cleric, "He's quite insane."
Britan looks around at McTavish and the rest of the group in pure bafflement and says. "What the heck was that all about and who the hell is Uni."
Aldarin: "Bel, old friend. It is good to see you again." He heads over to take up a seat with Bel.
Britan looks over and smiles and says.
"Well Well Bel Long time no see, you sure are a sight for sore eyes."
Raz looks at Britan and Aldarian and says..."Hmmm...guys...I don't think that's Bel..."
Kelar regards the stranger.
"Hello friend...what brings you to this place ?"
The man at the table says, "Self-preservation mostly, the press-gangs were out in force in Brach Pol. I would advise you to be careful if your headed that way, the orcs are particularly not fond of some races." He nods at the dwarf. "The name is Banquo." He stands and extends his hand in greeting.
The man is about 5'11 1/2", wearing black leather armor with metal studs, a black helmet and carrying a curved nasty-looking sword and a black shield with a point large enough to stab with in the middle...no, this is not Bel by any stretch of the imagination.
The dwarf comes over and shakes his hand.
"McTavish here. I don't take no shit," he says. "What can you tell us about Nolthen? It's been many years since I was last there...and the rest of these clowns have never been near the place. You're the second person we've met to mention press gangs. The other guy said that the people were being pressed and then marched south."
He pauses and puffs on his pipe.
"How well do you know Nolthen? We could use a guide," McTavish pauses, and then adds, "And a cleric as well."
Aldarin says, "Ho, sorry, mistakened you for someone else. Let me buy you another ale", motioning for the barmaid and then ordering an ale and a wine.
Raz regards the stranger with an arched eyebrow. He then turns and walks over to the barkeep. You see him whispering something.
Banquo grins and says, "Nolthen is as evil as ever, the orcs run the day to day stuff. You know murder, rape, pillaging etc. The Demons and Vampires take care of large matters. For some reason Imrimil is recruiting stiffly for some affair in the south though I have heard rumors the press gangs have let up. Brach Pol is run by a vampire who collects a blood tax from all travellers, not a nice guy but a powerful cleric. I could help you with directions if you will help me get back. The territory is awash with brigands and you don't travel alone if you can help it."
"Done," says McTavish. "Now all we need is a cover. You ain't a cleric, are you?"
Smiling, Aldarin states rather harshly, "Demons and Vampires, sounds like interesting times ahead, eh?" He takes a long swig from his wine.
Banquo nearly doubles over in laughter, straightens up and says, "No, not by half. I can give a good imitation of a troubador if forced though."
McTavish smiles.
"Didn't think you were a cleric...but in these parts you can never be too sure," he replies. "So what are your talents?"
Banquo straightens up and replies, "The only coin of the realm in Nolthan is your ability to deal in death, I am good enough to survive in a land where my kind is at the bottom of the food chain."
"Ohhhh...so you're a paladin?" McTavish calls over to the grey elf in the party. "Hey Farad...you've got to meet this guy!"
McTavish's eyes are twinkling with mirth.
Banquo nearly sprays his beer over this statement, then appraises Farad as he approaches and relaxes.
Farad looks at Banquo. "Are you a paladin?"
"I guess it remains to be seen what sort of paladin he might be, if indeed he is one. If he is more concerned with his good name than riding the world of evil then he can stay right here for I want nothing to do with him."
Banquo replies, "A Paladin would not survive growing up in Nolthen, only an experienced, powerful Paladin would live through even a trip to Nolthen. I hope you are such. I am concerned with ridding my home of all the creatures that torture my friends and relatives. Evil is a matter of perspective, they think they are right in doing their tortures and I hate them for what they do. I have no good name to protect and care not if I ever get one. I live to remove the creatures that subjugate and murder my people."
Farad looks on approvingly. "I think we will get along fine then."
After talking to the barkeep for a moment, you see Raz come back over to you. He looks disappointed.
Banquo laughs at the look on Raz's face and says, "About the only data you'll get from the barkeep is that I drink dark ale and pay my bill. Ask away if you want to know things." Banquo sits down smiling and swigs some ale.
Startled by Banquo's statement..Raz pauses a moment and then says with a half-smile, "My...aren't we a bit self-centered?" Raz then sits down and calls out for a waitress. Raz then looks directly at Banquo and asks, "Do you play blackjack?"
Banquo's face gets stiff as he says, "Everything I have I have had to take from those who ravage my lands, I do not play trivial games with hard earned possessions."
Raz visibly tenses as Banquo says this.
Banquo's face breaks into a smile as he says, "Now a bar fight, that's another matter. Especially if orcs are ont he other side. It's worth paying damage fees for the pleasure of smashing a few pig-noses."
Raz relaxes as the man finishes his statement and says, "Interesting ethics friend. Let's just be sure that it's orcs you fight."
With that Raz gets up and leaves the area of the table..looking elsewhere around the bar for a friendly face with a fist full of money.
Banquo still smiling as he watches Raz depart says, "Now there is a man with no sense of humor or trust in his fellow man. He might survive a while in Nolthen but he won't enjoy himself."
Humphrey says with a big smile, "Well met Banquo, My name is Humphrey and I am from Sandas. Glad to meet you. You wouldn't know if one could buy a magical sword here. I am tired of running into creatures I cannot hurt."
Banquo grins and says, "If I knew where I could find one I'd have one. Sorry chief, the lords of Nolthen do not tolerate any magic they do not control. Even here in Black Gate it is tough to find anything. Your group looks like it has been around, surely you have picked up something in your adventures you could use?"
Humphrey has a ding go off in his head. "That's right. Would anyone care if I claim the short sword that was found in Tav'm"
"Well Happy that all depends on if you can use it I guess." says Kelar. Turning to McTavish, he says, "You mean we are going into a place that is run by vampires and other nasty little creatures and you never thought to mention it?"
McTavish glares at the elf.
"Don't accuse me of concealing information from you!" he growls. "Do you think I hung around these places long enough to find out what the political situation was, three decades ago? You were warned that would be a dangerous journey before ye left. If ye ain't got the balls to see it through then ye can go runnin' right back to cower behind Yuri's skirts, right now!"
Mumbling to himself, Kelar says, "Well I guess I am really going to have to start working on my magics. Not likely to find magical scimtars just lying about."
Britan extends his hand toward Banquo to shake his hand and says, "I am Britan, Cavalier from the city of Puke, And it seems it is our lot to purge the lands of evil and restore peace and harmony to its inhabitancy."
After he shakes his hands he sits back down and says, "Oh and there is no way in Hell I am giving any blood to a Rodent Vampire for Taxes and live after it and it remain living."
McTavish nods.
Humphrey: "Well, before I go into a situation with demons and vampires and such, I sure would like to know what some of this magical stuff is. Should we go to a mage and try to get this stuff identified or can one of our mages do it now."
Raz, who has been listening to the conversation, gets up and walks closer to the group and says, "Sorry Humphrey, I do not have anything that will help." Raz then looks at Farad and Kelar and says, "How 'bout you two?"
Brtian say "Raz has everything been checked to see if it magical if so I guess the only thing that we need to know is maybe the alignment of if you think it would have one and, two if it is cursed could you or anyone in the group remove it."
"Hmmm," says Raz, "well I definately know that spell...I have one 'know alignment spell' memorized now and could memorize three more tomorrow. I also have some spells which may be able to remove a curse or deactivate magic..I'll have to check though."
"Well," says Britan, "That would be better than trying to find a Mage to Identify it right now and I don't think we have the time to waste teleporting to a major town to do it."
Humphrey's smile lessens a little:
"I guess you don't hold much hope for finding a mage here that could identify anything. Well, let's get a room and so you can cast your spells there.
Banquo, it's good to have you join us. I myself am just a fighter. But I am really strong and I am really good with these short swords." This last part makes Humphrey's smile get really big again.
Raz nods, and you all head upstairs.
You have the following magic items that are unclaimed:
potion
scroll
flail
ring mail (dwarf-sized)
dagger
scroll
scroll
military pick
potion
standard spell book
scroll
potion
scroll
potion
dagger
scroll
short sword (Humphrey wants this)
12 arrows
cloak
Raz casts a know alignment spell on the sword and then spends the rest of the night reading through all of the scrolls to see if he can find any useful spells that he doesn't already know.
Farad helps.
He discovers the following about the scrolls...
scroll - protection from magic
scroll - Raz and Farad cannot understand what's on it
scroll - darkness
scroll - read magic
scroll - protection from lycanthropes
scroll - protection from demons
His know alignment spell detects nothing.
Raz humbly puts the protection scrolls down and says with a flushed face, "I guess these are spells which anyone can cast one time. I suggest that the non-magic users in the group hang onto them. They may prove very handy considering where we are going."
Banquo's eyes light up and he says, "Daggers! MAGIC Daggers!! Whoo boy, anybody know what these babies do? For all you know they may cause you to be damaged if you use them."
Raz then looks through the spell book. It contains low level magic user spells.