CHAPTER U: NEW BACKERS, AND A NEW MISSION

The ship docked briefly in the town of Hadrian, picking up the two crewmen that had done time with the nixies, and at mid-day, docked in Mitrik.  Thurl summoned the crew.

“Payday!” he announced.  He distributed to each of the party 204 gold pieces and two silvers each: salary and share of the profits.  “Don’t spend it all in one tavern,” Thurl advised the party.  He gave them the afternoon off, and told them to meet with him that evening.  He had something in mind.

The adventurers scattered into the city.  Arya found a nearby chapel of Pelor.  After a suitable tithe, for which the chapel’s cleric was suitably grateful, she asked if the temple could provide her with any helpful items.  The cleric quickly located a potion of cure light wounds, as well as a  useful scroll.  Strife found a merchant selling sage and incense, relatively near the port.  He inquired if there was a shrine of Ehlona in the city.  “Alas, no,” the merchant replied..  “Mitrik is run by clergy of Rao, praise his name.”

Meanwhile, Balefire and Kronk came upon a shop called “The Golden Horn”.  Balefire perused the merchandise and purchased a masterwork mandolin.  Zelda looked for scrolls, and found a fine scroll of invisibility.  “Wise choice!” said the shopkeeper.

At the end of the day, the adventurers returned to the ship.  Thurl was waiting.  “Come with me,” he said.  “There’s someone I want you to meet.”  He led the party to a small establishment on the other side of town from the docks: a taylor’s shop called, “The Silver Needle”.

Thurl greeted the proprietor, a man named Logan, who led him and the adventurers to a back room.   A man was waiting.

“Kenrod,” Thurl greeted the man.  “These are my crew: Aria, Balefire, Kronk, Strife and Zelda. 
Kenrod nodded, “Well met,” he addressed the party.

Thurl continued.  “These fine adventurers have some interesting incidents to talk about.”  He turned to the party and indicated that they should say something about their activities.  Arya told of their battles, especially against the river pirates from Ket, mentioning “Arpad” and “Zoltan”.  Strife boasted of the haunted whore house, in Darksea.  At the mention of “Darksea”, Kenrod gave a look toward Thurl, taking note of the name.  Kronk added, “I’m Kronk!”

“Yes,” Thurl added, “they have all fought valiantly.  I think they would make worthy probationary members of the organization.”

The party looked quizzically to each other at Thurl’s mention of “the organization”.

“Thurl’s word carries a lot of weight,” said Kenrod.  “Would you be interested?”

“What does your organization do?” asked Arya.  “Reduce evil in the Flaeness,” replied Kenrod.

“Do we get a pay raise?” Balefire inquired.  Expecting a different response, Kenrod replied, “There will be plenty of opportunities for gainful adventuring.”

“Sounds like lots of interesting adventures, and I’m always interested!” said Arya, enthusiastically.  “Always interested in vanquishing evil,” added Strife.  Kronk just smiled and looked at his sword.  “If everyone else is in, so am I,” Zelda agreed.

Kenrod considered their responses.  “Before entering probationary membership, leave no questions unasked.  Once you become full members, we require total dedication.”

“I don’t want to be ordered around too much,” said Arya.

“We support our members in their various activities, as well as when they’re on assignment for the organization.”

When the adventurers had asked all their remaining questions, Kenrod nodded to Thurl.  He then told them to raise their hands, and administered the probationary member’s oath.

Having sworn the adventurers into probationary status, Kenrod addressed them.  “Welcome to our organization.  You will be given the probationary member’s password, so other members will be able to identify you.”

After congratulating each of them, he then asked, “Is there anything you want to tell us about your intentions, future activities, in which we might assist you?”  Strife mentioned the information the party had found in the ivory tube.

Kenrod’s eyes lit up.  “Thurl, with me,” he said.  They both left the room.

Time went by.  The adventurers began to get antsy.

At last, after about two hours, Kenrod and Thurl returned.  “Is it your intention to follow up on this information?” Kenrod inquired.  “Yes!” replied Strife.  “Seems to comport with mission of the organization, you know.”

“I agree,” said Kenrod.  “Do you feel brave enough?  It’s a long way to the Cold Marshes.  Many dangers lie along the way.  Especially creatures of Iuz.”

“Yes, I do,” Strife asserted.  “Especially if the others come along.”  Immediately, Kronk chimed in, “I’m going!”

“I had hoped you would,” said Thurl.  He pulled out a map and showed it to the adventurers.  He pointed out the location of the Cold Marshes, a goodly distance the north.  “We can back you, provide you with supplies and information,” Kenrod offered.

He and Thurl proceeded to discuss the best route from Mitrik to the Cold Marshes.  It would be a long journey-- 40 days at least, and likely more.  Thurl could take the adventurers to Baranford, by way of Caronis.  "Caronis should be fun by the time we get there," said Thurl, smiling.  From Baranford, about a week along the Royal Highway would bring the adventurers to Chendl, capital of the Kingdom of Furyondy.  "Better brush up on your etiquette," advised Kenrod.  "They're a lot of sticklers for protocol in Chendl."

Another three days from Chendl to Crockport, at the south end of Whyestil Lake.  "In Crockport you can hire a ship to take you to Izlen, at the north end.  About a week's sailing," said Thurl.  "Be careful," Kenrod added.  "The area not far from Crockport is still in a dangerous area.  Minions of Iuz are still active in the vicinity, even after his defeat.  Other areas too.”

At the name of Iuz, the party looked fearful.  Kenrod asked the adventurers if they were familiar with the Greyhawk War and its aftermath. When they indicated that they were not, he briefly described the events.

"The Greyhawk War ended back in 588 CY.  Northern Furyondy, the eastern part of the Vesve Forest, the western shore of Whyestil Lake, all were controlled by Iuz," explained Kenrod.  The Great Northern Crusade began a few years later--Iuz never intended to honor the peace.  But unfortunately for the Old One, Furyondy was able to recover Crockport, and finally secured the city about 610 CY."

"What happened after that?" asked Arya.

"There was another "peace" agreement," answered Thurl.  "Honored about as much as the first one.  And when war broke out again, around 630 CY, Furyondy and most of the other good nations joined together again.  This time, they had some very powerful -- and very mysterious -- allies."

"We know who some of them were," said Thurl.  "Heroes out of the past.  Mordenkainen.  Others of the Circle of Eight," he continued.  "Still unknown who some of the others were," Kenrod observed.  "One was allegedly a very powerful, but unlikely-looking, wizard of somekind," he added.  "Hadn't been reported anywhere before.  Basically came out of nowhere.  Didn't seem like the type to get involved in major regional wars.  Some kind of strange-looking half-elf woman."

"Hey!" protested Arya.  "I'm in the room, you know!"

"No offense intended," replied Kenrod.  "But as I was saying, the war began again, and this time, not only did Furyondy regain more of its lost territory, like Grabford, Mursten and Batlet, but other allies also grabbed parts of the Horned Lands and other Iuz-aligned areas.  And by 644 CY, those powerful allies apparently found a way to force Iuz out of his stronghold entirely, and out of the entire plane, if we hear rightly."

"Was he destroyed?" Balefire inquired.

"Not known," Kenrod answered.  "At least, clerics of Iuz still survive, and apparently still get their spells.  So, it's likely that the Old One is someplace from which he can grant spells."

Then Thurl resumed.  "Once you reach Izlen, head up the Dulsi River to the Blackwater.  You’ll eventually get to the city of Eru Tovar, in the land of the Wolf Nomads.  About a twenty-day trip by keelboat.  Once in Eru Tovar, you’ll be able to re-supply and make your way into the Cold Marshes.

"It'll have to be on foot most of the way,”  said Kenrod.  "And it's not called "the Cold Marshes" for nothing.  So we'll provide appropriate cold-weather gear for you all."  He eyed the adventurers.  “Recover “Fiend’s Embrace”, if you can.  Once you have it," he added, pulling a scroll out of a scroll case, "use this scroll.  It's a special scroll of teleport. It will bring enable you to return to this very room."

He handed the scroll to Zelda.  "Fix this room carefully in your mind.  And remember: it's only for use to get back after you recover the artifact."

The adventurers discussed the proposed quest among themselves, with great enthusiasm.  “When should we leave?” Arya asked. “Best rest up for a few days,” Thurl advised.  “I’ll need time to secure cargo for the Caronis/Baranford run, and to arrange for your supplies and transport.”  He told the party to head back to The Brave Axe, where he would put them up until the ship was ready to leave.  They thanked him, and Kenrod, profusely, and got up to leave.

As they were leaving, one final question occurred to Strife.  “We noticed a strange symbol while we were in Darksea.  Some kind of depiction of a spider-eater.  Do you know anything about that?”

“It’s Miae’s trade organization!  Her brewery, her tavern customers.” Thurl burst, as if trying to change the subject.