Yartar

Year: 1491, Month: Tarsakh, Date: 22nd

A Chance Encounter

The feeling as you are transported through a portal is quite strange.  I don't know how much you've traveled in a carriage or on a cart, but if you have, then I would describe it a little like when you are riding in or on one of the these, and the driver is in a big hurry, and goes flat out over a crest in the road or bridge that leaves your stomach behind.  Straight after the stomach lurch, I get a sick feeling rising up from my  midriff to my head.  I hope there are buckets when I arrive!  I materialise at the destination with a strange little popping sound, what seems like only a few seconds later.  I wonder if that's Harper magic to let you know that you've safely arrived, or a warning to watchers at the destination, or maybe it's just the residual effect of the arcane magic.

As I step off the portal, I notice a human sitting on a bench, rolling a coin across his fingers.  He looks very pasty, like he hasn't been outdoors much, and reminds me of the scholars that used to visit the Temple of Tyr.  He is dressed in a flamboyant set of red robes.  He looks up as we are all begin to make our way out of the 'Arrival Hall', and steps forward, blocking our way.

As I reach for the hilt of my sword, he introduces himself as Leosin Todd.  I immediately think 'Leotard'.  Leo(tard) explains he is a mage from Candlekeep and had heard we were investigating the increased Giant activity. 

Chello seems very interested in the coin Leotard was rolling across his fingers, and asks if she could take a closer look.  Leotard flicks the coin towards her, and miraculously she catches it out of the air.  One might think this would be normal for a Tabaxi, but after seeing Chello fall from a tree, a sudden demonstration of agility comes as a surprise.  The coin has the image of Mystra imprinted on it.

Leo further explained that he was an acolyte at Candlekeep, and well versed in Giant lore. He was hoping he could join our party in our search for the missing King Hekaton.  

I ask Leotard to give us a demonstration of his prowess in the arcane arts.  After a moments thought, he concentrates, wiggles his fingers, and mutters a few words.  After he finishes his incantation, my armor appears to gleam a little brighter.  Did he just try to clean my armor with magic, or may be its just an illusion?  Well it sort of worked, although I can do a much better job myself with a little effort and elbow grease.  I don't think Tyr would approve of cleaning our armor magically, and I will stick to the traditional way! 

After a short whispered conversation with my companions, we decide he seems genuine, and that he can accompany us. 

Back to Yartar

We seem to have had several companions come and go recently.  I wonder how long this one will last?  Only Celery and I remain of the party that set out a few months ago to deliver Gundren's supplies to Phandalin, and my first successful mission for Tyr to investigate the Redbrands.

We all walk through to the 'Departure Lounge' from where we can take the portal to Yartar.  'Arrivals Hall' and 'Departure Lounge' - only the Harper's could come up with something like that!  We wave at the attendant, and step one by one onto the portal that will take us to Yartar.  We get the familiar sensations - stomach lurch, rising sickness, pop - before arriving once again in the dilapidated house in Yartar. 

Chello mentions that she thinks the dilapidated house is all an illusion, and starts preparing to cast a spell to dispel the illusion.  I quickly interrupt her, and remind her what happened last time she cast a spell where not everything was as it seemed.  She has second thoughts, and we make our way out into the street.   

We're back in Yartar now, but have little idea of where to go next.  What do we know of Yartar?  I've only passed through a couple of times and know nothing of the place.  My companions likewise seem at a loose end.  Even Leotard seems to know relatively little of the place.  While we're debating where to go next, Chello takes the mask that looks like a Wise Man out of her pack, and after a couple of seconds hesitation, puts it on. 

She looks a little strange now - she has a porcelain mask of a wise human fitting snugly to her cat shaped face.  Its amazing how well it fits.  I ask her if she can take the mask off.  I see her try, but then she looks at me, and says in an exasperated tone, "Don't be stupid, of course I can't take it off, why would I want to?" and acts as though she never tried.  That seemed a very strange reaction.  Miraculously (is it the wise man?), Chello seems to know something of Yartar.

Chello says the leader of Yartar is called The Waterbaron and is elected for life by the Nobles of the Town.  The current Waterbaron is a noble lady named Nestra Ruthiol.  I ask Chello where we might find The Waterbaron.   She looks at me askance, sighs, and points to a large building in the distance, saying, "In there stupid, everyone knows that The Waterbaron lives and holds court in the Waterbaron's Hall, where else do you think she would be!".

Before I can say a word, Chello sets off towards the Hall, with Enna following closely behind.  Is it me, or has Chello become even more obnoxious?  Has the mask altered, or magnified her behaviour in some way?  I think I will keep the Gargoyle mask I have safely in my pack, until I can find a Cleric of Tyr to delve into its mysteries.

The Waterbaron

The Waterbaron's Hall is the residence and court of the Waterbaron.  As we come closer, we can see Stocks carved in the shape of stone lions sat inside the building's stone colonnade.  I don't approve of that form of justice, or retribution.

There are two guards at the entrance.  As we approach, the guards bar our way with their Halbards.  We explain that we are seeking an audience with the Waterbaron, and after some fast and persuasive talking, the Guards agree to let us into the Hall so that we can make an appointment.

After a long walk down a bare corridor, we are shown into an antechamber.  While we wait, we can sit on some really hard benches that remind me of the Temple back home in Neverwinter.  I prefer to stand.  The room is very austere, and not very welcoming. While we wait, we try to find out a little more about our new companion Leosin Todd, but he told us no more of himself than he had said when we met him in Everlund.  He's a bit mysterious, I wonder whether we should have refused his request to come with us?  The wait seemed to go on for hours but eventually an official comes in and inquires as to why we seek an audience with The Waterbaron.   Celery explains to the Official (while the rest of us try to distract Chello so she doesn't inadvertently offend him and lose our chance of an audience) that we are investigating a coin which we understand may be related to the Kraken Society.  At the mention of the Kraken Society, the official excuses himself and disappears again.

We have another long wait, but eventually the official returns and tells us that The Waterbaron will see us now, and beckons us to follow him.  We are led into another chamber which looks like it may be The Waterbaron's office. 

As we enter, the well dressed lady introduces herself as Nestra Ruthiol - The Waterbaron herself.  She is very brusque and gets straight to the point.  She enquires about our business in Yartar - she doesn't seem particularly pleased that we are here.  Celery again implies that the leaders of the Temples of Tyr and Lathander have sent us to investigate some disappearances in the area.  I'm not sure that was entirely true but Celery tends to take suggestions or simple words and amplify them into something more when she thinks Lathandar wants her to do something.  A bit like all that business at Cragmaw Castle when she insisted on reconsecrating the altar to Lathandar rather than just destroying it.  

Anyway, it seemed to work and the Waterbaron told us that three nobles had gone missing in recent weeks and one was found by the river cocooned in some strange substance.  The names she gave us were Arten, Jakkob, and Timothy.  Aparently, Arten Rissolio was the one that was found in the coccoon so we plan to visit him first and see if he can shed any light on what was going on.  We enquire where we might find the Rissolio residence, and then make our excuses to leave.  We are escorted out of the Hall.

The Waterbaron seems relieved that we have left.