Baby, Lantono
Subject Baby
Congratulations!!
Hope everyone is hale and happy!
From: Kevin
Subject Baby
Congratulations Derek.
Best wishes to you, your wife and to little Eren.
Glad all is well. maybe as a present you will get 7 pearls worth 100 g.p.
From: Karl
Subject Lantono
"I am Salix, Wealdward of the Great North Woods," Salix replies formally, then adds "and I am glad to be home." He motions for the others to stay put as he dismounts and approaches the figure in their path. "I come with a party of valiant companions assembled on orders of The Stormfather given to me by MountainSister Sephira." As he draws closer, he thinks he recognizes the figure in their path. "I know you, don't I? Wealdward Lantono isn't it?"
From: Mark
Subject Lantono
The man's face turns dark. "I am Gladebrother Lantono and I have heard nothing of this. What proof do you have of your words?"
From: Randy
Subject Baby
Congratulations!
From: Karl
Subject Lantono
Salix blushes. "I apologize. *Gladebrother* Lantono. I did not know you had been so honored. I've been away for many months. I have no proof other than my word - which has been sufficient in the past - but if you have reason to doubt me you can send word to the Council. They should be expecting our arrival."
(OOC - I almost said "send word to MtnS Sephira, but re-reading our scene with her, I'm not sure if she's meeting us here or where SFthr Acer was headed. At any rate, we *were* told to present ourselves to the council head.)
From: Porter
Subject Lantono
Mund brings his horse up beside Salix's horse in a move that could be considered friendly, supportive, or preparatory for a fight.
From: Mark
Subject Lantono
"I will send word, Wealward." The druid chants a prayer and a robin comes down from one of the trees. The man trills at it and then turns back to Salix. "Who are these with you?" As Salix repeats the party members names, the other druid trills and chirps at the bird some more. When the introductions are done the druid motions for the bird to go. "You and the others will wait here until the Council has sent a message back."
As the party waits Lantono wonders around the party's horses. He gives several disgusted looks at Salix's back when he sees the condition that the animals are in.
From: Porter
Subject Lantono
Mund leans over and quietly asks "Do you want to wait until this flunkie is satisfied, or do you want to go on ahead? I can keep him occupied if you want to get to the council as soon as possible."
From: Karl
Subject Lantono
Salix motions for the others to dismount. "May we attend to the horses at least while we wait? MntS Sephira felt that speed was critical and even gave us hurtloam to aid us, but even with that the horses have been taxed severely, such is the urgent nature of this mission."
From: Karl
Subject Lantono
Salix replies quietly, "No, this will be fine. I had heard Lantono can be a petty tyrant when he thinks he's in a position of authority, but he is well within protocol so far. We will wait for a return message."
From: Mark
Subject Lantono
A sharp comment dies in Lantono's mouth at Salix's comments. "Hurtloam? She gave you hurtloam? Yes, yes, by all means tend to your horses, but in my opinion, nothing would help them more than several weeks rest. Assuming the bird does not get lost, we should hear with in the hour." Lantono then takes up position several yards away, keeping an eye on the party.
From: Porter
Subject Lantono
Whatever. With how we've mistreated these beasts (and ourselves) to get there as soon as possible, I wouldn't even blink at continuing through and annoying a prick like that. But since we're not, I'll be take nap while you're playing nice with Lantonto."
From: Karl
SubjectLantono
"Is there any reason we need to wait *here*?" Salix asks. "I *am* a member of this order and these are my guests. I should be able to at least lead them to guest quarters. If we are to present ourselves to the council shortly, common courtesy dictates an opportunity to wash up from our travels."
From: Mark
Subject Lantono
"Oh you may go ahead, but these "outsiders" must stay here." The contempt in the druids voice is obvious to all. I have been given the duty to guard the way to the enclave, Wealward, and I plan on doing just that. Your companions may take their rest over by that tree." He points to an old oak tree that has seen better days. It looks like it has been hit by lightnening. There are burn marks and many dead branches.
From: Karl
Subject Lantono
Salix says quietly to Mund, "You can rest assured he is not the only barrier to save passage further in. If he truly has had no word of our coming, then I don't know who else might have. We wouldn't get 50 feet past this point if we were viewed as a threat."
From: Jason
Subject Lantono
Ragnar is glad when they finally reach the edge of the Great North Woods. Quite aside from the fact that it meant they were near their destination, it meant that they could no longer travel at the bone-jarring speed he had been suffering through the last two weeks. When the party slows to a walk on entering the woods, he immediately composes a heartfelt (if slightly incoherent) prayer of thanks. Unlike many dwarves he had met, he liked woodlands in a general way, whereas these horses must have been planted in their stables by Hextor himself.
Why the larger races never seemed to trust their own feet baffled Ragnar. First the ship, and now these galloping horses. While he does realize that the ship was far worse, it was also several weeks in the past and these last few days he hasn't been able to shake the feeling he's never been so miserable in his life.
When they finally meet someone, he appears so suddenly before them its as if he had teleported. Ragnar had seen a wizard teleport out of the chapterhouse one day after consulting with the head of their order. Now if you weren't going to walk, that was certainly the way to travel. None of this messing around with horses or boats.
From what he can tell though, this druid wasn't the one they'd been sent to meet. That was just as well, because Ragnar had taken an almost instant disliking to him, and that was not a common occurrence. From the way he seemed to take offense over such a trivial thing as a misused title to the way he seems almost contemptuous of Ragnar's friend Salix, everything about him grates on the dwarves sense of goodness. When Mund moves his horse in a partially supportive, yet vaguely threatening stance, Ragnar for once agrees with the impetuous human.
Still, if he wasn't who they were there to meet, he would be simple enough to deal with. There was no reason for Ragnar to talk to him, so he wouldn't unless asked a direct question.
OOC: Or maybe he'll do this: http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0352.html (Ragnar after 2 weeks on a galloping horse, on being confronted by an arrogant druid.)
From: Karl
Subject Lantono
(OOC - Mark, how far is the grove from where we are? How long does Salix think it would take to get to someone with more authority than Lantono and get back?)
Salix looks at the tired, irritated faces of his companions and doubts the wisdom of leaving them alone with Lantono even for a minute. "I will rest where my friends rest. Your hospitality will be duly noted when I speak with The Council," Salix replies. He leads the group toward the indicated tree. In truth, after the ride they had all had, the spotty shade of the old tree was a welcome site, despite the intended insult.
Once the horses have been watered and the group has retreated to the old tree, Salix says, "I appologize for my fellow druid. We are not all as unwelcoming as he seems to be."
From: Porter
Subject Lantono
Unbelieving, Mund says, "Well, if they're as tough as they are rude, you might be right."
With this, he lays out under the tree, puts his hat over his face, and takes a nap.
From: Mark
Subject Lantono
It would seem to be about 1/2 hour away as the robin flys.
From: Karl
Subject Lantono
Moot at this point. Salix is going to hang with the others until an answer comes.
From: Anthony
Subject Lantono
Ran watched the foul druid with the interest of someone sizing up a potential enemy. The man had an arrogant confidence aobut him. The arrogance, of course, might indicate a souce of weakness, though the confidence... he figured the man was quite strong, and this apart from the fact he appeared as if from nowhere in front of them.
Yes, he was tired from the long ride, but he was able enough to draw his sword if necessarry. He'd been watching to the best of his ability for most of the ride, and now he wasn't going to let his guard down just for this weasilly druid.
Ran ended up sitting under the tree next to Ragnar, and after allowing himself some relaxation by sitting down, glanced over to him and whispered to him.
"this guy's a member of Salix's order? I'll say one thing, he'd better not end up in a dark alley alone with me."
From: Jason
Subject Lantono
"No joke," mutters Ragnar, who appears slightly startled at his own words.
"Well, I'm sure he's just concerned about the woodlands," he says in a slightly more concilliatory voice. Then he snorts. "Not that we would dare try anything in the presence of a *Gladebrother*, who is such a "krouthu* that the council didn't even bother to let him know we were coming."