| Player
Name |
Character
Name |
Race |
Class(es) |
Back-
ground |
Notes |
| A |
Rylanor of Okar |
Half-Elf |
Warlock 4 |
Noble |
Unseated King of Okar |
| B |
Ina Brighthelm |
Human |
Monk 4 |
Hermit |
Mercenary, Gambling Addict |
| C |
Brigid Hildevard |
Hill Dwarf |
Bard 4 |
Folk Hero |
Itinerant Lore Collector |
| T |
Aodin of Eastfild |
Human |
Paladin 1/
Sorcerer 3 |
Haunted One |
Chained to Deeper Darkness |
| S |
Kelvaren Mystralath |
Wood Elf |
Ranger 4 |
Criminal |
Former Orc Slave; Seedrik. |
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The Thorny Bush -- an Inn, Tavern and Expert Smithy
Tannith Vale, Kingdom of Eos
Brigid Hildevard works at the Thorny Bush, a business serving adventurers, mercenaries and expatriates who have been drawn to the opportunities created by the current political situation created by the removal of disloyal Barons who rebelled against a ruling Countess backed by the Throne of Eos. There are plenty of other establishments, many serving the ethnic majority elven and half-elven population or the significant minority Eosian human, but this is a definite draw for foreign mercenaries and those somewhat removed from the political concerns of this part of Eos or the wider Shield Lands and Free Realms. On this day in the early Autumn, the weather is mostly rainy with some reprieves. The city of Tannith Vale is soaked, if it lacked the drainage incorporated into its initial design, it would be inundated and flooded like the surrounding flood plains.
There are plenty of mercenary companies in the city, and specifically in this establishment. Two mercenary companies come from the Kingdom of Eos, both from the Istvan's Reach area. Three others come from outside the Kingdom itself, two from the partially-destroyed Confederation of Aldoon, and one a mixed company from the dwarven realms farther to the East. Generally, the tables of various companies are separated by tables seated to various adventurers, explorers and other misfits that travel through looking for their fortune, their discoveries, or their freedom. Among these patrons, sit the other player-characters: Rylanor of Okar, Aodin of Eastfield, Kelvaren Mystralath and Ina Brighthelm -- all of which have worked or spent time together enough to have more than passing familiarity.
Not long passes, and a large group of riders dressed in non-Eosian and non-mercenary furs and armour come to the establishment. They are well-known to the people of the city as the "Balduvians" -- the migrant settlers of lands within the reach of the County of Tannith Vale and the Kingdom of Eos. Balduvians do not cleave to the Divine King, even though they are human; nor do they lean toward the culture and traditions of the Old Faith, even though they venerate the Creator Goddess equally to their own goddess of war and death. This group is led by the warlike daughter of the Baroness, Radha. She is accompanied by her Chosen, respected veteran warriors where the closest Free Realms equivalent would be a Knight or highly-ranked Man-at-Arms. They are loud, boisterous, and confident; but they are also respectful to the establishment. Time passes, and the Balduvians finally come to the table that the four mercenary player-characters sit. They have heard that these are folks who can teach them to play a halfling multiplayer card game that is the latest craze amongst the game-obsessed soldiery. The party agrees, and Radha reveals that she has a set of the game cards bought directly from Guelphian traders -- the cube of cards likely costing more than what it would take to outfit and land a Knight of the realm.
The players successfully teach the game to Tania and her Chosen warriors, ingratiating themselves to the group. It becomes clear that the group was targeted for attention given the behaviour Radha exhibited, especially toward Rylanor. This is confirmed not long afterwards, when the other twin daughter of the Baroness, a graceful and proper young noblewoman named Tania. Dressed in fine clothes, she sticks out here. Approaching the table, she is deferential to Rylanor and they strike up a two-level conversation that ends in a full negotiation for an exchange of services between the unseated King of Okar and Tania's mother, the Baroness of Roanberg Castle. Tania politely explains that they have conducted research and employed scouts that have established a hint at locating Old Balduvia somewhere within "workable distance" from Okar. Tania offers gold, two talents to start, to Rylanor if he will allow the Balduvians to use his kingdom as a base from which to conduct a detailed exploration of the surrounding lands. As well, they also require "safe passage" through the Kingdom of Othune, the larger realm ruled by
his twin brother.
Rylanor agrees as long as he is allowed to keep the map and the handy haversack that Tania used to transport the enormous and highly-detailed map.
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