Solace is an unusual town built among the boughs of a towering forest of great vallenwood trees. This splendid tree-town nestles in a valley between the cool waters of Crystalmir Lake and the majestic spires of the Sentinel Peaks. It serves as a major crossroads, and many legendary heroes have called the place home.

Some of you have attracted much interest from the folk of Solace with Zugras es-Sumarr in particular drawing excited children to stare at him with fascination and pepper him with enthusiastic questions - even in Solace minotaurs are an exotic novelty!

Acrione can all but hear the whisper of magic from an imposing collection of towers visible through the vallenwoods. The Academy of Sorcery lies on a plateau only a couple of miles from the town.

For Amberyl the main draw of the town is a sadder and quieter one: the Tomb of the Last Heroes hewn in black and white marble lies in Solace. Here lie buried many heroes of the Chaos War including both Knights of Solamnia and Knights of Takhisis. Above the lintels she has seen the carved emblems of the rose and the lily.

Liandra finds herself frequently addressed in Qualinesti Elvish by townsfolk who mark her pointed ears and fine features. She also draws many admiring glances from many young men (and one or two young women.) The more human looking Berthold is not marked as Elvish but he draws a small crowd as well whenever his harp comes into play.

Skytheen falls into conversation with a few passing adventurers eager to trade stories of monsters fought and fair maidens saved. Some have clearly been no more than a day from Solace but a few seem to have genuinely won their spurs.

You spent last night in comfortable rooms at the Inn of the Last Home, a building only slightly less famous than its owners, the Heroes of the Lance Caramon and Tika Majere. Despite their fame, the two seem quite congenial. They appear to make friends as easily as the legends say they dispatched their foes.

---

Tika Waylon-Majere is in her seventies and still a striking woman even if the decades have turned her famous mane of red curls silver and laughter lines have engraved themselves into her face. Her large green eyes still sparkle though and her wit is still sharp as you've noticed as she bantered with new and old customers.

Her husband Caramon is a few years older. These days he moves more slowly and his thick hair is the colour of fresh snow but he still has the height and broad shoulders that made him such a mighty warrior in his youth. Where Tika is quick speaking Caramon's tones are more measured but with a strong streak of jovality and hard edged wisdom to it.

The Majeres are not alone in their inn and this breakfast there are several other guests in attendance, sharing gossip over a meal of eggs, fresh bread and the inn's famed spice potatoes. Tika is busy serving the various patrons while Caramon is deep in conversation with a few locals at another table.

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OOC:

Over to you! :-)

Feel free to introduce yourself. The adventure assumes you at least know each other but how well and for how long is up to you.

You can gossip with the other people in the inn, observe or simply enjoy the delicious breakfast.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:04, Sat 20 May 2023.

Amberyl recalled last night, and how her heavy steps across the wooden walkways gave a soft creak from each contact with the wood.  Cognitively she knew it was plenty sturdy, but something about the suspension of each pathway wouldn't leave her mind either, and she was looking for every cause that would send her falling through.

She had chided herself for foolishness and made her way to the Inn.  She'd been so tired, she hadn't thought much more of it.

IT was just now sinking in where she'd come.  She hadn't got here in time to really give the Tomb of the Last Heroes its proper homage the previous day, so that was obviously her purpose, but she was caught up in the moment.  It did secretly thrill her a little, as jaded as she was, to actually be in Solace.

The busy server left a steaming wooden bowl of hot bread eggs and potatoes in front of her.  Amberyl was ready to go on her pilgrimage, so to speak, and was wearing her armor and traveling gear.  Her shield was propped up next to her chair.

She stared at it skeptically for a moment, picked up the carved fork, and gingerly took a bite with a bit of the egg and a bit of the potato, and, carefully, took it into her mouth.

The sound she made was a little undignified.  She groaned.

Okay that was actually pretty good.

When he arrived, Zugras was happy to indulge the questions from the children, as well as play along with them, including questions about his arm.

"No, I don't know the Emperor."

"Yes, sometimes I do hit my horns on doorways that are too small."

"What do I think of my hooves? I prefer them over misshapen hands on the ends of my legs."

"No, I wasn't born with one arm, I was injured in the Circus."

"No, our circuses aren't with performers like you think of, but gladiatorial combat, where the young prove their worth. Do you know how to use a sword? Want me to show you?"

---

At breakfast time, Zugras was sat with the others, enjoying his breakfast. In particular he enjoyed washing it down with a cold glass of milk, though anyone with any sense knew not to make a comment about how he must like it because he is a cow...

"How did everyone sleep? I found the bed too small. I had to either hang off the edge, or bend and be uncomfortable."

 Acrione seemed to take an interest in the Academy of Sorcery nearby.  Her mentor, one Beska Miltar, spoke highly of it, and pointed the Prestidigitatrix, as she called her apprentice, in its direction after her apprenticeship ended.  "Why, for as mighty a Witch as I was back on my own world before I came here, I can only dream of what I'd be capable of if I'd studied at the Academy instead... Top my teachings off, there, girl.  You'll excel me, yet, and do me proud."  Of course, there were some steps between then and now, but those were other stories, for other times...

 According to Beska, she came from a place called "Karameikos" on a world known to her as "Mystara".  Whether or not it was true was certainly not known to Acrione, but what she did know was that the Academy did hold promise.  What she also knew, was that the Inn nearby had its own allure to her, and especially at the moment.  There were beds to sleep in, company to talk to, and food and drink to consume... In particular, spiced potatoes had enticed a few coins out of her purses, as did any sorts of stews available.

 At her lap sits a cat with shaggy, beige fur and dark brown color points, who she calls "Chatty".  And then thereis Acrione herself, who looks a spirited sort: blue-green of eyes and red of hair, with pale skin and an at-present mirthful expression on her face.  Her attire is of leather, and accented with almost salmon-colored fabric in places.

Berthold left his room and went to the mess for his breakfast. Being in civilized and safe zone, he didn't don his armor, nor did he took his weapons with him, just the dagger in his belt, more to be used as a knife than as a weapon.

He reached the mess, unconsciusly humming a song while he entered there. He knew many of the patrons. THe readheaded sorceress, the minotaur, the lady knight, the elven fighteer and the human rogué were all acquitancesd, though maybe calling friends woudl be going a little too far...

"Good morning everyone" he said, going to an empty seat to have his mela. There, he waited for the waiter, again humming some song to himself.

Liandra, or Lia to her friends and companions, sat at the table, trying to wake up for the day. She was wearing her leather leggings and jacket, with her weapons nearby if she needs them. Her red hair was draped down her back and she tucked a strand behind her ear as she took a bite of her breakfast. She was loving the eggs and spiced potatoes and could understand why they were so popular.

"Morning, it remains to be seen if it's good or not. Sorry to hear about your troubles last night Zugras, but I don't think they expected someone of your size to be staying here." As she spoke, Lia looked up and around the room they were in. She was trying to mark who in the room wasn't part of their little group that they'd formed and if they might try to cause their group trouble or not.

Skytheen came down into the main room and immediately spotted his friends- not difficult when you only need to spot the bull horns chatting with the kids.

"No, I wasn't born with one arm, I was injured in the circus" he heard Zugras telling them.

"Unarmed combat!" Skytheen commented with a smirk as he passed them.

Skytheen took a spot next to Berthold and immediately noticed Berthold's polite weapon etiquette, leaving them up in the rooms. Suddenly he felt self conscious about donning his rapier. Mainly because he though it looked cool, not because there'd be a threat. Not here.

Skytheen noted Liandra observing the room with her full compliment of armor and weapons nearby. He didn't feel so bad donning the rapier now. He also scanned the room, fully not expecting to detect any threats. Once he settled in he started his ritual of preparing his unusual tea.

"Morning." he replied. "I'd even say its good."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:35, Mon 22 May 2023.

"I can't tell if it will be good, but I keep wishing you all good morning" Berthold answered to both, Liandra and Skytheen, with a firendly smile, stopping his humming to take his breakfast.

"I'm sorry for you too, Zugras" he turned to him. "I'm afraid the town was not made for your massive race... In fact, I'm surprised and reassured the bridges among the trees support you" he added, with a furtive look to Amberyl, whom he has seen uneasy about them.

Then he turned to the landlord. "Any news about the situation elswhere? " he asked. "Last ones I heard where concerning, most of them  about war ravaging Krynn..."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:07, Tue 23 May 2023.

Amberyl had been quiet, as she'd originally meant to eat quickly and set out on her errand as early as possible, but before she could respond or say anything, Berthold's question caught her attention.

That was important too.  Sure they were in Solace, but it was important to not be overwhelmed or distracted by that fact.

Lia nodded to Skytheen as they joined the group for breakfast. The woman wasn't really paying attention though, too focused on eating instead of the comings and goings of the other members of the group. Taking a drink real quick and a quick look around at the others, she didn't notice anything and so went back to her meal.

13:16, Today: Liandra rolled 7,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2.  Notice Check.
I rerolled the check the proper way this time. Looks like my result is a 7.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:17, Tue 23 May 2023.

When Skytheen made his comment, Zugras looked over and winked. "You could say I was... disarmed."

"Maybe if they had bigger beds, more of my kind would come here." Zugras replied to Liandra, before grabbing a handful of eggs and tossing it into his mouth.

Then when Berthold remarked on how the bridges supported him, he remarked. "Maybe I'd be too heavy with my other arm. Har har harr!"

Finishing his food, he slams his mug of milk down onto the table.

"Delicious!"

Tika herself is serving you today, working with the practiced ease of someone who has spent decades as an innkeep and barmaid. Berthold questions the older woman just as she is refilling your drinks (the inn offers a selection of coffees, milks and ciders). Tika smiles ruefully.

"The usual troubles - dragons and dark knights! We're mostly worried about Beryl to our south in Solace but I've met some poor souls who come from Southern Ergoth across the waters who say things are worse there. I suppose we should count our blessings that at least Solace is living up to it's name as a refuge for those with nowhere else to go!"

She starts to sigh but it quickly shifts to a laugh as Zugras shows his appreciation for the inn's fare. "I'd glad you like it. it's a rare day when we greet a guest with more appetite than my husband!"

Both Liandra and Skytheen scan the inn's common room. There is a table with three obvious locals who look like farmers, another with a merchant and what must be his bodyguard and still another with a pair of hill dwarf traders. Everyone is eating their breakfasts and engage in quiet conversation.

An older woman in faded red robes had strolled in carrying a wicker basket full of flowers just as you arrived to breakfast. You had overheard Tika and Caramon address her as 'Glennes' and Tika buy fresh flowers from her. Currently she is seated at a nearby table enjoying a bowl of soup.

To the other side of your table Caramon is also attacking his breakfast with gusto. A sellsword in his youth and a big man all his life Caramon still seems to treat his meals as if he doesn't eat them fast enough someone might steal them.

As Tika clears your empty mugs (and takes any additional orders if needed) she continues on with the morning gossip: "Actually you aren't the only strangers in town. About an hour ago another party came to the inn. They all wore hooded cloaks and ordered hot water, drank them in silence and then left. I'm beginning to wonder if they were more than just rude travels..."

Caramon looks up from his plate though he has the grace to swallow his mouthful of bacon before actually speaking. "I couldn't make out their faces through their hoods but they were defnitely wearing armour - no mistaking that 'clink'. Seemed to be armed too; I caught sight of a sword hidden beneath one cloak."

Amberyl did not like the sound of that.  At all.

"My pardon, but did you happen to know where they went after they left?"  She asked, not quite realizing yet she was speaking to Caramon freakin' Majere.

Berthold looked at Caramon as he said this. "Forgive me to ask, but didn’t you warned the Watch about those people?" he asked. "I mean, not that they did anything illegal, for what you tell, but with concealed armor and weapons, and not showing their faces looked, at least, suspicious… Should I be the Watch commander I’d like to have a look on them"