On the lamb, elves sleeping
Subject Prayers
Right, yeah, prayers. See what happens when you get a heathen to write a holy man??
From: Karl
Subject Harp and Kal
Salix will have a turn regarding this shortly.
From: Kevin
Subject Time
OOC: Karl, if the time stamp on your e-mail is correct, baby, you need to sleep more. 5:45 in the AM? As they say down in the hood - that is whack.
From: Karl
Subject Time
Yeah, and that was *after* I got up, and showered, and while I was wolfing down some breakfast. :D
From: Karl
Subect: Harp and Kal
Salix listens to the entire exchange with mixed emotions. Kal's words anger him and he is about to turn his mount and give the upstart stranger a piece of his mind, but Harp's reply was such a surprise Salix was truly taken aback. Good for him, Salix thinks, surprised that he should be concerned about a half-Orc's ability to stand up for himself. Or maybe it was just surprise that he could do it in a way that didn't involved Kal's head in a trophy bag. Then Surin pipes up and Salix feels at once uncomfortable for Harp, who might not appreciate someone fighting his battle, and ashamed that he, himself hadn't piped up first. Kal would need to be watched. He had hunted his evil quarry so long and his quest had ended so abruptly that he was still seeing evil even where it did not exist.
A few minutes after the exchange, Salix turns his horse and rides back to join Harp. On the way he catches Kal's eye and gives him a pointed stare. "Were *I* traveling among strangers," He says aloud, "I would try hard to show my best qualities. I hope that is *not* what *you* have just done." (OOC - Mark, if there is any check to be made because of this, use Salix's diplomacy skill. He's trying to get his message across firmly, but not trying to call Kal out.)
He rides past Kal, not expecting a reply, or even waiting for one. He sidles up to Harp and spends the next few minutes of the ride in idle chatter, pointing out some interesting flora or fauna they happen to pass, and generally trying to keep Harp's mind off of the exchange.
After a while he rides up to where Ran is leading the group and makes his suggestion about creating the diversion with splitting the group and having as many as can be carried on 4 horses ride with him under the "trackless step" protection of Obad-Hai, while the ones best at hiding their tracks continue along on false paths to confuse any pursuer. (See previous turn sent earlier)
From: Randy
Subject Ran
Ran, completely unaware of the exchange between Kal and Harp, finds his mind wandering. He misses his grandfather and the spirituality that he was exploring while with him. He missed the beauty he felt in his mothers homeland and yearned to return there.
His mind turned to his mothers journal and the words he had read in it. How his father had forbade her from returning to her people. When she killed herself, Ran had been upset, but he was young and hadn't understood a lot of what had happened. When he read her journal, however, he became very resentful toward the human side of his life. He felt he did not belong among his fathers people. He especially felt he did not belong with his father after the way he stifled his mother and fed her depression.
Now that this journey was nearly complete, he found himself thinking back on the experience. The people he had travelled with were not human. Most of them were elves or at least partially so, and yet he still didn't feel any sense of belonging. He liked them all very much. The happy and brave halfling Surin, who had helped in this journey in so many ways. Salix, the druid, so in tune with the world around him. Harp, who must have faced so much more adversity fitting in. Cai and Bel he felt like he didn't get to know as well but only because they were so good at their job of scouting about for the party and spent less time with the main group. Fal, the good natured wizard who is always willing to try something to help out. Alatyr, the lone human who had travelled with them, a fiercly loyal, sometimes hotheaded man who was tragically cut down.
That was something Ran blamed himself for, as he was the leader of the party. Kal, who for some reason felt obligated to join their quest despite knowing none of them.
No, Ran felt that he did not really fit in among these good people. He did not feel adequate to lead them or anyone. Harp was a much more well suited leader. When he returned to Gorn, he would tell Heronin as much. He did not really fit in with the elves when he spent time in his mothers homeland. Other than his grandfather, Ran avoided seeing people in general.
'Maybe the problem lies in me.' Ran thinks to himself. 'Maybe I don't allow myself to fit in. I certainly didn't do a very good job leading this mission.' Ran sighs, allowing his thoughts to drift back to his grandfather.
"I will not allow you to study here if it means keeping you from an opportunity to make amends with your father and to help your friend Heronin."
That is what his grandfather had told him before he had left. Well, he had done the second part. He was bringing Rochelle to Heronin. Ran still didn't know if he could do the first. He still felt a great deal of anger towards his father. What had his grandfather said about it? Oh, yes, that was it:
"It is because she loved your father that she didn't just flee the city and return here. You may not be ready to accept that but it is true. Read her journals more thouroughly and you will see it for yourself."
Ran had her journals in his pack as he always carried them with him. Perhaps when they stopped next he would do some reading. It had been a long time since he had last done so.
As his thoughts turn to this more positive outlook, he is startled by the approach of Salix. Ran listens to the proposed plan and quickly agrees to it. "Anything we can do to make this return journey less eventful is a good thing." He starts to turn away and stops, turning back to look at Salix, his eyes focused keenly on the druids face. "Salix, thank you for all that you have done on this journey. You have been a strong fiber in the weave of this group of companions. I hope to know you as a friend after our journey here is through."
From: Mark
Subject Turn
Most every one has sent in something. I will see what I can get out this afternoon.
From: Mark
Subject Salix and Kal
The diplomacy check is 8+8=16. He is fairly sure he has not offended Kal.
From: Mark
Subject On the lamb
Ran is considering what Bel and Cai have proposed when Salix rides by and offers his help. ?There is a prayer that can let 4 members of our party travel with out leaving any trace for a period of 4 hours. If we double up Surin and Rochelle as well as Fal and me, Cai and Bel could take those horses and maybe the pack horse and create a false trail. After a few hours they could double back and, hiding the trail behind them, really mislead any pursuit.?
Ran nods. As he calls the party together for a quick late afternoon meal and to let them know what is going to happen, he senses tension in the air. Dismissing it as left over from the rescue; he assigns people to horses and jobs. When they are done eating the party breaks into the two groups. Cai and Bel leading 2 horses and the pony while the rest of the party mounts up on the remaining 4 horses. Salix chants his prayer to Obad-Hai and touches the four animals. Cai and Bel continue east while the rest of the party starts to head south.
They keep a nice slow pace, not wanting to out distance the two rangers and about an hour before sundown the two rangers track down the party, mainly with the help of Ebon and Grey. Cai, Bel and Salix are fairly sure that they have obscured the trail enough that it could not be found by mundane means. Kal does pipe up with ?You know, with the right spell, there is almost nothing we could do to keep from getting found. But that is powerful magic. Also they would have to have something of us to have any reasonable chance to find us.?
They make camp, deciding to try and get back on a normal day schedule for Surin's and Rochelle's benefit. Harp spends his time around camp healing those who are wounded and mending the armor that was damaged (Ran heal 15, Cai heal 9, mending on Ran's, Cai's and Harp's armor). Exhausted from all the traveling and his healing prayers, Harp is almost out on his feet. Ran realizes that Harp has not healed himself. ?Why didn't you ask for you god's grace for your own wounds first?? Harp replies, a little bitterly, ?I help those who are of most use to the party first.?
Ran is not sure what to make of this statement. ?Well, if you won't take care of yourself, a least do this. Get a full night's sleep. That is an order.? Harp grunts at the command, but gets under his covers anyway.
The night passes without incident. The next morning the party has a breakfast of hot food, the first time in what seems ages. They mount up and continue heading east towards Camlost and most of them consider more friendly territory. The day passes quickly, the party members talking occasionally. Rochelle seems to be coming out of her depression over the loss of her guard and Alatyr. She even spends the last couple of hours talking to Ran about Angelwing. It turns out she has never met the man and is very interested in him.
The make camp again, this time a little more lighthearted since there has been no signs of pursuit. Harp again asks his god for his healing grace and the party feels like new (2 CminorW and 3 CLW). Between the fresh meat that the rangers are able to supply and the herbs and vegetables that Salix is able to find the meal seems like a feast. Soon after dark they bed down for the night, keeping the usual watch. Around midnight, when Kal and Bel are on watch, Kal feels a strange sensation tugging at the edges of his mind. He feels sluggish and slow. He looks over and Bel and sees that the ? elf is asleep. ?Strange, he has never fallen asleep on watch before. I wonder what cauuusss???..? and he falls asleep as well.
Then the visions start.
OODM: I will write some more tonight or tomorrow.
From: Kevin
Subject Visions
OOC: Well, since it isn't Christmas (there probably isn't Christmas here anyway) I am going to hazard a guess that these will not be visions of Sugar plums dancing in our heads.
LOL
From: Mark
Subject spells
You need to update your spell list at Sakeriver. YOu only have your domain spell and 2 0 level you can still cast.
From: Josh
Subject Visions
OOC: Speak for yourself, that's all Kal dreams of. He's a big sweetie on the inside.
From: Mark
Subject Visions
In case some might have missed the import of it, Elves don't sleep.(Insert evil music here)