[HQ Ignorance] Scene 25: Arolanit and the Palace of the Pentacle

[Lev Lafayette]

Scene 25: Arolanit and the Palace of the Pentacle

Reminder of regional map:
http://www.pensee.com/dunham/ralios/ralios.gif

>From the Dangin March near Sodal Marsh the Fellowship
turned their eyes northwards to the Kingdom of
Arolanit. As the armies of Ralios clashed with the
Kingdom of Seshnela, the Fellowship skirted the great
marsh for several days. It was during the night of the
fifth eve that Icthya the Aldryami disappeared and
none of the magics of the Fellowship could discern
where he had gone to, as all his equipment was gone
and there was no trace of his departure.

[Of course, Icthya *may* have left behind a note or
something: "I've gone for a walk, I might be a
while"?]

The remaining members of the Fellowship continued
northwards in Arolanit. They had barely entered the
border region and spoke only a few words with the most
supsicious and impoverished peasants ever encountered
before they were confronted by a two score of soldiers
of the regime and three Wizards on horseback. They
spoke in dull monotones, demanding to know who the
Fellowship were and what they were doing in this Holy
Land.

After an eve in the extremely spartan quarters of the
local Count, some intense questioning and finally the
provision of Letters of Introduction, the Fellowship
travelled in the Kingdom of Arolanit with a herald who
was virtually silent through the entire journey. Only
once did he allow the Fellowship to stray from their
allocated path and even then it required some
convincing; it was when The Beast insisted on visiting
the ruins of Arkhome, a mighty fortress established by
Arkat the Liberator many centuries ago.

[This is an opportunity for The Beast to interact with
some trolls if he so desires]

The impoverishment of the land struck all members of
the Fellowship present; the soil seemed to provide
life only under duress and coaxing. There was a
constant greyness to the sky and perpetual drizzle.
The entire population was dour and grim, speaking only
the words that were utterly necessary. Most eerie
however was the utter absence of children.

Making a modest speed to the Palace of the Pentacles,
the Fellowship arrived almost three weeks after their
arrival in Seshnela region. The Palace proper could be
seen for many miles, an enormous star-shaped tower
complex surrounded by a medium city of artisans and
that surrounded by farming and herding communities.

With the herald providing the necessary bureaucratic
requisites, the Fellowship is given quarter in the
Palace and a meeting is arranged with the Grand Wizard
Talar Malaskan Phillip in the following morn, ruler of
Arolanit for five hundred years. As the party enters
the audience hall, he wears the Iron Crown, of the
great Vampire Grachanamagacan, whom he slew many
centuries ago.

The Talar removes the crown when the Fellowship is
present, revealing a man who looks no older than
fourty. He makes askance of your quest, and your
presence in this land, although you are sure he
already knows the reasons.


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