Wardens of Heroes Gate

In the Quarters of Teacher Solomvar

] You have been summoned to the quarters of Teacher Solomvar. You have heard that he has been teaching at Song Moon Temple ever since its founding just after the Spellplague over a hundred years ago. The two of you have been training at the temple in the Starspire Mountains for over a decade. You both began as wards of the monastery, but became novices when you reached an acceptable age. That was nearly 10 years ago now, and you have advanced through Novice ranks and both recently started wearing the colors of the Potential Adept. Potentials of the Song Moon Temple are sent on a series of assignments by the various teachers to test them and to further develop their skills and abilities. Most Novices begin their assignments with Adept-level teachers, with a final assignment from a Master-level teacher but you have been summoned for your first assignment by a Grandmaster in the monastery, which. The elderly half-elf is standing facing a shelf of books when you enter.

Yisi] Bowing my head I say – “Teacher Solomvar. We were pleased to recive a call from you. How can we serve?”

] Solomvar turns towards you and smiles. “Ah! Yisi and Valea! Just in time! I will soon be in need of more wine. I recently tapped my only remaining cask of Springtide Red and it will be a sad thing to see it dry without a resupply on the way. As our newest Potential Adepts, I think you two would be ideal candidates for the journey required to restock my favorite vintage.”

Valea] “This one would be glad for a journey. Sun is high and sky is blue, a journey for wine would seem just the thing to do yes?”

] Solomvar “Indeed! Just the thing! Your destination is the Treyvigg Monastery in the Small Teeth, nearly 150 miles away. It will require a half a tendays travel. Much of the distance is via the Trade Way… once you clear Tethirs Forest, turn East towards Brost. The monastary is about two  or three days travel from there as I recall. You will see the vineyards on the foothills. Should be difficult to miss… but if you arrive in Brost you went well too far… turn around and go back a day.
While you are there… I would like you to spend some time with a young friend of mine – Elder Arrodonn. He is among their very most proficient with defensive techniques… and if you know anything about Treyvigg Monastery – defensive tactics are what they are famous for… well… after their wine. I wish we could grow grapes here in the Starspires… something about elevation prevents it I’m told… but I that is not your concern.
I want you to plan on spending at least two months with Arrodonn. Given his talent for teaching and your talent for learning, that should give you proficiency as Keen Defenders. Then you can return and share your knowledge with the Adepts.”

Yisi] “We are eager to learn, and to teach, these techniques… but that means we will be away a long while. What about your wine?”

] Solomvar “I will just have to be patient then, won’t I? But trust me… the Summertide Red is worth waiting for. Now the journey north along the Trade Way is typically not too dangerous, but once you turn east on Tethir Road, your odds of encountering trouble will increase, and two is a small number compared to what may be waiting for you. If I were you, I would hire some extra blades when you pass through Mosstone.
Now… have any commitments you need to see through before you depart?”

Valea] “Only our daily tasks. We can be ready to leave at first light.”

] Solomvar “Perfect. I was hoping you had not already been called on by other teachers. They will get their turn… but you know Teacher Solomvar is getting old… I am glad to have your first service as Potentials.
Now go see Steward Faramond about getting the portal ready to open to the Trade Way. You will need some horses and a flatbed wagon. See Steward Kymma about provisions and some healing potions in case you need any.
Oh… and you will need some gold. I can attend to that chore right now.”

] He digs in a chest in the corner and drops a heavy bag in your hands. The contents are entirely gold coins. You estimate about 300 gp by the weight of it.

] Solomvar “The wine will cost 150gp, pay them 200gp instead. Use the rest as you need to. Treyvigg will provide your lodging while you are visiting students, but who knows what other expenses might confront you.”

Yisi] “Thank you Teacher Solomvar. And thank you for opportunity to increase our martial skill. To study with Elder Arrodonn promises to be a great privilege.”

] Solomvar “Oh indeed it is. We have had a long-standing agreement to cross train our Adepts, years now we have been discussing this actually, but I was waiting for the right Potetials to send. I am confident I have found them. Arrodonn may send others back with you to train here for a time. It would be ideal timing actually, so please offer the invite when the time comes.”

Valea] “We will be certain to do so. This one has not been beyond our mountain here, or anywhere near the Trade Way since she was very young. What kinds of dangers are we likely to meet with?”

] Solomvar “That is a long list… as long as your tail I am afraid… but you both have the skills to confront most of what you may find. I probably don’t need to say it… avoid the Dragons. There are a few known to live in the Small Teeth. You may encounters beasts or bandits – be smart about engaging. You could likely take twice your number in the average roadway bandit, but there are times when the best way to prove your courage is to run away and fight another day yes?”

Yisi] “Arise my battlefield! Unless you best sleep. Face me my foe! Unless you be certain of my woe.”

] Solomvar chuckles “Yes, something along those lines Yisi. Have you ever given thought to picking up a musical instrument?”

Yisi] “Thought? … yes… but while I enjoy the sound the music, it would seem I find little joy in the making of it. I have, however, been spending time with the temple scribes to learn how to work with ink.”

] Solomvar “Ink you say… yes, I suppose verse has a place on parchment as much as on a bards tongue. There is a certain wizard I know near Waterdeep who has perfected the art of enchanting her calligraphy. Nallasa Myst is her name. She is an accomplished poet… She is also a Firbolg and largely keeps herself to herself but I might be able to persuade her to spend some time with you. She would be difficult to learn from I expect, but I think truly… enchanting your verse could become the grand art of your life Yisi. I will try to reach Nallasa in the Ardeep Forest while you are gathering my wine.”

Valea] “This one prefers to hear the fancy words of my knife-ear, they are already magic to Valea.”

] Solomvar “Oh, he would still speak them. As I understand the enchantment, the reading aloud of words written with enchanted ink is like a wizards spell scroll, except that you do not need to be a trained wizard for the enchantment to work. Much depends on the ingredients within the ink itself, and the calligraphy skill of the inker.”

Yisi] “I would very much like to learn the skill Teacher Solomvar. I am grateful you would attempt to make it possible.”

] Solomvar “Nallanemys is the name some know her by. She introduced herself to me as simply Nallasa. She had been around a long time when I first met her – and that was before the spellplague. We have maintained correspondence because we share a love of good wine. In fact, that may be all that is needed to convince her to teach you… a cask of Summertide Red. Best order 8 casks from Treyviggs… just to be prepared.” He digs another 100 gp out of a pouch and hands it to you. “Here, this should do. Please be generous with the monks of Treyvigg – they are certainly generous themselves and deserve some returned upon them.”

Yisi] “Certainly. We will ensure it. Thank you Teacher Solomvar .”

] Solomvar “Now Valea… I have been thinking about you as well. Now that you are an Potential Adept, the world outside our walls are open to you. Yisi has been developing his art with poetry, but I have yet to learn where your art may be found.”

Valea] “Valea thinks martial prowess to be her art.”

] Solomvar, smiling… “So it is my feline friend, and you have certainly pursued it as such. I trust you will continue to as well – the power of an Adept is impressive, but you have the talent to move on to mastery – you both do. Your martial ability needs to be balanced however. This will become more apparent as you progress – in fact… without some art to provide this balance, mastery often hides from one seeking it. Yisi balances the physical with his verse, but there are many ways to accomplish this in our world. I want you to think on this while you journey Valea.”

Valea] “This one will do as her teacher enjoins. She is grateful for such wisdom.”

] Solomvar “Good good. You have a long journey calling you. Set things in order and sleep long tonight – it will be a long time before you have the peace of your chamber again – appreciate it, but do not cling to it. You venture into a time where gentle peace will be elusive. Even while you board with the monks at Treyvigg, you must not relax your guard until you return home. Now off with you before I teach you another lesson you did not ask for.”

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