New Friends, Old Horizons
Kythorn - 14 Eleasias (August), 1361 DR
Summer settles in to the Dalelands, and the Dreams of the Ancients settles into Ashabenford. After some discussion, the group agrees that, while tempting, it's not a proper time for a scouting trip to the Three Rivers Land. The group might just be able to fund the building of a small stronghold, but Corym is replete with examples of projects abandoned or malformed due to things stretching past that mere "just." And you all don't want to merely build something, you want to do it right.
So instead you stay put, hiring rooms for the long term while Corym and Kora knuckle down to the task of finishing Kora's apprenticeship. Tarron and Kitheras help as well, when they're in town, providing their own flavor to the instruction and preventing Kora from wanting to throttle Corym more than once a tenday or so.
Not that they're always there. Krackor hires on with a barge, sailing south down the Ashaba as a guard for a bunch of merchants carrying Dalelands furs and leather south. Unlike your first trip, this barge is heading for the town of Feather Falls, as far east as lawful merchants are interested in traveling. He gets a good look at the Three Rivers Land and the Pool of Leven, and arrives back just before Kora finishes her apprenticeship. ((ooc: Krackor, give me an Intelligence check and let me know what you're looking for in the 3RL. You also earn 20 gp.))
Kitheras and Tarron as also frequently not in town. Kitheras has not forgotten the promise the group made to find the missing elven woman Syndra, and when Tarron learns of her plight, he's also interested in learning as much as possible. ((ooc: Roll Local History or Intelligence checks, please.))
So it's a tired but cheerful group that gathers at the Velvet Veil for a feast and toast to celebrate the end of Kora's apprenticeship. There's even a cake, and if the place is a bit rowdy, well, after two months of intensive studying, Kora's earned a bit of a party.
You're midway through when a loud, dwarven voice interrupts you. "Ah, there you are! I thought you were off to Myth Drannor, months ago! Or did your wits finally catch up with your foolishness?"
Turning, you see a grinning Rethusra standing near the bar with a mug in one hand. Neldor's factor is grinning at you, and has deliberately pitched her voice to carry across the entire tavern. The rowdiness doesn't pause, but it does lull a bit as more than one person turns to hear your response.
Almareth and Torvek
Since your chance meeting at the extreme western end of Mistledale, and the battle against the mated pair of owlbears that Torvek aided Almareth in besting, you've ridden eastward with purpose. Torvek has started to feel the pull of Myth Drannor strengthen after more than a year of only-sometimes-purposeful travel, and Almareth's infrequent visions of a bow have been coming more frequently.
You've both agreed that Myth Drannor should be your destination, but both of you are experienced enough, and wise enough, to know that you would need more than just two to survive the ruins. So you've kept your eyes open since arriving in Ashabenford earlier today. By the standards of Cormyr it's tiny, but it's your best place west of the ruins to find other adventurers willing to dare mighty Myth Drannor.
No one's been particularly interested so far, however. It's the start of the truly heavy caravan season, as winter wheat is harvested and other early crops are gathered, and most sword swingers are more interested in the steady coin and low danger of caravan guard work.
You've gotten rooms at the Ashabenford Arms inn and are midway through your meal when you hear a young dwarven woman loudly asks a mixed group of elves, a dwarf, and a human whether they're already back from Myth Drannor. You're close enough to hear their response.