[Balanor]

The old man sat down heavily on the bar stool at Myulon’s Inn studying the wide-eyed ‘adventurer’ closely. Gods - they were getting younger all the time.

“Alright lad. So you want to get out of Bezantur, eh? Good for you. Nothing but a cesspool of thugs and corruption here anyway,” he took a long draught of ale, cleared his throat, and pressed on in a gravelly voice “Time for me to earn that 50 gold and the drink you paid for information on the towns of the Wizard’s Coast here in Thay.”

“First off, Thasselen is the closest coastal town at only 3 leagues west and 3 leagues south. Murbant is a bit further at 9 leagues west and only 1 league south. If you don’t like overland travel – head down to the docks here in Bezantur. The Red Tide offers passage to each for a relatively small amount.

“Both towns were, up until the Salamander War of 1357 ‘free’ cities of the Wizard’s Coast, but they were overtaken by Salamanders and Efreeti under the control of Hargrid Tenslayer – tharchion of the Lapendrar up until his death at the end of the war. They now belong to the tharch of the Priador, ruled by Aznar Thrul. Thrul considers Thasselen his personal playground and its citizens live under constant fear of their lives. Screams of those he ‘experiments’ on can be heard from the Central Citadel of Thasselen virtually any time of the day. Just be careful not to mess with the Priador Legion there and you’ll be safe…enough.

“Thasselen boasts a decent-sized crypt that isn’t as nearly exploited as those here in Bezantur. That means better treasure waits for you there – be sure you keep that secret though from all these other numbskulls trudging through the crypts here!

“Recent news is Cedric the Red Wizard has left the Temple of Myrkul here in Bezantur and headed to Thasselen. He wanders around the crypt area there doing…well…whatever it is a Red Wizard of Necromancy does, I guess. I hear tell he still pays well for skeleton knuckles – I have no idea why though. Anyway, the pay from him is pretty good and if you bring him enough you’ll usually get a worthwhile token from him.

“And while the Red Wizards keep a pretty tight grip on most ‘good’ magic weapons in Thay – especially in the larger cities, you’ll still find Galaron’s Metalworks there. He makes and can sell you a magic version of virtually any melee weapon you can think of.

“Other than that, you’ll find a slave warehouse in Thasselen to buy and sell slaves. And, of course, there is a barracks for Priador Legionnaires which has a quartermaster who sells them their equipment at the usual good prices.”

The old man paused for a moment while the young adventurer furiously scribbled down notes on a yellowed parchment.

“Now, on to Murbant.

“Murbant, while taken during the Salamander War, is not as oppressed as Thasselen. It’s still patrolled by Gnolls of the Priador Legion, but for the most part life there continues as before. The merchant Gwydion continues to operate from the Captain’s Pub, and he has the best purchase prices of anyone on the Priador that I’ve seen. It’s a great place to unload that expensive gear you’ll find adventuring. There’s also a temple to one of the Mulhorandi gods there that has some very unique items. Think the Charm Merchant here in town, times two.

“Also in the Captain’s Pub, you’ll find the ‘legendary’ Captain Sparrow. Now he’s an odd one. He HATES, absolutely hates, seagulls for some strange reason. Pays for their feathers too. With enough of those, he’ll give you a larger reward of some odd item he usually pilfers off one of his many female conquests.

“Murbant also has a stable for your horse and the typical barracks for Priador Legionnaires as well.

“Finally, if you’re looking for a bit of adventurer, there are some very old and unique Sea Caves at the edge of town along the coast. Kobolds, Sahuagin, Trogs, and worse you’ll find there – so be prepared.”

The old man drained the last of his ale and stretched. “Well lad, that’s all I can think of for you at the moment. Good luck in your travels out of Bezantur - you’ll need it!”

[kta]

All the time the half-drunk crone at a near table strained to listen and to scowl from time to time. "Mighten be, you even come across one of them wetman!" She cackles and continues in a high shrill voice "My boy, Miles that is, he is with the Red Tide and when they came into Murbant last time one of them wetman was about. Killed a dozen legionaires as if they were pups!" The crone spips at her wine and pauses to look at the now somehow paler ‘adventurer’ to finaly point a wrinkled finger at him "Yes, talk is, some of your sort stirred it up! Go too deep into the caves and there they dwell, them wetman." Another man breaks in "Oh come on! You scare the lad here with your wetnurse tales old Anna!" Old Anna scowls even more, making her old face look like a withered plum "Here he comes!" She points at a young lad just now entering the inn. "Come over here Miles and tell those here about the wetman!" Miles looks around, clearly uncomftable "Mother, have you been at the wine again?" He sighs, by now a dozen of the tavernfolk have gathered to listen. "All I know is that a woman, all in black on a fearsome firey steed, walked into the caves and was seen a little while later running out again. She was bleeding all over and on her heels came a monsterous huge elemental. A waterelemental the wizards told the captain later when they had brought it down. It's true, the legion could not harm it with ordinary blades." The inn has fallen silent and the young adventurers eyes are big as boilded eggs...

[Balanor]

The old man nodded gravely to the now not-so-young looking adventurer.

“I never thought I’d see you again, youngster. You seemed just a bit too wide-eyed to survive here. Good on you though!”

The young man sat down wearily next to him at the bar and plopped a small bag of coin down next to the old man’s drink.
“I stopped in the Town Hall of Murbant before I came back and withdrew these talons from the Vaultkeeper there. I’ll be stopping back there again to get the rest and maybe a nice place to settle down out there.”

He paused and looked the old man in the eyes.
“Or maybe I should go to those that are in the Central Citadel of Thasselen, you think?”

The old man swallowed and drank down the last of his ale, then shrugged.
“I already told you, lad - Thasselen is Thrul’s private playground. If you’re looking for a safe place, Murbant’s the better choice.”

The adventurer’s eyes flashed as he moved in inches from the old man’s face .
“Barkeep! My ‘friend’ here needs another round while he tells me what he conveniently forgot the last time about the Central Citadel of Thasselen.”

The old man’s eyes darted around nervously, and then settled on the coin on the bar and the new ale pushed his way.
“A..alright lad. Just take it easy. I was hoping you’d just read the warning by the dungeon entrance for people to stay out. There’s really nothing down there but death for anyone but Thrul and his Red Wizards. Especially for the inexperienced!

“I mean - the upper level is safe enough. It only has officer’s barracks for the Priador Legion stationed there, and then has your Vaultkeeper, Deedmaster and Merchant Master too. Just like Murbant’s Town Hall as it looks like you’re aware of.

“But you’ve heard the screams - even outside the Citadel. Most people can’t even stand to go in the main level. I mean hells - they've got corpses and heads lining the way!,” the old man’s face was paling slightly, and he took another long drink from his new ale to steady his nerves.

“Anyway though, in the dungeons you’ll find Red Wizards and their guards, no doubt of that. Worse though, you’ll find many of their creations. Dread Warriors. Darkenbeasts. Chosen Ones. And the Blooded creature abominations like orcs, gnolls, and even trolls! Gods!”

The old man watched the adventurer’s eyes drift away, and he could practically see the gold gleaming in them as the young man got up without a word and left. As he slowly grabbed the coin pouch off the counter, he knew he would not see him again.