Keralon at last

Despite our best efforts, we were sadly unable to reach Keralon before nightfall. The good news however is that, considering that we were so close, it was no problem at all to find an inn where we could rent a few rooms for the night. And while I enjoy a peaceful night of sleeping under the open skies, I certainly will not turn down the luxury of being able to get a good night’s sleep in a soft bed for two nights in a row. Which is why it was only natural that that almost did not happen.
Having the opportunity to do so, I had decided to actually get some sleep that evening instead of just trancing. For while trancing for long periods of time is certainly doable, nothing can really beat a good solid 8 hours of sleep. So I was completely passed out when I was suddenly awoken by a loud banging on the door of my room. The annoyance at that, as well as the general ooziness that clouded my mind at that moment were quickly dispelled by both the sound of shouting coming from outside of my room, as well as the telltale smell of burning wood.
 
Fortunately, it turned out that the inn was not burning down, despite my immediate fears. Instead some fools decided to burn the words “Death to the Usurper King” into their room’s wall before fleeing the inn. Thinking back to earlier that evening, Hayley and Liliana did indeed notice a few suspicious individuals sitting in the common area. All huddled around their table, nervously glancing at anyone that came to close to them. But that was not regarding the tricks that were up Hayley’s sleeves. Apparently they were discussing a poster for something called the freehold guild. Which was both strange and highly illegal, as guilds had been outlawed for several years now after a bunch of them had attempted to launch a coup all those years ago. But to be frank, I didn’t pay to much attention to it at the time. I was simple too tired to really ponder the implications or reasons for petty vandalism. So I simple returned to my bed when the immediate commotion died down.
 
The next morning, most of the events of the evening were already forgotten. Instead we were dealing with a more immediate issue. Namely the problem that we could not bring our magic items into the city. As we were racking our minds over this issue, a few solutions were issued. Me and Alistan proposed renting a horse and returning to Amarra to ask if she could keep the items for a while. However Luke feared that this might take up too much time. Hayley on the other hand suggested that we simple smuggled the items into the city. But I wasn’t too keen on this as I did not want my first action in Keralon to be breaking the law. Also I believe it was Liliana who then proposed to simple burying them outside of the city, though this was also quickly discarded as an option. We were dangerously overthinking things, until ultimately Hayley came with the logical solution of simple paying the innkeeper in order to store our items for a while until we had a more permanent solution.
With that taken care of, we continued on our way towards the southern gates of Keralon. Now while I had several ideas on what our arrival would be like, I can safely say that not one of them included standing in line for about an hour or so. But sadly this was the reality of the situation. However, in the end and after a long and eventful journey, we were finally able to enter the city.
 
I can’t help but laugh at an earlier thought I had that Hillfield would have prepared us for the impact that Keralon would have on us. I can safely say that those notions were quickly dashed as the reality of the city dawned upon us. Comparing the two was like comparing a hound with a dire wolf. Simple no comparison. I can take solace however in the fact that I was not the only one who was overwhelmed. A notion that was quickly reinforced when we lost Liliana in the busy crowds. Thankfully Hayley’s raven was quick to point her out and we were able to reunite with her.
 
Now you might think that arriving in Keralon would be the end of our troubles. And you would be right, if you did not know our group. For you see, we have a supernatural knack of finding it. Especially when we are not looking for it.
Our first problem came in the form of a helpful guide to the city. One of the guards at the gate had informed us that the best way to gather help for Logvale was to issue a report at the guard barracks in the Northwall district. We stated our goodbyes to the Colline siblings, who as usual had familial matters to attend to and confidently made our way towards the river. to But seeing as we were new to the city, it wasn’t that long before we were hopelessly lost. Seeing this, a seemingly kind girl offered to guide us along the way for just a small fee. And while we were most grateful for the help, alarm bells eventually started going off when she kept bringing us deeper and deeper into one of the more shadier parts of Keralon. Confused, we called her out on this and while she had an excuse ready. In the end she wisely decided to cut her losses and attempted to flee from us. This was however not counting on a bit of friendly and magical persuasion courtesy of Hayley. Who convinced her to keep her word and show us the correct way towards the Barracks without issue.
 
Arriving at the barracks, it was no issue at all in order to report the situation in Lorewood. One of the sergeants even assured us that they would be quick to send a patrol in order to bring relief in only a few days. I took this opportunity in order to volunteer to accompany them. Not only to bring back our remaining possessions and Onvyr, but also so that I might attempt to search for Robert. Though I feared that at this point I would be searching for his remains instead. It would however take a few days before I would learn that I was accepted into the patrol. As well as the fact that I would be making the trip back alone. Instead Ileas would accompany me. Just before we would be heading out, we received word that the war between his ancestral clan and Hillfield had ended. And while this was most welcome news, it had an obvious downside. As per the terms, Ileas would have to leave both Keralon and the De La Roost family behind in order to return to them. And while I suspect that this was not entirely to his favour, there was little to be done. But I am getting ahead of myself as there was still another matter to attend to. And that was the fate of our mysterious companion with amnesia. Who had been most patient with us, especially considering that, due to the commotion of the last couple of days, we kept forgetting to give the poor soul a name. Now in order to get him the help he needed, we took him to the temple. In particular, the mausoleum where they honour the fallen gods of old. Sadly however they were unable to help him. The reason for this was that his affliction did not seem to come from either disease or curse. Most likely it was the shock of the attack that had instead burned away all of his memories, the poor sod. And while it was of little comfort, not only did we decided to then name him after one of the saints of the world tree Irminsul Feyris, the temple agreed to take him in order to get him started on his new life in Keralon.
 
And that ultimately leads me to the final problem that we would face on our first day in Keralon. Namely our arrival at the De La Roost manor in Keralon. Sorry I meant the former De La Roost manor in Keralon. For we were most surprised that when we arrived at the place where Allistan and Liliana would spend their time in Keralon, we found that is was not only welltaken care off, it was also inhabited. To this day I can’t tell who was more surprised. Allistan and Liliana or the noble woman who found a small gang of youngsters who had broken into her home. As a side note, Dadroz once told me that it is not really considered breaking in when you have the key. But I doubt that she was willing to make such a distinction. The guards where quickly called in order to straighten things out and while it took another visit to the barracks and one of the city administrators, the mystery was eventually solved. It seemed that the lady’s family had successfully petitioned the king to grant them the house, seeing that the De La Roost family rarely made us of it. And while the De La Roost family had received a new, all be it smaller manor, the news had not made its way to the siblings in time.
 
And that is how my first day in Keralon would end with cleaning the new De La Roost manor. But that mattered little as now we had finally arrived in Keralon, the city where our story and fate would be written.