Sunset: 1900
- No Greyhawk Events today
03 September 1211
We have arrived! Ciriline city is different than what I expected although I’m not certain what it is that I expected. Castle Ciriline itself is a truly magnificent castle is nestled into the smaller rocks at the western edge of a monolith of land jutting up at least a kilometer into the sky. Beneath it, spreading across the flat plain like a bride’s veil is a sprawling expanse of low stone buildings behind a massively high, thick wall. It is at least 40 feet high and 15 or 20 feet thick, reminding any who may have forgotten that this land is prone to giant attacks, and all marvel at the time and effort it must have taken to erect such an impressive barrier. The stone buildings are actually separated from the final approach to the castle by another walled-in area a hundred yards long and four times as wide. This area is packed with tents of every shape, size, color, and material. Flags of many countries fly from the tallest tent poles. Crowds of armed and armored people move about in this area, interacting freely. Greyhawk is not the first to arrive.
I won’t go into the details of the encampment itself, but suffice it to say, the excitement level surpasses that of carnival day in Greyhawk. Lots of people to see and meet. I look forward to stowing the gear and looking around. In fact, i was too busy looking around and gawking like some common farmer that I missed the instructions given to us. Luckily Shasivin filled me in. Greyhawk has been given a suite of rooms in which they can house people. This consists of two bedrooms with two beds each, plus a sitting room. The LieutenantAmbassador and I will stay in one room, while the Captain and Sir Yalinari will share the other. Our guards shall be Cust and Shasivin, Gustuv and Miles. They’ll rotate through 4-hour shifts. Our “servants” shall be Meluvia and Vanith. The rest, I’m afraid will be in the tents with Master Sergeant Drathon in charge. With that decided, we entered the castle.
Inside the 20-foot wall circle there is an inner compound (the inner bailey) maybe 50 yards long by 30 wide. This ground was punctuated with a diverse collection of tents for the visitors’ personal guards to use when they are not on duty. The standard complement of wooden buildings clings to the inner sides of the stone walls, but they are unremarkable. What truly takes the breath away is the main Keep, which has a substantial main building, topped by a series of increasingly smaller structures that collectively soar upward nearly 120 feet, the whole punctuated with an impressive array of spires and towers. The top-most tower, estimated the Captain, must sit at least 500 feet above the level of the plain. What a view one must have from up there! Alas, our rooms are only on the second floor. The more I think about it, however, the more I wonder how many steps one must climb to get to the top of the tower. I shall have to make a note to ask someone.
After a fantastic lunch where we ate on real plates sitting on a real table, the Captain, Sir Yalinari, and the LieutenantAmbassador were called in to be received by the laird. I spent the time penning these lines with a fine sherry. When they returned, I was shocked. Instead of preparing for means the Captain immediately ordered a Company Conclave and would not say another word. So shocking was the news, however, that even Sir Yalinari wouldn’t spill the beans. To his defense however, you could tell he wanted to and almost answered a question before Sir tar cast he and I a withering look that, when used before, has caused plants to immediately die. Sir Yalinari looked apologetic while we walked. The news was indeed distressing: The Laird has heard about an assassination attempt against his life and has asked the Company to assist in the investigation. However, for obvious reasons no one else should know that we are working on this. Following the meeting, we each had our own assignment. I was to join Sir Tar talking to the Castle’s scholar.
I have always wondered what an investigation looked like from the start. Everytime, I have been involved the investigation was well underway. I must say, however, Sir Tar has some odd ways of doing things that the guard in Greyhawk has never used. To whit, in addition to conducting the typical research activities he is having Tovish and Hanar surreptitiously start a pool betting that the Laird will die within two weeks and key on anyone who puts money on the actual threat day (the 16th). This seems fairly cold hearted and, well, a little creepy. I doubt that any good will come of it.
dfhkdj;hf sad;kjhf kjhf kfjh jh;kjh I have always wondered what an investigation looked like from the start. Everytime, I have been involved the investigation was well underway. I must say, however, Sir Tar has some odd ways of doing things that the guard in Greyhawk has never used. To whit, in addition to conducting the typical research activities he is having Tovish and Hanar surreptitiously start a pool betting that the Laird will die within two weeks and key on anyone who puts money on the actual threat day (the 16th). This seems fairly cold hearted and, well, a little creepy. I doubt that any good will come of it. I have always wondered what an investigation looked like from the start. Everytime, I have been involved the investigation was well underway. I must say, however, Sir Tar has some odd ways of doing things that the guard in Greyhawk has never used. To whit, in addition to conducting the typical research activities he is having Tovish and Hanar surreptitiously start a pool betting that the Laird will die within two weeks and key on anyone who puts money on the actual threat day (the 16th). This seems fairly cold hearted and, well, a little creepy. I doubt that any good will come of it.
I have decided that the actual details of the investigation (who we talked to, who we investigated, etc.) are not fit for printing in this journal. They are legal details that could come to harm some people. And so, I will pen no more about them and stick to broad stroked of what the Company did during this time.
Tonight was a lavish banquet and I must confess to being severely jealous of my three friends. They are of sufficient rank to attend the main ball and the Ambassador looked stunning in her red ball gown. I have never seen the Captain or Sir Yalinari so captivated. Sir Yalinari recovered well, but I could tell by the pink on Sir Tar’s ears that his thoughts were less than pure. (Not that Sir Yalinari’s were mind you.) The Ambassador swept from the room all but ignoring them. Like two little puppies they almost had to run to catch up with them. I couldn’t have been prouder of her.
Lest I leave the reader with any false impressions, I actually did attend a banquet. In fact, the banquet rivaled any that I’ve been to, save my coming out party and that only because of the sweetness of the day. My banquet was with the senior servants which included a few ladies of standing. I also must confess that my days on the road need to be ending. With this extended time on the road followed by such luxuriousness, I long for my apartment and the finer things in life. I’ve earned it, have I not? I wonder, though, who will be the second historian of the Company? A second thing for me to work on. It is amazing, as one sits in the window of a great castle during the silence of the morning hours what one can think of. Tomorrow is another day—and a busy one at that. Tomorrow we will start saving the life of the laird. Perhaps, when this is over I will have earned a right to retire back to Greyhawk…