Downtime

 Autumn - the last week in the month of Jessica 1371

As Tandis prepared for the winter festival, the heroes of Harrowhoff took a hiatus from their adventures. Visefrin, as bishop, presided over the ritual and said goodly blessings and benisons over the bounty set aside for winter. 

Wellborn spent many long hours in Throy's study pouring over tomes and writings left by the monks of old. He found a mention of a lost book called "The First Crusade". This book it was said, would detail some of Tandis' occulted history - if only it could be found. Despite these late candle-lit nights, Wellborn was able to spend some hours with his young family. 

Sir Fidlthid was dismayed by the destruction of his magic armor, and still, the words of Morcarat weighed heavy on his mind. He spent the week often in the company of the men of Tandis Castle and the armorer fitted him with a handsome new harness of plate. 

Meanwhile, Heironymous dedicated many long hours to researching the means by which magic scrolls could be made. As a budding enchanter, he felt such power was within his grasp.

Sybael spent the intermission in more romantic pursuits, as elves are wont to do. He and his new companion, herself of the elven wood, passed many nights dancing, singing, and reciting the poetry of love beneath the moon and stars. 

Many of the heroes were still preoccupied with the brazier and pondered its power. No tome or manuscript on Throy's heavy shelves gave an answer. But as the festival drew to a close a familiar rap sounded upon the door of Harrowhoff and in from the cold night came Brieberus, the green wizard of Verdengard. He looked upon the brazier and saw that the heroes had grown ever more powerful and certain of their abilities. He cautioned them:

"Let not pride weaken your resolve or cloud your minds. For even now, the enemy draws his plans against you. He has taken notice of your deeds, for you slew one precious to him."

The wizard studied the brazier and said this:

"This thing is an object of great and terrible power. If it is to be used, it must be with the utmost caution. I cannot tell you the ritual needed to bring forth its magic, but I know one who may. Travel to the Changing Forest and seek there the warlock, Linfall the Mad. This mage, though unpredictable knows knows much lore of such items. The warlock lives in Elmshar a crooked manse deep in that strange wood East of the Shadow Mountains."