Post by Matt Droz on Oct 25, 2006 19:19:37 GMT -5
"I fear you are correct, good sir. Cormyrian guardsmen being what they may, I think they are waiting to process a large group such as ourselves before allowing us to continue on our way." Tharivol speaks at you instead of with you. It's apparent that he's used to leading rather than following. "Less paperwork, you see."
"Looks like it'll be sooner than you think," says Konstantine, nodding at the approach of the wizard.
The wizard steps forward, his long beard streaked with gray, but his dark eyes still holding the vitality of youthful exuberance. He walks over, hands clasped behind his back and a look of a wizened schoolteacher lecturing miscreant students playing over his features. "Hail and well met, adventurers! Here to see the sights of Cormyr? Plunder it's secret depths? Earn fame and fortune by lifting your sword? Praising your deities? Maybe throwing arcane might in the direction of your foes?"
He continues on, not waiting for your answer. You get the distinct feeling this is a well-rehearsed and often-used speech. "Well, before you go traipsing through our towns, buggering the farmers cows and mutilating their women -" you hear several chuckles coming from the Purple Dragons leaning up against the guardhouse - "I, Eznik the War Wizard assigned to this forgotten roadcheck, have to brief you on the why's and wherefore's of our great land before you go an muck it up."
Pointing over at the plaque on the side of the building, "For those of you who can't read"-he looks pointedly at Konstantine and Fozhug-"I will spell out the laws of our fair kingdom for you."
"First is that all persons must register with officials at the border garrison. That would be me. I'll need your complete names, where you hail from and what you intend to do while in the kingdom."
"Second, you'll need to trade any foreign currency you have (if you have any) to the king's coin as soon as possible. Assuming that you're all going to Eveningstar, you'll be able to do so there."
"Third, before you go hacking at the trees and slashing at bullfrogs together, you'll need a charter. I assume that's also why you're going to Eveningstar. Since they've began giving charters to anyone that can make it out of the Haunted Halls (alive, anyway), more and more of you ne'er-do-wells have been coming into the land. Granted, there's been a lot less since the Halls have apparently been succeeding in whittling down the heroic individuals braving it's dank interiors..."
"Fourth, all weapons must be peace-bonded." He looks over at Konstantine and sighs, "I'm afraid I must apologize, young Wellum should know better." You see a young Purple Dragon blushing as he knuckles his forehead to the wizard. "The Dragons over there need to tie the bonds themselves to insure you're not just going to draw the weapon and run willy-nilly through the king's forest, stabbing deer and rabbits. Don't worry, the road between here and Eveningstar is well travelled and routinely patrolled by some of the King's best. You won't need to defend yourselves overmuch."
"The other rules are less consequential. Don't harm any cats. Especially the tressym that run wild in Eveningstar. The locals have a lot of superstitions about the well-being of cats and you don't want twenty farmers chasing after you with torches and pitchforks. Also, remember to be civil, especially to the nobles and Purple Dragons! The former I'd rather not deal with and the latter deserve your utmost respect. The soldiers have every right to search your body if they suspect you of anything and their word is (usually) law."
"Finally, don't hunt on private lands. You wouldn't like it if we killed your family cow for a steak, so don't kill ours!"
Taking a deep breath, he beams at all of you, grandly bowing and waving you forward to the Purple Dragons, their peace bonds ready to tie. "Welcome to Cormyr, ladys and gentleman! May your stay be exciting, profitable and, most importantly, brief!"
You all approach the Purple Dragons and they take down all your pertinent information (all the info on your character sheets) and they peace bond all your weapons. There's a few moments of hesitation as they look at Tim's spiked gauntlet, but the let it go asking that he just not wear it in towns with rowdy inns. As Fozhug comes up, they peace-bond his mace to his belt, get his information and chuckle a bit as one dragon mentions that they should peace-bond the 'pipes as well.
As Sabastian approaches, they look him over, not seeing any visible weapons, but an old, grizzled looking dragon eyes up his cane (Spot check of 17). But, doesn't see anything out of the ordinary with it (Lucky... DC was 18). After everyone has gone through, the guards stand nearby, waiting for the usual barrage of questions new adventurers always seem to have.
Isleif turns to everyone, "I'm not sure about the rest of you, but Kon and I are off to Eveningstar. If anyone else is headed in that direction, we'd welcome the company."
You notice that Tharivol is having a heated discussion with Lady Moonbow, and can catch pieces of his whispered disgust in regards to "barbarians" and "fools". Ielenia silences him with a word, however and she turns toward you all, a smile radiant on her face. "We will accompany you and your friend, Luckbringer. Mayhap Eveningstar is where the Lady will answer our questions..."
"Looks like it'll be sooner than you think," says Konstantine, nodding at the approach of the wizard.
The wizard steps forward, his long beard streaked with gray, but his dark eyes still holding the vitality of youthful exuberance. He walks over, hands clasped behind his back and a look of a wizened schoolteacher lecturing miscreant students playing over his features. "Hail and well met, adventurers! Here to see the sights of Cormyr? Plunder it's secret depths? Earn fame and fortune by lifting your sword? Praising your deities? Maybe throwing arcane might in the direction of your foes?"
He continues on, not waiting for your answer. You get the distinct feeling this is a well-rehearsed and often-used speech. "Well, before you go traipsing through our towns, buggering the farmers cows and mutilating their women -" you hear several chuckles coming from the Purple Dragons leaning up against the guardhouse - "I, Eznik the War Wizard assigned to this forgotten roadcheck, have to brief you on the why's and wherefore's of our great land before you go an muck it up."
Pointing over at the plaque on the side of the building, "For those of you who can't read"-he looks pointedly at Konstantine and Fozhug-"I will spell out the laws of our fair kingdom for you."
"First is that all persons must register with officials at the border garrison. That would be me. I'll need your complete names, where you hail from and what you intend to do while in the kingdom."
"Second, you'll need to trade any foreign currency you have (if you have any) to the king's coin as soon as possible. Assuming that you're all going to Eveningstar, you'll be able to do so there."
"Third, before you go hacking at the trees and slashing at bullfrogs together, you'll need a charter. I assume that's also why you're going to Eveningstar. Since they've began giving charters to anyone that can make it out of the Haunted Halls (alive, anyway), more and more of you ne'er-do-wells have been coming into the land. Granted, there's been a lot less since the Halls have apparently been succeeding in whittling down the heroic individuals braving it's dank interiors..."
"Fourth, all weapons must be peace-bonded." He looks over at Konstantine and sighs, "I'm afraid I must apologize, young Wellum should know better." You see a young Purple Dragon blushing as he knuckles his forehead to the wizard. "The Dragons over there need to tie the bonds themselves to insure you're not just going to draw the weapon and run willy-nilly through the king's forest, stabbing deer and rabbits. Don't worry, the road between here and Eveningstar is well travelled and routinely patrolled by some of the King's best. You won't need to defend yourselves overmuch."
"The other rules are less consequential. Don't harm any cats. Especially the tressym that run wild in Eveningstar. The locals have a lot of superstitions about the well-being of cats and you don't want twenty farmers chasing after you with torches and pitchforks. Also, remember to be civil, especially to the nobles and Purple Dragons! The former I'd rather not deal with and the latter deserve your utmost respect. The soldiers have every right to search your body if they suspect you of anything and their word is (usually) law."
"Finally, don't hunt on private lands. You wouldn't like it if we killed your family cow for a steak, so don't kill ours!"
Taking a deep breath, he beams at all of you, grandly bowing and waving you forward to the Purple Dragons, their peace bonds ready to tie. "Welcome to Cormyr, ladys and gentleman! May your stay be exciting, profitable and, most importantly, brief!"
You all approach the Purple Dragons and they take down all your pertinent information (all the info on your character sheets) and they peace bond all your weapons. There's a few moments of hesitation as they look at Tim's spiked gauntlet, but the let it go asking that he just not wear it in towns with rowdy inns. As Fozhug comes up, they peace-bond his mace to his belt, get his information and chuckle a bit as one dragon mentions that they should peace-bond the 'pipes as well.
As Sabastian approaches, they look him over, not seeing any visible weapons, but an old, grizzled looking dragon eyes up his cane (Spot check of 17). But, doesn't see anything out of the ordinary with it (Lucky... DC was 18). After everyone has gone through, the guards stand nearby, waiting for the usual barrage of questions new adventurers always seem to have.
Isleif turns to everyone, "I'm not sure about the rest of you, but Kon and I are off to Eveningstar. If anyone else is headed in that direction, we'd welcome the company."
You notice that Tharivol is having a heated discussion with Lady Moonbow, and can catch pieces of his whispered disgust in regards to "barbarians" and "fools". Ielenia silences him with a word, however and she turns toward you all, a smile radiant on her face. "We will accompany you and your friend, Luckbringer. Mayhap Eveningstar is where the Lady will answer our questions..."