RP: A response to the White Horses from Hydlian Greyshadow

Hydlian Greyshadow of the Stonedeep clan, by the grace of Gorion, to the most excellent Head of the Whitehorses Company. It is my pleasure to be able to follow up on your letter of the 32nd of Quickern regarding a request for information on my deity, Gorion.  To talk about Gorion, I must briefly relate the story of our people. The now lost records tell the story of the primogenitor and founder of our clan, Herbari Onyxshadow, who had a vision in her dreams. In this vision she met a dwarf wearing traveler clothes and carrying a masterfully crafted staff embossed with a myriad of different runes. He ignited her imagination with stories of a long-forgotten underground complex in the Gra’ak mountain where the ancient dwarf clan Stonedeep had lived in ancient times. He described riches beyond the wildest dreams that were ripe for the taking by a dwarf clan bold enough to attempt the journey. Herbari told her people – at the time a simple farming community - of her vision. Almost all of the young dwarfs wanted to follow Herbari to the Gra'ak mountain, and despite voices raised in opposition by the venerable citizens, the day of departure was set. Herbari and those dwarfs that decided to follow her travelled far and wild through many lands. They met wondrous creatures and discovered bizarre lands, but never lost track of their goal. A hundreds years after they had begun their journey, they finally arrived at the mountain Gra’ak. They looked for a month until they finally found an entrance, so smoothly carved into the stone as to appear indistinguishable from its surroundings. What they saw when they entered the complex was a ancient Dwarf city filled with structures and buildings of such majesty as to astonish to the travelers... But I digress. You wanted to know about my god. The dwarves eventually found an ancient tomb from which were emanating waves of power. The inscriptions on the tomb, written in ancient dwarf language, told the story of the deity Gorion, a Dwarfish god of travelers and lost wanderers. Around the tomb were depicted drawings of Gorion in different stages of his life. Herbari recognized the man in the drawings as the dwarf that had appeared to her in a vision such a long time ago. At that moment she felt a deep voice in her mind. The voice commended her on being the first clan to answer his call and gave her further instructions: to fund a new clan and name it how she wished and to guard his tomb. In return, he would give her people protection and would share some of his power. And so Herbari renamed our clan to Stonedeep, in honor of the dwarfs that used to live in the ancient underground city, and adopted Gorion as our clan’s patron deity. From the time of Herbari Onyxshadow to the present times, Gorion has blessed and protected our clan and allowed our clerics – and myself - to use His power to cast their spells. I hope this letter has assuaged your apprehension regarding my deity, and I hope you will look favorably upon my request for membership. I remain at your disposal should you to have any questions regarding my lost clan or my deity.

A few days later you receive another letter sealed by the white horse company. Dear Master Greyshadow, to sort out mistakes in advance, I am by no means the head of this company, I merely serve within it. A quick view through our archives have not yielded a conflict with your deity and our tasks, it has not yielded a lot at all to be frank. Thus we will grant your entrance if you can pass the same exam everyone at the white horses has to pass before being able to join, you will find instructions at the entrance of our inn in the south of Haven Island. Expecting your arrival at the inn, El Rashne 

A couple of days after receiving the letter, Hydlian heads to the inn and looks for the instructions at the entrance.

You stand infront of a door without a knob and on the side is a writing in draconic: 'Only those who can open this door deserve entry'

Hydlian rubs his beard for a minute, then goes to the Tipsy Mermaid inn where he's currently staying. He shouts "Anyone here a member of the White Horses? There's potentially a gold piece for you if you can answer me a couple questions"

Seeing that no one is biting, Hydlian will look around for signs of any member of the Draconic race. If he finds one, he will approach him and offer him a gold piece for a few minutes of his time. Then he would take him to the door and ask him about the writing on it.

Pyrrha seeing the lost little lamb will speak up, A tall redheaded elf looks over at you from the book she is reading."Um, Excuse me. What is it that you need to know?"

Hydlian looks up at the slightly taller redheaded elf and answers in a very accented Low Valmari: "Ah, thanks for noticing me, young one. I presume you are a member of the White Horses? You see, I am a bit of an apprentice researcher and I am looking to gain access to your company's laboratories. I wrote them a letter and they answered saying I should read the instructions at their door if I wanted to join them, but they are written in Draconic! I haven't er... kept up with current events but I am pretty sure that Low Valmari is still the language of the common man in this century? In any case, would you consider giving this old tired dwarf a hand? For your troubles,I will be glad to pay for your next beverage".

Pyrrha orders a wine. "I'm not as young as I appear. While I am a member of the White horses, and you are right that Low Valmari is still the common tongue, however magic notation usually uses Draconic, Horth or Tarnellion. Or Erdari for Divine Magic." She sips the wine as it arrives, And order another helping of the daily special "It's a simple saying, only those that can open the door are deserving entry. Your first test is whether or not you can enter." She smiles as if slightly amused. "We recently had another dwarf applicant named Udrin The Runesmith. I wonder how you'll do." She quickly eats her second portion as she awaits any other questions.

Hydlian takes a sip of his own Dwarf Ale as he takes in Pyrrha's words. As the young elf finished her words, Hydlian says: "So it's magical writing and only those who can open the door can enter... I think I have an idea of what it might all be about!". Would you care to join me as I make my attempt? By the way, my name is Hydlian."

The elf smiles again after finishing off her last portions of her food. "I could use a laugh I guess," she comments and finishes her wine. "After you," she replies.

Hydlian goes back to the entrance of the White Horses and pulls out a small jade figurine of a squirrel from his pocket. He closes his hand around it whispers a few words. Suddenly, a lively flame springs up seemingly coming from his fist. With a gentle gesture he brings his flaming hand up the door as he says to Pyrrha "Let's see if this old dwarf's got it right...".

As soon as the illuminated finger in your hand touches the door there is a sizzling sounds "zzzt" you see sparks and one hits one of your fingers and for a second it is numb and engulfed in pain. Then it fades and the door opens. "Hohoo... that was a rather blunt approach to the task... this door won't hold back on you, you might want to consider using something with a bit more distance next time you have to open it Master...." A middle aged woman looks at Hydlian, a silver necklace holding a perl dangling infront of her. "... dwarf? Your kind is quite rare here. And isn't that the little Pyrrha? I hope you did not help him in this task, though it does not seem like it. Anyway, on on, in with the both of you. Since you are already here Pyrrha you might as well show him around and don't forget to mark an extension for that book! We don't want you to be running late with the returns..." 

Hydlian bows to the woman: "Hydlian Greyshadow at your service. I swear by my honour that Pyrrha only observed while I tried my hands at your magical door. Admittedly she gave me a hand translating the unfamiliar language on it, but if that was wrong then you should blame me, not her". Hydlian lets himself be shown to his quarters. 

Pyrrha chuckles when Hydlian gets shocked. "Good day to you. I was just watching the show. It was more amusing this time. And thank you for the reminder I will mark the extension right away. Follow me please." She requests Hydlian as she heads inside.

The human woman looks at the dwarf. "By your honour you say? Well well, if that isn't something. Well enjoy your stay for now, won't you?" Pyrrah would recognise her as Lady Laksander right away, since she is one of those mainly working in the library. 

After dropping off his stuff off, Hydlian asks where El Rashne is.  Once he finds him, he approaches him and says:  "Master El Rashne I presume? My name is Hydlian Greyshadow. We exchanged some letters a few days ago...". After some small talk, Hydlian would inquire about the use of the laboratory:  "Master El Rashne, as you know from our exchange, I'm interested in researching and making a small text about the different mushroom species in Makra. I think this would be of great help to the Horses, as they could share this information with any adventurers that worked for them. I have noticed, for example, that one of the mushrooms emits a degree of light for a short while after being picked up. This is the sort of information that could prove critical to an adventuring party who lost their light sources! Hydlian takes a deep breath: "Clearly this sort of knowledge can only come from controlled testing in an sterile environment" - as he say this he sighs, as if having a nostalgic memory - "this is why I would like to humbly request access to your laboratories. I would be glad to be under the supervision of a senior member, who can verify that I have had an education in these matters. " As El Rashne starts to respond, Hydlians holds a hand up: "You are probably going to say that I am just a newcomer here, and you are right in that regard. But I can assure you Master El Rashne, that I am not a newcomer in what concerns the natural world. If I can't make it, you will lose at most a few pieces of paper and some ink. But if I can, think of the great benefit that your company will receive." Hydlian looks up at El Rashne with a look of determination in his eyes and waits for answer.

You enter the room and your eyes immediately get caught by two black slits in yellow eyes fixating you, then silver, pure silver framing these eyes and giving shape to the head of a dragonborn.  Then silence and a long intense look resting upon you. After a perceived 5 minutes he slowly says "Hmmmm..." and nods. As you inquire about the laboratory he again looks at you. He waits until he thinks you are done, gives you another look and then opens his mouth to say something, but instead nods. He hits a bell and a slender human man comes in, bowing deeply to El Rashne and avoiding his gaze.  "Be so nice as to show Master Greyshadow the laboratories an reserve 3 slots a week for him, Friedrich, and show them to him." his deep voice orders. Again nods the frame of his eyes that continue following both of you until you leave the room.

Hydlian bows deeply and goes with Friedrich to see the laboratories.  --- A few days later --- Hydlian is keeping himself busy, fully using his allotted laboratory slots to examine and test the mushroom samples. When possible, he will use the existing knowledge of the White Horses on the fungi. He makes detailed drawings and descriptions of each of the samples and tests their properties, such as: - Do they emit light? When do they start emitting light? How far does the light reach? How long does the light last? - Are they edible? If so, are there any secondary effects afterwards? - Are they poisonous?  - What they do they smell like? What's their colour? What's their taste? Does anything happen if touched? Does anything happen if thrown? And more. He also uses the library to cross-check his work. He looks for any existing volumes on the subject, and will use the names therein where existing, and otherwise will create new names for any species that haven't been discovered before.  He writes all his findings and discoveries in a compendium using the resources generously donated by the Horses for this purpose.  He knows that he will need to collect more samples, so he looks forward to the opportunity of revisiting the Makra caves in order to create a more detailed compendium.  Lastly, he would like to ask the Horses if it'd be possible to inform any adventurers heading into the Makra caves that Hydlian is offering 1gp for each unique sample of mushroom they can collect.