LOST TRAILS 5: Sembia

[ewancummins]

Having settled, after some debate, on Samus' suggestion that they consult a sage in the Sembian Republic the party soon finds an eastbound caravan leaving Monksbidge.
The caravan master has heard something of their recent adventures and asks if they are interested in signing on as guards: they’ll each receive the loan of a mount, sleeping room in a tent, food and water, and a per diem of two silver pieces.

The three orphans whom Raen befriended also join the caravan.
They are bound for the capital, Selgaunt.

By all accounts, Selgaunt is the biggest, richest city in the Republic and everyone they ask assures the party that it would be a good place to find men of learning. The caravan master notes that the oligarchs built a ’great university.’

Governor Samus sends the heroes off with a little impromptu parade of the town and rural militia, horse and foot.

In the days that follow, the caravan moves east through browning fields, passes through the village of Battlerise, crosses the turgid stream that seeps down from the Vast Swamp, and enters Sembia proper.

Signs of civilization increase rapidly after that; many small hamlets and clusters of farmsteads with cottages of fieldstone and ancient black timbers, and peasants working in the harvest. Sheep-walks and woodlots break up the wide grain fields.

Soon the caravan reaches a walled city of considerable size. But it's not Selgaunt, which everyone says is bigger yet. The city's name is Daerloon. Here, the caravan master trades horses.


Further east, the caravan travels through or past a number of roadside market towns.
But the caravan master does not tarry long in any of these places, just doing some drop-offs of cargo and picking up a few items, seeing to the horses, and then rolling on down the road.

The roads are good and the weather remains clear but it still takes over a fortnight after leaving the Protectorate to reach the outskirts of Selgaunt.
No bandits or monsters appear, though a mad dog attacks a horse and must be put down and two armed patrols stop and check the caravan master’s papers.

The suburbs resemble the farms, woodlots, and towns the party has seen in the last couple of weeks, but the city is another matter.

Selgaunt's walls can be seen from miles off, massive gray cliffs rising over the plain. Gothic spires, copper-plated cupolas, and high-gabled terracotta rooftops show over the height of the walls, suggesting hills enclosed within the walls or some very impressive architecture or both. It’s impossible to say without seeing how much of the city is inhabited and in good repair, but one might guess that tens of thousands of people could live here.

East of the city the wide green sea rolls out to the horizon.
North of the city a long tea-colored river meanders eastward and out of sight beyond the metropolis, where it must empty into the bay where many vessels of various sizes bob at mooring posts or glide over the waters propelled by sails and oars.

The caravan master pauses on a hillock a half mile southwest of a big gate in the walls and pays the party out there (or collects the fare from those who didn’t take his offer to serve as guards.)
“Well met, friends! I wish you all good fortune in Selgaunt.”

[ewancummins]

OOC: The map is supposed to be small. I'm posting it just to offer a general sense of the size and layout/position of the city.
It's not an in-game map you possess.
My version of the city includes more farms and cottages beyond the wall, spreading off this map image area.

[Lord Skybolt]

Having settled, after some debate, on Samus' suggestion that they consult a sage in the Sembian Republic the party soon finds an eastbound caravan leaving Monksbidge.
The caravan master has heard something of their recent adventures and asks if they are interested in signing on as guards: they’ll each receive the loan of a mount, sleeping room in a tent, food and water, and a per diem of two silver pieces.

The three orphans whom Raen befriended also join the caravan.
They are bound for the capital, Selgaunt.

By all accounts, Selgaunt is the biggest, richest city in the Republic and everyone they ask assures the party that it would be a good place to find men of learning. The caravan master notes that the oligarchs built a ’great university.’

Governor Samus sends the heroes off with a little impromptu parade of the town and rural militia, horse and foot.

In the days that follow, the caravan moves east through browning fields, passes through the village of Battlerise, crosses the turgid stream that seeps down from the Vast Swamp, and enters Sembia proper.

Signs of civilization increase rapidly after that; many small hamlets and clusters of farmsteads with cottages of fieldstone and ancient black timbers, and peasants working in the harvest. Sheep-walks and woodlots break up the wide grain fields.

Soon the caravan reaches a walled city of considerable size. But it's not Selgaunt, which everyone says is bigger yet. The city's name is Daerloon. Here, the caravan master trades horses.


Further east, the caravan travels through or past a number of roadside market towns.
But the caravan master does not tarry long in any of these places, just doing some drop-offs of cargo and picking up a few items, seeing to the horses, and then rolling on down the road.

The roads are good and the weather remains clear but it still takes over a fortnight after leaving the Protectorate to reach the outskirts of Selgaunt.
No bandits or monsters appear, though a mad dog attacks a horse and must be put down and two armed patrols stop and check the caravan master’s papers.

The suburbs resemble the farms, woodlots, and towns the party has seen in the last couple of weeks, but the city is another matter.

Selgaunt's walls can be seen from miles off, massive gray cliffs rising over the plain. Gothic spires, copper-plated cupolas, and high-gabled terracotta rooftops show over the height of the walls, suggesting hills enclosed within the walls or some very impressive architecture or both. It’s impossible to say without seeing how much of the city is inhabited and in good repair, but one might guess that tens of thousands of people could live here.

East of the city the wide green sea rolls out to the horizon.
North of the city a long tea-colored river meanders eastward and out of sight beyond the metropolis, where it must empty into the bay where many vessels of various sizes bob at mooring posts or glide over the waters propelled by sails and oars.

The caravan master pauses on a hillock a half mile southwest of a big gate in the walls and pays the party out there (or collects the fare from those who didn’t take his offer to serve as guards.)
“Well met, friends! I wish you all good fortune in Selgaunt.”

Alain did accept the offer of being a guard during the trip to Selgaunt, considering he likes killing bandits and monsters that prey on the weak .

[ewancummins]

The Caravan Master pays Alain first.
"Good job taking down that mad dog on the road. He was close to biting my favorite draft horse."
He shakes Alain's hand.
"If you're looking for a place to stay in the city, you might try Mother Falchett's Boarding House on the north end of Seabreeze Lane, hard by the harbor. Fair prices, clean beds, and she cooks a right good eel pie."

[alhoon]

Raen is still somewhat awestruck about the size of this world.
"This city... " he says when he sets eyes on Selgaunt. "I think the whole population of Barovia would not be enough to fill this city."

[ewancummins]

Raen is still somewhat awestruck about the size of this world.
"This city... " he says when he sets eyes on Selgaunt. "I think the whole population of Barovia would not be enough to fill this city."

The Caravan Master says,
''Yes, Selgaunt's an impressive sight. But don't be too dazzled and off-guard. Bigger city, more cut-purses and alley-bravos.''

[Adam]

Despite the aura of gloom that's hovered over him since their departure, Bennedict gives the city an impressed look. "I've never seen the like," he mutters, after accepting his pay. "Perhaps there is someone here with the information we require. Perhaps."

[ewancummins]

Despite the aura of gloom that's hovered over him since their departure, Bennedict gives the city an impressed look. "I've never seen the like," he mutters, after accepting his pay. "Perhaps there is someone here with the information we require. Perhaps."

The Caravan Master shrugs.
''I'm no scholar, but all the ones I've met in my travels respected the University here. You'll find the University in Oldtown between the Rivermouth Quays and the Hulorn's Green. Not a long walk from Seabreeze Lane, in fact. But pretty nearly all the way across town from here, going east and then north. If you want a sage, it's a good place to start looking. You might also ask the book-sellers in Oldtown's Parchment Alley.''

[Wolfglide of the Fraternity]

"This city certainly dwarfs Kantora," remarks Klokulf. "I wonder if I will be robbed here too."

[Adam]

Despite the aura of gloom that's hovered over him since their departure, Bennedict gives the city an impressed look. "I've never seen the like," he mutters, after accepting his pay. "Perhaps there is someone here with the information we require. Perhaps."

The Caravan Master shrugs.
''I'm no scholar, but all the ones I've met in my travels respected the University here. You'll find the University in Oldtown between the Rivermouth Quays and the Hulorn's Green. Not a long walk from Seabreeze Lane, in fact. But pretty nearly all the way across town from here, going east and then north. If you want a sage, it's a good place to start looking. You might also ask the book-sellers in Oldtown's Parchment Alley.''

Bennedict pulls out his notebook, jotting down the directions. "I thank you for your assistance, sir. The people of your country have been more generous than could have been expected since our arrival here. If an opportunity comes to repay you, I will be certain to do so."

He waits for the others to gather their things, and then departs for the university.

[ewancummins]

The three children orphaned by the gnoll marauders join the party outside the big western city-gate.

El, a skinny boy of eleven, stops on the lee of the hillock to gawk at the scores of carts, wagons, riders, and pedestrians coming into the massive arch of the open gate from the highway or up the shoulder on other side from the farms and out-wall villages.
He rubs his dusty face and runs his fingers through his mouse-brown hair.
''Whoa! I wonder how big the market must be?"

His elder sister, Chara, comes up with the youngest sibling, Myra, in her arms asleep.
Chara blows a loose lock of brown hair out of her eyes. Chara looks healthier now than she had when the trip began, no longer gaunt and pallid but slender with a light tan and freckles.
She murmurs something to El about sticking close, then turns to Raen and Benn and the others.

''Thank you so much for all you've done. After we find Uncle Tarin and Aunt Sorista, I hope you'll come to visit us.''

VIEW CONTENT:

Orphans


Chara age 16
young woman

El age 11
boy

Mira age 7
girl

[alhoon]

''Thank you so much for all you've done. After we find Uncle Tarin and Aunt Sorista, I hope you'll come to visit us.''

"I hope so too, Chara." He says giving her a nod before turning to her brother and tusling his hair. "You be a good boy and listen to your sister." he told him with a smile.
As he moved to lightly kiss the sleeping girl, not wanting to upset her sleep, he passed a small pouch to Chara.
"This is not a fortune, but it should be enough for a tenday or so. If everything goes well with your new home, feel free to spoil yourself and your siblings. If not, use that money to make things better." he whispers.
Then he addresses both kids, and Myra if she has awoken. "I will try to check back on you as future permits, but I chose a dangerous life, so no promises. I will hold you on my thoughts."

[ewancummins]

''Thank you so much for all you've done. After we find Uncle Tarin and Aunt Sorista, I hope you'll come to visit us.''

"I hope so too, Chara." He says giving her a nod before turning to her brother and tusling his hair. "You be a good boy and listen to your sister." he told him with a smile.
As he moved to lightly kiss the sleeping girl, not wanting to upset her sleep, he passed a small pouch to Chara.
"This is not a fortune, but it should be enough for a tenday or so. If everything goes well with your new home, feel free to spoil yourself and your siblings. If not, use that money to make things better." he whispers.
Then he addresses both kids, and Myra if she has awoken. "I will try to check back on you as future permits, but I chose a dangerous life, so no promises. I will hold you on my thoughts."

''Thank you, Master Raen.''

Chara turns to Benn, ''Sir, could we tag along with you part of the way? My aunt and uncle's letter said they can be contacted through the Merchant Guild at the Grain Market. I've got the directions right to his home, but I fear getting lost in this big city, so I think going to the grain market makes sense. Do you think so?"

[Adam]

''Thank you so much for all you've done. After we find Uncle Tarin and Aunt Sorista, I hope you'll come to visit us.''

"I hope so too, Chara." He says giving her a nod before turning to her brother and tusling his hair. "You be a good boy and listen to your sister." he told him with a smile.
As he moved to lightly kiss the sleeping girl, not wanting to upset her sleep, he passed a small pouch to Chara.
"This is not a fortune, but it should be enough for a tenday or so. If everything goes well with your new home, feel free to spoil yourself and your siblings. If not, use that money to make things better." he whispers.
Then he addresses both kids, and Myra if she has awoken. "I will try to check back on you as future permits, but I chose a dangerous life, so no promises. I will hold you on my thoughts."

''Thank you, Master Raen.''

Chara turns to Benn, ''Sir, could we tag along with you part of the way? My aunt and uncle's letter said they can be contacted through the Merchant Guild at the Grain Market. I've got the directions right to his home, but I fear getting lost in this big city, so I think going to the grain market makes sense. Do you think so?"

Bennedict offers a rare smile to the girl. "Certainly you may." He pauses for a moment. "As a matter of fact, I do not think the University is going anywhere. Perhaps we can escort you to your Aunt and Uncle's home."

[ewancummins]

LOOKING FOR THE GRAIN MARKET

The party, all on foot after returning the Caravan Master’s horses, is delayed briefly at the massive western gate of the city by bored-looking watchmen with maces tucked in their belt loops. The city guards hastily inspect the party’s belongings.

Presently, the group passes through the great arched gate and into the city proper.
Two and three-story houses and shops with jutting upper galleries line the long road. Traffic flows slowly in the press near the gate, but moves faster further in as riders, wagons, and pedestrians turn onto other streets or into courtyards and loading docks. The familiar scent of horse manure mixes with odors of sweat, salt, metal, baking bread, perfume.

Alwina raises her voice over the din of the many plodding feet and hooves and creaking wagon wheels. “I’ve never seen so many people in one place!” Looking paler than ever, the slim blonde clings tightly to Klokulf’ s arm.

Chara and her siblings stick close to Benn and Raen as the party heads off in search of the Grain Market...

After a walk of a quarter mile the party sees grain carts converging in a wide plaza lined with booths and awnings. People everywhere, working. Big brick buildings, some with puffing chimneys, rise in a line just beyond the market square. A boy leads a pair of draft horses past the party.
In the middle of the square stands a bronze statue, three times life size, atop a wagon-sized marble block. The figure holds aloft a sword and a scroll.