Chapter 13: Separate Ways!
-----By noontime, the trio of rogues makes it through the trees to come upon a trail road running to the west and east. With the sun shining warmly down on them, they turn toward the east and follow the trail. Within a few yards the trees thin out and before them, they see the walls of a large town.
-----Approaching the gate, they observe that this town looks much like the Town of Hearthorn. Through the gate can be seen houses and shops that are made mostly from forest products giving the large settlement a ‘woodsy feel.’ The trio notices the guard at the town gate seems relaxed, as only one man seems to be in sight. He grunts nervously as he takes the coppers from them.
-----As they ride through the gate, they notice that quite a few people are out in this part of town. On the first block they begin to ride down, the rogues see the majority of the buildings here are small wood homes. To their left, one building stands out as a small tavern. Across the street from it is a trader’s store with a blacksmith’s shop just beyond it.
-----A small detail of men passes them by. Numbering no more than a half-dozen, the men wear an assortment of different kinds of armor and weapons. They bear no standards or coat of arms that distinguishes them as any organized troop.
-----Three non-descript citizens also walk by perhaps making their way from or to some sort of job.
-----As Kazel, Seth and the Dread Pirate ride in front of the tavern, they see a curious looking person moving down the street in their direction. A man, perhaps half-elven in nature, strides along on foot wearing fine blue robes of different shades. With his long dark hair pulled into a ponytail, there is something mystical in his demeanor.
-----Escorting him are four human-sized guards armed with swords and wearing chain mail armor.
-----The Dread Pirate shrugs his shoulders and says, "I'm fresh out of ideas, let’s go get drunk." He then heads for the tavern.
-----Seth turns to the others and states, "I need a bath, fresh laundry and some refreshment in that order. I think I’ll go into the tavern, find out a good place to get a room then get clean." He nods as Dread states his desire to drink rum. "So do you want me to meet you both back in the tavern once I am clean or do either of you want to get clean as well?"
-----Kazel says, "Ok, I'll be back in a bit too. Just going to take a look at this neighbourhood."
-----Kazel rides off down the street as Seth and the Dread Pirate enter the tavern. She first keeps the blue robed man in sight as she looks around the town. Just down two blocks, Kazel intersects with the street that leads to the Keep of Oakwood. Directly across from her, the street opens out into a large Market area. Although it appears not to be as large as the Market area in Hearthorn, there seems to be a lot of activity with goods being bought and sold.
-----The blue robed man and his guards lead Kazel across the Market place and then down another street heading toward the east. As Kazel rides, she notices that few people are out in this part of town although it is only one hour past high noon. Suddenly at the end of the block she sees a strange sight. There before her on one corner is a large temple. It looks very much like the temple dedicated to the god Joren back in Hearthorn. Sure enough over the door is a sign bearing a dark blue shield fielding a white lance. A troop of soldiers completely surrounds the building holding off curious onlookers.
-----Kazel looks up at the top of the temple tower. At first, it looks as though the tower was built with a black dome atop it. Then Kazel suddenly realizes the top of the temple tower is encased in a globe of Darkness!
-----To one side stands the blue robed man looking also at the black globe atop the tower. A wide smirk spreads across his face as he watches the grim scene.
-----From where Kazel is, she can see down the street to the east that there is a gate there. Also, looking north down the street from in front of the temple, there seems to be another gate in the north wall of the town.
-----"... and how can they miss that?" Kazel thinks to herself looking at the black dome. She waits for a bit to see if the blue robed man does anything more.
-----The blue-robed man continues to watch the spectacle at the temple for a few more moments and then moves on. Kazel follows him cautiously when suddenly he turns about face and heads back toward the Market place. The guards follow in his stride, not missing a step in the quick turn.
-----The man moves in an almost gliding way along the street on the south side of the market booths. As Kazel crosses the intersection of streets, she sees a fourth gate in the south wall of the town. On the next block, the man walks past a strangely interesting building that resembles some sort of temple. The man regards it with a passing amusement and continues on. At the end of the block, the man leaves the street and he and his guards enter an elegant looking inn.
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