Syvin Avarson speaks with the Freehaven Refugees

One rainy night, Syvin goes to speak with the Freehaven refugees...







He awaits the response from the merchants, the workers, and his remaining brothers and sisters of Freehaven.



((((IC GOALS: Recruit the members of the Freehaven Refugees to build a permanent location for a small town / fortified encampment south-west of Shadowdale. Name TBD. Have Tokens for private home, and gold for private home, which will be included in this area. NPC's will be moved to this small town / reinforced encampment, so that there can be a neutral hub outside of the eyes of other factions who would impose on Freehavens neutrality. Location chosen due to location of North Ride trade route from the south.
This would allow a new area for the neutral folks /// evil folks /// surface drow, along with potentially a new Thayan enclave.))))

A man would approach from behind the Waukeenars tent area and introduces himself*... I am Airan, I am a displaced citizen and merchant of Freehaven. My home and many of my belongings have been lost much like the others here.  And I am at your service. *Tips his head respectfully.*

The man in red nods to him and smiles.

"Well met Airan, I am Syvin Avarson, nobleman of Thay, scholar, and long-standing citizen of Freehaven. I am hoping that together, we brothers and sisters of Freehaven may once again have a place we can call home, a place where we can live and do trade under our own laws, *He motions to the two forts as he says that.* without those around us judging us."

"I wish for a bright future for out displaced society, one built by our own hands, and I would love your help in building it."

*He gives another bright smile to those gathered.*

"Brothers and sisters, we have the means to make our future bright, we just need to firmly grasp it, and move forward."

*Seeming relieved and determined, he'd lean on his staff and nod in agreement as he listens to Syvin closely,...gauging the other folks reactions.*

//moving this to the RP section

DM Carbuncle wrote:

//moving this to the RP section

/// I was actually hoping for DM input from the NPCs, but this works as well.

// did the moving from my phone at work seeing that RP was been done in a request thread. That aside here Comes the NPCs:
(how would Syvinn introduce himself to the NPCs, this is not appearant from your screenies)

The two Waukeenar would be happy to meet Syvin, speaking for most in the camp.
"An interesting suggestion and something we have though about as well.. currently we are investigating another option as a enterprising group has offerend us shelter in their housings.
What locale do you propose? With the nearing winter, it is not the best time to start a big building project.
Our first concerns is to see these people through the winter"

He would introduce himself as the following

"I am Syvin Avarson, scholar, nobleman of Thay, and long-standing citizen of Freehaven."

"I propose a locale to the southwest of Shadowdale. There is a ruin there, the ruins of Castle Grimstead. It is located in a hilled basin just off of the North Ride, and with a small amount of work could be sheltered for the winter cold. With minor fortifications, which I am willing to fund from my own coffers, we could quickly put up semi-permenant housing to allow our people to survive this rapidly encroaching winter.

If we decide that we wish to further distance ourselves from Shadowdale, come spring we can move farther south along the North Ride. If we wish to stay, we can begin work rebuilding the walls of Castle Grimstead, and perhaps a small town to replace the one we all lost.

I believe that this way, rather then relying on another group, and their laws and guidelines, we can build our own land, with our own laws and guidelines guiding us."

Syvin speaks with some more folks around the fire at the Freehaven Refugee Camp:

(Here is an album. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

(Bump, have spoken with more people OOC and IC who are interested with this, just waiting on DMs to decide how I move forward.)

Avarson wrote:

He would introduce himself as the following

"I am Syvin Avarson, scholar, nobleman of Thay, and long-standing citizen of Freehaven."

"I propose a locale to the southwest of Shadowdale. There is a ruin there, the ruins of Castle Grimstead. It is located in a hilled basin just off of the North Ride, and with a small amount of work could be sheltered for the winter cold. With minor fortifications, which I am willing to fund from my own coffers, we could quickly put up semi-permenant housing to allow our people to survive this rapidly encroaching winter.

If we decide that we wish to further distance ourselves from Shadowdale, come spring we can move farther south along the North Ride. If we wish to stay, we can begin work rebuilding the walls of Castle Grimstead, and perhaps a small town to replace the one we all lost.

I believe that this way, rather then relying on another group, and their laws and guidelines, we can build our own land, with our own laws and guidelines guiding us."

The Waukeener priests listen with great interest to what Syvin has to say, some more Merchants join as well.

"I heard of these ruins.. they are very close to Shadowdale. I am not sure if its even on land claimed by the dale.
Still moving our camp to an area which only holds ruins, who might even be claimed by the dale so near, is not much of an improvement. Considering the fact that here we have at least some kind of protection offered by the vicinity of the these two forts.
Our best option we have at this time is the offer we have already received as this would allow us to move into a already established hold.
We are a bit careful about dealing with Thayans currently, please take no offense here sir, but our last dealings with your folk ended with them saving their own hide and disapearing forever.
I would like some of our People to take a look at your suggested locale though, to evaluate the possibilites and your offer."

"If that is what you believe will be best for our people, then I disagree. The hold you speak of would do you worse for business then anything else, the lands it stands on are heavily ruled, far from fair, and far from a good trade route. The Mistress of that house has burned numerous bridges, and made a great many enemies. Moving there is also discounting the Vhaerunite surface Drow's want to destroy them as well.
Our people would be far from safe staying there.

And on the mention of my heritage; not all Thayans are alike sir. It is a large country with a great many people. Claiming all Thayans are out to betray you is like claiming all people of the Dalelands are ignorant farmers."


(Information: According to all the info I could find on Castle Grimstead, it still has standing walls, although barely. Hiring a wizard with Fabricate/Wall of Iron/Wall of Stone could get it standing sturdy again within a week, and at that point it is a fairly easily defended area that would protect against the winter.

I will check this out IC, and clear it of monsters if some have taken up residence. That requires a bit of DM intervention though since it currently doesn't have a map.

To all my knowledge IC and OOC it isn't in SD land, I have been told in the past that everything past the bridge in the West Shadowdale map is outside of Shadowdale and its laws as well.)

Upon Synin's arrival the only slave in the camp is busy returning from gathering firewood. With just a faint glance she observes the man, and remembers they talked before on the crossroads.



Perhaps it was his posture, or that look in his eye; determined on a task that many in the camp were only dreaming about, or whispered to each other. At least Ticla dreamt to serve the citizens in a better place than this camp between the prying eyes of two forts who she didnt trust.

And so the usually rather timid and nervous looking Ticla grew a broad smirk across her lips.

"Here is a man I could follow
Here stands a man to lead many to a better future
And here a man worthy to be served.
For a man strong willed is a rider upon a steed that carries us through the lonely desert
To an oasis of plenty."

Elektra , unaware of other offers to the merchants, sends a message inviting them to come view the alchemy and magic lab that she is having prepared.

Syvin pulls a few crates together to form a makeshift table, and lays out some maps and papers upon them.

"This is my strategy for the short-term;" He points to one of the maps, showing an area in which he circled. "This is the location of Castle Grimstead. Close enough to Shadowdale for us to easily purchase supplies throughout the winter, but outside of the towns border to the west, which I have been told ends here." He points to a border marked in red on the map.

First Map:

He continues "This location is a decent advantage tactically, as well as for us surviving the winter. The basin has natural fortifications, and Toad Knoll allows us good vision of the road to the south, along with giving us proximity to the North ride. For survival, the keep is large enough to house our people should it be fortified. Uses of the Wall of Stone, Wall of Iron, and Fabricate spells should allow us to quickly get it back in living condition, and then afterwards it is a matter of shaping it to suit our survival needs."

Syvin motions to the second set of maps, one featuring the wider area of the Dales, and one a more detailed examination of a specific area.
"This location I have marked here in magenta is where I think our people should settle." He points to the location.
"Trade wise, it is ideal. The bridge over the Adrakis River is a good spot for trade considering the traffic, and it is far away from any major towns or cities. Finder's Keep being affords us some civility, and proves the area is not too wild to settle."
Motioning to the woods to the north of the marked location, he continues;
"The Spiderhaunt woods could prove useful as well. From what I have gathered, it is unsettled save for a few fey, and of course, the spiders. The trees would be easy enough to harvest and move back, giving us a surplus of wood. The spiders themselves could prove valuable should we find the means to farm them for silk."
He continues, moving to the mountains to the south of the marked location.
"The proximity of the mountains to my chosen location gives us access to an abundance of stone and ore, should we choose to mine them."

"I believe that this would be an ideal course of action for our people after we survive the winter."

Second Map: