Wardens of Heroes Gate

Settling in at the Treyvigg Monastery

] You, Yisi and Valea, have spent the past 3 days traveling from your home Song Moon Temple to Treyvigg Monastery. Along the way you met some new fellows, including the Gnome Troll Hunter, Joloobo. You have arrived at Treyvigg Monastery and you are parting ways with the three guards from Titans Fist Protection Company – the Wwaldyr siblings, Argathen, Ariola and Tolvathir.

] Tolvathir “Thank you again Valea, for the astonishing gift. My feelings would not be hurt if you came to your senses and wanted it back.”

Valea] “Live long and fight strong pup. That is all Valea should want from you.”

] The sun is still glinting off of the peaks of Small Teeth, but the rest of the foothills are shadowless. You finish your goodbyes then the three of you begin the stairs leading up into the cliff wall. The elevation gain is a steep 1400 feet. The steps are carved into a narrow crevasse the entire way with the exception of 2 resting areas – larger openings in the rock where benches have been carved out the face of the cliff. The air is cool and even wet in parts as water seeps through cracks in the rock. Eventually the stair way opens out into a small valley between more steep cliffs. You see an open grassy area which is still getting sun though shadows are stretching. There is a high stone wall constructed between the two side cliffs and a small wooden gate at the center, about 200 feet straight ahead from where the steps finished. Carved into the gate is the symbol of two crossed hammers.

Joloobo] “Whew! Legs such as mine were not made for such a climb. I am near exhaustion.”

Valea] “This one feels energized by the step rocks. How lucky they must be – these monks can walk that everyday!”

Yisi] “I’m with Joloobo on this one longtail. That was exhausting…”

Valea] “Maybe Valea will run down in the morning and say another farewell to the Wwaldyrs… just to get the exercise yes?”

Yisi] “Give them a travel blessing for me then. Shall we go find Elder Arrodonn?”

] As you approach, they slowly open and a human woman walks through them towards you. “Welcome friends, to Treyvigg Winery. I am Aide Camarie. I am here to help make your visit pleasant. It is late for the tour and tasting, but we serve you a meal small if you are hungry. We have tour at noon tomorrow for you to join.”

Valea] “Greetings from Song Moon Temple. I am Valea, this is Yisi. Teacher Solomvar has sent us to meet with Elder Arrodon. Oh, and wine. We are to replenish his wine. What did he call it Goldie?”

Yisi] “Summertide Red.”

Valea] “Yes yes, Summertide Red.”

] Aide Camarie “Greetings to you. I was informed you would arrive this tenday. Oh, I belive you mean Summertide Rose. Elder Arrodon was looking forward to greeting you himself. Unfortunately, he has been called away on dire matters. I am to see to your comfort and connect you with one of our martial trainers. Please… follow me to the refectory.” She turns and walks inside.

Valea] We follow her.

Joloobo] “I like the carving on your gate. Is it just decoration or does it have meaning?”

] Aide Camarie “The Crossed Hammers is the symbol of Dunea. We have a temple to Dunea here if you are in need of services.”

Yisi] “Forgive my ignorance, but I’ve not heard of Dunea.”

] Aide Camarie “Easily forgiven… Not many in the realms have heard of the elemental deity Dunea. She is the goddess of the terra, that is, of the soil and ground. Her spirit is bright and her smile provides a beacon in dark times. Dunea, and her crossed hammers, informs our martial techniques as well. We believe in a strong defense as inspired by stories of Dunea. Strength comes from a strong stance and a strong stance comes from being rooted with the ground. But I am hardly qualified to teach these things. Guide Dawndra will surely be a better resource of such knowledge.”

Valea] “Guide Dawndra? That is who will teach martial skill?”

] Aide Camarie “Yes. She is one of many teachers here. She can be a little, well, initimidating… to new students… but I am certain you will like her… yes, you will see.”

Joloobo] “There was an… Uh… incident. Out in the fields as we were arriving here. A young man was killed. Is there someone we should inform?”

] Aide Camarie “Dreadful! Another murder?”

Joloobo] “Not exactly. He was killed by a flying beast. An oddity called a Peryton by most. We heard there were rumors about a previous death. I thought we should tell someone so the fear can stop.”

] Aide Camarie “Yes, I am aware of the rumors. You are confident the death of Vyralla was not nefarious then?”

Yisi] “We did not get her name. A young woman was found mutilated with her heart missing. If this was Vyralla, then yes… it was the doing of the beast. Apparently the male of the species likes to present hearts to his mate as a breeding ritual of some sort.”

] Aide Camarie “And these flying beasts have taken our mountains as their home? We must protect the workers from further attacks.”

Joloobo] “One of them is probably nesting nearby. The male, however, is joining the loam as we speak. The female remains dangerous, maybe more so now, but I expect their mating ritual has ceased.”

] Aide Camarie “I will inform our elders. It sounds like we owe you some appreciation.”

Valea] “This one certainly would not mind that meal… moggies paunch mumbles and grumbles.”

] Aide Camarie leads you through a large courtyard. The monastery is surrounded on two sides by towering cliff walls and behind it you see the small valley elevate further up into the peaks of Small Teeth. On three sides of the courtyard there are long buildings, similar to the ones you saw in the workers village below, but these are far more refined in appearance. The foundation structure is stone but instead of thatched roofing, there are roof tiles made of red clay. As she walks, she points out the training halls and the training courtyard behind it on the right. On the left are students quarters. On a ledge behind them is another line of longhouses which are the quarters for Aides and Guides. She points higher up to a single longhouse up on a cliff edge. “The Elders quarters are there” she says. The beauty of the place is almost overwhelming.

] Aide Camarie “On the far side of the courtyard is our temple to Dunea. Within you will find priests and healers should you have need. And if you are training with Guide Dawndra, you will be having need.” She smiles, apparently amused with her own comment.

] She takes you all the way to the far end of the courtyard and thru a stone paved walk. Behind the temple is the refectory. You are arriving in the middle of the forenight meal. You can smell the food  before you even enter the longhouse. As you, you see the room is filled with people all eating in silence. Everyone is dressed in similar clothing, simple red robes like you saw the workers wearing. Some are red and white like Aide Camarie’s, some are red with side lines of green or blue. You estimate there are maybe 100 people here. Many are human or half-elf but you see several other races as well. Valea – you notice there is another like you sitting in silence at a table, her long black tail swishing the floor behind her.

] Aide Camarie whispers to you as you enter “We eat our meals in silence here. Please do your best to observe our tradition while in the refectory?”

Valea] I nod, but I really want to go talk to the other tabaxi, even more than I want to eat. Still, I decide to wait.

] Aide Camarie leads you to a long table where there is room. Within moments, two others dressed in the same colors as Aide Camarie arrive with flagons of wine and clay goblets. They leave and return with large clay bowls full of a thick vegetable stew for each of you. No words are spoken by any the entire mealtime.

] After forenight meal, you are directed to one of the longhouses on the courtyard level. Inside there are many partitioned areas – not really individual rooms, but short walls around a simple bed and a table with a chair – enough to have just a small privacy. There is quiet chatter among others in the longhouse, but everyone generally speaks in whispers.

Yisi] “Rest well you two. I will not fully sleep tonight and will keep a light watch.” I whisper.

Joloobo] “I’ve heard elves don’t need sleep. Must be nice. I doubt I’m going to sleep much either. In fact, I saw some decent sized trees about behind the place… I will probably be more comfortable sleeping there. I will be back with first light.” I slip out of the longhouse and go find a tree to sleep in.

Valea] “Valea will sleep just fine. Right here and right now. See you at waking darkeyes.”

Yisi] I practice calligraphy at my table for a while, and then enter trance.