The Dragons Bane

Nordok and Mintock are sitting down at a table in the common room with the party of adventurers calling themselves The Dragons Bane when Seldor comes in. Seldor, deciding to bring his clothes up to his room after supper, joins them. Just then Clernon comes down to supper to find that the party of adventurers calling themselves The Dragons Bane have already arrived.

“I see our guests have arrived. Won’t you introduce me?”

“This, lady and gentlemen, is Clernon. Clernon, this is Dimlar, Delgar, Clandistra, and Mizdar, all of The Dragons Bane. If we can all agree, then the four of us will be joining them as adventurers, effective tonight,” says Mintock.

“Well, then, let’s order our food and meet one another.” Clernon motions for Teela to come and take our order.

“What will it be for dinner for the eight of you?” After we each give her our preference, we order drinks before she leaves to give Freedar our orders.

After all of us have finished eating, Mizdar produces a fancy looking parchment. “I expect all of you to read the charter carefully. At tonight’s party, you will have to sign it in front of Lord Muldoon, that way it’s official.” He then hands the charter to Mintock, who reads it carefully before passing it on to Clernon. After everyone has read it thoroughly, Mizdar retrieves the document. “Any questions?”

“I have but one, who’s the most senior in experience?” asks Mintock.

“Ah, the pecking order be Mizdar, Clandistra, me brother Delgar, meself, and then ye four, Mintock, Clernon, Seldor, and then Nordok. If ye have any issue with the order, now be the time to speak up.”

Nordok, thinking it over and knowing that Seldor is actually his better, decides to let the matter rest. “Seems fair,” he says. And the others nod their heads in agreement.

“Of course, one thing’s not stated in the charter. When one of us meets his demise, it is customary that we send the member’s armor and weapons back to their family, along with a hundred gold pieces, if we can,” states Clandistra, receiving a nod of approval from all the others.

“Well then, what other issues must we go over?” asks Clernon.

“The signing tonight will be announced, so that will be easy enough. We will need to check your gear tomorrow, say just after the midday meal. And after we make sure you four have everything in order, we will have to go over what we, as a party, will need for our trip to the ruins of Myth Dranor.”

“We should be able to leave within a few days, if the weather continues to hold true. I suggest we plan on accompanying the next road crew that heads north, this way we will have an escort for the first few days. All in favor?” asks Mizdar. Seven ayes are the response.

“Well then, till this evening.” And the four current members leave the four soon-to-be members to prepare for the party.

“So, what did everyone think of the charter?” asks Mintock.

“I thought it was fairly thorough, how about you, Nordok?” asks Seldor.

“Yes, it seemed to address any and all problems that could arise. I’ll be willing to sign it later at the party.”

“Well, I, for one, am going to go up and get ready for the party,” suggests Clernon, waiting a moment to see if the others are going to do the same.

“Yes, it is about that time, isn’t it?” replies Mintock.

The parchment containing our contract and ticket to adventure went like this:

The Adventurers Charter

Be it known that all adventurers must have a charter authorized by Lord Muldoon to adventure from this town. The below named personages are duly acknowledged adventures operating out of CrossRoads Castle and are subject to the rules governing adventurers as stated below:

ALL treasure gained while adventuring must be declared upon returning from an adventure.

TEN Percent shall be rendered as tax to the town treasurer within 24 hours of said return.

In the event of an attack, all adventurers present at the time are required to assist in the defense of the realm to the best of their ability.

All treasure should be divided equally (in so far as this is possible) among the party members. Magical items not confiscated as too dangerous shall be picked according to members of greatest skill and ability first, but only if the item can actually be used by said member.

Any magic items deemed too powerful or dangerous shall be confiscated and turned over to the Mages Guild for examination and possible destruction. The party is entitled to fair compensation for such items, either monetary or other magical items as trade or spells, at the discretion of the guild master. Any disputes to be settled by Lord Muldoon.

The adventurers are entitled to the protection of the castle and the guard while within the castle’s walls or while within the immediate area controlled by the castle.

The cost of training is NOT covered by this charter or the ten percent tax. The cost of training is set by each guild.

This charter MUST be displayed upon demand to any personages. Adventuring without a charter is illegal and any such personages doing so are considered bandits or brigands. The penalty for banditry or brigandy is death by hanging.

Signed,

Lord Muldoon

CrossRoads Castle

Party Name:_The Dragons Bane__

Name Next of Kin Contact

Delra None_________ ____

Wiltos Melgar,_Tinglar_Town______

Midar Wandra,_CrossRoads_Castle_

Mizdar Talbart,_Tinglar_Town_____

Figor None__________ __

Clandistra None _

Delgar______ Dunbar,_Mt_Delvar________

Dimlar Dunbar,_Mt_Delvar_ ______

Fizdan Fiestra,_Three_Fork__ _____

Elgin Marg,_Three_Forks _____

Howler None, Raised by Wolves______

Tamlin Tonya, Emerald Forest______

Mintock______LeeLan,Solar______________

Mintok_____ _ Merwin,Solar______________

Seldor______ Meldor,Solar_____ _

Nordock___ Fieldstar,Solar_____________

The party was scheduled for eight bells, but the guests were already beginning to fill the courtyard at half past seven. Being strangers, we arrive in the courtyard but a few moments before eight bells only to be met by a large crowd blocking the south entrance, with many more streaming into the courtyard from both the east and the west gates.

“Can anyone tell if the guards are letting people in yet?” asks Nordok.

An old peasant woman turns to him and says, “’tis not eight bells yet, sonny. We be allowed inside soon enough, but if yer impatient, try standing outside the castle, ’tis an even bigger line out there!”

“An’ colder, too!” adds another. Mintock quickly motions to Nordok to behave and keep quiet.

The rest of us, realizing that most of the people in the crowd have probably walked for miles through the cold night and then, having stood in line outside the castle walls just to get into the courtyard, are much more deserving of the warmth and shelter of the castle proper.

In fact, upon looking around, Seldor spies several others that he recognizes as living within the walls. Every one of them seems to be hanging back, waiting for all the farm folk and other people that live outside the walls to go first. Seldor, nudging the others, leads the way toward where the rest of the castle dwellers are waiting, Maximar being the closest.

“Aye, we were wondering how long it would take before your manners kicked in,” says Maximar.

“We didn’t realize what was going on at first,” says Seldor apologetically.

“It is customary here to let those who live the furthest enter first. We do this for many reasons, first and foremost being that during the winter months it is a great hardship for many to come to the castle. One or two often freeze to death.”

“Another important reason is that these people are the backbone of our small community, without the food and other products and services provided by these people, I doubt it would even be possible for us to survive, except at great cost. Just think of the cost if we had to import everything by caravan. It wouldn’t be practical. Thus we honor the peasants, because it is our very survival that depends on them. Remember that when travelling outside the walls during the better months; never be shameful of lending them a free hand, for they deserve it more than you could ever know.”

With that said, the four of us quietly and introspectively join the others waiting for the commoners to file into the great hall ahead of them.

As the last of the commoners enter the courtyard, what seems like half the castle guard begin to file in behind them. At the puzzled look on Nordok’s face, Maximar says, “those guards not actually on duty have been sent out to protect the roads and the folk that are on their way to the castle. They will be the next to enter.”

About half past eight bells, when all but a few stragglers have entered the hall, the castle guards are the next to enter, followed by any fighters. Seldor and Nordok find themselves propelled forward by several other fighters they recognize from the guild. Mintock and Clernon, having been summoned by some of their respective fellow guild members shortly before this, are kept from immediately joining Seldor and Nordok. After all the fighters have entered, the clerics enter, and finally, the mages.

The peasants, as a show of thanks and appreciation, applaud each group as they enter. The peasants do this because they know that without the fighters, clerics, and mages to protect them, they wouldn’t make it through a single season.

Shortly after nine bells, when everyone has had an opportunity to get themselves some food from the buffet tables, the trumpets herald Lord Muldoon. The lord and his lady enter through a side door by the table on the dais. The two take their customary seats at the center of the head table, where they are soon joined by the other leaders of the town and castle, as well as the heads of the guilds.

A hush falls over the hall as the Lord stands and prepares to speak. “I, Lord Muldoon, welcome you all tonight. We have several honors to bestow this night. We have had six healthy newborns this past month.” He stops due to the applause that follows such a statement.

“We also have good news from our mages. The cold weather is done for the year and we can begin planting crops a full two weeks earlier than expected.” Overwhelming applause from the peasants, most of whom are farmers that have been waiting all winter for this news.

“And, according to the caravan master, we have also spent a record amount of money this trip. The next trip up here for Carmoon’s caravan will have an extra three wagons of goods from the south.” Again, applause causes Lord Muldoon to pause. The demand for goods from the south has always been high, so news of a few extra wagons’ worth is good news indeed.

“We also have the first of this year’s adventurers come up with the caravan. They have decided to sign up with The Dragons Bane, whose charter was created just last year. Come on up here and sign the charter so all will know you for who you are.”

With that the four old members and the four new members proceed to the platform in front of the head table. With a flourish, Mizdar produces the charter for all to see, and then places it upon a table that magically appears in front of him. We, the new members, are now required to stand forth, one at a time, and, stating our names for all to hear, we each then sign our name to the charter. All eight of us then leave the small platform as one, followed by applause that is no less deafening than that heard earlier.

Lord Muldoon then continues, “that concludes our business for tonight, let the entertainment begin!” At a clap of his hands, several platforms spring up throughout the great hall. Jugglers, acrobats and dancers atop the platforms begin their routines, eliciting ohs and ahs from the crowd.

After the eight of us adventurers retreat from the limelight, Seldor gives voice to all the new members’ curiosity over all the hoopla concerning the signing. “Mizdar, how come everyone seems so interested in the fact we are joining The Dragons Bane?”

“During the winter months life can be a trifle on the boring side, so they make the most of any occasion. Also, they know that adventurers not only pay a substantial amount in the form of taxes, we also generally spend the bulk of our wealth here. And, if you live on the outskirts, it is us adventurers that help keep the monsters at bay by going to fight them where they live. In their eyes, we are the heroes to which they and their children aspire to become.”

“I see.”

“Good, because when we travel north through the lands of these people, you will find that they offer their hospitality often. And we, in turn, give them much more than we need to as payment for their hospitality.”

“Well, on that note, let us join the festivities. I, for one, wish to see this knife throwing contest we heard so much about this afternoon,” says Nordok.

“You just want an excuse to try that shiny new knife you bought,” returns Seldor with a smile. With that we disband to join the rest of the revelers.

Nordok and Seldor make their way over to where they saw the knife-throwing contest being set up. There they find Killian, as well as several other caravan guards, to be among those also entered in the contest.

“Well met, I see you two have officially become adventurers. I think you will like The Dragons Bane, they came up with us last year about this time.”

“Oh, then you are familiar with them?” asks Nordok.

“Yes, a little. Why?”

“I was just wondering why you didn’t mention them when we asked about how to adventure here.”

“Well, I wasn’t sure if they needed any more adventurers, I hadn’t had a chance to talk with them yet. Besides, it’s not my place to be speaking for them. Those of us that travel regularly with the caravans know a lot, but we keep most things to ourselves as much as possible. It doesn’t pay to be known as the blabbermouths of the road.”

“I see,” replies Nordok.

“If you three are done blabbering to each other, I believe it is your turn, Killian,” grins Pathos.

“Yes, I do believe it is time to win some money, at that.” Killian assumes his place some 20 feet from the target. Placing three knives into the bull’s-eye, he quickly establishes himself as one of the favorites to win tonight.

The end of the night comes all too quickly, for most. It is heralded by the vaunted fireworks show, where each mage attempts to outdo the rest, with Lord Muldoon as judge. Those mages barely able to create fireworks start the show with simple fireballs cast into the night sky. Their booming thunder echoes all the way up the valley.

As the show goes on, mages of higher ability begin to create fireballs that are not only larger, but of greater complexity, being able to intermingle different sized ones with different colored ones to create truly astounding displays. Finally, the best mages take their turn.

The first of these mages creates a great fireball in the shape of snow giant. But, unlike the usual fireballs, this one continues to burn, the echo of the boom setting a drumbeat for the battle to come. Then the fireball snow giant begins to swing his great club, obviously a clear challenge to the next mage.

The next mage creates a griffin. Its great brown wings, spread wide, eclipse the snow giant. Then the griffin swoops up high before turning and arrowing down towards the giant. The griffin’s speed is such that the giant’s club never even completes its swing toward the griffin. The giant white-hot head of the griffin passes through the snow giant, seemingly destroying it with its intense heat. The griffin then comes up before us, glorying in his victory as he hovers in the air, awaiting the next challenger.

Finally, a golden dragon appears. Hovering above the walls on the other side of the castle, spread-eagled, the dragon breathes a long, golden-tongued plume of fire into the heavens. Rising and flying directly at each other, the two winged behemoths grapple high in the air above the castle. The two claw and snap at each other, but it is the dragon and its gold colored breath, released directly into the griffin’s chest and head, that claims victory this night.

It was clear that the mage who created the dragon was the winner, and so the announcement, made by Lord Muldoon with a greatly amplified voice, came as no surprise. “To the great mage Elrod and his golden dragon, I give thee this toast, for thee are the winner!” The applause was as deafening as the fireworks display.

The grand finale, signaling the end of festivities for the night, is a grand slam of fireballs by all the mages. Thus ended the adventurers’ first taste of what a party is, here in the remote north.