The Prodigal Wizard
Session Eight of the Notoriety of Kings Campaign

Vítday, 15 Brightday 204 [continued]

With alacrity, our heroes head south to the capital. The road is unusually busy for the time of year, Narramac's quest bringing the adventurers out of the wood work. The party decide to duck off the road if they hear the approach of horsemen, just in case they are about to be arrested. Although this will be quite simple in the first part of the journey, as the road passes close to the sea and the wide plains they will find virtually no cover to hide in. The road itself is very wide (50 feet) and runs in an exactly straight line thanks to great Hadradan engineering. Many rough tracks and highways cross the road, leading to farms, towns and other settlements.

That evening they camp off the road in a thicket of trees. On their watch, Raza and Brack hear hoofbeats from the road. Quietly waking their companions they sneak to the road to find absolutely no evidence of a horse, or a horseman. They trace a path around the campsite, but to no avail. Once they have ascertained that the coast is clear, Nicos and Elias burst out of the tree line, fully armoured and ready to meet a threat that doesn't exist. On the road is a thin mist. It is not natural, and it inexplicably vanishes before their eyes.

Terday, 16 Brightday 204

At noon the party spies a golden eagle circling overhead. The bird has been following them since mid morning, and is just out of range of their spells. Arvan is quick to confirm that this is unusual behaviour for an eagle, and the party quickly comes to the conclusion that it is a wizard's familiar of some sort. Opinion is, once again, divided over whether to kill the creature or not. In the end, they leave the eagle be. At dusk it flies away to the north, in the direction of Northmeet. It is not a sign that bodes well.

Zephday, 17 Brightday 204

Although making fair time, the food given to the group by Alessandre is running out.. Although Arvan can supplement their diet with judicious use of the goodberry spell, it is insufficient to meet all their needs between this point and the capital. Fortunately, in the late afternoon they reach the town of Dragonmount. The town is so named because the town's founder was said to have killed a dragon on the hill where the settlement now stands, and built the town on the creature's bones. The truth is probably a little less exciting, but Dragonmount remains a small town of approximately three hundred people, that acts as a central market for many of the farms in the region.

As the party does not know whether it is still within the purview of Duke Colharn, Brack is once again nominated to enter the town and purchase some rations. This he does with customary aplomb (and off looks). He buys thirty-six days rations for the princely sum of eighteen crowns. This combined with Arvan's magic should get the group to Uris without starving.

Caladay, 18 Brightday 204

Fortunately, for the holy day of Calafax, the group spends a peaceful and unremarkable day on the road. They cover a further twenty-odd miles, there is no sign of the horseman or the eagle.

Sharday, 19 Brightday 204

In the mid-morning the party encounters a force of twenty horsemen and one commander, trotting up the road from the capital. They are part of the Uris Watch, deputised to patrol the North Uris Road and keep the banditry to a minimum. They stop the party and ask a few rudimentary questions. Although the group is understandably nervous, it soon becomes clear that these men are not looking for them. The commander issues a warning about brigands operating in the area closer to Uris and then bids the group good day.

Morday, 20 Brightday 204

The phantom hoof-falls assail the party once again on this day. Just after lunch they can hear what seems to be a horse approaching them from behind. Brack turns his mule and charges off toward the noise, completely misjudges and hurtles off back up the road. Raza approaches more cautiously, holding out some of his raitons in an open palm. He feels something coarse lick across his hand and the food is gone. It becomes evident that they are dealing with an invisible and stoic horseman. Arvan casts a faerie fire spell that illuminates the rider. Although not entirely clear in the noonday sun, a very tall man is revealed. He wears long flowing robes and a hood. His nose and lower portion of the face is also obscured by his clothing. The horse is a magnificent animal. It is a mare of uncommon stock and grace. There are five magical auras at work on the man. Conjuration and necromantic magics are noted by the group. Raza attempts to convince the horseman to reveal himself, but in the end the horse and the rider dissolve into a thin mist that falls to the road and quickly leaks away into the stones. As the apparition vanished it seemed for a second that all the colour was drained from the world around them, and the group was seeing the world in shades of grey. Who or what the horseman was is a topic of debate – many ideas such as a mage, the owner of the eagle or even Narramac are sported. But with nothing to substantiate the theories, conversation soon dies down and al eyes focus on the long journey still ahead of them.

Sunday, 21 Brightday 204

An uneventful day on the road brings the party a little closer to their destination. by now they are weary of their journey and beginning to wonder whether they have sufficient time to make the return trip to Korvast.

Vítday, 22 Brightday 204

Around mid-morning on this day, the group hear the approach of galloping horses from behind. Raza, Brack, Ravenna and Arvan dive into cover leaving Elias and Nicos exposed on the road. Six paladins charge past, casting a glance at the pair. Three of them rein their horses up and trot over to the pair. It is Lady Patricia, Zender and Sir Lowron on their way to Uris to fulfill the second part of their quest. They are soon joined by the others in their group. Patricia asks after Minsc and the others. Elias and Nicos quickly think up an excuse as to where Minsc can be. Sir Cardon, who has now recovered from the wyvern's poison, asks the pair to thank their druid friend for saving his life. He is damnably grateful. They begin to talk about Furnice and learn how the group is keen to lend their support to Colharn's efforts to destroy the beast. Sir Garnir is anxious to be off, however, and can see nothing to be gained by bandying words with Nicos and Elias. For once, Nicos and Elias agree with him finding a conversation with such shining upholders of the law a little uncomfortable. Cardon expects that the groups will meet again in the capital. With that the paladins are away, leaving the group to consider their one-time companions as potential enemies as soon as they discover that the group is wanted.

Terday, 23 Brightday 204

The paladins behind them, the group presses on. The day passes uneventfully enough. The group is more than half-way to Uris by this stage, and only ten miles from the coast.

Zephday, 24 Brightday 204

A second partol of twenty-one men, also heading north is encountered close to dusk, just as the group is putting in for the night. They also mention problems with bandits a few days travel along the road, but are in no way suspicious of the party. Perhaps, Ravenna's trick of making herself appear as a half-orc is paying dividends.

Caladay, 25 Brightday 204

The day Nicos has been waiting for. It is the full moon of Calafax, and the moon will remain full for the following week. He curses the fact that he has nothing to hand to set on fire. He is certain that will soon change.

Sharday, 26 Brightday 204

Closer, ever-closer to Uris, the group can hear the sound of conflict from further up the road. Rushing to the scene they observe twelve brigands surrounding an ornate carriage and wagon. Many are armed with short-bows that they are training on the carriage. They cannot make out whomever is inside save for a spear that occassionally jabs out rather ineffectively through the heavy curtains. One man, possibly the driver of the carriage lies dead in the street. The party pauses to consider its options, and immediately realises that it has no options thanks to Brack drawing both his battle axes and charging toward the outlaws screaming a dwarven death ditty.

To say that Brack is devastating against the bandits would be a gross understatement. Even with several arrows sticking out of his hide he manages to cleave almost half their number. Elias pitches in with a few magically guided arrows that would have killed the leader of their foes were it not for the fact the heroic bowman is as blind as cowpat. Raza flies into his usual display of dexterity, while Arvan, Ravenna and Nicos solidly acquit themselves. Within a matter of minutes ten bandits are dead or dying and two have fled into the woods. None of the party have fallen, although some are wounded.

As Raza checks the fallen outlaws, Elias moves cautiously to the carriage. He takes a step back as an inexpertly wielded spear almost has his eye out. "Stay back you devils!" comes a rather stressed voice from inside. Elias quickly explains to the voice that all the brigands have been vanquished and he is saved. "Really?" says a cherubic face as it pokes its head into the daylight. Elias affirms he is telling the truth. "My word! Then, you saved my life," an enormously fat and well-dressed noble man heaves himself out of the carriage and embraces Elias, "You saved my life! My friend. If there's anything I can do to repay you…. anything that doesn't involve me parting with any cash then it's yours! Allow me to introduce myself – my name is Baron Dolanz." Elias introduces himself as Julian and the rest of the party as Thomas (Nicos), Arnold (Raza), Vivienne (Ravenna) and Sebastain (Arvan).

Elias' eyes drift around the baron into the carriage. Sitting seductively and clad in sufficiently alluring clothing to kickstart even a monk's labido, are four of the most attractive girls Elias has ever seen. He opens his mouth to speak, but in a second Nicos is there. The baron quickly introduces his 'cousins' as good, helpful girls who would do anything for anybody. Nicos takes a step forward to get better acquainted, when Elias puts a hand on the cleric's shoulder. "You remember this," says an obviously torn Elias. "Alessandre's mine!" Nicos smiles enigmatically.

In the meantime Arvan has been seeing to the wounded bandits. Of the ten they brough down, four will life. Brack disposes of the dead into a ditch on the side of the road. Dolanz notices the body of his dead driver, and laments the waste of a servant who has been in his employ for years. He then searches the man for loose change and kicks him off the road. Raza de Luna has discovered a small amount of money and a ring on the finger of the bandit leader that looks a lot like an eagle eating itself. Ravenna confirms that it is magical, but cannot say how. The monk is delighted with his find.

As a whole the group decide that the best way Dolanz can repay them is to give them a lift to Uris. He is happy to agree, saying that he will ride in the carriage with Nicos and the ladies. Elias will take the carriage, Brack will drive the wagon and the rest of the group will sit on the wagon. Dolanz tells the party to be careful of his collection of chairs. "Why is it a man can never have enough chairs?" he says with conviction. It seems that Dolanz is on his way to the court of King Yaddagon XIV where he hopes to marry Princess Celestine and inherit the kingdom. At the very least he hopes to get some good honest mooching in. Dolanz is certainly a nobleman, but one that has fallen on hard times. He says that he travels a great deal, giving the impression that he has no lands of his own.

Nicos introduces himself to the baron's very friendly cousins. He tells them that he is a priest from the Church of Sensation who is looking for experiences. She is more than happy to obligue. The baron draws the curtains as he and Nicos enjoy the women all the way to Uris.

Morday, 27 Brightday 204

Taking a break from his sexual gymnastics, the baron explains that the group is passing very close to the Old Utarvan Inn. The inn is famous among travellers, especially those who have a heavy pouch. It is a very expensive, elegant and enormous watering hole overlooking the sea. It is also the last stop for the weary traveller before arriving in Uris. Dolanz says that it is a little beyond his means at present and that they will camp near by. The good news is that they will arrive in Uris tomorrow, a day ahead of schedule. Whether this is soon enough is yet to be seen.

Sunday, 28 Brightday 204

By mid-morning the wagon and the carriage is passing through the circle slums on its way to the North Gate. Ravenna asks if Dolanz will take them to the mercant quarter where she can meet up with her Uncle Jhasik. The baron willingly agrees. He then asks them if they are on the run from the law – not that he cares, of course, not after them saving his life, but he will have to stop at the gate to pay the guards for passage. Elias and Ravenna use the change self spells to disguise themselves as a footman and half-orc respectively, and they reach the impressive north gate of the capital city.

A dozen guards come out to meet the wagon. They search it thoroughly saying that they are looking for six fugitives from justice: three human men, a woman, a half-orc and a dwarf. Dolanz enquires what they are charged with. The guard says "murder" and for escaping the dungeon of Castle Northmeet. This is a particularly impressive feat that only three people have accomplished in the last forty years, so they are considered very dangerous. Dolanz nods slowly, but plays it cool. He says that the party are his servants and goes on to distract the guards by making payment for entry. The lovely four women, who have so entertained Nicos, leave the carriage for the guard tower to much cat-calling and stamping of feet.

True to his word, Dolanz leads the party into the merchant quarter. Uris is enough to take everyone's breath away. It is the largest, most spectacular city any of them have ever seen. There are people everywhere, hawking their wares on every street corner; there are houses upon houses; site upon site. The merchant area is in a well to do part of town and no shop is better presented than Jhasik's Jewellers. A legend identifies the shop owned by Ravenna's uncle (and once her parents), but paramount on the sign is not the name of the proprietor, but of 'Thorangrim the Dwarf'. Thorangrim, probably the only dwarf (besides Brack) in all of Uris, and the force behind the great success that the family jewellers has become. Ravenna's uncle is now a very, very wealthy man. Dolanz bids the party full well, asking Brack and Elias to run him to the palace in the Old City, which they do. Ravenna, Raza, Nicos and Arvan leave the baron and enter the shop. The time is a little after noon.

Wondrous examples of dwarven craftsmanship adorn tabel top and cabinet. A large half-orc stands menacingly in one corner of the room, as if daring a thef to take place. Behind the counter is a young man that Ravenna does not recognise. She walks over to him and asks to see the proprietor. At first the man is reluctant, but when he realises who Ravenna is, he quickly summons Jhasik.

The uncle quickly arrives and is delighted to see Ravenna, whom he last saw sixty-six days ago. He is ababble with questions, asking about her health and her hair. Ravenna tries to soothe her uncle and introduces her companions, saying that two more will soon arive. Jhasik introduces Sandys and the half-orc, Grott, who he had to employ because of the incredible success of his business. Jhasik doesn't conceal the fact that he is a very, very wealthy man. He takes the party out into the back of the shop and has a lavish meal prepared for them. Soon Elias and Brack return. Ravenna is quick to tell her uncle absolutely everything that has happened.

Jhasik is shocked by the goings-on and fearful for the safety of his niece, whom he considers an innocent, naïve young girl who wouldn't hurt a fly. He says that they cannot stay in the city if the Watch is looking for them. The city watch is a highly organised and disciplined force, they will hunt the party down and if they remain within the city walls, the chances are that they will find them. So where are they going to stay? Jhasik says that they cannot stay at the shop, mainly because there is no room. Thorangrim has taken over most of the cellar space for his workshops. The dwarf works sixteen hours a day! Jhasik gloats. Jhasik says that he's just bought a house in Chapel Lane that he is yet to move into. The party are more than welcome to crash there for a few days while they are in town, but he warns them that if they are wanted by the Watch, it is only a matter of time before they are caught if they remain in the city. He is upset that he may never see Ravenna again.

However, the six of them need cash. They have to gain entry to Eurikas, the high temple of the Scriveners of Doom, and that is not cheap. Jhasik thinks that it costs about forty crowns per person for a day – significantly more if they need any of the Scriveners to do research on their behalf. Also, they will need horses, clothes and other equipments for the rest of the journey. Jhasik gives Ravenna 200 crowns, and agrees to sell on the poison from the wyvern gland and give them the proceeds. Raza asks Jhasik about the ring he found, Jhasik asks if he can borrow it. He will try find something out for the monk.

The party is very tired after their long journey and their flight from the authorities, and very much want to rest. Raza and Arvan decamp to Chapel Lane to do just that. The town house that Jhasik has bought is a testament to how much money the man truly has. It is on four floors with a dozen bedroom and a well-tended garden in which flowers grow to military discipline. The druid has a brief wander around the garden before hitting the sack. Nicos and Ravenna, however, have matters to attend to in the city. As natives of the great metropolis both left loose ends when they departed on Narramac's quest – loose ends they now want to tie up.

Ravenna wants to go and see her mentor, Derriac. He is the man responsible for honing her skills as a sorceress, and she very much hopes that he do a little more honing in the time they have. Elias accompanies her, seeing no harm in meeting the acquaintance of a beneficient sorcerer with knowledge of more spells than he has. Ravenna leads Elias away from the merchant district and into a poorer quarter of the city. It's not a complete dive, but the housing is high and terraced, and the streets narrow and cobbled. Ravenna sings Derriac's praises and says how he will be able to sort everything out for them and save them from their current predicament. Her words are only cut short when they reach his home. The house has been gutted by fire. It is a burnt shell.

With the exception of a small squeak, Ravenna is stunned to silence. She stares at the blackened walls and the rubble of the building and slowly sinks into deep shock. Elias tries to talk to her, tries to convince her to leave with him, but she is rooted to the spot. In the end, Elias resorts to a charm spell to even get her to talk to him. Ravenna turns and the floodgates open. She falls into Elias arms in paroxisms of tears. He pats her on the back embarssedly, trying to keep Alessandre in her thoughts.

An upstairs window in the house next door to Derriac is thrown open. A woman peers down with a scowl on her face, complaining about the noise. Ravenna, slightly less catatonic now due to the spell, asks her what happened here. "The Watch knows everything there is to know. You go and bother them." Looking at Ravenna, the woman softens slightly. "It was him," she gestures wildly to the burnt out shell, "bad sort. Magic you know! I reckon he got what was coming to him! Nearly burned half the street down! Good riddance, that's what I say!"

Ravenna's bottom lip starts to wobble, and the woman's motherly instincts override her desire for vorpal-tongued gossip. She looks down at Ravenna, sighs and hurries to the street. Once there, she gives Ravenna a gentle hug. "There, there love," she says. "It happened right late in the evening, about two weeks ago – no, I remember it was two weeks ago because it was a Sunday. There was shouting going on inside, and I'd seen some people hanging around in the street. Just hanging around, looking dishonest – you know the sort. Anyway, there was all this shouting, then there was this bang like someone dropped a portcullis or something, and suddenly the place was on fire. Took nearly the whole street to put it out, running to the river and all. No sign of him what lived there. We reckoned he got burned up." Ravenna moves away to stare at the ruins, the woman continues. "The Watch came the following morning, poked around a bit. Said they'd look into it, and they will I bet. They'll sort it straight." Ravenna doesn't seem to be listening anymore. The woman turns to Elias. "I always said he'd come to a bad end. Wizard bloke he was – there should be a law against that sort of thing in the city. His sort living next to decent people." She looks again at Ravenna and says, "You better get her home, love. She looks like she needs a stiff drink inside her, that one. And a good meal I should wager."

The woman departs, leaving Elias to slowly draw Ravenna away from the ruins and back in the direction of Chapel Lane. Ravenna is in a state of terrible shock. She does not say a word to Elias for the entire journey. She realises that on the first day of their jounrey to Uris from Northmeet something terrible had happened here to Derriac. She had now lost him as she had lost her parents.

Meanwhile, Nicos (accompanied by Brack Ogrebane) had travelled some way across the city, into the poorest area. The part of Uris known as the gutterhive is the most dismal collection of squats and delapidated housing in the city. There are no cobbles on the road, only mud, and even the Watch fear to walk the streets after dark. Somewhere deep in this labyrinth of backstreets and dead ends (that are little more than an excuse for a stabbing) is a temple of fire called Scaldarnus. It is here that Nicos' mentor, and high priest, Julian Maynard resides; and it is to this building that Nicos takes his new companion.

Scaldarnus is not an impressive building from the outside. Just a pair of double-doors set into an otherwise unremarkable wall. Nicos pushes the doors and enters quietly. Brack is surprised by the size of the building within. It opens up into a large central chamber with a high domed ceiling that had been made invisible from the outside by the many precarious shanties that surround the temple. But, despite the size, it is obvious that Scaldarnus is in a state of disrepair. Plaster has fallen off many of the walls, statues are cracked and the gilt on the ceiling has long since been filed off and sold. The heat inside is intense. To the back of the temple an enormous column of fire rages. Figures stand in front of it. One of them Nicos recognises as Maynard. The high priest sees his pupil and hurries over to greet him.

Maynard is not quite as full of questions as Ravenna's uncle. He is happy to meet Brack and to hear of Nicos' adventures. Nicos tells him about the quest, and their trouble with the law. Maynard nods as if he knows all about it. He explains that Watch came into the temple yesterday looking for Nicos, and he suspects that they are watching the place but doubts that the Watch would try any violence against the Church, particularly during the full moon. Nicos and Maynard catch up with each other. It is apparent that Nicos has been looking for two people, Rio Shai'ir and Boudewijn Berdgardt, and asks after them. Maynard shakes his head. "It's been so long, Nicos. After this time, I have my doubts that you will ever find them." Nicos nods silently, but is obviously determined.

Maynard sends an acolyte to watch the door and asks Brack for a little privacy. He says that important events are taking place within the Church and from what Nicos has said about his adventures at the Village of the Eighteen Churches, he may already know some of it. All diplomatic relations between the Church of Fire and the Watchers on the Cusp of Oblivion have ended. Despite the objections of Ulish Van Caspan and the Watchers, the Church in the Village successfully resurrected a peasent girl called Heena. The official version of events is that Tarrashar travelled to the Village and spoke with Belarus Rothsman; that Tarrashar agreed to the resurrection and accepted the consequences. That is the official version, but it is not true. Rothsman did not wait for Tarrashar, he went ahead and resurrected Heena without the High Priest's consent. In order to preserve his face, Tarrashar had to go along with it, but he is furious. All the head priests in Uris were summoned to the Grand Conflagration (the high temple) yesterday, where all this was confirmed. "We are in danger of a schism developing within the Church of Fire itself over this." Tarrashar wants Rothsman removed from the Village, but Rothsman has a lot of popular support. In the meantime, the Church of Contention has sided with us, and the Church of Life have sided with the Watchers. Things could get very messy, very quickly. Maynard believes that a holy war is a possibility, however distant, and he is not certain whether Norandor, or the continent would survive such a thing. However, there is hope: Tarex, the high priest of the Watchers is a reasonable man, he doesn't want a war, and hopefully he can stop it. Maynard despairs at Rothsman's unthinking actions – but he says that the clerics of the Village have always been too zealous for their own good.

At that point the acolyte returns. There are four agents of the Watch heading this way, he says. Maynard says that he is sorry to see so little of Nicos, but until this business is resolved, he does not think that he should return to Scaldarnus. He leads Nicos and Brack into a back room and lifts a grate in the floor that leads to the sewer system. The sewers were built by the Hadradans, and the ones in the gutterhive are no longer in use. Nicos has used this route before and knows the way to safety. He bids the cleric farewell as he and Brack scurry to safety.

It is late afternoon by the time everyone has returned to Chapel Lane. Ravenna had returned to her uncle's to report the news of Derriac's disappearance and remains there for the night. Elias indulges his penchant for going shopping, under the influences of a change self spell, but he spends only a little time in the market before fatugue overtakes him. For the first time in many days, the group has a good night's sleep.

Vítday, 29 Brightday 204

The morning sees the group ready to find the answer to the second of Narramac's riddles. Where do they find a tooth from the maw of the oldest of dragons? But first they must look the part. Elias proposes to take Ravenna's 200 crowns and head into town and buy some disguises. He will buy the outfit of a noble fopp and he will buy a servant's outfit for Nicos. Elias and Nicos with their skills in many languages are the obvious choices for going into the temple and at 40 crowns per day, they cannot afford all of them to go in.

The shopping trip is soon concluded, and before long Elias (clad in an outrageous collection of colours) heads off with Nicos to Eurikas, the largest and greatest temple to the Scriveners of Doom in the land. There is a queue to gain entrance, and Elias has to recast his change self spell a few times before gaining entrance. The building is an enormous rambling affair set in a huge courtyard. Domes, towers and minarets acts as evidence to the many additions to the struction in the long past. Eventually the pair enter into a large waiting room. There are several desks in a row before them. Behind each is a Scrivener of Doom in their customary blue/black robes with white trim. They sit before him and begins to ask questions, it becomes apparent that this will be a very expensive expedition.

Entry is 50 crowns per person (not 40). They may remain until sunrise the following day, after that they are charged another 50 crowns. Queries may be answered by Scriveners at the cost of 5 crowns per query. Independent research can also be taken on behalf of an indivdual for a fee at the discretion of the cleric. Once inside the temple there will be no talking above a hush, no spellcasting and no items are permitted to be removed from the premises. "We will know," the cleric says humourlessly. The pair agree and are shown into a back room. There four more clerics are present. They tell Elias and Nicos to remove all their clothes. They are given bright white robes, white slippers and white cotton gloves. These must worn at all times. No weapons are allowed inside, and no spell components either. They tell Elias to drop the spell he currently has running on him. Elias does, revealing his own face, but the Scriveners don't seem to care. The pair change and pay their dues – 105 crowns, and ask to be shown to sections on dragons and on riddle (specifically those by Curmudgeon). The cleric agrees and shows them through a back door into the temple proper.

The sights that greets them is enough to humble the mind. Books, scrolls, incunabula and all manner of writings fill the structure. Shelves upon shelves from floor to ceiling on nine levels rising up high into the domes of the temple. There are hundreds of miles of shelves, thousands upon thousands of books. Every crevice and cranny is shelved and stuffed with more papers. There are tables and study areas and everywhere is heaving with people. Narramac's quest has brought out the scholar in everyone. And amongst the white-robed visitors float the scriveners of doom. In their long black robes they are immediately obvious as they glide effortlessly around the building without seeming to move. They are forever in motion, heads turning hither and thither and always watching. Their sharp eyes pick up any and all movement; it is not an exaggeration to say that Elias and Nicos feel as they are being watched by a dozen pairs of eyes at all time.

Their guide leads the way to the sections they showed an interest in. All are packed with people, especially the section on riddles. The scrivener explains that the section on dragons is remarkably small, because of the irrational hatred that all the other priesthoods hold for dragons. Most books on the subject have been destroyed over the years. He takes them to a high gallery, a hundred feet above the main floor and leaves them to their own devices. Once they have stopped off to buy parchment and ink they begin their researches. It is a long and arduous task that takes all day. The sun sets and the moons rise, and they are still there.

What do they discover? Well, they are now as sure as they can be that a wyvern egg inscribed with the answer to Curmudgeon's riddle is a simple a wyvern egg with the words "The answer to Curmudgeon's riddle" written on it. Curmudgeon being so well-known for his obvious puns and painfully literal jibes. As for the tooth from the maw of the oldest of dragons – there is little success. They work long into the darkness, until both begin to nod off.

Elias awakes with a start a few hours before dawn. He is very tired and doesn't know what to do next. He wakes Nicos and they busy themselves again for an hour before finding a book on their desk that they do not recognise or remember pulling from the shelves. The book is enormous. It is four feet to a side and very heavy. Inside it are gilt-edged drawings of dragons on priceless vellum. The text is dense and florrid and completely incomprehensible to both of them. Nicos thinks that he recognises it as Draconic – a language he can speak, but not write. Elias sighs, he is sure that this book is the answer to the riddle, and suspects that their anonymous benefactor from Nortmeet has aided them again. But this book needs to be translated. There is no choice in the matter, Elias summons one of the clerics.

A tall, swarthy scrivener called Ezekiel answers the summons. He looks at the book and says that it can be translated, but it will take many days. They haggle for a short time, and finally agree that they will pay Ezekiel to speed-read the book with magic and find any appropriate passages for the party. Elias agrees, and tells Ezekiel exactly what he is looking for. Ezekiel will charge 95 crowns for the service, but is prepared to take a desposit of half as the pair does not have the funds. The precis will be ready for them at noon on the 30th Brightday. That is tomorrow – or, more accurately, it is today as it is almost dawn. Nicos and Elias take their leave from the temple before they are stung for the cost of a second day's studying. They return to Chapel Lane for a few hours sleep.

Terday, 30 Brightday 204

The morning passes all too quickly for Elias and Nicos. As the others busy themselves with doing as little as possible, they get far too little sleep. Fortunately some things do go the party's way in the morning. Ravenna and Jhasik arrive. Jhasik has sold the wyvern poison for 1200 crowns, and gives the money to the party. A friend of his has taken a look at the ring Raza found on the road. Although he was not able to specifically identify it, a number of very similar rings have turned up in Uris over the past few months. This one isn't as well-wrought as the others, but if it is of the same stock then the creature on the ring is not an eagle, but a dragon. The ring is believed to belong to an organisation calling itself The Order of the Dragon, but Jhasik doesn't know any more about it. Elias shows a peculiar interest in this news, but it is time for he and Nicos to depart and meet with the Scrivener, Ezekiel.

Taking the necessary funds from Ravenna, Nicos and Elias return to Eurikas. There is no waiting for them, and they are shown into a small room where they find Ezekiel. The enormous book sits on the table before him, as does a pile of papers that he has prepared for our heroes with supernatural speed. Ezekiel accepts the remaining payment for his services and begins to explain a little of the history of the book. It is called The Theology of Dragons and may be over two thousands years old. It was written by a scribe known only as Alladaine, who claims to have been translating an even more ancient work by the philosopher and scholar, Persephariel. It is indeed written in Draconic, although the language is archaic compared to modern Draconic – a little like the difference between Auld Dwarvish and Thorass. He has read through the entire work and abridged the most pertinent parts. He gives the pair his translation; it reads as follows:

Nicos and Elias quickly return to Chapel Lane and show the translation to their companions. They are very excited by the turn of events. Arvan recognises the term "Arakandal" as an ancient druidic name for what is now called The Barrowmoors. There is an enormous chasm running the entire length of the Barrowmoors from south to north for a distance of fifty miles. It is not impossible that the temple could be located at the bottom of that. The Barrowmoors are a very dangerous place, however, and are littered with the ancient barrows of ancient kings and filled with restless undead. Once again time is a great consideration. Today is the 30th Brightday. They have just over nineteen days to reach the summit of Mount Korvast. If they make no stops, the journey from Uris to Korvast via the Barrowmoors will take twenty.

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