The Coming of the Zioth

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The Stone and Fire

The Stone and Fire is an upscale inn used by the wealthiest of foreign merchants visiting Maelbourg.

Description

The Stone and Fire was an impressive building from the outside, two stories topped with a sharply pointed roof, bright paint, bold architecture, even the occasional glass window. The inside was even more extravagant. The main entrance opened into a square room larger than Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
's apartment, which seemed designed for nothing but the storage of boots, coats and hats, but it was brightly lit with ornate oil lanterns hanging off of gilded hooks, and stylized maps of the various districts of Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg

[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]

Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index
. There was a bench carved from a single log of oak and engraved with scenes of battle, where one might sit to remove one's outer clothing, and a chair where an attendant might sit. Since it was unoccupied at the moment, Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
opened the door into the inn proper.

He was taken aback by extravagance that dwarfed that of the coat room. What might be called a “common room” in a lesser inn was a fine sitting room here, large with multiple alcoves where one might have some measure of privacy. Couches and chairs were arrayed about, each piled with cushions that looked softer than any bed Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
had lain in, and small tables held valuable books whose primary purpose seemed to be decoration. At the far end was a highly-polished and intricately carved bar near which one might sit more briefly in less luxury. At the other end was a hearth as tall as Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
, with a roaring fire, but Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
suspected there were other, hidden sources of heat as well, perhaps multiple coal stoves behind some of the many ornate panels near the walls. The room was so brightly lit and so thoroughly warmed that they must have gone through a fortune in oil, coal and wood on a daily basis.??

There is a basement furnace which distributes heat through copper pipes attached to stoves in the common areas of the inn.??

The [servants'] stairs led up to a second floor, and beyond that to a third, probably just an attic for storage. Halarenplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPreceptor Halaren

Halaren stands wide and heavy, large feet and hands offsetting a comparably small head. He looks in his late twenties. His skin is pale and a little blubberous, tugging his facial features downwards to give him a slightly sad and dim-witted appearance. His face is well shaved, and hair medium in length, though so thin and wispy his head is clearly visible underneath. Further adding to his girth are the heavy robes he wears, well worn and covered in smudges. A long, deliberate …
opened the second floor door and found himself in a concealed alcove, wide enough to carry a serving tray, but still invisible from the rest of the hall due to a hanging tapestry. He emerged into a hall, where a long, brightly colored rug ran the length of the floor, and carved, gilded sconces lined the walls, just a few feet apart. Between the sconces were small paintings, and maps of the baronies around Huerten, and one map of the entire kingdom which was outdated enough that it did not include Ostmark. Twenty feet away, the hall turned and continued out of sight. At the turn, which had been constructed to appear round rather than square, was an expensive glass window, one central pane almost clear, and the rest stained in browns and greens, to form an impression of the Sign of Morenthplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMorenth

Morenth's theology revolves around the simple idea that the entire universe belongs to him, and humanity is barely worthy to bask in his radiant presence. Those who refuse to acknowledge this simple, self-evident fact heretics, and deserve punishment or death. There is no repentance for heretics
. The snake heads popped out of the window as delicately crafted glass sculptures. Halarenplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPreceptor Halaren

Halaren stands wide and heavy, large feet and hands offsetting a comparably small head. He looks in his late twenties. His skin is pale and a little blubberous, tugging his facial features downwards to give him a slightly sad and dim-witted appearance. His face is well shaved, and hair medium in length, though so thin and wispy his head is clearly visible underneath. Further adding to his girth are the heavy robes he wears, well worn and covered in smudges. A long, deliberate …
guessed that the window alone was worth more than most homes in Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg

[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]

Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index
. Doors were spaced along the hall. In front of the last door before the curve, a man stood at attention, wearing the distinctive outfit and ribbon of Ulan’s closest bodyguards and courtiers.157plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: The Preceptor's Day

Preceptor Halaren arrived in Maelbourg on the first day of the one thousand first year of the Zioth. The previous priest, a timid man in his thirties whose gray hair and tired look made him seem fifty or more, spent only two days training Halaren before he left town. Now that whichever higher-up he'd offended had forgiven him, he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. This left
That room is occuppied by Leera (Koriscaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKorisca Valym

Korisca would be a beautiful woman if she bathed regularly. Most of the time, her face is soot-covered and her hands are grimy. Her blue eyes stand out as the only colorful feature of her face. Her blond hair is full of dirt and ragged, and is never combed neatly. Even after bathing, which never cleans her completely, she seems to draw the dirt back onto her skin within hours. Korisca is slim and light-footed. She wears a good cloak and breaches, soft boots and a vest. Two knife s…
).

A large, semi-transparent glass window – or large for Maelbourgplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMaelbourg

[This map is obviously missing a lot. There aren't huge open spaces in Maelbourg.]

Maelbourg is a walled town in the Barony of Huerten, with a population of approximately six thousand. Its primary exports are textiles, wool and coal, the last of which it acquires from deposits in the nearby hills. The land on which the town sits was added to maelbourg index
, anyway; Halarenplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigPreceptor Halaren

Halaren stands wide and heavy, large feet and hands offsetting a comparably small head. He looks in his late twenties. His skin is pale and a little blubberous, tugging his facial features downwards to give him a slightly sad and dim-witted appearance. His face is well shaved, and hair medium in length, though so thin and wispy his head is clearly visible underneath. Further adding to his girth are the heavy robes he wears, well worn and covered in smudges. A long, deliberate …
had heard that in the king's city of Duerstadtplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe City of Duerstadt

Duerstadt has been the capital of Rang since the reign of Diure XXXVIII (729-749). It is a major trading port on the Ice Sea (so called for the occasional iceberg that shows up therein). The Ice Sea separates Rang from the Skendu Islands to the north. Although the harbor of Duerstadt isn't threatened by pack ice in the winter, the various Skendui ports are, and the distance between the north coast of
, glass was more common than wood – let enough light into the room that it was probably brighter inside than out in the afternoon. To either side of the impressive thing, at some distance, were more traditional shuttered windows, and as luck would have it, one was open.157plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAppeared or occurred in:

: The Preceptor's Day

Preceptor Halaren arrived in Maelbourg on the first day of the one thousand first year of the Zioth. The previous priest, a timid man in his thirties whose gray hair and tired look made him seem fifty or more, spent only two days training Halaren before he left town. Now that whichever higher-up he'd offended had forgiven him, he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. This left

Leera's Room

One of the rooms on the second floor, just before an ornate glass window with multiple panes in different colors creating a mosaic of the Sign of Morenthplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigMorenth

Morenth's theology revolves around the simple idea that the entire universe belongs to him, and humanity is barely worthy to bask in his radiant presence. Those who refuse to acknowledge this simple, self-evident fact heretics, and deserve punishment or death. There is no repentance for heretics
, was guarded by a man wearing a uniform Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
had not seen in town. This room had frequent visitors, and Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
soon learned that it was occupied by Leera, the woman who had vanquished the sorcerer and who claimed to be the daughter and heir of a townsman. Hers was the finest room in the inn, or at least the finest occupied room. Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
wouldn't have been surprised to learn that it cost more per week than he would earn in a year. A large, semi-transparent and no doubt extraordinarily expensive glass window was flanked by more traditional shuttered windows, both of which were open when Ramziplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigRamzi

The first thought that crosses people's minds when they see Ramzi is “that man exudes violence”. He is not an especially large man -- about 6', 190 lbs -- but he has oversized hands, and thick forearms bearing all manner of scars, and all one can think about is how easily those arms could be used to hurt people. He also moves with a grace that belies his size, and there is sense of taut readiness about him, as if he is a coiled serpent, ready to strike. His olive skin has the perpetual t…
came to deliver the wood. Wasteful extravagance was arrayed throughout the room, from the enormous feather bed to the vases with carefully arranged dried flowers. The hearth already burned brightly, and a coal stove was heated as well. Who knew how much of that material was wasted to the chill of the outdoors.??