What started as a quiet day in the Tavern turned out to be quite eventful indeed. A servant of Lord Law in his livery entered to announce a competition for the Constabulary of Drakesbridge. It seems that Sir Julius was called to perform duties elsehwere and is not expected to return. Each person who volunteered to enter the trials had a number magically inscribed on their cheek, similar to a Spirit Mark but accomplished much quicker. Jomar and Bear were quick to volunteer and had numbers assigned to them around 350. There appear to be quite a lot of contestants. I was wondering where they all came from.
A few moments later a local merchant came to hire our assistance with a rat infestation. These were not ordinary rats, but of the giant variety. The poor merchant was frightened out of his mind by them, and concerned for the stock in his basement. Bear, Masacha, Tavern Guy, Jomar and myself traveled to the merchant's shop to clear the basement of the vermin. A couple of us had been affected by disease the rats had been carrying but Masacha was able to put them to rights. After dispatching quite a few of the critters, who flooded from rubbish and crates, we managed to clear the basement. The merchant rewarded us, grateful to once again have access to his stock in trade.
That was to be the most normal thing that happened. After just a few more minutes, a farmer entered looking for assitance in finding his sheep. Apparently he had hired someone to watch them, but later found the hired help and the sheep missing and his gate open. We negotated our fee and set off after the wayward animals. We thought this would be fairly straightforward, but learned quickly that these were no ordinary sheep. They were reluctant to come back, having found freedom. When spooked, they had the innate ability to put their persuer to sleep. Given that I can only resist so much of that kind of magic, I had a nap or two, as did my companions, before we learned how to approach them in the right way. A few Pin spells and tackles were also useful in subduing them. One small lamb caused us to chase it for some time. Our Merchant was so frustrated he slit the lamb's throat when we finally subdued it. This caused the farmwife to become nearly hysterical with grief. We collected, as agreed, our silver, one sheep, and the lamb as payment for our services, however. We headed back to the Tavern again to quench our thirst.
Senior Harper Josian arrived in the Tavern to send us on a series of quests to retrieve spell components. There is an endnote to this part of the story that in retrospect I really should have seen coming. I fault myself for not having seen the obvious point of gathering spell components. The first quest was to retrieve Royal Jelly from a hive of giant bees outside of town. Surprisingly, they were intelligent, at least the Queen was. The drones may have been self-aware. They were many, and it was obvious that a non-violent solution would have to be found. Merchant Rahab was able to negotiate a deal with the Queen. We received Royal Jelly in exchange for the hive having access to trade beyond Drakesbridge through Rahab. We also paid a tidy sum of 10 silver.
To the chalk quarry we traveled for the next item, magic chalk. It had been abandoned due to the presence of a baby rock troll. Jomar tempted it with dice, but it insisted on playing hopscotch. The board had magical traps for each wrong step or word. Finally, Jomar completed the game. We took the magic chalk from the now-sleeping troll and headed to the last quest.
This proved to be the most difficult task. Had it not been for some strange magic we were not expecting, we would all have had to "resurrect" in Gloomwood. We were sent to collect some sap from some large green fleshy plants. They were mobile and cast paralyze magics on us. The group tried to encircle the plants but this allowed them to take us one by one. The plants enveloped us and for a panicked moment I thought I would be trapped for an unknown length of time.
Suddenly, we were standing once again at the edge of the forest holding the plants. It was as if our battle hadn't happened. Another Constable contestant wandered up on the same quest and revealed that these quests were part of Lord Law's trials. Both relief and anger flooded through me. On the second try, we vanquished the plants and got the sap. In the Tavern again, I am afraid I was rather more sharp with Harper Josian than he deserved. After having brushed with Ashbury, I was shaken. Still, I shall make amends. He said he had not known of the quests being part of the trials until just recently. He gave me a vial of liquid to hold "until later".
After supper, we were visited by a well dressed and spoken goblin, Silvanus. He had a writ, he said, from Lord Law to grant the contract to someone to be Tavern Keep. He was looking for someone suitable to grant the contract to. The challenge after that, apparently, is surviving the position as a number of previous Tavern Keeps are no longer among the living. Silvanus and his people attempted to set Jomar and Merchant against one another. They told Merchant to speak for House Rahab and Jomar to speak for House Mor. They also told each to insult the other. Instead, they worked together and both recommended Merchant Rahab, with his wide network of contacts, who won the contract. In a warming moment of solidarity, Merchant admitted that he had been asked to poison Jomar but that he would never do such a thing. I am grateful to have these two among us.
Finally, we discovered the reason we had been sent after spell components as I was enjoying a game of "Black Jack" with Jomar, one of the goblins and Masacha. Lady Nala Strongbow, ambassador of Alyria, asked to speak to me. She said she had looked into my past and found I had experience as a Healer's Guildmistress in Ravenholt. She asked me if I would take up this position here in Drakesbridge. Given how much the area needs one, I had to accept. Masacha is my apprentice. Lady Strongbow cast the Permanent Earth Circle and the three of us are Invested. Celestial casters and undead attacked the Tavern during the casting but we prevailed and it was completed. My companions outside the circle were cunning and brave in fighting off our attackers. Afterwards, Josian stumbled into the Tavern bleeding. He had been holding off other undead forces from Gloomwood. I will try to convince him to bring reinforcements to the next battle. I was able to treat him with the very liquid he had given me earlier. It had been one of the necessary components in the spell and was now infused with healing Earth magics. It revived him and his wounds closed. I made sure he knew I harborded no ill will for the earlier events of the day. When we began questioning how anyone knew of the ritual to be cast that evening, Josion admitted that there is a traitor among the Harpers. Lady Nala, in typical stone elf fashion, stoically stated that the Harpers should find this traitor before she does. Josion, a look of determination upon his brow, said that they would find and deal with them.
The first spirit to appear in the circle to be resurrected was none other than the lamb slain earlier in the day. He reappeared with a tag around his neck, indicating he belongs to the Guild. Apparently strange magics and happenings are not limited to Ravenholt. Given that he has the ability to put enemies to sleep, he will be helpful in the defense of the Guild. Jomar looked at our lamb, at first, with supper in his eye. He and I had to come to an understanding that the defenses of the Guild are not to be tampered with.