Chapter 4: Welcome to Alderheart

As you travel into the valley you start seeing signs of the vast outer city limits of Alderheart, from the Root-carved dwellings popping up to the travel of commerce just like Eliza.

After a few hours of travel, Eliza abruptly sets her cart down where the road winds around an immense tree trunk. The tree is so large its branches block out sunlight for at least a mile. "Well, this is it! We’ve finally arrived at Alderheart!" She gestures upward to a network of platforms and bridges in the canopy above. Closer inspection of the tree shows rough steps carved into the trunk. At a distance, these steps are almost impossible to spot.

You and your companions emerge from the winding stairway up the trunk into a canopy filled with the bustle of city life. Buildings are located within the foliage, and crowded roadways are sculpted from the giant branches. The roadways are connected with rope, wood bridges, and carefully positioned platforms made of timber. Birdfolk guards, known colloquially as "the Perch Guard," can be seen keeping watch throughout the city. Laborers operate pulley systems that are used to raise carts to the canopy platforms.

The way up isn't one of the main gates used by most folk and you can see that Eliza knows herself around quite well. She has lead you right up through the trunk into the marketplace region, here she stops in front of a small shop. The shop is closed, clearly but you see her pull out a key and open the door.

I know you are all busy but please come back here when you have time, I wish to reward you for all the help you gave me. The counsil you seek is that way And you can see her straight up. The Canopy is one of the most beautiful places in the city.

She then goes inside and closes the door.

Being amidst so many people brings a smile to Sherry's face. Oh how she had missed this in her - often miserable - time in the woods. Quickly checking if her clothes are still clean and her coins are safely tucked away, the mapach wanders chatting to everyone at the front of the group and knows her way around the town.

As Eliza separates, the adventurer turns toward the group and asks while trying not to sound too negative: "To the council then?"

Aye Charun confirms and strides to where they need to go. He walks with confidence and purpose, hopefully they can avoid petty politics and power plays, the bane of action in seats of power.

Leif nodded, and ambled along behind Charun. Now that they were in the safety of Alderheart, he no longer felt the need to always be at point, and let his eyes wander a bit. Still, the sooner they get this done, the sooner he can go about seeing the lates entertainment!

It had taken her a little while of going up the stairs before she was truly convinced, she wasn't going to fall down. Even so, she stayed a good distance away from the edges and avoided looking down. The council sounded like it would be further inside so, she almost sounded cheerful when she said, "Yes, inside please."

As you ascend through the towering Evertree, the world transforms. The dense foliage below gives way to a breathtaking expanse of interconnected branches, forming a sprawling city in the sky. This is the Canopy of Alderheart.

The Canopy is a marvel of nature and architecture. Wide, tree-like structures known as branchroads wind through the city, offering stunning vistas of the world below. The air is fresh and clean, filled with the whisper of wind through leaves. Though you are hundreds of feet above the ground, the Canopy feels surprisingly secure. Stabilizing platforms and walkways are everywhere, ensuring your safety.

The Canopy is the oldest part of Alderheart, and its history is woven into the very fabric of the city. As you wander, you'll notice a blend of ancient and modern architecture, a testament to the city's enduring spirit.

You can't help but notice the intricate system of rain catchers, or skywells, that dot the Canopy. These ingenious contraptions collect rainwater from the upper branches and distribute it throughout the city. A testament to the ingenuity of the city's builders, these skywells are essential to life in the Canopy.

At the heart of the Canopy lies Council Plaza, a bustling hub of activity. This is where the city's government and law enforcement reside.

Council Plaza is a circular area surrounded by imposing structures. In the center stands a magnificent statue of Ava Windsweft, the founder of Alderheart. To the north, the Council Chambers, a grand domed building, is the seat of power. To the south, the Perch Guard Headquarters protects the city. Other notable buildings include the Alderheart Gaol, the Courthouse, and the First Bank of Alderheart.Would you like to explore Council Plaza or go directly to the Council Chambers?

Flexing his wings as the groups steps into the fresh open air and a gentle wind seems to float around him for a moment and lift him into the air as Charun glances around to take it all in. Not looking forwards to the task of trying to ensure their message is taken serious Charun ponders aloud.

If any of my family are in town or if I can find some of their business contacts or friends they might be a good source of guidance to help us navigate the local administrative affairs and ensure our message reaches the right ears quickly. I am a member of the Glory Seekers, we could check in with the guild and see if they can help us.

What do you think? Strait to the council or seed council and aid?

Charun wracks his brains to try and recall any family, partners, or friends that might be of help.

Once she gets to an area where she can't see the ground so far below Scylla falls into her usual scholarly mode. "Well, I've never been to Alderheart but, there's a rich history here that has been taught by the outlying schools. Give me a moment to recall what I can now that the horror of the height we are at has passed."

Charun looks around the square and while he recognizes the area he does feel a little bit lost. Did they remodel the square recently? He does however manage to get the attention of some onlookers as he speaks, though none come over immediately.

Meanwhile, Scylla looks down the Mainstay branchroad that runs through the square and the market and she can easily see signage up pointing that the Guild Quarter is a little past the Council Chambers and that is probably where you would find the guild Charun is a part of.

Allowing her gaze enjoy a long stroll on council plaza, the snow-white-furred adventurer whistles "Tarantella" and feasts her eyes on all the diverse people.

Lending Scylla a helping paw if the vulpin woman to center, she herself had never had any fear of height, but Sherry was born here, so not a huge accomplishment. "You get used to it pretty fast." the mapach offers as help with a sincere smile. Shifting her attention to Charun, losing her smile quickly, she suggests: "With those uninterested, high-nosed, stuck-up, good-for-nothing, "highborn" - every piece of advise and help we can muster, I would say."

The adventurer would love to return to her family, but the people of Meadowfen are counting on them. Delivering the letter and bringing aid soon. As a result her personal life would have to wait for a few more hours.

And there is still the warning that the fires were brought by some outside force. Not bandits as it was proclaimed around here for some times.

Sherry has been perceptive for awhile, not just in the square. She has noticed the signs of unease, a few more patrols of Perch Guard throughout the city, especially the markets. The entrance to Alderhearts main branchroads with the guards, which is normal for a busy metropolis, not being at ease as frequently. The city is on edge.

Leif nodded at Charun. He didn't particularly trust the winged folks to take him seriously, and while Charun himself might be a winged one, given that he was with the grounded folks, he could likely use all the help he could get.

"Any help you could get would be great."

"Something happened." Sherry points out the tension among the guards. Something isn't right here. The members of the city watch sportet clenched jaws and shifty looks, they were clearly alarmed. "Let's see what happened."

Walzing over to some merchants, the mapach tries some small talk, before asking why the people and the guards are uneasy and on the edge.

Scylla keeps hold of Sherry’s hand. "Thank you Sherry, perhaps if I knew the Feather Fall spell I would feel somewhat more secure but, a helpful hand from a new friend is greatly appreciated. By the way, is that building over there the one Charun’s guild would be at? I recognize the symbol."

She pointed with her free hand towards Charun’s guild her other hand wasn’t leaving the calming presence of the Mapach woman anytime soon.

Charun accompanies Sherry at her side thinking it may be best to get a sense of the cities state before charging in blindly. Using insight on guards and helping with persuasion as needed and

Leif looked around, unsure what Sherry was talking about, but now that she'd mentioned it, the guards did look somewhat, well, on guard. He followed the mapach to see what was going on.

Sherry gives Scylla a warm look as she realizes that the Vulpin accepts her paw and stays by her side. "Charun's Guilde?" the adventurer asks casually, still remembering the Luma's flight.

The two white furred ladies go together and try to find out more.

I work for the Fortune Seekers as a member. That work is what took me out to Meadowfen. They are a well respected guild around here and large enough they would likely have good information and contacts within the government as well as abroad.

The fox woman nods, "Right, and that's the symbol for them just down that way right Charun? You'd know better than I would having been a member but, I read the Able Adventurers Guide to Alderheart and it had a map of places."

She asks carefully, "By the way is it true that some local thieves use a set of hand signals that only they know? I would have thought the guard would be able to get someone in to learn it or a good linguist working with a cryptologist could probably do it. The mathematical formulae I would use if I was working on it would be..." She describes a function without any numbers and Sherry might wonder if it was even math!