Year: 1491, Month: Tarsakh, Date: 21st
Bury the Dead
Although the news is dire, and should be sent to Waterdeep as soon as possible, I cannot bear to leave the dead of Tyr and Lathandar on the battlefield. With the help of Carrot, I build a large cairn for our dead, and send them on their way with our blessings to Tyr and the Morninglord. I am a martial sort, and any words I say will not do the fallen justice, but I hope Tyr will understand and forgive me.
We all need a rest after the exertions of burying the dead. We rest for a few hours, but finally it is time to move on and return with our sad news to Waterdeep.
Missing Companions
I look round to gather our party together to move on, but we are not all here. Some of my companions have gone missing. Where are Carrot and Zook? I have been resting and have not seen them for some time! We look around, and can see traces of them taking their horse and pony. Are they together or did they leave separately? Carrot has not been the same since he learned about his cousin and discovered her strange dealings with dark magic. And, as for Zook, the little Gnome was never trustworthy in my eyes. He could be up to anything, and who knows if it is good.
We don't have time to search for them. The news of the caravan must get to the Dawnbringers of Lathandar in Waterdeep. I only hope Carrot is well, and I say a quiet prayer to Tyr to watch over him. I reluctantly do the same for Zook, although I'm not sure he deserves Tyr's protection.
Dash to Waterdeep
The caravan from my Temple in Neverwinter was transporting some powerful artefacts to our allies at the Spires of the Morning, the main temple of the followers of Lathandar, and from whom Celery receives her divine power.
For some unknown reason, Celery seems to be very reluctant to return home. I wonder why, as I forever look forward to the next time I can be in the mighty presence of Tyr at our holy chapel in Neverwinter.
I summon Mystic, my celestial stead, and we all mount up and make haste back to Waterdeep. We must report the fate of the caravan to the Temple of Lathandar with all haste.
Waterdeep
As we made our way through Waterdeep to the Temple of Lathandar in the Castle Ward, I noticed something unusual about a shop on the street ahead. I pointed it out to Celery who hails from Waterdeep. Celery says its a mask shop for the well-to-do. Apparently, there's great demand for masks for the Nobles in Waterdeep for the many balls and masquerade's they attend. While Celery and I talk about the shop, and the feeling of wrongness I have, Chello rushes off ahead and makes her way into the shop. Damn all Tabaxi and their inquisitiveness!
Still feeling uneasy about the shop, I cast Shield of Faith, and say a quick prayer to Tyr for protection, before carefully making my way in behind Chello.
Murf's Marvellous Masks
As I enter the shop I see walls with many fine porcelain masks hung from them. Behind a counter stands a Tabaxi wearing a mask. With a motion of his hands he gestures for us to come in and bids us welcome.
The shop and its keeper seem harmless. I feel a little foolish about encasing myself in the shield of my faith, but I still maintain it. Something feels odd here.
The masks are wondrous. There are so many. There is a mask of a Hill Giant, a Kobold, a Gargoyle, one that reminds me of a wise old man, and one that looks like a Duck, to mention just a few. There is one that no matter how hard I try and look at it, my eyes seem to be drawn straight past, and another that I can see that scares my companions, although it seems just a mask to me.
Each mask has a little description beside it. The mask of the Gargoyle suggests the wearer's skin becomes like that of a Gargoyle. I ask the shopkeeper if I may try on the mask, but he says they must be purchased first.
For some reason I can't explain, I think the mask may help me, and I enquire of the shopkeeper what he would want for it. He says 40 gold. Scandalous! 40 gold for a mask. I try haggling with him, but I'm a little hesitant and he is skilled in the art, but I beat him down to 35 gold. A bargain surely? Anyway, I have no worldly use for the money we have gathered on our adventures, and so I hand over the gold in exchange for the mask. I am now the owner of a Gargoyle mask.
I see Celery, Chello and Enna are also thinking of buying masks. Celery asks me to buy the Hill Giant mask for her with the gold from our adventures. Its description suggests the mask greatly increases the wearer's vitality. It has a beard and I think Celery will look silly with a beard.
My second attempt at haggling is more successful. I must be a quick learner. I barter the shopkeeper down from 40 gold to 27 gold and 5 silver.
After buying the mask for Celery, I realise I'm still in my plate mail, and still have my helm on, and so I place the mask carefully in my backpack. You never know when you might get asked to a masquerade! Ha! Never for a low born such as I. What must Tyr and Lathandar think of us, buying frivolous masks when there are so many in need in Faerun.
Out of nowhere, Chello leaps at the shopkeeper and tries to rip the mask from his face. The shopkeeper turns to answer a question from Enna, and Chello sails past, landing in a heap on the floor behind the counter. The shopkeeper doesn't seem to notice. What is she doing?
Enna is haggling with the shopkeeper to buy two masks for her and Chello. A mask that reminds me of a stranger, and the mask of the Wise Old Man for Chello. They seem an odd pairing to be out in Faerun together - a Tabaxi and a Tiefling.
Enna agrees a price for the masks and the deal is concluded just as Chello leaps at the shopkeeper again. The shopkeeper turns to Enna and hands her the two masks as Chello grasps for his mask, and she again lands in a heap behind him. What has got into her?
Before any of us can stop her, Chello stands and speaks an incantation trying to hold the shopkeeper still, and wham, bam I black out.
Oh no, what has she done.......?
What are these masks that we have bought? I wonder if they are more than they seem! I think I will keep the Gargoyle mask in my travelling pack, for use only in dire emergencies, until I can have the artefact delved by a Cleric of Tyr. I only hope my companions are wise and do likewise, although, without the guidance of Tyr, I worry for them.
The Spires of the Morning
The sun has gone down and it's getting very late. We decide to make haste to the Temple of Lathandar, and spend the night there, before seeking an audience with the Dawnbringers of Lathandar to tell them of the attack on the caravan and the loss of any artefacts it carried.
Celery admits us to the Cathedral and takes us to the guests quarters. Here our names are recorded, before we are each shown to a guest chamber. Celery seems very hesitant, and if I didn't know better, almost sneaks through the halls and passageways as if she didn't want to meet any friends or colleagues.
The Spires of the Morning is built of pink marble, and is a three-story cathedral capped by seven spires of copper, gold, and silver. I imagine they are a sight to behold at sunrise when I envision them gleaming with the reflected glory of the dawn's first light. However, they pale in comparison to the glory of Tyr.
The quarters provided to us are opulent, and nothing like the simplicity I am accustomed to in the Temple of Tyr. Although the accommodations are grand, they seem ostentatious and unbefitting to a place of work and worship to the Morninglord.
I reverently take off my Armor of Tyr and prepare for sleep.
I pray thanks to Tyr for seeing me safely through the day, and to aid me to bring swift justice upon those who murdered his followers in the caravan.
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