The group notices that there is a nice set of houses to the right with a sign that announces "House of Janakile". They can see that there is a nice orchard across the river a little to the left, and a lozenge-shaped castle on a hill directly in front of them across the river. The castle is built on a hill that is clearly designed to protect from siege. Straight ahead, beyond the caer, they can see the village proper. They can see the red roof and spires of what they guess to be a Laranian temple.
The party travels across the bridge only to be stopped by guards on the other end. They ask for them to declare any goods they are carrying for sale. The party declares they have nothing for sale, having sold their goods in Kobing. A guard climbs up the back of the wagon and Hjalgrimm yells "BOOO!" at him, scaring him off the wagon. The guard startles and falls from the wagon but gracefully regains his footing. "Hah! You got me there!" He pulls himself back up, surveys the inside of the wagon, and drops back down. They chuckle nervously and wave the wagon on.
The crew travels up the road and parks outside of Genin's Trail Inn. Inside they meet the proprietor, a Gnome named Fynygyn Tyme. The place is small and crowded. When Fyngyn hears that they seek lodging and stables he tells them that he has no stables, and is nearly full. He directs them to the Pig and Whistle, which has plenty of room for their horses and wagon. He tells them to say hi to his friend Haeri for him. Fyngyn asks why the one fellow squints so much. He guesses the light hurts his eyes. He tells the group to stand pat and retrieves something from behind the bar. He approaches Faelon and shows him a strange device made of two cups of leather connected together with a strap attached. Each of the leather cups has a dark glass bottom. He pulls a stool over and climbs onto it, asking Faelon if it is OK to put this on him. Faelon agrees, and Fyngyn puts the sunglass goggles onto the monk's head. Faelon exclaims that everything is darker. The Gnome says "Of course! You only wear these outside in the daytime! Take them, they're yours." Faelon thanks the fellow and removes the goggles, then places them in a bag on his belt. The party thanks him and moves on into town.
They stop at Qualdris Weaponsmith and meet Vida Dev, a tall, handsome, young human man. They ask if he knows of a good armorsmith in Qualdris. Vida tells them to find his good friend Univ just up the street. They travel up to Univ's shop, the Qualdris Armorsmith, where they meet a small, wiry Khuzdul with an enormous red beard. Univ greets them warmly, especially Hjalgrimm and Rhyna. He is working on a black breastplate when they enter. Hjalgrimm asks if he might have any plate armor to sell, and Univ tells him that he is actually looking to sell his own, proven, Khuzdul crafted plate armor to finance his new set of plate mail. Hjalgrimm asks if he might be able to get a discount and Univ tells him maybe, if he has access to some of the more rare metals. Hjalgrimm shows him his taugari scale mail and Univ's eyes go big. They settle on a good trade value and purchase price, and Hjalgrimm obtains his plate armor. Rhyna asks if Univ can repair her battered chain mail, and he quotes her a price of 25gp to have it done by morning. She agrees and hands over the mail and a bag of coins. Univ sets his apprentices to work cutting new links.
Univ asks if anyone else is interested in any of his armor. He motions to a very fancy looking set of leather, clearly of Sindarin style with leaves and branches embossed and painted onto the leather. Most would find it gaudy. He claims to have taken it in trade, since it clearly of mastercraft quality, but has not been able to find a buyer. Weyliri asks for a price, and is given a number that is over 50% more than standard leather armor. She grins and pays the burly armorsmith. He is quite happy to make the sale, and helps to refit it for her, adjusting the straps. Later, Weyliri reveals that the armor is actually enchanted - it seems that the Khuzdul was not aware!
The group asks Univ if he knows of any good tailors in town. He tells them that Cassam of Journey's Clothes is an odd fellow but extremely talented. He tells them to go just to the other side of a group of buildings he points out, past the Apothecary. If they end up between the stinky hideworker and the cloying perfumer, they've gone too far.
The crew decides to head straight to the Inn. They weave through some tight corners and make their way to the Pig and Whistle. Pulling in to the yard they can see that the stables are indeed rather large, with a spacious fenced yard behind them. An older Human man approaches them and asks if they'll be staying the night. They tell him yes, and he explains that it will be one silver per horse for stabling, food, grooming, and exercise, and 2 silver to secure the wagon. He tells them they can settle up inside and points past the well to the door to the inn.
Inside the busy inn they are enthusiastically greeted by an extremely hirsute Khuzdul, exclaiming that he is "Haeri Ghuelph." He has an infectious laugh. He greets Hjalgrimm with a hardy warrior's handshake, and then positively lights up when he spies Rhyna. He bows gallantly toward her. "What will ye have? Rooms? Food? Drink? We have singles, doubles, and a common room with curtained beds, a curtained bath, and a table and chairs, just for travelling groups like your'n." The party discusses the options briefly, considering the group room, but decides on doubles.
As they settle in to a table and the hostess brings out food and drink, including a nice stout for Hjalgrimm, they notice that there is a group sitting at the corner table, looking different than the typical rural village folk. In the very back corner sits a very attractive Human woman wearing what is obviously a very expensive dress and jewelry. She is flanked by two capable looking guards, and there are four others at the table with her. They seem to be engaged in lively discussion. The goblets, plates, and flatware scream money. When she notices the party watching her, she appears to look them over with interest and even amusement. She stands and moves out from the corner, waiving the guards to sit. She approaches the group. "Well, it is certainly not every day one has the honor of the presence of two Sindarin, two Khuzdul, and an Aenarin from a distant land!" When she gets closer to the table, she stops and stares briefly at Askelon. She then says, in a dialect of Sindarin that rings as more academic than learned in company, "Are we visited by a Prince of Clan Gelarhun? My Lord, I am honored!" She bows. "Please, where are my manners. I am Lady Thilissa Caldeth, wife of Sedris Meleken, the Earl of Osel. Welcome to our humble town!" She then turns toward Weyliri, and says, again in Sindarin, "Do mine eyes deceive, or is that Larethian's Lament I see giving you company? Come! We certainly must play!" She gestures to a stage in the other corner of the room and motions for Weyliri to join her. Thilissa sits behind a large harp while Weyliri takes a seat next to her. Thilissa starts playing and Weyliri immediately recognizes the Sindarin folk song. They sing together, The Elf taking the lyrical soprano parts. The performance is beautiful and breathtaking. Before long, the inn is full of appreciative patrons. After a few songs Weyliri motions for Rook to join them and play the ocarina with them. He does quite well, surprising himself the rest of the party.
After the performances, Thilissa invites the party to join her at her table. The party learns that Thilissa had once tutored Jenserel on the Sindarin Lute, which is different from the standard lute in number and tuning of the strings, including a few drone strings. She never learned how Jenserel came to possess the legendary lute, but she is not surprised to learn that Jenserel came to an unfortunate situation. Apparently Jenserel had made a rather negative impression on the Countess.
Eventually the party retires for the evening.
Nolus 24
The next morning, after breakfast and settling the bill, the group collects their horses and wagon, finding them all well taken care of. Askelon makes it a point to visit the other merchant shops, chandlers, and outfitters in Qualdris, but none of the proprietors look like the man in his vision. Rhyna collects her repaired chain mail. The mail does have some mismatched links, the newer ones being shinier, but this gives the mail some character.
The party travels north out of Qualdris for the next town, Ternua.
The road from Qualdris to Ternua is also very well maintained and patrolled. Travel from Qualdris to Ternua takes one long day. The party passes the first half of the day through very peaceful fields, sometimes with hills on either side, before passing through Chantal (fortified manor), Zarbizan, Eliten (fortified manor), Varlin (fortified manor), Ledyne (Bishop of the Laranian clerical order Spear of Shattered Sorrow), Wylain (fortified chapterhouse of a Knight Commander of the Laranian fighting order Lady of Paladins), Claydon (fortified manor), and then Bendaled (fortified manor) just before the bridge that crosses into Ternua. It is almost dark when they arrive in Ternua. They pause at the well-made long bridge across the Nephen River to take in the view. They can see a fishing village on the shore to the right. Across the river they can see a cemetery to the right, the keep on a hill ahead of them, a large mill with a huge water wheel directly across the river, the roof of what looks like a large inn and tavern just beyond the keep, a very nice orchard to the west of the keep, and another section of village to the left with what is obviously a Halean temple sitting across what appears to be Laranian and Peonian temples. Weyliri declares this to be delicious indeed.
As the party crossed the bridge into Ternua the sun was setting for the day and darkness descended on the town. They were stopped at the toll gate at the end of the stone bridge and asked to declare their goods. Askelon explained that everything they carried was personal goods, not for sale.