Stone Keep - Arrival

 The party arrives at Stone Keep. After paying the entry tax and tying the bands of peace on their swords, daggers and other weapons, they enter the town and part ways with the caravan. 

 It is close to dinner time so the party decides to find an inn. The gate guard directs them to the Weary Traveler. 

After seeing that their horses are properly stabled, they enter the inn and are greeted by the sight of an inn doing a thriving business. The main room of the inn is crowded and noisy. They find a table, sit down, and order some beer. The beer is delicious. 

While the party orders food, Nodrog talks to Cullross, the owner/bartender, about getting some rooms for the night. Cullross shows Nodrog the rooms and gives him the keys. 

After dinner, Nidal decides to go to the Temple of Light to pray. There she meets Brother Brodribb. He lets Nidal know about the increasing number of orc raids and attacks that seem to be happening around Stone Keep. 

Meanwhile in the bar, the party also hears some rumours about increasing orc raids. Nodrog talks to one of the locals, a woman named Rowena, who tells him about how prepared Stone Keep is to take on an orc attack. Nodrog also hears from another patron that there is a rumour that a ship burnt to the waterline and great treasure sunk to the bottom of the bay by Safeton and the king, as is his right by law, has claimed the treasure for himself. Apparently, this right is being disputed by the city of Safeton and the king has sent a small army to claim the treasure. There are also rumours that some of the inhabitants of Safeton are waiting for the city or the king and have already started helping themselves to the treasure. 

Nidal returns to the inn and sees that Adrahil, Kallista, and Nodrog are still enjoying some beer. As she sits down, the musical entertainment for the night in the form of twin harp players arrives. The harpists begin performing some lively music. 

Shortly after the music starts, Nodrog is accosted by a drunk who, after hurling some insults, takes a swing at him. Nodrog throws a beer in his attacker's face, but misses. Unfortunately the beer hits someone else and this sparks a full fledged bar fight. Kallista manages to knock someone out. This only provokes his woman friend to attack like a polecat. Nidal must be feeling the affects of the beer as she fails to contribute to the party's defence. The harpists continue to play and the brawl continues as well. Finally some town guard enter the building and restore order. Nidal buys some beer for a couple of the people involved in the brawl. They look at her and pour the beer on the ground. 

A man burst in shouting, "To arms! To arms! The orcs are attacking!" 

All of the locals in the bar get up form their tables and chairs and make their way out into the street. The party also exits the inn and sees people running about. Many have makeshift weapons or weapons that are too big for them, but they all look determined.