01 - Well Met in Fallcrest

[sulldawga]

Fallcrest
Lower Quays
Nineteenthday, Fifthmonth 616 NF
Morning

The air was thick with the pungent scent of the city docks: the distinctive earthy smell of the riverbank mixing with the stink of unwashed humanity.

A cacophony of sounds filled the air: the creaking of ropes, the clanging of metal fittings, and the excited chatter of the crowd. And always in the background, the dull roar of the Nentir Falls up ahead to the north. Children ran along the edge of the river, their eyes wide with wonder as they watched the porters board your keelboat and unload crates and barrels of goods.

The city's skyline was a patchwork of timber-framed houses, their roofs thatched with straw. Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, mingling with the early morning mist. A sturdy tower, its walls constructed of pale green stone that matched no other building in Fallcrest, stood sentinel over Lowtown, a silent witness to centuries of history. Behind it, the Bluffs rose 200 feet and more into the air, carving the city in half.

You collect your personal items and nod your goodbyes to the captain of the keelboat. The Swiftwater Clan was nothing if not efficient and your payment for passage to the Nentir Vale had been settled long ago. You know very little of the city but the hairfoot sailors had recommended the Blue Moon Alehouse. It seemed a little early for an ale but, judging from the potential clientele walking around the Quays, they might have reason to be open at this hour.



Map source is D&D Doodle

[shaidar]

Thea

Thea crouches next to Dain, stroking his fur and talking quietly and calmly to him "'I'm sure you're as happy as me to be on dry-land. Time to be alert. New adventures, but new dangers.". She stands and gives him the hand signal for a general defensive guard.

[shaidar]

Wick

Wick looks around, taking in the sights. "I say we check out the alehouse. If it looks alright we can use it as a meeting point, they might even have rooms."

[Rex]

Senorix

"The ale house sounds good. Maybe even a spot to sleep tonight that isn't moving underneath me."

[Rex]

Dagr

"Fine with me, but those places are always full of crooks so we will need to watch our backs. I know I have hung a bunch of them over the years."

[Rex]

Senorix

Senorix laughs, "Are you calling me a crook, I told you before it was all a lie."

[sulldawga]

The party banters amongst themselves, back and forth as they weave their way through the streets of Lowtown.

Is the Blue Moon Alehouse open at this time of day? I'll say there's a 30% chance.
: 1d100 43 Nope.

You manage to find the Alehouse, only to discover it is not yet open for business. It is, in fact, quite early in the morning.

[Rex]

Dagr

"I thought these places never closed. Where do we want to go now?"

[sulldawga]

You are sure there's another tavern open in Lowtown. It's probably not as nice as this one.

If you want to hear rumors and skip the dive bars, you can just walk the streets and strike up some conversations. Or we can retcon that you asked the ship captain before you disembarked. There are places that serve food and not ale that you could try.

If you are looking for patrons who might give you a job, they tend to be wealthier so you'd be best served to climb up the bluffs.

[shaidar]

Thea

"Why don't we see if there is a market today, they are always interesting places"

[Rex]

Senorix

"Good idea, lets ask around."

[sulldawga]

The party asks the nearest residents walking by and they point north toward the Market Green. Smaller towns have a Market or Fair once a week but Fallcrest is large enough that traders and local vendors make their way there to buy and sell just about every day, weather permitting.

While walking around the Green, you discover two new locations. On the south side of the Green is the Lucky Gnome Taphouse. It's open but, as expected, it's a dump. Mostly empty now, but will be full of porters and laborers once the work day is done. On the north side is Sandercot Provisioners, a large general store.

From the folks on the Green, you are able to learn the following:

No Word from Winterhaven: Normally every year at the start of the hunting season a delegation from Winterhaven comes southeast to stock up on supplies and deliver news about the goings on in the Cairngorms. This year, weeks have passed and no one has arrived. They assume the Lord Warden will send someone to investigate in return for a reward.

Kobolds on the King's Road: Adding to the issues to the west, trade has been disrupted by unusually belligerent Kobolds on the King's Road. Word is they’re hiding out in the old Manor in the Cloak Wood due west of Fallcrest.

Frostgrave: It is almost too much to believe but travelers from the Barony of Therund are claiming an entire Elven city from the Feywild has somehow crossed over into our world, southwest of Fallcrest, past the Cloak Wood, by the Ogrefist Hills. It is a city of ice and unnatural cold, yet inside lies some fantastic treasures. The travelers didn't know its true elven name but its nickname is Frostgrave.

Heresy in the Hinterlands: A charismatic speaker has been roaming the villages on the northern edge of Fallcrest, turning the peasants away from the true beliefs of Erathis. The High Priest in town is looking for holy warriors who can talk this heretic down... or remove the threat by any means necessary.

[Rex]

Dagr

"We could check out the kobold rumors."

[shaidar]

Wick

"We could find out what happened to the Winterhaven delegation at the same time."

[Rex]

Senorix

"Good idea to go for two at once."

[sulldawga]

Just to clarify, you're planning on leaving the city and heading west to the Cloak Wood?

Are you planning on hiring any mercenaries to go with you? Or just the four of you?

[Rex]

Hiring mercs depends on the price I would think. How much are hirelings?

[shaidar]

Thea

"The Winterhaven one talks about a reward from the Lord Warden, maybe we should go and see him."

[Rex]

Senorix

"Yes, lets go see him and see what he is offering."

[sulldawga]

I don't have the rules in front of me right now but it's in there. Don't quote me but I think it's 3 sp/day for non-combatants and 10 sp/day for mercs.