Travelers: A visit to Scum Town

Whisp: “Burning ships in the harbor. That can’t be a good sign.”

Yohon: “We should go help them put out those flames.”

Alister: “From the look of it, people around here don’t seem to mind. Best we keep our heads down and try not to interfere with the local’s flavor.”

Gordon: “Great, might as well rest up for the night, here is a tavern… I think.”

The streets of Scum Town resemble a failed military outpost. Buildings are all in disrepair and you can tell that there were old sign posts and barracks now made into shops, taverns and inns.

Gordon: “Yes, look! It is a tavern, the thirsty turtle. I hope they have turtle soup.”

The party enters the bar to see that despite it’s poor exterior the interior is rather well kept and patrons fill every seat in the house save one empty table.

Gordon: Grabbing the empty chair to sit, but he is interrupted.

Waitress: “Seat’s saved. Go sit at the bar.”

Somewhat startled but not wanting to cause any trouble they all four move to squeeze into the bar area. Most of the patrons are quietly keeping to their tables, but off in the far corner of the bar there is much commotion around what seems to be a gambling table with dice games.

Gordon: “Barkeep, a round for my friends.”

Barkeeper: “You got money to pay? You look well enough as it is.”

Alister: “I say, gentleman, how would you like to earn a coin? We are in the area looking for employment but we would like to keep a low profile and keep away from the cut-throats. Do you think you can guide us for some payment.” He lays a few silver on the counter, flashing it for a moment then covering it with his hand.

Barkeeper: Leaning in as if to whisper. “The elf in the corner.” He nods his head in the general direction. “He’s some sort of pansy scholar with a body guard. He’s been taking names and sitting with folks, I’d say he’s the right guy to talk to.”

Alister: Lifts his hand as the bartender scoops up the coins.

Yohon: “Let’s go sit with him, see what he’s up to? Where is Whisp.”

The elf signals for the party to join him. Whisp arranged a meeting while the rest of the party tried to gather information from the staff. Silent and invisible she was back before she was missed.

Setuani: “Come adventures, sit and listen for I have a job for you.”

The party obliges looking at each other with some doubt in their eyes.

Setuani: “I am Setuani, and this here is my cousin and partner Zithodan. He doesn’t speak so let me greet you on his behalf. So, it is well known that I am a historian with orders from the royal library to collect information about the ancient dragon-kin that once lived in this very area so long ago. Here is a copy of a rubbing, detailing what we can only guess might be the lost temple of a dragon-god. I’ve got so many more sites to explore but unfortunately, none of my charters have returned from this location’s assignment. I will pay you upon return”, he winks, “and you shall make every effort to recover any artifacts found within. Have we got a deal?”

Alister: “Ancient races lost in time, a temple that none have returned from, sound incredibly dangerous, yet intriguing.

Yohon: “I’m up for it. What say you, Gordon?”

Gordon: “Sound like you have just hired the Travelers.”

Setuani: “Excellent, I shall call upon you in the morn to have you sign wavers, official royal contracts, you understand.”

So the party was given rooms and a meal on Setuani’s tab and in the morning they signed contracts full of legal writing and then set out towards the desert about a half a day’s ride from Scum Town. Once they got closer to the location detailed on the map, the ground turned to sand and they began traveling in the desert and when they stopped they each took up digging.