Where is Nerick?

Dramatis Personae:

• Arya, elf druid (and her companion familiar Marcher, a wolf)
• Deidre, halfling rogue
• James (pronounced HHHA-mís in a crypto-Spanish accent), human bard
• Jann, human fighter
• Londaryn, elf sorcerer
• Rhugar, dwarf cleric

Londaryn has checked in with his neighbor, who took care of his shop in his absence. Everything seems to be in order. After a good night's rest, a messenger arrives with his long desired audience with the Mage's Council of Caer Callidyrr. Only Londaryn's name is on the invitation, but he does not hesitate to invite his new-found companions. They have begun to take in the sites of the "big city". Londaryn is not that impressed, yet the white towers of Calidyrr do have a certain majesty to them, despite the fact that they have not been well maintained these past few years.

On the appointed day, they troop up the hill to the palace grounds. The invitation gain them entry and they are directed to an unassuming tower among its larger companions. To those experience with the arcane, it is immediately obvious that the guards are not warriors, but minor mages themselves. Once beyond the doors, Jann's jaw drops at the opulence before them. The marble is polished to a mirror finish. The finest tapestries adorn the walls. It is also apparent that the inside of the tower is much too large to fit in the frame of the tower they just entered.

While waiting for their turn, Londaryn recognizes one of his fellow merchants exiting the audience chamber, looking decidedly pale. Londaryn is called. He leads his companions into a darkened room. Mages sit at high desks arranged around the chamber, half-cloaked in shadows. The page announces to a Hobbit scribe in priestly attire, "Londaryn. Alchemist and Sorcerer."

"Londaryn. Welcome back. What have you to report?" Before Londaryn can answer, James steps in front of Londaryn. "Thank you for your welcome. We have had a hard and difficult journey. Surely tales of our exploits  and adventures have arrived here before us." A minor scuffle breaks out as Londaryn and James vie for the limelight. "I thank you lords. I am glad to report that we were successful in restoring trade with the Sea Elves as well as rid their realm of the scourge of an Aboleth." James adds, "Yes, it was very difficult! Obviously beyond the scope of our original contract and worthy of recompense! It's not every day that you restore peace between warring Sea Elves and Merfolk!"

Another voice out of the dark barks, "But what took you so long! You should have returned weeks ago!" Londaryn continued, "Alas, we were shipwrecked upon Cragrapid Island. There the wizards Vladzir and Natisha tried to destroy us in a perverted game. This delayed our journey." James pipes in, "And on Gwynneth, there was that temple, where OWOWOW!" Deidre and Jann both stomped on James' feet sending him dancing to the back of the party. Jann half whispered and half growled, "We aren't supposed to talk about that!"

Asgorad, the First Mage of the Council seemed happy with the result. The companions were each rewarded 5000 gold pieces for their part with the option to keep the magic rings safeguarded by Londaryn. James tried to get the mages of the council to offer further magic items for sale. They refused, indicating that the Mages Council was not a street bazaar. With writ in hand, the companions drew their reward from the treasury and spent the next few days shopping in Caer Callidyrr.

Not many days later, the party was relaxing in the garden of a tavern. Rhugar was off with some Dwarves he had just met. Arya was meditating at the Moonwell in the Druid Grove. The Hobbit scribe arrived, carried in a sedan chair by eight burly Human slaves. "Ah! Here you are! I am Okinar, a priest of Urogalan. I have need of adventurers such as yourselves." It turns out that Okinar had been approached a fellow by the name of Nerick. Nerick was suffering from lycanthropy. He is a werewolf. Okinar had been planning to lift Nerick's curse when Nerick went wild and fled his temple, causing damage and injuring some of  the staff. Well Okinar wanted the companions help finding Nerick so he could complete the removal of his curse. All Okinar had to offer was 800 gold pieces. 800 gold pieces a person was a little thin, according to James. "No, for all of you, 800 gold pieces total." James was not pleased, but Deidre enthusiastically supported helping the Hobbit. Eventually they agree to help Okinar. The only additional information Okinar can offer, is that Nerick is a powerfully built man of 190 pounds and 30 years of age. He has short graying, black hair and a noticeable scar over his left eye. He appear quite fit and might be an athlete, a soldier, or a guardsman.