Chronicles of Vieliria

[VAN]

Despite Boiros wasn't planning Tyrem to listen about the letter, as he wanted to share the information only with his companions, appreciated the extra information about the witch Zevarzia. If she was planning to return they would better be prepared and know more possible about her. The cleric thanks Tyrem and his family for their hospitality and follows the others towards the village.

When the guard with the chain mail addressed them Boiros steps forward and raising a bit his hands he says:

"Hello, we are travelers. We come from Mr Tyrem's farm not far away from here. He told us that there is a shrine of the the Lady of the Mists in this village and I would like to pay my respects to Mighty Ezra."

[alhoon]

The soldier steps aside from the gate to allow the group to pass. "Welcome Warden" The soldier gives a respectful nod to Boiros, as do the two watchmen. "If you and your fellow crusaders want to spend the night in Harpton, the tavern "stilvol" has two rooms it could provide for you." The guard then provides directions to the tavern and the shrine of Ezra.
"Welcome to Harpton crusaders. May you all have a good time before you move on to fight the enemies of the Lady of the Mists. I am Serge."
Serge seems sincere in his welcome and appreciation of the anchorite cleric. The two watchmen don't seem to care although they remain respectful.

[Naliamegod]

*thanks the guards politely* So.. I think I'll hit the tavern for a drink and some information. Anyone want to follow? I think I owe you guys a few drinks *starts heading off*

[VAN]

Boiros returns the nod and says:

"Right on, thank you very much Serge. Most probably we will take your advice and remain at least one day at Harpton so the two rooms at the tavern you mentioned are fine. May the Mighty Ezra be with you."

Turning to his companions the cleric says:

"Well I could use a good meal as well, so I suggest we all go to the tavern get our rooms have some food and discuss what we are going to do."

[Naliamegod]

Awesome. I'll buy you a drink for helping my head injuries. *leads everyone to the tavern, while keeping his eyes open for things around him*

[alhoon]

The village of Harpton was made mostly by sturdy wooden houses and shops. The roads leading to the village centre were large and a couple of stone buildings were mixed along the more humble wooden ones. Since it's late morning, most of the men are out of the village tending the fields that dot the countryside and herding the various animals of village life. children seem to be running around doing chores or playing while women dressed in long gray or brown dresses and with their hair in a bun take care of the household, wash clothes or visit the various stores. It's not long before G notices that one of the gate watchmen happens to be a few dozen yards behind them all the time, chatting with village-folk here and there not intruding into the group's business, but always keeping them in sight.
As could be expected, a group of strangers, some in expensive armor and including a dwarf, attracts a lot of looks. Those looks are mixed. Some villagers go out of their way to bow to Boiros and call "Ezra Victorious!". A few give the dwarf's armament a look of appreciation but many seem to take pains to put some distance between themselves and the dwarves. Most women reach for their children to keep them away from the party and especially the dwarf.

Suddenly a woman's shout pierces the air. The voice is colored with anger and desperation.
"Killer! Criminal! Monster! "
As the group turns towards the voice, they can see a middle-aged thin woman dressed in black, with dishelved hair and pale skin that hasn't seen enough sun rushing towards them. The wild look in her eyes seems to be full of anger and hate as she looks at Boiros.
"Monster! Killer! Go away! We don't want your kind! Haven't you done enough already? How many more of our sons have to die for your faith?" she screams. She turns to the other women that have come to the windows or the doors of their houses and addresses them, as tears start rushing down her hollow cheeks.
"The crusaders are back! They will steal your sons away too! That killer will fill their heads with big words of "duty" and "honor" promising the protection of his godess. And your sons too will follow him to the north. And ... and... " she doesn't seem to be able to finish her sentence as she drops to her knees and starts sobbing uncontrolably, her face in her hands.

The looks Boiros gets at this point are not respectful or kind, although most of the women seem to have their attention at the woman that is crying on her knees in the middle of the street, sympathy in their expressions.

"Warden, Don't think ill of the widow Semine." the watchman whispers to them softly as he adresses Boiros. He has rushed to reach them in the commotion.
"She lost her husband in the war against the witch Zevarzia, and both her sons in the crusade against the Lawgiver. The news about her second son reached us less than a month ago. Her daughters have married and left, leaving her alone with her sorrow. "
He takes a look on all of them. "I understand that you crusaders have given an oath and that you do what you think it must be done. I don't want to insult anyone, nor would widow Semine if she was in her senses. We respect the Home Faith deeply here and the anchorites have helped us a lot. But please, just this once, move to the tavern so we can calm her down."

[Roddek]

*thanks the guards politely* So.. I think I'll hit the tavern for a drink and some information. Anyone want to follow? I think I owe you guys a few drinks *starts heading off*

"I could use a few drinks," he said, glad to have the offer. He followed after G. "You going to tell us your real name eventually or do we keep referring to you as a letter?"

A few give the dwarf's armament a look of appreciation but many seem to take pains to put some distance between themselves and the dwarves. Most women reach for their children to keep them away from the party and especially the dwarf.

It was clear the reactions from the people were starting to wear on the dwarf. Instead of ignoring it or smiling, he began to sneer at the rudeness. "Your goddess, Boiros, seems to have done wonders for my people. Back home, I was a noble. Here, I am nothing more than a street urchin..." He spat. "I need a drink."

But please, just this once, move to the tavern so we can calm her down."

The dwarf needed no further prodding before he went on, perhaps leaving the others behind.

[VAN]

It's first time at his young life Boiros has been treated like that, addressed by a woman that calls him murderer! And have the dwarf accuse his goddess of how the ill treatment he gets. Turning at the watchman he says in a voice little louder than normal so the widow can hear as well.

"I'm sorry for what Mrs Semine has been through but as I understand his husband and sons went to fight the witch Zevarzia and against Lawgiver's oppression and strife. They are heroes in my eyes protecting what they love. Unfortunately the war is like this, takes the best men away but at least now you got rid of the witch and you have human rights which I assure you wouldn't have if you have lost the war against Lawgiver. His clerics, the banites are known for their cruelty and their famous saying "strength makes the power" meaning if you can't defend yourself against someone stronger so be it, he can take you even slave.. So yes I'm proud to be an anchorite and fight for all those that have mighty Ezra in heart and those in need. But I'm not here for recruits or to prepare another crusade, I'm a visitor that wants to pay his respects at the shrine of his goddess and find his way back to his homeland. But for the time I will be around all of you are welcome to come and talk to me and if I can help you with anything I will. Because this is what an anchorite is about."

Boiros helps the woman stand and then says:

"I'm sorry for your loss and even if you hate me, I'm proud I met you. Your husband and sons are heroes."

Then he follows Roddek planning to have a word with the dwarf in a better occasion about Ezra.

[Varrus the Ethical]

Wil walks to follow the dwarf. "Make that two drinks, Roddek."

[Roddek]

"Believe me, Wil, it'll be a keg before the end o' the night."

[alhoon]

Boiros helps the woman stand and then says:
"I'm sorry for your loss and even if you hate me, I'm proud I met you. Your husband and sons are heroes."

Widow Sermine seems to come to her senses as Boiros tries to touch her. Rage enters her gaze as the Anchorite reaches for her and with a scream she backhands him violently. The cleric's helmet seems to deflect some of the blow but he earns a red cheek for his efforts. The widow seems about to attack the anchorite again before the guard grabs her hand and other women rush to get between her and Boiros.
As she's half-dragged half-carried away by the watchman and a couple of local women, Sermine gives Boiros an icy stare through red from crying eyes.
"I never wanted my boys to be heroes of your cause! I just wanted them alive!"
Hate feels her voice as she curses the anchorite:
"If there's any justice in the world crusader, Gods will repay you for the pains your brought to my family. I've lost all light of the world when my sons died fighting your crusade, so if any God, good or foul listens to me, they will steal the light out of your eyes too, condemning you to share the darkness you've forever trapped me into!"
A moment of fearful silence descents on the people trying to pull away the widow as she lays the blasphemous curse. They all turn to look at the Anchorite. As he doesn't seem to be striken blind or reach for his sword, they leave a breath they've been holding. All strength seems to have left the widow as she allows her friends and neighbors to help her to her feet and drag her away.
The guard, still very uneasy, turns to the cleric. "Please, widow Sermine is not in her right mind right now. Don't press charges on blasphemy. She will be flogged for calling evil forces to strike you blind if you do. Just... let it go. Pray to mighty Ezra to protect you from the curse, and all will be fine. I understand that this ... event will make it more difficult for you to find recruits for the crusade here, but you already have exceptionally armed followers."
And with that, the guard turned to go, leaving Boiros outside the tavern.


Stilvol is a midsized tavern. There's a large, sturdy wooden table that dominates the room with benches that can easily sit 12 people and a 5 smaller tables around it with 4-5 chairs each. The tavern has a floor of wooden planks, a cozy fireplace and a few inexpensive needlecraft decorations on the walls. A door leads to the the kitchen in the back and stairs lead to the rooms of the owners and the two rooms for rent.
A somewhat short, portly man in his mid forties, with a bald spot in his short light-brown hair and a white apron stands behind a bar bench. A young woman that is probably his daughter waits on the few patrons that are in the tavern at this early hour. An obvious drunkard in his forties sitting on the big table, that already has a couple of mugs in front of him and two suspicious-looking huddled fellows wearing cloaks and having the hood up that sit in a corner table whispering to each other.
While the drunkard doesn't even seem to register that someone entered, those men turned and took a measuring look at the newcomers. Their eyes were drawn to the expensive armor and weapons the group has and they seem to lose all interest as they go back to their conversation.

The owner gives a nod to the newcomers and over the rumblings of the drunkard -he was in the middle of a story probably shared 12 times already- he called to the party "Welcome to Stilvol travelers! Warm food, strong ale, cold beer and hospitality are our specialties!" As the serving girl is about to greet them too or help them to a table, the drunkard turns and his eyes set on the dwarf.
His look turns from curiosity to suprise to open disgust.
"Ezra victorious! Are you serving his kind here Kilfrid? Half-men? I thought this was a respectable establishment! Do you take a piss in the beer too?"

The owner, Kilfrid, steels his gaze as he turns to the drunkard. "Stop this right now you old fool! If you don't like my clients you can get the heck out of here. Can't you see he's a noble! Seriously, if you don't shut up I'll have my son kick you out again and this time, I'll leave you without a drop of alcohol for a week!"
Turning to Roddek the owner apologizes. "I'm sorry for the behavior of this drunken fool my lord! You're very, very welcome in Stilvol, you and your hirelings! If you are willing to let this offence slide, I'm sure you'll enjoy our fine hospitality"
The drunkard seems about to protest but Kilfrid hits the table loudly. "Not a word Germind! Not a single word!"

[Roddek]

Roddek starts towards the drunkard until the Tavern keeper speaks up, and then at the silencing of the drunk, he smiles. "You're the first man to recognize a Dwarven noble since I've arrived in these parts," Roddek says. He fishes out two expensive looking gems from a pouch in his armor, each worth five gold pieces, and placed them on the bar for the bartender. "I'd like a room for me and my companions, as well as meals for us all and two casks of ale. Keep whatever's leftover as token of my thanks."

It took a bit of haggling, as the bartender was unwilling to take the entire tip, but eventually the two settled on a tip of two gold pieces. The dwarf was clearly relieved to find someone who didn't immediately distrust his kind, and recognize a noble when they saw one.

[VAN]

Boiros' glance keeps lingering to the widow till she is brought away. At the moment of the curse he reaches not for his sword but for his holy symbol not for casting a spell just for thanking Ezra for protecting him. Turning to the guard he says with a voice clearly disappointed:

"I will not press charges, I cannot even imagine how this woman feels just I don't agree at all of how she expressed her feelings. Anyway I'm not here to get recruits or cause distress, if we are done here I'm going to the shrine."

As he was left alone in the street, Boiros sighs and heads towards the shrine.

[alhoon]

It is more than an hour till Boiros returns thoughtful from the shrine of Ezra and a talk with the Toret, as the anchorites call the lead priests of a small town or village. During this time, the rest of the group has been shown to a small tidy room with four beds and given time to freshen up, get out of their armor if they so desired and get a snack or a taste of the ale Roddek bought for them. It's quite clear that after the generous purchases of the dwarf, the tavern owner Kilfrid is making sure every need of his guests is attended immediately.
Roddek managed to enjoy a large portion of his ale keg to the astonishment of the rest of the group and the innkeeper along with some cheese, bread and dried fruit the family owing the tavern brought for the group. The family numbers two daughters and a son, along with the tavernkeeper and his wife. The two shady characters in the corner have retired to their room after Kilfrid talked the drunkard down without saying a word to the party.

A couple of minutes after Boiros gets in the tavern as the family is preparing for the noon, bringing sausages from the cellar, preparing stew, checking they have enough ale after Roddek's purchases etc, the door of the tavern opens. The guard that has been watching them discretely while they were wandering the village enters and speaks to them loudly.
"Lord Matheron requests your presence in his home to get aquintated with all of you. I suggest you make all possible haste" He says with a tone of authority. "I can lead you to the house if you want, or you can walk there yourselves if you prefer. Lord Matheron's house is the big, double-story stone building near the middle of the village, with the iron fence and the large garden."

[VAN]

Boiros quirks an eyebrow at the guard's request to visit lord Matheron. The cleric was thinking to tell his companions that he is planning to leave the next day for the bigger city at the South in order to get his token from the Ezran temple there so he can heal others if necessary. But the guard's request caught him off guard. With a side look at his companions Boiros finishes his ale and says:

"I'm ready when you are."