A Waltz into the Hinterlands

In the vast ancient lands of Teyrnas Annwyl there lies a mysterious land of trees far to the northeast called the Hinterlands. There is a more ancient name, Gefnwlad, but it has been largely forgotten. The ancestral trees of spruce and corons (trees much alike to redwoods) create a shadowy boreal forest filled with fog and mystery. It remains widely unexplored, uncharted, and uninhabited besides the wolves, occasionally wyvern, and other creatures that call it home.

The forest is bordered by the silver Arian river to the southwest that runs into the sea. On the other side however, is the rocky mist and heather covered Niwl highlands with the small town of Fordswither nestled beside the river near a ford that leads to the Hinterlands. There used to be a bridge nearby but it was long ago destroyed, the answer to why lost to time, although the supports still resiliantly stand. Beside these ancient pillars though, not far from the ford, is the Wolf's Head Inn. This is where our tale begins.

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The Inn's wooden sign swings back and forth in the cool breeze as you walk through the outskirts of town looking for a place to stay. Smoke curls out of the chimney of the homely two story stone and spruce building as you step up to the porch and make your way through the door into the candlelit space beyond. After glancing around a moment, you notice one of those posters again and know you're in the right place. That's one of the whole reason's you're here after all, either that or it just now caught your eye. But either way, the poster has captured your curiousity for some reason or another.

After taking a look at it again, you head over to the counter where a tall man with a greying beard and a friendly aura about him, presumably Byjorn, stands wiping up a mess. With a kind greating and listening to your numerous questions on the topic of the poster, Byjorn's face turns a bit grim.

"So... you're lookin' to explore the Hinterlands, eh? There's a lot of wolves this time of year you know, and a lot of other creatures you don't want to meet, but you look like you've got what it takes. The Lord's awful curious about what lays in those trees though and he'll pay well once you come back with a story he likes."

After a few more questions of why and having to disregard a bit of attention from a few rowdy souls at the bar, he chuckles a bit.

"Hold your horses there, I'll tell you why, don't you worry. There's been rumors goin' around that there's a fifth city hidden away deep in the Hinterlands that everyone's forgotten about. A city just like the other ancient ones, Eryr Brig, Cartref Adref, Calon Llew, and Lan Llachar. Now, the lord want to know if this city actually exists and if there's people there so if there are, probably best to make friends with 'em, although I doubt that there are any there still. If so, they would be completely cut off from the main world. Who knows, they might not even speak the same language! There's also rumors about somethin' dangerous in there, not just the wolves either. Might be the reason why no one's gone in there yet. But anyway, he's enlisted someone who I'll introduce to you tomorrow. They'll be choosing who they take with them and will hopefully lead you well through the hinterlands. In the meantime, why don't you go get some rest? It's gettin' pretty late."

Refusing to answer anymore of your questions as more customers walked though the door, he gently directed you upstairs to where the rooms were and promised you a meal and a drink if you wanted it later. It wasn't free of course, but what would a single eorna be to five hundred seoda?

The room is cozy enough with a pelt stretched out across the floor in front of a small stove, a comfortable looking bed, a window, a table and chair, and a small wardrobe. The room is warm enough from the huge fireplace downstairs and other smaller ones in select rooms but even if it wasn't there were plenty of blankets to keep off the night's chill. Comfortable or not but more then likely so, you settle in for the night and wait until the morning.

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As soon as dawn rolls around, a heavy knock sounds against your door. Glancing out the window, there's an eerie fog outside, thick enough that you can barely make out the trees across the river that stand ominous and silent, tendrils of mist weaving in and out of their branches. That's where you would be going not long from now, assuming you were accepted of course. Something about the thought of venturing in there though strikes an eerie forboding feeling in your heart.

Another knock sounded though, snapping you from your reverie as Byjorn's voice called through the door. "Good mornin'! Breakfast is downstairs, don't want to keep your potential guide waiting too long now do you?"

You hurry and gather your things then make it downstairs to wherea stack of goods is sitting by the door, provisions, a barrel of water and a barrel of ale, tools, and other miscellanious supplies. Byjorn was over by a table with a few others around it along with a platter of steaming breakfast. He waved you over with a smile as some of the others glance up. Guess it's time to really do this.

However, with one last glance toward the window and the fog billowing out from the tall pines, the forboding feeling returned. It was almost like the forest itself didn' want you to enter...

About the World

Spoiler

More lore and information about the world of Teyrnas Annwyl, the Hinterlands, cities, currency, and much more can be found in this pad: https://rangerofithilien.writerfeedpad.com/10
This pad will constantly be being updated so check in every now and then as I shuffle information from one place to another.

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Cast:
1. - RangerofIthilien
2. - Ley
3. - winterwolf0100
4. - JazzicusMaximus
5. - WeepingWisteria
6. - Glitch0Ghost2024

The fire crackled in the hearth, warding off the cold morning chill as the scent of breakfast, pancakes, sausages, and much else, wafted through the air. Jameson sat at a large round wooden table with his two companions, Hestia and Griffin. Byjorn had just served them all breakfast, which sat steaming in front of them, tempting even the most stubborn to eat heartily. And so Jameson did just that, happily digging into a stack of pancakes covered in a delicious syrup that tasted almost like butterscotch and cinnamon. Such a syrup was unique to the area, made from the sap of the towering Coron trees. Granted the trees could be grown elsewhere or the sap shipped to other places but it was best here, straight from the source. Or at least that's what he thought.

His companions on the other hand had either not tried it yet or thought differently. Hestia had her plate full of sausage, bacon, and potatoes while Griffin simply sipped a cup of coffee, apparently not hungry quite yet. He would eventually though. Byjorn's food was some of the best this far northeast.

"So... when are they supposed to get here?" Hestia asked impatiently. "I want to be out in the forest already."

Griffin set down his coffee and glanced over at her. "Be patient, kid. It's not like they're going to appear at your beck and call. It's not like Jameson put a date on that flyer either."

Jameson smiled at his comrades. "They'll get here soon enough. It's not like they can ignore the food here. No one can!" He wiggled his fork at them, a piece of syrup soaked pancake on the end before he happily ate it.

"I can." Griffin responded dully, taking another sip of his coffee.

"You'll give in eventually." James chuckled, taking another syrup soaked bite. Nothing could beat Coron syrup pancakes.

"As long as it's not your overly sweet sugar coated flatbreads then maybe." Griffin responded. "But for right no, I'm fine, thanks."

Jameson chuckled. "What about you Hest?"

"Trust me, I've got everything I need and more right in front of me," Hestia responded with a chuckled from Griffin and his banter, "so unless you think Coron syrup will taste good on sausages-"

She didn't have enough time to finish her sentence before Jameson had stolen a piece of her sausage and doused it in Coron syrup.

Hestia stared for a moment. "You're joking, you're not really-"

She was cut off as Jameson popped the piece of Coron syrup covered sausage in his mouth, happily eating it as if it were the best thing in the world.

"There is no way you genuinely like that."

Jameson finished the bite and grinned at her. "It's really good, you should try some!"

"I think I'll pass-"

"One bite?"

Hestia grumbled as he gave her a pleading look and did as he asked, dunking a piece of her sausage in his syrup before eating it. Her face contorted in disgust as she choked it down then shot him a look. "That was by far one of the works things I have ever eaten. And I've eaten a lot of things."

Jameson tsked softly, shaking his head in a sophisticated manner. "It takes an acquired taste."

"How in the world are you married?" Hestia retorted, setting her fork down.

However, while they were distracted, Griffin had somehow soundlessly gotten out of his chair and slipped behind them before abruptly popping his head between the two, effectively scaring them both to the point where Jameson almost spilled Coron syrup into his very own lap when he jumped. "If you two don't stop bickering, I'm going to send you out to load the wagon and I'll be greeting people by myself."

Jameson looked visibly shaken and felt the same. "I forget you can do that and I'm going to be honest it's REALLY creepy when you do."

"Good, teaches you kids to have a bit of respect." Griffin chuckled a little and sat down in his seat again.

Hestia finished her food in silence before downing a cup of coffee and glancing around the Inn. "You guys think we scared off all of our potential companions?"

"No, no, I bet they were allured by our charming personalities. Especially Griffin's." Jameson said with a grin.

Griffin just simply grunted in response and finished his coffee.

"So what do we do?" Hestia asked. "Just wait here until someone shows up?"

"Pretty much." Jameson responded. "I'm sure they'll show up eventually." He paused and glanced towards the stairs that led to the upper levels of rooms before grinning. "Matter of fact, I think someone's headed our way now."