Subject: Re: The Chase; Back to running

Cadfael feels a wave of embarrassment crash over him when Mission asks him for food for his boy. Pelor could grant such boons, but he had to be wise enough to ask for them. Forefront in his mind was escaping the mountain; Promise just a prop at that point. Hearing his hunger pangs makes him much too real. "I am sorry brother. Pelor can grant me such boons, but I did not think to ask for them. Perhaps, when the sun rises, we will be safe enough for me to pray..." he trails enough, both men knowing that such safety will likely not be at hand this day. Likely not for days to come. "When we reach the halflings, Rennik's kin. They will be able to help us. Promise is a strong boy, he takes after his father, he can hold on until then."

It is hard not to brood. Most of the party had almost been killed in that ambush, surely he should feel some hope in knowing that they lived? But the witch who found them so easily before was still free to find them again, and perhaps bring more than a handful warriors with her. Any one of them could go down to a well-placed arrow. Dimly he remembers Rennik's warning of the Halfling's and their Gods, but there is no time to cover Pelor's Grace now and he is loathe to lose the safety he feels having it at his side. It's worth the risk, he decides. They have been Godless for so long, surely no one will see the religious significance of the sign and see it as only the sun. A beautiful thing, the sun, a perfectly reasonable thing to have on a shield.

Farron's words break him out of his string of rationalizations. Easy for thoughts to tie into themselves now, with only a few hours sleep under his belt. Things will be clearer in the morning, they always are. It's what morning's are for. Though the pause before answering him has already been a hair too long Cadfael gives Farron a warm smile. "Think nothing of it, Brother." He surprises himself by putting his arm around the other man's shoulder. Everything feels closer without his armour on, more personal. How is it that priests were ever allowed to wear it at all? The distance it imposes between man and his environment. Was it wrong to become attached? "Simply give thanks that you and Sa'id were strong enough to stand until I was able to reach you. I doubt my head could have stayed as clear as yours with such grievous wounds. And without your quick thinking, Farron, none of us would be walking right now. You know that. I only pray the two of you have enough tricks in your pouches to get us through the night. To let us see morning again..." Once again he trails enough, knowing he's said the wrong thing. He removes his arm during the uncomfortable silence and walks wrapped in it for a time, eyes drifting skyward and hoping to see the brightening of the sky.

Subject: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods

[I am assuming that conversation is over. If you want to write some retroactive travel talk that's perfectly ok.]

It's difficult to tell exactly when it happens, but at some point, the sounds of the insects change. The ground beneath your feet becomes firmer, and more stars are visible through the tree canopy above. There are no creepers to trail slime across your faces as you walk. Rennik lets out a large sigh and says, "We are back in the forest rim. We may be murdered by zombies or overeager kalama hunters, but at least we won't be eaten by swamp dragons." He keeps the group headed due south, holding to the plan to exit the forest before turning east toward Overlook.

An hour after entering the forest, a reddish gold light begins to filter through the treetops. Toward the rear of the group, Cadfael lets out a sob, and falls to his knees. When the party turns back, they find him rocking back and forth, his hands clenched behind his shield, and tears streaming down his face. Sa'id turns to look at the light coming through the trees to the east. "It must be a powerful thing to see the physical manifestation of your god appear each and every day." Farron nods. None of them discount the power a god's will might have on them now.

Rennik is jumpy and nervous while the party pauses to let Cadfael pray. But even the usually outspoken Halfling does not try to stop the priest, or interrupt him. The party watches the priest while he prays for the entire hour of dawn. When it is over, he stands up, wipes his face, and asks for a bottle. Garyth hands him an empty water bottle. Cadfael holds the bottle up, prays, and hands the bottle to Mission. "For your son." Mission sniffs, and finds the bottle full of what smells like milk. A strip of clean cloth serves as a makeshift nipple, and within moments Promise is happily suckling away. [Dan, send me your new prayer list]

Rennik can hold out no longer. "Good! Good, the babe has milk. Can we get started again?!"

As the group moves through the now well lit trees, Rennik travels at the front, waving a banner on his halberd shaft, and calling out in Halfling. Sa'id translates for the rest of the group, and everyone does their best to appear friendly and non threatening. This is made difficult by a weeks worth of road, jungle, and blood stains.

Eventually, Rennik stops at the edge of a small clearing. He turns to face the group and says, "Wait. Say nothing."

When he turns back to the clearing, a halfling stands at the other side. He is a bit taller than Rennik, though of slender build and fairer of hair and skin. He wears a brown cloak over leather, and carries a knotted wooden club loosely in one hand. A leather cap is pulled down tight to his skull, covering down to his eyebrows. He stares at the seven of you for a moment, then says, "Will you drop your weapons for parlay?"

When he finishes speaking, there is a rustle in the trees to both sides, and a dozen more Halflings appear, all armed with short bows, all with an arrow nocked and aimed at the group. Rennik knows that the ones he can see will be less than half of their total strength. It is a common tactic. Show enough of your numbers to let the enemy know you are serious, but don't show him enough to give away your advantage.

[waiting for check in]

Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods

It isn't easy walking and holding Promise while he nurses the bottle. Mission has a hard time, watching to make sure the makeshift nipple doesn't slip out the flask and at the same time keeping branches from snagging on him or the boy.

And more than that. . . he was in love with this boy. Love. Had Rigor felt this way, holding him when he was a baby? He had not felt this way toward Anileth-- that had been wild and titilating and dangerous. This was as solid as earth.

As solid as the Path.

The jungle gave way to good, honest forest. Odd that he could see the same shade of green and think of the forest as good. The taint of shadow was faded here, that was it. Blood and Stone had a place here. Virtue and order.

He almost stumbles over Rennick when the halfling calls them to a halt. He knows better than to speak out loud, the way Rennick is menacing all around, but he can't stop being slightly annoyed that they'd halted their march.

Ah. The Kalama. Mission wordlessly drops his weapons on the ground, but his muscles tense. He shifts his grip on Promise so that he is holding the boy with one arm only, and tries to effect an air of cheerful neutrality.

Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods

Garyth smiles as he watches Mission feed his child. The sight brings to mind one of the futures he had been shown back at the mountain. Garyth the farmer. His sword hanging on the wall instead of by his side. Growing older and fatter, but with a look of contentment on his face as he watches his children playing in the yard. Who knows? Maybe it will even come to pass.

His reverie is broken when Rennik calls them to a halt. The tension still hasn't left him, and his fingers twitch involuntarily as the halflings show themselves. He knows this is not the time for fighting, though, and he slowly removes his weapons and places them on the ground at his feet.

Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods

Lowering to one knee, Rennik carefully places the halberd with the handle and banner facing away from his body. He then lifts the straps that hold each of his quivers and lays them side by side, with the arrow fletchings pointed away from him. His bow is laid across, with string facing away, and his dagger and hatchet are laid beside the quivers.

Standing, he backs away with hands held to the side and head bowed slightly, but still with his eyes on the emissary halfling. He speaks in a confidant tone for all to hear, though slightly louder than necessary so that all hidden archers can hear clearly.

"Honor and respect to the Great Mongoose, and to his people."

Reaching carefully into his pack, Rennik removes the folded skin of the jungle cat and holds it before him.

"I offer homage to your elders and ancestors - the hide of a Snikh'tar, enemy of your totem, killed by my own hands. When last I left my home, the Chorrdath and Kalama were truce-allies. I sought a monster that terrorized our tribe, but instead found a far greater evil."

"I was attacked by the Murrkat, in the forest rim far from their fetid pits at the base of the mountain. These humans helped me destroy the vile beasts, but among the dead I found a kinsman of the Logi tribe - his soul stolen from him, magically enslaved by the dark god of the Murrkat." He spits in anger, but then motions to the second quiver.

"I promised to the gods of his people that I would use those arrows to avenge him on his enemies, and to prevent the Murrkat from stealing the souls of any other halfling kin. My new allies and I struck at the dirty savages and their evil, undead servants at the heart of the mountain."

"We barely escaped death, and still flee their scouts and warriors who pursue us through the forest, guided by a hellspawned witch."

Rennik stands and raises his chin, trying his best to present himself as a strong warrior, not a coward seeking sanctuary.

"I, Rennik of the Chorrdath, request aid from the Great Mongoose. We have stolen a powerful token from the Murrkat and their dark god, and wish to return it behind the walls of the humans' stone city, where it will be safe from the mongrel savages."

"Can the Kalama help us with this passage?"