This 2E Dragonlance game is set in the city of Haven, during the War of the Lance. Haven is a city undergoing great upheaval. First massive numbers of refugees pour in, then the city is conquered by a draconic army. Can our heroes survive under this dark occupation?
Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Temple of Takhisis)
Tulbas wrote:"Do you know by any chance where one would easily find a poisonous snake?"
"Several varieties dwell nearby, in Haven's Vale," the priestess states. Haven's Vale is the area northwest of the city.
Tulbas wrote:"Do you have more history books?"
"A few," she replies, "but none on Haven."
Tulbas wrote:"Can we borrow material preaching about Takhisis ways?"
She gestures to the book that Haahqae is reading. "You may take that with you, if you return it when your task is complete," she offers.
Kendra Greylock (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
"I can imagine. Nobody shops unless they have to, not with all those monsters patrolling the streets," Norris says. "Although today, at least, a number of shops were closed down. There was a meeting at the Trade Guildhall about the tax hike. Actually, your troublemaking friends attended. They volunteered to carry a message to the prefect for us, for reasons I'm not entirely clear on." He shakes his head. "They're up to something, I know that much."
He heads into the kitchen then returns with the food and starts placing some on Kendra's plate, then his own.
Haahqae nods a "Thanks," and gets up to walk towards the door. During this whole procedure he doesn't stop reading, which results in him walking rather slowly, and heading more towards the wall one one side of the door, then through the opening.
Arulia tries to laugh with and gossip with her sisters as they eat and before the night truly falls, but she finds herself too distracted to do more than offer a half-hearted smile here and there. instead, she bides her time until her sisters have gone up to bed, then approaches her parents. "Are things really so bad, Father?" she asks. "I know that you and mother have worried about money before, but never this much. If it's as bad as you make it sound, maybe I could go back to work as a guardswoman? I don't much like the idea, and I'm guessing that the army will be worse than the Seekers got, but they probably don't tax their soldiers like they're doing to everyone else..."
"They probably are up to something," Kendra admits. Though she can't seem to fathom what they could be up to. "Though, it is a good idea to kind of get to know the people that are running the city now."
Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (Temple of Takhisis)
As the three step outside of the temple, they find night has settled quickly over the city. People are hurrying to get off the street before curfew. Haahqae reads on to the next chapter, which is about the history of Takhisis.
"Takhisis was called from the Beyond with a single purpose--to unite all the living things on Krynn under her wise rule. The world and the mortals living upon it are infected by Chaos and the curse of Free Will, which is what leads to suffering, disaster and death. Only by imposing her order upon the world can there ever be peace or prosperity. However, there have always been those who have opposed her, blinded by their own shortsightedness.
"Takhisis was not alone when she found the world. Her brother, a wretched being whose name will not be spoken, was with her. He was always jealous of Takhisis, especially of her most prized creation--dragons. Betraying her and building his own dragons--twisted mockeries of the originals--he sent his creations in an all out war against Takhisis' own. History would later call this the All-Dragon War, and it nearly destroyed the world. Realizing this, Takhisis forced her evil brother out of the world and withdrew from it herself for the sake of sparing it. Takhisis and her forces created the realm known as the Abyss while her brother was banished to a different realm.
"But despite being sealed away, her brother's evil was not completely defeated. He soon launched a new war, this one in the eternal realms, in hopes of gaining full control of the stars. Takhisis bravely stood up to him, knowing the chaos her brother would spread if he had his way. In the end, the stars--which were in fact mortal souls--were each blessed with Takhisis gifts of ambition and desire for better things. However, they were also infected by her evil brother's curse--frail, mortal bodies.
"For a time, there was peace. Those mortals who gave up their free will to follow Takhisis knew peace and prosperity. But her evil brother was never satisfied and continued to plot against her. This came to a head in what was known as the Third Dragon War, over a thousand years ago. Using trickery and deceit, her brother found a way to seal the entrance to the Abyss, preventing Takhisis or her forces from directly entering the world. She was forced to watch as he and his forces took over the world, infecting it with his corruption. He helped build the Istar Empire, which ruled over Ansalon with its injustice and prejudice. With nobody to stop his chaos, it was only a matter of time before everything fell apart. Realizing the error of his ways, the evil brother had no choice but to throw a fiery mountain upon Istar, causing the Cataclysm.
"But now, after all this time, the glorious Takhisis has found a way back into this world. While her evil brother has abandoned the mortals for over three hundred years to war, pestilence and suffering, she has returned to once again bring order and prosperity to the world. But this can only happen if mortals cooperate and give up their own free will."
Kendra Greylock (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
"Assuming the prefect isn't the type to kill the messenger, at any rate," Norris replies. "I just hope this gets resolved quickly. Business wasn't exactly booming before the occupation. And now...I haven't had a single customer since then. It's frustrating--I have plenty of merchandise, but nobody wants to buy it. At this point, I may need to reduce my prices and sell them at a massive loss. I hope it doesn't come to that." He begins eating. "How is it?" he asks.
Arulia Seroth (323 Three Forks, Seroth residence)
Thoron sighs. "I didn't want to worry you. But maybe you have a right to know. Yes, things are that bad. Maybe worse. It's just not the tax hike, either. The other day, a soldier came into the smithy, demanding we repair his weapons and armor. When we were finished, he refused to pay. He told us that if there were any complaints, he'd come back to kill us and our families. What if more of them start following this trend? Even without the tax, we'll be bankrupt in no time."
"Arulia, are you sure about that?" asks Vera when she offers to rejoin the guard. "The Holy Guard are no more. You'd be working for the Dragonarmy now. I hear they do pay very well, but...I can only imagine what horrible things they might order you to do."
Kendra took a few bites, and gave a nod of appreciation. "You're certainly a better cook than me," she said with a light smile. "And, I guess it sounds like that I'm going to need to find a job."
Arulia remains silent for a moment. Finally, she says, "I don't want to join the Dragonarmy either, Mother. I'm afraid of what they might order me to do, too, but I'm more afraid of what will happen if we don't have enough money. They took all the refugees and led them away as slaves...they'll do the same to us if we can't make ends meet. Unless things change, I don't see much of an alternative."
Gregeddin deeply breathes the twilight air, glad to be free from those purple oppressive candles. Considering their next moves he suggests, "Shall we return to mine for some food, I have a couple of things to prepare, then head back over to the harbour district to stake out that old brothel for anything suspicious after curfew?"
Haahqae, Gregeddin and Tulbas (300 Market Street, Gregeddin's House)
The three head to Gregeddin's house, arriving just as Last Watch begins. The bard has yet to have anything to eat or drink today, so he's quite famished by this point.
Haahqae and Tulbas have not yet seen his new house yet. It's quite spacious, but largely empty of furniture as Gregeddin has not finished unpacking or fully furnished the place yet. There's a master bedroom, a guest room, a living room, and a kitchen.
Kendra Greylock (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
Norris nearly spits out the water he was drinking. "I wouldn't go that far!" he objects. "Besides, what would you do? The Holy Guard is no more, and you hated working for them anyway. No, I suggest we wait and see how the prefect reacts to our letter--assuming your friends are reliable enough to actually deliver it."
Arulia Seroth (323 Three Forks, Seroth residence)
"They can't enslave the entire city," Vera objects. "There would be nobody left to run the shops."
Thoron sighs. "Even if they don't enslave us, there are plenty of other things they could do instead. And if a family member is working for them, that might offer us some immunity to whatever is coming," he points out.
Vera shakes her head. "I'm not sure survival is worth giving up our souls."
"That woman seemed to be interested in me joining their army," Kendra points out. "Or I could find something else," she adds. "I'm sure there is something I can do."
Arulia reaches over and pats her mother's arm to reassure her. "I don't want to join them, either. Maybe things will get better and I won't have to, or maybe I'll find some other way to make money. But I'd rather join them then let you, Father, and the girls starve or get shipped off somewhere as slave labor."
At some point on his way to Gregeddin's place Haahqae manages to pull himself away from his book, while he's nearly finished it, it turns out walking while reading isn't one of Haahqae's strong points, despite how much he practices this particular skill. He nearly walked into multiple signposts before he finally putting away the book, to finish reading later.
When he arrives Haahqae wastes no time to check out the house. "Nice place you got here Gregeddin. That is, for one of you big folk. And if having a place is something you're looking to have. Do you have any secret passages yet? Or do we need to make a few? Perhaps a hidden room or secret cellar?"
Kendra Greylock (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
Norris nearly chokes on his food. "Join the army? The army full of monsters that conquered our town and is currently occupying it? That army? You can't possibly be serious about that," he objects.
Arulia Seroth (323 Three Forks, Seroth residence)
Vera frowns and places her own hand over Arulia's. "I hope it doesn't come to that. I'd pray it won't, but I'm not even sure who to pray to these days," she adds with a sigh.
"For now, at least, we'll wait and see how the prefect reacts to the guild's demands," Thoron adds. "And you still have that job with the jeweler's wife, right? That's bringing in a little extra coin, at least."
When her mother mentions the gods, Arulia smiles. "The Old Gods still watch over us; we only need pray for them to hear."
She shakes her head at her father's question, though. "Kendra is fully recovered from her injuries, and doesn't need me to change her bandages and the like anymore. I'm afraid we won't be getting any more money from Mr. Greylock."
