Chapter 3 / Episode 68 - The Town of Narwell
Players:
Irving, the Reluctant, Paladin of St. Cuthbert
Slash the Bard
Oleg, Half-Elven Cleric/Magic-User/Thief of St. Cuthbert
Weather:
Temperature: 23.4°F to 48.6°F
Wind: Light air (SW)(1-3 MPH | 1-3 KN)
Precipitation: None
Clouds: Clear
Into the Domain of Greyhawk
The morning sun weakly spilled its faint gold over the frost-hardened rode as the party rode east., leaving the shadowed edges of the Gnarley Forest behind. The land here rolled gently toward the coast, its fields bare and waiting for the first sowing of spring. The air was sharp with the promise of thaw, and from far away came the faint cry of seabirds.
Narwell lay ahead—a walled port town and the first true taste of Greyhawk’s direct domain. The banners above its stone gates stirred lazily in the breeze, the sight both welcoming and watchful.
Dog rode point as usual, scanning the road for trouble, but the way was quiet. The group kept their usual riding order, wary from recent events in Dunmarsh but eager to reach the town before nightfall.
Gates and Negotiations
At the main gate, a grizzled sergeant stepped forward, hand resting casually on the pommel of his sword. “One gold each for entry,” he announced.
Before anyone could reach for their purse, Terry’s voice rang out in the authoritative tone of a cleric of St. Cuthbert. He explained their purpose, invoking the saint’s name and pointing out the holy symbol upon his breast. The sergeant paused, scratched at his beard, and after a moment’s thought nodded gruffly.
“One gold for the lot of you. See that you cause no trouble.”
With that, the gates creaked open, and the bustle of Narwell spilled into view—narrow lanes, high-gabled houses, and the smell of saltwater mixed with smoke and baking bread.
Streets and Splitting Paths
Once inside, the group fanned out.
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Dog handed coins to the ragged poor in the shadow of the walls, asking after Madam Neldez’s apothecary but receiving only vague directions to “the center of town.”
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Irving sought a bookseller.
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Slash kept his eyes open for unusual goods and stranger rumors.
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Oleg slipped into the crowd, his sharp gaze watching for thieves.
The streets were tight with merchants, hawkers, and the press of sailors on shore leave. Narwell was a place where a careless hand on your coin purse could leave you lighter by the end of the block.
Treasures in Print
On Market Street, the bell above Madame Zelda’s Hardbound Books gave a delicate chime as they stepped inside. Dust hung in the air, and the walls were lined with heavy shelves bowing under the weight of age-darkened tomes.
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Irving purchased Migration of the Flannes.
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Slash charmed the shopkeeper into parting with two rarities—The Underground Slave Trade (its clasp locked) and Hidden Staircases and Secret Doors.
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They also secured A Knight’s Guide to Arms and Armor, and for a dear 250 gold, The Letters of St. Cuthbert, a work that could grant +1 wisdom to a follower who studied it for a week.
Slash found another volume on finding and removing traps—a week’s study would grant him the skill of a novice thief. The discovery left him grinning like a man who’d just been shown the keys to someone else’s treasure vault.
The Broken Arrow Inn
As dusk neared, the group gathered outside the Broken Arrow, a higher-end inn set on a corner where three busy lanes met. Its stone lower floor and timbered upper story looked solid against the sea wind. Inside, the smell of roasting meat and mulled cider filled the common room.
Dornthel, the elderly elf innkeeper, welcomed them with the menu of the night—baked hare or goose, served with strong local cider. Private rooms were available for one gold each, dinner included.
At a corner table, Terry skimmed an orc labor manual. Its pages revealed that slave traders often referred to themselves as “snaggers” and used a code of terms that might prove useful in breaking into their network.
Thieves, Rumors, and the Sapphire Tale
During dinner, a female elf with a bandaged shoulder caught Terry’s attention. He offered healing, but she declined with polite firmness. Later, Oleg spoke with her; she told him of a legendary sapphire locked in a tower on Narwell’s northern side, its guardian unknown.
The evening’s bustle turned darker when Oleg felt the subtle tug of a pickpocket’s hand. A quick glance revealed a nimble elf thief slipping into the crowd with his gold. The loss was noted, but the thief was gone.
Plans for the Road Ahead
As the night wound down, maps were unfolded, and plans were laid. Safeton lay two to three days south along the coast. Between the cult’s reach and the growing web of clues—the elemental dagger, the code words, and whispers of slave traders—Narwell was but another step in a larger and more dangerous journey.
For now, they rested. Tomorrow, the road called.
XP Award: 500 each
Treasure & Items:
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The Letters of St. Cuthbert (+1 Wisdom to followers after 1 week’s study)
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Hidden Staircases and Secret Doors
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The Underground Slave Trade (locked clasp)
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Trap Manual (Thief ability after 1 week’s study)
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Migration of the Flannes
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A Knight’s Guide to Arms and Armor
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