22-28 Kythorn, 1493
❧ Leaving Greenest
We headed north toward Elturel. The trip was mostly uneventful except for when we stumbled upon an Ettin (2-headed giant) that had set up a toll on the road! He caught T-Bone trying to sneak around, so Lhel started making threats. There was a big fight and in the end, we walked off with his 2 oversized battleaxes and about 20sp. He must not have made much on his toll.
❧ Elturel
Late Afternoon, 27 Kythorn
There is something like a miniature sun in Elturel! Okay, I don’t know if it’s actually a miniature sun, but it works like one. Basically, the entire city is completely lit all day and night. The very first thing we did before entering the city was to hand out the headband gems. I had the primary at this point.
We found a stable near an inn where it costs 2sp/night to stable the horses or 7sp for better care. Of course, we wanted better care! In the tavern, meals were 5sp each. We also chatted with the Bartender and found out that he knew Frume. In fact, A Pair of Black Antlers Inn is the Headquarters for Frume’s Order of the Gauntlet. We happily paid 1gp for one room to share at the inn. We were exhausted and went to bed at a pretty decent time.
❧ Training Grounds
Morning, 28 Kythorn
We met with Frume in the morning. He basically looked like some kind of happy Viking biker! Also, we noticed that no matter how much he drank, he seemed completely unaffected by the alcohol. Some of us joined him in a drink or two before he decided to give us a tour of the “training grounds”. He showed us how the soldiers stay ready for the day Torm calls them to battle. That makes sense since Torm is the God of Battle after all.
At the training grounds, Frume started issuing challenges. First, he challenged Lhel to a horse-trick show-off. Of course, Lhel did great! Then, he challenged me to arm wrestling. Boy, he sure got a kick out of losing! One thing is for sure, the man can laugh at himself.
He took us around town a little showing us the Blacksmith, Silversmith, and Chapel in particular. Afterward, we met with him and Leosin in a private room of the Inn.
Frume explained that there is no formal organization to fight the dragon cult, but he wants to recruit us to join one.
Leosin then handed me one of the cards with the gold harp. He’s a Harper! He said the Harpers are a loose group of agents.
Apparently, The Harpers, The Order of the Gauntlet, and the Emerald Conclave are joining together to fight against the Dragon Cult. Their goals are to enforce Law and Order and to keep evil at bay.
Frume invited me to join the Order of the Gauntlet, assuring me that I’d have access to free lodging and help with provisions anywhere one of their bases could be found. I told him that I’d need to think about it and he said that was fine.
Also, Leosin invited both Lhel and T-Bone to join The Harpers. They also said they wanted to think about it.
We need more information about the cult. We don’t even know where they are sending all of these “treasures” they keep stealing. They do know that a cult caravan is scheduled to leave Baldur’s Gate in 10 days and they think we should get jobs as “guards” on the caravan. They have a contact in Baldur’s Gate that can help us once we get there. Also, they know that no goods are carted through the city. Instead, everything has to be carried from the South Gate to the North Gate.
After the meeting, they took us to the tailor for new clothes so we could change our appearance. It’d be a disaster if we were recognized. They also arranged to have a dragon crest added to my armor! Thankfully, they also provided a cloak to hide the armor a little, as well as a map and some cookies. Every trip needs cookies.