Subject: Harp's time off

Arriving back at the Chapterhouse with his purchases, Harp heads back to the armorer to discuss what can be done with his weapon. After some discussions, Harp leaves his longsword with the smithy for the work to be done. When complete, the sword will be a shocking lesson to those who feels its bite. While there, Harp also discusses an idea he had with the armorer. While his buckler allowed him to use his bow when needed, it did not provide him with the level of protection he wanted when fighting hand to hand, which was how Harp usually found himself.

Intruiged by the idea, the armorer agrees to discuss Harp's idea's with a mage friend of his to try to determine how to creats a shield that could change its shape depending upon the desires of the user. Leaving a small downpayment to cover the cost of some trial samples, Harp moves on to the quartermaster again. Paying respects from the merchant, Harp picks up a few miscellaneous items, the most important of which were a couple of wands designed to help cure wounds encountered during combat. Imbued with the most basic healing spells known to the Order, Harp thought that these might free up some of the burden that had been placed on Ragnar (and occaisionally him) to use thier grace only for healing purposes. There was so much more they could do.

That taken care of. Harp returns to his chamber, changes into his robes, and heads back to the chapel for some more prayer and contemplation of how he can repay Kal for saving Harp back in Bodentown. What did he have that the elf lacked? Kal was much quicker than Harp. If he focused on not getting hit, he wasn't getting hit. He could use magic, so there was little Harp could do there. If there was one thing that Kal lacked, it was staying power in combat. 2 hits and he was down. Harp, on the other hand, was pretty much able to stand in there and take a beating if needs be. Slowly, an idea creeeps its way into Harp's head.

There was a blessing available to him during which, within certain limitations, Harp could absorb some of the damage that Kal might suffer in battle. That was it. As Kal had put his life on the line for Harp, so Harp could offer to put his life on the line for Kal. He would have to get approval from Angelwing, as this blessing was rarely performed for those outside of the Order, but seeing as the Elf Council had put Kal under the Order directions for the time being, it sort of made sense. Of course, he would have to purchase the items needed to make the prayer effective when called for, but that was the least he could do. The question was, would Kal accept? Harp was still unsure of what made the elf tick. Sometimes he was the most honorable person he had met. Other times, he would react in such a way that Harp wondered if his parents had dropped him on his head when he was young. If Kal declined this offer....

OOC: Mark, Harp is going to have his sword upgraded to be a +1 shocking longsword. He purchased 2 wands of CLW. He put down a small deposit for the armorer to work with a mage to set up a test version of a variable shield.

I will write more later.
From: Porter

Subject: Mund bears with it

After the excitement of Mund waking everybody up in the middle of the night, everybody goes back to bed. Mund doesn't have any more bear dreams, but that's probably because he's so shaken that he never manages to sleep for more than a fifteen minute stretch.

Mund spends the next day nervously thinking about what's happening to him. Instead of riding with the group, he spends the day counting ahead, behind, and parallel to the party. He says that he's just on the look-out for any surprises, but everybody can tell how much he needs the time alone, so nobody questions his sudden hyper-vigilance.

That night, while Mund's off hunting small game and gathering some of his favorite berries that happen to be ripe this time of year, Salix spends his time constructing what he calls a "sweat lodge". He makes it by bending and lashing together live saplings to form a dome structure, then covers with practically every bedroll and cloak in the entire camp. Mund asks about it and Salix just says "Wait until after dinner."

Not much is said during dinner that evening. Nobody wants to complain, but it's pretty meager fair in comparison to what Mund and Salix usually provide. Afterwards, Salix takes several hot rocks out of the fire and places them in a leather satchel. "Mund, please come with me," he says, and leads him back to the structure.

Salix starts stripping off his clothes and indicates for Mund to do the same. "All members of my brotherhood of a certain ability are given by Obad-Hai the grace to take the form of animals. For most of us, this comes naturally, but it's not uncommon for somebody to have difficulties at first. It's a lot to adjust to."

Salix and Mund crawl through a flap and sit cross-legged around a pit filled with water. Salix starts putting the hot rocks into the water. As steam billows up between them, he continues his explanation. "Usually, we have trouble wanting to turn back into human form, but I've heard of cases similar to yours. When one of us has difficulty, we'll often bring them into a sweat lodge like this to help them focus their mind so that they can change back and forth at will."

"First I want you to clear your mind of everything except what it feels like to be a human. Try to feel every part of your body -- your toes, the back of your neck..."

As the sweat streams down their bodies, Salix leads Mund through several mental exercises. First, he goes back and forth envisioning himself and as a human and as a bear. Next, he works on envisioning himself with bear's body but thinking his own thoughts. Mund finds this surprisingly difficult and feels like quitting, but doesn't want to let down his friend, so he keeps at it.

After about an hour of these mental exercises, Salix has Mund rage while doing the exercises. First he does it while envisioning himself as fully human, and he feels the strength fill him as it has ever since he first learned to swing an axe.

Next, he has Mund rage while envisioning himself as fully bear. As he summons his strength, he starts transforming like he did the night before. But this time, the changes continue until he's fully changed into a black bear. He takes an uncomprehending look at Salix and lets out a roar. Salix then turns into a black bear himself. Mund-as-Bear's confusion clears as he sees a fellow bear making gestures of friendship and submission. He calms down and turns back into human, and Salix follows suit.

"Salix!" Mund says. "I did it! I turned into a bear, and I *remember* it!"

"True", says Salix. "Your body was a bear. So was your mind, for the most part. Now I want you to do the same but with the third exercise, so that you can have the body and strength of a bear while maintaining full control of your faculties." At Mund's confused expression he repeats himself. "That is, we want you to have the body of a bear, but to keep your own mind and will. Now, do the third exercise, and then summon your strength."

After a few minutes of preparation, Salix watches as Mund transforms into a bear, and then bring up his paws as though examining them. The bear then walks over and gives Salix a big hug before turning back into the red-haired Mund, grinning like a fool.

"Well done, Mund! You did it! That was you -- I could tell. Now, let's call it a night. You've made great progress -- more than I expected, but you look exhausted. If you need it, we can do this again."

When he come out of the sweat lodge, the cool evening breeze feels like ice on his wet skin. He rubs himself down with a rabbit skin and dresses himself.

"How did it go?" asks Allistair with apprehension. Ever since he heard the roar of the bear come from the tent, he had been trying to figure out what spell he could cast to stop an out-of-control BearMund without hurting him too badly. "Call me Arth," answers Mund, making reference to the founder of the Bear Clan who, according to legend, turned into a bear when going into battle.

That night, Mund's dreams are different. There he is, minding his own business and licking the last bits of honey off his paws, when that persnickety orc shows up causing trouble again. Mund turns into a human and splits the orc open with his axe, much like the orc had done to him in real life. Then Mund turns back into a bear and sucks the marrow out of the orc's bones.

Mund wakes up early from the best night's sleep he's had in weeks. Nobody else is up yet, and Mund sees that Surin, who's on watch, hasn't noticed him get out of his tent. This is unusual, as Surin is usually so keen-eyed. On a whim, Mund decides to play a joke on him. First he does the mental exercise that Salix taught him the night before, then he lets the power of the Bear enter him.

Just as happened the night before, he feels his bones and muscles shift beneath his thickening skin and pelt. He looks down and see his paws. On all fours (How natural it feels to walk this way!) he lumbers out from behind the tree.

Surin sees him as asks "Mund?" with doubt in his voice. Without making a sound, Mund charges toward the halfling.

"Mund?!?" The halfling's voice asks, more nervous. He's about to call the alarm when Mund knocks him down and pins him to the ground. Seeing the terror on his face Mund has pity and quickly turns back into a human. "Sorry for giving you such a scare there, Surin, but the opportunity was just too good. Besides, I had to pay you back for the snake you put in my bedroll."

"You put that snake in my bedroll first, if you'll recall."

"Yeah, good point." says Mund with a grin. "I'll make it up to you by letting you win in axes at 10 paces."

"Mund, I don't know how many times we've played, and you've never stopped 'letting me win'. One of these days, you'll have to admit that I'm as better than you at throwing axes as I am better looking. Let's go throw -- people are getting up and we'll be leaving before long. Loser has to hunt for dinner tonight."
From: Kevin

Subject: Harp's time off

The next few days fall into a comforting pattern for Harp. Up early for morning services, breakfast, weapons training for a few hours, a quick shower before lunch, contemplation time after lunch, more weapons training in the mid afternoon, before dinner and more prayer before bed. His plan continues to form in his head, waiting only for the time to present it to Angelwing.

8 days after their arrival back in Gorn, Harp is summonded again to meet with Angelwing. He enters the office and seats himself when instructed. "Sergeant Harp, you have had a week to consider your actions in Bodentown, and to try to determine an appropriate compensation for the one who saved you from your folly. What have you decided to do?" Confidently, Harp responds. "I propose to offer to Kal the blessing of the Battle Lord during which I link myself to him and in so doing, I take some of the injury that he takes in Battle. It is something that I have to give and something that Kal can benefit from. My only worry is that he is not of our Order, but since he has been placed under our direction for the time being, that that concern might be satisfied, so to speak. I will offer to him the rings to seal this offer, and then each day, I will pray for this blessing, to be used when he sees fit."

A small smile creeps over Angelwing's face. " You have thought much about this, Harp. I am somewhat surprised. I think even you will admit that such an idea would not have come from you even a year ago. These quests you have been on have done you good. But, do not let these words of praise go to your head. You are still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. But enough of that. I approve of your plan, if you can get Kal to agree. As he has been ordered to serve us, I now confirm your plan to serve him, if he accepts it. Failure to perform as you have promised me will have grave consequences - remember that. Now, go and make your plans and then propose your offer to Kal. I expect to hear back from you in three days."

OOC: Have to head off the the real life game. I will write more tomorrow. Sorry there is so much. I hope it is not too boring. Just buying stuff bores me, and I feel like I have to make up to Mark for all the writing he did getting us back from Bodentown.
From: Josh

Subject: Ka's time off

Kal leaves the mage guild elated and exhausted. This new spell would have made all the difference in their final fight against the Orc-Barbarian or in the alley surrounded with Harp.

The magic from the studying still lingers in Kal's body. Every step he takes is novel, the world never seemed to have as much detail as it does now. He can feel the air rush into his lungs and swirl around. A squirrel runs by and Kal sees every step, every motion. Even the city sounds resonate differently, there's depth and shape to every noise.

He returns to the chapter house court yard as the sun is setting and begins a simple exercise routine. The same free-form combat that he has known since his tenth year of training.

First he lets his mind slide away as he had done so many times before. "Kal" fades away into nothing. There is no barrier between body and motion; they are the same entity. The body exists to be in motion, the motion exists to manifest a body.

The enemies Kal fights exist only in his mind. They are phantoms of previous fights re-created in countless variations. They are were-beasts, orcs, zombies and guards all at once. They are centaurs, they are his closest friends and his furthest enemies.

But something is different this time. Subtly, slowly, things change. Without notice these illusions fall away and his partner becomes the world around him.

Like a lone strand of hair, every motion becomes a reaction to the wind flowing around him. Not around him. With him. His body becomes the breeze, every parry and every strike is a response to the moving air.

Noise falls around him like arrows falling from the sky. Every step is made to avoid the piercing sounds.

Sunlight and shadow pulse around him like swords, like magic, like bodies. Stepping between and around the shadows cast from the nearby buildings, Kal fights the city itself. He becomes every breeze, every sound, every shadow. These things all become Kal.

This continues into the twilight and ends with the setting sun. As the Sun falls so does Kal, kneeling in prayer and humility in front of the Gods. He remains prostrated, giving his thanks and praise, until the moon rises.