Arcade’s Journal -- Return to Kindric, New Year’s Celebrations

...after trying various verbal responses to the riddle over the door, we realized that the door was only able to be used in total darkness. We were very concerned about a trap, but after extinguishing our torches we passed through and found ourselves Teleported into the nearby woods a few miles away.

We returned to Siryth to great acclaim, returning the kidnapped citizens and the stolen animals to the town. Met with Mikal and the town council and gave a full report. They informed us that the local lord, Duke Garith Helmsford had given a Royal Charter to Ghend to construct his tower. They plan to send a message to the duke in his winter home in the southlands, asking for instructions. Taking three mules and Ghend’s warhorse and heading back to Kindric....

...stopped in Phorn to visit Glimmer’s temple. During our stay Nolin became very agitated, appalled by the shallowness of all the acolytes. We spent many hours talking, and I got to know him a bit better. His youth was very harsh in Farin. He was regularly beaten and harassed by the local youth because of his half-elven race. One evening those ruffians locked him in an abandoned barn for an entire winter’s night. He spent the whole time huddled in a corner trying to stay warm and fending off swarms of rats (which explains his aversion to those vermin).

It did Nolin good to open up a bit, and he seemed much improved in temper the following day....

...we stopped at the Grinning Griffon Inn. As we entered the taphouse we encountered a rogue who was selling horses. We were suspicious and refused, and rightly so as they turned out not to be his own. Later, we discovered that he had also sold *our* horse! While sorting out the issue with the "buyers" we realized that our nemesis Fillane Deepleaf had struck again, and were very angry not to have recognized him....

...at the Kindric city gates we were observed by a shadowy pair in grey cloaks. They followed us, but we managed to dodge them. Later, while trying to barter in the market we were attacked by eight cloaked figures in armor, but we escaped without incident....

...discovered more information about "Deepleaf". It turns out he steals identities as well. The real Fillane Deepleaf is a vicious wizard of the 8th circle here in Kindric. The thief apparently had also targeted Deepleaf, selling the mage’s house while he was away.

New Year’s Eve tonight! Tom-Tom attended a private function this evening and found out that Ghend’s Right Hand (Yarag the half-orc) and eight other orcs had bribed their way into the city. Glimmer played cards with a half-orc at the inn who told him not to stick his nose where it wasn’t wanted. Later we went upstairs to watch the pyrotechnics and Glimmer was nearly pushed off the roof. We were unable to find the perpetrator. Rofan went to his temple for the evening, while Glimmer went to his own temple for the annual orgy. The rest of us stayed at the inn...

...New Year’s Day. I awoke to hear Alix yelling for help and sprinted to the door. Opening it put me face-to-face with two armed orcs. As I hit them both with Color Spray, I felt icy steel in my belly and fell to the ground unconscious. Later I learned that my own yell had roused Tom-Tom and Grundo. Neither of them is a morning person, and their rage at being awoken early on New Year’s morning was taken out on the other six orcs. Cadrienne managed to heal me in time. Another near miss. We have been unable to find Yarag, and suspect that he has fled the city....

...sold our goods and purchased horses. The city has been most exciting, but it will be good to leave for Rampart tomorrow....