PAINTINGS
The wall is adorned with paintings of the many adventures of a young Auberon Greatstag, and you are immediately drawn to the vibrant colors and dynamic scenes depicted in each one. The brushstrokes are lively, capturing the energy of each adventure, and the details are intricate, suggesting the work of a master artist. Nearby, a memorial shrine for fallen adventurers has been erected, complete with a donation box for those feeling charitable.
Keenly studying the paintings is the human knight, who glances at you out of the corner of his eye.
You don’t detect any magic emanating from these works of art, which is surprising considering the mystical nature of the Inn’s other collections. At the same time, you feel as if each painting holds a portal to another world, full of danger and adventure waiting to be explored. From left to right, the paintings are ordered by when they took place, like a timeline of Auberon’s quests.
Ah, you recognize this one! It’s of a well known forge in Quartzvein, the great underground city of Dwarves!
As you approach the shrine, you notice a solemn and reverent atmosphere that seems to permeate the area. The simple wooden altar, complete with various bundles of flowers, is illuminated by several lit candles casting a warm and inviting glow. At the center of the altar is a small donation box with the words, “For the Fallen” etched on the front. It’s locked with a peculiar looking mechanism, and you can detect a magical aura within. Small trinkets are scattered around the box, a testament to the love and honor that the adventurers and patrons of the inn have for their fallen comrades. The air around the shrine seems charged with a sense of mourning and remembrance, as if the very spirits of those lost were present in the space. The shrine is a testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who came before, a reminder that even in the midst of danger and darkness, there is always hope and the possibility of triumph.
The man before you is tall and handsome with a chiseled jaw and bright, confident eyes that spark with excitement. His knight’s armor is polished to a shine, reflecting the light and catching the eye of anyone nearby. He always seems to be grinning, flashing a perfect set of white teeth that contrast with his neatly groomed dark blonde hair.
“Impressive, aren’t they? The paintings, I mean. The Libraries of Athaica are full of paintings such as this of my own impressive battles. Magic types like you love them. There must be something satisfying about getting to imagine yourself in my boots, taking on great beasts face to face with just a sword and a shield. Real bravery, you know?”
He speaks in a booming voice, projecting confidence and authority, but there’s a hint of playfulness to his words.
“When you visit, just tell them Federic the Valiant sent you, I’m sure they’ll be happy to – ah, yes, alas, it’s truly dreadful what has happened to our dear friend Auberon. I was merely attempting to take my mind off such unpleasant matters. What sort of thieving scoundrel would do this, and for what reason? If it was for theft, why have none of the artifacts been taken?
It really is too bad. I’ll remember Auberon fondly, of course. After all, he was there with me on one of my most daring adventures, the Siege of the Troal Blesh Swamp! I wrote a very famous book about it, the top selling tale in all of Estrea, to be exact. Have you read it? Yes, Auberon was a great sidekick, assisting me with all such little matters and proving to be a valuable asset on such a grand quest. It’s really too bad he won’t be able to tell you all about it now, all because some dastardly villain did him in!
Now, I’m not one to point fingers, but if I were I might be pointing them at that wily little half-man over there by the artifacts. He’s a known thief, after all. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll be keeping a rather watchful eye on him to make sure he doesn’t try and steal the very trousers off my dearly departed friend.
As for me, you have no reason to worry. I want to catch this fiend as much as you do, and I won’t rest until justice has been served! Auberon and I were friends, battle buddies, comrades-in-arms. Sure, he may have had a slightly different memory of some of our adventures, likely due to getting whacked on the head so many times, but we were a team, a team that couldn’t be shaken – no matter how famous one of us became.”
Ah, you recognize this one! It’s of a well known forge in Quartzvein, the great underground city of Dwarves!
As you approach the shrine, you notice a solemn and reverent atmosphere that seems to permeate the area. The simple wooden altar, complete with various bundles of flowers, is illuminated by several lit candles casting a warm and inviting glow. At the center of the altar is a small donation box with the words, “For the Fallen” etched on the front. It’s locked with a peculiar looking mechanism, and you can detect a magical aura within. Small trinkets are scattered around the box, a testament to the love and honor that the adventurers and patrons of the inn have for their fallen comrades. The air around the shrine seems charged with a sense of mourning and remembrance, as if the very spirits of those lost were present in the space. The shrine is a testament to the courage and sacrifice of those who came before, a reminder that even in the midst of danger and darkness, there is always hope and the possibility of triumph.
The man before you is tall and handsome with a chiseled jaw and bright, confident eyes that spark with excitement. His knight’s armor is polished to a shine, reflecting the light and catching the eye of anyone nearby. He always seems to be grinning, flashing a perfect set of white teeth that contrast with his neatly groomed dark blonde hair.
“Impressive, aren’t they? The paintings, I mean. The Libraries of Athaica are full of paintings such as this of my own impressive battles. Magic types like you love them. There must be something satisfying about getting to imagine yourself in my boots, taking on great beasts face to face with just a sword and a shield. Real bravery, you know?”
He speaks in a booming voice, projecting confidence and authority, but there’s a hint of playfulness to his words.
“When you visit, just tell them Federic the Valiant sent you, I’m sure they’ll be happy to – ah, yes, alas, it’s truly dreadful what has happened to our dear friend Auberon. I was merely attempting to take my mind off such unpleasant matters. What sort of thieving scoundrel would do this, and for what reason? If it was for theft, why have none of the artifacts been taken?
It really is too bad. I’ll remember Auberon fondly, of course. After all, he was there with me on one of my most daring adventures, the Siege of the Troal Blesh Swamp! I wrote a very famous book about it, the top selling tale in all of Estrea, to be exact. Have you read it? Yes, Auberon was a great sidekick, assisting me with all such little matters and proving to be a valuable asset on such a grand quest. It’s really too bad he won’t be able to tell you all about it now, all because some dastardly villain did him in!
Now, I’m not one to point fingers, but if I were I might be pointing them at that wily little half-man over there by the artifacts. He’s a known thief, after all. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll be keeping a rather watchful eye on him to make sure he doesn’t try and steal the very trousers off my dearly departed friend.
As for me, you have no reason to worry. I want to catch this fiend as much as you do, and I won’t rest until justice has been served! Auberon and I were friends, battle buddies, comrades-in-arms. Sure, he may have had a slightly different memory of some of our adventures, likely due to getting whacked on the head so many times, but we were a team, a team that couldn’t be shaken – no matter how famous one of us became.”