To Thorbardin and Back...(WoTL Era)

[Heron]

OOC: In this story, the adventuers are hired by a Cleric of Reorx (Does not have Divine Power but has recently undergone a vision...) to seek the Legendary Helm of Grallen, A hero of the Dwarfgate Wars. Once the helm has been aquired, it must be returned to Thorbardin.

The adventure begins in Solanthus. The Year is 348 AC (Summer) The Cleric has signs posted through out the city directing warriors and mercenaries to head to the Broken Horn Inn. The Sign reads:


Wanted
To Hire

Trained and Experienced
*Persons*

to aid the
Dwarf Donnchadh
In a Travel Guard capacity

fee is negotiable



All Classes are welcome. Race exclusion: Irda, Shadowpeople, Draconian and Ogres. Half-Orgres are okay.
Character Playing Level: Players can post up to 8th level. *This means nothing outside of the power of a 8th level character.
On the adventure characters will face minions of darkness, dragon army regulars and other unknown danger. This will be a a in-depth game so when you post to join or pm, please provide name, class, gender, race, wepons/items, etc. Also if a mage..post spells. No Clerics, Heart Magic, nor Wild Magic.

A dwarf would be welcome and will be on the mission from a clan from Thorbardin.

SLOTS OPEN:
1 Dwarf
1 Mage
4 Open

[Death]

Name: Nuel
Class: Renegaid mage
weapon: magic, long sword
appearens: grey robes, darj green triangle shaped pupil eyes
sex: male, human

ooc: look ive been thinkin that if im renegaid i cant get to powerful and i have a sword too :D

[Aspen]

Hello gentalmen. Do you mind if I join?

Name:CiCi Quickfingers

Race:Kender

Gender:Female

Weapons: Hoopak and short sword(really a long dagger)

Pouchs contain:Maps, a silver fork, a silk purse containing; 2 steel, 7 copper and 2 platnium. A candlestick holder (no candle), a half carved duck decoy, s pink sea shell, sn ogres toenail, 2 gold rings, an apple core, a spool of lime green thread, a dog collar, a glass flask of dawrf spirits, a purple feather, two wool socks (one white, one green, two different sizes), four onyx buttons, a piece of sea glass, a lock of wooly mamoth hair, a gear form a gnome's flying machine, a shiny stone, a hankerchif, a pair of knights leather gloves, an oak leaf, a loaf of fresh bread, and the string for an elven long bow. (But this list will change after she enters The Broken Horn Inn)

Appearance:She's about 20 years old though she has kind of lost track of exactly how old she really is. Big green eyes, Red hair pulled up in a top knot that hangs down to the middle of her back. She is wearing purple leggings, Yellow tunic, a red vest with gold buttons (not two are the same) and orange hunting boots.



Heron, if this ok with you, I'm ready when you are.
;)

[Jaeveron]

Count me in.

Name: Jaeveron Osain

Class: Ranger

Gender: Female

Race: Human

Weapons/Items: She is clothed in the typical Ranger's gear, a cloak of browns and greens, soft leather boots which move her in silence. At her right hip rests a longsword, a green pendant engraved into the pommel. Strung over her back is a long composite bow, the intricate runes and markings of elven descent. Although human, Jaeveron speaks elven as fluidly as a river stream, gliding easily from her lips. As well, a quiver is strewn over her right shoulder, one that seemingly holds within far more than what meets the eye. Upon her hands are gloves which aid in her more dexterous acts. Beneath the hood-drawn cloak of green she wears leather armor, four daggers (two on either leg) placed in secure leg sheaths for easy access.

Appearance/Demeanor: Jaeveron is quick and to the point. Idleness conquers nothing, nothing at all. She appears to be in her early 20's, of a lithe and nimble frame. Weighing in at a mere 104 lbs., she is more hardly than she appears. Ever-watchful eyes of brown match her long-flowing brown hair, which is neatly braided and usually tucked beneath the cloak's hood.

My character and I are ready when you are, Heron. Any questions or comments on Jaeveron, please let me know.

Thanks.

[Morcalivan7]

OOC: Regenagades are mages who just don't follow rules, their weakness is their solitude and becoming enemies of the conclave.

Name: 'Dice'
Race: Half-Ogre
Class: Fighter
Weapons: Double-Bladed Sword
Bio: Much of his life has been spent as a mercenary as is the curse of being a Half-Ogre. Too human to be able to stand the Ogre lands and too Ogre to be accepted into the so called 'civilized' society.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/GoL_Gallery/72GoL05SwordofGlory.jpg

[Heron]

OCC: Evryone is approved. Nuel please send me a list of spells in PM in the next day or so if you can. Jaeveron does your ranger cast spells or is she more like the rangers from LotR? If she cast spells, please let me know also. Okay on to the game.


IC: Donnchadh cursed the dirt and grit as he clomped down the main road. He had to be quick as Solanthus swarmed with activity. The way was diffcult as his strong, metal shore boots being fine for delving the mines but none to useful for walking the clay of the Solmanic lands. Donnchadh stepped up to a corner, pulled out his hammer, and posted another sign. "By Reorx's beard leave it to `em to assign me to go look'en for Grale'ns 'elm." He spit on the ground and moved on. By high watch, he was thirsty. Longing for a draught of ale, Donnchadh returned to the Broken Horn. He would slack his thirst and wait for hopefuls to aid on his quest. "Pure goblinhock if you ask me, sending other than dwarf, but Reorx be a calling so I must obey." he set down with a thud and waited, eyeing the door through the bustle of the crowd gathered. Ill times it is. For rumor of war was on the wind and the Knights of Solmania hearkened to it sending battalions to Vingaard. Perhaps there was a need for the Helm...or not...

[Aspen]

CiCi entered the Broken Horn inn and looked around. The bar was full of patrins having a good time. It was so full infact that CiCi couldn't see past the person in front of her. She pushed herway to the bar and stood on a stool to servay over the crowd. There in the corner sat a dwarf. Oh, he must be the one. She crowled down off the stool and push, prodded and insulted herway over to the his table. CiCi sat down on the bench next to him and pulled out a sign that the clerics had posted. "Hello. I'm CiCi Quick fingers! I bet you're the one I'm here to meet. After all you are the only mountain dwarf in here...oh, exept for that one over there. oh well, no matter. Say you look tired and hungry. I'll get you something to eat." CiCi stood up on the bench and yealed at the barmaid,"Lady, my best friend here is hungry. Could we have something to drink and eat, please?" She looked back down at the dwarf and smiled.

[Heron]

Donnchadh muttered under his breath as he watched the patrons of the Broken Horn make merry. Let `em, the fools! He thought taking a long draw of his ale. He was in a foul mood, growing darker by the moment. Already he missed the quiet, rythmic sound of picks breaking stone. Donnchadh was typical looking for a dwarf, average height and weight. He had thick, black bristle hair and adorned with fine leathers and metal shore boots. As he eyed the crowd a Kender came up to his table. Donnchadh scowled, looking into his empty flagon. Then the hairbrain of a Kender actually stood on his table, proclaiming friendship and other nonsense "Oy! You lil'squeak dontcha be saying that now!" His brows furrowed together as his hand went to his money pouch. Donnchadh gave the Kender a stern look.

[Morcalivan7]

Dice was taking back a tank of ale when he heard the Kender, and through the crowd he could see the Dwarf sitting at the table waving his arms frantically trying to shoo away the Kender. There's pay day, he thought, placing a coin on the table for the drink and walking up to the table. "I assume you're the one who put the sign on the window." Hand latching onto the scruff of the Kender's head and putting'em onto his seat. Luckily the Kender was too short and Dice's arm too long for'em to reach for his purse of coins, or anything else for that matter.

[Calvillas uth Dalgrin]

Name: Dalgrin Hammerthrown

Race: Dwarf (Daewar)

Gender: Male

Weapons: Warhammer, dagger

Bio: He is a stout and burly Daewar, who once served as part of the personal guard of the Thane of Daebardin. Now in his retirement, he's dusted off his hammer for one last adventure.

Appearance: Typical golden locks of the Daewar, with a touch of distinguished gray in his beard. Since his retirement, he's accquired a belly that hasn't allowed him to see his boots in sometime, but his shoulders and arms still show the definition of his time as a guardsman. He wears a light weight chainmail, with leather breeches, gloves, and high calf boots. Also carries a shouldered strapped pack.

IC: Dalgrin entered the Broken Horn and surveyed the room. There were many folks in the inn, enjoying the evening, but Dalgrin was looking for one in particular. Spotting him across the room, he made his way over to where Donnchadh was apparently having a fit over a kender being held up by what looked to Dalgrin to be the biggest and ugliest human he had ever seen. Upon reaching the table, Dalgrin noticed the broad features of the man and knew him to be a half-ogre. Shaking his head at the fuss the kender was making, Dalgrin pulled out a chair and sat down at the table. "Donnchadh," he said placing a hand on the dwarfs shoulder, "what in the name of Reorx's beard have ye gotten me into?"

[Heron]

Donnchadh argued with the Kender, not noticing the biggest bloke this side of Kayolin walk up and ask for a job. He almost waived `em away, not liking the look of the brute, however, he seemed to handle the Kender so he took a chance. "Aye, if ye`be lookin to make an honest wage, I be hirin` but I warn ye, gully, I dont take kindly to backbitin`" With that Donnchadh waived for the brute and Kender to sit. "While we be waitin` for our order, Ill fill ye in on what ths the job be." He said. As he leaned in close, a dwarf he never thought to see on this side of life came over, appearing from out of the crowd. "By Reorx's Great Beard, It be Dalgrin Hammerthrown!" He said, eyeing the dwarf, "Course no Dwarf like you been able to toss a "ammer in near a dragons age.." He said with a glint his eye.." Please join us, and he turned to the others. "What do they call you blokes anyways, Im Donnchadh the Canlah." He waited, growing thirsty by the tick-tock.

[Aspen]

Dice was taking back a tank of ale when he heard the Kender, and through the crowd he could see the Dwarf sitting at the table waving his arms frantically trying to shoo away the Kender. There's pay day, he thought, placing a coin on the table for the drink and walking up to the table. "I assume you're the one who put the sign on the window." Hand latching onto the scruff of the Kender's head and putting'em onto his seat. Luckily the Kender was too short and Dice's arm too long for'em to reach for his purse of coins, or anything else for that matter.
CiCi fought to gain some upper hand in this hole hanging by her top knot situation and was just about to start throughing insults when it ocured to her that this big monster might be one of her traveling compantions. She smiled at him, extended her hand and said,"Hello, I'm CiCi Quickfingers. I'm going to help the dwarf too. Isn't it wonderful! Say you look thursty." CiCi reached into her pouch and pulled out a platnium and waved it at the barmaid. "yohoo! Would you mind bringing a drink for my other friend as well."

[Jaeveron]

Jaeveron was anxious to retreat from the city life and begin another expedition into the wilderness. Her business in Solanthus had already been settled, and this she reminded herself as she approached the center of the city. Once there she paused and dared a glance at the posts. A varying display of propoganda and propositions were blowing in the wind, pinned to the post with nails. Her peering brown eyes read them all, word for word, as she remained in a rare lurking moment. She was, however, growing anxious to retreat and be done with the city. And it wasn't until she read one of the lower-hanging signs that she felt a twinge in her stomach.

On her way to the Broken Horn Inn, Jaeveron constantly reminded herself that this sort of adventure meant the inclusion of companions. "Well, at best they could be the . . ." She cut short the spoken thoughts, daring to give them a chance. That is, should the leader of whatever outfit this would be should dare take a chance on her. Certainly a Ranger would be welcomed. As her thoughts continued the door suddenly appeared before her and blinked, not realizing she had been lost in thought. With a push of the door, she entered the Broken Horn Inn.

Her immediate thought was in searching for a dwarf. Naturally, of course, given the details of the journey. As she scanned and nimbly avoided the incoming patrons, she spotted a pair of dwarves conversing with a kender and half-ogre. She had already resigned to the fact a kender would almost certainly be joining, if for anything to spend such quality time with a dwarf. She almost chuckled at the thought and began approaching the table at the moment the kender loudly rang out an order for her other friend, as well. Jaeveron reached for a chair at the table next to the gathering party, waiting as patiently until she could address the dwarf.

[Calvillas uth Dalgrin]

Dalgrin gave a jovial smile at the reunion with his old friend Donnchadh. Pulling up a chair, he took his seat at the table as the kender hollered for a drink. Slamming two steel down on the table, Dalgrin hollered to the barmaid as well, "I say lass, make that two rounds would ye!" Turning back to the group, Dalgrin pulled off his gloves and stuffed them into his belt. Adjusting his girth in the chair, so as to be more comfortable, Dalgrin finally rested his arms on the table and looked at the big fellow and the kender. Shaking his head and smileing a bit, he jerked a thumb in their direction as he looked at Donnchadh. "This is certainly shapen' up to be a motely crew."

[Heron]

"Aye it is" Donnchadh said. "I figure we make our merry, then will get down to business. Walking the roads of Solanthus is dirty work indeed for dwarf,” he said.
Donnchadh spied a Ranger moving quietly through the crowd, casting furtive glances to their table. "Humph, could use a ranger, none better know the lay of the this be sodden land" When the ranger set down near the group, Donnchadh got up and walked over. "If my eyes be marked by Hiddukel, I bet you a ranger'ah, are we well-met?" He said. "If so, pull a chair over to the table and join our merry."

[Morcalivan7]

"I am known as Dice, a nickname from the mercenaries as I tend to roll with the punches and have a knack for beating the odds." he said with a proud smirk on his face, remembering the old days. He shifted his staff sword around, one thing the Kender couldn't steal he thought.

[Aspen]

CiCi eyes grew large when she saw the double bladed sword. "Dice, that is the coolest thing I've ever seen! And I've seen alot. Once I saw a gnome that had a flying machine that really could fly... but he had problems landing. But that wasn't half as cool as that sword. Say, do you think they make those in my size. I'm sure that I couldn't lift yours. Oh and would you mind putting me down please. I can't turn my head, and I'm getting quit bored with the veiw. Did you know that form this angle, I can see right up your nose?"

[Morcalivan7]

"Is that new? Can't you see up my nose better when I put you down?" Rule number one, never ask a kender a question. He put the kender down onto the sitting board of the table. Waiting for the tongue of death.

[Aspen]

CiCi smiled up at him. "You are very kind for a monster... not that I've met a monster before. Maybe you're all kind, like you."
The barmaid came with their order and CiCi paid for the round. Nothing made a kender feel ten feet tall than finishing a tanker of ale. She started to sipped away at it and listened to the other's talk.

[Jaeveron]

Jaeveron appreciated the dwarf's keen eyes, much more for the fact that he was an attentive one rather than one of those non-observant fools. She had eavesdropped enough and peered in the direction of Donnchadh, quickly focusing on his appearance. Short and to the point, she mused and pondered how she appreciated such a matter.

"Aye, well met, dwarf. And right you are." She stood and grasped the chair, sliding it towards the gathered group and returned nimbly to its waiting arms. Already the locale was becoming stifling to her senses, and she was ready to retreat to the wilds. The next moment her instincts kicked in, as usual. "I await your calling."

Little did the dwarf know, she had already made for provisions before even reaching Solanthus. Her packs were ready, blades keenly sharpened and arrows expertly manicured. As she awaited the calling, observant brown eyes surveyed each member's posture and manerisms, secretly pocketing such information for the long journey ahead.

[Heron]

Donnchadh stoked a pipe as he settled into his chair. "As yah know I be hiring the lot of yah so now Ill tells yah why." He waived his clay pipe about for the table to be cleared, when done, he launched into his tale.
" As ye know the times have changed. The roads grow dangerous, and the smoke fires of war are on the wind. Every person is out to make it through until year-end and beyond. We dwarfs are no different it seems." He said. " Three months ago a clan follower of The Forge came to my clans hall and made a pronouncement. That we must seek Grallen's Helm for the security and safety of Thorbardin." he pauses, eyeing each in turn. "Now as to Grallen's helm all I know is what the Forgeman related. Grallen was the son of King Duncan and he wore a helm blessed by Reorx. It is said the helm enabled him to slay the hundreds of Fistandantilus Army gathered that dark day on the plains of Dergoth. Blessed or no, Grallen died somewhere on those cursed plains. We know not how or where he fell on the field of battle. What we do know is that the helm never returned to Thorbardin. An now Reorx it seems to have called it home." Donnchadh tapped his pipe, before lightning it again. "The High Thane is weak, those ogre brothers of dwarfs, the Theiwar, plot and scheme at his removal and the Council of Thanes tit and tat while we grow weak from hunger. My people need a symbol to rally behind!" He slams the table with his fist. "An ye are going to get it for us, aye, and probably catch Chemosh looking for yah in the bargain as well."

Donnchadh smoked his pipe as he waited for a response.

[Morcalivan7]

Name: Digofein Passimo
Race: Human
Class: Red Robe Mage
Weapons: Staff and Dagger

OOC: You wonna take over Dice as a fill in character then Heron? I'd rather be a mage myself. I'm sending you the spell lists, lvl 8 in character levels you say? The copper coin is the component for 'detect thoughts'.

Dice could harly believe it, what supersticious nonsense! And Ogre brothers, what was that! As he shook his head and turned his face of utter disgust and bordom he caught the eyes of a robed figure in the darkness who seemed to be eager in the conversation. He had a piece of copper in his hand shown in the light, however no light shown. The copper was covered in shadow by the large robe sleeve. That is when he knew it was a mage, and from the small glow of the copper coin, a Red Robed mage. When he locked into the mages eyes he quickly glanced back to the dwarf and pretended to be interested in the conversation.

The Red Robed figure then stood up, picking up his robes to make sure they didn't drag and pocketing the coin as it suddenly lost it's 'shine'. He stood near the table and said, "If you are heading past Zahaman, I would be willing to offer my services cost free, for it is much safer these days to travel together as the remnants of the Dark Queen's forces turn to banditry." he said to the shock and suprise of the Dwarf, obviously like most dwarves not trusting magic, however the fact that it requires no coin might pursuade him just enough.

[Heron]

OOC: As to "Dice" I'll handle him...heh. As to this reference: as the remnants of the Dark Queen's forces turn to banditry is inaccurate. The Fall of the Temple of Neraka has not taken place yet nor the Blue Army aka Legends taken place. Just to pn ponit the time frame. As to the Mage, great, just what I wanted, a red robe...=)

[Aspen]

CiCi's eyes grow even bigger. First a monster, now a mage. Oh, this adventure was going to be so much fun! She took another drink of her ale and played with two small glass orbs that had fallen out of one of the mages pockets and she just happened to have found.
Turning to the dwarf, CiCi smiled and told him that her services were free as well.

[Calvillas uth Dalgrin]

Dalgrin listened intently to Donnchadh's words. For him, they struck home pretty hard, and not just cause he was a dwarf. Having at one time been part of the Daewar Thane's personal guard, the bickering and clan warring had more or less pushed him into early retirement from his post. Donnchadh was right in that the clan's of Thorbardin needed a symbol of hope to rally behind, but Grallen's Helm? he thought to himself. That would be like trying to find the perverbial gully dwarf in the refuse heap. Dalgrin took a long draw of his ale and set down the mug. He stroked his beard a bit, thinking over what lay before him. Finally, he picked up his ale again and raised it as if in toast. "For the glory of Thorbardin," he said, "and by the will of Reorx, Grallen's Helm shall be found."

[Morcalivan7]

"I am currently satying in the Inn but will get my things at once, don't worry I travel light." he said turning from the table and walking up the steps. Looking back he adds, "I will meet you outside when I am ready," with that he dissapears into the guest floor.

[Reghar]

Mind if I join?

Name: Marlamin Hollysword

Gender: Male

Race: Qualinesti Elf

Job: Monk

Weapons: Just a short sword, he doesn't like violence unless of course it's absolutely necessary for survival, which in these times, it generally is. (don't worry, he'll be turning into more of a warrior as the adventure goes on ;) )

Description: Stereotypical Elf looks, long blond hair, white robes, etc.

IC: The Elf Marlamin sat at a table nearby, reading his book. Or rather, his book was open in front of him, and he was looking at it, but he wasn't picking up anything on the page. His ears were on a conversation going on near by. A relatively large group consisting of 2 Dwarves, a half-ogre, a Kender, a mage and a human, were discussing something about Reorx...which was Marlamin's cue to enter things. He closed his book, which was about the old Gods, and made his way over to the companions. He coughed, waited for silence, and told them his tale.
"Greetings, good sirs and madam," he said, bowing, "My name is Marlamin Hollysword. I am a Qualenesti monk, out looking for signs of the old gods. This blessed helm of Reorx seems like just the type of thing I'm looking for. I will lend my service in any way I can if you allow me to come along. You may use the helm to rally your people, all I ask is that I be allowed to study it from time to time. Is this acceptable?"

[Heron]

Donnchadh nearly blew out his pipe when the wizard came over. He eyed the Red Robe up and down. "Not too frail are yah, lad? We will be traveling hard and aye, we be heading towards Zahman."

He took a deep drag of his pipe. "Alright then, friend mage, I'd have yah if ye want to come along, especially if it don’t cost no steel." Donnchadh said, looking down at the table.

His eyes came up as Dalgrin offered a toast, “Here, here!" Donnchadh echoed Dalgrins toast. He took a drink of ale then set it down, answering a few questions for the mage and told him to be ready by first light.

He noticed the Kender playing with glass balls. "Oyo! Blasted Kender, whatcha find now. " But before he could get an answer, an elf came over to the table. He listened to the elf make his introduction, nodding in all the right places and when the elf was finished, he told him to sit or go about his way and be outside in the morning.

It was then that he noticed the bored expression of the Half-Ogre, seeing a chance, he led Dice aside and after a few muttered words, he patted the Half-Ogre on his back, sending him out of the Inn. He watched the half-ogre a few moments, and then came back to the table. "Alright then, if we be satisfied, we can finish up and prepare for in the morning?"

[Morcalivan7]

Digofein couldn't sleep, something was wrong, he never has trouble sleeping. He got up out of his bed searching around he couldn't find it. "Damn that Kender, he stole my Sleeping Orb!" Mumbling to himself he ripped the rose petals off the plant in his room and hopped under the sheats dropping the rose petals on his face and mumbling words to a spell his head sank like a rock.

Down below the inn was quiet, and under the table lie a Kender, a quiet Kender, nessled up in a ball with a pulsating magical orb in his pouch singing lullibies to'em and putting the Kender in a deep relaxing sleep with dreams so chaotic that they seemed like fantasies to the Kender.

[Jaeveron]

Jaeveron was not the least bit deterred in offering her services free of charge. The ability to be among the open airs once again was her one and only release. A simple grab and run to retrieve the Helm and return it to Thorbardin seemed feasible. As the others began to disperse after a short evening's gathering, the Ranger waited behind and settled into her chair. Thoughts ran deeply as she kicked her feet onto a neighboring chair, finding an amount of relaxation as the crowds began dwindling. A matter of coming and going patrons at this point she stood and walked to the door, pulling it open and stepped outside.

Once outside the Inn she felt a warmth of fresh air wash over her. Solanthus was a familiar place to her, having been the crossroads to many comings and goings of her own. With lithe footsteps she walked across the street, searching for darkened corners. From this darkened corner she would observe the Inn, marking those who came and went, keeping tabs on their time spent within. Never a bad idea to secure the boundaries, and as well to mark those who may have an interest in such a Helm-searching party as this one.

[Morcalivan7]

Digofein awoke refreshed the next morning, the spell worked marvelously. He could hear the loud clanging of the dwarves messing around with their heavy equipment and boots in the other rooms. He took a half hour reading his spellbook waiting for the others to wake and prepare for their journey, and afterwards he grabbed his components, tucked away his dagger and snatched his staff from against the wall and heading down stairs for breakfast.

[Reghar]

Marlamin woke up the next morning, feeling refreshed. Soon, however, he remembered that today was the day of their big adventure. He picked up his book on the old gods, his short sword, and his coat, his only possesions. He realized that today he may very well have to use what little fighting skills he had. Shivvering slightly at this prospect, he headed downstairs to meet with the group.

OOC: Heron, I'm sorry, but how do you pronounce your Dwarf's name? :rolleyes:

[Heron]

OOC: Heron, I'm sorry, but how do you pronounce your Dwarf's name? :rolleyes:

Donnchadh = DO nu chugh ....

[Heron]

Donnchadh spalshed water in his face to shake off sleep. He slept poorly, his dreams haunted by shadows with wings. He went to the corner and used the chamber pot. Afterwards he dressed in simple brown leathers and a gray travel cloak, then headed down stairs. It was early yet, the rooster had yet to crow. He blinked in the twiglight of the inn, seeing shapes strewn on the floor. "Poor bastards too drunk to make it home." He walked around to see if any was from his party. Seeing no one he knew he turned towards the kitchen, thinking of making the cook who just awoke to fix him some food. He stumbled on his. Looking around he saw a small foot sticking from beaneath the table he used last night, peeking under he saw the Kender sleeping. "Blasted Kender wake up!" He kicked the small foot , then went into the kitchen and brow beat the cook into fixing him some food. After he ate, he went outside to take a look around before gathering his gear.

[Aspen]

CiCi was awakened from the most wonderful dream by her new friend. She stretched and watched as he ate his brakfast.
The sun danced on the window panes. Oh, what a wonderful day it was going to be.
When Donnchadh left the inn, CiCi followed. He might need help preparing for travel... and he might need his pipe back, which she just happened to have found just laying there where someone might steal it. She put the pipe in her pouch and headed out the door.
OOC; sorry if it seems a bit picky, but Morcalivan, CiCi is a female kender.

[Jaeveron]

The evening had gone rather uneventful in Jaeveron's case. This was good news considering she discerned the populace of Solanthus as going about their business as usual. Throughout the night she had found several different spots to watch from, and at last gaining a few hours of sleep inside the inn. As the others began the journey downstairs, Jaeveron had beat them to the punch. In the far corner, dwelling within scant shadows, was her restful form. She noted their arrivals in turn, and began to stir herself fully awake. Dislodging the bow from the corner and standing, she secured it over her shoulder and approached the door, exiting shortly upon the heels of Donnchadh.

"All's quiet," she softly spoke passing the dwarf only to pause and take a stance near the corner posts, the papers fluttering in the winds. There she waited, the only signs of movement was her hand reaching into the backpack for a handful of trail rations to serve as breakfast. She afforded the dwarf no further glance, and once her eyes fixed upon the papers pinned onto the post, her watch continued in utter silence. Now she simply awaited the journey's beginning while properly keeping watch over the restless people of Solanthus as they began a new day.

[Heron]

Donnchadh leaned against a post as he felt around for his pipe. "Confound it, now were did I lay my pipe? He looked about and saw the Kender looking up at him with a smile. His face lost its anger and became as thoughtful as stone. "You haven’t seen my pipe, have yah?" He eyed the Kender with a look of patience.

"Alls quiet." The ranger said as she walked outside to look out upon Solanthus. Donnchadh shook a fist at the Kender and walked over to stand by the ranger.

"Aye missuses it does be that, bless Reorx. When the rest of the lot makes it down here, we will head over to the livery, pick up our supplies, and then take the South Road to Chisel. From there I am aiming to cross Newsea," he said, waiting for the Kender to bring his pipe.

[Aspen]

CiCi stood infront of Donnchadh, "You left it on the table last night and I found it. You really should be more careful with your things. Someone could have stolen it. You know, for a dwarf, you sure are calm. Most dwarves I've met are easily upset." She smiled a big kender grin and handed the dwarf his clay pipe.

[Reghar]

Marlamin walked quickly and silently across the inn floor, over to the doorway, and found where Donnchadh, Jaeveron, and CiCi were standing. He went over and joined them. "Greetings, companions," he said in as hearty a voice as he could muster, which wasn't very hearty. "When do we set out?"

[Morcalivan7]

"Hopefully as soon as possible," Digofein answered, "I want to get an early start, am looking forward to Zahaman." he smiled from ear to ear, looking like a 6 foot tall Kender.

[Heron]

Snatching his pipe away from the Kender, Donnchadh walked back and set down on the bench in front of the Inn. "Blasted Kender, always..." the rest was lost, muffled by the dwarfs’ beard. He lit his pipe and took a deep puff. "Aye now lassies this is how to enjoy the morning." He said, watching the sunrise in Solanthus. It was not too long before the Elf came out. Donnchadh scowled up at the elf. "Bout time you got up, I always knew elves were slow to rise," he said. "As to when we leave, as soon as the mage drags his face..." Donnchadh stopped in mid-sentence as the mage walked outside. "Ah, finally, I thought mountains moved slow. " Giving the mage a stern look, he shouldered his hammer and headed of towards the livery.


OCC: Unless you want to add anything here, I am moving us on down the road, heading towards Chisel. I figure Dalgrin is with as well.

[Heron]

OCC: Okay. If no stops in Solanthus need to be made or any discussion, on with the adventure. Feel free to add and post as you would like, within reason...


IC:
The stop at the Livery was uneventful, well except for Donnchadh saving the Kender from being beaten by the Tender, otherwise, they secured their horses and travel supplies that Donnchadh sent Dice to take care of last night. As arranged Dice would trek ahead to make sure, they had no problems.

The morning passed uneventful and by highwatch, the party was making good time towards Chisel. The first stop would be Kyre and from there, they would cut east thru Elmwood forest. The entire trip should not take more than a few days.

As night fell, Donnchadh called for a rest, Setting up camp on the plains between Kyre and Solanthus. He called Jaeveron over to him. "Lass I reckon you be tired, but I figure you could take the Kender and scrounge up a few conies for tonight, ah?" He said, as he removed his saddle. He set it down with a huff and wiped swweat from his brow. "Hrm, no sign of Dice. Odd he said to meet him near here. " He turned back to the ranger. "While your out, try to see if you can locate signs of Dice as well," He said as he went about brushing his pony.

[Reghar]

Marlamin stopped his horse in the valley where Donnchadh said they would rest, and rather uncerimonisouly fell sideways into the dirt. Getting up and dusting himself off, the Elf prepared to settle himself down. He took out his book on the Old Gods. "Well, this has been a good trip so far...no encounters with anything dangerous...let's hope it stays that way." He soon became engrossed with the words on the page. He read for a while, then called out, "Donnachadh," fumbling over the name that sounded rough and jagged in his mouth. "This Reorx certainly is interesting. But, perhaps because it was written by an elf, there's nothing in here on the helm we're searching for...hmm...this is even more important now than I thought...I could go down in history for studying this helm..."

[Jaeveron]

Jaeveron nodded to the words spoken by Donnchadh. During their day's travel, the Ranger had remained in the rear of the marching order so she could cover their tracks as needed. While they reached the plains it was less important, and she allowed her eyes to wander over the landscape. All the while as they travelled, she had not spotted Dice at least once. The tone with which Donnchadh used concerning Dice was noted and she quickly set to performing the task.

She spotted the Kender and approached, asking her to spare some time and locate the cones while the Ranger searched for signs of Dice. The hood of her cloak was discarded and fell against her back as she set upon the plains. Jaeveron retraced their steps and found them easily, and them some distance later she veered to and fro, scattering her own tracks atop the previously fresh ones. As she covered their path, she stopped and bent to one knee. Her hands free she measured the newfound tracks with her palm, and sure enough the half-ogre's trail was found. Further study and she found a peculiar set of tracks, evenly spaced, eight deep and eight wide.

Her brows creased as she followed the tracks, the impressions left behind having obviously, at least to the Ranger, been set at the same time. Had Dice hired a few others to aid in the scouting? Jaeveron wondered as she continued following the tracks. They had obviously made no efforts to hide their eventual whereabouts, and the Ranger continued down that long and winding path. Both hands reached for their own daggers, releasing them slowly and silently from their sheathes strapped along her thighs, and the simple action was made to hide their glinting silver blades beneath the lengths of her cloak. Jaeveron ensured her presence along the open plains was impossible to detect, remaining low and well hidden to the naked eye.

She noted the tracks were leading her the right direction they had desired to travel. This was becoming more than peculiar in her mind. As she considered the facts presented thus far, voices glided along the air, aided by gentle winds from the east. She paused and remained low, giving her eyes more than adequate time to properly readjust. Nestled in that spot she waited for some time. The stench of humans wafted through the open air and struck her disgustingly in the face.

[Aspen]

CiCi headed to a grove of trees in the distance to the groups right. After all, you can't gather cones where there are not trees for them to fall from. The grass was tall on the plain. It was nearly as tall as she was. There was just so much to see on the ground that CiCi had a hard time finding her way there. She found an arrowhead and an enormous hill of ants the colour of a cherry. She didn't much care for them much, as they had a nasty bite. She wondered some more and found a birds nest with three eggs and lime green snake.
Next thing CiCi new she was on the edge of the stand of trees. She smiled and started to scaveng for supper when she heard whispers coming from the trees. Now CiCi had never seen trees talk before. The kender thought about this for a moment. If trees could talk and where shy, maybe that was why it wasn't common knowledge. Not wanting to desturb the shruberies conversation CiCi tiptoes around the grove listening to the whispers. She couldn't make a word of it out.
She came to a small clearing and found, much to her disapointment, that the trees weren't the ones whispering, but a group of humans.
Remembering that Donnchadh said that this would be a dangerious trek, CiCi came to the conclution that this must be the danger. Oh, wouldn't he be impressed with her if she spyed on the men and brought back some important infromation as well as their supper? She crouched down into a little ball and pulled her cape around herself and listened.

[Heron]

OOC: Just continuity sake, ill add to the land description so Dalgrin dont come along and pining for mountains have them spring up... ;) The group is located between Solanthus and Kyre, low hills dot the the plains covered in tall green grass, Autumn being two seasons away. Near the group is a coppice of Oaks....also Dalgrin/Digo post if you can...

JAEVERON :
She noted the tracks were leading her the right direction they had desired to travel. This was becoming more than peculiar in her mind. As she considered the facts presented thus far, voices glided along the air, aided by gentle winds from the east. She paused and remained low, giving her eyes more than adequate time to properly readjust. Nestled in that spot she waited for some time. The stench of humans wafted through the open air and struck her disgustingly in the face.

The smell of unwashed flesh was in the Air. Behind the smell were the voices.
"I reckon we can wait for the rest of them cullies, Burdock. The big one said they would be along soon enough." Another voice replied but it was lost in the distance. "Well Aodh said the dwarf would die before giving up..." the voices faded into the dense coppice of trees...


CiCi : " Well Aodh said the dwarf would die before giving up, so I am betting that what the beast told us before he died is true." Laughter followed this remark. CiCi strained her little ears for anything more, but from she could tell the group had set down to wait in silence.


The Group: Donnchadh laid his head on his saddle while listening to the mage mumble and mark in his spell book. Bah, how can anyone rest when noise lack that assails the ears! He turned to answer the elf’s question. "Aye, its tricky thing history, I have lived almost a century and I still don’t know it all. Yon elves have the same problem. The helm was lost to us, aye, and it was one of the last things blessed by his will before the Night of Doom, when it was thought that Reorx blundered like a Gully Dwarf." he said as he looked up at the evening sky. "It took a longtime for us dwarfs to realize that it was we in our stone homes that made the mistake." he looked over at the elf, "the same for the elves, yes?"

[Aspen]

CiCi : " Well Aodh said the dwarf would die before giving up, so I am betting that what the beast told us before he died is true." Laughter followed this remark. CiCi strained her little ears for anything more, but from she could tell the group had set down to wait in silence.



This was so exciting! Oh Donnchadh would be so proud of her. She slipped away from the group of thugs undetected. She gathered seeds as she went. The moon was bright and CiCi had no problems finding her way back to where her friends had settled for the night and even managed to catch a rabbit by surprise and hit it on the head with her hoopak. She burst into camp catching her companions of gaurd.
"Donnchadh, Donnchadh! I saw a group of baddies! There must have been 8, no 20 of them! Oh and here's supper." She tossed the rabbit and a pouch full of seed pods to Marlamin. "They are in the trees just ahead of us. One of the ugliest of them said " Aodh said the dwarf would die before giving up, so I am betting that what the beast told us before he died is true." And then I came straight back here to tell you and they didn't even see me. I make a good spy, don't I Donnchadh?"

[Morcalivan7]

"20 of them? For just us? That'd be a waste, are you sure?" he perched up and looked at that innocent Kender face of hers. Of course it wasn't true, probably just a few bandits. However the comment about the beast was disturbing, could they have meant that half-ogre they were waiting for?

Digs got off his horse, "Hand me that pan before you go barreling in there dwarf." Don took one of the cookwares out from the saddle bags after climbing down and handed it to Digs. Pooring some water into the pan and mumbling words of magic the water began to swirl and soon lights danced and an image slowly began to appear. It was a group of men huddled in between trees counting the daylight, waiting for a time to strike no doubt. And as he guessed there were as many as 20, however it was a good number of them none the less, and without Dice and that elf gone to find'em, they may not be able to take'em.

"Well, what do we do now? I'm not a war wizard you know." Digs looked grim, Dice may already be dead and more may be following him.

[Reghar]

Marlamin was about to answer Don's question on religion, when CiCi had come back, with her tale of 20 bandits. Disbelieving this at first, the elf's gut suddenly wrenched when the mage Digs conjured the image of quite a large group of bandits, supposedly waiting nearby. "Oh dear..." he muttered. "This isn't good," he said. "An elven monk whose never fought an actual foe before, a kender, a mage who isn't a "war wizard" and a Dwarf against all them..." Marlamin drew his short sword from underneath his robes, his hand shaking. "We better hope Jaeveron gets back here soon...and that you can fight with great ferocity, Donnchadh..."

[jeran]

ooc: mind if i join in? I'm not sure how well i'll do, but fun is the name of the game, right?

Name: Kira

Race: Human

Gender: Female

Class: Thief

Age: 24

Kira is a smallish female, black hair, green eyes. wearing a rough spun tunic, worn black knee length boots, and baggy men's trousers. She carries a pack with a set of lockpicks, a a change of clothes, and a shank of rope. she has several daggers hidden in various places on her body, (waistband, left boot, left sleeve) and a shortsword on her hip. She's not a petty thief, but if she sees something she wants, odds are she'll get it!

IC: kira is padding through the woods beside the road as quickly and quietly as possible. the traveler's camp she came across last night should be waking up soon, and they were bound to notice that thier pouches were much lighter than when they went to sleep.
up ahead, something interesting was happening. she could hear someone speaking, and what was either a very angry chipmunk, or a very excited kender. slowing down, she decided to listen in and see if anything interesting presented itself. if nothing else, maybe she could blend into the group if the party whose pouches she had lightened decided to come looking for her.

[Jaeveron]

The humans made considerable effort to remain unnoticed by the naked eye. However, they had failed to cover their tracks. Jeaveron had found them quite easily, and now she was tired of the wait. She debated on whether to return and report her findings, or remain and discern as much as possible before doing so. As she started to lean towards returning, a hidden sense grabbed her by the wrist and slowly pulled her closer to the human encampment. She could now hear their voices more plainly, really beginning to piece together their words into almost complete sentences.

Another tugging motion at her wrist and she dared a closer vantage point, this time eyeing the slumped form of the half-ogre who had been bound and gagged. Whether he was still alive could not be determined, even by the time taken to study any rising and falling of his chest cavity. At this moment she could not be for certain. The boasting words of the humans after bagging such a larger creature was obvious; however, there was little else she heard. That was until one spoke the magic words. She could now be certain their intentions beyond any doubt, and this angered her that they dared set an ambush, not to mention the slaying of the half-ogre.

Jaeveron's mind was now at a decision. The Ranger quietly began stepping in reverse, keeping her eyes upon the humans as she backed away to a safe distance. Just as she turned and began her steps back to the campsite, her foot clanged against the double-bladed sword of the fallen half-ogre. A silent curse rang throughout her mind and she froze, her form bending lower beneath the highest edges of the grasses. While her eyes remained on the humans, she focussed her will and cast her spell. Perhaps they were unskilled in the tracking arts, but there was no need in taking a chance. With her spell in place she moved low and slowly, heading in a westerly direction and away from the rest of her party.

"And where ya think yer goin', there lassie," came the voice as a strong hand gripped her by the collar.

* Spell: Pass without Trace *

[Calvillas uth Dalgrin]

OOC: sorry, I've been waiting for a place to catch up and jump in.

BIC: Dalgrin cursed himself as he rode his horse through the woods. He knew where the others were camping and had thought it a good idea to scout ahead for group. Now as he pushed his way through the thick undergrowth of the woods he wondered if he had been right. Dalgrin pulled his horse to a halt and listened for a moment, thinking he'd heard voices. Shaking his head and chalking it up to his imagination, he was about to continue on when he heard the very distinct voice of a human. Getting down off his horse, Dalgrin made his way as quietly through the brush, until he came with seeing distance of the sounds originator. Dalgrin paused a moment trying make out who he was seeing. Sick realization came over him as he recognized the ranger he'd seen before. She was being handled by some unknown human and in a manner Dalgrin didnt figure she appreciated. In one quick movement Dalgrin slung his hammer over his head and launched it through the air. There was a sickening thud that followed as the hammer crushed the back of the man's skull and fell dead to the ground. Rushing from his hiding place, Dalgrin picked up his hammer and looked at Jaeveron. "Come on," he said quietly. "We have to warn the others." And without another word, Dalgrin headed back into the brush and found his mount. Mounting up, he spurred his horse.

[Heron]

OOC: 8 is the magic number folks (Humans and a mongrel...)


CiCi & Group: Donnchadh mouth tried to work but no words came out. He stared at the Kender as if it had two-heads. Finally, with a sharp intake of breath, CiCi had the pleasure of seeing the dwarf go from utter shock to one of nigh-improbable anger. “A-a--Aodh!" the dwarf said in a strangled moan. Nevertheless, before CiCi could continue the mage asked for a pan, muttered some words and showed that it was true, to Donnchadhs dismay. It was Aodh's harriers. : Hard men, bandits that prey upon any weak that happen to cross Aodh’s. "Aye, we do be in trouble my friends." Answering Marlamin and Digs. "Tis as it been said, dangerous times..." Donnchadh brow furrowed. "Aye, but Aodh and is dark maggots are not among`em!" He spat, springing to his saddle. "Come to me Digs, aye, lad, hearken to me, for I have something special for your magic, ah?"...

Kira : She could not believe it! Such luck, here was her chance to mingle in with this group to aid her in covering her theft. She no only needed to decide how to do it **Jeran: Feel free to jump in with the group at your discretion. **

Jaeveron & Dalgrin : As Dalgrin bent to aid Jaeveron, a thought clicked into place. He recognized the human he felled, it was one of Aodh's hard men, bandits out of the Garnet Mountains. This sent a chill down his spine as he hoisted Jaeveron up, no noticing the shadow above him....

[Morcalivan7]

OOC: I didn't know horses were so stealthy. :p And what is this magic?

"Whatever you have I doubt it could be useful to me, you dwarves are known far and wide to distrust magic, how could you..." Digs stopped talking the moment he saw it.

[jeran]

apparently the group jeran had been watching was preparing for a battle of some sort. while she didn't relish risking her neck for a bunch of strangers, it would be an incredibly convenient excuse if anyone were tracking her. besides, she was quite adept at leaving unnoticed if the situation turned too ugly.

stepping closer to the group and making a bit of noise so as to be noticed, jeran adressed the fierce looking dwarf who seemed to be spurring the others to action.
" you look to be needing an extra sword here, good sir. although by the length and splendor of you beard, and your noble bearing, one can immediately see that you are a match for any three foes. it has been my experience, however, that the more swordarms one has behind them, the better thier chances of victory."

jeran desperately hoped the dwarf would be flattered and ask her to tag along for the fight.
to his credit though, the dwarf was a very capable looking fellow, and she certainly wouldn't want to come up against him in a fair fight. luckily, she almost never fought fair.
beaming her most charming and innocent smile, she waited nervously for a reply.

[Heron]

OOC: I didn't know horses were so stealthy. :p And what is this magic?



OOC: Not all dwarfs are mistrustful of magic, and I have something planned for your magic, not a magic item...as to the horse, he is a dwarf and you see that they got jumped... ;)

[Aspen]

CiCi merrily collected fist size stones form all around the camp and stuffed them in her pouches. She hadn't been in a good fight in a long time...unless of course you count the missunderstanding she kept having with numorous shop keeps and inn keepers.

[Jaeveron]

Jaeveron's nose wrenched from the bandit's stench, small beads of sweat dripping from his body and onto her. Such a smell could be noticed miles from its source, and a notion she was surprised hadn't warned her of his presence in the first place. She had been careless, too focussed upon the bandits as a whole and not paying a due amount of credit to others. In her eyes shown appreciation to Dalgrin, and as quickly as it appeared she had been wisked away on the back of his horse. Uncertain whether the others knew the numbers waiting for them or not, she desperately needed to make her report.

"My thanks, sir. I owe you one." However forced the words seemed, Dalgrin could sense she was one who kept her word. The daggers were immediately replaced into their respective sheaths, and all she could do now was wait until they arrived at the campsite. By that notion she peered over her shoulder, and from her elevated vantage point she could witness one of the bandits stepping from his post and starting in the direction of the one Dalgrin had felled. Once the bandit arrived at the fallen body and determined the cause, all hell would break loose. They would then know they were not alone. Needless to say, time was now of the utmost importance.

"We may have been spotted. Not sure. The others must be warned." Her words were short and to the point, albeit detailed and thorough at the same time.

OOC: Should you wish to make it more interesting, Heron, you could go with the 64 I had listed (. . . eight deep and eight wide). They could be split into 2 or more groups and ready to pounce at a moment's notice. I meant for it to be a larger number (64), though if this be too many that's cool with me. A daunting task that would be, eh?

[Heron]

OOC: Should you wish to make it more interesting, Heron, you could go with the 64 I had listed (. . . eight deep and eight wide). They could be split into 2 or more groups and ready to pounce at a moment's notice. I meant for it to be a larger number (64), though if this be too many that's cool with me. A daunting task that would be, eh?

No that is okay. I have plans for all of this....remember the Mongrel....ill post later this evening...

[Reghar]

Marlamin looked untrustingly at Kira at first, then shrugged. "I can tell by looking at you you're a theif..." he said, "...however, on the verge of death, I'm realizing I'd probably side with Draconians if it would help me remain alive..." he sighed. "My my, I'm a horrible monk..."
Still gripping his sword, he turned around, grimly awaiting certain death. Then something caught his eye. "A horse..." he pointed. "A horse! They're attacking!" He paused. "Wait, why aren't there more of them...unless...that's Jaeveron! And Dalgrin!" he cheered. "Ok...we may have a slight chance after all..."
He pulled out his book on the old gods, and placed his hand over the cover. "If any of you are listening now...please...be with us..."

[jeran]

ooc: you can tell by loking? interesting :)

kira almost sighed with relief. this seemed to be a ragtag group, but most of them looked skilled enough. she took a second to wonder what they were doing together out here. it must be important to band together a dwarf, a mage, and a kender. either something big was at stake, or she had just met up with the strangest group of companions on Krynn. either way, it was bound to be exciting.
"well, sir dwarf, my sword is at your service. mind if i ask who or what we are fighting? and why?"

[Calvillas uth Dalgrin]

Dalgrin reined his horse to a halt next to Donnachadh's. "Bad news I'm afraid. We seem to have stumbled on to a group of bandits. A lot of the worst sort, if you know what I mean," he said beneath narrowed eyes. "I happened upon one harrassing Jaeveron here and felled him with my hammer. I'm afraid the action cost us though," he said turning in the saddle to look in the direction of the bandits camp. "They'll surely know someone is about and will be prepared to handle themselves accordingly." Dalgrin turned to look back at Donnachadh. "How do you want to handle'em?"

[Heron]

GROUP :
Donnchadh scowled at the chit standing up in the tall grass. Looking at Marlamin, "Make yourself useful Elf, bind her till we're done." Looking back at Dig's, "So you say you be a mage but not the battling kind, aye, so can you", pointing at the coppice of trees, "Set them alight?" He left Digs to figure it out. "CiCi to me lassie, me and you are going in ahead of the mages fireworks and see if we can`na not find Dalgrin and Jaeveron."


Jaeveron & Dalgrin : As the two headed to Dalgrins mount, a growl from above startled the two. A black mass of fur and twisted limbs landed in front of them roaring as it stretched to its full height. It was a misshapen thing, almost a hairy ogre with a large hump on its back. It wore a rusty iron collar around its neck. Its eyes shown a baleful yellow in the twilight of dusk and the teeth were grey and broken. It swung a clawed hand at the two as they grabbed their weapons.

[jeran]

"tie me up?! you lot are traveling with a kender and you want to tie ME up?!?! for all you know, i could be the extra sword that turns this battle for you. if you don't care for my help though, i'll be on my way."

kira turned to leave, hoping the ploy would work. she needed an alibi, but she was not about to be tied up and left behind for anyone that came along.



turning to look over her shoulder at the group, she added: "but if you want an extra fighter, the offer stands. i'll be watching from a safe distance"

[Heron]

Kira: Donnchadh stopped, placing a hand on CiCi's shoulder. He turned and faced Kira. "Aye, I know ye can fight...proabably. Now, here ye are, out of nowhere and offer yer services fine as day." He said, his face growing dark. "All over this land darkness comes, to the Dwarfs darkness is but a part of life. We delve and toil beneath the ground all of our lives. This darkness is alive, lass. It plots and thinks on how to prey upon the weak. For us dwarfs this darkness seeks to douse the flame of the eternal Forge, and I WILL NOT LET THAT COME TO PASS!" He was in front of Kira now, looking up into her eyees, anger roiling off him. "For three months I have fought the gods know what no thanks to the Thiewar and I will not be tricked again." He said, pulling back his cloak. "So now here we are, fine as day..suit yer`self. if ye wanna help, then help the elf by taking the left side of the coppice, and stick anything that is not of this fair group, dead!" He spun on his heels and left with CiCi.

[jeran]

kira looked down at the dwarf, impressed by his passion. maybe this group WAS on a worthwhile mission. it had been a long time since she had found anything worthwhile to fight for.
"sir dwarf, i may not be a good person, but i am not a part of the "spreading darkness" you speak of. i just wanted to help. and you looked as if you needed an extra sword. that is all. lead the way, elf. i'll do what i can."

[Aspen]

CiCi skips along side of Donnchadh. "It was a good idea to take me with you to find Dalgrin and Jaeveron. We kender are very good finders! Say, when we finish giving these baddies what for, do you think we could stop and eat? I'm getting hungry and it would be a shame to let the rabbit i caught go to waste, don't you think?"

[Morcalivan7]

OOC: What am I suppose to do start a fire and burn down the forrest? I'm confused now. :p Btw are Dal and J inside the forrest or outside, conflicting statements, will assume inside since Heron's DM.

[Reghar]

Marlamin looked uncertain, as he grabbed the arm of Kira. "Listen, girl...Kira, I'm sorry for this. But, I suppose what Don says is right...and he is our leader..." he sighed. "If it were me, I'd...oh, I don't even know anymore. I shouldn't allow you to fight for us...but living to see tomorow would be nice." He thought for a moment. "You know...I'm not letting you go or anything, I have no intention to do so. But, if in all the action, you somehow manage to...escape..." he looked expectantly at her to see if she knew where he was going. "Don't think I won't strike you down immediately if you do choose to betray us though," he hissed, lowering his voice.

OOC: Morcalivan, I think it's just a small grove of trees Heron wants you to set on fire, if I'm not mistaken. We'll wait to see what he says, though.

[Morcalivan7]

Digs nods to Don as him and the kender run off. He begins walking towards the coppice of tress, reaching into his pouch to pull out a small piece of bat fur. He stops a moment, staring at the trees he concentrates, feels the magic flow through him, beginning the words to a spell that will spark the needed fire. Rubbing the bat fur in hi palm he carves his hand through the air with the other one as he speaks the words of magic. The fure seems to dissapear from his hand as the magical flows from his veins, up his arms, into his finger to form an incendiary star which launchs itself at the undergrowth of the tree only to see a large boom and crack on impact. The undergroth lights up like a light bulb as the trunk is cracked but stable, even though burning now as well. Some men come running out of the trees coughing from the thick smoke.

Digs knew what to do, as everyone wizard knows what to do, war wizard or not. Upon any possible danger one must retain an allotment of spells in his mind ready to be used, and Digs had a dusy for these two. "Alsla saskaban, munchikans!" the magic flowing through him again as he waves his hands at the two staggering figures, figures that contort and retract into kender sized males.

By the time they recovered from the smoke they were having trouble walking through the unusally tall grass, grass that use to be only up to their waits but now to their necks. They stared panicked at each other and then at the mage, a panick soon rising to anger as they take out their knives which use to be short swords and leap through the grass trying to reach'em, but too little too late. Digs was again prepared.

Although tired from the quick excertions, he was not down yet, still having the necessary magic in him that he needed, or thought he did. Waving his hands like he had just a few seconds ago he raised them when finishing his magical words and slammed them down causing a massive gust of wind that although would not have affected them in their old bodies much, in their new bodies it sent them flying through the grass, tumbling backwards. But the gust did not stop there, still facing the forrest and a now growing brush fire the gust of wind send the fire raging with oxygen, sending it to climb up through the trees and into the surround collection of plants. Smoke now rised well into the sky, no doubt attracted all the bandits nearby. This thought raced through Digs' head as he smacked his forehead. "Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Don just ran in there!" But his job wasn't over, the kender sized men were disoriented, beaten, but not dead. They would recover and the battle, if it could be called that, would ensue. He must be calm and focused, and when the little men do finally attack once again they'll be more prepared and cautious themselves.

Reaching into his robe, "Now where is that damn rod when I need it!"

[Jaeveron]

OOC: I'm taking this as happening before Jaeveron & Dalgrin arrive at the campsite, and just before they mount up.

Jaeveron heard the creature before laying eyes upon it. Instinctively she backed away and reached for her longsword, drawing the weapon in defense. As the weapon was drawn a clawed hand raked across her forearm, trickles of blood faintly showing. "Cursed beast," she swore and lashed outward with her sword, catching one of the creature's twisted limbs in the same fashion she had been struck. It was merely a payback notion in order to start this battle on the right foot. Now they were even.

Once she had gained the creature's attention she knew Dalgrin would be ready. Now it was a matter of disposing the beast and reporting to the others what had already transpired. As the black mass of fur advanced on Jaeveron, she baited the beast further in hopes of distracting it while Dalgrin could quite possibly land the fatal blow and be done with this mongrel.

[Calvillas uth Dalgrin]

Seeing the beast attention lay upon Jaeveron, Dalgrin immediatley seized the oppurtunity to strike. Moving swiftly, Dalgrin positioned himself behind the creature. Bring his hammer down in a wide arc, the sound of bone crushing beneathe the blow could be heard. The beast howled in pain and spun on its attacker. Though now badly wounded, enough life still remained in the beast to do considerable damage to Dalgrin. The thing slashed at Dalgrin wildly. Timeing his blow, as the thing over extended it's reach, Dalgrin brought the top his hammer up, crushing the windpipe of the beast. As the death gurrgle roiled in it's throat, it fell lifeless on top of Dalgrin. "Ah, bloody hell," he shouted. "Get this blasted thing off of me'! Damn beast smells worse than a pack of wet gully dwarves in spring!"

[Heron]

Kira & Marlamin : As the two argue with each other, they are beset upon by two of the harriers, forcing them to put aside their differences and be about the business of dispatching these two fools. As the battle ensues, they feel a rush of hot wind followed a deafening roar. The coppice of oaks is now ablaze!

CiCi & Donnchadh : Donnchadh ignored the nattering of CiCi and tried to concentrate on the matter at hand. Even though he had once been a locksmith, he found it difficult to move quietly through the coppice. "End thy blithering, fool kender. Before I hang you with your tongue!" he whispered. He looked over at the Kender and hoped she was not feeling hurt, he really liked Kender. "Aye, I am hungry too lass, but food later, fun now!" It was then that a hot wind blew by followed by immense heat. "Fool Wizard, I said a tree not the whole Chislev forsaken coppice!" He cursed as he surged forward only to run into the stomach of a hard man of Aodh....

Diggs: The two bandits circled Diggs, a little apprehensive of his power, however, they noticed like all mages he would soon tire. Sharing a glance between them, they surged forward one aiming high the other low...


Jaeveron & Dalgrin : **Finish the battle as ye want, then meets up with one of the other five. **

[Reghar]

Marlamin was taken by surprise, as two bandits jumped upon him and Kira. He turned, fumbled with his sword, and forgot about Kira. Confident she could take care of himself, probably better than he could, he called out, "You take the guy on the right, I'll take the guy on the left!" and dove forward, bringing his sword downards with both hands. His opponent simply stepped to the side, and Marlamin stumbled forward. The bandit stuck a leg out, and the Elf was tripped to the ground, his sword flying out of his hands. He rolled on the ground just in time, as a blade was stabbed into the dirt where he had just been laying. He hoisted himself up to his feet, and ran towards his sword, but his opponent kicked it away. Marlamin, thinking madly, grabbed his thick book on the old gods, and swinging it with all his might, smashed it into the bandit's face. It came back bloody and greasy, and Marlamin hoped he had struck a good disorienting blow to his opponent. He ran towards his sword, picked it up, and turned back, in time to see the bandit rush him again. Marlamin jumped sideways, avoiding a lethal blow, but the bandit struck out, hitting him in the left arm. He felt pain, but it was dimmed by the burning sensation of battle, flowing in his veins for the first time in his life. He brought his sword across the bandit's chest, slicing through his leather armor, hitting flesh. The bandit made a growl of pain, and lunged forward, but the Elf ducked in time, and hit the bandit on the left leg. Marlamin, still on the ground, thrust all his weight on the bandit's injured leg, and knocked him to the ground. He had managed to make the man loose his grip on his sword, but he still attacked madly, thrashing with his arms and legs. Marlamin kept a grim, strong hold on his sword, and amidst the bloody fight on the ground, finally felt it hit home, thrust it deep into his opponents chest. When he felt the last gasp of life leave his enemy, he collapsed with exhausten, and just lay there on the ground.

[Jaeveron]

Jaeveron eyed the dwarf pinned beneath the weight of the mongrel. Well, it certainly worked in the end, she thought as she sheathed the sword and wrestled the beast away from Dalgrin. It wasn't an easy task for the beast weighed a considerable amount. "Mighty fine work I'd venture, sir dwarf," Jaeveron offered those words as she also extended a hand towards the dwarf. As she helped him to stand and they gathered themselves a moment longer, it was then that the firelit coppice of trees became visible to the pair.

"That could be a good or bad sign," Jaeveron spoke barely audible to the dwarf as she pointed to the obvious fire upon the trees. Somewhat of an eventful night, she mused and caught Dalgrin's eye. There was no time to saunter about while the others fended for themselves. By the time Dalgrin mounted up and spurred his horse in the direction of the others, Jaeveron muttered the words to another spell and she was already well on her way to aid the others.

* Spell: Longstrider *

[Aspen]

CiCi & Donnchadh : Donnchadh ignored the nattering of CiCi and tried to concentrate on the matter at hand. Even though he had once been a locksmith, he found it difficult to move quietly through the coppice. "End thy blithering, fool kender. Before I hang you with your tongue!" he whispered. He looked over at the Kender and hoped she was not feeling hurt, he really liked Kender. "Aye, I am hungry too lass, but food later, fun now!" It was then that a hot wind blew by followed by immense heat. "Fool Wizard, I said a tree not the whole Chislev forsaken coppice!" He cursed as he surged forward only to run into the stomach of a hard man of Aodh....

CiCi jumped into action. She loaded her hoopak sling with a stone from her pouch and took aim while tounting the goon. "Is that your face or did your neck through up? You smell so bad a gully dwarf would tell you to take a bath! " She fired and the fist size stone hit the brout in the side of the head, temperarly knocking him off balance.

[Morcalivan7]

As the kender sized men moved in, Digs (one G) pulled a small wand out of his robe. It was a small wooden stick with a copper dragon's head on the end of it. Saying a few words the thing suddenly enlarged, elongating into a long and sturdy staff. The kender-men were close now. They put up their swords and lunged at the mumbling wizard and pulling out a pinch of powdered iron from his pouch. Blinking their eyes, mouths dropping, they staggered to a halt unbelieving their eyes. The wizard had grown so large that his staff was now nothing more than a wand again, yet it hadn't changed size. To the kender-men it was still a very large staff.

"Run!" one of them yelled, but it was too late, Digofein's reach too large. Stomping on one of them as it's back was turned in a flee, he reach out in a large arc swinging his club, crashing it into the side of the other, sending it flying a half dozen feet into the air. As the spells wore off, Digofein sank to his normal size and the magled bodies of the kender-men became mangled bodies of man-sized bandits.

He took a cloth out of his pocket and rubbed away the blood as best he could before placing the staff back into his robe. He caught the blazing fire out of the corner of his eye, remembering Don's words. "I sure hope he knows what he's doing." Pulling his hood over his head he began walking back to the others, lifting his robes in his hands so he can move through the grass without tripping.

[Heron]

Donnchadh fell back, pulling his war hammer loose. CiCi let fly a stone, braining one of the harriers, the other, the one he ran into was faster. The hard man laughed as he swung a short sword, aimed at Donnchadhs head. "Oyo! You best be worrying about yer legs, cur!" he spat, tossing his hammer as he leaned out of the way of the sword. The throw was true, shattering the knee of the bandit. Recovering quickly Donnchadh leapt on top of the bandit and snapped his neck. Chest heaving, he turned to CiCi and saw that the Kender had enraged the other bandit and was now toying with him. Muttering, he bent down to pick up his hammer. "Come CiCi, finish the thug, an let us find Dalgrin and Jaeveron! The fire grows near!" Donnchadh eyed the growing blaze, praying to Reorx that neither of his hired people were in danger.

[Aspen]

CiCi lets another stone fly, this time hitting the bandit in the eye. Blood runs down his face. He screamed and held his hand over the wound. With the other, he reachs for the kender. CiCi dodged his hand and used her sword (dagger) she stabbed him in the side of his abdimin. He let out another roar and fell to the ground.
"Get up you big baddie!" CiCi yealed. "Your so ugly that your parents left you for the wolves and the wolves returned you. " The tounting had the desired affect and the goon stood up and charged her again. She dodge him and stuck him with her sword again, this time in the other side. Blood ran down both his sides and down his face.
"Donnchadh, this is fun!" She shouted. "Come CiCi, finish the thug, an let us find Dalgrin and Jaeveron! The fire grows near!" he muttered.
CiCi smiled as the bandit charged her again. She dodged his attack a third time, this time tripping him with her hoopak. He was on his hands and knees on the ground panting. CiCi took one last stone from her pouch and at close range shout him in the back of the head with her hoopak sling. He colapsed and never got back up.
She wiped her blade off on the back of his tunic and then skipped marrily over to Donnchadh. "You'd think he would have learned the first two times that he wasn't going to catch me."

[jeran]

kira didn't bother to respond to the elf, she just stepped up to the advancing brute. he swung his two handed sword in a quick downward arc, which kira barely managed to sidestep. as he brought the weapon back up for another strike, she slid around his left side, opnening a gash along his ribcage. the man grunted and faltered a bit, but still managed to hit kira in the back with the hilt of the sword, knocking the wind out of her. she quickly recovered, and brought her sword across his arm as he tried to strike again. as he grabbed his arm, he dropped his sword. kira saw her chance, and buried her sword in his stomach. he fell to his knees with a grunt, kira's sword hilt clutched in his hands. as he fell to the ground, she took her sword back, and stood back, asessing the damage she had taken, and checking to see if she was needed elsewhere.

[Heron]

OOC: Guys I am heading towards sic, so if i am slow to post, my apologies.


IC: Donnchadh scowled at the kender as they headed out of the coppice. He called for Jaeveron and Dalgrin, hearing only a horse in return. Cursing, he turned towards the horse. "Come along lass, let’s go find those two and head back towards the camp." No longer fearing the bandits, he did not attempt to be silent. After a moment, they ran into Dalgrin and Jaeveron galloping at near break neck speed. "Ho! Why do you run as if Chemosh rides yer arse?" He laughed as stopping in front of them.

Elsewhere : Aodh strode down the stone path soaking in the fey light. The night was turning out to be cold for early summer. Although the trees nearby were green and supple, the wind blowing held frost. "Ho, Nockmort! Were you be, ah?"
Nockmort cursed at the sound of the voice. "Well-met, Aodh! I am over here." Nockmort gazed at Aodh with hard eyes shining through the bark of his face. Nockmort had been a Forestmaster for the Elmwood' for as long as time could remember. Every night Aodh watched the Treant make his ritual to Chislev. Nockmort had changed however, his bark warped and splintered from the fey light of the Dark Moon. Who now was ripping apart a deer that had trespassed into the glade.
"I be seeing yer in a fine mood this night, ah?" Aodh perused carefully, his face with a dour expression. He would not want to offend this one for all the magic in Krynn. He sought those like Nockmort but in his heart, he feared the Treant. "Horrible waste of good flesh," He said.

"Bah, what does one like yourself know?" Nockmort responded, his limbs relaxing into a twisted shape." you be nothing more than a Gnat to me."

Aodh shook his head, his own somber mood increasing. " I know that Donnchadh is still alive- my pet saw it so."

"Nuitari Forsake," Nockmort grumbled, shaking his roots loose. "Nuitari Forsake," Aodh said, following the Treant deeper into the Glade....

[Jaeveron]

"Ho! Why do you run as if Chemosh rides yer arse?"

Jaeveron slowed to a halt as Donnchadh's voice rang out. The sprint having taken the air from her lungs, she paused long enough to regain her breath. "A foul beast lay dead upon the path. Dalgrin here is an asset, I assure you." Despite the notion Donnchadh most likely already knew such information, Jaeveron found it appropriate nonetheless to speak her mind. Her eyes then lifted to peer at the growing fire.

"By your demeanor I assume the bandits have been dealt with." The words spoken more factly than in question form, for she knew the group of bandits she had spied upon were less than the intelligent kind. At this moment her instincts surfaced, easily noticed by those who were paying attention. The area was given a critical assessment, and within silent moments she resigned to the facts, speaking quickly and definitively.

"We should secure another evening's place of rest, sir dwarf." As the words were spoken, her hands began their wandering in securing various weaponry. Once her actions were completed, she peered at the kender, and then towards the dwarves and awaited their responses.

[Calvillas uth Dalgrin]

"Aye," agreed Dalgrin. "All of tonights comotion is likely to'bring about every theif, bandit, goblin, and raider in the territory' down on us. Come tommorrow, we ought to be gone from here like the fine china at a kender family reunion. No offense of course," he said looking at CiCi with a shrug. Looking back at Donnachadh, "Might be better if we steered clear of the commoner's roads. Avoid the chance of ambush."

[Reghar]

"...Ow..." muttered Marlamin, looking upwards. The bandits corps lay next to him, and over to the side, Kira was standing over the body of the other bandit. Marlamin stood up, despite pain exploding everywhere in his body. Not bad for my first fight, though, he thought to himself. He looked down, and noticed the left sleeve of his robe was saturated with blood. "Umm...I've been hit," he said, looking around for everyone else. There was Kira, and he could see Digs, who had defeated his bandits, but it took him a while to spot the other four. They were some distance away, discussing amongst themselves. "Come on, let's go to them," Marlamin said to Kira. He started walking towards them, not waiting for her.

[jeran]

marlamin was apparently bleeding fairly badly somewhere underneath that sleeve as he walked away. better him than me, kira thought, rubbing what would surely be a nice bruise on her back. it must hurt though, and the elf didn't look like he was a battle wound dressing expert.
"hey there, elf. you look injured. want me to take a look at it? i may not be a cleric of old, but i can tie a clean rag around it at least."
without waiting for an answer, she sheathed her sword and used her dagger to cut a strip from the bottom of her shirt tail, hurrying to catch up with marlamin.

[Heron]

Donnchadh looked Dalgrin and Jaeveron over, nodding in the fact that they were okay. He took a deep breath, then spit. "Louses, the whole lot of `em were drunk and set on an easy mark. Hah! Let'em rot I say."

He set down and cleaned his weapons, thinking on the choices to make. After a few moments, he looked up. "Aye, Dalgrin you make sense, as do you lass, still..."

He looked south into the burning coppice, a weird expression on his face. "Aye, the Dark does walk this night,” muttering to himself.

He looked over at the Kender, smiled and then pulled himself up. "Come along ye buggers, lets go see to the Elf and the girl." he turned and started walking to meet up with Marlamin and Kira.

[Aspen]

CiCi skipped along side Donnchadh. She found a lime green caterpillar that tickled her fingers just before it disappeared into her pouch and a shiny stone that was as red as Linitari.
Just before they reached the elf and the girl, CiCi tugged on the dwarf's sleeve, "Donnchadh, I was wondering; who is Aodh anyway?"

[Heron]

OOC: The rest of you may over hear this, Donnchadh is speaking normally....

IC: Donnchadh slowed a bit to answer the question. He looked somber, more so than usual for a dwarf. "Aodh has crawled upon this land as almost as long as I. If there be a larger bag full of bile, I know not of It." he spat as pulled out his pipe. "He is of the Daergar, foul lackeys of the Theiwar, an even more loathsome bunch, Servants all to the "Ungod". He crossed his eyes with his fingers when he spoke the dwarves name for Nuitari. He stoked his pipe, trailing smoke as he walked. "Aodh has hated my clan, the Hylar, since he was but a larvae breaking free from a necrotic cyst. It is whispered in the Halls of Thorbardin that he is the left hand of the Obsidian Circle, others say he is friend of The Dark, servants of the Secret Things, the Nothing Ones." Donnchadh paused at this, thinking hard. "I believe he killed my Dah, however, I canna prove it. I know this though, if Aodh be on our trail then Thorbardin and High Thane Kytil are in more danger than the Forgers presumed." He shook his pipe, mumbling under his breath. "Come along lass, best we catch up with the others." he gave the Kender a push and resumed walking towards the others.

[Heron]

OCC: I havent seen Morcalivan on for a couple days, So tomorrow Ill move the story along.

[Heron]

Before the group left the burning coppice of woods, Donnchadh made sure it was Dice that the bandits had killed, seeing this to be so, he wished the fallen half-ogres spirit to Reorx. When he returned , he had the other bandits placed into the coppice, letting the fire obliterate their remains.

Afterwards, the group moved on. They traveled well into the night, moving south parallel to the Garnet Mountains. The group had remained silent, leading the horses as they followed behind Jaeveron. CiCi busied herself with questions about dark dwarfs and getting no answers started singing a trail song before Dalgrin nearly brained her, muttering imprecations about the kender having no brains. This prompted another barrage of questions from CiCi. Morcalivan kept silent, walking tiredly after expending so much energy from battling the bandits. Donnchadh eyed him wearily, wondering what the mage was thinking. Marlamin and Kira talked about various things, her pestering him about his wound, him too busy to answer. He was going over the fact that he had taken a life, even if it was a human. Perhaps looking for the old gods was too dangerous.

The group made camp at Late Watch, near a watering hole, left over from the spring rains. At camp, there was little cheer and no fire. Hungry, tired, and frustrated, Donnchadh growled, tossing his sodden tobacco to the ground. He walked over to Jaeveron, asking her to take watch followed by Dalgrin. He wanted to leave by the Waking Hour, as they were still sixty wheels from Kyre. Seeing Jaeveron on her way, he settled down with the others, asking them if they were all right, if all was well with their thoughts and if they had any questions.

[Reghar]

Marlamin tried to get comfortable to read his book, but his arm stung. However, whenever Kira asked, he told her her make-shift bandage had worked fine, and he felt better. Perhaps this was too dangerous...but he couldn't turn back now, not without taking someone else away from the group to escort him back, and then the group would be in more danger with 2 less people...no, he'd stay. They were all in this together.
He tried to open his book, but the pages were stuck together from the blood of the bandit who he had bludgeoned in the face with it. He had been hoping he could find out which god to wish the half-ogre's soul to. Instead he just bowed his head, whispered a pray to Paladine, and lay down hoping to get some sleep.

[jeran]

Kira tried to sleep when camp was made, but the battle was still too fresh in her mind. she had never taken a life without a personal reason before.
"Donnchadh, i have fought for your reasons, and for your cause, but i do not fully ubnderstand what it is that we fight for. an explaination would be quite welcome. my sword is yours while it is needed, but a sword swinging with purpose always swings harder."
kira could see that for all of Marlamin's assurances that his wound was feeling better, he still grimaced at every move. "Marlamin, you'll want that wound cleaned again before you sleep. you can argue if you like, but from what little i know if elves, i'll assume you'll be wanting to keep that arm. i'll fetch clean water and cloth for bandages while the dwarf decides whether or not to let me in on the secrets of this adventure."
with that kira began gathering the makings of another makeshift bandage.

[Jaeveron]

Jaeveron had remained silent once the bandits had been routed. Donnchadh's details concerning Aodh and various other Circles who could be involved with this journey were of no surprise to Jaeveron. There were always more outside forces than met the eye. Now it was only a matter of seeing to how those outside forces would affect this particular adventuring party.

Habbakuk received her prayers of acceptance for Dice's spirit, granting him a safe journey onward. As their evening's march waned, much to the approval of everyone, Jaeveron simply nodded to Donnchadh and prepared to take her watch. Searching a few minutes she finally came upon a tree with perfect access to serve as a watch tower. Scaling the limbs and placing herself in the best possible position, her back rested against the tree for support. As the evening moved onward, Jaeveron kept a silent vigil over the campsite, longbow at the ready just in case.

[Heron]

Jaeveron watched the night as the group chattered in the darkness. She did not give an attentive ear. Her attention focused on staying alert. The conversation drifted towards her, so she was able to catch bits and pieces, nonetheless. Donnchadh was quiet for many minutes as he waited for Kira to finish Marlamin’s bandage. He was not a bad fighter for one so studious he thought, bringing a smile to his face. CiCi busied herself with counting the stars and watching the streaks of light that Dalgrin called Sparks of Reorx. CiCi laughed at this and made the comment of dwarf stature, the bigness of the sky and the incompatibility of the two. Dalgrin muttered and rolled over to try to sleep.

Donnchadh decided it was time to answer the question put forth. "I'll tell yah the same as I told these buggers. I have been searching for Grallen’s Helm to save Thorbardin. As Can-lah, it is my duty to secure this blessed artifact, for if it was to fall into the wrong hands, all that we dwarfs know may be doomed."

He rolled over to look into Kira's eyes. "Tell me, lass, have you not wanted to believe in that was more than yourself? To know that when you lay down alone at night, that there is something to your dreams, a reason to live? If so, that is why I fight. Aye I know most believe we dwarves only care about the wealth we can find in the rock, Ho, I once thought that myself."

He watched her face, hoping to see something beyond greed or base emotion. If he did not, come time to move on she would not be moving on with them.

[jeran]

kira tried to appear as though what the dwarf had said made no impression on her, but in truth it hit a soft spot.
"yes, i've often looked for meaning in life, something bigger and more powerful than myself to believe in. unfortunately, all i have seen in my life has been that if you don't watch your back and help yourself, no one else will. no one has ever gone out of their way for me, and i generally try not to go out of my way for anyone else. if you can prove to me that there is something in this world worth fighting honorably for, my sword will be yours for as long as you need it. i doubt that it can be done, but you have my word on that. and believe it or not, my word is my bond."
with that, kira rolled over and tried to pretend to sleep.

[Heron]

Kira: Donnchadh grunted in answer. He followed her example, rolled over to sleep. It had been a long day and he was done with it. The last he heard was a whisper in the wind....the whisper lulled the rest to sleep. Weaving about them, easing pains so slumber came quickly.

Jaeveron: The wind swept across the empty plain. The only sound was the grass uttering a sigh as the wind passed. The scrub of tree rocked lazily in the night, acting as a cradle for Jaeveron. She dozed, half her brain asleep the other half open to her surroundings. The wind whispered to her, caressing her, speaking to her. It penetrated her being, awaked her soul, imparted upon her a thing most dire.."Black Moon, Black Star...Beware, Beware, Sister of the Path."

[Aspen]

CiCi talked and talked until she realized that her friends weren't egnoring her, but that they had fallen asleep. And why shouldn't they; it had been a long day for all.
Content to let them sleep, CiCi counted the stars: 12,673. She watched a pair of fireflys dance in the grass. Then without warning, sleep punced on her, taking her prisoner agains her will. Sleep was a waste of time, to CiCi's way of thinking. It was a theif that stool presious hours out of exciting days like this. As hard a she tried, she couldn't excape it, and soon the kender was fast asleep, dreaming about green flowers that smelled like speriment, copper coins with chocolate inside them, and pixies that dance into her pouches.

[Heron]

OOC: Should we continue?


IC: The group awoke at Waking Hour and was on the move before the Sun dried the dew. In the night Digofein had left, leaving a note behind stating he had affairs that needed to be put in order before he could continue with the group. Jaeveron spoke little that morning, she appeared grim and if Donnchadh did not know better a little shaken. Dalgrin was ahead of the group on his stout pony, listening to CiCi chatter about glowworms and other interesting things seen in her travels. Marlamin was again with his nose in a book, barely aware of his surroundings. Kira walked beside his horse, her eyes distant and thoughtful. Donnchadh muttered, shifting his armor, it was chaffing him. The loss of Dice and the leaving of the wizard were fey portents of the future. His mood turned grim that day.

By nightfall, the group was in sight of Kyre. Donnchadh called for camp here, to make the rest of the journey in the morning. Kyre was an unusual town and he felt that arriving in the midst of darkness would not aid them in their cause. As the fire was readied, the sound of horse galloping caught Donnchadhs attention. "On your toes!" he whispered, reaching for his warhammer

[Jaeveron]

"Black Moon, Black Star... Beware, Beware, Sister of the Path."

As they travelled on the new day, Jaeveron muttered those few words over and over again to herself, a shiver sent down her spine at each utterance. She kept constant watch along the road, eyeing the wildlife and nothing much else. To her approval, it was an uneventful day's travel.

Once they stopped for the evening, the ranger took a post against a large oak tree, leaning her back against its massive trunk. The travelling companions were busy caring for themselves in preparations for one final evening upon the open fields before arriving in Kyre. Jaeveron eyed the others as they went about their motions, silently wandering if they, too, had heard the same words. Could they be hiding the truth, as well? Perhaps I should tell them, Jaeveron thought as a nominal force held her in place. As she lowered her eyes to the longsword before her, the ranger once again set whetstone to metal and sharpened the weapon.

"Black Moon, Black Star... Beware, Beware, Sister of the Path." Her eyes then rose as Donnchadh sounded a warning. Quickly the ranger lifted from the ground and shifted into a grouching position, ears trained in the direction Donnchadh had been watching. The whetstone returned to her pouch, longsword at the ready for any possible signs of combat.

[Reghar]

Marlamin got off his horse, and looked ahead at the town in front of them. It'd feel good to sleep in a bed again...suddenly he remembered that Don had asked him a question the other day when the bandits had attacked. Trying to remember what his answer was, the elf went over to talk to the dwarf again...when he said "on your toes!" and they all distinctly heard horses hooves coming towards them. "Don't we ever get a break?" sighed Marlamin. He looked forward. Elves can generally see farhter distances than the other races, with the exception of Kender. He tapped Donnchadh on the shoulder, and whispered, "those horse-riders wear armor. But...it's strange armor. I've never seen anything like it... What shall we do?"

[jeran]

when kira heard Donnchadh tell the party to be on their toes, she immediately drew her sword, but kept it lowered to her side. it wasn't yet clear if the hoofbeats were of friend or foe. until Donnchadh gave the word, she would stay her hand. what little she had seen of the dwarf's fighting instincts were enough to let her know he would alert them at the slightest hint of danger. she tried to stay close to Marlamin, remembering his wounded arm, and thinking of how shaken he had looked after their last skirmish. she had no doubt that he could hold his own, but thier number had already dwindled, and there was no reason to risk losing another member of the party.

[Heron]

OOC: Okay guys have some fun with this, Donnchadh will remain silent unless asked to do different. Until Aspen gets back on full-time I am going to use her for this encounter.

IC: The outriders of Kyre rode up to the camp. The three weathered, grizzled men wore jackets of steel and leather leggings. Their brown cloaks were soaked with sweat and stained with mud. The leader pushed to the front. He was a big bastard, with three-day growth of whiskers and brown eyes. His gaze glanced over the group. Seeing something that made him at ease, he seems to relax. "Greetings, I am First Rider Cohen. Are we well-met?"

[jeran]

when kira saw that the approaching men were outriders, she moved a step behind Marlamin. she had risked her neck for this group, but wasn't ready to risk their lives for her. she sheathed her sword, but put a hand on the dagger in her sleeve, just in case. she consciously tried to slow her breathing, which had become erratic when she recognized the outrider uniforms.
if she remained calm, maybe they wouldn't recognize her. if they did, well, at least it would be interesting.

[Aspen]

CiCi stood behind Donnchadh and fumbled through her pouches till she found the stones that were left over form their fight with Aodh's men. then something cought her eye. On the bottom of the horses hooves were horseshoes! CiCi had heard about horseshoes and even seen a kender drawing of one but she had never seen one herself, and now , right infront of her were 12! Oh, how thrilling! CiCi started to walk towards them when she brushed past Donnchadh. Then a thought came to her: what if the horses were ticklish? What if they trampled her? CiCi had bin trampled by pigs once, and athough it was exciting, she suffered a broken rib, something she prefered not experiance again. And if she was trampled, what would the others do without her? She was sure Donnchadh would be so full of saddnes that he wouldn't be able to go on with is quest. And all of Thorbardin would fall in the hands of dwaves like Aodh. All because she had to get a closer look at a horseshoe.
CiCi stopped and sat down on the ground infront of Donnchadh. There she planned to stay till a fight broke out or it was time to sleep: which ever came first.

[Heron]

Donnchadh sat in front of the fire as the First Rider introduced himself. He lit his pipe, and looked at the others. Kira was shivering, and not because of the night air. Fear was in her eyes, not good. Probably on the lam from Kyre and here, she was in the middle of his camp. Jaeveron was tense. Her neck muscles stood on end. Poor lass, as much subtly as a ...dwarf. He chuckled at his own joke. Marlamin look sick. Was it his wound or the sinking feeling one gets when new to the ways of the world? Either he better get over it quick or he would be dead. As always CiCi was not perturbed, if anything she looked solemn, which is a milestone for a Kender. This left poor Dalgrin, who now made a terrible mistake.

"Nice to give us yer name horse rider, but what, if any, business is it of yours who we are, ah?"

Dalgrin pulled himself up; he was now a little over four feet tall. Donnchadh expected anything except what the man called Cohen did, he smiled. They say people who smile are known to be dangerous, that a smile such as his is not in amusement or joy but aggression. Cohen was not happy. An along with his anger, his memory caught up. His eyes narrowed and he spit.

"Look boys, its the chit those tin knights are looking for. The one who pilfered Lord Geoffrey’s silver."

The other two out-riders nodded in recognition and then drew their crossbows. If anything, Cohen smile grew.

"So what will it be, eh?" He said, his own hand holding a sword.

[jeran]

kira's stomach dropped at the words of the outrider. so they were still looking for her! her mind raced as she tried to think of a way out of this predicament. if she tried to run, one of those bolts would surely find a home in her back, and that would leave Donnchadh and the rest of the party to fend for themselves. as much as she wanted to use anything possible for a distraction, she was not willing to let these people die for a few peices of silver. she had spilled blood with these people, and in her mind, that made them companions.
"Donnchadh, i wish you luck in your noble quest, and hope that whatever gods you serve protect you and your friends on your journey. hopefully our paths will cross again in the not too distant future."
laying her hands open at her sides, she spoke now to the outriders.
"i don't suppose you'd let me walk away if i were to repay the price of the silver?"
her weak and hopeful smile was met with Cohen's derisive sneer. "i think not, wench."
kira sighed. she had gotten herself out of worse predicaments. with any luck she could get out of this one with her head, and with the party being left alone to continue thier quest.
"it's to the jail then, i assume?"

[Heron]

OOC: Dalgrin, Jaeveron and Reghar if you see this plz post if ye can. Aspen will be on tomorrow.


IC: Donnchadh watched the scene unfold before him. He was still reluctant to act though. He had staked the clans respect on this quest and to have it go to the wind now was something he was reluctant to do. He thought quickly, eyeing Kira as he did. She fought on a whim for him, not an easy thing to do. Sighing, he coughed into his hand, and then looked up at the Out Rider. "Aye, Horseman, we will accompany you to Kyre to stand for this girl." He shot Dalgrin a scathing look, then motioned for the group to break camp and follow the Out Riders. As he stamped the fire, he heard more horses in the distance, obliviously the other part of this patrol.

[Reghar]

OOC: Hehheh...Cohen...that reminds me of that 80 year old barbarian in Terry Pratchett's books...*ahem*, sorry.

IC: Marlamin watched as Kira was taken hold of by the riders from Kyre. He watched in silent horror. He put his hand to his arm, where he had been hit, and sidled over to Donnchadh. "You have a plan, I'm assuming? Because I won't see her get sent to jail. She risked her life for us, we should risk ours for her."

[Heron]

"Taken a fancy have ye?" Donnchadh looked at the elf with a crooked smile. He watched as the Out Riders tied Kira up then placed her on the back of one the horses. "Aye, elf, I may at that." His gaze fell on CiCi as he got on his horse. "Just mind Dalgrins kender of a mouth and no worries, eh?"

[Aspen]

CiCi Smiled at one dwarf than the other. "Ok, I'll keep him out of trouble till you get back."

[Heron]

Donnchadh dared a look at the Out Riders. The one called Cohen was busy assisting the other with Kira, leaving one eyeing the group. He muttered an imprecation at the Kender, and then whispered. "Fool brainless clay box! You go with me and the Elf!" His face was nearly blue with anger “Dalgrin and Jaeveron will follow behind us!" He pulled his beard then motioned for the Kender to ride with Marlamin.

[Aspen]

"That sounds like much more fun!" She turns to Marlamin. "Well, let's go!"

[jeran]

The outriders were less than gentle when binding kira's hands and throwing her over the back of one of the horses. "Hey! I should bring you a pretty decent reward from the Solamnics, so you would think you could be a tad more polite! I'm not a sack of grain, you know." This only managed to bring about a swift smack to the back of her head.
"Quiet girl. You'll get off this horse soon enough. And when you do, you may very well wish to be back on it!"

She hoped desperately that the other members of the party would just go on their way and not do anything foolish. about the time she was thinking this, she heard Donnchadh tell the outriders that the group would follow them into Kyre. She wanted to tell him to stay were he was, and keep the others as far from danger as possible. However, she bit back the words, not wanting to draw any more attention to them than necessary.

[Heron]

OOC: Sorry, tried to wait on Jaeveron. Raenere post at your leisure.


IC:

Donnchadh remained silent as the group followed the Out Riders. He thought of the Forgers and how as he is Daewar he could fall so far from the mark. In his growing depression, Donnchadh looked at the others, feeling how they must think him a fool. It could not be helped. Enough blood has been spilt in this quest and no more if he has his way.
“Jaeveron, Dalgrin, stay here and mind our business,” He said. “Come, let us ride.” He spurred his horse after Marlamin and the others.

[Ranere]

OOC: Thanks for letting me join.

Name: Ranere
Gender: Male
Age: 120
Race: Silvanesti Elf
Class: Ranger
Weapons: Sword, Bow, two daggers
Armor/Clothes: Leather armor
Accessories/Other: Quiver
Appearance: Long light brown hair, Blue eyes, 6'2, muscular built, scar across eye.

There was a rustle in a tree above, followed by an arrow to one of the outriders neck. The outrider slumped over and fell to the ground. Gracefully, an Elf jumped to the ground from the tree. Removing a dagger from its sheath strapped to his leg, he spoke.
“Let the woman go, or you will soon meet your death.”
Cohen sat upon his horse, smirking at the elf’s arrogance.
“Two against one, this shall be interesting.” Cohen said.
“It shall” the elf said, twirling his blade with his fingers.
Unsheathing a second dagger, the elf ran at the two outriders. With a signal from Cohen, he and the other remaining outrider charged towards the elf. Dodging the swords of the outriders, he managed to slide between the two horses. Cutting the straps to the saddles, the two outriders fell to the ground. Before the outrider could sit up, the elf was atop of him. Shoving the outrider back to the ground, the elf buried the two daggers deep into the outrider’s chest.
“The offer still stands.” The elf said, removing his sword from its scabbard.
“And I still stand on my answer” Cohen replied.
“Then you are a fool,” the elf said.
Cohen stood up, sword at hand, ready to fight. They charged at each other, meeting with a clash. Cohen swung his sword; the elf blocked it with his sword. Kicking Cohen in the stomach, the elf attacked with his sword, slashing Cohen across his chest. Wincing at the pain, Cohen ran at the elf, sword raised. Spinning out of the way, the elf planted his sword in Cohen’s back.
Helping Kira down from the horse, he removed her bindings, and bowed.
“Ranere, at your service.”

[jeran]

Kira merely stood blinking at the elf. It had all happened so fast, it took her a moment to register what had just happened. Rubbing her chafed wrists, she returned the elf's courtly bow.
"And apparently I would be at YOUR service now, sir elf. I thank you for your assistance. I am in your debt, and will repay it, somehow. Now,I do not wish to sound rude or ungrateful, but we may wish to make our escape complete now. When that second group of outriders arrives, they will be none too happy with your brilliant handy-work."
Flashing him a charming smile, she turned to find Marlamin and CiCi only a few yards away, with Donnchadh not far behind.
"Donnchadh, I now find myself in your debt too. I apologise for risking the fate of the party, and of your quest. I will understand if you wish to part ways at this point. But rest assured, whether we part ways now, or further down the road, you have given me something to believe in, and I will not rest until your fabled Helm is found and returned."
With that, Kira turned and retrieved her sword, as well as the Outriders' money pouches.
"The other Outriders should be here any second, so we will need to either go our seperate ways, or race away now. Either way, someone will need to alert Jaeveron and Dalgrin."

[Reghar]

Marlamin got off his horse. "I don't know about you, Don, but I can't imagine going on without you, Kira, you've been a valuable asset to the team." Marlamin smiled, and turned to the other Elf. "And I say the same to you, sir. You've saved us a bit of time, for which I, at least, am very greatful. The name's Marlamin Hollysword."

OOC: Are you Qualinesti or Silvanesti, Renere? I'm Silvanesti, I need to decide whether I hate you or not ;)

[Ranere]

OOC: I'm a Silvanesti Elf.

[Aspen]

CiCi could hardly believe her luck! Marlamin had left her incharge of his horse! She had never had her very own horse before! Oh, how exciting!
But ofcourse there was this new elf that just rescued Kira. It would be roud for her and her new steed to wonder off without introducing herself... first. CiCi jumped down off of the horse, walked over to the new elf and extended her hand. "Hello, My name is CiCi Quickfingers! You should really join us. We're on a quest. It is so exciting! I've never been on a quest before, have you?" She turned to see Donnchadh approuching. "Donnchadh, I found the most interesting elf! He took care of the big bad men and saved Kira!"
OOC:Welcome Ranere! :)

[Heron]

OOC: Just play along group. Act surprised and nervous. Ranere, PM if you have any questions. Another note. As I have just got the War of Lance sourcebook. Ill will be making some changes to the story. The name of the area the group is located is Lemish.


IC: Seeing his men fall, Cohen hurled himself forward, swinging his sword as the elf turned back towards him. He hacked at it, a mighty blow that would have cleft a small tree in two from trunk to branch, but the elf sidestepped. The weapon missed and it threw him off balance and Cohen died with a curse on his lip.
It had all taken less than a minute.
The elf hovered over the bodies, three dead things that once had been men. Kira thought, sadly, of Durian, her brother Knight from Kyre who had sworn to protect it. He would be a fourth, now, if he were here. A mercy, perhaps, that he was not.
Donnchadh was horrified.
He watched, his whole body turning cold, as the elf turned towards Kira. It smiled, long bloodstained sword hanging, and he knew he had to do something. There was no anger-only sorrow that after all he had gone through, it came to this. He reached to his side, drawing out his warhammer from beneath his saddle.
“Elf!” He screamed. “Harken to me!”

[Ranere]

Ranere stood listening to Kira’s words, when a small hand poked its way between them. He gently took her hand into his as she spoke.
"Hello, My name is CiCi Quickfingers! You should really join us. We're on a quest. It is so exciting! I've never been on a quest before, have you?" the kender spoke rapidly.
“Hello, my name is Ranere.” He spoke.
He dropped CiCi's hand and grabbed hilt of his sword, when he heard someone call out.
“Elf, hearken to me!”
Turning his head, he saw a dwarf walking towards him, warhammer at his side.

[Heron]

OOC: Ranere I was still on my horse. ;)

IC: The situation was disastrous, the consequences that accompanied it even more so. Donnchadh took a breath, held it, pointed his hammer, and spoke.
“Mai verzeihen die Schmiede mir, betäuben!” He raised the hammer, “Betäuben Sie!” He threw the hammer to the ground. “Betäuben Sie!”
Thunder boomed when the hammer hit the ground. Ranere felt a shock and then his world erupted in pain. He screamed. And darkness took him.
Donnchadhs eyes flew open. He was still on his horse. Nearby, his friends were staggering and shaking their heads. The group shrugging off the spell. Donnchadh fell from his horse. The world slipped away into darkness and thunder.

[jeran]

Kira shook her head trying to clear the ringing from her ears and focus on what had just happened. Donnchadh and Ranere both lay on the ground, unconscious, and showed no signs of life. Marlamin and CiCi both looked as confused and shocked as Kira felt. Running over to Donnchadh, she checked to make sure that he was breathing normally. When she saw that he seemed to be, she checked the elf. He too seemed to be alive, and she breathed a sigh of relief. Looking up at Marlamin, she spoke quickly.
"They are alive. We need to move them before those other Outriders arive. If they find us here like this, there will be no trial, we will be killed. If we can manage to get Donnchadh on your horse, do you think you could take him back to our campsite to warn the others? I can take the elf."
Now she knelt down next to CiCi, who was looking at Donnchadh with a very un-kenderlike expression of sadness.
"CiCi, I have something VERY important to ask of you. This could be the most important thing you've ever done. It could save Donnchadh's life. How would you like to have, not one, but TWO horses of your very own? I need you to ride behind me on Donnchadh's horse and lead two other horses behind us. Do you think you can manage that?"

[Reghar]

Marlamin paused for a moment, after the innitial shock of Donnchadhs attack. He clutched at his heart when it stopped, and reeled over for a moment, feeling like he would throw up. He managed to regain his composure, but had broken out in a cold sweat. He listened to Kira's plan and grabbed Don, but had difficulty lifting the stout dwarf onto a horse. He managed however. "What was I thinking?" he muttered. "I've been around you humans and Dwarves and Kender and Half-Ogres and bandits and traveling for too long! I don't like this! I don't like death! I can't take this!" He leaned onto his horse for support, fearing another panic attack. He looked down at the bodies of the three dead outriders. "No..." he muttered. "I'm in too deep now." Swallowing in deep irregular gulps, Marlamin mounted his horse and set off back towards camp.

[Aspen]

Now she knelt down next to CiCi, who was looking at Donnchadh with a very un-kenderlike expression of sadness.
"CiCi, I have something VERY important to ask of you. This could be the most important thing you've ever done. It could save Donnchadh's life. How would you like to have, not one, but TWO horses of your very own? I need you to ride behind me on Donnchadh's horse and lead two other horses behind us. Do you think you can manage that?"
CiCi wiped her tears away. "I can do that. Donnchadh would want me to, wouldn't he?" Mounting the dwarf's horse she took the lead ropes for the outriders horses from Kira.
CiCi had the worst feeling just below her ribs. it was like she had swollowed a squirrel and it was trying to crawl up her throught. Every time she thought of her friend laying there on the ground, unmoving, the feeling became worse.
CiCi looked down at kira and asked through tear filled eyes, "Is Donnchadh...is he going to be OK?"

[jeran]

Kira could tell that Marlamin was almost at his breaking point, but she also thought that he was stronger than he gave himself credit for. Poor elf looks like he needs a hug, she thought distractedly.
Looking back up at CiCi, she tried to look confident. "Of course he'll be okay! He's a dwarf. He's probably been through much worse than this. But right now we have to do our best to lead the Outriders away from our camp, so that Marlamin can get to Jaeveron and Dalgrin and warn them. If we want to help Donnchadh, this is the best way I can think of.
Now, all I need for you to do is to follow me, and lead the other two horses after us. We're going to lead the outriders away from our camp, and hopefully make them think that there are a lot of us going in the opposite direction that Marlamin just took. I know that you are very brave, and that you want to help Donnchadh, so I know you can help me do this. But, if those other outriders do catch us, I want you to run away, as far and as fast as you can. No matter what, you have to promise that you will run if we are caught, okay?"
With that and a desperate prayer to any and all Gods, Kira threw the unconscious elf across her horse's back and mounted behind him. Then, checking to be sure that CiCi was not having too much trouble following, she set off in the opposite direction Marlamin had taken.

[Aspen]

Kira could tell that Marlamin was almost at his breaking point, but she also thought that he was stronger than he gave himself credit for. Poor elf looks like he needs a hug, she thought distractedly.
Looking back up at CiCi, she tried to look confident. "Of course he'll be okay! He's a dwarf. He's probably been through much worse than this. But right now we have to do our best to lead the Outriders away from our camp, so that Marlamin can get to Jaeveron and Dalgrin and warn them. If we want to help Donnchadh, this is the best way I can think of.
Now, all I need for you to do is to follow me, and lead the other two horses after us. We're going to lead the outriders away from our camp, and hopefully make them think that there are a lot of us going in the opposite direction that Marlamin just took. I know that you are very brave, and that you want to help Donnchadh, so I know you can help me do this. But, if those other outriders do catch us, I want you to run away, as far and as fast as you can. No matter what, you have to promise that you will run if we are caught, okay?"
With that and a desperate prayer to any and all Gods, Kira threw the unconscious elf across her horse's back and mounted behind him. Then, checking to be sure that CiCi was not having too much trouble following, she set off in the opposite direction Marlamin had taken.CiCi nodded. She could do that. She was just as brave as any other kender. Giving the lead ropes a jerk, CiCi and her steed followed Kira.

[Heron]

OOC: Reghar, as you head north back towards camp, you hear Kira & CiCi cryout, calling for help. At the sametime, you also hear it from Jaeveron and Dalgrin as well. Make a choice.

JAEVERON & MARLAMIN
Dalgrin was frustrated. If Donnchadh failed, the quest would be in danger. And that, more than anything, bolstered his determination to survive and complete the quest.
To his surprise, Jaeveron was not worried. He'd hoped the ranger would be as nervous as he was, but instead she sharpened her blade, a habit that irritated him.
“My friend,” said Jaeveron, noticing his worried expression, “Do not fear.”
Dalgrin felt his cheeks color. “I’m not scared,” he lied. “Its just strange, staying behind here with you, instead of being with Donnchadh.”
Jaeveron smiled. She bent back to her sharpening, and the sound of it made Dalgrin want to scream. After today, one way, or another, he knew he would never know that smile again.

[Reghar]

Marlamin rode his horse as fast as he dared back towards camp. Donnchadh still lay stiff on the horse behind him. He hadn't moved sinse his attack against the other Elf. Marlamin was begining to grow deeply worried for his companion, and implored his horse to go faster. Just then, he heard screams coming from behind him. It was Kira and CiCi. Whirling around towards them, he tried to see what the problem was, but they were too far away. He resolved to go back and see what was wrong, when he heard more screams coming from behind him, where he had just been heading. Jaeveron and Dalgrin. He spun around on his horse again. Screams from every direction...something was horribly wrong.
He had to decide quickly which way to go: North, back to Jaeveron and Dalgrin at camp, or South, back to Kira and CiCi. He decided Kira and CiCi would need the help more, CiCi being not much of a fighter. Of course, neither am I, Marlamin thought grimly. However, if it was more outriders, there was probably little he could do, and if Donnchadh was caught, this mission would be a failure. He resolved that Kira could take care of herself and the Kender, and sped even faster towards camp, Jaeveron and Dalgrin.

[Heron]

OOC: The choice is made then. Enjoy. Digofein Passimo (Morcalivans Character) is being revealed as well as his connection to Dalgrin...Jaeveron is currently under a spell casted by Digofein.

CiCi & Kira:

CiCi cried. She was very pale. “You suppose he will be alright.”
“We did what we had to,” Kira replied. “It couldn’t have been different.”
CiCi was shaking her head. “But this wasn’t the plan. Donnchadh said all would be well.”
“No turning back now,” said Kira. She swatted the horses’ rump, urging the horse faster. “The elf didn’t do us any favors, though, CiCi. We'll have hell to pay for this.”
“Its all so horrible,” CiCi said. “Come tomorrow, what will we- Kira? What’s the matter?”
Kira was looking around, her eyes wide. “They’re here!” she cried. “They found us!”


Jaeveron,Dalgrin and Marlamin:

“What a pathetic sight.”
Dalgrin nearly died at the sound of the voice, so frigid a voice cutting through the warm night air. He felt the chill, heard the horses make a horrid sound as they suddenly turned to ice. Turning, he watched as several of the nearby flowers withered and died. A slim shape moved in the shadows.
“I was wondering where you had been," Dalgrin said. “You must be pleased with yourself.”
Jaeveron did not budge. She was stiff with fright.
Digofein chuckled. “Not at all,” he said. “In fact, I’ve come to take care of the matter. Personally.”
“What!” Dalgrin stared at the wizard. “But we’re trying to stop Donnchadh from destroying Realgar….” And then the screams began.

[Reghar]

Marlamin was almost at camp. He saw three figures, two of them he knew to be Dalgrin and Jaeveron, but the third one he couldn't make out. Suddenly the horse whinnied, threw it's front legs in the air, and knocked Donnchadh and Marlamin off. Donnchadh landed without so much as an "oof," but Marlamin shouted out, having landed on his wounded arm. Quickly regaining his composure, he stood up, looked nervously at the Dwarf, and decided he should be left there for now. His horse was galloping off into the horizon. That definetly wasn't a good sign.
Marlamin ran the remaining distance to camp, and slowed down when he noticed the grass under his feet was brown and dead. What in the name of the abyss was going on? The Elf felt sick to his stomach every time he stepped downward, crunching the dead grass. But he continued running, his sword in hand, until he made it to camp.
The only person he noticed at first was Jaeveron, who was standing against a tree, her eyes wide in horror. He looked around, and noticed Dalgrin was lying on the ground, a mangled mess. Following Jaeveron's eyes, he noticed something moving in the shadows. He turned to it, and saw who the third figure was.
"Digofein? You did this?" asked Marlamin in disbelief, but the mage disapeared into the shadows. He knelt down and felt for a pulse on Dalgrin. He found one, but it was weak. He turned to Jaeveron. "What happened?" he asked. She stared at him, as if she didn't recognize him.
Marlamin's mind raced. Jaeveron was obviously in shock, and Dalgrin was nearly dead. The mage who had been part of their group had done this, but why? Donnchadh was still out cold, Paladine knew where Kira and CiCi were now...was Marlamin the only one left?

[Heron]

OOC: Jeran, Aspen and Reghar this is the other outriders before they run into Kira and CiCi.


IC:

Earlier that night, a party of three strange priests sent by Bakaris approached across the clearing.
With scarcely a word to the outrider, they inspected the dead bodies and stared at the darkness.
“How will you find them?” they rasped.
The scout looked into their bandaged face.
“I scout.”
“Kill them,” they told him, and departed across the clearing.
The outrider hunched his shoulders and thought. He knew now then what fate awaited him if he failed.
Meanwhile, the men were becoming restless.
“Bakaris requires us to track down these outlaws,” he said. “Let us ride till we find them.”
The seven outriders saddled up and rode out into the darkness. And then found their quarry.

[jeran]

The blood seemed to freeze in Kira's viens when the outriders rode directly into thier path. She heard a scream. It took her a few moments to realize it was her voice. She quickly tried to calm herself. She managed to slow her breathing a bit, but her hands were still shaking uncontrollably. She quickly whispered to CiCi, "Remember what I told you. If things look like they could go badly, I want you to ride as fast as possible. Find Marlamin and warn him. Then both of you get as far away from here as you can."
She didn't have to try very hard to put a tremor in her voice as she hailed the approaching outriders.
"Thank the Gods you are here! We were ambushed! I was traveling to Kyre to visit my brother, and a group of bandits jumped out of the woods and attacked us. They nearly killed my hired escort! And I believe the brutes did slay a group of your fellows that tried to assist us. If it weren't for them, we never would have escaped. They took everything, and then disappeared back into the woods. I just can't feel safe! I don't know what we will do. We can't travel safely into Kyre, and I don't dare go back..."
Kira threw her hands over her face and began to fake great wracking sobs, the whole time praying silently that some God somewhere was watching and took pity on them.

[Heron]

The Forest and the Dwarf

Part Two

Lord Wilderness (Nockmort) was pleased. His plans went well. He peered through the trees, which enclosed the glade; he looked out towards the village at his enslaved army. Every person which came to the forest and which had not the will had been easily taken after they looked upon the baleful rock that lay nearby. Nuitari had sent the rock and Nockmort had paid him for his gift with the minds of all those in Caermish who resisted him. Now there was one last ambition to fulfill and then he and his slaves would be on their way to Nereka. . .
He turned and spoke to his companion. Aodh sat on an outcropping staring at the night sky, clad in the red robes he had been wearing when he attacked Donnchadhs group.
“See our army, Aodh! While the forces of light are scattered we shall march unhampered into Thorbardin and declare the city for Nuitari. Donnchadh cannot defend himself against us now. He fell so easily into our trap. He is a fool!”
Aodh made no response. Through all the days he had been away, Nockmort had grown more twisted.
“Fear not for the future, Aodh,” Nockmort continued. He chuckled. “You shall still be rewarded and stand with me in glory.”
Aodh’s voice was hollow and cold. He did not turn his head when he spoke. “You are insane, Nockmort.”



To Be Continued

[Aspen]

The blood seemed to freeze in Kira's viens when the outriders rode directly into thier path. She heard a scream. It took her a few moments to realize it was her voice. She quickly tried to calm herself. She managed to slow her breathing a bit, but her hands were still shaking uncontrollably. She quickly whispered to CiCi, "Remember what I told you. If things look like they could go badly, I want you to ride as fast as possible. Find Marlamin and warn him. Then both of you get as far away from here as you can."
She didn't have to try very hard to put a tremor in her voice as she hailed the approaching outriders.
"Thank the Gods you are here! We were ambushed! I was traveling to Kyre to visit my brother, and a group of bandits jumped out of the woods and attacked us. They nearly killed my hired escort! And I believe the brutes did slay a group of your fellows that tried to assist us. If it weren't for them, we never would have escaped. They took everything, and then disappeared back into the woods. I just can't feel safe! I don't know what we will do. We can't travel safely into Kyre, and I don't dare go back..."
Kira threw her hands over her face and began to fake great wracking sobs, the whole time praying silently that some God somewhere was watching and took pity on them.CiCi looked at Kira with concern, then it dawned on the kender what she was up to. Pulling her horse in beside Kira's, she reached out to console her, "Oh, mylady, don't cry! I'm sure it will be alright." CiCi started to get cought up in her role. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She took out Marlamin's handkerchief out of her pouch and blow her nose.

[Heron]

Donnchadh opened his eyes. His breathing was heavy and slow. He looked around, confused by the scenery. "What happened?"
Donnchadh coughed. A pain stabbed through his body. He seized his side and groaned. He shook his head and looked over at Marlamin. "Elf, what has happened, ah?"

CiCi & Jeran
“By order of the Blue Dragon Army, you will surrender. Now”
The Out Riders stared. A brute-faced human brought a saber to the lead rider. He seized the sword and swiped at the air. Then he spat at Kira, his face red with anger. “If you do not, we will execute you here!”

[Aspen]

CiCi & Jeran
“By order of the Blue Dragon Army, you will surrender. Now”
The Out Riders stared. A brute-faced human brought a saber to the lead rider. He seized the sword and swiped at the air. Then he spat at Kira, his face red with anger. “If you do not, we will execute you here!”
Well this was not going good at all! And Kira had told her if things looked like they could go badly to ride hard and warn the monk. CiCi grabbed onto the saddle horn and kicked her heals into the horses sides as hard as she could. The horse bolted, taking of at a full gallop towards the woods. The kender leaned forward and used the rains to whip the horses neck to presure the animal to go even faster. She couldn't hear the outriders behind her, but she was sure they were there.
Once she reached the woods, she slowed the horse and stopped a little ways in. CiCi dismounted and stood beside the horse for a moment. She had her very own horse and now she had to give it up! Some things wheren't fare! If only she could stick him in her pouch.
CiCi cut a green branch from a burch tree and with all her might, slapped the horses back side. The animal was all ready spooked from the chase so being whipped with the branch as all it took to make the animal bolt, crashing though the underbrush.
The kender ran in the other way, towards camp. She hoped the baddies chased the horse and didn't see her enter the long grass. Once she was there, they would be able to see her unless they stood right over top of her. She had a long run and if it wasn't for the full moons, she was sure she would have gotten lost. She hoped she could make it to Marlamin before the outriders did.

[SilentInfinity]

OOC: Greetings one and all. I bid everyone a fond welcome. Thanks for letting me join and participate. I'm eager to enter this story with you. For now I'll post my character I've written up. I tried to go into specific detail with his possessions, as a mage's wares can be very useful in times. They were purchased assuming an 8th level build using the 3.5 DMG, save for the staff which is the gift of his Testing.

Name: Davamros Melaphamiir
Race: Qualinesti Elf, male
Class: Wizard
Personality: Davamros is both charismatic and driven. His knowledge, both scholarly and worldly, is fueled by keen intelligence and patient wisdom. Uncharacteristically friendly, this white robed elf is highly dedicated to the “good” and “pure” purposes of his order. Magic, however, remains his truest ideal. He responds quickly for the weak, the underdog. Yet the Abyss take you if you threaten those that he loves. His dedication is power, his arcanist talents a weapon, but his conviction is his greatest strength.
Physical Description: Deep, blue-green eyes rest in a flawless face, an unblemished complexion of a forever-beautiful elven man. His face is smooth and hauntingly attractive, but his smile is warm and inviting. Golden blond tresses frame this face, a few locks falling over his smooth brow. The rest fall down gently onto slender shoulders, unaccustomed to heavy burdens but hinting to a gifted body. While this elf is not blessed with the barbarian’s strength, his form is toned and graceful, a swimmer’s boon or a dancer’s delight. He stands a few inches taller than 5 feet, supported by excellent posture. This youthful elven gentleman wears robes of purest white, touched with ivory and trimmed with silver. Whether he hides his form in the decorated scholar’s attire for privacy or by tradition is unknown, but the Qualinesti do not care save that the robes are purest white. Sharp contrasts to the pearl white wash of his costume are the palms of his hands permanently stained red as if by blood, one of two reminders from his Test.
Possessions: Headband of Intellect +4, Wand of Magic Missile[9th], Ring of Teleportation, Spell Component Pouch, Traveling Spellbook, Backpack, White Robes of Resistance+2, a long wooden staff made of pale pine with silver bands and capped by a large, spherical moonstone.

Edit: Added Ring.

[Reghar]

OOC: Greetings, SilentInfinity.

IC: "Elf, what has happened, ah?" called out Donnchadh. Marlamin looked over to where the Dwarf was struggling to stand up on the border of camp.
"Don!" called out Marlamin nervously. "Everything's gone wrong...the wizard's betrayed us, Dalgrin's on the verge of death, Jaeveron's in shock, and CiCi and Kira have gone missing...it all hapened so fast...what did you do to that Elf?" Marlamin paused, decided to let that all sink in. "I think Kira and CiCi might still be ok...but we have to do something for Dalgrin and Jaeveron. I won't be much help to you by myself," the Elf said, smiling grimly. Suddenly something caught his eye, off near the horizon. It was a horse, running by. Marlamin tensed nervously, when he noticed the horse bore no rider. That was strange...

[SilentInfinity]

In the night there are spectres and fearsome terrors that threaten the bravery of a world’s people. Yet even in the darkness of midnight there is hope that shines above, brightening a sky of pitch and emptiness. These stars burn with a fire that only time can conquer. Eons pass and this brilliance does not waver; each flicker of light dances and churns with passion unyielding. Millions of these tiny wonders inspire the imagination and drive the soul.

Constellations of the celestial, and infernal, beings that ruled the world (driving its kindness or its hatred) gather stars together in shapely fashion. Many watch the skies at night, looking to these reminders of that something greater, that divine hope. For even in darkness there is light; even in sorrow there is hope. But where have these majesties gone?

One star burns brighter than all others. The elves of the Qualinesti took from their cousins’ love of the stars a more refined appreciation. The Sun warms the day with its heat and brightens each morning with its radiance. Only in Qualinost will one find the Speaker of the Sun. Only in Qualinost will marble and crystal delight the senses by harnessing the infinite beauty of the Sun.

Such thoughts were comfort to the young white robe as he commanded his ring of teleportation to summon him away from the Tower of Wayreth. His destination and purpose were not of common ilk. Renegade activity was never a pleasing manner.

How Davamros hoped to persuade this foolish man to change his doomed lifestyle. Unfortunately, this did not seem possible. Combat was often inevitable with the renegades, though he himself had only come upon one other shortly after his Test. Perhaps that is why the Conclave had asked him to investigate this one.

Digofein was his name, said to be traveling with a group of mixed company. Davamros had chuckled to himself quietly at the statement but quickly, it left his mind. There were more important matters to concentrate upon in these times…

The Camp (with Don and Marlamin):
At first it was a burning point of light but it grew and stretched like a birthing starburst. In a matter of seconds, the darkness was ripped asunder by the brilliance and shadows dashed away into dark corners. The shadows snuck back into place as the light receded but they were surprised to find someone in its place.

He was statuesque and fluid, a being carved of moonlight and diamonds. His flesh was warmed by the Sun’s rays and tanned a gold by them as well. With eyes a sea elf may have doted upon, a man looked upon a troubled scene. He held his staff of pine close to the cotton ivory of his robe, the silver hems catching glints of full-moonlight to an otherwise beautiful moonstone atop the staff.

The elf’s lips were supple and sweet as they parted, though truly not as soft and delicious as his voice was to the ears. “I am Davamros…Melaphamiir, mage of the White. By the light of the silver moon, what has happened here? This woman appears enchanted…perhaps by the renegade Digofein?” He looked quickly about him, blond locks tossed from side to side as he quickly guessed at the situation.

The woman was human but carried the wares of the elves, certainly then a scout of notable guard and a forester if ever there was one. She stood transfixed by whatever magic had been wrought. One dwarf, a Daewar by the looks of him, looked absolutely horrible, where miserable could have been noted though few dwarves without ale, a pipe, and a bearded lass were not miserable. The other looked better, but that was not saying much in Davamros’s opinion.

He quickly noted the facial expressions and body language of the two more active members of this camp just in case they took fear of him. Wizards (no matter what their following) were rarely well respected, but instead feared. He could not discount the possibility of the Silvanesti’s disdain for his presence but that was unimportant. Race relations would come another time.

[Heron]

In the distance was a bright light. Donnchadh shielded his eyes with his hand, peered at the brilliance. He chewed his lip, said “By the Forge sweat, another elf, ah!”
The addled dwarf lowered his hand to his side. Standing, he huffed a swear.
“What in the name of Reorx is going on?” Donnchadh stumbled forward on his wobbling legs. “Is that Dalgrin?”
Donnchadh looked at the mangled body, saw the lightning burns of the magical attack. He lowered his head, closed his eyes. “In the beginning, The Forge brought us the fire of Sirrion. Sirrion is the smith. Sirrion is the crafter. Sirrion is the maker. Reorx brought us the Fire, between metal and dwarf, steel and blacksmith, both thankful to the Forge. Nothing can break the Pact. Nothing can come between this Pact. Not even death.”
Donnchadh pressed his palms on Dalgrins eyes, and then rubbed dirt on his forehead. And then wished him to Reorx. He began to wail a sorrowful lament.

[jeran]

Kira had never seen the type of armor that these soldiers wore. Maybe Donnchadh wasn't too far off when he spoke of an evil spreading across the land. These men certainly did not put off a freindly aura.
"What exactly is this "blue dragon army", and why exactly should I surrender to it simply because you tell me I should? What business do you have with a lady simply traveling to visit family? I have been attacked, my escort has been nearly killed, I have been stopped by Outriders on my way to fetch help, no assistance was offered, and now, after all of this, I am simply supposed to surrender because some unknown "army" tells me to?! My question again. WHY should I?"
The rider with the saber pointed the weapon at Kira's neck and quietly spoke only three words. Three words that changed Kira's outlook on the situation.
"This is why."
The man began to slowly extend his reach, pushing the saber closer and closer to her neck. He did not stop when the point touched skin. Kira could not step back, as one of the men in the strange armor had moved close behind her. As the point dimpled the flesh of her neck, sweat broke out on her forehead. But she stood her ground, not yet willing to give up her charade. When the saber actually pierced the flesh, a small drop of blood running down her neck, she finally broke.
"Alright! I'll surrender. Whatever this dragon army is, I surrender to it. You have me. What you want with me I do not know. But I guess I'll find out."
The saber was lowered, but slowly. The leader made a motion with his hand, and his subordinates began to bind Kira's wrists. They were not gentle, but the only thing Kira could think about was whether CiCi was going to get far enough away, and whether Marlamin and Donnchadh had gotten away safely. It was uncharacteristic of her to think about anything except saving her own hide. It struck her as odd that the one image she kept seeing over and over in her mind was Marlamin looking distrought as he rode away with an unconscious Donnchadh.

[SilentInfinity]

The dwarf marveled at Davamros’s arrival for surely a plague of elves was about to wash over the land. It was momentary humor ended suddenly by powerful sorrow and laments that only a dwarf could muster. He sang his fellow to the next stage of life’s journey. Davamros paused in his action to honor the fallen soul while the passionate words of the Dwarf moved him.

The followers of Reorx were true and bold. Though they dwelt beneath the oft-toiled ground, their faith was a flickering candle in the darkness. This dwarf’s candle was bright and true, the likes of which was almost unseen from the elven race. Such faith was impressive but was it divine?

Solinari shone above, a silver orb of pure light. Davamros knew the truth of his presence and remained silent. He bowed his head, blond locks falling casually forward, in graceful memory of the deceased and made his prayers to the glory above him. His oceanic eyes remained opened, however. They watched for danger or treachery at this solemn moment.

After the moment had passed the mage lifted his voice over the sound of hooting owls and insectoid songs. “Dalgrin be well in his next journey. You have sent him off with considerable honor, sir. Now please tell me, has Digofein done this?” He leaned forward on his staff as he stood though not out of fatigue. This position just always seemed to put the ears of others at a level more willing to listen.

[Ranere]

Ranere woke with his eye's closed, the pain still coursing slowly through his body. He winced at every pulse within his body. Opening his eye's, he saw a man on a horse pointing a saber torwards her throat. Closing his eye's again, Ranere pretended to still be unconscious. He heard her cry out, and surrender to the men on horses. "There was no way out of this," Ranere thought to himselves. Even if he could get to his sword, there death would come soon after. So, he lay there on the horse, contemplating a way of escape. He felt his hands being binded behind his back, but still he lay upon the house.

[Aspen]

CiCi's heart was pounding and her little legs were burning. Still she ran on. So intent on reaching her friends before the baddies did, She didn't even stop to poke at a badge as it slumbered.
Just before she reached camp, the tall grasses turned brown and crunchy. The closer she came to camp the shorter the grass was till she could see their camp and some of her companions just standing there.
CiCi ran into camp and found Donnchadh. "Donnchadh! Donnchadh! They have Kira! She said that if things go ugly that I was to ride back here as fast as I could and warn Marlamin that there was trouble and that we were to run away as fast as we can, and the baddies came and said "We're the bad guys from the Blue Dragon Army" and they made Kira cry and I road my horse as fast as i could into the woods and then he went one way and I came here..." Just then the kender sees Dalgrin's body. She gasps,"Oh no! What happened? I'm to late. I ran as fast as I could. I tryed to beat the bad men here. Donnchadh, I didn't stop for anything, honest! I'm sorry, I didn't get here before they did!" CiCi puts her face in her hands and crys.

[SilentInfinity]

Elven ears heard an approaching something only seconds before clever, watchful eyes caught sight of the approaching kender. He had about as much fear of kender as any kender would have of him. Still, Davamros did not enjoy it when his spell components went on a walkabout.

Just as he had finished his question she came bounding into camp, the look of earnest in her eyes. Her wild, exclaiming explanation of the trouble she had fled, leaving a presumably fellow comrade by the name of Kira behind, was severely troubling. Davamros was surprised she managed to breathe through it all.

Now there are many seriously sorrowful sad events that can occur in a lifetime: the passing of a parent, the loss of one’s true love, or the escape of one’s magic. Yet none of those events could compare with the sight of a crying kender. It was like joy and curiosity had found the end of all things, there was nothing left to explore, and then been struck by the horrible weight of timeless sorrow. Torn asunder, these two wondrous traveling companions were left cheerless and heartbroken.

The kender would see her friend again, but not for some time. Her tears were moving but Davamros had made his prayers. His mind now rested on other things and this Blue-Dragon-Army. The weight of the wizard remained on his staff of pine, silver, and magic.

[Reghar]

"They have Kira..." mumbled Marlamin in disbelief. He hoped beyond hope that the Kender was telling a wild tale, but he couldn't believe that anything short of what she said had happened would be able to bring CiCi to such a state of hysterics. Saying a quick prayer, asking for Kira to remain ok, he turned to this other Elf, a Qualinesti. "Greetings," he said, unable to hide a tint of coldness in his response towards his Qualinesti cousin, "I am Marlamin Hollysword of house Cleric. If I may answer your query, yes, it was indeed the mage Digofien who did this. I was on my way here, and arrived just in time to see him disapear into those shadows over there...I was too late to stop his attack on Dalgrin..." he paused. "The mage had been part of our group. There was something shifty about him, certainly, but I admit that I had been a fool and hadn't put much thought into it."

[SilentInfinity]

Davamros thought on this only for a minute, a warmth to his aura as he regarded his cool cousin. He responded quickly, his voice in kind though wary in tone, “Well met Marlamin Hollysword. It would make sense for Digofein to entreat his deviousness into your circle. Sometimes a wooly cover is best fit for the wolf.”

The mage risked further comment, worried though he was of the Silvanesti’s response. “Do not regard yourself a fool for simply overlooking his behavior. Many wizards cloak themselves in illusion and mystery. It is often for your own protection, as much as their own. Still, you have been occupied by other more immediate and obvious dangers,” Davamros sighed and made a faint gesture to the camp.

Another bow of his head was offered to the progenitor cousin as blue-green orbs swept up in question. “Allow me to join your party. I will do my best to make up for Digofein’s behavior, negative actions and misuse of magic while I seek him out to end his renegade ways. In this adventurous time I only believe it best for we to join our efforts, considering how closely our desires run together.”

He paused again, rising to stand and resting the sublime chords of his voice. Certainly this mage of Solinari had forsaken a profitable and famous bardic life. Davamros rested his staff upon his chest and let the sleeves of his robes consume his smooth-fleshed hands. His arms folded over the staff, the golden runes on whitest fabric beautiful and nearly pulsing with power. Indeed, the silver moonlight coupled with the crimson glow of his cousin’s abode bathed the entire camp in hope. The Qualinesti elf did enjoy the proper touches of drama.

“Please, let me join you and your friends, cousin. I had come for Digofein but I desire to do more than simply apprehend his blasphemous robe. I will add sorcery’s good graces to avenge Dalgrin and rescue this Kira. Let parallel lines meet.”

[jeran]

Kira had been bound tightly at wrists and ankles and placed across the back of her horse. Ranere had been treated about the same, across the back of the same horse. The rode face downward, and so she was not able to get a good sense of the direction they were traveling. She assumed that they were heading towards town, but she could not be sure. She thought at one point that she felt Ranere move next to her, but it must have been the movement of the horse, because she did not feel it again.
The dragon army soldiers were riding in front, leading the way, and the outriders kept the rear guard, whispering among themselves. Kira could not find a way out of this predicament. There was no chance of escaping without them catching her almost immediately.
She found herself thinking again of the rest of the party. Wherever he was, she desperately hoped that Marlamin had managed to get the group to safety. If CiCi had managed to warn them in time, there was a chance.
Mentally swearing lifelong alegiance to any god that would watch over her friends, she said a special prayer that Marlamin would realize his inner strength and lead the companions to safety, and eventually to thier goal.

[Heron]

Kira & Ranere:

Dawn rose as the outriders rode back to the camp. They covered the last few miles without a word, riding with their blindfolded captives forward on a winding game trail. At last, the fiery orb of the sun was rising; they passed sentries and rode into the campground where the bandaged priests waited.
Kira and Ranere were moved from the horses quickly, their blindfolds ripped off. The outriders dragged them into the camps central yard. Stony silence and wary glances greeted them.

[Aspen]

CiCi wiped her tears away and blow her nose on Marlamin's hanky. She looked around to see Jaeveron in shock and someone she didn't know. Well, nothing cheers a kender up like making a new friend... except for her pouches of course.
As CiCi skipped over to the tall elf, her face started to lighten up. by the time she stood infront of him she was almost feeling better.
"Hello!" She said with a large kender grin as she extended her hand to him. "My name is CiCi Quckfingers. And these are my friends." Then something occured to her: what if he was the one that had done this? The smile dissapeared from her face and she withdrew her hand. "Did you do this to my friends?"

[Heron]

OOC: Kyre has been retcon to Elmwood. Caermish is the new southren objective.

IC: Donnchadh:

Donnchadh ignored his surroundings. He was with Reorx. He waved his hand. Stone rose from the dead ground. He placed his head on the stone. He wailed in ancient dwarven.


Kira & Ranere:

The outriders smiled at the prisoners. They pat each other on the back. The bandaged priests looked on in silence.
Manuel moved quickly to the camps central yard, watching as his fellows forced their captives down on their knees upon the dusty ground. His eyes settled on the two figures. One was the thief from Elmwood who had fled from Lemish a year ago. The second was a Silvanesti elf, a ranger who seemed too frail for his trade. He scowled.
“You have failed. There is only two!”
One by one, the outriders backed away from the captives, glancing at their leader. Manuel’s gaze fell upon the lead rider last, snarling, he sucked in a breath, then exhaled. A cone of fire engulfed the outrider who screamed then died.
Everyone turned at the grisly sight. The strange young scout was looking at the captives, his fire-orange eyes gleaming. Now he looked up, sweeping the camp with his strange gaze.
“Lure the others. Kill them,” he said. Manuel turned and walked away

[SilentInfinity]

Davamros bowed his head in a grand affair. “No, I am not the one who did this. This is but part of the dangerous design of Digofein, a renegade I mean to stop, dear lady,” he spoke sweetly, though the tone brought fierce rise to his voice at the mention of the vile mage’s name.

Blond locks shook through the air as he turned his head, “No…no, I am not he. My name is Davamros Melaphamiir and I am a mage of the white order. And-“

He stopped abruptly, his banter having already bored the now cheerful, now borrowing, kender. She seemed to be fondling his balls of bat guano. Oh that was messy business for those quick fingers. “You might want to be careful with that. Too much attention and it could go off.”

A smile graced his lips as he continued, “The fireball spell. Those are but one part of the casting. Yet, perhaps…” Light glimmered in sea-borne eyes. “If you think you are capable,” the elf looked the kender up and down, “Maybe you could keep some components for safe-keeping. I would need someone good-hearted and brave. Do you think you could guard them?”

While the mage of Solinari spoke, dexterous fingers produced a miniature prism from an silk-lined pocket, a bit of fur from a small pouch at his right, fragrant rose petals from inside his robe, and a handful of tiny crystal beads from a catch on his belt. He held these in his hands for the kender to see. They were not all he had of such necessities, but perhaps a small amount of responsibility and trust would reassure the graygem child.

How good it was to see her smile. There was hope yet in this world and it was bright.

[jeran]

Kira spoke to the retreating soldier's back.
"If we are to die, would you at least indulge one last request? Explain to me why a girl and an elf are important enough for this Army to track down and kill? What importance could we possibly have to a supposed "Dragon" army? We obviously pose no threat to you. We know nothing of your cause or your battles, and I for one have never even heard of you."
At these last words, the soldier slowly turned towards them, a small smile creasing his lips. It was not a pleasant smile.

[Aspen]

CiCi watched with awe as the mage revealed a miniature prism from an silk-lined pocket, a bit of fur from a small pouch at his right, fragrant rose petals from inside his robe, and a handful of tiny crystal beads from a catch on his belt. He held these in his hands for her to see. She took these spell componants with glee. She would keep them safe along with the two black stones, the large ruby and the small silver locket with the young elveish woman. CiCi placed all these items in her pouch. She felt much better now.
CiCi cleared her through, put her hands on her hips and tryed to "rally the troops". "Well, what are we standing around here for? Doesn't anyone think we should go get Kira and the other guy and get this quest moving?"

[Reghar]

Besides trusting the kender with magical ingrediants, Marlamin was impressed by the Qualinesti Mage. All his life he had been told that the Qualinesti were a breed of Elves not worth dealing with, but Davamros seemed as intelligent and kind an Elf as Marlamin had ever met. He coughed awkwardly. "I apologize for my harsh tone earlier...cousin, things have just been tense around. One of our companions has been killed, another captured." He sighed, wondering if Kira was ok. Then he turned back to Davamros and bowed. "I welcome you to travel with us to apprehend the renegade wizard Digofien, cousin."
CiCi, who had been marveling over the spell components Davamros had entrusted her, seemed to gain a bout of courage, and made a short speech about saving Kira. Marlamin nodded, smiling. He had thought the mage insane at the time, but it appeared Davamros knew what he was doing. He patted the Kender on the shoulder. "Yes, we will save Kira," he said confidently. He looked back at the Elven mage. "And we will do it together," he added.

[SilentInfinity]

Davamros himself was inspired by the kender’s words and his cousin’s sentiments. “Thank you, Marlamin, I appreciate and accept your apology. I would we travel now to find and save Kira,” the white mage said, glancing to the still praying, still lamenting dwarf.

Who knew the short-legged race of the under-mountains to be so emotional? Granted, Davamros had already seen poetry in the kender’s behavior. The elf stood up straight, raising his staff in an offensive position. Mentally he made sure he had at least an additional amount of magical components that he had given CiCi. He was ready.

“Together.”

[Heron]

OOC: hey gang sometime in the wee hours I will be posting an update and chapter end to this part of the story. Dont let that stop your PCs from posting though;)


IC:

Donnchadh laid down on the ground, breathing, trying to calm himself from the ritual. Praying with such fervor had taken a lot from him. He smiled. It was worth it. Reorx heard his prayer.
As he set up he saw Dalgrins body begin to smolder then with a roar of wind burst into flames. He watched in silence as his childhood friend left for the Forgers home.
And then he looked around. He saw the others. He stood up and walked over. He eyed Jaeveron who huddled near a tree, jerking to some nightmare. Her eyes moved beneath the lids. Swearing he turned, said, “Marlamin, boy, have you no sense? Go fetch me a horse blanket.”
Donnchadh laid Jaeveron on her back. He waited, muttering under his breath. In between checking the ranger, he would cast a glance at CiCi and the strange white robed elf.

[Heron]

The Forest and the Dwarf.

Part Three

The Blue Dragonarmy, Kira, and Ranere:

In the sky, a black moon, cloaked in clouds, sent down fey light that fell upon a dead forest where an army lay at rest.
Among the army a sacrifice was being performed. It celebrated in its hellishness. Two figures, cloaked in deep shadows, watched the soldiers performing the sacrifice while they, themselves, tried to calm wolves that snapped their jaws at the noise, growled, and strained their lash.
The shorter figure clung hard to his wolf’s lash and muttered.
“Why should this be necessary? Why could not we have camped at Caermish? Or at least some way station boasting some ale, however poor….”
“Because, Manuel, I wish our arrival in Caermish to be in order. If Bakaris knew of my coming- as he soon would if we went to Caermish- then he would send assassins. And then the feud would begin afresh. Would you welcome that?”
Manuel shrugged. “I still feel that your pursuit of this wizard is no more than a surrogate for real activity. You seek him because you do not wish to seek your proper destiny….”
Parin turned his ink-black face and regarded Manuel with pearl, empty eyes. “And what of it? You need not accompany me if you do not wish to….”
Again Manuel shrugged his shoulders. “Aye. I know. Perhaps I stay with you for the same reasons that you pursue the wizard Dalgrin.” He grinned. “So that’s enough of debate, eh, bundesphar Parintachin?”
“Debate achieves nothing,” Parin agreed. He patted his wolf’s flank as more soldiers, clad in Blue Dragonarmy leathers, came forward to take the orders and pass them onto the waiting army.
Struggling, whining through the muzzles restraining their snouts, the wolves were released, their paws digging at the dirt of the ground as if they had a demon on their tail. Then Parin and Manuel, their bundles on their backs, stepped from the shadows and climbed upon on their horses. The soldiers saluted with their swords and then armor creaking began to walk back to the camp.
The late spring air was warm. Manuel sweated as he stared towards the forest ahead. “Summer is near and I’d rather be shacked at some inn than roaming abroad. When this business is done with the wizard, what say we head for Elmwood or one of the other Lemish cities and see what mood the change in scenery puts us in?”
But Parin did not reply his strange eyes stared into the darkness and they seemed to be peering into depths of the Abyss and not liking what he saw.
Manuel sighed and licked his lips. He tossed his cloak and fanned his hands to cool them. He was use to his brothers’ sudden lapses of silence, but familiarity did not make him enjoy them any better. From somewhere in the forest a bloodhawk shrieked and a small animal squealed.
The moon came out behind the clouds and it shone on Parin’s gaunt, black face, made his pearl eyes seem to glow like the eyes of the dead, revealed the corrupted path thru the forest…. the path the wizard made.

[jeran]

Kira could tell something big was happening in the camp. The only problem was that she didn't have any idea what it could be. Ranere still lay prone in the dirt beside her. She had tried to wake him, but he gave no sign of life other than slow, steady breathing.
The bandaged men walking around the camp were very obviously agitated. They scurried back and forth with bundles of green wood, incense and some type of rough black cloth. They were taking all of these materials into a large tent directly across from the prisoners. Kira did not know why, but the tent gave her a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach whenever she stared at it for too long.

The rushing preparations went on for quite some time without anyone even glancing at the prisoners.

Finally, the dragon soldier that had captured them came before them and began to speak.

"The time has come. The sacrifice must be made. My queen demands it."
With these cryptic words, the soldier began looking at Kira and Ranre closely, as if inspecting them for purchase. He leaned down and looked closely at Ranere's face, and a smile touched his lips. He then moved to do the same to Kira, but she jerked her face away. Grabbing her jaw in his hand, the soldier moved in until thier noses almost touched. Kira could smell wine on his breath, and something not unlike the stench of fear.

"You have blood on your hands, and worse on your soul. But tonight you will be spared. My Queen tells me that you are not fit for her tastes this night, although her tastes change more often than the winds. You should get on your knees and thank her. You would not want to be in your little elven friend's place this night, that I promise. You now owe her your soul. You should contemplate that as you witness her power during the ceremony. You may well wish to join us after you have been in her presence."

Kira could no longer hold back her temper. She stumbled to her feet and unleashed her anger on the soldier.

"What sacrifice? What Queen? All I see here is a pathetic troup of freaks in bandages and mercanaries pretending to be an army. I see nothing worth joining, much less worshipping!"

A hard slap to her face brought Kira's tirade to an abrupt end. The soldier was no longer smiling. His face was crimson with rage.

"If you knew anything at all about Takhisis and her dragons you would know better than to speak lightly of her! If you don't believe now, you will in time. The dragons will be present at the ceremony. You will see the glory of my Queen!"

He shoved Kira down into the dirt. Picking Ranere up and throwing him over his shoulder like a sack of grain, he headed in the direction of the tent.

"Put him down! Where are you taking him?"

Kira jumped up and tried to follow, but her bonds made it impossible. The outriders guarding her pushed her back to the ground.

Kira couldn't think properly. Her thoughts raced against each other, battling for resolution. There were no such thing as Dragons, they were merely kender tales. Everyone knew that, yet this man had spoken of them as though they were commonplace! And no one in the camp had contradicted him. Could it be that the entire camp was mad? It couldn't possibly be that. And who was this 'Queen' he kept referring to? He had mentioned the name Takhisis. Kira vaguely remembered the name from stories her brother had told her as a child to scare her. Supposedly Takhisis had been one of the Gods worshipped before the Cataclysm. He could not have been referring to THAT Takhisis, could he? Surely these people did not worship the memory of some forgotten God from hundreds of years before they were born! If only Marlamin were here to answer these questions about the old Gods. Hopefully he was miles away from here by now, comfortably chatting with Donnchadh, and retrieving his belongings from a cheerful CiCi while enjoying a roaring campfire.

The thought brought a brief smile to her face. But then reality came crashing back to her. Something told her that many of her questions would be answered before this night was over. She just hoped that she could somehow manage to live long enough to find those answers.

[SilentInfinity]

The gust of wind produced by Dalgrin’s pyre stirred Davamros’s blond hair and the flames caught his eye. He looked with surprise to the dwarven priest and his deceased cousin and friend. Donnchadh’s attention to the mind-tangled Jaeveron reminded the mage of other duties.

“Master dwarf,” Davamros said, turning from his own cousin Marlamin, “I can try to break the spell upon the lady but it will take me some time and I am not prepared to try now. I think we should move now to free your friend Kira from whatever evils have taken her.” The ivory robed elf smiled gently, his presence warm and inviting.

Staff in hand, he went towards the dwarf and the possessed. A glance looked to the stars and the moons and Davamros was reassured. His vision returned to Krynn and his attention to the rescue of CiCi’s friend. “How is Jaeveron?” the Qualinesti motioned to her with his staff.

[Aspen]

CiCi gragged onto the edge of the mage's ivory robes, "She has a nasty spell on her, how do you think she is?" After struggling for a few moments, trying to get the elf moving towards where she had left Kira, CiCi tryed a different approuch. She got behind the mage and started pushing him from behind. "We can save Kira first, right? So lets go! The baddies that took her didn't seem like the type to stand around picking their noses. Anyone who calls themselves The BlueDragon Army sounds like they could be dangerous. So let's go save Kira!"

[Heron]

OOC: Moving us along guys.

IC:
On the plains of Lemish now rode the warriors of Solanthus.
Donnchadh, Marlamin, and CiCi were at the head of the group while Davamros rode behind with Jaeveron. The riders looked neither to the left or to the right and after the battle this morning, the outriders offered no threat now, not daring to attack, but instead fleeing into the distance.
A palaver between Donnchadh and the others had lead to the current course of action.
Donnchadh paused. He pulled his horse to a stop and looked at the dead forest ahead.
“Davamros,” he called.
His voice cut through the silence of the plains, startling the horses.
The limbs of the dead tress creaked in the wind and sent shivers up the dwarfs’ spine.
“We are here, Magi.”
Donnchadh turned and stared back at the dead forest

[Aspen]

CiCi sat proudly on the back of her very own horse. Donnchadh said she could keep it if she kept quit, and she had, till now. The kender hadn't noticed the burned out woods till they reined up infront of them. She had been to busy thinking of a name for her horse. She would call her Lolly the Surefoot. There could be no better name for a kender's stead than that.
when CiCi finally took notice of the charded woods she gasped. "Wow! that must have been some camp fire they had here last night."

[SilentInfinity]

Davamros grimaced as they approached the dead wood. Their travel had been quick and it seemed they had arrived. The air was chilly, breezy, and stale. The horses were nervous and had to be pushed to near the forest. Even the animals knew something was amiss.

He nearly jumped off his horse when the dwarf called out for him. “Yes, I can see that,” he responded, looking back at Jaeveron. She was still dazed, her mind fighting, or running, from the demons summoned by the renegade’s evil. Yet, at his side, she would be safe. Davamros would see to that.

CiCi spoke of camps and fires, but the nefariousness of this forest was far from such hospitality. “Indeed, dear girl, some campfire.”

A gentle squeeze of the legs ushered the horse forward. The white robe passed his fellow companions and rode up beside the dwarf, Donnchadh. “Precious Solinari,” Davamros’s voice chimed as he smiled to the dwarf, “Grant us your silvery light. Illuminae.”

The word of power activated the magic resting within his staff. The moonstone atop the length of pine burst with pure radiant light out nearly sixty feet, a paler shadow of light reaching out sixty more. Davamros held the staff at the ready in his right hand.

Blackened bark and dead wood paled under the brilliance of the mage’s light, though if asked he would attribute such power to that of Solinari. Blue-green eyes dazzled as that light danced within Davamros. For all that wonder, his attention remained on her. “I worry for Jaeveron’s safety while we venture here.”

[Heron]

Donnchadh shrugged. "It can not be helped, lad. We must go forth." He spit, crossed his eyes, and then settled into his saddle. "I advise we make the forest before darkness descends. "
Donnchadh clicked his tongue and his horse road forward. He eyes shifted in their sockets looking for an enemy.

[Aspen]

CiCi looked at their destination. The forest was dark with shadow even though it was still day. Soot covered the ground like a thick quilt. No birds sang their merry little songs, no small animals dashed away as the group approuched, no squirl chattered loadly from the tree tops. This was the loneliest place the kender had ever seem. She couldn't stand it. CiCi began to whistle a little song, something her mother sang to her but the notes didn't sound quit right, so she stopped.
"Donnchadh, I don't think I want to stay in this place over night. It's so sad and lonely looking. Can we just find Kira and forget about this nasty place?"

[jeran]

Kira nervously awaited the much talked about 'sacrifice'. All of the frenzied activity had stopped, and all of the soldiers in the camp seemed deep in thought. She had not seen Ranere since the dragon soldier had taken him into the large tent. She worried for her friend's safety.

Finally, she saw the dragon soldier again. He approached her with a grim look on his face.

"It is time for the ceremony. You will of course join us to witness the sacrifice. Then you will no longer question my Queen's dominion and power. Come."

With that, the guards around Kira grabbed her by the upper arms and began leading her towards the tent. The other men and women of the camp began to file in behind them. Once inside, Kira let out a gasp of horror. Strapped across what looked like a crude altar was Ranere! His shirt had been removed, and beside him on the altar were a long curved dagger and a large golden chalice.

Several of the bandaged clerics moved in beside Ranere, encircling his prone form. The lowered thier hoods and began to remove thier many bandages. As the cloth fell away, Kira began to see glimpses of what appeared to be dull mettalic scales. She closed her eyes tight, hoping that when she opened them the illusion would be dispelled. When she slowely opened her eyes again, the clerics had finished removing all of the bandages. Kira suppressed a sickened scream at what she saw. The men standing before the altar were not men at all, but some corrupt and mutated cross between men and lizards! What vile magic could have caused such corruption?

From somewhere outside the tent came a noise, a rythmic flapping. It sounded like a giant bird was directly overhead. Then came fear. Fear so terrible Kira could taste it in her mouth. Several of her guards actually dropped to the ground and covered thier heads like small children. Kira resisted the urge to run, her fear of whatever was outside outweighing her natural instinct.

"The dragon has arrived! Begin the ritual!"

[Heron]

They followed the paths of the animals now, riding hard to reach the outskirts of the forest before nightfall. They rode past burnt ground and the refuse of the army. They noticed no sounds made by the animals, but they did not stop.
“Could we not teleport to were Kira is?” CiCi asked. But Davamros shook his head. “The ways of magic are complex. The careless use of such a spell might well kill us.”
More trees came in sight. Great black trees creaked in the wind and noxious sap ran down their trunks, sending fumes all around. There were no trails or paths here so that the group was forced to slow their pace and make their way with caution. Marlamin muttered, said, “We’ll not reach Kira by nightfall now.”
Donnchadh nodded. “We’ll make camp at the next clearing.”
The clouds gathered and the wind drove against their faces so that it became more difficult to pick their way through the now dead forest.
Marlamin saw it first.
His finger was unsteady as he pointed into the sky towards the north.
“Donnchadh. What make you of that?”
Donnchadh peered into the sky, brushing hair of his eyes. His expression was at first puzzled. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed.
Black shape against the sky.
Winged shape.
It was impossible at this distance to judge its scale, but it did not fly the way birds fly. Donnchadh was reminded of another flying creature- a creature he had last seen when he and the forgers fled burning Grendelshack and the folk of Grendelshack had released their vengeance upon the Forgers. That vengeance had taken form. The form had been a dragon of the Dark Lady.
”Dragon….” He whispered.

[Ranere]

OOC: Sorry that I haven't posted in a while, it's just that school has kept me busy. But, I will try to post tonight or tomorow.

[Reghar]

OOC: I, too, apologize. Same excuse...busyness thing.

IC: Marlamin watched in horror as a large, winged shape flew across the horizon, filling up the sky. Dread clutched at his heart. It was bad enough riding through this cursed forest, but the sight of what Donnchadh believed was a dragon nearly made him loose conciousness out of sheer terror. At first he was in disbelief. But the longer he stared at it, the more and more he believed that what he was staring at was, indeed, one of the long lost dragons.
And a dragon of evil, at that.
"That's the direction we're heading..." he pointed out. "Kira..."

[Aspen]

The kenders eyes lit up. "A real life dragon! Oh, how exciting! I've never seen a dragon before. Have any of you?" CiCi looked up and saw the great beast and for the first time, she felt dragon fear. "Hay, my tummy doesn't feel so good. Just like the time I at a green apple that hadn't ripened yet. Marlamin, you don't looks so good eather. Do you think it was something we ate?"

[SilentInfinity]

Davamros wore a somber face as they traveled through the wood. He watched for movement, listened for breath or footsteps, but the death that had found this forest was distracting him. The elf kept his staff aloft, letting Solinari’s brilliance light their path. His eyes were made for dark forests, but not all the others were as gifted and besides, the silver glow was comfort and power to him.

Finally his eyes found something, something all the others were now watching with a mixture of dread and awe. Davamros wore little surprise, his knowledge of dragons a mere fraction of his arcane study. He knew a lot about the flying creatures: their powerful breath weapons, their inherent magical nature, some of their stereotypical behaviors. However, the true presence of the beast was a lesson in of itself.

The white mage’s mind fought against all fear that afflicted him and a thought occurred, drawing Davamros out the momentary panic. If Marlamin was right, they were heading towards a dragon. The fear and majesty of the dragon would affect them all… Even now he felt the dragon fear but he was a willful soul that would fight back. But what of the horses? There was no druid, no priest of Chislev to calm the animals.

“Watch your horses,” Davamros shouted. The elf’s warning came only a few seconds before his horse shifted suddenly, whinnying with discomfort. His ears twitched and his long tail slapped the air as Davamros pulled hard on his reigns. “Be at peace my friend!”

[Heron]

OOC: Lauralan will join us. So we will have a new player to torment..


IC:
The dragon moved on. The group calmed the horses. The journey took them deeper into the bleak forest were the remnants of trees cast bitter silhouettes against the livid sky. Donnchadh raised the hood of his cloak over his head as rain rushed down and beat through the lifeless trees, sweeping across the plains to the north so that the entire world seemed black with the hiss of rain a constant and depressing sound.
Then as they passed a hut that was half hut and half hole in the abyss, Donnchadh pulled to a stop.
“We camp here.”