Chapter #1106

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                                     +
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                             +               +
                           +                   +
                         +                       +
                       +      THE ADVENTURERS      +
                         +                       +
                           +      Epic VI      +
                             +               +
                               +           +
                                 +       +
                                   +   +
                                     +



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+     Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and other     +
+   terms used in these stories are the property of Wizards of the Coast  +
+   which has in no way endorsed or authorized their use.  Any such       +
+   property contained within these stories are not representative of     +
+   Wizards of the Coast in any fashion.                                  +
+     The player characters depicted in these stories are copyright       +
+   1991-2022 by Thomas A. Miller.  Any resemblance to any persons        +
+   or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental.       +
+   Copying and/or distribution of these stories is permissible under     +
+   the sole condition that no money is made in the process.  In that     +
+   case, I hope you enjoy them!                                          +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+   Belphanior     18th/18th/18th level elven fighter/wizard/thief        +
+   Hope           16th level female human wizard                         +
+     Poulos        8th level human warrior                               +
+   Irina          14th/7th level female human priestess/warrior          +
+   Neera          12th level female human wizard (sage/astrologer)       +
+     Arusha        6th level human female wizard/alchemist               +
+     Judhon        7th level gnomish illusionist                         +
+   Otto           12th/14th level dwarven fighter/thief                  +
+   Paige          13th level human female warrior                        +
+   Razor Charlie  12th level human fighter                               +
+   Skektek        14th level human wizard                                +
+   Ys             14th level reptilian fighter                           +
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+   Date:          4/15/586 C.Y. (Common Year)                            +
+   Time:          late morning                                           +
+   Place:         the road to the Free City of Greyhawk                  +
+   Climate:       cool                                                   +
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+   "Are we going to see you again?"                                      +
+   "I might turn up."                                                    +
+                  - Gayleen and Chaney, from _Hard Times_                +
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                   MCVI.  Greyhawk Revisited





  After finding and recovering their three lost companions, and catching
up on all recent events in both Oerth and the Center of Time, the reunited
team had considered their next steps.  While Belphanior very much wanted
to identify, find, and destroy whoever was responsible for attacking the
vault and stealing most of its treasure...some of the others had convinced
him to wait.  There were multiple considerations:  the group needed to
rest, recover, and take stock of the possessions saved from the vault...
they needed to resupply themselves since they currently had no safe place
to call home...and they needed to figure out the full ramifications of
the recent wars (which was significantly more important for Belphanior,
considering the amount of money he had previously stored or invested in
the world outside their former base in the subterranean vault).
  Given all of that, the elf had decided to decline Parekh's offer of
temporary lodging, and get back into the world to see what was what.
From a very short list of potential destinations, Greyhawk had emerged
as the most logical choice.  There, in the Free City, Belphanior could
check in on his old friend Peldor and learn the status of his financial
holdings in both the city's banks and the land he had silently purchased
over the last few years.  Hope, Skektek, and the other wizards could get
much-needed magical supplies, scrolls, and such in the guilds and shops
within the great city.  Irina would be able to confer with the high
priestess of the temple of Istus, and perhaps learn some more about the
aftereffects of the recent conflicts.  Otto would be able to replenish
and restock his supply of carried poisons, oils, and other useful things.
  Thus it was that, the day after finding the trio of missing companions
and hearing their account of what happened in the vault, the group now
stood on the largest of the roads leading to the Free City.  Despite the
terrible events that had doubtless scarred many other parts of the world,
the sprawling metropolis and surrounding environs seemed to have survived
the wars without too much damage or losses.  If anything, life appeared
to go on as normal here; farmers tended their crops, homes bustled with
activity, and traffic moved to and from the huge city along the wide,
paved road.  There did seem to be more people using this highway than in
the past; a plentiful mix of wagons, riders, and foot traffic could be
seen in both directions.

Skektek:  At times like this, I miss having a horse to ride.  We must
  look like commoners.
Otto:  (glances at Ys, who is drawing a fair amount of attention from
  both passers-by and inhabitants of the area)  Somehow, I doubt that.

  As they first approached and then made their way into the city, they
noted an increased number of guards and soldiers - not excessive, but
greater than in the past.  It only made sense, given the years of war
and the disruption in kingdoms both near and far.  Life as it had been
before was a memory now; things had changed, and the battles were still
too fresh in peoples' minds.

Belphanior:  (taking note of the increased military presence at the gate
  and within the city)  I'd have done the same thing...except there would
  also be wizards at every entry point into the city.
Hope:  Then again, this city has always been known for the plentiful
  number of wizards amongst its population.  If something did happen, I'm
  certain that magic would be brought to bear in short order.
Paige:  (looking around, she takes in the sights of a new place...one she
  has heard stories about from her current companions)  Hmm.
Otto:  (also looking around)  Things are different here than...before.

  The dwarf's observation was true, for the city seemed crowded now, its
population bolstered by new arrivals.  Some of these were undoubtedly
nobles from other places, but many seemed to be refugees who had arrived
here with nothing more than what little they could carry.  Their haggard
appearance likely indicated why they were not lodged at any of the city's
many inns:  lack of money.

Belphanior:  (looking around, he frowns, having come to the same basic
  conclusion as Otto)

  While the numbers and disposition of its occupants might have changed,
the city's layout had not, and Belphanior led the group to a place that
he knew well, one where he could take care of multiple things:  the Green Dragon Inn.

Poulos:  (looking up at the sprawling building)  Nice place.
Belphanior:  It sure is.  (he finds himself relieved that this place, and
  indeed the city itself, escaped the ravages of the recent wars)
Paige:  I bet the food and drink here are good, too.  At least I hope so.
Belphanior:  They are...or will be, as long as the inn's ownership hasn't
  changed.  (he leads the way through the front door of the establishment)

  The elf wasn't worried about room and board, provided that his former
adventuring companion Peldor was still running things.  Belphanior knew
something that most others didn't:  Peldor always kept a few of his inn's
rooms empty, in case old friends came calling unexpectedly.  At any rate,
he needn't have worried this time; not only was the inn far from crowded,
but a familiar face stood out at the long, polished bar of rare and sturdy
wood.

Tanya:  (putting away some glass mugs, she looks up in surprise to see
  the dozen rough-looking adventurers enter the bar area, led by the tall
  elf in the red cloak)  Well, I'll be damned.  Belphanior.
Belphanior:  (nods politely)  Tanya.  Nice to see you again.
Tanya:  What a-  Wow.  (she shakes her head, tossing her red tresses all
  about)  Of all the people we know, we figured you most likely to meet a
  bloody end in the wars.  (she pauses)  That didn't come out right.  What
  I mean is, you were surely out in the middle of some part of it...and
  from what's been said about such battles, many key players didn't live
  through the experience.
Belphanior:  I'm alive and well, as you can see.
Tanya:  And with a much-strengthened company, it seems.
Belphanior:  I've been busy...and not in these parts.  You could say that
  I missed the best - and worst - parts of the wars.  (he smirks)  In any
  case, we're looking for lodging for a day or two.  We have a great deal
  of business in Greyhawk.
Tanya:  You're in luck - we're actually not too crowded, I'd guess because
  the bulk of the new arrivals in the city simply can't afford to lodge
  here, and are staying in the public areas set up elsewhere.  (she eyes
  the elf's companions)  How many rooms do you need?
Belphanior:  (actually counting heads, as he hasn't gotten used to the
  larger size of his team of late)  Looks like eleven.
Tanya:  Okay, you're not in that much luck.  We only have six open rooms,
  and if you'd come later in the day, it might have been less.  Business
  has been...random.
Belphanior:  Not a problem.  Some of us will have to double up, but-

  Just then, the elf was interrupted by a sudden exclamation, one uttered
in a surprisingly loud voice...surprising given the small stature of the
speaker who'd just wandered into the large common room.

Bosco:  (looks at Belphanior in shock)  Whoa!  (looks at Arusha and Judhon
  in surprise)  Whoa?  (looks at Paige in admiration)  Whoa.





next:       catching up
www:        http://www.peldor.com/download.html
homepage:   http://www.peldor.com/
email:      tmiller@peldor.com
released:   5/6/2022
notes:      This was another step in the process of catching things up.
  It was necessary to bridge the gap between Belphanior's crew and just
  about anyone else; Greyhawk (and specifically the Green Dragon Inn)
  seemed like a pretty good place to start.
    For those of you worrying, please don't; the others from Peldor's
  family and inn will show up next time.
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