The Biscuits	Gimar - Fighter 8th Level (PC) G'Leina - Fighter/Cleric 2nd/3rd Level (PC) Jaron - Paladin 3rd Level (PC) Rheaphlyndar - Thief 4th Level (PC) Hannah - Mage 3rd Level (NPC) Wed - Mage 3rd Level (NPC)
Locale	The Free City of Dyvers
Date	4th day of Needfest (Godsday), 585 CY (Common Year)
Time	Evening

The road from Greyhawk to Dyvers had been well travelled and, due to a recent warm period, fairly free of snow and slush. Gimar brought along a pack horse and the gear was redistributed, so the horses kept up a good pace and there were no encounters with hostiles on the main road. Jaron and Gimar had wandered off path during lunch breaks and twice their crossbow shots were rewarded with fresh game, which nicely supplemented the subsistence level rations. Soon a noticeable current appeared on the Nyr Dyv, and the group arrived in the Free City of Dyvers around mid-day.

Dyvers population was about two-thirds of Greyhawk in about the same geographical area. The city had proclaimed itself free almost sixty years earlier, and was called the Western Gate due to it's important trade location on the Att river. Another local nickname was the City of Sails, whose origin became quite apparent as the party rode along the various marinas.

The party entered town along the Processional and split up to find supplies and lodging for the night, and G'Leina and Jaron wanted to stop at the local temple of Pelor. The whole party agreed to meet later at the One-Eyed Mug, the home to a beer Gimar enjoyed called Banthor's Best Ale.

Gimar

The tavern's trademark is a mug with a bloodshot eye on it.

Lodging was successfully found and supplies were procured, filling all packs to two-weeks iron rations. Also purchased were an extra supply of crossbow bolts and a second large tent for the animals (if necessary). The tavern was found just off Tallowbend road, although most party members relied on the Carters and Cabbies guild.

The interior of this tavern was clean, if a bit crowded. Serving girls could be seen wending their way through the crowd, mostly dwarves and humans, and a bouncer and bartender were also on duty. Eyes were immediately drawn to the two most distinctive features -- a long oak bar and a huge field stone fireplace. The bar stretched across most of the north wall and was lined with padded stools. Various knick-knacks line the mantle of the fireplace, beneath a paining of a surprisingly beautiful female dwarf. The whole room was well lit with two wax candle chandeliers and several oil lamps.

As the biscuits settled in around a large table on this longest night of the year, there was much discussion of the afternoons findings.

Gimar	I don't believe in all my travels that I've been through Dyvers. The few times I've travelled between the Lortmills and Greyhawk was via a roundabout route, usually involving a ship.
Wed	Dyvers was originally a Flan trading post and fishing village. I've got a distant relative here with a small boat if the group votes to go upriver.
G'Leina	I found a few old friends from Critwall. They told me that Shield Landers are not looked kindly on here, probably because their arrival coincided with an outbreak of some illness they refer to as the month-long flu.
Jaron	And on a related turn of events, the temple of Pelor is quite strong here. There are nearly as many war refugees here as in Greyhawk.
Gimar	Nobody's too keen on persons from Greyhawk around here either -- it seems to be quite a trade rival. Probably the most interesting thing I found today was that the entire legal system of this town is controlled by dwarves.
Jaron	(smiling) Could be a good thing, given your propensity for bar fights.

Just then a bartender arrived. Obviously a former adventurer, this dwarf's most noticeable feature was a fine black leather eyepatch. His hair was a dark red with streaks of gray, which matched his stone gray eye.

Banthor Grim-Axe	Welcome to the One-Eyed Mug. What'll it be?
G'Leina	Gimar here tells us you brew some fine beers here. What do you recommend, sir?
Banthor Grim-Axe	I'm fresh out of the Needfest Special Recipe, but here's what I've got on tap right now.

• Shadowale, a dark, bitter stout
• One-Eye's Wheat, an aromatic wheat beer
• Wyvern Mead, a rich honey mead
• Earth Wine, another type of mead
• Banthor's Best, the ale that started it all

G'Leina	Well I'd like to try the Wheat.
Hannah	I'll go for the Earth Wine.
Banthor	I should warn you about that one, I brew it strong the way the dwurfolk like it.
Hannah	I'll try it anyways. I like a good strong brew.
Banthor	I admire your honesty. And for you gentlemen?
Wed	I'll try the Wyvern Mead.
Rheaphlyndar	I've heard good things about the Banthor's Best.
Jaron	I must try the Shadowale.
Gimar	I'll also have the Earth Wine.
Banthor	As I suspected. (calling over to the other bartender) One Rack plus an Earth Wine.
Bartender	Coming right up.
G'Leina	(after Banthor moved on to another table) Dwurfolk?
Gimar	To humans we are known as Dwarves. That is really a mispronunciation of the original name, the Dwur. I deal with so many humans that I don't worry too much about it.
Jaron	Hmmm, dwur sounds like dour to me.
G'Leina	What about elves?
Gimar	Olves, and the Gnomes are known as Noniz.
Wed	You know, those are the Flan words for the various races. Halflings are referred to as Hobniz.
Gimar	A flan word it may be but it sounds just like the Dwur word to me.
Rheaphlyndar	Well, if it's all the same to you guys, I like elf and elves. It's just simpler.

A full spread of Mutton Pies, Pickled Beets and Cucumbers, Broth and Vegetable Soups, and Spiced Potatoes was soon available on the table, and the adventurers quickly dug in. During dinner, the duscussion of the various routes to the Temple continued.

The two candidates being discussed were taking a boat or barge up the river to Verbobonc or taking the old trade route to Nulb. The river route would be longer in time and distance, but the majority of travel time would be shipboard. The trade route was by it's very nature one of the shortest routes, but Nulb had not been heard from since the war.

Gimar	Well, the less time we spend on the road, the fresher we will be when we achieve our destination.
G'Leina	The trade route could be adventuresome.
Jaron	Hey, which ever way we go is fine with me.
Wed	The river route just sounds so peaceful.
Rheaphlyndar	I don't have an opinion at this time.

Hannah didn't have an opinion at the current time due to the effects of the Earth Wine. She was now tearing through a bowl of dwarven lichen crackers.

Hannah

These are delicious! Who wants to try their hand at darts?

Much later in the evening, Banthor came back and sat with the Gimar and Jaron, discussing the uses of the crossbow. G'Leina and Rheaphlyndar were battling Wed and Hannah in a few games of darts. The mages were playing very well, so Rheaphlyndar vowed to catch up and ordered an Earth Wine. After he regained consciousness a few moments later, his game was noticably improved.

A bit later Gimar and Banthor discussed the Battle Axe skill, and Gimar found that the dwarven bartender was also a master Axewielder. When Gimar first showed his axe to the tavern owner, his eye opened wide and he blinked.

Banthor	That's a mighty beautiful axe you've got there, son.
Gimar	(guardedly) It's been in the family quite a long time.
Banthor	Hey, no problem here. If you ever want to sell it, though . . .
Gimar	(quickly) No, no thank you. Speaking of beautiful, that portrait over the mantle is quite good. Do you know her?
Banthor	(looking far away) Ah, Vora. Come back another time and I'll tell ya all about her. I must be getting back to work now.
G'Leina	(returning to the table) Heh, Rheaphlyndar and I cleaned their clocks. Now all we need is a deck of cards. Poof

A deck of cards appeared in G'Leina's hands, which she pocketed as Rheaphlyndar showed up with another one from the bar. A rousing game of hearts began in earnest.

Towards midnight, Banthor came by the table and sat with the group one more time. By now, most of the party was getting sleepy although Hannah was still quite energetic. The tavern seemed more crowded than it had been earlier, and all the patrons seemed to be anticipating something.

Just after midnight, a cloaked figure entered the tavern and approached the bar. The crowd parted for him, and he made no sound but was given two steaming mugs. His hood hid most of his features, except for his eyes, which reflected the flickering firelight. He moved over to the fireplace, placed one mug on the mantle, and slowly drank from the other mug. His very presence seemed to dim the flames as the fire died down to embers.

Banthor

(quietly) Hot mulled cider. Would you like some?

Some time later, the stranger turned, placed an empty mug and a large gold coin on the bar, then left the tavern. Soon afterward the fire returned to normal, but the conversation retained it's hushed tone.

Gimar	Who was that?
Banthor	Some say a member of the Circle of Eight, and some say it is Old Iuz himself. All I know is that the original builder stipulated in his will that on this night this particular visitor was to be left in peace.

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