Unexpected Journey(see planning, always welcome)

[Black Widow]

The fallen leaves of autumn were a godsend to Talaina's elven ears as she heard the crackling from behind while traveling through the forest from Fangoth to Kyre. The distance of the sound was far enough away for her to move behind a nearby tree and prepare for what might come, but nothing followed. Perhaps it was her imagination, she wondered as the day's journey within the forest weighed heavily upon her. "I must keep moving." She mumbled to herself as she moved away from the tree and continued on the path, keeping prepared just incase her weariness was not a factor.

As the night continued on she knew she had to rest and even though she wanted to be out of the forest before doing so, her body ached from the miles she'd traveled with little food in her stomach. "I'll just rest here for a spell." She mumbles to herself, taking a seat underneath a tree and leaning back against it before partaking in a few bites of nourishment. She was soon to fall asleep while thinking about the journey ahead of her.

Remember Talaina, do not fail...

[Dark_Dude]

Braxus heard a noise and sat up quickly only to realize it was just him snoring. Cursing in dwarvish he attempts to go back to sleep, but not before chugging down his last pint of ale while the night breeze brushed against his scruffy hair and beard and the sweet smell of perfume penetrated his nose.

"Me ale don't smell right." He tosses the empty pint and stands up, but the smell was still there. He grabs his gear and heads for the smell and sees an elven woman resting against a tree. "Elf, shoulda known." He grumbles.

[Black Widow]

Talaina heard the clanking of chainmail heading towards her and since she no longer had a spell in her thoughts she slowly removed her dagger and kept the hilt clutched in her grasp as she listened to the heavy footsteps coming closer. Once the dwarf spoke, she relaxed her grasp abit and stood up. "If you're going to try and sneak up on someone you best lose the armor. Oh, I really must be too tired not to have realized dwarves aren't very smart." She snickers as she heads over to the rotund one.

"So what's a dwarf like yourself doing in these parts of the woods anyways?" Before he could respond a small spear landed inches from his foot, followed by another which landed inches from her's. "Kobolds!" She says as she runs back to the tree where she was resting under and grabs her staff. Another spear followed, then another, as she focused on their whereabouts and spoke an arcane word. Her staff shot forth five magic missiles, two aimed at one who dashed behind a tree and three aimed at another who was setting his sling with a stone aimed for her. Meanwhile a stone hit Braxus' helmet, followed by another which hit him in the back.

[synderstorm]

Meanwhile in Kyre, Lucien had purchased a hot meal and a room for the night and was soon to head upstairs. Behind the closed door he removes the gear he wouldn't need and places them sprawled out between the mattresses then he positions his weapons as he always does incase a bar brawl begins and heads back down. As his last foot touches the base, he glances around the room scanning over all the tables and finding out who were holding card games. Two tables, far right, approximately three and a half feet from eachother. He thinks to himself as he now scans over all the patrons in the common room, finding out which ones he'd feel threatend by and to all whose coinpouches dangled more. Taking a few moments to mentally note all which attracted his attention, he then scans the room to determine the positions of the tables and to the four small iron chandeliers giving light from the four candles in each, along with the many shadows flickering everytime the front door opens and let's the cool breeze in. This should be an interesting night. He thought as he looks for the windows and where they're positioned then takes note of the fireplace which was in dire need of more wood.

Finding his surroundings more suitable, now that he had started working on his plan, Lucien heads for the bar and sits down on one of the stools, taking note of the two on his left which were seated three chairs down from him, and the one to his right which was seated two chairs away. He calls for the bartender and orders a glass of wine, looks both ways and sees they're not paying attention to him and once the tender turns away he leans over the counter and looks for a small box, one that he knew held a new set of cards. He looks to the tender, who was now beginning to turn and hand him his wine, and quickly sits back on the stool. The bartender didn't notice as he held his hand out for payment. "Run a tab." Lucien says as he turns to face the patrons yet keeping his perifrial vision on the tender, waiting for him to turn to fill a big order from one of the two barwenches.

Moments passed and yet no drinks were in need of refilling. Lucien thought quickly and turns to the tender. "Add a round to the far table on the right next to the window, on my tab." Lucien pulls out a coinpouch, which was taken from a woman earlier as she was heading for provisions for her home, and he shakes it at the bartender. The tender nods in agreement and goes to fill the order. Lucien looks both ways again and none were paying attention so he reaches over the counter and swips the box then pulls out his marked deck of cards and replaces his set with the house's set just as the tender finished the order. Keeping the box of his marked cards in his lap, he waits for the tender to call for the barwench. Once she came over the tender's attention was spent flirting for a few moments before telling her where to take the order. During that time he places the box back under the counter. His plan was setting perfectly thus far and he thought to himself, Let the games begin.

(OOC: I figured why not give some excitement on my end while I wait.;) I'll add more once ya'll add more.)

[Dark_Dude]

OOC: Sweeet post cuz. Lucien is cool but Braxus can out gamble him any day.:p:

IC: "What in the name of Reorx..." Braxus grumbles looking over at the spear that landed by his foot. He heard her say kobolds and he laughed then headed off to fight the simple battle. With a ting to his helmet and ting to his armor by the tiny stones from stupid kobold slings he rushes towards the first little lizard he saw, battle axe ready to swing at it's scaley little head.

"Ye be messen with the wrong dwarf 'ere." He says just before swinging his mighty axe, decapitating the kobold and watching it's head fall to the dead leaves and dirt below it's feet while he laughs then checks the area for more as it's body hits the ground.

Another spear followed but missed by a mere inch of Braxus' arm. "Best to run cause 'ere me come." Braxus said enjoying the adrenaline rush while running as fast as his short legs will allow towards the kobold who barely missed him.

[Black Widow]

With three kobolds dead and in under a minute, the other three remaining continued to bombard them with sling stones while one took off, more then likely going to bring back more reinforcements. Talaina was struck in the forehead and slightly dazed for a moment before feeling the trickle of warm liquid down her face. Turning towards her small attacker she casts a minor spell, causing the little lizard to become slow by a ray of frost while dealing a medium amout of harm to such minor nuisance. She then runs towards him while removing her dagger and stabs the kobold in the chest.

Once she was convinced it was dead she removes her dagger then turns towards Braxus and sees the one he's running for. The remaining one was too far away from her to reach, but very close to where Braxus was heading. "Focus on the one coming up on you from the left." She says in dwarvish then turns and quickly scans the area to see if there were anymore around before heading to help the dwarf.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian sighed with relief as he entered the inn; he purchased a hot meal and a room for the night. After a moment’s thought he asked the tender to hold the meal until he could go upstairs and rest a bit.

Paying the tender Arfellian headed for the stairs. Why didn’t I check to make sure my horse was secure before bedding down for the night. Arfellian thought. How could I be so stupid! Because of that I lost time and my feet feel like they have been through a Gully dwarf’s stomach. He continued to berate himself as he climbed the stairs up towards the sleeping rooms. Upon finding his room Arfellian set his saddlebags down in the corner and stripped off his most of his gear. Looking around he noticed that the room had been only partially furnished, there was a bed in the corner and a desk with a candle sitting on it. There was no chair nor was there anywhere for him to store his clothes. It didn't bother Arfellian though for he was used to living without even the luxury of a bed to rest upon. After taking a few minutes to rest and hide his valuable items Arfellian felt his stomach calling too loudly for him to resist. Preparing to go back downstairs he selected one of his daggers and put it back in his belt where anyone could see it and the other dagger he stored in his boot, after all it never hurts to be careful.

As he walked down the stairs he noted the positions of the patrons of the inn. No one too dangerous here tonight, once they are drunk they will be easy pickings for an expert pick pocket such as myself. Thought Arfellian as he sat down at a table in the corner and signaled the barmaid over.

[Dark_Dude]

"Focus on the one coming up on you from the left." She says in dwarvish then turns and quickly scans the area to see if there were anymore around before heading to help the dwarf.
Braxus heard the elven lady speak dwarvish and to his surprise she spoke it well. He looks to his left and sees the kobold readying his sling. He heads for that one first and before the kobold got a chance to react it's stomach was slashed open, intestines dropping to the ground. A stone tinged against his helmet again reminding Braxus there was still one left.

"Ye ain't be given up 'ere yet?" Braxus says heading for the last one which took a few seconds before realizing it was best to turn away and run. The last kobold was used to the terrain, but Braxus wasn't and he tripped over a tree root and fell face first in the dirt, losing his chance to catch the little critter.

Cursing madly in dwarvish he gets up and watches the kobold leave his view. He heads back to the elf lady, grumbling the entire way. "Best get goin'. Ain't no tellen how many be comen back."

[Black Widow]

Talaina heard the mouthy dwarf, understanding every word of it, but now wasn't the time to laugh. "You're right, we better get a move on." She says as she puts her dagger away and lets her staff lead the way towards Kyre.

"My name's Talaina and I'm heading to Kyre in search of cult who took my sister. You're welcome to come with me if you want, atleast until we get to Kyre. Best to travel with more then one anyways, right?" Talaina had a feeling about this dwarf, even if their enemies were nothing but a half dozen kobolds.

Without knowledge of the time Talaina and Braxus were now on the outskirts of the forest. "From here it'll take us about another twenty miles to reach Kyre unless we find other means of getting there quicker. If only I had the knowledge of teleporting us there. One of these days maybe." She sighs as she looks towards Kyre's direction.

[synderstorm]

Lucien lost three hands in a row and was now ready to act on his plan. "This deck of cards has seen it's last game." He says to the three men as the last one who dealt gathers the cards and hands him the deck. "It's your turn to deal once you bring us the tender's card box then." Lucien stands and heads for the bar, taking a glance at the barmaid as she walks by and heads over to a table on the opposite side of where he was sitting at. Then he turns to the other barmaid who was waiting on their side of the room and shook his head as he reaches the bar and asks the bartender for a new deck. The bartender pulls out the box of cards and hands it to him then tosses the old deck under the counter. Lucien looks down at the box and smirks then heads back to the table, giving another glance over towards where the pretty barmaid was and seeing her waiting on a young one, but more importantly a young rogue.

Looks like I'll be keeping my eyes on you. He thought to himself as he reached the table. He places the card box on the table, arms length from where he was sitting then takes his seat. The last to deal opened the box and removes the deck and places it infront of Lucien. "You wanted a new deck and it's your turn to deal so call for the barmaid and order us a round on you...again." Inside Lucien was thinking not a problem since he'd be getting plenty back from them anyway to cover another round, if he decided to pay for his tab on the way out in the morning.

"I suppose it's only right, since I'm the new guy sitting here." He says to the man then calls the barmaid over and starts to shuffle his marked deck, placing the cards exactly where he wanted them to be positioned and begins to deal just as the barmaid came over and grumbled. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Three mugs of ale and a water." She laughs looking at Lucien, who was smart enough to know not to drink when needing to be focused on the game and to all which surrounded him. "Laugh it up, ugly." He hands her the empty card box and turns to the men. "She's not getting a tip." The barmaid storms off and the three men laugh. "Let's play." Lucien says, not even thinking about his comment to the barmaid.

[Usernameinvalid]

When the barmaid came over Arfellian requested some tea and the meal he had paid for earlier. As the barmaid went to get his order he watched the card-players in the corner. Ah, that smirk means something I just know it thought Arfellian as he saw one of the players receiving the new deck from the tender.

The barmaid brought Arfellian his order and turned to leave but stopped because his hand reached out and gently caught her arm.

"Miss, may I ask you a few questions?" The barmaid looked at the young man and rubbed her fingers together.

He dropped some steel into her hand as she sat down and asked her his first question.

"Are all of those gentlemen playing cards regular patrons of this fine establishment?"

"Ah, yessah mister. All bu' tha' un in the co'ner, he jus' came in this eve'ning"

Ah, he must be a rogue! Somehow he set that deck I just know it... now how can I profit from this knowledge I wonder... Thought Arfellian and he asked his second question "Have you ever heard of a man called Arfellian Brand?"

The barmaid gave him an odd look and replied "no sah, can't recollec' hearin' that name" she stood up as he smiled and dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

Sipping on his tea he gave a thoughtful look over at the card players and smiled.

[synderstorm]

Once Lucien dealt, he picks up his cards and watches the reaction on the face of the one who let him get the card box. When it came to his turn he raised the bet and looks over at Lucien. "Must be my lucky deck, thanks newcomer. So what's your name anyway?" This was the part Lucien hated more then anything during a game. "Does it matter? After this game is over I will more then likely never see you, or your pals, again. Also, I have no stories to tell and do not wish to hear any of yours. My interest in women is of no concern to any of you and your interests in them don't interest me. Speak to them all you want, but I'm only hear for the game."

The barmaid comes over with their ale and his water then distributes them, leaving Lucien for last. "You shouldn't be calling anyone ugly unless you're taking a look in the mirror." She sets the water down and starts to head away. "Barmaid!" He calls out as she stops and turns to face him. He takes a steel piece from his coinpouch and tosses it to her. "There's plenty more in it for you if you switch sides with the other barmaid. Your armpits smell like a gully dwarf." That rude comment alone made her head over to the bar and ask to exchange with Lana. He turns to the men. "I fold." He scans over the room again, while waiting for the one on his left to win the hand, and sees the young rogue looking over at his table as the pretty little barmaid heads off only to be stopped by the other one. He glances over at them for a brief moment to notice the switch taking place then looks back to the young rogue, acknowledging him with a nod, then turns back to the game and notices the one on his left raking in his winnings.

"Looks like the new deck might be lucky for you indeed." He says to the one on his left then looks to the one on his right. "You're turn to deal." The man shuffled the deck then deals one at a time as Lucien watches them carefully, knowing exactly what each of them held once the last card was dealt. The game was one card draw and it was up to the human on the opposite side of him to bet and discard one before getting his new card. The human bets 5 steel and discards the only club in his hand hoping for a spade to come up, giving him a flush. Lucien looks at the card ontop of the deck and sees it's not. Then he waits for the one on his left to match or raise before discarding and receiving his card. Nothing for him either. Lucien thought as he looks to the card he'll receive which will give him a pair of tens, higher then the any of the 5 cards in the hand of the human to his right, but who could wind up with a straight if the next card was his.

He tosses his 5 steel in and gets his pair of tens and sees the human's next card was not the one he was hoping for. Relieved, he waits as the dealer matches the bet then tosses in his card and gets a pair of 6's. The one opposite of Lucien folds and the one to his left bluffs by matching the 5 steel and raising it by 10 more. Lucien matches and the one to his right folds, leaving only the two of them in the game. "Must have a good hand eh?" Lucien says, thinking about how much more he had on him that would match whatever the man decided to raise. "I sure do." The human bluffs, pushing in all his coins which totaled 75 steel. Lucien accounts for all his belongings and decides to play a different type of bluffing game with him.

He removes a dagger and places it ontop of the coins. "This dagger has magical properties. It sends a shock to the area it punctures, causing your victim to convulse if hit in the right place. It's worth well over all your coins, but I'll call. The human looks at the dagger, which was crafted at a better standard then most, then looks into Lucien's eyes as Lucien stares into his. "Guess this is it. Whatcha got?"

"I called you. You show first." Lucien already knew he'd won, but played like he should as always he did from the time he learned how to play at the age of 8 and learned how to mark by the time he was 12. The human showed his losing cards and Lucien tossed down his pair of tens and takes his dagger back first, placing it where it belonged before raking in his winnings. "Such a shame you're broke already. Have a nice night, mister lucky." Lucien says facetiously as the human chugs down the rest of his ale and stands up. "Win big newcomer. I'll just take it all back at the end of the night and distribute it back to my comrads here." He says as he walks away and heads to the bar. That's what you think, mister unlucky and his unlucky lackeys. Lucien thought as he watches the man walk away, then briefly looks over at the young rogue as the next to deal shuffles the deck.

[Usernameinvalid]

Catching the eye of the man who just lost to the older rogue in cards Arfellian beckoned him over. The man sauntered over as Arfellian sipped on his tea and pushed a mug of ale towards the man.

"I couldn't help but notice your exchange with the strange man over there, I don't suppose perchance that some ill luck will fall upon him during his sleep tonight" said Arfellian carefully studying the mans face.

"Perhaps I feel he has been too lucky and that his luck will run out aye. What is it to you stranger?" said the man gruffly while gulping down his ale.

Arfellian choked off a laugh and made it sound like a cough, the absurdity of this man thinking he could kill an older rogue. Everyone knows a rogue won't live long unless he is skilled, too many people want rogues dead, still, this man could prove to be useful to Arfellian.

"Would you be needing help with your... task... later this evening?" asked Arfellian

"Aye, you look like you could use some experience, he has this magic dagger on him or so he told us, you can have that. All I want is my coins and my revenge, there is no way he could have beat me fair and square"

"Aye friend, when the moon is high in the sky come and wake me, I am in the room on the far left" There is no way that buffoon can kill the rogue but this is my chance! If I warn the rogue surely he will be thankful, he may know the information I seek! I must be wary though... Thought Arfellian while smiling at the man.

Nodding the man stood and left the bar, waving off the tender who was laughing at his ill-fortune and pinching the pretty barmaid one more time as he left the building letting in a cold draft as he shut the door.

Arfellian stood with his tea and walked over to the men playing cards and asked "Good sirs, I am no card player but I enjoy watching people playing, may I sit and watch?"

[Dark_Dude]

"My name's Talaina and I'm heading to Kyre in search of cult who took my sister. You're welcome to come with me if you want, atleast until we get to Kyre. Best to travel with more then one anyways, right?" Talaina had a feeling about this dwarf, even if their enemies were nothing but a half dozen kobolds.

"Ain't liken ye bein' an elf er a spellcaster, but ye be right miss elfy. Best travel with company. Name's Braxus."


Without knowledge of the time Talaina and Braxus were now on the outskirts of the forest. "From here it'll take us about another twenty miles to reach Kyre unless we find other means of getting there quicker. If only I had the knowledge of teleporting us there. One of these days maybe." She sighs as she looks towards Kyre's direction.

"Best be thinken 'bout right now." He reminds Talaina while he catches up to her and stands next to her. "No need fer brewen o'er it." He adds as he looks to the long journey ahead and hopes he'll soon get some pints of ale and some good food somewhere along the way.

[Black Widow]

"Come on, you walking barrel of ale." Talaina looks over at Braxus with a slight smile then heads off for the nearest place to rest.

With morning approaching Talaina heard the sounds of a wagon coming up from behind them, from another path on her right. Talaina stops and turns to Braxus. "We might be able to hitch a ride with them and if they're not friendly we'll just walk away. I don't feel like getting in a fight, so just keep your big mouth shut." She heads off through the mid waist grasslands towards the sounds of the wagon.

The elderly human woman saw an elven woman and a dwarf lagging behind heading towards their wagon. "Stop the horses hon. They look harmless enough." He does as she asks and waits for the two to arrive.

"They look friendly enough. Hurry up Braxus." She says as she waves over at them. Reaching the wagon and gasping for air, she looks up at them and smiles. "Hello, my name's Talaina and this is Braxus." She turns back to the dwarf who was still not quite with her yet. She looks back to the elderly couple. "If you're heading to the next village or small town we would appreciate a lift. I don't have much to offer other then my appreciation."

"Hop on in deary. Don't mind the dead deer wrapped in blankets in the back. We're taking them to our son who can butcher and sell our meat." Talaina wasn't too pleased with this, but it was better then the alternative. "Thank you both." She says as she waits for Braxus to catch up.

[synderstorm]

Lucien witnessed the young rogue beckoning over the first to walk away from the table. Concerned about the reasons of the rogue's actions, Lucien didn't realize it was his turn to bet. "Hey, gonna bet or stare at the boy." The one across from him says as the one on his right laughs. Lucien picks up his cards then looks to the first card on the deck, not caring what they thought of him. He then looks at the marks on their cards and notices he has already lost since his next card wouldn't bring him a winning hand.

"Good sirs, I am no card player but I enjoy watching people playing, may I sit and watch?"
"Fold." Lucien tosses his cards in and looks up at the young rogue. "This chair remains empty until a player decides to join the game. You want to sit here, then pull up another chair, but keep your distance from me."

"Maybe I don't want him sitting here." The one across from him says and the other looks over at him for a second before leaning closer and whispering "This kid might be all the distraction we'll need." Lucien didn't have to be an elf to hear what the human was saying to his comrad.

"Okay kid, you can sit here." The one who disagreed says as he scoots his chair over and gives the young rogue plenty of room to sit between the two comrads. "Okay men, you gonna finish the hand or flirt with the kid." Lucien leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest before looking at the young rogue, wondering what he wanted from him.

[Usernameinvalid]

"Thank you" said Arfellian while taking a seat. He winked at the rogue as the comrades turned back to their game. Now I wonder if they have some nice baubles for me! Thought Arfellian as his hands casually rummaged through their belt poaches and coin purses. He took some of their steel but not enough to be noticed and then his hands touched upon what he desired. Yawning and leaning down he stole their knives leaving the two men weaponless, he replaced the knives with pieces of his plate from the other table so they would feel something if they reached down.

Arfellian watched round after round go by cheering for whoever won and happily drinking his tea. The rogue lost some but he won more, and eventually Arfellian tired of the game and decided to wait for the real fun that would happen this evening.

"Well gentlemen, it's been a rare pleasure watching such masterful cards-men as yourselves play but I am still but a young man and I must take my rest. Have a good evening." said Arfellian, his voice dripping with sarcasm that seemed to go unnoticed by the two men, engrossed in their card-play and without looking up they said good-evening to the young man unhappily because he had not proved to be the distraction they were hoping he would be for them. As he turned and left the table he caught the rogues eye and flashed the daggers at him, he quietly ascended the stairs and went to his room for a nap.

[synderstorm]

Lucien kept his eyes on the cards, but also watched the young rogue as he skillfully lightened their load. Reminds me of myself at his age. Lucien thought, grinning on the inside as he shows his winning cards and gathers the coins. After a few hands, the young rogue decided it was time to take his leave, but not before showing Lucien some of what he accomplished by sitting where he was told. Lucien acknowledges him with a slight nod and continues on with the game. Taking into consideration the young one pilfured some of their coins, Lucien figured to end the game since by the look of the amount of coins, he'd won well over what he thought he would.

Before he could say this was his last hand, the one seated to his left notices Lucien's eyes checking out the back of his cards. "What's so interesting in the pattern?" Lucien, shocked that the man finally took notice, looks at him and to the other one. "Just wondering what the two of you might be holding while thinking if I should stay in or fold, why?"

"You're cheatin'." The man says as he looks at the back of his cards and was soon to take notice of the differences. "Marked cards." He says to his comrad while Lucien just sits back, arm rested over the back of his chair. "Think you boys are man enough to prove it, then bring it on. I've been waiting for this all night." Then Lucien stands, leaving his rapier alone as he removes the dagger, which was thought to be magical to them, and smirks. "That's just another one of your tricks and we ain't fallin' for it." The man says as they both stand and reach for their weapons, only to find them missing. They both look at eachother and at the sametime say the samething. "The kid."

"Yes, the young rogue. I must remember to thank him after you're both dead." Lucien grins for a moment, then throws his dagger at the one who said he was cheating, hitting him dead center of his forehead. "You got three seconds before I do the same to you." He says to the other one as he begins to remove his other dagger and watches the man run out of the inn. He retrieves his dagger from the man's skull moments before being pulled away by the back of his black cloak. "Time for you to go." The bouncer says, keeping hold of Lucien's cloak while beginning to escort him to the front door.

Lucien quickly wiggles free from the cloak and turns to the bouncer, who stood atleast six inches taller then himself and weighed maybe double. "Look, I was just playing a game, they started it by thinking I was cheating. Atleast let me gather my winnings and my belongings from the room I purchased for the evening. I'll give you ten steel if you'll allow me my request."

"Twenty and you got a deal." The bouncer replies. "Fine, twenty it is." Lucien heads over to the table and gathers his coins and his cards, then turns to the bouncer. "Here's your twenty." He hands him the steel coins and heads up the stairs as the bouncer follows behind him. Not knowing which room the young rogue was in, he spoke loud enough as he walked the hallway towards his room. "My room is the second from the last on the right. Are you going to come in and watch me gather my belongings before you escort me out, sir bouncer?" The bouncer didn't reply, but Lucien wasn't waiting for one anyway. He was waiting to see if the young rogue was really interested in joining his side.

[Dark_Dude]

...she waits for Braxus to catch up.

Braxus catches up and leans over and rests his hands on his knees while gasping for air. After a couple of seconds he speaks. "Braxus 'ere." He takes a few more seconds before adding "Thank yers...*gasps*...nice folks." He straightens up and heads to the back of the wagon, still breathing heavily.

"Ye best be sticken close, miss elfy." He takes a few more before adding "Ain't like me be runnen as fast as yer skinny elven legs can take ye." He hops up in the wagon and notices the blankets of deer. "Where we headen?" He turns to the driver. The driver tells him to their son's place with the deer. Braxus looks over at Talaina. "Hope son's got ale. We be knowen he be getten food soon."

[Usernameinvalid]

Having gone to his room Arfellian did not take the nap he had mentioned he would take, instead he put on his armour and weapons and made ready to leave.

"My room is the second from the last on the right. Are you going to come in and watch me gather my belongings before you escort me out, sir bouncer?" came the older rogues voice from the hallway and then Arfellian heard a door shut.

Arfellian walked out his door and immediately went and knocked on the door of the room the older rogue had mentioned. Hearing no immediate reply Arfellian shrugged his shoulders and opened the door and upon seeing the rogue Arfellian bowed slightly to show his respect but keeping his eye on the rogues hands.

"Sir rogue, it is known to me that one of the men you beat earlier in cards will seek to take your life tonight, but since you are leaving now you can probably assume that he is outside waiting for you with the other card players" Arfellian didn't know that one of the card players was dead. He looked the rogue in the eye, albeit nervously tapping his foot, and waited for the rogue to respond.

[Dalamar91]

Logan walked through the mostly deserted streets of Kyre, his head held high and his heavy boots ringing out into the night air as they pounded on the cobblestone below. His stride was comfortable and he was taking the time to bask in the beauty of a city as Solinari cast its pure light upon the many stone buildings that lined Main Street. A wide smile decorated his face as the large man passed a general store that was locked up tight for the night. That smile faded away and was replaced by a look of concern when he heard shouts up ahead.

"Curious..."

A few blocks down the street a well-lit brick building was alive with commotion as patrons flooded out into the street. Logan couldn't help but pick up the pace and he covered the distance quite quickly. As he neared the building, obviously a drinking hole of some popularity in Kyre, the big man reached out and grasped the shoulder of a young man who was attempting to get away with all speed.

"what?" the stranger asked with a wide-eyed expression that caused the cleric to release his grip and take a step back.

The young man shook his head and continued on his way, clearly annoyed with the distraction and wanting nothing more than to get away. Logan's brows raised and he turned back towards the tavern as yet another man exited, taking steps two or three at a time. When the newest patron reached the ground level, his eyes aimed low, he paused and slowly lifted those bloodshot orbs to view the entirety of the 6'6" giant of a man standing before him. Logan simply smiled, though there was obvious concern in his friendly features.

The patron gulped and responded, "Someone's dead in there." he jerked his thumb behind and to the drinking hole. "I don't think ye be wantin to go in there."

Logan sighed gave the man a pat on the back as he stepped by and up the stairs. The patron was more than happy to just be on his way and scampered off without a second thought. As Logan entered he found a few sturdy men and a middle-aged female (possibly a barmaid by her apron and filthy rag of a blouse) tending to a man sitting deathly still on a chair, a gaping hole in his forehead where a blade had obviously been extracted not that long ago. In a flash, before he could even consider what he was doing, Logan was beside the man with his hands searching for some sign of life...but it was too late. Through clenched teeth the cleric swore and turned his misguided wrath upon the barmaid.

"Who did this?" he growled and the barmaid stumbled backward hardly able to form an intelligent response.

One of the men, perhaps a bouncer, stepped forward and bravely held his ground before the larger Logan.

"What's it to you?" he asked boldly but soon found himself seated, with a sore rump and bruised chest. The cleric had blasted him with an open palm and was standing over him with a crazed look in his eyes.

Logan wasn't sure why he struck the bouncer, but he did...and it was something he would have to get over quickly. Somewhere nearby there was a murderer and he couldn't for the life of him understand why anyone would want to hide that person's identity. For all the cleric knew it could have been either of the two men who he saw in the street, or perhaps it was someone still inside. He turned to look around the place but his attention was taken by the barmaid and he returned his determined glare to her filthy face.

"He went upstairs. Harry escorted him up there to get his things and be gone from here." she was already helping the downed bouncer back to his feet, and the man made no move to return the hit.

Logan nodded and stalked away, his heavy boots pounding the stairs as he made his way to the second floor.

[synderstorm]

"Sir rogue, it is known to me that one of the men you beat earlier in cards will seek to take your life tonight, but since you are leaving now you can probably assume that he is outside waiting for you with the other card players" Arfellian didn't know that one of the card players was dead. He looked the rogue in the eye, albeit nervously tapping his foot, and waited for the rogue to respond.

The bouncer turns to the young rogue. "You need to go." That was just enough time for Lucien to grab and break the chair over the bouncer's head, rendering him unconscious. "Thanks for the distraction and yes, I'm sure the two of them are waiting for me to come out the front door. One's dead, thus the reason I need to get out of here." Lucien says as he grabs the last of his equipment and opens the window. "He's got 20 steal in his pocket if you want it, but make it quick if you're coming with me."

He climbs out the window and holds on to the windowsill. "See ya below." He let's go and drops to the ground, then hides within the shadows of the night, waiting to see if the young rogue would follow his lead, or take the stairs.

While he waited, he watched as the patrons passed by without knowledge of his presence and he watched for the two men, but no signs of them from where he was located as he remembered back to when he first met his mentor and the predicament he was first challenged with. And now, the young one has shown interest in him just as he showed interest years ago with Giles.

[Usernameinvalid]

"Thanks for the distraction and yes, I'm sure the two of them are waiting for me to come out the front door. One's dead, thus the reason I need to get out of here." Lucien says as he grabs the last of his equipment and opens the window. "He's got 20 steel in his pocket if you want it, but make it quick if you're coming with me."

Arfellian leaned down and grabbed the 20 steel from the unconscious bouncers purse, straightened up and headed for the door, peering out he saw a humongous man coming up the stairs. With no time to dally Arfellian shuts and locks the door then runs for the window and drops to the ground performing a tumblers roll. Unfortunately his quick exit was noticed by the two drunk angry card players and they headed straight for him! Thinking quickly Arfellian glanced at the rogue and threw the knives he stole from the card players at him and the knives flew harmlessly wide. The two card players, their thoughts impaired from consuming way too much alcohol, thought that Arfellian was going to help them and so they turned headed for Lucien while brandishing their swords. As they turned their backs on Arfellian he saw his chance, grabbed his two daggers and dashes behind them and quickly cut both their throats.

This combat luckily did not attract attention from the other patrons of the inn as they streamed up and down the street. Arfellian chuckled and sheathed his daggers and strode over to the older rogue. Was that an ogre up there? What in the name of all the gods was that?!?! thought Arfellian as he glanced up at the room he had just occupied. "We best move quickly master rogue, for there is something up there and I dare not wait to see what it is.."

[Black Widow]

"Ye best be sticken close, miss elfy." He takes a few more before adding "Ain't like me be runnen as fast as yer skinny elven legs can take ye." He hops up in the wagon and notices the blankets of deer. "Where we headen?" He turns to the driver. The driver tells him to their son's place with the deer. Braxus looks over at Talaina. "Hope son's got ale. We be knowen he be getten food soon."

"My name is Talaina, not miss elfy." She says as she gets in and sits as far away as possible from the blankets.

"Ready to go, youngens?" The elderly woman looks back.

"Yes, please continue and thank you again." Talaina replies then looks over at Braxus and whispers, "Is ale all you think about? Nevermind, don't answer that." The wagon continues as Talaina holds on for dear life.

The two hour ride took them to a cattle ranch, which was approximately eight miles from Kyre. Once the wagon came to a stop, the relieved elf jumps out. "You two youngens need something to eat before you get going?" The elderly woman says as she slowly climbs out.

"A few hours to rest and eat and then we get moving again." She whispers to Braxus and heads over towards the woman. "That would be too much to ask of you unless I can have my friend here help your husband with the deer."

"That would be wonderful, deary." She pinches Talaina's elven cheek and smiles. "Hon, the elf and dwarf are gonna help you." She heads off towards her son who had just opened the front door and started heading over. Talaina looks at the blankets, then rushes off to catch up to the elderly woman. "I can't do what you asked of me, but I'm willing to help you in the kitchen as long as it doesn't involve meat." The elderly woman stops, looks at Talaina and giggles. "Don't worry deary, you'll earn your feed." She says then continues towards her son while her husband tells Braxus which blanket to carry in first.

Talaina stands back as the woman gives her son a loving embrace and let's go only when he finally said he had to help father. "Hellooo lovely, staying for the night?" He winks at Talaina as he passes by. "No, sorry about your luck." Talaina replies as she moves closer towards the elderly woman. "Come deary, you're gonna help me make the bread, prepare the veggies...." The list went on as she locked arms with Talaina's and led her towards the kitchen.

[Dark_Dude]

"Since ye be wanten ta know..." During the two hour ride Braxus continued to tell her about a time when he was in the middle of a battle between afew dozen minotaurs with the only help being a kender, a crazy old gnome, a half ogre barbarian and a human spellcaster who shouldn't have left his schooling before it was time. By the time the wagon stopped Braxus finished his heroic tale with, "And if it wasn't fer the ale this 'ol dwarf wouldn't be 'ere."

Braxus chuckles as she jumps out of the wagon and then old lady asks if they want some food. His eyes light up and Talaina whispers what his dwarven ears wanted to hear. When the old lady nominated them both to help her husband Braxus knew right then Talaina wasn't going to help. He chuckles as she runs off and looks over at the old man. "Ain't be fast, but I'm strong fer sure." He grabs a blanket full and asks where it goes. When he got his answer he heads off carrying it over his shoulder with some difficulty, mumbling profanity in dwarvish towards miss elfy under his breath.

[Black Widow]

By the time the sun passed it's highest point in the sky Talaina had finished her portion of the fruits, vegetables and a slice of bread, which the elderly woman baked since Talaina burnt the first loaf.

"Thank you for the food and drink, but we really do need to get moving now." Talaina says as she stands up and realizes just how tired she is. Without mush rest during the night, plus the kobold attack and then having to work in the kitchen, she needed a couple of hours to rest now.

"Why don't you two rest. I's got four bedrooms that'r n'ver used much. By walk it'll takes yas four hours cause of Braxus, but I'lls takes yas there by wagon only cause I's like yas." The son says, after mother kicked him under the table and eyed northeast of here.

"Two hours of rest and four hours to walk will be sufficient. You and your family have done plenty for us already, thank you." Talaina smiles and looks over at Braxus as if telling him to keep his mouth shut.

"If you still look the way you do now in two hours, then my son will take you to Kyre and I won't take no for an answer." The elderly woman gets up and helps Talaina to one of the bedrooms while the elderly man looks over at Braxus. "My son's got some dwarven ale and I'm sure he'd be happy to give you a few pints for the road, right Samuel?" He looks over at his son and beckons him with his head towards where he keeps his ale.

"Sam's the only kid I got and there's something I don't trust about the elf. Make sure you both are on the road in two hours." The father says once his son left the room.

[synderstorm]

Lucien watches as the young rogue tumbles to a stance, only to be noticed by those he was playing cards with not long ago. This is my fight now. He thought as he unsheathes his rapier and steps out of the shadows, preparing for the upcoming battle, but the young one was quick to think and react to the situation, which proved to him he was now even more worthy of his efforts then he had imagined.


"We best move quickly master rogue, for there is something up there and I dare not wait to see what it is.."

"Well done young one. You can tell me what you saw on the way to the provisionary shop." Lucien looks up at the window for a moment as he sheathes his rapier, picks up the daggers tossed his way by the young rogue and steps back into the shadows. "Follow me." He adds as he heads off through the dark alley and towards the back of the shop mentioned. He heads towards the front door, watches for any who might be nearby and once all was clear, he picks the lock and enters, waiting for the young rogue to follow his lead.

[Dalamar91]

The bald cleric ceased his insufferable beating of the stairs when his heavy boots reached the 2nd floor, but the pounding only stopped long enough for Logan to get his bearings. There were many doors to pick from and no clear sign of where the bouncer and murderer could have gone. He mouthed a silent prayer to Kiri Jolith asking for patience as he intended to find justice for the life so needlessly ended. His long strides took him down the hallway and he casually looked to each door in passing. He wasn't sure which of the wooden portals he should try. Each one looked just as good as the next, but something was pulling him inevitably forward and he just didn't feel like any would reveal what he was seeking. Then finally, he arrived at the last door and the big man just shook his head and sighed. His lifted his right hand to knock but paused when he heard what sounded like someone groaning in pain on the other side of the portal.

"What?" he asked himself aloud and he gripped the doorknob and twisted to no avail...the door was locked.

"Hello!" he called out but nobody answered. "I'm coming in!"

That was all the warning he offered before the door blasted open with a thunderous kick. Logan stalked inside to find the useless splinters of a destroyed chair surrounding a barely stirring man who was sprawled out on the floor. The poor bouncer huddled his head between his hands in obvious pain and appeared to be just coming back into consciousness. The cleric's eyes traveled to an open window and he rushed over hoping to catch a glimpse of the escaping rogue. No luck. He turned back to the bouncer and went to tend to his wounds, hoping to garner a decent description of the man he was determined to find.

[Usernameinvalid]

Following the older rogue into the store Arfellian looked for potential enemies or anyone who may recognize him as one of the patrons who was at the card table earlier that evening. As he entered he shut and locked the door behind him and glanced around the shop, seeing no chairs he strolled over and sat on the counter and began to tell the older rogue what he had seen.

"Well, as you left the room I went ahead and picked the bouncers purse. I figured since you were the one in trouble it wouldn't be a big deal for me to walk downstairs and exit but as I opened the door and looked down the stairs..."

Arfellian paused for a moment while trying to pick the exact words to describe what he had seen. "Well, I am not exactly sure what I saw. I think it was a man, but it was as big as an ogre, must have been at least seven feet tall!" He shifted nervously on the counter, glancing out the windows to make sure no one was there, seeing no one he began his story from where he had left off.

"From the way it was pounding up the steps I knew that it must be angry and since you had just killed a man downstairs I figured he must be angry at you, and since I have now associated myself with you I knew it was too dangerous to try and get past it. So, as you saw, I jumped out the window!" He exclaimed excitedly as he browsed through the items in the shop, looking for useful or valuable loot and pocketed a few bags of tea.

As he finished his story he glanced at the window nervously again praying to all the gods that the thing chasing them wasn't outside. He looked at the older rogue thoughtfully and waited for a response hoping that the rogue would want to show him a few tricks and maybe travel the world of Krynn, after all he hadn't been much of anywhere yet and there was a whole wide world just full of treasure.

[Black Widow]

After a couple hours rest, Talaina enters the living room and looks over at Braxus. "It's time we go." She then looks over at the gracious family and thanks them for all they've done.

"You still look tired, little dear." The elderly woman says as her husband elbows her arm. "Evelyn, let them go. The'll be fine."

"Oh Otto, Sam's not doing anything right now. He can get them there much quicker then four hours."

"Please, both of you, stop. It's a beautiful day and the fresh air will do us good, right Braxus?" Not waiting for him to answer she continues on for Kyre, yelling back "Thank you again, kind folks!"

The three and half hour journey wasn't too bad, other then her having to slow down alot after realizing she was getting too far ahead of Braxus, as they reached the outskirts of Kyre just before dusk. "We made good timing, surprisingly enough." She jokingly remarks as she looks over at Braxus. "I'm heading towards the inn to get a room and have a drink. If you want, I'll buy you one before we go our seperate ways." She knew he wasn't going anywhere and would join her on her journey, but thought to atleast let him be the one to say it first.

[synderstorm]

"Hey kid, calm down and stop being so nervous will ya? Look, I'm sure he wasn't an ogre. Probably just a tall human and the heavy pounding of footsteps was because of his height and probably weight for being a tall human. For all you know he was just heading to his room for the night, so don't jump to conclusions." Lucien says as he looks for a lantern and sees one on the counter. Estimating his steps from the only window in this room to the counter, he closes the inside shutters, removing all light from the city's streets before heading over to the counter and removing a tinder twig from his pocket. He feels for the lantern and strikes the tindertwig upon the counter before lighting the wick and looking over at the young rogue.

"We only got a few more hours before dawn, so gather up some needed provisions and search around for the money box." He says as he gathers 8 spikes and some heavy twine to make a grappling hook out of, then grabs 50' of silk rope, another backpack for the kid, a few bags of caltrops and a new deck of cards.

Having to search around unknown area for what he'd gathered, light was beginning to shine through the shutters and Lucien knew it wouldn't be long before the proprietor came to open his shop. "Time to go...uh...what's your name anyway?" He says as he heads over to the shutter and opens it, looking out for any who might be around and finding the streets still void of others, thus far.

[Usernameinvalid]

"My name is Arfellian" replied Arfellian while rummaging through the shop for provisions, grabbing some twine, 50' climbing rope, and finally setting his eyes on the cash box hidden in a clever drawer under the counter. He pulls it out and is quite disappointed to only find 200 steel coins. Either this shop isn't a good business or I am the most unlucky person alive thought Arfellian.

Glancing towards the rogue as he was checking the shutters Arfellian asked a question of his own "What is your name?" Arfellian spotted some flint and tinder and grabbed it, as well as a very small box, built to fit into a long pocket, full of healing herbs.

[Dalamar91]

Logan spent the better part of the night tending to the injured bouncer's wounds and assisting in bringing some order to the chaos surrounding the drinking hole he had stumbled into. He had considered taking up the chase, but really what could he have accomplished? He wasn't even completely sure who he would have been looking for. Instead, he spent time with the newly conscious bouncer and garnered a decent description of the TWO men involved in the needless murder.

"I'm looking for two of them?" he was stunned at the revelation. Why hadn't the barmaid downstairs mentioned there were two? He distinctly remembered her mentioning only one murderer.

"Yes. I'm sure the young one was in on it the whole time." Donald still rubbed at his skull where the bruise used to be. It was common for phantom pain to remain after Logan administered his healing gift on the wounded. The larger man only smirked in response.

"Like I told you, they must have staked out the casino for hours before they made their move. The little thief even relieved their target of his weapons before the older one buried a dagger in his forehead."

"And you didn't tackle him to the ground right then?" the cleric had surmised that something was missing with the story the first time Donald had recounted from his blasted memoryl, but he was more focused on getting a good description of the rogues than ironing out that specific detail.

"I...he was quick! They're a crafty pair those two. Ye best be on your guard at all times if ye truly mean to get em."

"I'll be fine." Logan sneered in contempt for Donald's false concern. "Did they say anything about where they were heading...or where they came from?"

"No...I was knocked out before they even got together. I wouldn't have let em get near each other if I had my wits about me." the bouncer looked down as if resigned to his failure for the first time.

"Alright then...go help them clean the place up and get some rest."

Donald was all too happy to put the interrogation behind him and quickly exited the room. That left Logan to ponder his course. He could easily turn away from everything and continue on his path, but something about these two rogues left a bad taste in his mouth. It almost felt like it was his duty to bring justice for the dead man, regardless of what his lot in life was. No...Logan would track down and punish the man who so clearly undervalued life.

[synderstorm]

Glancing towards the rogue as he was checking the shutters Arfellian asked a question of his own "What is your name?" Arfellian spotted some flint and tinder and grabbed it, as well as a very small box, built to fit into a long pocket, full of healing herbs.

"Name's Lucien." He says as he tosses the young rogue the backpack. "Now stuff it and let's go." He adds as he looks through one of the holes and sees a middle aged human heading towards the shop.

"We got about two or three minutes at most. You pack, I'll search for another exit." Lucien says as he passes the beaded door frame into the backroom, but finds no other means of exit other then the front door.

By that time the proprietor was starting to unlock the door, thinking he did close the shutters after all, Lucien looks over at Arfellian through the beads. "Handle him for a few seconds." He says as he begins to load a bolt into his hand crossbow.

Normally Lucien wouldn't have a problem just killing the proprietor outright, but he had a young rogue apprentice to consider now, one who he had hoped he'd shape into his form sooner or later, and killing an innocent man in the eyes of a young one was not an option at this time.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian looked at Lucien loading the crossbow and frowned but thought I would rather have the proprietor die than me hang for a petty theft. Knowing he only had a few seconds he swiftly stuffed the pack full of his belongings and then the extra gear he picked up at the shop. Glancing out the window he saw that the proprietor had arrived and was pulling something out of his pocket.

Arfellian quickly stepped over to the door and layed down as he heard the jingle of keys and curses as the frustration of the proprietor mounted while searching for the correct key. "Of all the gods on Krynn why can't one of them ever give me some aid in finding the right key!" the man exclaimed. Finally finding the right key he opened the door and jumped back with a start as he saw Arfellian lying on the floor.

"Hey now! What are you doing in my shop? Beware thief I am armed!" cried the man pulling out a knife and making threatening gestures.

Arfellian groaned and grabbed his side as if he was wounded "Help me sir! I was on my way home when a man jumped me and stabbed me. I was then chased by the man until I hid in here. I swear I was just resting until I was sure he had gone!" The man glanced about and then shut the door quickly bolting the lock. Then turning back to Arfellian and he knelt to see how badly Arfellian was hurt. "It will be ok son, I have some herbs and thread in the back, I am sure I can stitch you up as good as new." said the man in a kind voice.

[Dark_Dude]

"I'm heading towards the inn to get a room and have a drink. If you want, I'll buy you one before we go our seperate ways."
"Ye should buy me three. One fer each hour travel." Braxus says while stomping off into Kyre mumbling as he went. He'd been here enough times to know which inn he wanted to go to. The one where lots of drinking and gambling were going on. He headed that way, but noticed Tailana was heading towards the other one. "Gosh durned elf." He mumbles, not in those words exactly.

"Ain't be getten nothin free iffen ye don't follow 'er." He turns and heads towards the other inn. "Wait up ye durned elf."

[Black Widow]

Talaina watched Braxus walk off in a huff and shook her head. "Not that way." She said as she headed for the other one, not knowing her soft elven voice was drowned out by his dwarven mumbles as he continued on his way. Then she heard him say wait up, but she continued regardless saying, "Next time maybe you'll open up those dwarven ears and shut that dwarven mouth? I said not that way, mister grumbles."

Once at the inn, she waits for him to catch up some before she enters first and looks around to all the patrons inside. It was still early enough and there were plenty of open tables so she heads to the bar first and waits for the bartender to finish his order before calling him over. She looks around the room one more time, checking out any who look like they might be adventurers waiting for something to do, but nothing of interest peeked her enough to glance twice.

"Be wantin' sumthin, miss?" Called the bartender, which turned her attention back to the bar. "A room for the night, a meal for the evening and a glass elven wine." She says, almost forgetting about her first travelling companion. "OH....and a mug of dwarven ale, for once my comrad gets here." She turns back towards the door, still waiting for Braxus.

[Dark_Dude]

Braxus enters the inn and was heading to where miss elfy was so he could tell her not to call him mister grumbles, but a human who towered over his height and for all he knew outweighed him by double bumps into him and knocks him to the floor. "Hey you freaken idiot. Don't ye watch where ye be goin?" He gets up and looks up at the human with his knuckled fists touching each side.

The human apologized and Braxus heads off. "Yeah, thought so." He mumbles while heading to the bar. "Listen 'ere miss elfy, name's Braxus and iffen yer be wanten me ter call ye Talaina then ye best not call me mister grumbles. Got that? Now where's me ale." He sits on the barstool next to her.

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn entered the tavern right on the heels of some grumpy dwarf, but she didn't know a dwarf that couldn't be described as grumpy. She followed him up to the bar where she complained about something to an elven woman, what it was all about Erynn could care less.

But she got her drink and moved a seat or two away from the dwarf as she would not be able to stand much more of him.

She sat sipping her drink and keeping to herself.

[Black Widow]

Talaina spotted Braxus after he got off the floor and also took notice to a half elven woman following behind him, the only other potential adventurer in here at this time. I'll be watching you. She thought as she turns to Braxus and slides his mug of ale towards him. "Come on Braxus. We're not sitting here at the bar. There's an empty table near the front door, a place I'd much rather sit if that's ok with you."

Not really caring if it was ok with him or not, she looks over at the half elven woman and nods in kind gesture, then grabs her glass of wine and heads over to the table. She places her wine on the table, then positions her chair to where she can see the woman at the bar and the front door at the sametime before taking her seat.

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn sat back, keeping to herself. She heard the elf tell the dwarf that they weren't sitting there that she rather sit at a table up near the door.

Erynn turned glaring at the elven woman and her dwarven companion and sneered in response to the elf's nod and smile. Sanctimonious bitch! Only dwarves are capable of putting up with the likes of her kind Erynn thought as she took a long draw of her ale that she ordered.

She turned and propped up her feet on the chair next to her, watching the elven woman move to take a seat at the table near the door.

[synderstorm]

...turning back to Arfellian and he knelt to see how badly Arfellian was hurt...

Before the proprietor had a chance to see Arfellian's so called wound, Lucien shoots his bolt aimed at the man's head but misses terribly, since hand crossbow was never his favored weapon, and the bolt lodge's itself in the door. The man grabs hold of Arfellian's collar and pulls him up off the floor, holding the knife to his neck while standing behind him. "So yas plan ta steal from me ay?"

Lucien pulls the hood of his black cloak over his head, attaches his hand crossbow to his side and draws his rapier before he exits the backroom. "Kill the kid and you die, that simple." Lucien bluffs. "On the other hand, you can keep hold of the kid while I put back everything I took from you, then we'll be on our way and you'll never see us again."

Thinking he had the upperhand now, the proprietor agrees. Giving an added ascentive of good faith, Lucien sheathes his rapier and begins pulling out some of the things he'd taken and slowly starts putting them back where they belong, keeping his perifial on the man and to all angles.

"Just put all on counter." The proprietor says and while Lucien heads for the counter, back turned, he unsheathes his dagger without the man's knowledge and places some of the items on the counter. He then turns to the proprietor and releases his dagger, hitting the man in his left eye, giving Arfellian enough time to wiggle free as the man drops his knife. "Now's your chance. Take him out." Lucien says, waiting to see if Arfellian would follow through with it.

[Usernameinvalid]

Wiggled free of the proprieters grasp but not unscathed, he had a long shallow cut on his neck where the proprieter had held the knife to his neck. Turning to see the injured proprietor holding his ruined eye Arfellian brought his knee up the the mans chin knocking him unconscious.

Arfellian grabbed the knife Lucien had thrown and pulled it out of the mans eye wincing at the squelching noise it made as it came free. He wiped the knife on the proprietors shirt and handed it back to Lucien. Quickly packing the rest of the items into his pack Arfellian shouldered the pack and turned to Lucien "It may have been better to kill him, but maybe he won't be able to give a good description of us and it's not like we care.... where to now?" asked Arfellian while wrapping a black scarf around his neck to hide the bright red line where the knife had cut.

[Dalamar91]

Logan's heavy boots thundered down the steps to the first floor. He had garnered all he could of value from Donald, and though he wasn't much better off than he started, he was at least getting on the right track. The bouncer's description of the two culprits was tenuous at best so the cleric crossed the casino with his chin in his hand and his mind elsewhere. If he had been paying attention he wouldn't have walked right into the shorter but sturdy dwarf. Logan's knee connected with Braxus at about the hip, and while the cleric stumbled about his fine vestments and plated armor, the dwarf unfortunately crashed into the floor.

"My sincerest apology..." he stammered as if awoken from a deep sleep.

Logan was in the process of offering a hand when the surprisingly nimble dwarf was already hopping back to his feet and thrusting his meaty fists to his hips. The big human found it a bit humorous when the dwarf puffed out his broad chest in defiance. His words were lost to the cleric but he understood that they were of the frustrated and embarrassed variety. Logan couldn't help but smile and nod, then he turned about in search of the barmaid from yesterday.

As his light gray eyes surveyed the casino he was pleasantly surprised to see that they had done a marvelous job of cleaning up the place. Had he not seen the murder a day previous he would be hard pressed to believe it had ever happened. A thought crossed his mind in his contemplations that perhaps the staff of this drinking hole were used to such things, and the thought brought a sour look to his face. He found himself standing over the table where the deceased man played his last game of cards. It was unoccupied at the moment and not even a stray chip lay about. He felt a soft hand caress his arm between the elbow and forearm (one of the few places on his upper torso that wasn't covered by metal plate) and turned to see the barmaid.

"You seem lost my dear. What can I do fer ya?" she put on a kind smile.

Logan proceeded to question her about the events from the night before in hopes that she could shed some light as to where the two rogues were heading, and at the very least, to acquire a more substantial description of the men.

[synderstorm]

Lucien takes his dagger back and grabs what he'd returned while Arfellian finished stuffing his backpack and asking where to next. "The other side of town. I have unfinished business here with an old friend." Once done, he looks over at the proprietor for a moment before looking back to Arfellian. "I forgot to grab some flasks of oil. Go ahead out, I'll be there in a moment."

Once alone, he heads over to the proprietor and slits his throat. "Can't take any chances." He says as he wipes the blood from his blade and returns it to his side then grabs a few flasks of oil and exits the shop, letting Arfellian see him place the flasks into his backpack. "Tanner's clothing shop we go." He says as he takes the lead. "Once I'm done there, we'll head to the other inn, which isn't far from there, and get a room for the night. We'll leave at dawn."

[Usernameinvalid]

Stepping outside onto the muddy street Arfellian unconsciously started to melt back into the shadows before he realized that sometimes a rogues best cover is having no cover at all. Frowning and looking down at his mud covered boots Arfellian thought about the events that had occured earlier but he didn't have much time to ponder for the door of the proprietors shop opened and Lucien stepped out.
As Lucien walked outside and was putting the oil in his pack Arfellian threw his cloak over his shoulders, hiding his weapons and armor so as to look more like a common citizen and started boldly walking down the street towards their new destination.

[Dark_Dude]

"Come on Braxus. We're not sitting here at the bar. There's an empty table near the front door, a place I'd much rather sit if that's ok with you."
Braxus had just sat down and he wasn't about to get up right then. "Be there when me ale is done." He mumbles. He gulps down the ale and slams the tankard on the bar then looks over at the bartender, ale dripping from his beard. "Another ale...*belches loudly*...'ere."

The bartender comes over with another tankard and holds his hand out for payment. "Best run a tab on miss elfy." He points to Talaina and gets off the barstool. "She owes me a few anyways." He grabs his ale and turns towards Talaina taking notice of the half elf lady sitting a couple barstools away. "Mighty pretty, yep mighty pretty indeed." He gives her a wink and heads over to Talaina, keeping his distance from the giant human just incase he wasn't watching where he was going again.

[synderstorm]

Once they arrive at the shop, Lucien turns to Arfellian. "I'm not only a rogue, I'm a bounty hunter as well. Tanner is my source of information around these parts and I advise you not to touch anything in his shop unless you plan on buying it." Lucien opens the door very slowly, so not to set off the alarm from the bell on the inside. He turns to Arfellian and places a forefinger to his lips before quietly entering and sneaking towards the backroom, hoping to catch his source off guard as he's always tried, yet always failed. Taking another step, the floor board creeks and Lucien knew he was done for...again.

"Nice try Lucien. Better luck next time." A male voice was heard from the backroom, followed by laughter as Lucien looks over at Arfellian and shakes his head. "I don't know how he does it, but I can never catch him off guard." Just then, an elderly human comes out from the backroom and notices Lucien was not alone. "Who's the kid?" Tanner questions as Lucien turns to him. "His name's Arfellian and I'm showing him the tricks of the trade." Tanner looks the young rogue up and down then looks at Lucien and shakes his head. "Why him? Don't look like much to me." Lucien keeps his eyes on Tanner for a moment, then looks back over to Arfellian then back to Tanner again. "It doesn't matter what you think of him. Now...let's get down to why I'm here."

"Yeah, let's do. Whatcha wantin' now from me now?" Tanner says, looking at the young rogue and still wondering what Lucien saw in him. Lucien turns to Arfellian. "I'll be back soon. Just remember, keep your hands off of things." They both head to the backroom to discuss his issues. "And don't be eavesdropping kid. Ain't no need to be listenin' to what don't concern you." Tanner just had to yell out.

By the time Lucien finished his conversation with Tanner it was nearing dusk and Lucien wondered if Arfellian was still mingling about the shop...

[Usernameinvalid]

After Lucien disappeared along with the Tanner Arfellian walked around the store looking at the various items and noted nothing special. Normally Arfellian might have been tempted to try and pocket some things but after that stern warning from Lucien he decided it was probably best to leave things alone. He looked out the window watching people hurrying about their business just like any other town. Arfellian glanced around the shop again with his cold black eyes and then sat down on a stool and pulled out a piece of wood and started whittling a figure of a horse.

It was nearing dusk and Arfellians stomach was growling like a mean dog over a bone, he wondered how much longer Lucien would be...

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn quirked an eyebrow seeing a cleric in such an establishment as this. He must be needing to meet his quota for the day she thought to herself taking another draw from her mug. She almost spit out her ale in laughter when the dwarf was flirting with her. As if she would even consider such a union with the likes of him, not to mention he seemed to be the companion of the that sanctimonious elf bitch.

[Dalamar91]

The big cleric turned away from the barmaid with his brown and white robes whipping about in a flourish. She was able to provide him with a much more detailed description of the two rogues, and though he was very satisfied with the assistance, something about that description left a very sour taste in his mouth. He stalked over to the door lost in his own thoughts. He was consumed by the fact that the younger of the two culprits, interestingly enough, not the one who delivered the killing blow, had the eyes of a demon. According to her statement his eyes seemed to be not but a large pupil, completely cast over in darkness and devoid of any color.
Naturally Logan dismissed the description as the words of a frightened witness to such a horrible act, but as Belinda described those cold, unnatural orbs of black, he saw clearly that she was shivering. "So what is the significance of blacked out eyes?" he wondered. Could there be much more to the rogue than he originally thought? The very idea of a demon or some other denizen of the abyss walking on Krynn only spurned his determination on further and Logan decided right there to make sure he found them and punished them for their transgressions.

He snapped from the reverie and realized that he had been standing in front of the door for who knows how long. The big man sighed and pushed open the door, stepping back out into the cold streets.

[synderstorm]

It was nearing dusk and Arfellians stomach was growling like a mean dog over a bone, he wondered how much longer Lucien would be...

"Thanks for the info, Tanner." Arfellian heard as they neared the doorless frame of the backroom and Lucien steps out. "Sorry about the wait. Just needed to catch up on a few things. Now, let's get going. I'm sure you're just as hungry as I am, if not more." He says as he clips a silver pearled broach onto his cloak and heads for the front door. "Thanks again Tanner and next time I'll catch you off guard."

"Yeah yeah, sure ya will." Comes words from the backroom, followed by laughter.

Once outside, Lucien turns to his comrad. "Our descriptions have been noted to the guards. I don't have to worry about mine anymore, thanks to Tanner." He pats his newly acquired adornment and speaks the arcane word to activate it's power. He now appeared to look like a human in his mid twenties with blonde hair and blue eyes. "As for you, not sure. Those eyes of yours will mostlikey give you away."

[Usernameinvalid]

"As for you, not sure. Those eyes of yours will mostlikey give you away." said Lucien as he magically changed his appearance in front of Arfellians eyes.

"I don't have quite as an effective disguise as you, however I have acquired something that will aid me until we leave town" Arfellian said while rummaging through his pack and triumphantly pulled out an odd pair of crystals. Connected by wire these crystals were rounded and polished and at the end of either crystal was another wire about three inches long with a soft bend.

"I er acquired this from the house of a noble I stayed at, it's called glasses I believe. Apparantly some nobles use these to keep the sun out of their eyes during the day, you see the crystal can be seen through but because it's dark no one can see through them to my eyes. It will look odd, since only a few of the most eccentric nobles wear them but they will work for the moment." Arfellian put on the crystal glasses and looked at his reflection in the mirror and snorted, he couldn't have looked more ridiculous if he planned on it.

Silently he turned and headed down the street towards the tavern on the far side of town as dusk was falling.

[synderstorm]

Lucien already knew of what most called sunblockers, but since his new comrad was young he figured to let the kid talk away while thinking he'll show more tricks of the trade at the other inn.

It wasn't long before they reached the inn, passing by large human dressed in clerical garbs before he entered. Lucien looks around at the patrons within, as he always did when entering a place where most might be of interest. Table on the right, female elf and dwarven male, possible information perhaps. He thought as he continues his scan around the room and sees a half elven women seated at the bar. From behind she might be something to look more into. He again thought, looking over at his comrad, who looked rediculous wearing dark glasses at dusk.

[Usernameinvalid]

As they walked over to the inn Arfellian saw it again. This time in the light, it was clearly a human cleric and he was huge! As they neared the door of the inn Arfellian whispered to himself "That big cleric, that was the one I saw coming up the stairs! He must be looking for us." Resolving to tell Lucien later after they had a good meal Arfellian entered the inn.

Seeing the world covered in a haze of red Arfellian suddenly wished he had a better disguise then the cystal glasses. Well, I certainly need to acquire a disguise like Lucien, I wonder if he can change his appearance to whatever he wishes at will or just that one appearance. Then like a dog spotting a squirrel Arfellians attention snapped over to the nearest maid who had a plate of dinner in her hand.

"Miss, I would like a double-meal and some of your best tea, if no tea then water please!" he called out flashing some steel coins at her and winking.

Looking over the room and noting the current patrons he decided to sit at the bar and maybe strike up a conversation, the Dwarf looked like a talker or perhaps the half-elf.

[Black Widow]

Talaina took notice of the very tall human cleric more then anything else at the moment, as he seemed lost in his thoughts while standing at the front door for quite sometime before opening it and heading out. "Stay here Braxus." She says as she gets up and heads outside, almost bumping into two men who were heading in. "Pardon me." She says then continues after the tall cleric. After all, if she could help him with whatever troubles him, maybe he'd join her on her journey.

"Excuse me, sir cleric." She calls out to him. "I couldn't help but notice something is troubling you. I'm sure someone like yourself doesn't need much help, but maybe if you tell me what it is I could assist you." She had no idea and neither did he that what troubled him just walked into the inn.

[Dalamar91]

Logan cradled the silver pendant the hung around his neck by a simple chain, brushing his lips lightly against it as he prayed for guidance. So lost in his mantra was the big man that he almost didn't hear the musical voice that called out to him. He froze in his place, allowing the pendant to dangle about his chest, and turned on his heel to face the female who approached.

"Can I help y..." he was cut off in mid-speech when his widened eyes beheld the elven beauty standing before him. What a relief she was to view after witnessing the atrocity from the night prior.

It never ceased to amaze him how wonderful a race the elves truly were. Wonderful...was that the word the encompassed just how perfect the fey folk were? No. Perhaps Perfect was the best way to describe them. The chosen people of the Platinum Dragon himself, elves were a folk who Logan had at many stages of his life admired, loved, cherished, and most of all, wished he were among them. The delicate flower before him caused his hardened visage to soften immediately and he couldn't help but smile in response to her obvious concerns for his own well being.

"I'm quite alright milady. Just on my way to visit with the authorities and assist in the man hunt." he frowned at the thought of troubling such an innocent looking soul with the burden he must carry. He knew her not at all but the idea of revealing the ugly evils that humanity so often exhibited put a bad taste in his mouth, so he decided not to go into any further details.

"Worry not. The inn is warm and the wine is sweet. You should not trouble yourself with this nonsense." he replaced the frown with a pleasant smile.

[synderstorm]

Lucien follows Arfellian to the bar and sits down next to the half elf, looking over at her to view the side of her face before turning to the bartender. "Wine and not the watered down kind either." He turns to face the crowd, looking amongst the patrons for those who might be holding something which will catch his interest, but nothing seemed to catch it other then the half elven woman seated next to him.

She was a vision of beauty, but in a dangerous way by the looks of her choice of weapons. A spellcaster, perhaps. He thought as his eyes fell upon her soft flowing hair for a moment before moving his eyes from her and turning to Arfellian, who was seated on the other side of him. "I heard you mention something about the big cleric. What's that about?"

[Usernameinvalid]

Keeping his voice low so the half-elf wouldn't hear him Arfellian related to Lucien about how he had seen the cleric coming up the stairs with an angry look on his face and that Arfellian thought perhaps the cleric would be looking for them because of the killings. When he had finished telling Lucien all he knew Arfellian turned his attention to his food filling his belly with the cheap bread and poorly made stew.

[synderstorm]

Lucien's attention was now on what Arfellian had informed him, along with what Tanner spoke of before their departure. His worry of the guards weren't the problem anymore. He had that taken care of, thanks to his source, but now the issue of a cleric being involved? The same one he saw before he entered, which he gave little thought of other then his size? This was not good news since he now thought of the medallion of faith around his neck which resembled....

"A cleric of Kiri-Jolith." He mumbled under his breath. One of good faith would surely be able to detect evil if he wanted to. I must not give him reason to try, if our paths ever cross. He thought then turned his attention back to the half elf beauty seated next to him. "Whatever you do, don't eat the beef stew here." He says loud enough for Arfellian to hear. "Tastes like what comes out the cow's end."

[Dark_Dude]

Braxus finished his ale and called for the barmaid to come over but she was busy elsewhere so he decided to go to the bar and get another ale. He sits down next to the human wearing dark spectacles and thought how suspicious he looked. "It be mighty dark in 'ere already mister. Why hide yer eyes unless ye got somethin' to hide."

The bartender comes over to Braxus with another ale. "Yeah I know, put it on miss elfy's tab." Braxus grabs his ale. "Yep." He drinks about half before putting it down and looking over at the sneaky looking human, laughing at the kid's silly disguise.

[Black Widow]

"I'm quite alright milady. Just on my way to visit with the authorities and assist in the man hunt." he frowned at the thought of troubling such an innocent looking soul with the burden he must carry. He knew her not at all but the idea of revealing the ugly evils that humanity so often exhibited put a bad taste in his mouth, so he decided not to go into any further details.

"Worry not. The inn is warm and the wine is sweet. You should not trouble yourself with this nonsense." he replaced the frown with a pleasant smile.

"Kind sir, the inn may be warm and the wine sweet, but if there's a man hunt then it only means he has yet to be found and therefore my services might come in handy. If you have any other information you're hiding from me, you can tell me along the way because I'm coming with you and I won't take no for an answer." Talaina replies as she looks up at him for a moment with her almond shaped pale blue eyes staring into his before heading towards the authorities.

Before she got far, an arrow whizzed over her head, breaking the window of a nearby shop. She turns towards the direction it came from and took notice of the dark figure ontop one of the buildings nearby before he disappeared. She lowers her head for a moment, then turns towards the tall cleric. "Perhaps it's best you go alone after all and worry not of what I deal with."

[Usernameinvalid]

"It be mighty dark in 'ere already mister. Why hide yer eyes unless ye got somethin' to hide."



Arfellian looked at the dwarf who seemed to have trouble hiding a smile at the moment.

"My good dwarf, normally I wouldn't wear these glasses on a dark night however recently I decided to watch the sun move accross the heavens and it has effected my vision so I must wear these glasses." Lied Arfellain

The dwarf was guzzling down his drink at an alarming rate and Arfellian didn't want to answer more personal questions so he throws some steel on the counter and yells for a round of drinks. Slyly he looked over at Lucien who was telling the half-elf that the stew tasted like what came out of a cow's bowels and sighed wondering if it would be worth it to stick with the rogue.

[Dalamar91]

Logan's gray orbs softened considerably when caught in the stare of Talaina's pale blue eyes. She was the perfect representation of a pure and innocent being, and for that she was beautiful, but her personality was something quite different. Clearly the girl had a courage that surpassed what she showed on the outside, and for that he was even more intrigued by her. For that he decided not to turn her away...better to get to know this one a bit more. Plus, he didn't mind the company after all.

They didn't get very far before the deadly missile flew past and destroyed a nearby window. The big cleric spun around and spotted the dark figure, and after a quick glance to be sure Talaina was unharmed, his lips quickly went into a verse from Kiri Jolith's most holy of tomes. The air in front of them seemed to warp with some unknown energy for just a split second, as if it were a piece of glass being superheated and reshaped by a glazier, and just as suddenly returned to normal.

She lowers her head for a moment, then turns towards the tall cleric. "Perhaps it's best you go alone after all and worry not of what I deal with."

It didn't even cross his mind the possibility of leaving Talaina to battle by herself. "Looks like you have a story to tell as well." Logan never turned his eyes from the new threat as he spoke. The shield he summoned would render the ranged weapon useless against them, but they wouldn't be able to stand out in the open forever under a barrage of missiles. Trained eyes darted from roof top to roof top in search of other potential threats.

With one fluid motion the big man unsheathed the two-handed long sword from his back scabbard and took a defensive posture, interposing himself between Talaina and the would-be assassin. The weapon, nearly as long as he stood tall, gleamed in the light of Solinari, and the cleric, whose face was calm and peaceful just a short while ago, wore a determined look that spelled doom for anyone who came too near.

[synderstorm]

...he throws some steel on the counter and yells for a round of drinks. Slyly he looked over at Lucien who was telling the half-elf that the stew tasted like what came out of a cow's bowels and sighed wondering if it would be worth it to stick with the rogue.

Lucien turns his head towards Arfellian, who yelled for a round of drinks, and took notice to the dwarf, who was seated at the other side of him. "I'll take a mug of ale. Best ye got." He yells to the bartender, looking past Arfellian for a moment to catch the dwarf's eye.

He then leans in to whisper to his comrad. "Watched the sun? That's the best you could come up with?" Letting Arfellian know that regardless if he seemed preoccupied, he was always listening to his student.

[Black Widow]

"He's gone now." Talaina turns her head towards the inn's direction, then back to the cleric, looking into his grey eyes "I thank you for your willingness to aide me and I'm sorry to have disturbed you, kind sir, but I must concentrate on finding my sister and can not aide you on your man hunt."

She begins to head back to the inn, but stops and turns to face him. "I shall be leaving at dawn. If your man hunt is successful by that time, perhaps I shall see you again." She turns around and slowly heads off, but again stopped to face him once more. "My apologies kind sir, I have forgotten my manners. I am Talaina Whisperleaf and to whom am I speaking with?"

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn had turned and put her attention into her mug that was quickly becoming empty. She ignored the bafoon who came and took a seat next to her and his odd little buddy. In fact she was ignoring most of the goings on in the room. And although she was ignoring things, that didn't mean she didn't have astute knowledge of that which transpired around her. She just wasn't in the mood to care to be bothered.

[Dalamar91]

"He's gone now." Talaina turns her head towards the inn's direction, then back to the cleric, looking into his grey eyes "I thank you for your willingness to aide me and I'm sorry to have disturbed you, kind sir, but I must concentrate on finding my sister and can not aide you on your man hunt."

The large Cleric turned toward Talaina with an arched brow and a look that betrayed how stunned he was at her words. His mind was reeling with the off-handed way she just dismissed an obvious assassination attempt, or at the very least an attempt to scare her. How could someone so easily ignore an attempt on their life? Clearly elves were a strange and exotic folk, but Logan thought that perhaps this Elf was even an oddity to her own folk.

She begins to head back to the inn, but stops and turns to face him. "I shall be leaving at dawn. If your man hunt is successful by that time, perhaps I shall see you again." She turns around and slowly heads off, but again stopped to face him once more. "My apologies kind sir, I have forgotten my manners. I am Talaina Whisperleaf and to whom am I speaking with?"

He cast his gray eyes back towards the rooftop to be sure that the offending archer had indeed vanished, and only when he was convinced that the danger was, at least for now, over...he returned a steely gaze at Talaina. The long blade slammed back into his back scabbard with practiced ease and he stood tall and straight, a sigh escaping his lips.

"Well met Miss Whisperleaf. I am Vassal Logan Hess, devotee of the Bison Lord." his eyes were narrow as he spoke and she could easily tell that he was confused by her actions.

"Milady. There are murderers in these streets and, though I can't be sure that the archer from a moment ago is connected to whom I seek, you must understand that this city is unsafe." at the thought he wondered if the archer had in fact meant to strike him down. Perhaps he or she was a bad shot...he?!?

Logan's eyes widened when he realized that Talaina had been specific when she mentioned the stranger's gender. She had said he...of that he was certain. Elves were renowned for their superior vision even at a distance, and even in near darkness...so it really wasn't that unbelievable that she might have been able to ascertain the gender of their attacker, but he wondered if perhaps she had some more insight as to who would dare put their lives at risk. His large arms crossed at his chest and the cleric sighed again.

"Do you need some help?" he asked tentatively, not wanting to offend her by offering his assistance, but hoping she might reveal what exactly was going on all the same.

[Black Widow]

"Vassal Logan Hess, devotee of the Bison Lord, your assistance would be much appreciated in my time of need. Under most circumstances I would not accept, but my sister is in danger by the hands of a cult who worship Morgion." She looks to those who pass by then turns her attention back to Logan. "We shouldn't speak on the city's streets. A recent acquaintence awaits inside the inn and his dwarven ears have yet to hear all which needs to pass my lips."

Just then a slight gust of wind brushed against them from the west and Talaina looks towards the dark sky in the near distance as strands of blonde hair crossed her almond shaped blue eyes. She removes the tie that binds her hair and shakes the strands away. "Looks like we're in for a stormy night." She turns away from him and heads back to the inn, black leathery dress swaying with each step she took as her long wavy hair danced in the wind.

Once Talaina entered she looks for Braxus, who was suddenly spotted seated at the bar next to a human male finishing off a bowl of stew. She looks to the human seated next to him, remembering she almost bumped into him as she left, then noticed his attention was on the half elf she acknowledged earlier. A slight grin crossed her lips regarding the half elven, but her thoughts were more focused on other matters now and if her words were heard from those nearest the dwarf, then perhaps they too might consider an interest in the unknown possibilities of knowledge, and/or wealth.

[Dalamar91]

He honestly wanted to aid in the manhunt for the two rogues, but at the mention of Talaina's plight he was seriously considering changing his intentions. Logan considered her words for a moment, a scowl on his face at the mention of Morgion. The pestilent one and he had a history of sorts...one that the Cleric wished he could forget. Thoughts drifted back to his late father and a look of sorrow crossed his features. But that is a story for another day.

"I myself am not ignorant to the foul touch of Morgion, and if what you say is true your sister requires all the help she can get. I'll stand aside and let the authorities bring justice to the men walking these streets if it can give me a chance to ruin his plans." there was no question as to who he was referring to. Logan wanted little else more in the world than to avenge his father's decline into insanity at the hand of the wretched god.

Just then a slight gust of wind brushed against them from the west and Talaina looks towards the dark sky in the near distance as strands of blonde hair crossed her almond shaped blue eyes. She removes the tie that binds her hair and shakes the strands away. "Looks like we're in for a stormy night." She turns away from him and heads back to the inn, black leathery dress swaying with each step she took as her long wavy hair danced in the wind.

Logan watched her leave and he found himself staring, her dress and hair acting almost like a charm being dangled by a hypnotist. The big man shook his head to clear away thoughts that could weaken his resolve and entered the inn somewhat reluctantly.

Truth be told he wanted nothing more than to be away from the sinful house of vice for it still stunk of death from the night prior. He followed Talaina to her table and offered her a seat when it was obvious where she intended to rest. Once the lady was comfortable he sat down wherever a free chair remained and tried not to appear awkward.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian nudged Lucien with his elbow the moment the big man walked in the door and whispered "Should we wait for a problem to emerge or leave first or... perhaps we should kill him now to avoid future struggles" though he said it like it wouldn't be hard to do he knew that there was something special about the big man. Turning his attention to his stewbowl which was now empty he sighed and slipped off his glasses which were annoying him to no end.

[synderstorm]

Lucien turns his attention towards the cleric for a brief moment as he raises his glass of wine to his lips then places the glass back on the bar. "It would seem his attention is on the elven woman who about ran into me a few bits ago. Don't worry, I'll be watching and if I feel his attention is tending elsewhere you'll be the first to know about it." He whispers to Arfellian before briefly looking at the half elven woman, who was either lost in thought, or wished not to speak with the likes of a goofy looking blonde haired human, as he now portrayed. I should've picked a more rugged look. He thought.

Thinking about the situation more logically now, now that he screwed up his charming looks..."There's an unoccupied table near the cleric and his elven escort." He mocks her choice of clothing. "The closer I am to my enemy, the more I learn. I'm heading over there and if you want to join me that's fine...unless you'd rather talk to the dwarf, who's in dire need of a bath." The latter statement was said loud enough for the dwarf to hear as Lucien grabs his glass of wine and stands up.

He heads over to the empty table and positions his chair to see the human's lips move when he speaks, since the chatter within the common room could possibly drown out what could be heard.

[Dark_Dude]

Braxus saw Tailaina enter with the big human who knocked him on his dwarven butt. "That's the big rush out? Ter get big oaf back?" He grumbles.

He wondered why this silly female elf made him wonder and although her choice of recruits were left to be undesired, he couldn't help it and he got off the barstool..then heard what the guy next to the youngen said what he said about him. "Ye wish ye smelled this good, ye stupid..." The human headed off ignoring him. "Ye ain't got the guts fer fighten 'ey. All bark no bite 'ey coward."

He heads over to Talaina and the big clumsy human. "What's the likes of this clumsy 'ol fool doin' 'ere? Yer be that desperate fer help er what?" He plops his dwarven butt in a chair then realized he left a gulp in his tankard at the bar. "Ye got me attention iffen ye get me another ale."

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian watched as Lucien sat at a table near the cleric and the elf and then was surprised to see the dwarf get up and head towards the table with the elf and cleric talking about ale the whole time. Arfellian understood then that something was happening, perhaps the gods were bringing them together but it was not chance, no chance never played this big of a role in any mans life. Arfellian grabbed the dwarfs almost empty mug and had the bartender fill it and then went and sat down next to the dwarf. Fingering his knives as his dark eyes swept around the table taking in everything and he ventured to say "The dwarf needed ale, so I thought I would bring him some before the entire city turned out here because of his loud complaints" Keeping track of where everyone was, especially Lucien, Arfellian stared at the large cleric. "You're a cleric, tell me why the gods have us all coming together like this." he asked quietly.

[Black Widow]

Once Braxus noticed Talaina, she heads to one of the empty tables and Logan offers her a seat. A slight smile crossed her thin elven lips as she takes the offered chair then watched him take his. "We'll wait for Braxus before I go into details." She says, noticing how uncomfortable he must be, for such a man of his height wearing heavy half plate armor with a longsword sheathed to his back, trying to look comfortable in a chair with no cushion. Slighty amused by it, she composes herself by turning towards the bar and sees the one human from before head over to a table near them, positioning his chair to keep watch of them. Perhaps it was coincidence, but she wasn't taking any chances. She leans her staff against the table with one hand while slowly removing her dagger and placing it on her lap with the other.

Her attention now turns towards Braxus and his remarks before and after he sat down. "I suppose I am desperate then, I've got your attention and it's not just the ale either. As a matter of fact, now I will not...." Before she could finish her sentence, the young rogue seated next to Braxus at the bar comes over and makes himself comfortable seated next to Braxus again and hands him a full mug. She wasn't buying his story. Perhaps a coincidence with one, but now this young one, who she knew was in coherts with the other, decides to join them, asking Logan why the gods brought them all together?

No, this is a set up. I must keep a close eye on blondie. She thought before speaking to the newcomer. "It's not his knowledge to know why his god chose us to meet and it's beyond his knowledge if any of the other gods chose you to sit here, but you are welcome to sit here anyways and...." She looks over at the other human who watched them. "....ask your friend if he wishes too, as well." She spoke quietly, yet knew the blonde rogue understood every word.

[synderstorm]

Lucien sips his wine, watching as Arfellian followed after the dwarf. He places the glass on the table and leans back in his chair, one arm resting over it's back as he scans the room for a moment before bringing his eyes back to their table. Noticing the elven woman's lips moving, he listens with his eyes and was somewhat surprised with what she finished with as she watched him.

He knew he was caught and he thought quickly. "You'll have to forgive me, milady. I'm...well...not accustomed with barging in on what could be a private moment between you and your escort, but since the rotund loud mouth, followed by my new acquaintance, did...I take it the big guy there is a recent acquaintance of yours perhaps, and for that, my apologies for what I was thinking."

He removes his arm from the chair's back and grabs his glass of wine before standing, then grabs his chair with his free hand before heading over to their table. He places his chair opposite of where Arfellian sat, which brought him closer to view the dagger which was in the elven woman's lap. "Name's Lucien, rogue for hire." His eyes strayed from the dagger as he looks to her eyes, then towards the cleric for a moment before looking over at the dwarf.

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn turned in her seat, putting her feet up on the stool next to her once it was once again vacant. She pushed an empty mug to the barkeep and asked for another. She rested her back against the bar post watching the room while eaves dropping on the conversation at the table that now consisted, of an elf, a dwarf, a big cleric, and a blond headed rogue.

The barkeep handed Erynn her ale and she took a draw. Finding it acceptable she threw down the precise amount along with a couple extra copper for the barkeep.

Erynn noticed a game of poker at a table a bit closer to the motley crew and figured she would better be able to satisfy her roguish curiosity sitting closer, not only that, but she was feeling lucky.

With mug in hand she moved over to the men that were holding the game of cards and with her foot spun the chair around straddling the back. "What's the wager gentlemen?"

"Hmpf! I aint playin' wit no womun!" One bellowed.

Erynn grinned and raised an eyebrow looking at the man, "The next round will be on me, not to mention, you win you will gain my steel..." She threw down a heavy pouch "and to sweeten the pot anything else I might be able to provide." She leans over the back of her chair and the table.

The dealer butted in "The steel and all three of us have you for our night's entertainment."

"Hey! Thet's nut fair!"

"Better than paying fer it, aint it?"

"Grrrrr"

Erynn's smile grew "Sounds like a deal to me."...

[Dalamar91]

Logan sat back in his chair as the events unfolded before him, a look of disdain clearly dominating his features. His steely gray orbs were focused on Arfellian. He cast a sideways glance at the blonde "rogue for hire" before returning to the black-eyed rogue. Lucien didn't match the description of the second culprit from last night so he assumed that blondie was another associate in what could amount to a thieves guild in Kyre. The cleric resigned himself to look into this revelation deeper at another time. Through clenched teeth he finally responded.

"You dare return to this house of death as if you are without sin?" his voice was accusatory and the big man stood up slowly from his chair.

He didn't bother to wait for the rogue to explain himself.

"I don't know where your ally has run off to but you show either great courage or great stupidity in returning to the scene of the crime." his eyes offhandedly glanced at the table where the murder had taken place the night prior.

"You have two options. One...surrender yourself to the will of the authorities and take your rightful punishment. Two...submit to the will of Kiri Jolith and find penance for your misdeeds."

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian braced himself as the huge cleric stood and gave his ultimatum. Arfellian briefly toyed with the idea of killing the cleric and was pretty sure he could do it but something stopped him. He knew better than to glance at Lucien and trusted the rogue to stay out of trouble. Arfellian stood and faced the cleric, he was no match for the awesome height and sheer power that the cleric showed.

"Why should I submit when I have done nothing wrong?" states Arfellian boldy, looking around the table knowing that if he killed, or tried to kill, the cleric he probably would not be getting away alive.

"I have heard the legends surrounding Kiri Jolith but I knew none who followed him, if you are a true follower then you will see that the penance set to me by your god is light. Know this, if you or anyone here tries to kill me that will be the last mistake you ever make." said Arfellian looking the cleric straight in the eye and taking his hands off his weapons. With three quick steps Arfellian moved around the table to the side of the cleric where he kneeled, hands near his daggers, and prayed that Kiri Jolith had an interesting view on innocence.

[Dalamar91]

Logan raised a brow when the young rogue offered himself up without a fight, though it appeared that the too proud Arfellian had to at least offer a verbal threat before doing so to save face. No matter, the cleric thought. He could see clearly now that the authorities in this stinking pit of a city were inept when it came to justice and he had to admit that he was happy that the rogue chose his own brand over the other option. As Arfellian made his way around the table, ultimately submitting himself in full, Logan cast his orbs about the table silently suggesting that nobody interfere. He then turned his attention to the sinner.

"Whether you are innocent or not, that will be determined by the Bison Lord. It is best to remain still because when you come out of the sedated state you could potentially hurt yourself should you choose to flail about." he crooked a bit of a smirk and lifted the silver pendant to his lips to offer a prayer to Kiri Jolith.

***************************
His body seemed to fall away from Arfellian with great speed and he was keenly aware that a less substantial form of himself had departed Krynn entirely. In the matter of a heartbeat he had traversed infinite miles of unknown pathways to find himself in a whole new place. Gone were the patrons, Lucien, and the inn itself. Gone too was the large Cleric, though somehow the rogue knew that Logan wasn't far away at least in spirit. As he glanced around this new terrain the rogue found himself surrounded by unending fields of burning grass with a view overhead that closer resembled a lava flow than a clear skyline. Hot breath seemed to wash across his shoulders and a booming voice struck him down to his knees with the sheer power of its vocals.

"You are a parody of all that is good an pleasant in the world you call Krynn. A twisted, vile creation of filth and humanity. You belong to me...and I will have you. Let me tease with a taste of what is to come for you my child of flames..."

Before Arfellian had a chance to consider what what happening the very air itself seemed no longer to exist. He found himself choking for breath as Zeboim drained his body and left him an evaporated husk. Somehow he knew his tormentors as they struck. Nuitari flailed him with a whip of energy all the while conjuring orbs of acid to burn his flesh. Hiddukel's whispered lies felt as if a thousand hornets flew into his ears and Morgion covered his body in rash and rancid pustules. Sargonnas struck him down with the most painful strike of his unholy axe and the titanic minotaur god snorted in derision. And when Arfellian though that the sweet release of death had finally arrived Chemosh called his corpse to rise and serve him, the torment and pain unrelenting. The torture seemed to go on for hours, but it ended suddenly and the young rogue found himself whisked away to another place.

This new realm was far from the barren landscape he had just visited. Instead of flaming earth there stood lush trees and beautiful rows upon rows of strikingly colorful flora. The sky was breathtakingly clear and the color of sapphire. He felt no sorrow, but profound joy. All his pain was gone and replaced by sweet pleasure. A soothing voice that sent shivers down his spine spoke after he had plenty of time to enjoy his surroundings.

"Child. You walk a dangerous line. The decisions made in the mortal shell will dictate how you rest in the afterlife. You are a contradiction...one part pure and true...one part flame and sulfur. But regardless of your bloodline you are the one who chooses the life you will live and the code of conduct you will follow."

The voice seemed to lose its almost feminine serenity as it continued, taking on a more even tone.

"For your sins I pass this judgment. You are absolved under these conditions and may you choose the correct path to follow for the rest of your days. You will travel with my advocate for a year, and in that time you will do whatever is needed to save the life he seeks to release from certain agony. A life for a life. You will serve and you will do so willingly...without complaint. To go against this decree is to see your sins counted against you on the day of judgment, and so help your mortal soul should you turn a blind eye to justice. Know this Arfellian Brand...you are always being chronicled and you will be judged when the last breath escapes your lips."

*******************8
Logan finished speaking mere minutes after he began, and what seemed like an eternity to the rogue was truly only so long as the prayer itself. The cleric let his pendant drop back to the security of his broad chest and turned back to the table, sitting down and wiping a few beads of sweat from his clean-shaven scalp. His face seemed oddly at ease, but to a trained eye his gray orbs betrayed some unknown horror that burned in his mind. During his brief communion with the Bison Lord he had learned more than he expected of Arfellian, and truth be told, he wasn't at all pleased with his findings.

[synderstorm]

Lucien watched as the events unfolded and said not a word. He remained still, keeping his eyes fully on the cleric now as the prayer to his deity brought beads of sweat to his bald head.

Concerned somewhat about the kid, only to suit his needs, he continued to remain motionless as the minutes passed and the cleric once again took his seat.

The threat to my plans must be eliminated as discreetly as possible from the young one's eyes. Lucien thought for a moment as he stared into the cleric's eyes and wondered what he was thinking.

[Usernameinvalid]

Unwilling to show weakness or fear even though he felt them Arfellian stood and walked back to his seat and called out for an ale. He sat wordlessly as he waited for the elf to speak not knowing if he would choose to follow or defy the gods demands.

As he sipped his ale and thought back over what seemed like an eternity of time being tortured by the different gods he came to a shocking realization about his parents and his heritage. Can I truly be part demon and part man. How could this have happened.. I don't understand... Slowly as he thought about his dilemma the solution occured to him that perhaps this penance he had to pay was not just a punishment but an offering. Could it be that this god is going to help me discover how and why I came into being mused Arfellian, leaning forward he wanted badly to look back at Lucien but knew a glance would give him away. What if Lucien and this cleric did not follow the same path, the god demanded he pay his penance in the form of a years worth of service but surely he could not abandon his new master...

Thoughts flickered through his mind like bolts of lightening the possibility that perhaps this cleric would discover Lucien and they would fight to the death was the most interesting thought but there were others. Arfellian watched the half-elf playing cards, oh she thought she was clever alright and that no one knew she was watching but as Arfellian followed the eyes of those at his table they all noticed her, even the dwarf though he seemed to have down a full barrel of ale and was incredibly still calling for more.

Arfellian felt no compulsion to stop as he reached for his dagger, it could be buried in the throat of the cleric before he blinked and Arfellian tried to make that thought real to see if the gods would stop him and yet nothing happened, easing his hand off his dagger he suddenly spoke "This should clear me in the eyes of all at this table, the foul killings were out of self-preservation and self-defense for my companion last night and myself." His eyes coming to rest on the dwarf "Of all that are at this table I deem the dwarf to be the most honest, it is his decision that I will follow" said Arfellian with passion but with dishonesty as well, for he knew his master to be the rogue that sat at the table behind him and in some way also the cleric who had given him precious little knowledge of Arfellians past.

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn sat with her cards in hand, and peered over the top of them to what was transpiring at the nearby table. Her eyes laid heavily on the big cleric, ire building within.

She had no love for clerics, they thought themselves above everyone else and had the need to bend people to their will...it made Erynn sick.

"Are ye in girl?"

Erynn pulled her attention to the dealer with a sneer as she threw in her coin, but continued to watch...

[Black Widow]

"Name's Lucien, rogue for hire."
"Pleasure to meet you Lucien, rogue for hire. Unfortunately, there is no money to be gained if you decide to accept my offer." Talaina says to the blonde rogue as she takes notice of the silver pearl brooch pinned to his cloak. Before she could remark about it, Logan stands and talks of Arfellian being one of two who murdered the night before. Her first thought being Lucien, but when Logan spoke of not knowing where he ran off to, she dismissed the thought for now and listened as the cleric gave two options and Arfellian took the latter.

Once the divine magic had ceased and Arfellian, now with a somewhat paler complexion, took his seat, Talaina looks over at Logan for a few moments with great concern.

As the thoughts of him journeying with her were broken by Arfellian's words regarding self defense for his companion and himself for the night before, Talaina turns her attention back to Lucien and whispers the needed verbal components to detect magic. Detecting an aura of illusionary magic upon the brooch, she raises a brow and smirks. "I must say, that brooch you're wearing is very unusual, looks like a family heirloom. Do you know the name of the family you took it from?" Without wanting to reveal too much to Lucien, she results to sarcasm and hopes Logan would understand her concerns regarding the brooch.

[Dalamar91]

Logan considered the task that was passed down to him during his reverie with Kiri Jolith. While Arfellian received his justified punishment the holy man had watched as if through a window into another plane of existence. In effect it sort of was another existence, though this one was fabricated in the minds of the two men engaged in a mental communion. He saw through the fear and confusion that the young rogue felt throughout his torture and into the biology of the beast. Yes...a beast was the best way to describe Afellian.

Who would have guessed that such an unassuming youth could hide such a dark and powerful secret? Young Master Brand was half demonic. The truth hit the cleric like a javelin through the heart, but before he could think a figure materialized beside him wearing glittering plate armor and a sturdy round shield. He turned to look upon the man, slightly shorter than he and more beautiful than even an elf male. Flowing blonde hair moved as if caught in a light breeze, even though there was no wind in this illusion. The figure wore a broad smile and his eyes seemed to twinkle as if the stars themselves shimmered within those perfect orbs. Logan bowed in acquiescence.

"How may I serve you my lord?"

Kiri Jolith's avatar only smiled. Logan lifted his gray orbs to study the visual representation of his God and found no forthcoming answer to his questions. So it was whenever he begged for answers. What purpose would it serve to have the kid travel along with him while he attempted to save the life of Talaina's sister? He'd just get in the way, or worse...he could embrace the evil within and become a big problem down the road. It seemed almost as if the Bison Lord was making him a babysitter. Logan's incorporeal form inaudibly sighed, for it did not breathe air to make a sound, and he nodded, accepting his charge. He would follow the course and help guide the lad to the light. It would be quite the task, especially considering Arfellian's dark past, but the Cleric would watch out for the boy. What choice did he have afterall? Kiri Jolith's avatar nodded once and faded away, and that is when the prayer ended. He now sat at the table, in his tangible form, looking across the table at the rogue as if he would see horns protruding from his head.

"I must say, that brooch you're wearing is very unusual, looks like a family heirloom. Do you know the name of the family you took it from?" Without wanting to reveal too much to Lucien, she results to sarcasm and hopes Logan would understand her concerns regarding the brooch.

His attention was stolen by the conversation to his left. The elf maiden apparently fancied a brooch that the blonde rogue wore. The higher pitched tone she used was a perfect way to shatter the awkward moment created by Arfellian's attempt to prove himself innocent. But something about the way she looked at the cleric even while speaking to Lucien caused Logan to consider what was going on. He glanced at the brooch while waiting to hear his response.

[synderstorm]

Lucien's attention was taken from the cleric as the elven woman regards about his broach. He turns to her as her eyes moved from his broach to his dark green eyes, then to the cleric. She knows something. Damn spellcasters. He thought for a split second before replying to her question.

"If you must know, I just recently acquired this from a very dear friend of mine. He said it had magical property, but since he can't figure out how to activate it, he asked me to hold on to it until I figure it out. I haven't had the time to try yet, but once I do and succeed he'll get it back and give me fifty steel for doing so." His words never hesitated for a moment as his eyes showed sincerity regarding his dear friend's request.

"Now if you don't mind, I would like to hear what troubles you and to how my profession might benefit your needs." He added, hoping the attention of which hid his true identity would remain a secret to all but his young rogue ally.

[Crystal]

"All is working as planned so far. We will begin our move on Tresvka in two days." A deep voiced black robed figure says after appearing infront of a human male with sickly pale skin dressed in clerical vestments of Morgion. "We've already started the first stage though. The disease will spread to the eldery by then." "You fool! You should have waited until you were given word." The black robed figure moves away, disgusted with those he'd chosen to assist him, but he knew he needed them in order to fulfill his plan. "The plan was to wait for my order and you failed to uphold my words. For that I should strike you down, but I'll give you and your followers of Morgion another chance. Tharkus will go to Kyre and watch over the chosen sacrifices. If he fails, you die."

The black robed figure disappears and the cleric turns to Tharkus, a half elven sorcerer/rogue spy. "You heard Baelus, now go and don't fail me." "My services don't come cheap, ya know. Ya want me ta go it'll cost ya another 100 steel." Tharkus caps his waterskin and attaches it to his side before standing and holding his hand out for payment. "What's worth more...your life or 100 steel?" Tharkus turns away from Eledor in a huff and grabs his backpack from underneath a tree and hears rustling in the branches. He looks up in time to see a hawk take off into the night's sky. "We had company." "Continue as told."

The hawk lands on Jenda's shoulder. "Yes Ski...we should help Tresvka now, but I fear a greater threat will come if we ignore those in Kyre. Keep watch of his whereabouts at all times incase other matters occur on land during my travel there." Ski takes off, circling around to watch over the spy during their journey to Kyre.

(I followed ur idea 4 most part. hopes it was suitable 2 ur liking.)

[Black Widow]

Talaina studied Lucien's eyes carefully as he spoke about the brooch. To her, it seemed he showed honesty, but still...there was something about him she didn't trust. Something she would be paying close attention to if he journeyed with her and the others.

"Now if you don't mind, I would like to hear what troubles you and to how my profession might benefit your needs."

"Very well then, Lucien." She raises the glass of wine to her thin lips and takes a sip before setting it down and turning her attention to all.

"A couple of months ago my sister, Terrianne, was taken by what I believe a cult of Morgion worshippers as I was visiting my hometown of Fangoth. Rumor has it they were heading towards Tresvka and since it's the only thing I have to go on, I must continue on the journey there. I can't fight this cult alone, yet I have nothing to offer but my loyalty if ever our paths cross again." She reaches for her wine once more and takes a sip before placing it down and continuing with what she knows about them.

"There's a black robed mage in the midst of this. I felt strong arcane power within him and my belief is that he gathered this group of Morgion worshippers to bring forth something far worse then just some random kidnappings for sacrificial purposes. Does not mean this is true, but what if I'm right? I can't imagine what could become if this wizard was to succeed." Her soft spoken words met with all ears, including the half elven woman nearby, who was more interested in what's going on here then the twenty steel she just lost.

[shalafi crysania]

A loud boisterous laugh rolled across the table pulling Erynn's attention back, as the man across the table eagerly scooped up his winnings. He looked at his friends, "Looks like we will be having entertainment tonight."

The corner of Erynn's mouth curled up in a smile. "I'm not broke yet. All or nothing."

The man scoffed, "I have yer steel and we all have ya for da night."

Erynn pulled out an additional pouch. It clanked when she threw it down, then she pulled out another and poured out its contents. Multicolored stones in different shapes and sizes rolled out. "Just to sweeten the pot."

The man smiled. "Aye." So the cards were dealt.

Erynn took up her cards and glanced over to the table nearby. She thought of the elf's words, and figured it was time to cut this short.

She watched the men studying each, but her face was void of any expression or thought. She continue to meet and raise till one by one each folded. She threw down her cards and began to take her winnings, thanking the gentlemen for the pleasuring of taking their steel...

[Crystal]

Jenda had just finished thinking the spy was making good time so far with their two and half day journey to Kyre but then Ski informed her Tharkus was being attacked by a half dozen kobolds and three more were heading towards him from his left. Jenda couldn't let that happen. She needed to know who he was sent to spy on before she killed him. She heads for the three and spots one lizard head sneaking forward in the tall grass, oblivious to her presence. She slowly removes an arrow from her quiver and waits for the next to follow, who was also paying more attention to the battle ahead then to her being only 50' to it's right. She cocks the arrow and quiety pulls back on the bowstring, waiting for the last to be seen. Once spotted, she takes aim and fires.

The arrow enters the side of it's head, killing it instantly. She places her elven longbow over her shoulder and removes her longsword and shortsword while rushing forward to catch the last two before Tharkus could finish his battle and have a chance to spot her. They heard her and stopped to face her with their spears, but she was close enough to the last in line now and her longsword slices through it's neck like butter. The last one tosses it's spear at her, missing her by a couple of inches and then takes off running. Jenda let it go as she sheathed her weapons and lowered herself in the tall grass when Ski informed her that the two remaining from the half dozen fighting Tharkus took off when they noticed he had the ability to cast arcane magic. A spy who knows arcane magic? I must be careful.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian shifted in his chair to widen his view and maintained a calm outer appearance while his mind was in turmoil with what he had learned. Gazing at the elf he couldn't think that something suspicious was afoot but if the cleric was going to go then wasn't Arfellian also honorbound to go? He leaned back, perhaps this would all just end here, he could picture it clearly Lucien killing the cleric and starting a fight in which, of course, he and Arfellian would escape from after all, the only danger here lay in arcane magic and not many can utter the spells quickly enough to catch the fleetfooted rogues.

"How interesting and where exactly do you propose we start?" said Arfellian with a slight smile "Perhaps we can dream up a trail and a location for these clerics. I do have something that may help us but thats only if I decide I will go with you" finished Arfellian smoothly and yet he knew by his very use of the word 'us' that he would join this ridiculous quest. Oh well, perhaps the gods will be with us and my past will reveal itself to me thought Arfellian while sipping his water.

[Dalamar91]

"Oh you will be going lad."The big cleric spoke very matter-of-factly. " Do not consider breaking your penance...to do so would be to openly welcome the torment you saw in the spirit realm." his steel gray eyes bored into those of Arfellian. "And besides...I've got the task of making a real man out of you and I'm not about to fail. There is some greater purpose for you then skulking about drinking holes looking for scraps." he turned his attention back to Talaina after scolding the young rogue.


"The boy does make a good point though." he seemed to almost grudgingly accept the idea, though he too had no idea where to start.

"What is in Tresvka that appeals to these dark ones...and who was the archer from before? If we are going to be able to bring this to a positive conclusion we will need to know what we are going up against." he figured that now would be a good time to get some answers because clearly this elf was on someone's hit list. He also wasn't comfortable with how things ended a short while before. It still amazed him at out easily Talaina shrugged off an obvious attempt to scare or kill her.

[Black Widow]

Talaina turns her attention to Arfellian, but before she could speak Logan spoke...which interrupted what she was going to say to the young lad. She looks over at Logan with a raised brow before answering his question. "The dark figure you saw on the rooftop across from me only gave me a warning shot, for now. Since my sister's kidnapping I've been plagued by this dark figure within my dreams, telling me not to pursue. Not in words, but with visions of unknown faces being tortured with disease, visons of pestilent swarms attacking the weak and visions...." She lowers her head for a moment as the look of enough sorrow had shown too much already on her face. "Visions of a future filled with nothing but darkness and great suffering."

Composing herself before continuing, she finishes off her wine before looking back to Logan. "This is the first time I saw him while awake and I feel he's the dark power behind this. As for Tresvka, I don't know what appeals to these dark ones, but it's the only place I know to start looking. Now, if there's nothing else any of you wish to discuss I'm heading to my room. I have had a hard journey already and...." She looks over at the dwarf for a moment, "...I said I would buy you a drink and however many you had after that comes from your coinpouch."

Talaina stands up and looks at everyone. "If you wish to assist me, I'll be leaving shortly after dawn. Be here before I go." She heads for the room she purchased when she first arrived.

Meanwhile.....

After Tharkus scared off the remaining two nuisances he noticed a hawk circling around in the near distance. Company from days ago still keeping track of me. He thought, resting for afew moments to take a drink from his waterskin.

"Come alittle closer bird and see what happens to ya." He says, wiping the remainder of the liquid from his chin before placing the cork back and tying his waterskin back to his side. He continues on the remaining few hours to Kyre, figuring he'd lose the bird once there.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian glanced around the table and then stood up and went to the room he had purchased for the night. Laying aside all his weapons and armour he spent hours staring at the ceiling and wondering what would come of this adventure, surely it would be as entertaining as anything else. With that final thought Arfellian slept until just before dawn whereupon he woke up and went downstairs to find everyone else....

[synderstorm]

Once Talaina got up and left the table, followed by Arfellian for obvious reasons, Lucien looks over at Logan. "It's going to be interesting to see if you can turn the young one into a man, let alone turn him against his bloodline."

Lucien stands, glancing over at the half elven woman from earlier, before turning his attention back to Logan. "See you in the morning, sir cleric." He heads for the bar for one last drink while thinking of how he can free Arfellian from Logan's clutches.

[Dalamar91]

Logan rested his chin in his hand as he considered Talaina's explanation. It seemed that the girl's family was a target for the Decaying Lord's ire. Clearly dark magic was at work to have affected her dreams, but at least this dark stalker was not shooting to kill...yet. When Talaina left the table Logan sighed and gave her a nod, but didn't respond. Sometimes things were best left unsaid. Arfellian was next and the cleric simply arched a brow but didn't bother to say anything. He would let the lad stir in his own emotions instead of offering a parting jab since the two of them would have to learn to tolerate each other from that point forward. Sure, he knew it would be a tough going, but for the sake of keeping such a young man with potential on the straight and narrow, he didn't feel in the least upset about what the future held. Then the blond rogue spoke...

"It's going to be interesting to see if you can turn the young one into a man, let alone turn him against his bloodline."

Lucien stands, glancing over at the half elven woman from earlier, before turning his attention back to Logan. "See you in the morning, sir cleric."

Gray eyes stared at Lucien hard as the big cleric seemed to appraise the rogue for the first time. His face was devoid of expression but inside Logan felt oddly alarmed by the man standing before him. Lucien cut a very unassuming character in his guise but something about him screamed of hidden skill and the Jolithian couldn't help but take a mental note of the potential threat he posed. Logan sat alone at the table for some time before finally rising and tossing a few coppers on the worn, moist wooden top. He hadn't drank anything but it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. One last parting glance at the half elf and her gaming partners and he was heading back outside to find a room at the constabulary precinct or local temple.

He woke early the next morning and waited to join the others outside of the Inn after consuming a hardy breakfast and oiling his armor.

[Crystal]

Ski noticed the spy spotted her so she continues on for Kyre knowing Jenda would be fine for the rest of her journey. Once she arrived she perches herself in a tree and waits in hiding for the evil doer.
Meanwhile Jenda knew what her companion was up to and if there was other danger lurking, Ski wouldn't have left her side. She took this opportunity to rest underneath a tree for about a half hour while she ate some dried fruit and had a few sips of water from her waterskin. When done she stands and looks up at the night's sky, figuring out when she'd reach Kyre.

Just as she expected, she reaches the city just before dawn. Ski takes to flight, showing her which way the spellcasting spy was heading and once Jenda found him Ski perches herself in a small tree near the inn where he was heading.

A half elven male wearing a dark brown cloak nods his head at the towering human standing outside the inn before he enters, which was soon followed by what looked like another half elven male, but with some feminine features... maybe... unless he was just a very young boy, but he or she was wearing leather armor carrying an elven longbow over his or her shoulders and a sheathed longsword and shortsword at his or her sides. Too young to have knowledge of wielding two swords at one time or being able to use an elven longbow might give her away, but she didn't care what people thought about her anyways. Her mission now was to find out who these chosen sacrifices were and aid them in any way she could.

Jenda stops and looks up at the towering human and sees the holy symbol around his neck. "Cleric of Kiri-Jolith... the half elf who entered before me is working for others who worship Morgion. He's sent to spy on sacrifices, ordered by a black robed mage who disappeared from the woods near Tresvka, where I hail from, almost three days ago. Your help would be appreciated." Jenda enters the inn and looks around for Tharkus but doesn't see him anywhere.
Sorcery hides you... for now. Jenda thought before looking back at the door and hoping the cleric would enter and shed some light.

[Dalamar91]

Logan stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest as the sun rose higher into the sky. It appeared by all early indications that this day was going to be a good one, for the sky was a perfect shade of blue and there was not a cloud as far as the cleric could see. A broad smile decorated his face as he waited for his companions. That's when a rakish looking figure enveloped in a cloak the color of wood started to ascend the steps that led to the door of the god-forsaken drinking hole. The figure nodded as he passed and the big cleric simply returned the friendly gesture without a word, turning his attention back to the rising sun.

Another figure happened upon the scene a short while later dressed in leather and cloth of a very natural variety. This one was androgynous in appearance but came well equipped for combat, which was sufficient to distract Logan from his thoughts. He, or she, spoke with a feminine voice that was nearly as musical as Talaina's, though it held a certain bluntness that he was not expecting.

Jenda stops and looks up at the towering human and sees the holy symbol around his neck. "Cleric of Kiri-Jolith... the half elf who entered before me is working for others who worship Morgion. He's sent to spy on sacrifices, ordered by a black robed mage who disappeared from the woods near Tresvka, where I hail from, almost three days ago. Your help would be appreciated."

Logan arched a brow at declaration from the elfish figure before him. It seemed too convenient that this stranger would know of the vile one's intent...and what was this talk of sacrifices? He turned back to the swinging door to catch a glimpse of the cloaked half breed but was left wanting. His head snapped back to regard the figure before him only to find that it was already heading into the inn.

"Lend me your patience my lord..." he whispered to the heavens and turned on his heel to enter the inn.

Once inside he glanced about the main room, which was empty save for a few members of the cleaning staff, the stranger, and himself. There was no sign of the cloaked figure so Logan's eyes narrowed to a suspicious glare. A thousand concerns jumbled inside his head but he would dare not voice them at that moment. Yes, he was having a hard time believing the words of the stranger but he could not argue the fact that a mysterious figure just vanished before his very eyes. A hand grasped at the silver medallion of his faith and the words to a prayer escaped his lips as he continued to look forward. At the climax of his prayer his eyes glazed over with a colorful hue and the room seemed to reach its apex of clarity, as if it were a blur shortly before. He spotted the slender figure making his way through the maze of gaming tables and heading towards the main stairs that led to the second floor.

"You there...halt!" he called out in his thundering voice and reached back to grasp the hilt of Holy Avenger, hoping he wouldn't have to use the wicked blade.

Just then Arfellian came into view as he descended the stairs to the main floor.

[Usernameinvalid]

Upon hearing the cleric shout Arfellian automatically pulled out his weapons and starting rushing down the final stairs. Suddenly he felt something hit him on the shoulder and Arfellian went tumbling down the final stairs hard, immediately he stood up and rushed back up the stairs looking left and right for whatever had hit him..

[shalafi crysania]

She took her winnings much to the dismay of her fellow players, and took her leave.

She stopped and acquired a room, and threw a little extra down for the barkeeps trouble then went off to her room for the night.

[Dalamar91]

Another murder in the same exact fashion, in the same place, and we are right back where we started again.:twitch:

[Crystal]

Upon hearing the cleric shout Arfellian automatically pulled out his weapons and starting rushing down the final stairs. Suddenly he felt something hit him on the shoulder and Arfellian went tumbling down the final stairs hard, immediately he stood up and rushed back up the stairs looking left and right for whatever had hit him..

Jenda heard the cleric yell halt while looking at the stairs to the second floor. She headed for the stairs and stopped when a rogish looking boy tumbled to the bottom step and quickly got back on his feet and rushed back up the stairs searching for the invisible spy. She rushed up after the boy and grabbed hold of his collar before he got a chance to turn the corner. "You're no match for sorcery." She says pushing him against the wall and listening for sounds of footsteps as she cups his mouth with her hand.

Before he got a chance to react Jenda's half elven ears pick up on a door creeking, either open, or closed. She moves away from the young rogue and removes her bow from her left shoulder, draws an arrow from her quiver and nocks it before lowering to one knee near the left corridor. She draws back on the string and rounds the bend, waiting to take aim towards any another sound in the hallway.

[Dalamar91]

Logan let out a sigh and watched as Arfellian reacted to the invisible figure. It was almost comical how he bounced up and charged like an arrow after the unseen foe. The holy warrior caught himself envying the boy's youthful energy. Than the stranger glided up the stairs after him without disturbing any of the gaming tables in her seemingly effortless dash across the room.

"Covered..." his gray orbs lingered on the stairway, which was clogged full of allies, and decided that he would be useless among them...better to find an alternate route to the 2nd floor and cut off any possible escape for the invisible figure.

Logan spun on his heel and made for the bar. He flicked his wrist and sent the flimsy wooden door that separated the bar from customers and pushed his way towards a thick oak portal that led to the kitchen. A few steps and his gloved hand clenched the copper handle and wrenched the door open. He was blasted with the heady mixture of scents from the various liquors and ales the sat in kegs in the small opening to the large kitchen. There were rows of cooking stations with oil lanterns, not lit, lining cedar wood shelves crafted above the stations. He offhandedly glanced at a few of the kitchen knives that decorated the walls as he made his way to a thin spiral staircase that led both up and down to the next levels. The stairs were set in a tight spiral and cast of thin metal that rang out loudly as his boots hit them.

As the cleric reached the top it opened up to what appeared to be a lounge of sorts. Likely for the employees, Logan thought. Luckily the break room was empty at this hour, for the early morning staff hadn't even opened the kitchen yet. He reached the only door in the room and pressed it open, turning to glance both directions down the barely lit hallway. To his right he found empty and full of rooms, ultimately leading to the room he interrogated the bouncer a day ago. To his left he hard the unmistakable sound of leather scuffing on wood. His neck nearly snapped as he whipped his head around in time to spot the stealthy stranger edging towards one of the doors that led to any one of the occupied rooms. Their eyes met for a moment and Logan got the impression that the stranger was surprised that he could be seen. Logan's steely eyes narrowed and he stepped into the hallway, a hand reaching for the mace at his hip. Holy Avenger wouldn't be very useful in the cramped hallway should he need to fight afterall.

[Usernameinvalid]

Pulling out of the strangers reach Arfellian didn't understand why he was being told to stay put. Once he heard the word sorcery he knew he had to drop into his special trance. No one had ever taught him this trance he just learned to do it one day, to everyone else's eyes he had a blank face momentarily but Arfellian was actually doing a complicated set of turns with his solid black eyes in order to use his special vision. Once he had done this he moved around the archer and looked down the hall where he saw the Cleric reaching for his mace and a stranger moving into a room.
Leaping into action Arfellian ran down the hall and threw himself into the Cleric who was so large Arfellian only move him about about a foot, but that was enough. As soon as Arfellian hit the Cleric he felt something cross the back of his head and as suddenly as Arfellian hit the Cleric he bounced off, happily out of the large mans way, and hit the floor again this time to stay down because not only was he hit by something but this was the second hard fall in as many minutes that he had taken and he was dazed. Something odd was happening here and Arfellian didn't know why but he was darn sure he was going to figure it out.

[Black Widow]

Tharkus heard the heavy footsteps as he successfully picked the lock to one of the rooms. He looks over only to see the cleric from before looking at him as though his spell had failed. As the cleric steps into the hall reaching for his mace, a young human with black eyes attempts to tackle the cleric which gave Tharkus plenty of time to enter the room, close the door and ready a spell for whoever comes thru first.

Meanwhile, Talaina reached her door feeling like she forgot something. She stops, turns around and sees her staff resting against the small table next to her bed. "This is going to be a long day." She sighs as she goes over and grabs her staff then hears a thud in the hallway. Rushing for the door, she turns the latch quietly and slowly opens the door just enough for her to peek out and see Arfellian on the floor near Logan. She heads out and runs over to them. "What did he do now?" She questioned Logan as she looked up at him, concerned if his mission might've been more important in his eyes then hers.

[Crystal]

Jenda sees the cleric step into the hall and before she could lower her bow, the young rogue slams into the large human, knocking himself to the floor as she expected would happen. Shaking her head, she releases the tension from her string and removes the arrow, placing it back in her quiver.

"What did he do now?"

"He meant no harm. He was only trying to protect the cleric from an invisible foe." Jenda steps out into the hall, placing the longbow back over her left shoulder. She looks over at the cleric. "Did you see where he went? I need to find him and make him tell me who these sacrifices are which he's been sent to spy on."

[Dalamar91]

Logan ground his teeth in frustration when the young rogue missed the invisible figure in his mad dash across the hallway. He hardly expected what was to come next, and after the initial shock of the collision he found himself looking down at Arfellian with a confused expression on his face. "What in the abyss? Boy you...get up lad!" he was flustered and raised his eyes just in time to see the figure disappear into the room.

Just then Talaina appeared on the scene and responded. "It's not what you think..." he stammered and gestured at the closed portal the stranger vanished behind. That's when Jenda seemed to materialize out of the shadows of the far end of the hallway. He tore his eyes from Talaina to look over the mysterious half breed.

"In there." another gesture to the newly occupied room, his features contorting into an even more curious look then before. "Sacrifices? Do you need my help taking him down?" he stepped over the rogue and finally managed to lift the dwarf-crafted adamantine mace from his belt.

As he crossed the threshold to meet Jenda nearer to the door he turned to Talaina and spoke softly.

"Milady...you should return to your room until we get this situation under control. This man has magic at his disposal and I am not entirely sure just how dangerous he can be."

[Usernameinvalid]

Coming out of his daze Arfellian got up, angry, and quickly checked himself for any injuries and found none. He pulled both his long daggers and followed the Cleric closely.

"He's in that room, let's go kill that flaming fool!" he said quietly to the group all of whom had dangerous looks in their eyes and their hands were tight on their weapons.

He glanced at the Cleric when no one was looking Do I really care if this fool dies praying to his 'god'? Where is Lucien? thought Arfellian.

Arfellian looked at the archer now more closely and noticed that it wasn't a boy as he had first thought but rather it was a beautiful female.

[synderstorm]

She took her winnings much to the dismay of her fellow players, and took her leave.

She stopped and acquired a room, and threw a little extra down for the barkeeps trouble then went off to her room for the night.

Once the half elven woman who caught his eye long ago moved up the stairs to her room for the night, Lucien follows quietly behind her and before she had a chance to enter her room he calls to her. "I've been watching you all night and I feel there might be a purpose for us to work together. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours, so to speak." He smirks, thinking of the possibilities of something more then just a back scratch, if she figured out who he really was.

"I noticed you won the last hand with the fools you toyed with. Seems like we might have more in common then you might expect." He folds his arms across his chest and leans up against the wall, giving her a bit of a hint to his demeanor even though is outward appearance had changed quite a bit.

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn was just getting ready to enter her room when Lucien called her name and approached her. She looked up at him as he leaned against the wall and said his piece. The corner of her mouth curled up in a grin as her hand turned the knob on the door and pushed it open.

She stepped back and motioned for him to enter. She followed behind him and shut the door and leaned up against the door a moment before grabbing him and spinning him around and slamming him against the door.

Her grin grew as she looked him up and down then pulled her eyes to stare into his, "You know Lucien, you can change your appearance but you can't change the eyes and what they hide."...

[synderstorm]

"I hid behind this foolish shell for reasons as you know quite well. Too much in common we've shared for many years which we both agreed to take our own path until we found eachother again." Lucien pushes himself away from the door and grabs hold of her waist, pulling her closer to his estranged form. "Destiny has brought us together again. Sooner then I thought it would."

He keeps one hand around her waist as his other hand reaches up to grasp the back of her hair, pulling her head back slightly as he kisses her neck and then let's her go so he can remove his cloak which holds the magical broach for his new form.

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn smiled as he pushed away from the door and drew her near. "Of course Lucien, you always plotted and gotten yourself in trouble. I won't even bother asking what you have done now, I am sure I don't want to know."


He keeps one hand around her waist as his other hand reaches up to grasp the back of her hair, pulling her head back slightly as he kisses her neck and then let's her go so he can remove his cloak which holds the magical broach for his new form.

Her eyes roll back as he kisses her neck and she lets out a quiet moan, then she feels him let go of her which is when she opened her eyes watching him take his natural appearance. Erynn grabbed Lucien left hand and spun the ring on his finger, then looked up at him. "You still wear my ring? You must be much more optimistic than I that we would once again share our marital bed."...

[synderstorm]

Lucien woke to the sounds of something hitting the floor hard not that far down the hall. He gets up out of bed and opens the shutter, revealing the break of dawn before getting dressed and giving Erynn a nudge. "Get dressed. We might have trouble down the hall."

He gathers all his gear and opens the door just a bit to take a look. He saw the cleric and a half elf he didn't know nearing a door while Arfellian got up and followed the cleric. Talaina was nearby, but more observing the situation then anything. He closes the door and looks over at Erynn. "I want that cleric dead. He's already caused my protegé enough grief. Not to mention he could easily detect our true nature if we give him doubt."

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn looked up at Lucien, then heard the noises that had caught Lucien's attention. She threw off the covers and grabbed up her clothes quickly. As she sat on the edge of the bed slipping on her boots she looked up at Lucien as he closed the door.

"You know I have no love of clerics. Sanctimonious hypocrites are all they are, just like the knights." Once her boots were back on she stood and put on her weapons. "You know accidents do happen?" she looked at Lucien with an evil gleam in her eye...

[Crystal]

"He's in that room, let's go kill that flaming fool!"
"Did you not hear what I said, boy? I need answers and killing the arcane spy isn't going to get me any." Jenda looks away from the rogue and up at the tall cleric. "Your help would be most appreciated."
She backs up and waits for Logan to break the door down.

[Black Widow]

There was no way Talaina was going to listen to Logan and go back to her room, especially now that a half elven woman who looked like a boy came out and spoke of sacrifices. Talaina thought of her situation with her sister and now this spy was sent to watch over the sacrifices? She needed to get to him and find out where the black robe and his Morgion worshipping comrads are heading next.

She heads over to them and moves infront of the half elven woman and Arfellian. "You get us in and he''ll shockingly enough tell me what we want I know." Talaina looked up into Logan's gray eyes as she spoke. She takes a step back and starts speaking the needed componets to her spell as her fingers rub against her palms, revealing a slight spark of energy to emerge.

[synderstorm]

Erynn looked up at Lucien, then heard the noises that had caught Lucien's attention. She threw off the covers and grabbed up her clothes quickly. As she sat on the edge of the bed slipping on her boots she looked up at Lucien as he closed the door.

"You know I have no love of clerics. Sanctimonious hypocrites are all they are, just like the knights." Once her boots were back on she stood and put on her weapons. "You know accidents do happen?" she looked at Lucien with an evil gleam in her eye...

The side of Lucien's lip curls up as his eyes gleam with the possibility of working with Erynn once again. "Accidents happen, yes....but I need my protogé to witness my power over the cleric's. Right now I feel as though he's torn between good and evil. There's a greater purpose for the demonic heritage his eyes unfold and I believe I might be the key to open it. Greater wealth and power could be in our hands with this boy."

Lucien opens the door once again and peers out to see what's transpiring down the hall. "I don't think it'll be long before a fight breaks out. I say once it does, we head out and I'll send a message to my protogé, Arfellian." He readies a bolt in his hand crossbow, something Arfellian would know as his trademark from the shop they were in the other day.

[Dalamar91]

Logan nodded once to his newfound allies and turned towards the door, signaling that the time had come for action. In his right hand he clutched the mace tightly and his teeth were clenched as a fierce look of determination dominated his features. His leg lifted and the big cleric delivered a powerful kick to the door, reducing it to so many splinters. He started to enter the doorway when, as if on cue, two glowing silver darts of energy slammed into his chest. Logan let out a grunt of pain and even the big man stumbled backwards by the force of the lethal magic.

Logan cursed himself for not having taken the necessary precautions and covering himself with a protective shield. He knew he was about to face a mage, and frankly he was too experienced to have made such a mistake. Thankfully he didn't step fully into a bolt of lightning or worse. As the cleric recovered from the initial pain he was surprised and proud to see the rogue spring into action. He silently applauded Arfellian for his courage before righting himself and launching into the open portal, ready to back up the rogue and incapacitate the sorcerer.

[Usernameinvalid]

As the Cleric was hit by the bolts Arfellian leaped into the room quickly spotting the spy. Both of his blades in front of him he advanced on the spy who seemed to be readying a spell. For a split second he was torn between wanting to capture the man and wanting to outright kill him and then he pounced, he buried one blade deep in the mans leg and the other blade was in the mans mouth.

"Say one word more and you will die" growled Arfellian savagely yanking his blade out of the mans leg.

The spy made a gesture with his hands and the entire room filled with smoke, Arfellian thrust his blade that was in the mans mouth but hit only the wall. Arfellian moved around in the smoke looking for the man only to find more smoke. As the smoke faded Arfellian walked back to the Cleric to see how the big man was doing.

Tharkus was shocked as the door burst inwards in a shower of splinters and he released two magical bolts at the large Cleric pushing him backwards into the hallway. As the Cleric fell back another man entered the room too quickly for Tharkus to stop him and Tharkus groaned in pain as a knife entered his leg and was shocked to find a blade enter his mouth. He heard the rogue speak but was too concentrated on casting a spell, with a gesture of his hands he cast a simple smoke spell and he himself momentarily became smoke and drifted through the hearth and onto the roof. Once safely on the roof he quickly climbed down the side of the wall, hampered by the injury to his leg, as he touched the ground he made his way into the forest.

[shalafi crysania]

The side of Lucien's lip curls up as his eyes gleam with the possibility of working with Erynn once again. "Accidents happen, yes....but I need my protogé to witness my power over the cleric's. Right now I feel as though he's torn between good and evil. There's a greater purpose for the demonic heritage his eyes unfold and I believe I might be the key to open it. Greater wealth and power could be in our hands with this boy."

Lucien opens the door once again and peers out to see what's transpiring down the hall. "I don't think it'll be long before a fight breaks out. I say once it does, we head out and I'll send a message to my protogé, Arfellian." He readies a bolt in his hand crossbow, something Arfellian would know as his trademark from the shop they were in the other day.

Erynn pulled her staff and moved up to Lucien, taking a hold of his arm, looking at him. "Your "protogé" can't be trusted right now. Lucien, you want to win him over, then maybe you should leave the charming to me. He is young and very impressionable, the fight to win him could be a formidable one. But do as you will, just be careful."

He had never listened to her before obviously, because if he had they wouldn't be where they are now, but none the less, Erynn gripped her staff, ready to follow Lucien and hold his back.

[synderstorm]

"It's not that he can't be trusted." Lucien closes the door again, putting away his bolt and attaching his hand crossbow back to his side. Though he wanted to stick to his plan, he could tell by her words and her tone of voice that she wasn't liking his idea. He didn't like her idea either, but instead of taking his path he turned around and leaned up against the door. "We won't do this my way until you hear everything that Arfellian has been through since we first met."

While the battle was going on down the hall, Lucien tells Erynn in short what happened. "Arfellian never left my side and helped me many times in the process. Only reason he's with Logan is because of some divine spell he cast on him and now Arfellian has to follow him for a year. This is why I feel Arfellian is torn between the two and the only way to handle this is...Logan has to die." He runs a finger down the side of her cheek, thinking his idea might work some, but.... "Let's work on a plan together, if you're interested."

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn raised an eyebrow as he ran a finger down her cheek. She took her staff and moved the tip up under his hand and pushed it way. "Don't get ahead of yourself Lucien. Last night you just got lucky. But we can work on something, get the cleric out of the picture and your buddy on our side."

"But something you may want to think about is the elf whose britches you were trying to get into. You have promised your skills, at the moment that should take precedence."

[synderstorm]

Just got lucky eh? Lucien thought to himself as he takes a step back, giving Erynn some space. "Very well then. Let the cleric be out top priority while you show a slight interest in young one's confused mind. We both know how good you are with your charming evil ways." He smirks as he turns towards the door and realizes he forgot to change his form back to the clean shaven blonde headed rogue.

"It's a good thing I closed the door. I almost forgot to change my appearance." His mind was still occupied on the night before and he knew he had to stop thinking about it and focus on his agenda. He spoke the word Tanner informed him of and his appearance changes back to his disguise. He opens the door and looks back at Erynn. "The elf is very alluring to my eyes, but she has nothing which I desire. I help her only to stay close to my objective."

He exits the room and noticed a door bashed in, knowing it was the work of the strongest in the hall last time he checked. Everyone in the hall was in the room by now and he turns to Erynn. "I think it's best we go downstairs and wait for them to come down."

[Usernameinvalid]

"Don't think for an instant that I actually care about you Cleric, but right now I have more important things to be doing than patching you up so try not to step into any more magical bolts." said Arfellian as he quickly walked around the big man checking for obvious wounds.
Arfellian cleaned his weapons and sheathed them and remarked to the elf "So, he is long-gone why don't we go down and discuss things before finding your sister, for instance do you know that man?" without waiting for an answer Arfellian jauntily walked down the stairs and upon spotting Lucien he quickly walked over, called for tea and biscuits and sat down with Lucien and his newfound companion.
Glancing over at Lucien's companion Arfellian whispered "I think at the end of this road there will be treasure, so lets go along with this elf and if things go wrong we can always leave.." I think...thought Arfellian while scarfing down his tea and biscuits.

[Dalamar91]

Logan shook his head as the last of the gaseous form escaped through the ceiling. He knew it would not be able to travel far before materializing and his first thought was to give chase, but then the young rogue spoke in such a disheartening tone. The big man was honestly taken aback by the remark and found himself staring without a word in response. Though hardened and sometimes a little rough around the edges, the cleric was a good man and had a heart of gold. Naturally it pleased him when people treated him with love and respect. He expected no different from the young rogue- he was offering the man a chance at salvation and penance for his sins afterall. But here Arfellian was scolding him as if he were a mere troublemaker. It was as if he were some black-blooded goblinoid. By the time he collected his thoughts enough to think of a response the rogue was long gone.

"I...we should prepare for the journey." he looked up from the two scorch marks on his breastplate, courtesy of the evasive sorcerer, and at the two ladies that he shared the room with.

Logan stepped towards the only window in the common room and lowered his head, ashamed for some reason about how the events had just transpired. He wasn't sure he even liked Arfellian. The lad was pompous and far too sure of himself for such an inexperienced youth. Why, he could have split the rogue's head open with one casual swipe of the mace he still carried. But he was tasked with the job of turning Arfellian into a champion of the just. It was his purpose, no...his quest, to show the lad what purity and well being was. He would reveal what beauty there was in the world and help shape the half breed into a true hero before the end of his days. He shook his head when he realized that he had been staring at the mace and then awkwardly slipped it back into place on his belt.

[Black Widow]

Talaina was angered by the way the young rogue entered the room before her, when she had a spell ready, and acted without understanding what he was facing. By the time she entered it was over. The sorcerer spy was gone and without even the slightest bit of information. She said nothing as Arfellian spoke to Logan and then asked her a question, not even waiting for an answer before leaving. Foolish young human. She thought.

Logan walked over to the window and lowered his head as Talaina watched him for a moment before looking over at the half elven ranger. "I need to know all you know about this spy and the sacrifices." Then she looks over at the cleric again.

"Logan, you have your hands full on this journey." She softly spoke as she heads over to him and rests her hand gently on his arm before staring into his gentle gray eyes. "I will do my best to help you, but my methods won't be taken lightly. I do not put up with impulsive foolishness and I will scold the young human as if he was a child and if he strikes me, I will strike back. In the meantime we best head downstairs and be off." Her eyes unlock with his as she turns away from him and heads for the door.

[Dalamar91]

The cleric's face softened when his eyes met those of the beautiful elf maiden. Her touch was soothing and it sent a surprising shiver up his spine. She had calmed his emotions as surely as if she had cast a spell upon him and for that he was thankful. A wide smile broke his lips and Logan exhaled, letting out his burden and preparing for what was to come.

"Yes milady." one last glance out the window to see if the spy happened to be in the field of view, likely dashing away with all speed, but to no avail. He couldn't be so lucky...so the cleric headed for the door to follow Talaina.

*Edited to reflect Crystal's post

[Crystal]

"I need to know all you know about this spy and the sacrifices."
Jenda nods her head, letting the elven woman know she'd answer any questions as best to her knowledge, then she takes her leave and follows after the rogue. She spots him talking to another human rogue male and a half elven female and she moves over to them and stands next to the one she met upstairs. "I warned you he had magic and you still didn't listen. You ruined everything by taking initiative after the cleric. I know you meant well, but you're actions caused us to lose the only chance for answers. Next time think before you act out." She backs up, nods at the other two by him, then heads outside and calls for Ski and in less then a couple of minutes her hawk companion lands on her shoulder. "I failed to get answers from Tharkus, but I did find out who these sacrifices are and I think the elven sorceress plays a big part in this."

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn followed behind Lucien down the hall stopping only for a brief second to watch Arfellian, then moved quickly into the common room and took a seat next to Lucien. It wasn't long before Arfellian joined them.

Erynn watched Arfellian closely as he just took a seat joining him. She nodded her head when he spoke of treasure to be found, but before she could comment a half-elven rogue approached and took a good piece of Arfellian's hide at which caused her to furrow her eye brows. Once the rogue took her hasty leave Erynn looked at Arfellian with an inviting gaze and a charming grin, "She's just jealous because you thought of it before her." Erynn gave him a wink.

"By the way I am Erynn." She introduced herself...

[Usernameinvalid]

[SIZE=2] "I warned you he had magic and you still didn't listen. You ruined everything by taking initiative after the cleric. I know you meant well, but you're actions caused us to lose the only chance for answers. Next time think before you act out."

Arfellian smirked and replied with a yawn "I suppose I should trust every stranger I come across to give me timely and accurate information and that none of them will try to take advantage of me?" at this point he frowned deeply "the more foolish thing to do would have been trusting you blindly, would you do my bidding in that situation or would you follow your own instincts?" he dismissed her presence with a curt nod.

Turning back to the table the female introduced herself with a charming smile. Arfellian glanced to Lucien as if asking whether or not this woman could be trusted. He drank down the rest of his tea and sat back in his chair while waiting for the Cleric and the Elf to come down. He sincerely hoped the Cleric was alright but the only way to shake that feeling was to steel himself and be cold as ice to the Cleric. He did not want to be obligated to a man he knew nothing about and he certainly didn't want to turn into some type of selfless saint. No, Arfellian would care for himself thats what he decided to do when he was abandoned as a child and thats how he would keep living.

[synderstorm]

Lucien leaned back in his chair, resting his arm over the back as he listened to the boyish looking female half elf reprimand Arfellian and walk out. Not caring about what happened, he looks over at Erynn and sees her wink at Arfellian and a slight smile crossed his lips.

After she introduced herself, Arfellian looks over at him and Lucien nods with a smile. He then continued to eat and drink his tea while Lucien looks over at Erynn again. "His name's Arfellian." Lucien winks, not wanting her to mention that she already knew who he was or what his name was, since he never gave it.

[Black Widow]

Talaina headed down the stairs and over to the bar to pay her tab, but the tender told her the dwarf paid for everything hours ago and wished her a safe journey. She turns away fromt the bar and sees Lucien and Arfellian seated at a table, along with the half elven woman she took notice of last night.

She heads over to them and smiles. "If your joining me, we leave now. We'll talk more about things on the road, but I've already wasted enough time here." She looks back over to the stairs, waiting to see Logan before she heads for the front door.

Once outside, she sees the half elf ranger and a hawk perched on her shoulder. "My name is Talaina Whisperleaf and I appreciate any help you can give me."

[Crystal]

"I am Jenda Riverstar and this is my companion Ski. I would say it's a pleasure to meet you but under these circumstances they would be a waste." She looks north for a second then looks at Ski. She watches as her hawk takes off and soars high above the trees.

"Tharkus won't go far. He's sent to watch over the sacrifices and I have a feeling you and your allies are the ones he'll be watching very carefully." She says as she looks over at Talaina with great concern.

[Dalamar91]

Logan descended the stairs slowly, his heavy footfalls alerting all within of his appearance. He found the beautiful elf looking back towards him when reached the bottom, and his eyes lingered on her a moment before sweeping over to the young rogue. The boy was seated with his blonde associate from the night before and curiously a half elf maiden. The big cleric recalled seeing her playing cards earlier, but until now he had no idea that she was associated with his charge. Logan's eyes narrowed as he considered what other surprises Arfellian was hiding at the moment.

"Boy. Come..." he spoke loud enough for everyone to hear before crossing the obstacle course of gaming tables and following Talaina outside.

"Sacrifices?" he blurted out at hearing part of Jenda's introductions. "How many people are involved in this?" He looked to both ladies as he asked the question. Surely one of them could enlighten him.

"The name is Logan by the way. Well met." he offered his hand to the boyish half elf.

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn quirked an eye brow when Logan barked at Arfellian. She looked Arfellian, her eyes roving over him in an approving manner. "I was not aware that you were a slave Arfellian, I see no collar around your neck." She gave a crooked grin.

She then turned to Lucien, "I suppose if we are going to be a part of this little venture we best go before we get left behind."

Erynn got up and moved out with the others, she leaned up against the porch post and listened to the talk sacrifices. She watched the cleric as he spoke, "Sacrifices eh? Interesting! So are we ready to go? Ummm...I'm Erynn, couldn't help but overhear last night."...

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian turned his head when he heard the Clerics voice and then again as Erynn spoke,

"I was not aware that you were a slave Arfellian, I see no collar around your neck."

Arfellian frowned as he stood and started towards the door but paused a moment and, after a few moments thought, turned to face Erynn

"My word is far stronger and more bonding than any chain or collar that could placed around my neck." with that he went outside and to stand by the Cleric.

He arrived out the door as the Cleric introduced himself as Logan and then Arfellian introduced himself with a slight bow and a smile "Hello, my name is Arfellian and I will be accompanying Logan on this mission." He shouldered his pack and adjusted his weapons so nothing would rattle, jingle or make any sort of noise as well as adjusting for comfort. His eyes roamed until he saw a traveling staff standing by the door after picking it up and test it's strength and weight he decided he would have more use for it than it's now previous owner.

[synderstorm]

Lucien sits back and listens as Erynn spoke to Arfellian and vice versa. Once she and Arfellian left, he stands and looks over at the bartender. "Such an easy life you've got. Simple and boring." He tosses a copper piece on the table then spits on the floor before leaving the establishment and standing next to Erynn who was leaning against the post.

Once Arfellian spoke of accompanying Logan, Lucien leans over and whispers into Erynn's slightly pointed ear. "He has bluffed his way before."

"Lucien here and I help only because I know there'll be monetary values to be found. Atleast I'm an honest rogue." He says as he moves over to the group with a smile on his clean shaven face. Though his thoughts were on other intentions, his outward appearance showed otherwise and his blue eyes sparkled only with thoughts of riches, so one would perceive.

[Crystal]

"Sacrifices?" he blurted out at hearing part of Jenda's introductions. "How many people are involved in this?"
"The name is Logan by the way. Well met." he offered his hand to the boyish half elf.
Jenda shakes his hand and looks up at him. "There were three figures dressed in dark grey robes, another in a black robe named Baelus, and then this one we just encountered named Tharkus. They spoke of a disease spreading in Tresvka, one they caused. That was three days ago." She lowers her head and adds, "I fear what we'll see when we arrive there."

"Sacrifices eh? Interesting...
Jenda looks over at Erynn. "Yes sacrifices, diseases, and who knows what the mage wants out of all this."

She nods at Arfellian and watched as he picked up a staff that wasn't his. "If that was yours you wouldn't be testing it's durability. Maybe you should put it back where it belongs."

Then another rogue came out and talked about wealth over all. "Are you that cold hearted not to care about the lives of others, or people suffering with disease because of those who worship such evil?" Appalled by this, she looks over at Talaina. "There are some rogues I'll tolerate, but I'm letting you know right now that one will never be one of them."

[Black Widow]

Talaina kept quiet as she listened intently to Jenda's words, but before she could say anything the others were exiting the inn and having their time to make introductions. Though one she didn't expect was the half elven woman who she met eyes with the day before, but nevertheless she was pleased to have another traveling with her.

During the time it took for all to speak, Talaina thought about the black robed mage and to the things she couldn't speak of to anyone during this journey, but then Jenda's remark regarding not tolerating Lucien broke her thoughts. She heard what Lucien said and what Jenda said to him, but it didn't set in until now.

"There's going to be things we won't agree with, or like about one another, but regardless of that we all need to work together if we're going to stop whatever these servants of evil are plotting." With that said, Talaina starts her walk towards Tresvka while keeping her thoughts to herself...for the time being.

[Dalamar91]

Jenda's answer to his question only opened up more questions to be answered for the Jolithian. Logan wondered exactly how the androgynous half elf managed to obtain this information. But far be it before he questioned the work of a scout, or so she appeared to be. He had worked with enough of the shady characters in his days with the Solamnic Knighthood and knew better than to enquire further. Best to take the information at face value and do with it what was needed to be done.

"So there is an apparent brotherhood dedicated to the Prince of Decay, and somehow our elven companion has drawn their ire." his steel gray orbs casually roamed over Talaina as he spoke, more to himself than anyone else.

When Jenda commented on the blonde rogue Logan found himself nodding in response. Surely this was a creature of similar mind.

"There's going to be things we won't agree with, or like about one another, but regardless of that we all need to work together if we're going to stop whatever these servants of evil are plotting." With that said, Talaina starts her walk towards Tresvka while keeping her thoughts to herself...for the time being.

"Let's go then. And let the gods smile upon us as we bring justice to those who would risk harm over an innocent." he spoke with a tone of finality and followed closely behind the beautiful elf. Logan even risked a quick glance over at Arfellian to make sure the boy was coming along.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian smiled as Jenda once again chastized him and then continued on her conversation to insult Lucien and so, being a somewhat defensive person, Arfellian felt he needed to respond "You see this staff Ranger? This is merely a piece of wood and as such it belongs to the forest and not to any man, I will borrow it for the time being and then return it to it's rightful owner. It is much like your bird, it is not yours, if it chooses to land on my arm and do my bidding would you claim I stole it? If you did I would find that rather silly because the bird belongs to no one." Arfellian winked as Logan glanced at him and then continued his response to Jenda "Is it so wrong to want something for your work? Personally I like the idea of becoming rich and then spending my last days in peace and quiet. If you want to do things for the good of mankind that is your business, mankind never treated my kind nice and so I do not feel obligated to do anything for mankind."

As the group started moving Arfellian quickly fell into his quick walk, being shorter than most everyone he had to walk quickly to keep up. I wonder why that ranger can't seem to stop chastising me pondered Arfellian perhaps she doesn't understand the situation and why I must act this way. He moved over to walk next to the ranger and quietly spoke to only her "What is your problem? We are a group and if you start off dividing us we will never get the job done. You might not like Lucien or me for that matter but you are going to have to work with us so I suggest you get along, I am young but at least I understand the value of getting along and working as a group."

[Crystal]

Jenda glares at Lucien as Talaina said they needed to work together for the purpose at hand and though she understood the elven woman's point of view, she still felt he was more sinister then the black eyed rogue that followed Logan for whatever reasons she didn't think much about at this time.

When Talaina headed off and Logan talked about the gods smiling upon them during their journey, Jenda nodded her head in agreement and followed after him and saw his concern for Arfellian in the process. She wondered what that was about, but she was more concerned about the welfare of those in Tresvka right now to care about things that doesn't concern the current mission.

The staff issue was nothing but the talk of a foolish young lad's desire for whatever his young mind thought and Jenda gave up those thoughts for now as she continued on and was soon followed by him asking what her problem was. "You are far from what concerns me, young one. I have nothing more to say to you right now." Jenda says, picking up her pace to move near Logan and Talaina.

"If you have some information, regardless of how small you might think it might be, I'd like to hear about it as I'm sure the big guy here will be interested also." She looks over at Logan, noticing he had quite an interest in this mission, if not only on that...but also on the elven woman as well and his concern for the black eyed rogue for some reason.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian gave Jenda a hard stare as she brushed him off with a few words. Arfellian tapped her on the shoulder with his newly acquired staff and coughed until she seemed to be listening and then he said "I'm no expert, but since your the ranger I supposed you could follow Tharkus' through the woods, he is bleeding a lot from the wound I gave him, I am sure I hit a major vein. He also just used lots of magic and again, I am no expert, but aren't casters limited by their endurance?" He pointed up at the side of the inn where Tharkus had escaped from and then at the ground where there was a trail of blood droplets.

[synderstorm]

Lucien kept up behind the lot as they continued on, but with wise words spoken by his young comrad...Lucien couldn't help but respond. "Yeah, shouldn't you be off doing your ranger duties? Maybe you'll find him before he's dead and maybe you can get more out of him then Talaina let's us know about." Not that he was really sure she was hiding anything, but a small piece of him thought she might be.

[Dalamar91]

Logan listened on in silence as Arfellian offered his intuition. The large cleric's mind was absorbing as much as his eyes could take in, and though the young rogue offered an excellent starting point he saw flaws. His head then snapped in the direction of the one called Lucien, his gray eyes narrowed and a less than appraising expression on his face.

"If our sorcerer is even remotely effective in his chosen career we can expect him to be much more professional in his evasive maneuvers. For example..." he gestured to the blood tracks that Arfellian pointed out.

"If I am escaping from overwhelming odds in the guise of magical gas I will let the spell run its course and rematerialize far from the exit point." Logan gestured to a nearby rooftop.

"Especially being so injured, I would head for a high vantage point to lick my wounds and prepare my defenses for my opponents. Up there seems a likely destination."

The cleric returned his attention to the blood. "These tracks are likely misleading, set to put us on a false trail and give him time to heal, should he be so blessed." Logan turned to Jenda for support.

"I would hazard to guess that these tracks will lead to the limits of the town, or at least as far as the magic allows." the big man squatted in the dirt and removed a glove to run his index finger through some of the tracks, bringing it to his tongue for a taste.

"It's tasteless...a product of moon magic no doubt." a look of self-satisfaction dominated his face at that point. Surely it would be too convenient if that spy had been ignorant enough to leave so obvious a trail.

[Black Widow]

Talaina was having a hard time controlling her urge to lash out at Lucien, but when Logan spoke of the sorcerer's mostlikely chosen path with the situation he was faced with, her thoughts were no longer on that which was unimportant.

She turns to him and watches as he bends down and removes his glove, only to touch his finger to the so called trail left behind by trickery and bring it to his tongue to taste the outcome which was what she should've expected, if she was thinking clearly.

"I should've seen this coming." Talaina looks towards the rooftops of the nearest buildings around the inn, but there was no signs of Tharkus anywhere. "We can't waste time trying to find him now." She moves her attention from the rooftops to look towards the northernly path. "We will meet with him again, I fear, but we will be more prepared, I hope." With that spoken, Talaina briefly looks to all before she continues on the northernly path towards Tresvka.

[Crystal]

Being tapped on the shoulder by Arfellian's newly acquired staff, Jenda stops and looks at him but before she could tell him why she doesn't persue this trail....Lucien butts in which makes her turn to him and say, "And here I thought rogues had some intelligence." By that time Logan was proving what Jenda already figured on, but what some might not know was that Ski was circling around the town searching for the injured sorcerer.

Talaina spoke and Jenda looks over at her as she looks towards the rooftops. Jenda remains silent and waits for Talaina to finish before saying, "We won't let down our guard." She wasn't sure about Lucien or the other half elf female who he seemed so interested in, but she knew her companion would follow through and that Logan wouldn't let his guard down and also had somewhat of a feeling that Arfellian wouldn't either.

When Talaina starts heading north Jenda follows and walks next to her. "Is there some truth to Lucien's words? Is there something you're hiding?"

[Black Widow]

When Talaina starts heading north Jenda follows and walks next to her. "Is there some truth to Lucien's words? Is there something you're hiding?"

"Don't listen to the words of that thief." Replies Talaina as she glances back at Lucien. "There's much I think he hides, though there's purpose for him yet." She adds as she looks over at Logan and Arfellian for a moment before turning her attention back towards Tresvka.

Meanwhile, Tharkus' gaseous form takes to his solid one once entering an open window which lead to the backroom of a nearby shop. He takes a seat on an unopened crate and studies his injury for a moment before ripping off a sleeve to his shirt and tying it around the wound. He removes a small vial of liquid from one of his pouches and takes off the cork then injests the liquid and places the empty vial back into his pouch. He knew he'd need more medical attention for a quick recovery, but right now he had to stay low for the time being until he was certain it was safe to head out.

It wasn't long before the shopkeeper entered the backroom and noticed he wasn't alone, but Tharkus had already thought of something by that time. "I was attacked heading to the inn. I escaped the thug and saw the open window. Forgive me for involving you in this matter, but if you could help me, I'll make your effort worthwhile." Out of kindness for the injured man, the shopkeeper agreed without hesitation.

The days travel for Talaina and her aquaintences proved to be a long one as they trekked the open northernly terrain without problems, speaking little to one another as each had their own thoughts of the journey ahead. With dusk upon them now, hungry and tired from the journey thus far, Talaina turns to her companions. "Maybe we should rest soon?" She was hoping they'd agree.

[shalafi crysania]

Erynn took time to slip off unnoticed by the others. She hadn't thought that she would be running into Lucien let alone going off on some adventure. So she "acquired" a few odds and ends and slipped off out of town behind the group that she had aligned herself with.

[Usernameinvalid]

As Talaina suggested the group stop for the night Arfellian was all for it, his feet were sore and he wasn't used to carrying a pack as he usually just permanently borrowed a horse for travel.

"Aye, I am hungry and think we should stop for the night." without bothering to see if that was the groups consensus Arfellian threw down his pack and set up his bedroll and then said "I will go collect dead wood for a fire" and with that he walked off towards the woods to the west.

[synderstorm]

Lucien spoke to no one during the long day's travel. Some of his thoughts were on Erynn and how with all the lands he'd seen and the many he has yet, or doesn't wish too, he would meet with her again. His thoughts turned to Arfellian and how the young one helped him the first time they met. How he wanted to repay the favor by teaching him ALMOST everything he knows. Then there was that cleric, the nuisance of the group. Lucien despised Logan for getting in the way of his teachings. You're time will come. He thought as he looked back to Erynn, but didn't see her.

Talaina mentioned resting and without waiting to see where Arfellian was heading, Lucien heads back the way they came and spots Erynn coming over a small hill. With a sigh of relief, followed by a slight shake to his head, he thought of telling her not to go off without letting him know about it, but the thought quickly escaped as he knew it would only cause another issue...like those of the past. He wasn't going to make that mistake again. He wasn't going to lose the only woman he ever loved.

"I...I thought I dropped something." Lucien could come up with such believable stories to most, but when it came to her he could never think quickly enough. He checks his pockets, trying to make it look as real as possible, and removes a lock pick. "Hmmm....it was here all along. Imagine that." He knew he was busted. "Anyway, the others are resting by a small group of trees up ahead. I think we should get some rest too. It's going to be another long day tomorrow."

[Dalamar91]

Logan traveled in silence, much like the blonde rogue, though his thoughts were, unlike Lucien, not at all on the lad. He was otherwise distracted, whether he'd like to admit it or not, on the beautiful elf. Try as he might he just couldn't keep his eyes off of her. She was more beautiful than anything he had ever seen and it was as if she cast a spell upon him. When the group decided to break for camp he immediately set off to securing the ground for safety, if not for keeping himself busy. He didn't like the idea of being smitten when there was a life at stake, not to mention the god-given responsibility to make sure that a half demon learned to embrace his human half and remain pure, or at least as pure as possible.

He walked a 100 yard circuit around their chosen campsite. It was little more than a flat patch of dirt with a natural wall of boulders that surrounded it in an semi-circular formation. Obviously the site had been used many times for there was remnants of past tenants and a long-used pit for burning wood. Once satisfied that they were relatively safe, and making sure to keep an eye on the suddenly resourceful Arfellian, he returned to the party.

"I think this spot will do just fine." he started to prepare his bedroll as he spoke.

"This is as defensible a position as any as far as I can see all directions."

[Usernameinvalid]

Erynn came up over a small hill and saw Lucien moving towards her. She knew that he was coming to look for her, she knew that if he had to he would have gone all the way back to town to find her, but she was feeling un-particularly kind and figured to bite her tongue and not say anything to him about it.

"I...I thought I dropped something." Lucien could come up with such believable stories to most, but when it came to her he could never think quickly enough. He checks his pockets, trying to make it look as real as possible, and removes a lock pick. "Hmmm....it was here all along. Imagine that." He knew he was busted. "Anyway, the others are resting by a small group of trees up ahead. I think we should get some rest too. It's going to be another long day tomorrow."

Erynn flashes Lucien a crooked smile and nods. "I have told you time and time again Lucien you really need to get organized but for some odd reason you don't listen."

She patted Lucien on the back and moved on to where the rest of the group. She moved off finding her a quiet spot putting a distance between her and the others but where she can keep and eye on the group as well as anyone who would approach.

[synderstorm]

(OOC: Already said my peace in planning, don't know if this thread is going to last much longer, but will continue as left off with SC's last post thanks to Usernameinvalid....next time maybe ya might wanna just quote message if this happens again so not to confuse the old fart playing here)

IC: Lucien knew the pat on the back meant she knew, but wasn't about to bother with his attempt to fool her. Always the secretive one she was, yet he knew deep down there was still some connection regardless of their time spent apart. To whom was the smarter of the two? There was not much she didn't know about him, nor how much he didn't know about her....though time has a way of changing one's inner self.

His greed for power, his lust for control, his desire to keep his legacy continuing, which his mentor shared with him long ago, bothered him some....and he'd share with Arfellian in due time, but right now he revealed little in his disguise as his hidden eyes watched the young rogue's every movement, now that Erynn moved away.

[Crystal]

From the time they left until the time they decided to set camp for the night, Jenda wondered what purpose drove this black robe to align himself with the likes of Morgion worshippers, what the purpose was of sacrifice and why Talaina was targeted, but what she thought of most was what they'd be faced with once they reached Tresvka.

Ski lands ontop one of the boulders near Jenda with a limp field mouse clutched in beak. Jenda looks up at Ski and smiles, feeling somewhat comforted knowing no dangers lurked nearby. "I shall scout for food for those who eat meat." She removes her bow and continues off.

Once night neared, Jenda returns with two rabbits and looks to the group. "I seldom hunt, but never cook." She tosses the food on the ground, looks to the others and then walks away.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian, who had just finished starting the fire, watches the ranger throw the rabbits on the ground and says she never cooks and he snorts. "Funny thing, if you want me to cook that then I will eat it and no one else. Where I come from everyone works equally. Your bird deserves its share, you deserve nothing cause I am damn sure you didn't deign to lower yourself to hunting rabbits just for us unworthy folk." he said in a menacing tone and stalked out of camp. He knew he should not let his anger get the best of him but that ranger has been condescending in every step of this journey so far and as far as Arfellian was concerned if she thought she was so damn good she could do it all by herself. I am in it for the money and for the cleric and then I am gone those were Arfellian's final thoughts as he bedded down well away from the fire and the group.

[synderstorm]

Once Arfellian moved away from the others, Lucien took his leave and headed over to his young comrad. "So much has happened since we last had a chance to talk. I know right now is not the time to do so since we all need our rest, but whatever happens during our travels tomorrow...give me time to speak with you in regards to the cleric's demands in which his god has set. There might be freedom for you yet, my friend." A cynical smile crossed his lips as his devious mind continued to work.

He looks over at Erynn for a moment, then turns his attention back to Arfellian. "Rest well, my friend." He adds before heading back to the group and looking at the food no one has yet to start cooking. "Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm all about saving my rations if other means are presented." With that, he begins preparing the meat provided and starts cooking it over the open flame.

Once done, he shares with whoever wishes to partake in it's nourishment before bedding for the night.

[Black Widow]

Talaina's thoughts were now on what will occur after all the others turned in for the night. Within reverie things seemed easily handled for elves, but it wasn't so easy for her anymore, as most would come to understand when it came to the regards of elves and their sleeping habits. It was though her reverie only brought a dark side to reveal itself and this was something she feared more then anything as her nightmares continued regardless of how hard she tried not to close her almond shaped eyes.

Though she tried to focus and keep her mind clear, whispers spoke to her subconcious thoughts and it wasn't long before her eyes closed and her thin form jolted for a moment before feeling as though her inner soul was drifting away from her body.

Before her stood a black robed figure and the only thing visible beyond the hooded mask was red eyes glaring at her. It was something only her subconscious thoughts would remember as he spoke to her. "You have chosen well. Bring them to me and your sister will not suffer their fate."

The dark form disappears, leaving her to witness the suffering upon a small town filled with disease as a stone slab lies in the middle of the town with her sister's body chained to it, skin covered in boils which excrete a vile greenish colored liquid.

Talaina's eyes open, beads of sweat running down her forehead as she looks to those in her midst. For a brief second she remembered the nightmare, but it was soon to be forgotten as her eyes grew heavily upon her once again.

As the first light of dawn appears over the horizon, Talaina's eyes open, remembering little of the nightmares other then a deep voice coming from a dark form. She rises to her feet, brushing off her clothing and looking north. She takes a deep breath, exhailing slowly as she moves over to Logan and taps him gently on the shoulder.

[Dalamar91]

The cleric's eyes opened in a flutter and he turned to behold the elf. She appeared to be less refreshed than he expected from a night's sleep. He had heard that elves emotions run so much deeper than that of humans like himself. The theory was that a human life was barely a short story by comparison to the long-lived fey folk, and thus an elf will feel each stabbing pain of remorse for so much longer. He sat up like a shot, his face accidentally coming close to hers as she bent over.

"I...yes milady." he stammered through slightly pink cheeks.

He had taken far more sleep than he intended so Logan wasn't too happy with himself.

[Usernameinvalid]

As Talaina tapped on Logan's shoulder and woke him from his slumber Arfellian watched and smiled because Logan appeared to be caught off guard. So, he isn't perfect! Arfellian was pleased, he got up and stamped out the remains of the fire and then quickly packed his gear.
While everyone was in stages of getting up, some were a bit grumpier than others, Arfellian realized that without a fire there would be a cold breakfast so he quickly pulled some fruit out of his pack and placed it on a nearby stump. "Cold breakfast, lets eat and move!" he said with a smile and bit into a juicy apple.

[Black Widow]

Talaina's pale blue almond shaped eyes look into Logan's gray orbs for a moment before taking a step back and noticing he was blushing. Something about him made her feel safe and it wasn't the fact that he worshipped the Bison Lord either, but regardless... "Forgive me for startling you. I thought since you're a cleric, you would need time to pray to your chosen faith before we head off." She turns and looks to the others nearby, who were still restfully sleeping.

Her thoughts then turned to her restless sleep and as to why she couldn't remember all which occured during the night. Only bits and pieces of the black robed mage remained, but his words...for some reason....were like pieces of a puzzle in which she couldn't find. "I best wake the others." She says, breaking free from her thoughts as she looks back at Logan. "We should be going soon."

She then heard a familiar voice and turned away from Logan to see Arfellian was awake and about ready to go. Though she was deep in thought and didn't hear what he said, she acknowledged him with a slight nod and moved over to grab her staff, which rested against a nearby boulder. "We leave soon so gather your strength."

[Dalamar91]

"Yes milady. Very considerate of you..."

Logan scrambled to get to his feet, trying to compose himself before the beautiful elf. She was already off and retrieving her staff by the time he had cleaned himself of a night's sleep worth of dirt and the gods know what else. He rubbed the sleep grime from his eyes before looking over to where Arfellian stood, apparently enjoying some fruit from his pack. The big man nodded and took a knee, grasping the silver holy symbol about his neck.

As he rubbed his thumb over the unnaturally warm pendant Logan whispered through the litanies of his faith, sending praise after praise to the Bison Lord and asking for his blessings as the party continued on their quest to save an innocent. He spent quite a while in nearly silent meditation before kissing the symbol and sliding it back under his breastplate.

When finished Logan enjoyed some bread from his traveling sack and some trail mix while sitting on his bedroll, allowing his gaze to fall over each member of the group. Truly this was a very unlikely partnership, if it can be called such. Logan questioned the motives of the blonde rogue and his female counterpart. Certainly there was no room for trust in either, but somehow the two were linked to Arfellian. The cleric couldn't help but wonder if that was a connection that was best severed. He ultimately decided to let nature run its course. If they provided him with a reason to get involved he would, but stepping between the trio now would only make their bond stronger.

He studied the half elf scout for a moment and caught himself smiling. Jenda might be the most important member in the party just based on attention to detail and determination to get the job done. So far she had proven to be skilled, and her tendency to speak her mind was something that the big cleric admired. Surely she'd be useful as the journey continued. Never discount the value of a well-trained scout.

Finally he let his eyes rest on Talaina. A smile decorated his face...

[Crystal]

Jenda woke outside of camp just before the break of dawn. Feeling somewhat uneasy about her surroundings she looks over at Ski, who's beak looked like it was tucked in her chest feathers and was unaware of what Jenda felt. As she started heading back the way they came, her companion's keen ears picked up on a twig snapping beneathe her feet. Ski takes off and scouts ahead of Jenda's back tracking.

Not long after, Jenda felt what Ski did and she knew Tharkus wasn't that far behind the group by now. She turns around and heads back, entering the camp to see Logan's eyes upon her briefly before smiling and then turning his attention to Talaina, smiling even bigger then before. It was no wonder a human would fall for the beauty of a full blooded elf, but there was still much she wondered about when it came to the elven one...like why she knows more then she's telling came to thought.

"Ski has never failed me and I feel Tharkus isn't too far behind, maybe two hours at most. Should we stay and prepare, or move on?" She questions, looking over at Talaina.

[synderstorm]

Lucien's dreams brought him to the first time he and Erynn first met, such an unlikely pair they were at first, yet for some reason he knew they would connect. As his dreams continued through some of the journeys he and Erynn shared throughout their marriage, Arfellian's black eyes appear, turning his dream into a nightmare. He saw himself battling Logan, fighting to keep his young rogue apprentice away from the clutches of the Bison Lord.

Suddenly the dream ended before the outcome as he was awakened by the sound of voices coming from Arfellian and Jenda. He opens his eyes and gathers his thoughts before getting to his feet and looking over to where Erynn was last positioned. She wasn't there which made him think she woke before he did and moved off to scout. Taking a few moments to question his thoughts, he turns to the group. "While ya'll figure out what to do next, maybe I should head back and catch him off guard?"

[Dalamar91]

Logan's ears perked at the idea of the blonde rogue running off to engage Tharkus. It would make his job all the easier to be rid of Arfellian's shady companion. But the group had already wasted too much time. They needed to move on and quickly to save the life of the innocent girl in question. He stood and offered his opinion.

"We are stronger as a unit, and we should already be back on the road. If we are being followed then so be it. If the spy becomes a real threat than I suggest we deal with him." Besides, he thought, Arfellian handled this mage rather easily the last time Tharkus got too close.

The cleric moved within a few feet of Talaina nodded. "It's time to go milady. Are you prepared?"

[Black Widow]

Talaina looks up at Logan and nods before moving past him, but not before placing her hand on his breast plate. "Are any of us truely prepared for what we do not expect?" She left it at that as she continues northeast, now speaking to the others.

"If it is Tharkus that's behind us, then we still have some distance on him and right now we need not worry about what is far enough behind us. His time will come for I have trust in each of you, in one way or another when it comes to the enemy...for now atleast." She had some doubts about some of them regarding trust, but until they have proven her doubts, she had to put those thoughts aside.

The sun reached it's high as dark clouds rolled in from the east and Talaina started thinking about how much time they'd have to continue before needing to seek cover. Autumn was upon them, yet from the looks of the storm which seemed to darken the eastern sky quickly it would appear as though this was a summer storm, not set by nature. Atleast that's what Talaina was now thinking.

As the group continue about a half mile, the winds pick up and the tall grass reveals a few small reptilian heads moving towards the group from the east then suddenly disappear back into the tall grass. "Perhaps kobolds." Talaina says as she holds her staff in one hand and removes the dagger attached to her side. "Could be an ambush." She adds, looking towards the west and watching as the strong winds blow through the tall grass again. Though what she didn't see doesn't mean isn't there and she looks over at Jenda and motions for her to keep watch.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian plodded alongside the group feeling rather useless at the moment. All of these strangers were experienced on the road and he had only been traveling for about a year and most of that was with very large groups of people. So instead of concentrating on what was happening around him, he allowed himself to be lost in thought. Halfway through the day reptilian heads may have been spotted and the ranger was asked to keep a careful eye on the area where activity may be occurring. Arfellian was eager for some more action, it is the only place he really felt at home... blades in his hands he could lose himself in the beautiful dance of death. Snapping his head back towards the group he concentrated on what they were saying...

[Crystal]

"Perhaps kobolds." Talaina says as she holds her staff in one hand and removes the dagger attached to her side. "Could be an ambush." She adds, looking towards the west and watching as the strong winds blow through the tall grass again. Though what she didn't see doesn't mean isn't there and she looks over at Jenda and motions for her to keep watch.

Ski felt the strongs winds against her wings, bringing discomfort to show through on Jenda's half elven face. This wasn't a typical storm, Jenda felt as she spots movement coming from the east. With the sudden gusts of wind which couldn't be set to pattern, Jenda knew her bow would have little effect so she unsheathes her longsword and shortsword and nods to Taliana's motion for her to keep watch just incase while heading towards the west, keeping as low as she possibly could within the high grasslands.

She spots movement heading her way as another gust of wind blew through the area, but at the sametime she was spotted also and just as the wind stopped for a brief moment, a javelin was thrown her way, which sliced thru the arm of her leather armor, bringing her a minor scratch but causing some pain from the sting. She kept her grasp tight upon the hilt of her shortsword as she rushed forward to attack, keeping her eyes open for another small javelin to be thrown with hopes the wind would alter it's course.

[Dalamar91]

Logan scowled as the dark clouds seemed to consume the sky and blot out the light of day. Heavy winds picked up and sent crimson and copper cape fluttering. He scanned the tall grass as Talaina made her thoughts known. His bald head snapped the other direction quickly at the mention of possible ambush. The cleric had never been involved in an ambush that didn't strike from multiple directions.

"We are surrounded..." he declared in a loud and powerful tone that carried to all of the party. "Form up a defensive line! We will be survive if we work together!" In the heat of imminent battle his senses tuned back to the days he served in the knighthood. He had been a captain and was expected to use his powerful voice to keep the morale and uniformity of his squad. And being in the war-time state of mind he quickly considered his allies, realizing that there were no shields in the party. He quickly rolled into chant and erected an invisible wall on one side of the field, aimed at the initial force that was identified.

The air seemed to distort, as if folding in on itself but than returned to normal as quickly as the anomaly began. Another spear flew out of the tall grass and was heading right for the elf, but it abruptly snapped in mid air when it struck the wall. The large cleric unsheathed his mighty blade and interposed himself between the party and the force on the side opposite his wall of force. The muscles in his neck and arms that were visible through the plates in his armor flexed as he steeled himself for combat. He would have to just hope that the ones on this side had terrible aim.

[Usernameinvalid]

As the Cleric started chanting to create the shield-wall Arfellian stood beside him and snapped one of his daggers at a javelin knocking it off course. Though he knew he would be more effective alone Arfellian made a snap decision to stay with the group. Knowing he wouldn't want to be in the way of that gigantic sword swinging in the air he moved a few feet to the left of the Cleric and assumed his part of the defensive line. Soon the tall grass seemed to come alive with movement, finding their long-range weapons ineffective the goblins decided to move in.
Just before Arfellian closed in with a pair of nasty looking goblins he noticed at least three headed towards Logan and even more towards Talaina. Arfellian closed in with his enemies making towards the one on the left because the goblin on the right had an axe and with a dagger you cannot block an axe. Arfellian send a high blow towards the goblins head, which it deflected but was dismayed when Arfellians second dagger buried itself in it's heart. Arfellian pulled his blade out and jumped towards Talaina coming up from a tumblers roll to kill an attacker that was about to put a blade in her back. Quick as a cat Arfellian turned again to face his second opponent, with the axe, this goblin was not as stupid as most. The goblin and Arfellian circled each-other, neither making a move, Arfellian appeared to trip and the goblin lurched forward bringing his axe down at Arfellians head but instead hit the dirt because Arfellian hadn't tripped, instead he had performed another tumblers roll and came up beside the goblin and cut the goblins throat. As Arfellian looked around at the ambushers and made his way towards the elf, who still had at least eight goblins surrounding her, he shouted to Logan "Cleric! THE ELF, THE ELF IS SURROUNDED" he moved quickly towards her but suddenly javelins started coming at him again, perhaps the Clerics shield was down, or the javelins were from somewhere else, Arfellian wouldn't find out because one went through his leg and he fell hard hitting his head on a stone and fell unconscious.

[Black Widow]

Once Talaina noticed a javelin heading for Jenda, she knew her spoken thoughts were true, this was an ambush. Placing her dagger back, she speaks a few arcane words and points two fingers at two uncoming kobolds. Two magic missles shoot forth from each finger, hitting the two targeted and killing them. She then reaches inside her spell component pouch and removes a bit of phosphorus while preparing the needed verbal components for her next spell.

As they started closing in on her, her body begins to immolate wispy red flames and as the first one neared to attack with his small mace, she blocked with her staff, setting fire to his mace and his scaley claws that were attached to it. The kobold takes off in fear of her magic, as does afew more, who turn their attention on the one who blocked the javelins from the west. Another kobold attacked her with a small dagger, stabbing it into the back of her leg. He bursts into flames and starts running away, causing quite a display of stupidity as their kind showed often.

Though the pain was still there, her adrenaline kept her going as another attempted to bring her down, only to be brought down himself by her shield of flames. By now, all which surrounded her...or thought to move in on her...chose differently, which gave her more room to work her spells.

She started to prepare another magic missile spell, but the minor wound to her leg broke her somatic concentration for a moment which was enough for her aim to falter some. Two missiles hit one of the kobolds heading for Logan, killing him instantly, but the other two hit Logan by accident which only caused minor damage to the strong human, but she wasn't about to take anymore chances by casting anymore ranged magic during this battle. "Forgive me Logan!" She yells as she moves in towards Arfellian, who she'd seen fall moments before her fiery shield took place.

By the time she reached the young rogue her shield was gone, leaving her prone for attack. A few noticed her wispy flames had diminished and they begin to close in on her, but she was close enough to Arfellian to assist him some. She kneels down next to Arfellian and removes the javelin that penetrated his leg and pulls out a vial of dark liquid from her small sack and pours the liquid into his mouth, making him swallow since he wasn't able to do so on his own.

The healing magic of the potion helped stop his bleeding wound and revive him some from his unconscious state, but he was still very weak. "Don't worry. We'll be fine." She says moments before one of the kobolds threw a javelin at her, barely missing as he rushes in with his small dagger. She trips him with her staff before taking stance and seeing him fall only inches away from Arfellian, face down upon the dirt. As he goes to move, she places the butt of her staff to his lower back and speaks one arcane word, sending his body to convulse from a jolt of electricity. As his body went limp she turns to the others approaching her. "Suffer as he, if you dare attack me."

Some being smarter then others, moved away and headed for those who showed no sign of magical attributes, but there were a few who felt her magic was coming to an end soon. Little did they know that her staff had magical properties as well, which only needed one word to be spoken to activitate upon impact.

The battle continued for about an hour, give or take a few minutes, and all within the group suffered some, but nothing compared to the kobold ambush as only a few barely escaped with their lives. This gave Tharkus a chance to catch up to the group as he remained hidden from sight by magical means, just out of reach from the cleric who managed to see him the day prior. He looks towards the west, feeling the storm's breeze brush through his hair, figuring this was something Baelus conjured up in order to give him the opportunity of catching up.

[Dalamar91]

A javelin flew through the air and grazed the big cleric's cheek to initiate combat on the other side of the battle line. Logan turned and saw the young rogue standing at his side, which brought a smile to his face. He delivered a nod just as Arfellian exploded into action. Unfortunately the Jolithian didn't have a chance to admire the work of the lad, for he was assaulted by three kobolds, with more of the little draconic creatures flowing out of the tall grass behind.

The diminutive creatures were armed with an assortment of weapons ranging from little daggers and obviously stolen tools, like a carpenter's hammer. The lead kobold shrieked a war cry and jumped, slashing wildly with its short sword but Logan swiped it out of the air with his massive sword. Holy Avenger split the creature in half easily, but maneuvering the heavy blade back into a defensive position before the other reached him was impossible. The one with the hammer managed to score a glancing blow on his shin. The cleric reflexively kicked the creature, shattering its jaw and nose while the other pulled back and tossed its javelin.

Logan sidestepped the flimsy attack and spun, whipping Holy Avenger on a low cutting arc and severed the arm at the shoulder of his remaining foe. As his steel gray eyes followed the flying appendage they widened at the sheer size of the force brought against him. There appeared to be a score of goblins mixed in with the force of kobolds and clearly this was going to be a long day of fighting. To make matters worse a call from Arfellian told him that Talaina was surrounded and Logan couldn't help but glance back at the mage. She was awash with angry flames and by all appearances seemed to be handling herself well.

Stabbing pain exploded in his forearm for his troubles and he looked down to see a gap-toothed goblin holding a pick axe, and its pointed head protruded from his arm. He wrenched his bloody appendage off the weapon and staggered back, cursing himself for his lack of attention to the melee at hand. He retreated two steps and swung his large blade with one arm in a diagonal slash downward, which the goblin easily ducked. He was forced to continue to retreat a few more steps as the fortunate goblin spurred on its comrades with eager hoops and hollers. "This uns bleeding! Bleed humey bleed! Brings em downz and gets his sword!"

Logan growled through clenched teeth and shook his injured arm, which was now numbing from the pain. Blood flowed in a torrent down over his clenched fist and he realized it wouldn't be much use to him in a minute or two at most. Steeling himself for combat he grasped the sword with both and and stepped into the approaching hoard with a series of precision slashes and feints. Arms and heads lopped off and went flying in a multitude of directions but the horde just kept approaching. Logan noticed to his dismay that many of the creatures were filtering to him, which was something of an anomaly for the big cleric. Usually his sheer mass alone was enough to scare enemies off.

His leg suddenly buckled and he was forced to a knee, sizzling sparks of pain pulsing in his leg from an unknown source. He was forced to fend of multiple attack as the creatures took advantage of the height difference. Sparks flew from multiple weapons as all he could do was parry away the attacks. He vaguely heard Talaina yell something, and he thought he heard his name, but he was too overwhelmed to glance back at her.

As he continued to battle defensively he managed to get his feet under him again and turned back on the offensive. Holy Avenger stabbed forward and skewered two creatures on its tip. Logan didn't have the time to extract them before slashing the blade in a wide arc, smashing their lifeless bodies into their comrades. The impact managed to knock the goblins loose and finally the creatures hesitated. Some of the kobolds gathered in force for what he could only assume was going to be one desperate charge, though he noticed that a few goblins we shouting at them in their high pitched voices. He saw something then that unsettled him to a point beyond the absurdity of the ambush. Looking into the eyes of the creatures he could see a swirling hint of magic, and it didn't take the use of a prayer to determine that these creatures had been charmed.

"Someone calls this force against us!" he offered before lifting his injured arm and grasping the holy symbol about his neck. The cleric chanted a litany between heavy breathing and then turned his palm outward, towards the gathering host. He felt power building up in his heart and surging outward to engulf the enemies. A blast of holy fire unleashed from his outstretched palm and consumed the creatures, leaving nothing but scorched corpses and ash behind. That done, Logan collapsed to his knees and breathed a sigh of relief.

[synderstorm]

Since Lucien was further back from the rest of the group most of the kobold ambush targeted them but once he shot off his first bolt, hitting the scaly arm of the nearest one, three spotted and headed his way. One stopped and tossed his small javelin at Lucien, but if it wasn't for the sudden burst of wind it wouldn't be just a minor slice to his left side.

Lucien drops his crossbow and unsheathes his rapier and dagger as he eyes them carefully, watching their movements as they prepare to surround him. Two were holding small daggers and the other a small two balled spiked flail clutched tightly within left claws. Lucien targeted the one holding the flail and tosses his dagger, which penetrates the little lizard's left eye rendering him as he drops his weapon and attempts to pull the dagger out.

Lucien quickly turns to the remaining two as they rush forward and attack. He manages to dodge the first strike, but was stabbed in the upper leg by one on his right. With the hilt of his rapier Lucien pushes the small kobold back a few steps and pulls the small dagger from his leg with his left hand before tumbling backwards away from the one who attacked again on his left.

He quickly stood up, steadying most his weight on his left leg and tosses the dagger with his left hand at the one who hit him, penentrating the lizard's long snout. Then he turned to the other just as it was getting ready to stab his left leg and pierces his rapier through it's stomach. Taking a few moments to retrieve his blade gave enough time for the one to remove the dagger from it's snout and use it against him once again.

Lucien saw him coming and with his left hand pulls the dying one to the right, using him as a shield against it's attack. The dagger lodges itself in his dying comrad's back and Lucien took this opportunity to push them backwards before being struck in the lower back by the two balled spiked flail. Pain shot up his spine like thousands of tiny burning needles as he puts more weight on his right leg, attempting to turn around and face the one eyed kobold. He stumbles, right leg giving out as he falls to the ground and quickly rolls left with hopes he'd see the one eyed kobold was close enough for him to attack.

Unfortunately it wasn't close enough for his rapier to reach...yet, but the kobold moves forward a step and swings his flail down towards Lucien's right arm, hoping to render him weaponless, but it missed only by a few inches as Lucien rolls left and pierces his rapier into the one eyed kobold's gut. By that time the last remaining to attack pushed his dead comrad off and removed the dagger from his back before moving in to attack. Once again, Lucien saw him coming and with the kobold still attached to his rapier, he attempts to use him as a shield but the pain in his lower back slowed his movement.

The last remaining foe stopped and tossed his dagger moments before the dying kobold shield had a chance to block and hit Lucien's right leg once again. Though with all he'd endured, he managed to remove the dagger with his left hand, grasping tightly as the kobold leaps forward with claws ready to attack. As the kobold does so, Lucien stabs the dagger into it's chest and pushes it away.

He rolls to his back and looks up at the sky, breathing heavily from the battle as the wounds to his right leg and the wound to his back fell heavily upon his endurance. Sleep. Must sleep. He thought as a cold chill ran up and down his spine.

[Crystal]

Jenda fired arrow upon arrow at the little critters, hitting some here and there but she didn't see the one coming up from behind her who stopped and tossed his spear which hit her in the back of her leg. The sudden burst of pain brought her to stumble forward and doing so caused her to lose grip on her bow. It falls to the ground and she turns to the little one who hit her, takes a deep breath and yanks the spear from her leg. She throws it on the ground and removes her longsword and shortsword and awaits the charging kobold who rushes in with a shortsword crafted for one of smaller size.

With one swing from her longsword swiping towards it's scaley little neck she easily decapitated it and turns towards the battlefield and notices things were being handled well enough. With no other assailants nearby her she sheathes her swords and grabs her bow and cocks an arrow, aiming towards one of the kobolds heading towards Talaina who was assisting Arfellian. The elven sorceress handled it easily so Jenda looks elsewhere before releasing her arrow at one who was heading towards her with a small flail in hand. Her arrow struck the kobold in his arm. The same arm he held his weapon in and because of the pain he released his grasp and then started runninng away. She followed after him for a few seconds, but the emotions of her companion felt no threat outside of what they were facing right now, which was nearing it's end.

Fearing not that the kobolds no longer had others nearby to assist them, Jenda turns around and starts heading back towards the others when suddenly she felt a sting to her injured leg, followed by the sudden urge to sleep. Jenda tries to focus and continue back to the others, but her efforts were futile as she falls to the ground, eyes trying to focus on one of the tall blades of grass in sight as it becomes blurry moments before being engulfed in darkness.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian came back to concious as Talaina poured some vile oil on his leg but for the first few minutes all he could do was stay out of her way. Too many enemies were swarming them for him to gain his feet and he wasn't even sure if his leg would support his weight. Talaina did some magic that cleared the vacinity for a few precious seconds and Arfellian was back on his feet, a bit wobbly but he could hold his own. Happily there were very few of the ambushers left alive, Logan had just finished his lot and both Jenda and Talaina had very few left to kill so Arfellian looked to help Lucien who had just finished the last attacker but was on the ground. Arfellian quickly walked over while looking for enemies and bent down by his master.

"Are you ok?" He asked quickly "We don't have much time before everyone comes together to discuss this attack, I feel something sinister is nearby but I don't know where. What shall we do about this group? I feel the need to accompany the Cleric but I worry that he will not let his hold loose once the time the gods have decreed is over..." He stopped talking and applied pressure to Luciens wound while wondering if Talaina or the Cleric could use some magic to cure Lucien.. and myself...

[Black Widow]

Talaina brought the same fate to the two who remained to attack her, but not before getting stabbed in the side by a dagger. She looks over at Arfellian, who was helping Lucien from the battle he endured and then looks over at Logan, who had fallen to his knees. At first she thought to rush to his side, her reasons unsure if she was more concerned about him then the others...or that she wanted to make sure he was able enough to heal her allies.

Her thoughts changed when she didn't see Jenda anywhere near them, which meant she must've fallen into the high grass. "Jenda!" Talaina calls out as she heads towards the last area she'd seen her ranger ally, holding her side tight as blood dripped between thin fingers.

By now the storm's first drops of rain were upon them and with no cover in sight, they'd be great targets for the lightning which was nearing soon, but thanks to a strong gust of wind, Talaina spots Jenda's limp body up ahead, but as she took another step towards her half elven friend another gust knocked her to her knees. "Jenda!" She calls out, still holding her bloody side as she pulls herself up and continues on.

[Crystal]

Being half elven Jenda finally fights off the need to sleep, which was cast on her without her knowledge. What she thought was poison from the spear wound was only a spell brought on by Tharkus but she didn't know that until she heard Talaina call her name.

She rolls to her side and sees Talaina fighting her way through the heavy gusts of wind to reach her. "I'm ok. Head back to the others. I'm right behind you." She says as she gets up and looks around for signs of Tharkus. Not seeing anything nearby yet knowing he must be, made Jenda wish she was close to Logan right now so she could ask him to detect that evil bastard.

[Dalamar91]

Logan winced away the pain and forced himself to his feet. Blood still poured from his punctured forearm unchecked and his thigh throbbed from the multiple injuries he had suffered to that unfortunate limb. He turned to regard his allies and wasn't surprised to see that they had all been damaged in one way or another by the ambush. The cleric took a deep breath before applying a minor healing spell to his forearm...he wouldn't be able to function for long if the bleeding wasn't halted. He then turned his healing attentions to the others.

"Friends!" he called out for their attention. "Gather round so I can tend to your injuries. If you are too hurt to move I'll come to you."

[synderstorm]

"For now just keep on doing what you're doing Arfellian. You won't have to serve under that cleric for long." Was all Lucien said as he attempts to get up, but failed due to the two stab wounds to his right leg, not to mention the sharp pain from his lower back.

Lucien was angered, not that he'd received these wounds from annoying little lizards but that Logan seemed fine as he heard the cleric's voice ask for all who needs help to come to him. Never would he ask for healing aid from someone of the good faith, but if he didn't....maybe the cleric would start to wonder more about him, if he wasn't already. "Go to Logan. Have him assist your wound and then...." He loathed saying this but, "....let him know I need his help over here."

[Usernameinvalid]

As Lucien had asked him to Arfellian quickly moved over to the Cleric, looking him over for wounds first before asking "Talaina has put something on my leg so I think I will be ok, just a bit of a limp, I ask that you use your magic on yourself and the others first, Lucien is down and I don't think he can stand, two wounds to his leg and I think possibly something is wrong with his back. Talaina went off over there.. " Arfellian gestures vaguely to the trees in the north "I think Jenda is also there, I will go check on them now and assist them back here!" Arfellian finished his statement quickly and took off, albeit limping a bit, towards where Talaina and Jenda were...

As Arfellian limped along he watched for more enemies as he entered the brushy area he almost ran into Talaina who was bleeding heavily.

"Are you ok Talaina?" asked Arfellian, quite aware that he owed his life to this elf "Do you need to be carried?" then seeing Jenda he echoed the offer to her although she didn't look bad-off... after all she did warn us about the ambush..

[Dalamar91]

Logan looked upon the young rogue with undisguised approval. It took a great deal of courage and sympathy for Arfellian to put the others ahead of himself. The Jolithian clapped the lad on the shoulder and smiled, than nodded as Arfellian set off to check on the ladies.

As Logan moved, limping slightly because of his bruised thigh, he looked upon the downed rogue with narrowed eyes. It would be so easy to walk away from the man and leave him to bleed out, but that was not something he could do regardless of any hidden animosity he felt for Lucien. The fact of the matter was the tow head friend of Arfellian's was indeed a friend, like it or not. And beyond that he represented a life, innocent under the circumstances of the ambush, if nothing else...and Logan would sooner walk away from the clergy than a life in need of healing. He took a knee and looked the rogue over to determine the extent of his injuries.

"You've lost a great deal of blood. I'll need to mend this immediately." Logan didn't wait for any permission to come, nor did he expect it to. He simply set to work, lifting the injured leg into a more suitable position, resting on his boot to elevate it for some of his more powerful magic.

"Kiri Jolith...he of infinite mercy..." He paused to throw a telling glare at the rogue before continuing his prayer. "Grant me the power to heal this man, who risked his life for all our sakes and who battled so expertly." his hand glowed with a faint gold light and he waved the open palm over the wounds, which cracked a moment and sealed. After a moment all the pain was gone, and aside from the scratch on his cheek Lucien was quite healthy. Even the blow he suffered to his back was healed.

Logan stood and turned the direction Arfellian had headed. He nodded in Lucien's direction and moved to join the others.

[Black Widow]

Moments before the battle ended, Tharkus spotted a broach pinned to the blonde rogue's cloak. The familiar item was used by him at one time as he had to spend time with a noble family posing as a relative they knew well in order to steal a magical item for the one he was working for. Once he finished his task the broach was returned to his employer, but somehow the blonde rogue wears it and this questioned Tharkus as to why he hid his true form from the others.

Once the hated cleric moved off to help the others, Tharkus moves in and holds a dagger to Lucien's neck, becoming visible for now until one word was needed to be spoken again. "You've got something that doesn't belong to you..." Tharkus grabs hold of the broach with his free hand. "...but I'm willing to make an acception before taking it back now. Meet me at the provisionary in Tresvka. I will make it worth your while. Agreed?"

Meanwhile...

Talaina heard Jenda was well enough to handle her own, she starts to head back but Arfellian was right there asking if she needed to be carried. "Thank you for the offer, but it's not as bad as it looks." She smiles at the young human before heading back, using her staff as support.

Not a few moments later she saw Logan heading her way. "The ranger and myself suffered only minor injuries, nothing a minor healing potion wouldn't cure. Please do not waste your spells." She would've used a potion on herself, but she only bought one and she used it on Arfellian.

[synderstorm]

Inside, Lucien was loathing letting the one he was going to kill heal him and what made matters worse was when Logan tossed a dagger into his vile heart by mentioning where this healing power was coming from. Lucien faked a smile as he cleared the "verbial" lump from his throat and said his thanks, watching the good doer move off to help the others.

He sits up, feeling no pain, and for a moment....a very short moment...he was grateful. Suddenly, he felt cold steal upon his neck and heard an unfamiliar voice speak...


"You've got something that doesn't belong to you..." Tharkus grabs hold of the broach with his free hand. "...but I'm willing to make an acception before taking it back now. Meet me at the provisionary in Tresvka. I will make it worth your while. Agreed?"

There was no choice at this moment. If Lucien said no his life would end by the hands of a stranger, but there was something about this man and why the broach had a history with him, which peaked his interest. "I will meet you as requested AND you better make it worth my while."

Tharkus moves his arm away from Lucien's neck and smacks him hard in the head with the hilt before pushing him forward and taking a few steps back while speaking an arcane word to the magical item he wore, turning him invisible once again.

Lucien felt the pain to the back of his head, which rendered him for a moment before being pushed off to the side without getting a look at the one who did this. As he rolls and looks back, the stranger was gone, but his aching head was now a reminder that this man meant business, something Lucien felt could be worthy of consideration.

[Crystal]

"I'm fine Arfellian. Thanks anyways." Jenda replies while brushing the dirt off her leather armor. The small javelin wound to the back of her upper leg was nothing compared to some of the battles she'd had before and she knew a minor healing salve would heal her wound quick enough.

"Follow the leader." Jenda winks at the young man while watching Talaina head back where Lucien and Logan were last seen. With the strong gusts of wind and the beginning pelts of rain falling on Ski's feathered head, she perches herself on Jenda's shoulder as Jenda continues on. "We need to find shelter soon, I know." Jenda says to her companion.

[Dalamar91]

The cleric lifted his silver holy symbol to his lips as he spotted Talaina making her way towards him. He whispered a short and silent prayer to the Bison Headed talisman before she was in earshot and slid the emblem of his faith back under his breastplate.

"Fair enough milady." he nodded to the beautiful elf.

After taking stock of the injuries it appeared that the worst of it all was taken care of. A few minor bumps and bruises remained, and a few more shallow cuts, but those were the injuries that built character. No need to invoke the power of the Bison Lord for such trivial issues.

"If we are all able to travel I suggest we get moving. This attack could have been random, though I sense fowl magic afoot and believe this to be more than a mere coincidence." he lifted two fingers to gesture at his gray eyes. "The creatures were ensorceled. I could see it in their eyes. It's an obvious diversion to keep us off track or worse."

Logan fixed the hood on his cape and let out a sigh. "Thankfully the enemy at hand underestimated us."

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian wordlessly watched the Cleric heal everyone of anything major and the silently shifted his pack on his shoulders and started with the group walking. Hopefully the next town will be within miles thought Arfellian but then again I do like camping and everyone knows what they are doing.

What am I to do about this Cleric.. why did I offer myself up to Kiri-Jolith back at the Inn.. what was I thinking? I am no cleric.. I could never follow someone else's rules and regulations.. perhaps it would be best to just serve the sentence, one should not lightly break a vow to a god that is so obviously still present and has such powerful followers.

What can I do about Lucien? He is my master, I want to learn all he has to teach, Arfellian figuratively kicked himself.. that will teach me to be so spontaneous.. the over-riding thought in Arfellian's head was of his heritage and what it implied... can I have space in my life this next year for both Lucien and Logan when they so obviously detest each-other? Which will benefit me the most...

[synderstorm]

Lucien gets to his feet and rubs his hand over the knot on his head. "You won't get away with that." He mumbles, thinking about the stranger he was to meet in Tresvka. He adjusts his weapons and pack and heads where Logan was last seen going with thoughts of Erynn as he hoped wherever she was right now, she was safe and not in any danger.

It wasn't long before he saw the good doer and the others and it was obvious they were ready to move on. "Sorry it took me so long to get back. Stray kobold." Though he lied, none of them knew any different, but it was Arfellian he looks to first. There was no way he'd ever speak of what could be betrayal, for the right price.

"So Talaina or Jenda, whoever can tell us...how much further before we reach Tresvka?"

[Crystal]

Jenda didn't trust this scoundrel as far she could toss him, but he was part of this for whatever reasons he had instore and for now she put aside her feelings towards him, but would watch his every movement carefully.

"Being that I hail from Tresvka it'll take us til late afternoon tomorrow at this rate, especially with this unexpected weather pattern for this time of year." Jenda replies to Lucien's question before taking the lead, remembering a place they can go for cover.

"About a half mile northeast of here, there's a small farm. I know the farmer and his wife and I'm sure he'll let us stay until this storm passes. It'll take us off track from Tresvka by about two hours, but atleast it's cover for now, yes?" She stops and looks back at Talaina, awaiting an answer.

[Black Widow]

Lightning strikes the nearest tree, which brought flames to follow from the dead leaves of fall yet to break ties from their branches, but the downpour of chilling rain soon extinguished those flames just as quickly as they started to pour down upon Talaina and the rest of her allies.

There was no choice to take but the one Jenda spoke of, even if it would set the group off course a couple of hours. "I don't think we're going to outrun this storm, but it's the only option I can think of right now. Lead the way Jenda." Talaina answers, following the ranger.

Suddenly, the clouds begin to break away and the heavy rains cease to a light sprinkle. Talaina stops and looks up at the sky. She thought about the black robed figure from her nightly visions, perhaps the same one Jenda called Baelus. But why would he let the storm diminish? Was his power not strong enough to continue? Was he facing another threat? Could he be watching them right now and not wanting them to continue towards the cover in which they started heading? So many questions raced through her thoughts, but nevertheless the storm was no longer an issue.

"Before we continue I must speak my thoughts and as a team we must agree on our next move. This storm was the work of Baelus, that much I can almost stake my life on. BUT for what was his purpose for breaking this storm? Perhaps he is the same black robe who brings nightmares to my rest and perhaps he holds some connection to me during my waking hours through scrying. I don't know, but I'm not going to rule things out on my own." She looks over at Logan for a moment, knowing he...over all her other allies....would understand her abit more since she's told him more then she has any other regarding her nightmares, even though she hasn't spoken of all...yet.

Moving her eyes from the cleric, she looks at the rest of the group. "A part of me thinks we should continue towards the farm. I have a feeling they know something and that's why he ended the storm in order to take us away from what could be a possible threat."

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian didn't like rain, so cold and uncaring but what he hated more was secrets and Talaina was keeping way too many things hidden from the group... He decided that no matter what happened today that tonight he would seek out Logan and share with him the concerns Arfellian had and also see if Logan knows what type of powers demons have... after all thought Arfellian perhaps I have some useful powers besides the ability to make any cleric of a 'good' god hate me...

"I don't like the rain" was all Arfellian said to the group as he dropped back to walk near Lucien.

[synderstorm]

"Before we continue I must speak my thoughts and as a team we must agree on our next move. This storm was the work of Baelus, that much I can almost stake my life on. BUT for what was his purpose for breaking this storm? Perhaps he is the same black robe who brings nightmares to my rest and perhaps he holds some connection to me during my waking hours through scrying. I don't know, but I'm not going to rule things out on my own." She looks over at Logan for a moment, knowing he...over all her other allies....would understand her abit more since she's told him more then she has any other regarding her nightmares, even though she hasn't spoken of all...yet.

Moving her eyes from the cleric, she looks at the rest of the group. "A part of me thinks we should continue towards the farm. I have a feeling they know something and that's why he ended the storm in order to take us away from what could be a possible threat."

Now that the storm broke Lucien was ready to continue towards Tresvka, but then Talaina added her two coppers worth, which was probably true, but he wanted to find out what this stranger had to offer.

"You might be right, but this is Jenda's hometown and who knows how much damage they've done to it already. Shouldn't we go there first and help them and then we can backtrack if needed?" He says to the sorceress in charge, after thinking quickly.

I'm sure that ranger will side with me now. He thought, grinning on the inside as he looks over at Jenda and watches her facial expression, his eyes showing concern for her people even though his motives were elsewhere.

[Dalamar91]

Logan's gray eyes narrowed as he observed the blonde rogue. Lucien seemed overly interested in getting to Tresvka with all speed, and though the rogue made a good point, he wasn't completely convinced of the motive. The cleric also took note of Lucien's plaintive look towards Jenda and a slight grin crossed his lips. But like it or not he agreed with the rogue, at least in part. Getting to Tresvka with all haste was the best thing for the party since there was still an innocent to rescue.

"I agree." his powerful voice cut through with all the precision of a tree trunk hammering in a nail. "At the very least some of us should continue on to find the girl. If we must split up so be it." His eyes darted to each in turn, searching for their reactions.

[Black Widow]

Talaina acknowledged the blonde rogue with a nod, but when Logan agreed she looks over at him and wished she had had more time to tell him about all her nightmares. Though there were a few things she could never speak of aloud, there was still some things that could've been said, but now the choice was set with two of her allies and with the hopes that Talaina would head towards Tresvka, Baelus watches through swirling mists within a mirror as she looks towards the destination he didn't want her to take.

"My sister isn't there, but we should split up. Logan, Lucien and Arfellian...head towards Tresvka and help the village. Jenda wouldn't be here right now to help us if she didn't feel there was a greater threat to all and I've got to take that into consideration now more then ever." She looks over at Jenda knowing the ranger had told her that herself, since they had time to talk before the storm started to roll in and with that eating away at the thoughts to save her sister, there was a greater purpose now in her heart.

"So....you've chosen to let your sister die at this time? We'll see about that." Baelus moves away from his scrying mirror and exits his chambers. He pushes a servant aside as he moves quickly down the hallway leading to his master's chambers. He knocks twice, pauses and knocks once more before the double doors open slowly without a sound.

"The elf has failed, as expected she would." A deep voice spoke behind dancing shadows from the left wall of his lit fireplace. "There's still one more chance." Baelus replies, kneeling down inches away as the double doors close behind him.

"Dreamweaver, I will grant you once more, but your time to change her mind comes at a cost. If you fail me once again you will suffer an eternity of great pain and anguish."

Baelus hesitated for a moment, but the powers that this demon lord would grant him was what he's longed for and he had to prove to his master that he was worthy of such power. "Thank you, my lord. I will not fail you." He says as he rises and the double doors behind him open. He hurries off and begins his preparations.

"We shall see."....

[Crystal]

Jenda knew Talaina was hiding something when along their travel Jenda mentioned forsaking her village in order to assist those she didn't know but felt a need to do so for reasons unknown. It wasn't until Talaina mentioned her sister that brought the pieces together. Whoever this Baelus character was needed to be dealt with by whatever means necessary and Jenda felt Talaina now understood some sacrifices are needed to be made in order to save the lives of many more.

She looks over at Talaina and nods her head. "We'll see you boys in a few days. Try not to get in any trouble while we're gone." She says as she looks over at the three of them and motions them off while on the inside praying that her hometown hasn't suffered much.

[Dalamar91]

Logan glanced at Arfellian for an indication of how the day's events were affecting the lad. In particular he wondered how things would unfold with this new twist...the idea of traveling as a trio with the two rogues. What better setting than this to finally put to rest the budding animosity between the Logan and Lucien?

Steel gray eyes moved over to the form of Lucien. To this point the blonde rogue had not revealed himself to be threatening in the least, but something about him gave Logan a bad feeling. There were two murderers at the inn back in Kyre, the cleric thought...and still only one paves the way to his salvation. How likely could it be that Lucien was the other?

His gray orbs strayed back to the ladies and he nodded his approval to the suggestion.

"If I may be so rude...Can either of you enlighten us as to what we will find when we get to Tresvka? And I too would like to know where the girl can be found."

[synderstorm]

Lucien's ears choose not to hear anything else from the elven sorceress other then he was going to be heading towards Tresvka with Arfellian, which was fine, but also Logan? His eyes narrowed as he glances over at the over sized bald headed human cleric of Kiri-Jolith while thinking this would be the perfect time to stab him in the back along the way.

BUT...with his young rogue apprentice, who he felt was starting to show some respect towards the giant of good will, the thought quickly changed. There will be a time when Arfellian isn't around and that's when I'll strike you, almighty good doer. He thought to himself while the good doer asked for enlightenment on what they'll find once they reach Tresvka.

Not that Lucien cared about what they'd find, since his only concern right now was his meeting with the stranger once they arrive, he still pretended to care. "Yes please." He looks over at Jenda knowing she's from that area. "Any information you could enlighten us with will help." He adds, hoping there's nothing more she'll say so they can move on.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian looked on during the conversation but had nothing meaningful to add as he sat on a log and waited to move on towards Tresvka.

As he waited he adjusted all his weapons and made sure all his gear was in good repair, he hadn't checked his gear since the ambush and was pleasantly surprised to find everything where he had left it and undamaged.

[Crystal]

Logan- "If I may be so rude...Can either of you enlighten us as to what we will find when we get to Tresvka? And I too would like to know where the girl can be found."

Lucien- "Yes please." He looks over at Jenda knowing she's from that area. "Any information you could enlighten us with will help."

"I can only tell you about those who reside in Tresvka because I don't know what you'll expect once you arrive since it's been days now that the cult started whatever plan Baelus has enstore." Jenda says to Logan and then looks over at Lucien. "They're good people who don't bother anyone and don't deserve this. Not that you care since all that comes out of your mouth are meaningless words to the ears of everyone around you."

Ski takes off to scout ahead and Jenda looks over at Talaina. "Ready to go?"

[Dalamar91]

Logan nodded at the ranger's words and let out a small sigh. "I trust you ladies will rejoin us in Tresvka when you are done?"

The question carried an implied answer so the large cleric didn't bother to await an answer. He extended his arm to the rogues and waved them both on as he turned on his heel and started off towards their goal.

"We may as well get moving then."

As the cleric considered their course he considered the positives of traveling with the shady pair. Their skill in stealth might be very useful if Tresvka turns out to be overrun. On the other hand, they'd also be better suited to sniffing out the cult if it still played behind the scenes.

[Black Widow]

"Continue on, I'll be there in a moment." Talaina nods her head to her ranger ally and then looks over at Logan, who had already started to head off with the others. "If Baelus is the black robe that comes to my dreams, then it is most likely that my sister is with him, wherever that may be, and that's one reason I'm heading towards the farm."

She turns around and starts to head off, stopping once to look back at Logan. A small smile graced her lips. "May your god walk with you. You're going to need it with the likes of them." Her almond shaped eyes glance over at Arfellian and Lucien. "We will meet with you soon." She adds as she walks away.

Meanwhile, as the group conversed Tharkus was already on his way to Tresvka and with the few minutes he had on them it was enough to gain much ground, since he had cast a haste spell on himself, bringing him a good half mile distance between them at full run.

Suddenly, he was pushed back by an invisible force and as he falls he sees Baelus walking towards him. "You failed to send message and now you run? You are useless to me." He says before speaking the arcane words need for his next spell.

"Wait...I have someone that might be of interest to you, Baelus." Tharkus says, holding his hand up.

"Make it quick. I have other matters to attend to."......

[Dalamar91]

Logan stopped and turned as Talaina's musical voice called out to them. Her almond shaped eyes were focused on his large form and their sparkle made him feel as if she spoke only for him. He couldn't help but smile in response.

"May your god walk with you. You're going to need it with the likes of them."

"The Bison Lord walks with me always...as I'm sure he will be by your side." he called back to her and Jenda, who was already some distance away.

He stood there a few moments more to watch the beautiful elf disappear behind a copse of trees before turning back to the young men that would be his traveling companions. The large cleric looked them over as if sizing them up for the first time. His expression betrayed that he wasn't all that disappointed with what he saw.

"Well then. We've got the better part of two day's travel ahead of us. Lucien...if you would take the point?" His voice was powerful and contained a level of command that he hadn't intended, but then again someone needed to take charge of things.

"Arfellian...why don't you join him for a bit. I'll bring up the rear."

Every ounce of him believed that the wisest course of action was to keep the rogues separated at all times. If he could split them apart he might be able to lessen Lucien's influence on the lad. But then again, he would only strengthen their bond by trying to put a wedge between them. No...better to let the shady blonde ruin his own image in the eyes of Arfellian. Logan was certain that in the end the boy would choose to serve the greater good. Evil turns on itself and is the source of its own ultimate demise.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian who had already been walking beside Lucien turned back to Logan and acknowledged the order to stay on point with Lucien.

"What do you think we will find in Tresvka?" asked Arfellian as they trudged down the path.

[synderstorm]

"Never been there, couldn't tell ya." Was all Lucien said to his rogue apprentice while thinking about what awaited him once they arrive. He wanted to tell Arfellian more, but with Logan behind them he didn't want to bring anymore suspicion to himself with the cleric. Unless....

As they continue on their path, Lucien looks back at Logan for a brief moment before looking forward again. "Looks like you got the hots for the elven sorceress, ay Logan? I saw you watching her as she walked away and how she brought a smile to your face. You know, for some odd reason I can't figure out, I think she's got the hots for you too."

Giving this opportunity for either Logan to comment or for him to think about it for a brief moment, Lucien whispers to his chosen one. "I think I met Tharkus back there. He wants to talk to me once we reach Tresvka. I want you to be close by and keep watch during our meeting, but don't make a move unless he provokes it. Let's just say we might be able to get more out of this then meets the eye." He left it at that for now until Logan was either not around, or until he knew for sure the cleric's thoughts were far away from thinking about him and Arfellian.

[Dalamar91]

Logan cleared his throat in response to Lucien's initial statement. It was all he could do to fight the embarrassment of it all. Yes..he found Talaina to be quite appealing. Who wouldn't? But to suggest that such a beautiful flower would even find a passing interest in the Jolithian...well that was just down right foolish.

"She has no such feelings!" Logan stammered a reply a little too loud for his own comfort. He averted his eyes from the pair of rogues to compose himself so he completely missed their shady interaction.

Part of the cleric wanted to continue the conversation, for the thought that the elf had grown fond of him was very pleasant indeed. The rest of him knew however that there was much more important things to focus on, such as the life of an innocent. A change of subject was necessary. He cleared his throat again.

"So how long have you two known each other?" It was a lame attempt to steer the conversation elsewhere, but he was truly interested in the connection between these two.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian glanced at Lucien as he was told to stick by when Lucien talked to Tharkus but why would Lucien want to deal with Tharkus who was clearly the bad guy. Why am I thinking in shades of black and white? Arfellian asked himself silently, the only way is to do what is best for me and let the gods burn the rest of the world for all I care.

Arfellian snapped out of his thoughts as Logan asked him how long he had known Lucien. "Actually, we met shortly before this entire event started" Arfellian started out and then went on to explain, leaving out anything conspicuous, that he and Lucien met and decide that working together would be mutually beneficial and hastily explained that 'working' meant as guards of caravans or to help owners get their possessions back from thieves. Throughout his explanation Arfellian did not so much as glance at Lucien but rather focused on Logan as they walked down the path.

[synderstorm]

Lucien picked up on Logan's voice as he said the elven sorceress had no such feelings to what he'd spoken of. Then with the change of conversation, which was clearly a way of distracting Lucien from continuing on with the subject, gave opportunity for Arfellian to speak lies to the cleric.

"Yeah, we met at the tavern and figured to earn some coins as hired help for whoever needed it. Little did I know about what the young lad had done prior with the guy who he'd met earlier, but ay...it's all in the past now and that evil bastard is probably long gone by now. Unless...." Lucien thought quickly.

"Unless just maybe the spy who was sent to watch over the gang was the same one who tried to work his ways with Arfellian first? And then drifted off when you came around? It's just an idea anyway." He played his cards well, acting as though he had no idea why all this animosity came about while trying to pin the blame on one they already knew was not one to be trusted. He knew Arfellian would play along, since the young lad already lied to the cleric before and got away with it.

"Anyway Logan...." He brought the cleric's distraction of the sorceress back to the playing field once again. "I'm good at reading other's faces and I'm telling you now...Talaina likes you more then you think. I see that twinkle in her eye everytime she looks at you."

The more he kept the cleric's distraction away from him, by bringing up the woman Logan has grown fond of, would give Lucien some opportunity to speak with Arfellian alone....but not until he knew for sure the cleric's thoughts were far away from his concerns for the young lad that Lucien figured would turn out to be a great asset to his ultimate plan.

[Black Widow]

Talaina heard Logan's last words to her as she headed off to gather as much information as possible about Baelus. With a smile to cross her thin elven lips, without his knowledge, she holds her staff in the air, letting Logan know she acknowledged his love for Kiri-Jolith and the prayers he'd send their way during their journey.

Rushing off, she catches up to Jenda and looks up at the sky and watches the ranger's animal companion as it scouts the area ahead. "What brought this connection with you and your hawk?" She asks, only making conversation along the way even though her thoughts elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Baelus looks east while listening briefly about the rogue who hides his true form. "I've heard enough. Do what you can to persuade him towards us for now and I'll deal with him later, once I'm done with what I must do." Baelus disappears and Tharkus lets out a sigh of relief before heading off.

Moments later, Baelus appears ontop a small hill looking down at the farm he grew up on. "I'm sorry mother, father, but Talaina can never know what you have both known would become of me." He says moments before reaching into his spell component pouch and removing a pinch of sulfur and a tiny ball of bat guano as he begins the verbal components needed to trigger it's effect. With hand clutched around the needed ingredients he points towards the small farm house and a glowing, pea-sized bead streaks from his digit and continues on it's path, enlarging into a ball of fire which explodes upon impact.

Though there was a slight moment of remorse, Baelus turns from the burning farm house and slowly heads off into the nearby woods and awaits the arrival of the one his master had chosen to become his bride...

[Crystal]

Jenda looks over at her for a second and then up at her trusted companion while they continue to head for the farm. "She's been with me for over 5 years now. I found her in the forest, weak from an arrow that had pierced her left wing. I couldn't abandon her need for help and ever since then she's been my only loyal friend."

She looks over at Taliana and sees her mind was elsewhere. "Talaina, I know your thoughts are on your sister as mine are with Tresvka, but I fear there is so much more to this and we're doing the right thing by heading to the farm. I do believe Baelus was behind this storm and I do believe he has some sort of connection with you."

[Black Widow]

"I believe you're right, but it I can't stop feeling I should be searching for my sister and I'm torn between my love for her and what I know I should do to help the innocent. It's just that these dreams...." She quickly changes the subject since her unwelcomed dreams were still pieces of a puzzle she alone must place together.

"I do hope that Logan and the others reach Tresvka safely. Logan is a fine man with a good heart and I'm sure he will come through for your people." She says as she looks over at Jenda, trying to bring her some comfort to what she must be going through.

[Dalamar91]

"Lucien...she couldn't possibly be interested in someone like me. We only just met." as much as he made a show of not wanting to discuss the possibilities he wasn't putting up much of a fight anymore. The cleric walked with with renewed energy and all but wore a smile. He either didn't notice or didn't care about the rogue's continuing shady conversation.

Their path took them over rolling hills and on to a rather major trade route in the area. All the trio had to do was follow the beaten path and they would reach the small town by mid day after next sundown. Supposedly there was another well worn camp site not too many miles ahead and Logan was hoping they'd find it before dark.

[Crystal]

Jenda understood there were times when one must deal with one's issues on their own so she didn't question Talaina about her dreams and she also didn't respond about her hopes for the town she was raised in either.

"You speak fondly of the human cleric. Yes, he's a good man and I admire him for that, but I'm beginning to think there's more to him then you're willing to admit. I think you really like him and it's bothering you because he's human and not what your pure elven blood wishes to consider thinking about. Just my opinion, but I think I'm right. Am I not?"

Jenda hoped her thoughts were wrong since her feelings for Talaina were growing stronger by the moment.

[Black Widow]

"There is much respect which I have for the human cleric, but that's as far as it goes." Talaina replies. Yet even though she barely knew the man, she took much comfort in him in a way she never imagined would ever grace her thoughts, but these thoughts of hers must not hinder the situation at hand.

"How much further before we reach the farm?" She changes the subject with hope that her ranger ally wouldn't delve deeper about her thoughts of the man who had started to spark her interest.

[Crystal]

"About half an hour at most if we continue at the pace we've set and providing no complications arise." Jenda responds, looking towards where Ski was circling.

It was then when Jenda noticed smoke rising just over the hills in the near distance.

Without saying a word Jenda takes off at full speed towards the smoke, knowing it was the farm that was on fire. Her only thoughts now where hoping she'd get there before it's too late for the elderly couple who live there and the animals which they tend to.

[Black Widow]

Talaina looks over at Jenda while she informs her how much further and noticed her attention was focused on something else. She looks where Jenda was looking, moments before Jenda takes off running, and sees the smoke just over the hills.

Talaina follows as quickly as she can while thinking this had to be the work of the black robe. Though she wasn't sure if Baelus was the same black robe as the one in her dreams, there were too many coincidences which brought more thoughts to question.

The half hour it would've took to reach farm at the pace they would've taken, if this event never took place, was shortened by almost half as Talaina watched Jenda near the top of the hill while she tried to keep up with the ranger's pace.

It wasn't going to happen for the sorceress though as she needed a few moments to breathe. She stops and rests her weight on her staff as she continues to watch Jenda reach the top.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian silently trudged along while the two older men spoke about the elf. Nothing so special about her and thats the problem thought Arfellian if she was special it would make sense for her sister to be special and thus be a good sacrifice or prisoner for a bunch of renegade clerics. Oh well, I hope when we get to town there will be plenty of rich clerics to rob and perhaps kill...

He thought, as they walked along the near-silent road, about what Lucien had said.. meet with Tharkus.. does Lucien really want to deal with him or is Lucien just going to kill him.. either way it would benefit me to tag along! He walked markedly closer to Lucien but with Logan so close he decided not to try and whisper to Lucien.

[synderstorm]

Lucien remained silent as they continued most the day and though he was hoping Arfellian would help him once they arrive, he was thinking of a plan just incase Arfellian chose not to follow through with it.

Glancing back at Logan for a moment, Lucien noticed the oversized human's thoughts were elsewhere. Lucien snickers at the thought that perhaps the elf was what Logan was thinking about. This could definitely work to my benefit. He thought as he continued on.

[Dalamar91]

They traveled for another hour before the sounds of battle reached their ears. Lucien and Arfellian at the point, about 20' ahead of the large cleric, heard the commotion first. The unmistakable sounds of steel on steel and a woman's cry for help preceded what could only be explained as the sound a fireball makes when it explodes into a fiery fury.

The cleric growled as he snapped from whatever pleasant thoughts were distracting him from the road. The companions shared a knowing look before hurrying over the crest of the hill in front of them, which blocked the view of whatever was transpiring on the road ahead.

The rogues were first to lay eyes on the chaos below them. The hill descended rather sharply to a flat stretch that went on for miles. Just beyond them was a wagon train of three merchant vehicles, the lead and rear wagons wreathed in flames and little more than burned out wreckage. The only surviving vehicle of the caravan was being valiantly defended by six dwarves, who formed a defensive circle around it and were battling for their lives against a host of vicious bandits.

Bodies littered the ground from both sides of the combat, though most were dwarven, and most of those felled in whatever horror destroyed the wagons. Their charred remains were sprawled about the burned out vehicles and left a heavy stench of burned flesh in the air. Lucien's trained eyes spotted another figure just beyond the battle, on a cresting hill away from the road. It was a robed and hooded figure that appeared to be human, grasping a gnarled staff in one hand and a wand in the other. The figure gestured towards the dwarves and called out to the bandits, apparently directing the combat in a language that neither of the three companions could understand.

"We've got to help them." Logan spoke clearly before uttering a litany to his god, asking for the Bison Lord's favor in the coming battle. All three companions felt their muscles tighten briefly and their minds reach a level of clarity that was previously unknown to them. Strength flowed through them and their hearts seemed as if they would leap from their chests as some foreign energy built within them. It was a wild sensation that somehow felt right, and with it came confidence that they could handle any threat.

"Lucien...take the mage. Arfellian...you're with me." he drew Holy Avenger from its scabbard and charged down the hill towards a few score opponents.

[Crystal]

When Jenda finally got to the top of the hill she saw the house was nothing more then a smoldering shamble of burnt wood with no signs of the elderly couple's escape. After a couple minutes she looks back at Talaina.

"We're too late, but I must free their livestock." She calls out to Talaina while composing herself before moving down the hill and heading towards the stables.

[Black Widow]

Talaina lowers her head, feeling she was the one to blame because she had chosen to take this path instead of continuing her journey to Tresvka.

After a few moments to clear her thoughts of the choice she'd made, Talaina continues on and reaches the top of the hill, looking down at the destruction obviously caused by a fireball.

Meanwhle, Baelus watches the hill while remaining hidden behind the trees and sees Talaina reach the top. "It all comes down to this moment." He mumbles to himself before casting a spell to alter his form.

From the nearby woods, a middle aged human male wearing a white robe rushes towards the ranger. "Is there anything I can do to help?" He calls out to her while she tends to the livestock.

[Usernameinvalid]

As soon as they heard the sounds of battle Arfellian drew his blades and upon sight of the dwarves he began running towards the bandits while Logan issued quick instructions.

[synderstorm]

"Lucien...take the mage...."

Lucien took note of the mage long before Logan mentioned for him to take him out and since the mage had yet to spot them, Lucien was already contemplating his next actions. With the aid of the cleric, Lucien felt the sudden burst of confidence surge through his body and as Logan charged, Lucien headed back down the hill and began his approach towards the hill where the mage was standing.

Though there were only a few trees here and there, which wouldn't provide much cover if the mage had any inclination he was there, he managed to get close to the hill and remain hidden behind the last nearby tree. Lucien loads a bolt into his hand held crossbow and quickly dashes for the hill as the mage continues to watch the battlefield, unaware of his approach.

Lucien studies the incline, making sure there weren't any obsticles that might bring the mage's human ears to hear him as he attempts to move quietly up the hill behind him. So far, so good. He thought as he began his ascend with the attempt to catch the mage off guard. Once in view, Lucien takes aim for the hand that held the wand, since his thoughts were that this wand was the cause of the damage to the two wagons which protected the middle one.

Confident that his aim was true, he triggers the bolt to soar through the air, hitting the mage dead center of his hand and as expected would happen...

The mage opens his hand from the agonizing pain of the bolt which lodged deeply, almost breaking through his palm. The mage turns, spotting him as Lucien quickly drops his hand held crossbow and unsheathes his rapier while rushing towards him.

The mage had time to cast a spell before Lucien would be in close for combat which brought Lucien to feel the gust of wind moments before losing his footage from the incline. Lucien tumbles backwards down the hill which sent his rapier flying out of his hand, landing far from reach. As he finally regains himself from the fall, he noticed there were now three images of the mage, all within five feet from one other, who were beginning their descend towards him as they spoke. "You have crossed path with the wrong man, fool."

The three images began to speak more arcane words and the only hope for Lucien now was to determine which mage was the one who was actually speaking those words. He closes his eyes while removing both daggers and concentrates on the sound of the mage's voice. Determining the sound was more directed near his left ear, Lucien realizes in a moment that the last one on his right was nothing but the mage's mirrored image and he opens his eyes and focuses on the other two for a moment before tossing one at the middle mage and the other towards the left one.

By the grace of Logan's deity, though Lucien would never admit it, both daggers penetrate each of them. The one in the middle took minor damage to his left shoulder, but the dagger to the one on his left lodged itself in his stomach, causing the mage's true self to lose concentration of his spell and the one which was soon to follow.

As the two images disappear, leaving the mage's true self to fall to his knees while grasping the dagger's hilt and removing it from his stomach, Lucien scans the area for his rapier and rushes towards it once spotted. With rapier now in hand, Lucien turns to the mage as he stands with one hand holding his stomach while his free hand reached for his dagger.

"No....YOU have, fool." Lucien responds as he moves in and pierces his rapier into the mage's chest moments before he felt the sharp blade of the mage's dagger penetrate his right side.

Lucien releases the grasp of his rapier as the mage tumbles down the remaining portion of the hill to his death and with a quick tug, he removes the dagger which brought even more pain then that which he felt as it penetrated him.

Exhausted from the tumble downhill before, and now which surfaced to his injured right side, Lucien felt his body start to giveway, but he managed to descend down the hill without falling again and removed his rapier from the dead mage's chest before falling to the ground.

His daggers would be retrieved later, once he took a few moments to rest.

[Dalamar91]

OOC: Didn't mean to jump ahead of Arfellian's post, but being that the wizard is dead I have to unveil the mystery of this fight

BIC:
The rogue and cleric found themselves almost immediately surrounded by multiple opponents when they reached the base of the hill they had charged from. Though outnumbered four to one they were bolstered by the power of the Bison Lord that flowed through their muscles. The bandits formed a circle around them, brandishing their swords and axes in a menacing manner. Logan and Arfellian stood back to back as the circle tightened around them.

It was Arfellian who sensed something amiss with the horde of enemies first. His demonic blood seemed to sizzle within and screamed to the rogue that something was out of place. His eyes watered over and for a moment he thought that he'd be helpless when the bandits attacked, but with the cleansing of his eyes came a revelation. Of the eight surrounding enemies only two were corporeal, the others seeming more insubstantial mockeries of human shells. One slashed high at his neck while another, one which appeared to be solid, stabbed low for his gut.

Behind him Logan breathed heavily as his sword sang from a barrage of sword strikes he was forced to fend off. Unlike Arfellian, he saw four whole and complete opponents and it was taking all his skill to keep from being overwhelmed.

Then the wizard dropped his wand...

A field that was previously filled with over fifty snarling bandits suddenly shrunk to no more than a dozen. Logan found himself now only facing one opponent, who back stepped a few paces as he realized the ruse was up. The incorporeal figures before Arfellian simply vanished and the reality of the situation became evident for all, including the dwarves. The bulk of the bandit force was illusory, and the odds were now much more favorable for the champions of good.

Logan didn't hesitate to thank his lucky stars for the unexpected miracle...he stepped forward and cleaved the sword arm form his opponent with a powerful strike.

[Usernameinvalid]

As Arfellian ran down the hill by Logan's side he felt something was wrong but he brushed it off because obviously something was wrong and that was that the dwarves were being attacked.
They reached the bottom of the hill and were immediately surrounded, Logan took out his mighty sword and cleaved the enemy while Arfellian whirled his blades in a frenzy to hold off the bandits blades. As he ducked beneath one sword and planted his sword in a bandits chest he again felt something... something was really wrong with these bandits. Then his blood started boiling and his eyes watered and instead of facing a whole band of bandits he saw two. In that instant he realized that the mage had created an illusory army of bandits and that the illusions could no more hurt him than a daydream, while this was a comforting thought he saw two of the real bandits blades coming in at his neck and gut. He managed to block both blades with his short sword and sent his dagger into the nearest bandits neck. Allowing his sword to bounce from the block he sent it in a quick thrust into the other bandits stomach. Hearing the ringing sword as Logan fought off several real bandits amidst a crowd of illusions Arfellian turned to say something to Logan but the illusion vanished, due to Lucien having disarmed the mage.
As soon as the illusions disappeared Arfellian flew into the real bandits tearing them to pieces in a flurry of blades even unto hacking the already dead bodies in his demonic rage. The rest of the bandits fell quickly and having run out of living opponents Arfellian turned towards one of the dwarves and lifted his blades to kill yet again and then stopped mid-strike realizing the insanity of the rage that had a hold of him. He hoped none of the others had seen his mistake and turned towards where he last saw Lucien and started off at a dead sprint looking for him.

[Crystal]

From the nearby woods, a middle aged human male wearing a white robe rushes towards the ranger. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Jenda reaches the stables and was about to start freeing the horses when an unfamiliar voice asked if she needed help. She turns around and sees a white robed human male heading her way. "Yes please and thank you kind sir." She replies as she turns away from the mage and opens the first stall then moves over to the next one and does the samething.

[Black Widow]

Knowing he didn't have much time before Talaina would reach her ally, Baelus moves up behind Jenda and bashes her head with his staff, knocking her out cold. He reaches into his robe and removes a 20' silk rope before speaking the arcane words needed for his spell. He then tosses the rope at her, commanding it to tie her as he watches Talaina descend the hill without knowledge of what was transpiring inside the stables. Realizing he still had sometime left before Talaina reached the stables, Baelus rushes over to the tied up ranger and drags her to the nearest post, tying the remaining five feet left over around it.

As Taliana makes her way towards the stables, she wondered what was taking Jenda, and the white robed mage she noticed come from the woods to assist her, so long. Only two horses were freed from the stables and perhaps that's all the farmers had, but with the size of the stables it would seem there was more, but if not, then why haven't they left to free the other animals?

Her suspicions were growing as she neared the stables and sure enough her suspicions were right once she saw her ranger ally unconscious, tied up around a post and standing a few feet away was not a white robe, but a black robed hooded figure. "What do you want from me, Baelus?" Though she wasn't sure if this was him or the one from her nightmares, she wasn't about to let it show.

"Ahhh...my name to cross your delicate lips soothe my human ears and if you were not betrothed to my master...." He stops, realizing he'd said more then he should've. "The cost of your coming here was at a great price to pay. You have forsaken your sister in order to find information, but I will give you one more chance to help your beloved kin. Turn around now and continue your search to find her without seeking further information regarding me and my ties and I will spare the life of this ranger and your sister, but at the first sign of betrayal the ranger will be the second one to die for I have now binded her not only by the rope you see tied around her, but by other means given to me." With that said he points a wand, which he held in his right hand behind his back, towards the tied up ranger and spoke the arcane word needed for activation.

A circle of fire slowly rises around the post where Jenda was tied to and the hooded figure disappears. Talaina didn't have time to think about what was said right now for at this time her only concern was freeing her friend. She rushes over to the blankets used for the horses and grabs one, then rushes over to put out the flames.

Once the fire was extinguished, Talaina unties Jenda's binds and moves in to craddle her ally in her arms before tapping her cheek a few times. "Jenda..." She taps a few more times. "Jenda?"

[Crystal]

Jenda felt somebody tapping her cheek but she didn't know who it was until she heard the caring voice of her elven friend. She opens her eyes and looks up at Talaina. "What happened?" She asks while trying to sit up and felt just how much the back of her head hurt.

"What in the abyss hit me?" She falls back into Talaina's arm, head pounding worse then the last time she drank dwarven ale with a traveler she met years ago in Tresvka.

[Black Widow]

"The so called white robe's staff, it would seem, but it was Baelus...whom I have now learned is the same mage which haunts my dreams." Talaina answers as she helps Jenda to her feet.

"I was wrong by choosing this path and the farmers paid with their lives because of me. Not only that, but now I have placed you in danger and all because I made the wrong choice." Talaina says, turning away from Jenda after she knew her friend could stand on her own. "I need to talk to Logan. We must leave for Tresvka now."

Talaina starts heading out of the stables, but stops knowing Jenda won't leave the animals who can't leave on their own. "Forgive me for not thinking of your beliefs. Take care of the horses while I go free the pigs from the pen I saw from the hill, which is behind the stables."

She then heads off towards the pigpen while thinking about everything Baelus wanted her to hear, along with what he didn't mean to say. Who is this master of his and why has he chosen me? She wondered most of all, but then her thoughts turned to the others and most of all...Logan. Not only because she took comfort in his beliefs, his strength, his knowledge and his warm sincerity, but also because the gentle giant brought something out of her which brought peace and understanding to all who are willing to open their hearts and mind.

[synderstorm]

Lucien had thought the mage's wand was what caused the fireballs and when he no longer heard the sounds of battle, he thought the worst. He opens his eyes and quickly gets to his feet, then heads up the hill to retrieve his daggers and the wand the mage dropped. Once he neared the top, he noticed the battlefield wasn't what he expected. The few bodies lying around were dead and Logan seemed fine and Arfellian....

Where's Arfellian? He wondered as he grabs what he set out to, heads back down and turns the corner, almost bumping into his rogue apprentice. "You had me worried. I thought the worst when I no longer heard the battle. What happened to all the assailants?" He asks as he places the wand between his belt and leather armor, for now.

[Dalamar91]

Logan watched Arfellian butcher the bandits with wide eyes and a sour look on his face. The lad was fighting like a death machine, if the gnomes ever created such a thing. Perhaps a better description, Logan thought, would be that Arfellian fought like an animal...no, a demon. The boy seemed to slip into a trance of precision stabs, slices, and twists that tore the life from each opponent before he moved on to the next. He was a young man possessed of unnatural power, speed and ferocity. The cleric decided right then that he could not possibly fail in the battle for the lad's heart. He was simply too formidable to let him embrace his dark blood. Somehow he'd have to find a way to convince Arfellian to see the light and truth of pure, unselfish faith.

The rogue finished his bloody ministrations and dashed off for the hill without even admiring his deadly handiwork. Logan would have given chase but for the fact that he knew where the lad was heading. Perhaps it was best to let him settle down and find some level of solace in his shady companion. He instead turned his attentions to the dwarves, who were just now separating to tend to their dead and wounded.

One of the dwarves, clearly the elder and likely leader, limped over to the large cleric and offered a gruff clearing of his throat while his companions removed the drivers of the burned out wagons. The stench of burned flesh was still overwhelming but the stout dwarves went about the dirty business with pride and honor for the dead.

"Yer arrival surely evened the odds. Me clan thanks ye kindly fer the aid...but don't ye be askin fer any payment!" the dwarf waved off the idea even though it never crossed Logan's mind.

"They didn't leave us much to be sellin sos we aint about to be in a givin mood." he crossed his muscular arms over a a barrel of a chest and snorted.

The Jolithian smiled warmly and delivered a nod. "I would not ask for any payment master dwarf. We only wished to see you to safety..."

"Bah! We know yer types. Holier than a bag o'doughnuts and buildin temples as tall as yer stacks o'platinum. But we be thankin ye all the same." the dwarf cut him off with a reluctant gesture of appreciation, and extended a meaty hand for shaking.

Logan accepted the friendly handshake with a firm grip that the dwarf seemed to appreciate. Still, the graybeard looked beyond the impressive cleric to his smaller companion as Arfellian crested the hill.

"Yer friend fights like a wolverine in a sack o'snakes."

"That he does." Logan looked over his shoulder with no shortage of compassion in his eyes. Surely the poor lad would have incredible trials ahead of him. Balancing on a thin chord of good and absolute evil was a trick for only the most stable men. It seemed as if Arfellian could tip over to either side with the slightest of breezes on his back.

"Allow me to heal your wounded and help lay your dead to rest?"

"Aye...ye can say a few pretty words fer em no doubt. Good lads them all. And the girl was good on the eyes. A shame her loss be." the dwarf blew out a sigh and lowered his hard eyes to the ground for a moment.

"Axelrod's the name...well met good giant."

"Logan..." came the cleric's response as he stepped around the dwarf to assist his companions.

Axelrod spent a few more moments looking up the hill at the strange human rogue. Surely he'd never seen such a devastating fury on the battlefield before. He wondered where the boy had come from, and furthermore, he wondered how he'd be able to earn a profit from it all. A stubby hand played with the long gray beard on his chin a moment before he turned back to the one remaining wagon in the train.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian stopped breathless as he barely avoided running into Lucien. Lucien asked him what had happened and at first he wondered if Lucien was questioning his actions and then he realized that Lucien had seen at least a score of bandits and not realized what happened when the mage died.

"When you killed the mage his illusions faded, we faced no more than ten bandits." He paused to look at Lucien who was bleeding again "Do you need help?" he knew that unless Lucien was seriously injured that a refusal was imminent.

Even as Arfellian asked the question his eyes moved down to the wand at Lucien's belt noting the once magically enhanced item. A shocked expression covered Arfellian;s face for a brief moment, the battle had changed him and brought out some of his natural talents. He could move quickly and precisely, he could sense magic, these are useful skills he thought to himself but then he shuddered remembering that he had nearly lost control and killed a dwarf.

[synderstorm]

Sure enough, Arfellian knew Lucien. "It's just a minor flesh wound, nothing that would require me to ask for help from him over." He replies, looking briefly over at Logan who was helping the dwarves while Arfellian detected the magic had faded from Lucien's newly acquired wand.

He looks at Arfellian again and noticed the lad's thoughts were elsewhere. "Come on Arf, no time for day dreaming." Lucien says as he slowly heads towards Logan. He had no idea what Arfellian was going through. All he really knew about the young man was that he was special and that's all Lucien wanted to twist to his liking.

[Dalamar91]

As the pair of rogues made their way over to the scene Logan looked up from the dirty work and decided to meet them. Both Arfellian and Lucien could see that the Jolithian had been talking to an elder dwarf as the pair looked down upon a dead dwarven female. Logan said something to the graybeard and moved to greet his companions before they reached the caravan.

"Looks like we've put aside the threat for the moment. Just the miserable task of extracting the dead from those burned out wagons." he gestured back to one of the wrecked vehicles and both rogues took note of the elder dwarf's obvious interest in Arfellian. Axelrod watched the rogue with undisguised interest as his stubby fingers twirled through his thick beard.

"They are a merchants from Kayolin...called Clan Broadsword. They were expecting to pass through Tresvka on the morrow before continuing on to Solanthus."

The big cleric wiped his brown with a large forearm before continuing.

"They don't know what precipitated that attack. And since a great deal of their cargo was destroyed by fire they aren't even sure it was a simple bandit raid." he shrugged.

"We'll rest with them and reach the town by mid day if all goes well."

Logan looked at them each in turn for a reaction to his proclamation. His eyes lingered on Lucien a bit longer as if expecting some sort of disagreement. When none came he turned to get back to work.

[synderstorm]

Lucien didn't care who they were, all he noticed was the old dwarf took interest in Arfellian.
"What? Never seen a young rogue with black eyes? It's quite common in some places I've been too." He left the latter open to whether he was lying to the dwarf or maybe even telling the truth...for Arfellian ears to pick up on.

Lucien wanted to hear more about Arfellian's heritage and the best way he knew how was to let Arfellian be the first to open that information up to him, freely. You attempt to keep hold of him? Well....I will not let my hold of him show through and he will respect me for that. Lucien thought as he glanced over at Logan briefly and then back to the dwarf.

"Since we're going to be camping with you and the rest of your Broadsword clan, just remember this....I'll be watching you, sir dwarf." He turns away and heads over to Logan, giving time for Arfellian to think about his words.

Not that Lucien cared, since he figured this would make him even with the giant and he could ease the loathing he felt for asking Logan early for healing. "Is there anything I can do to help you, Logan? It's the least I can do since you helped me."

[Crystal]

"The so called white robe's staff, it would seem, but it was Baelus...whom I have now learned is the same mage which haunts my dreams." Talaina answers as she helps Jenda to her feet.

Jenda stabilizes herself against one of the stalls, thinking about what Talaina said for a few seconds.


"I was wrong by choosing this path and the farmers paid with their lives because of me. Not only that, but now I have placed you in danger and all because I made the wrong choice." Talaina says, turning away from Jenda after she knew her friend could stand on her own. "I need to talk to Logan. We must leave for Tresvka now."

"What do you...." Before she could finish asking what Talaina saw in her nightmares, Talaina continued to speak and Jenda listened, but knew it wasn't her fault. Before she could say anything, again, Talaina moved away and said she needed to talk to Logan.

Jenda sighs, looking down at her feet as Talaina starts heading off, but then Talaina stops and Jenda quickly looks up at the back of her as she spoke.


"Forgive me for not thinking of your beliefs. Take care of the horses while I go free the pigs from the pen I saw from the hill, which is behind the stables."

"No need for forgiveness Talaina. I know there's alot on your mind." She says, watching her elven friend until she was no longer in sight. She turns to the remaining stalls and frees the horses.

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian walked down the hill with Lucien and met up with Logan and the dwarves, he didn't comment on the plan Logan laid out.

While they were burying the dead Arfellian tried to make sense of the mage's alliance with the bandits. Surely any mage with the power to create such powerful and deadly illusions would not need the bandits. And why would the mage care about the dwarven goods? These dwarves were hiding something... something powerful and Arfellian planned on speaking to Lucien about it before they parted with the dwarves.

As they finished their services for the dead Arfellian drew his hood over his head as a sign of mourning for the dead. And they set out once more for Tresvka.

[Black Widow]

Once all the livestock were freed the two of them met up at the hill and started their journey towards Tresvka. Neither one of them spoke for sometime since both their minds were off elsewhere in thought.

As the day continued and dusk now fell upon the land, Talaina looks over at Jenda. "We should rest soon. I'll take first watch when we do." Little did either one of them know, they were only a few miles away from where the boys had set camp earlier with the dwarves.

[Crystal]

Ski continued to scout ahead throughout the day and when night started approaching she circles back to Jenda and perches herself on the ranger's shoulder. "Ski feels it's safe to rest here or she would not've returned yet. But I insist I be the one to take first watch. This way if Baelus does come to your dreams maybe I can break you free from them."

[Dalamar91]

They laid the bodies out for Logan's ministrations while the dwarves of Clan Broadsword dug a mass grave. After a few short hours, and a barrel full of niceties about the fallen spouted by the bard Lymrik Strumfinger, the bodies were laid to rest. Within a few short hours the remaining wagon was broken down, the donkeys tethered to a tree, and the kegs broken out for camp. The party sat on logs in a triangular formation around a sizable fire pit, for they had indeed found the permanent camp site Logan was searching for earlier that day.

LyMrik, a rather slender figure by dwarf standards, played his lute in a solemn melody while the ale was poured. After a time his music gradually transformed the group into a more cheerful bunch and before anyone knew it there was laughing, singing, and even a few offhanded jibes at the size of the Jolithian. Logan of course smiled it off and sipped at his own mug of ale. Axelrod, seated beside the cleric, offered a salute with his own foaming mug and turned to face the rogues, who sat together on their own log.

"So what brings ye to the little fork in the road that is Tresvka? Not much fer the likes o'such fine fighters as yerselfs." he turned to give the cleric a friendly punch on the shoulder.

Lucien's trained eyes took note of the many eyes that rested on Arfellian and himself. His strange companion had certainly drawn their interest, as proven by the muttered conversation a pair of the clansmen were having opposite their position around the fire pit. Logan's eyes darted between the experienced rogue and the conversing dwarves a moment before he tipped back his mug. The dwarves seemed innocent enough. Could he really fault them for being at least a little concerned or cautious with a half demon around? Surely they hadn't discerned Arfellian's secret, but he hadn't done a good job of disguising it in battle. The lad had a lot to learn, and for the first time Logan thought that perhaps Lucien's influence on him could have some positive effects. Lucien would surely know the benefits of NOT revealing one's prowess in full to strangers.

[Black Widow]

...But I insist I be the one to take first watch. This way if Baelus does come to your dreams maybe I can break you free from them."


"Maybe you're right, but not for that reason. I want him to come to me while in reverie, now that I know who's behind these nightmares I shouldn't be having to begin with. Though, I have this feeling now that I know who he is, I won't being seeing as much of him as expected."

Leaving it at that, Talaina moves over to the nearest tree and sits down. She leans her back against the tree and prepares herself for reverie.

[Crystal]

Jenda wanted to ask her more about her dreams but she knew Talaina needed to rest, plus she'd have time to talk to her in the morning and through most of the mid afternoon towards Tresvka.

Ski takes off and perches herself on a high branch where Talaina was resting and keeps watch, while Jenda moves over to another tree and climbs up to the second row of branches, not far from jumping distance if need be, keeping watch around the way they came from.

Jenda's eyes grew heavy as a couple of hours passed by and though she tried to remain awake, her body told her it was time to rest. Just as she drifted off, she heard the sound of a footstep breaking a fallen twig. She quickly opens her eyes and looks towards the sound and spots a humanoid figure approaching. She picks up her bow which was resting next to her and jumps out of the tree. Landing on her feet, she grabs for an arrow, cocks her bow and aims it towards the stranger. "I mean you no harm unless you have come to cause it. Speak your reasons and do so quietly. My friend over there needs her rest." Jenda says softly to the stranger.

[synderstorm]

Lucien got no response from Logan when he asked if he needed help, which made him think one of two things....either Logan was too high and mighty, which was more typical of a Silvanesti then a human, or that Logan couldn't care less about the fact that he's nothing more then a thorn at the cleric's side. Don't underestimate me, Bison worshipper. He thought as he moves away and listens to the dwarven bard. Not caring about any of this menial bullcrap, Lucien heads over to the last remaining wagon and watches as the dwarves set camp.

As the hours passed, Lucien remained silent while he sat down next to Arfellian and accepted a mug of ale. He sipped it slowly while the dwarves continued to consume much, followed by singing and laughter soon after.

He watched them all carefully, taking note of the ones who took much interest in his young rogue apprentice. If it was not the lad's black eyes which brought them to take such an interest in, then what did he do that might've caused these sudden concerns?

Lucien had no idea what the lad did during battle, but it must've been very impressive to the dwarves, to say the least. He looks over at Arfellian and though he wanted to wait until his young comrad spoke freely about his heritage, he was curious. "You must've done something to make them wonder about you more then just your black eyes. Whatever you did you need to talk to me about. I want to help you, but you need to open yourself to me or I won't be able to."

[Usernameinvalid]

"You must've done something to make them wonder about you more then just your black eyes. Whatever you did you need to talk to me about. I want to help you, but you need to open yourself to me or I won't be able to."

Arfellian closed his eyes as his mind relived the battle, blood everywhere and unidentifiable body parts being hacked still smaller. He turned to Lucien and said "There is not much to say, we killed the bandits." Arfellian paused a moment as if he was done and then he continued "I killed more bandits than all the dwarves and Logan combined and then though the bandits were dead I hacked them to pieces in my rage and I am sure thats the ferocity that the dwarves appreciate"

Arfellian stared into the fire for a long time and then quietly spoke again. "I have something to ask you, these dwarves they don't seem right to me shouldn't their cargo be a bit more valuable then this? Simple ale and iron trinkets and some weapons is not a usual dwarven trade, they only come out from their holes with high profits in mind. Do you think they are hiding something?"

Arfellian slyly looked around to make sure no-one was listening even though he knew there were eyes watching them...

[kristian danielson]

Jerron slowly moved from the cover, a crossbow in his right hand but, both hands held firmly in the air. He slowly lowered his hands to the side once it was obvious the unknown ranger had a clear killing shot on him. "It would be best then if we didn't fight then so as not to disturb her" he smoothly replied "I am Jerron Finch and I am only a wanderer, that is all, and who may I ask are you two?"

[Dalamar91]

Logan listened in to the conversation the rogues were having as best as possible with a loud dwarf signing in his ear. The big cleric continued to nurse his ale mug, doing his best to keep from getting drunk, though also trying not to be a rude guest. Between verbal barbs about his size and slaps on the back for his assistance in the fight - the clansmen, Axelrod in particular, were very gracious that the companions had arrived on the scene - Logan managed to catch bits and phrases of what passed between Lucien and Arfellian.

"I killed more bandits than all the dwarves and Logan combined and then though the bandits were dead I..."

Logan just managed to keep from laughing out loud and choked on his ale for the trouble. He turned toward his drinking companion to steer the rogue's attention from him and silently scolded himself for being so obvious. Of course he had no way to know if either of them noticed, but the idea of being caught was a bit embarrassing.

The boy doesn't realize how dangerous a game he is playing, Logan thought. Half demon or not one should never reveal his hand when facing seasoned veterans. If Arfellian continued to give in to the blood lust of his darker half the boy would certainly draw the wrong attention, and ultimately to his doom. That's how Logan had been drawn to him in the first place. Surely the boy would have to learn some self restraint. The cleric sighed at how unfair it all was for the boy. For someone so young he carried quite the burden.

The ale kept pouring and the songs got longer, louder, more off key, and even seemed to blend with one another after a while. A couple of the dwarves passed out on their chairs, or simply fell over backwards to snore contentedly. With each new dwarf to fall out of the circle the rest would jeer and protest that they would be the last one standing...er sitting. Lucien noted that only Axelrod wore grim expression, and that was for just a fleeting moment. He covered his inner turmoil well with toasting loudly and signing about "Dwarven girls fight better den Elves..."

[synderstorm]

Lucien looks over at Arfellian, thinking the boy had much to learn if he was going to hide his true potiental from those who might seek to destroy him. Though, as Arfellian watched the fire Lucien glances around at the dwarves, especially Axelrod, but turned his attention back to Arfellian once he continued to speak.

"The dwarves' cargo and why the mage might've taken interest in it, doesn't matter right now. What's important is your future and I'm not talking about the wealth you could gain by raiding their only remaining wagon. It's the knowledge you must learn first before you can obtain the wealth and power you desire. If what you say is true, then you haven't brought appreciation to the dwarves. You've only made them curious of what your capabilities could provide for them which could end up harming you. Take my advice Arfellian....you don't want too much attention brought to you. Not only because you've chosen the path you have, but because you are....unique."

As the ale continued making it's rounds, Lucien's attention turns back to Axelrod, who attempted to hide whatever agenda formed in that thick dwarven skull of his....regarding Arfellian. The dwarf then made another toast and started singing about dwarven girls and how much better they were then elven ones. You can't fool me, foolish dwarf. Lucien thought as he turns his attention to Logan.

For the brief moments he spent thinking of Logan, he quickly disregards them for now and turns his attention back to Arfellian. "For now I think it's best you rest and think about what I've said. When you feel the need to talk to me about it, I will be here to listen and guide you."

Lucien glances around at the few remaining dwarves who were still awake, adding their own words to the song Axelrod had started. Such stupidity when drunk. He thought as he pretends to stumble to his feet. With all the ale being passed around and the many times he managed to pour his mug out without them noticing, it was easy for him to play the part of being drunk. "All ya's left let's make a bet!" He yells over all their boisterings while faking an unsturdy stance.

"Doubts Axeybeard...Axelrum....er Axe...ummm yeah....Axe something....anyway.....I bet the little rotund one can't guzzle down anudder full mug o' ale without passin' out before me." He says as he continues to stagger back and forth while holding his empty mug out for another fill. "Come on Axelrub, make da bet a go. I gots 20 steel thinkin' yer dun in be'fer me."

[Crystal]

Jerron slowly moved from the cover, a crossbow in his right hand but, both hands held firmly in the air. He slowly lowered his hands to the side once it was obvious the unknown ranger had a clear killing shot on him. "It would be best then if we didn't fight then so as not to disturb her" he smoothly replied "I am Jerron Finch and I am only a wanderer, that is all, and who may I ask are you two?"
"I am Jenda Riverstar and the elf in reverie is Talaina." Jenda says lowering her bow and putting the arrow back in it's quiver.

"I didn't mean to startle you, but we had an altercation earlier and it revolves around a journey to save the lives of many who are facing Morgion worshippers under the command of a black robed mage."

Jenda looks over at Talaina briefly, making sure she wasn't disturbing her rest and then looks at Jerron again. "I see you carry no sword. Is there a reason you don't?"

[Usernameinvalid]

Arfellian whispered to Lucien "I am not fully human, I am half-demon and I can do things men can't. I didn't fully realize who I am or what special talents I can perform until I met Logan at the inn. Meeting him and his god has shown me powers I hadn't previously realized I could utilize." Arfellian glanced around "I am not sure anymore what I need to do in this life but I do know I need to be near Logan for now, I don't like the control he has over me but it goes both ways, he cannot abandon me either I believe.."

Arfellian leaned back and sipped on his tea, for he doesn't drink ale, and watched the dwarves getting more and more drunk.

[kristian danielson]

"I am Jenda Riverstar and the elf in reverie is Talaina." Jenda says lowering her bow and putting the arrow back in it's quiver.

"I didn't mean to startle you, but we had an altercation earlier and it revolves around a journey to save the lives of many who are facing Morgion worshippers under the command of a black robed mage."

Jenda looks over at Talaina briefly, making sure she wasn't disturbing her rest and then looks at Jerron again. "I see you carry no sword. Is there a reason you don't?"

Jerron shrugged his shoulders "I lost it, got into a fight with a couple of bandits and in the end it was either run or be killed. I have my bow and a couple of knifes though so I'm not totally defenceless just yet. Thats quite an interesting story you have there, what is it that you two could do to stop the might or morgion? And why now? Isnt morgion's worshipers always trying to take the lives of others, whats so special abour this time?"

[Crystal]

"There is no way in the abyss that I, or any of my allies, could destroy Morgion. But to be able to destroy any of his worshippers is what's so special. They bring harm to innocent people and I'm sure animals too, with their cult rituals. Another thing that makes it special is that there are others who feel as I do and are willing to risk their lives as I am in order to save the innocent victims, along with Talaina's sister and my home town of Tresvka if possible."

Since Jenda still had her longsword and elven long bow, she removes her shortsword and scabbard and hands it to Jerron. "A fighter needs a sword if he's willing to help us." This was her way of asking him to join their cause. "But I do expect you to return it once you've found the sword that best suits you." She holds the sheathed weapon in both hands and extends her arms, hoping he'll accept and fight with all he has to offer.

[Dalamar91]

Axelrod rubbed his bearded jaw thoughtfully as he stared at the seemingly inebriated human through narrowed eyes. He didn't even seen to care about keeping up the false show of drunken stupor that he was playing up until that point. It seemed that Lucien had succumbed to the drink without taking much at all. The dwarf clansman laughed aloud at the beauty of it all before lifting his own mug to his lips, spilling more liquid on his bushy salt and pepper beard than actually getting down his throat.

"Aye good warrior! Ye makes a fine drinker if me says so meself...n' me's thinkin me said so no doubt." he laughed a belly shaker again as he hopped up on those thick stubby legs.

One of the other clansman lifted the keg to fill their mugs. He gave them both a generous helping, perhaps overfilling Lucien's mug, then stepped back to observe the competition from a comfortable position.

Axelrod put one hand to his hip while the other lifted the mug in salute. ""If ye got the belly o' a dwarf ye make a fine drinker. But ye seems a lil skinny fer me taste!"

The other dwarves laughed at that and Axelrod chugged his drink, making sure to take it all down this time.

Logan watched quietly from his place. A brow arched as he contemplated exactly what the rogue was up to. The cleric had been watching Lucien all night and he knew that shady fellow hadn't consumed enough to be so drunk. He smelled trouble brewing and only hoped the night could end on a pleasant note.