A sea voyage and a family reunion
Subject Kal and Surin
Surin responds: "Well I reckon that the elves wouldn't allow someone as hateful as you apear to become one of their elite defenders. It just made sense that there was more to your story than met the eye, so I figured I'd come down and find out what it was for myself."
After Surin responds, they sit in silence for a moment. Surin seems to be waiting for Kal to recognize the inconstancy in what he said.
Kal eventually continues.
"When I began my training, they put me in with elves the same age as me. All of them had spent the last 12 years growing together and developing their dance. I was a badge of disgrace to them. The son of a blacksmith, completely green at age 20, with my left handed swordsmanship making my inabilities stand out even further. They hated me for it."
Kal seems to be mulling over ideas inbetween his words. Talking slowly and vacantly, as if he's not really talking to Surin.
"I learned that they would never accept me. My only choice was to become better than them. I trained constantly."
Kal pauses again, this time for much longer. Surin sits by quietly, afraid to disturb the elf from his thoughts.
"I lied before." Kal finally continues, "After a few days with the party it became clear that Harp wasn't an instrument of evil. Like you said, his God would not grant that sort of power to an evil being. I knew all this, but I goaded him anyway, and I don't know why."
Kal again pauses, wrestling with his thoughts. Eventually he seems to come to a conclusion, and the vacant look in his eyes subsides. Speaking directly to Surin, he says:
"I fear that I allowed my ego to turn me into a instrument of evil. I must undergo an atonement."
He continues:
"Surin, thank you for your questsions. It may not seem so, but you enabled me to see my mistakes. I appreciate the patience you showed with me and I owe you a debt of honor." Kal goes as if to say something else, but then apears to change his mind.
"Can you tell me if this city contains an Elven Temple?"
OOC: Mark: I don't wanna bog down the quest with this atonement. I read over the atonement spell, and as long as the character "unwittingly" went against their alignment, there doesn't seem to be too much huplah about getting an atonement. If for some reason you think this is gonna take too much time, we can just cut that last part out.
From: Mark
Subject Kal and attonement
I think we can cut that part out. He did not attack anyone.
If you want we can work on the attonement thing when the quest is over. At this point I think an atonement spell/prayer would be a bit of over kill. He could apologize to the group or Harp.
From: Karl
Subject Kal and Attonement
Or, Surin could just respond with something like "Atonement? There you go off the deep end again. Sounds to me like all you really need to do is apologize." then we're back on track without that annoying scratchy audio-track-reversal sound that always plays in my head when something gets revised. ;) (Not that I'm playing Surin or anything. Please forgive the impertinence. :-) )
From: Jason
Subject Attonement
I assure you, Ragnar could offer indulgences at a *very* reasonable price!
From: Mark
Subject Turn
Ok I will write up some more tonight. If you want your character to ask for anything or say anything now is the time.
Your party will be on the road after this next scene.
From: Mark
Subject A sea trip and a new member
"Sir, I thank you for the supplies you are sending" Harp says "but is there any way we could get something that would be easier to use than the potions? Maybe one of the wands that the Order has for use during war time, one of those wands of healing?" Colonel Goodheart shakes his head. "Those are only brought out in times of war. You already have 10 of the potions of healing and 3 scrolls for more serious wounds, plus the healing grace that both you and Brother Ragnar have been given by the Battle God. I would think that that would be enough. However, I will send another two scrolls along. Anything else?" He looks around the room. No one says anything or signals any questions. "Then this meeting is over. See to what you need to today and be at the docks an hour before dawn tomorrow. The ship sails on the dawn tide."
The party splits up for their last night in town. Each goes their own way, taking care of any last minute chores or business that they have. Harp picks up his new armor. Salix spends some time with his horse, letting the beast know that he will gone for a while. Kal spends some time at the elven temple. Ran spends his time with Mira.
The never sleeping pages of the Order are as good as promised. At what seems several hours before dawn the loud knocking comes at their doors, letting the party know that it is time to get to the docks. No one in the party looks terribly thrilled to a sea journey, but it is the fastest way there. The ship looks like a fast merchant vessel, sleek and swift. The accommodations are not grand, but to Harp and Ragnar, they are better then the plain cells they are used to. The little bit of gear that everyone has is quickly stored and soon after the sun peaks over the water to the east, the ship sets sail.
The trip goes about as planned. There was one storm where most of the party had wished they were dead. Only Salix took to the sea. He had never really been on a body of water this large before and the natural power and beauty of it awed him. He had heard stories of the sea druids, those who could control the raging storms that looked to be leagues wide. He might have to search one of these brethren out one of these days and study with him.
The party actually arrives in Arlest a day early. As they unload their gear from the ship, they all look at Harp, waiting to see what he does next. The 1/2 orc thinks for a minute and then smiles. He pulls out a copper piece and looks for a street urchin. "Boy, a copper for you to lead us to the Three Shackles Inn and another for you when we get there." The young boy scampers over and bites the copper piece, and motions for them to follow him.
Arlest is like nothing most of them have seen before, except for Allistair. Gorn had a poor section but it was nothing like this. Dirty, filthy people lined the streets, begging. Young girls walked the streets, openly propositioning the party. Young boys as well. Several times small bands of thieves could be seen beating someone down an alley. It took all of Salix's persuasion to keep Harp from charging the hoodlums and killing them. "This is not our city and that is not our mission. Here, evil is out in the open. We can not save them all and only endanger our mission if we try." Harp relaxes, knowing the druid to be right.
15 minutes later the party is standing out front of a ramshackle building. There is a sign over the door with three shackles painted on it. The street boy points and holds out his hand. Harp flips another copper his way. The boy grabs it out of the air. Just then there is a shout from three older, bigger boys. The urchin takes off a run, the three older boys in close pursuit.
As the party watches the boys run away, a man comes flying through the swinging door in the front of the Inn. He lands at their feet, moaning, his face bloodied and bruised. Another man steps out onto the front porch laughing. He is just under 6' and around 200 lbs. He has a shaggy red hair and beard that looks like it has not been cut in a year or more. His nose has been broken several times and one of his front teeth is missing. He has a huge grin on his face. His arms are huge and sunburned. He is wearing leather pants and a surprisingly nice breastplate with no shirt or padding on underneath. He has s strange looking lute in one hand. "Now Harry, you know better than insult my playing. I told you last time that I was going to play a tune on your face if you made any more comments about my playing. And you know I always keep my word. Now what do you have to say for yourself?"
The man on the ground mutters to himself and the redhead takes two steps and kicks him in the stomach. The man flies a couple of feet in the air, accompanied by the sound of breaking ribs. He lands in a pile and does not move. The redhead looks up, noticing the party for the first time. "Oh are you here to listen to me play? Be warned, Mund does not like critics."
OODM: OK time for you guys to chime in, Derek in particular.
From: Derek
Subject Mund
Allistair's eyes grow wide with sudden recognition as Mund comes out of the inn. Of all the people that Quarion might hire as a guide, he actually hired his own good-for-nothing older brother! Of course, Allistair hadn't seen him in over 10 years, but from the looks of things, he hadn't changed much at all, except for a few more scars. At least his equipment seemed to be in decent shape, if dirty.
Allistair hesitates for a moment, wondering if he can move to the back of the group and perhaps not be noticed. Him and Mund didn't hate each other, but they never really got along. He'd just as soon not have to deal with meeting his brother again, and all the feelings of inferiority that would invariably resurface. But while Allistair hesitates, Mund notices the group and catches Allistair's eye. Allistair realizes it's too late to run or hide. He sighs and briefly shrugs his shoulders. "Hello, Mund." Allistair greets him, his Elven accent not as apparent as it normally is when he speaks common. "It's, uh.... it's been a long time."