Farron's Response, Garyth Looks On, HP Update
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Farron notices his friend's withdrawn appearance during the march. He often casts anxious looks at his fellow mage, only to find him apparently deep in thought, looking morosely at the ground or staring at his hands, or idly fingering the spot on his neck where only hours before an arrow . . . he shudders and breaks the memory before it fully forms.
At dinner, he makes a point to leave room beside himself and is please when Sa'id chooses to fill the spot next to him. Though glad to have Sa'id near, each time he turns to make conversation he finds his friend still withdrawn, quietly eating, or staring into the darkness. Farron longs to break the silence but is afraid to intrude, and is pleased when Sa'id breaks it for him.
"My friend," he says, "I... in the ambush... was I *killed* or just *wounded*?"
"Sa'id," Farron begins, "friend, I saw you fall and in truth, I thought you were dead. My heart almost died, too, when I thought we had lost you," he can feel his voice threatening to crack and pauses to regain control. "I have seen men fall before. Never have I seen the dead raised whole in the midst of battle. Unless you can tell me otherwise, I believe that you were caught by the priest at the threshold of death. . ." he pauses again briefly, "but you had not yet crossed.
"I didn't see or hear what magic the priest wrought, but I don't think there was time enough to work a ressurrection . . . and you certainly don't look undead to me." Farron adds the last in a meager attempt to lighten the mood, but instantly regrets it. He pauses a moment then continues, "You know better than I the magics that control life and death. And we both know a healing 'prayer' isn't sufficient to raise the dead. Why don't you talk with Cadfael. He can tell you what he wrought to bring you back to us."
He sits silently a moment, laying a hand on Sa'id's shoulder, and lets the woodland sounds fill the void. After a long silence, he makes to rise but embraces Sa'id and says quietly, "Whatever was done, however it was done, we are glad you are here. *I* am glad you are here. There is no darkness in this gift." With that he rises, letting the pretense of arranging his pack mask the emotion he does not want to show.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
I don't know what's up with my email, but I didn't get your turn until this morning. (Actually it came Friday late afternoon and I just SAW it this morning.)
Turn has been sent.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
I read the last 'emotion' as 'emoticon.'
:-)
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Melani nods and will follow the orders she is given. She will take second watch.
Mark
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
FYI - I never got the email from Rennik below. Can you make sure both [of my email addresses] are included in the mailing list?
[Editor's Note: Email addresses removed for privacy.]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Garyth can't hear the words that pass between Sa'id and Farron, but he can guess what they are talking about. Ever since the ambush, Sa'id has had a haunted look about him. A brush with his own mortality is enough to shake any man. But, Garyth wonders, what must it mean to someone who makes a study of death? Sa'id has, at times, made Garyth uneasy. The mage's intellect was intriguing, even admirable, but at the same time he was so detached that Garyth had wondered if he cared about anything at all. Of course, he came on this journey; that in itself was something. And now, of course, the mage was coming to realize that there are things that defy the understanding of even the sharpest mind.
These are things that any soldier knows. Some things are beyond thought, beyond reason. Sometimes you just have to hope and pray and, finally, accept. The fact that the mage is as vulnerable as any other man can makes Sa'id seem more human, more real. Garyth feels sympathy for him.
None of this is readily evident, though. He merely looks on as the two wizards talk.
(OOC: Garyth agrees with Rennik's assessment of the situation. He'll volunteer for the first watch again.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Is everyone done? Should I write the next turn?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Btw, current health status after two nights of uninterrupted sleep:
Cadfael down 5
Garyth down 17
Sa'id down 3
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Can we assume somewhere at either before the first night sleep or the second day that Cadfael would have healed any who needed it? Especially Garyth? Or himself.
Mark
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Oh and Melani is ready to take on the night.
Whatever watch she is assigned to.
mark
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Sa'id listens to Farron silently but intently. As his friend stands and fiddles with his pack, the necromancer says "Thank you" quietly.
He says little else for the remainder of the evening, but will again rise at dawn to do prayers with Cadfael.
Check
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Mission has nothing to add.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Garyth is done too.
Recap, Rennik's People?
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
So this is what I have going on:
Rennick and Garyth on first watch;
Mission and Melani on the second.
Karl is casting opaque hut of quietude.
Sounds good to me!
Bring on the dead!
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
I have no problem with the order but do not think that Melani would spend any time in the hut. She would probably view it as some sort of abomination.
Ty, is this true?
Mark
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Chase; Quiet Night and Quiet Day
Opaque hut of comfy temperatures. It doesn't affect quietude. If you snore loudly, the witch will still get you.
From: Matt
Subject: Rennik's people?
Okay, there is actual evidence that Rennik's people existed. Whoulda thunk?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/10/1027_041027_homo_floresiensis.html
A Little D&D Jones, Busy Time For Ty
Subject: at night
Slash
Where are you man? I need my fix. Come on, I am starting to get the jitters. I am going to have to go and get some blackmarket D & D man, and you don't know where that stuff has been. :)
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: at night
I will apologize in advance for the spotty nature of the updates during this time of year.
My longtime players will probably remember that last year around this time I got really unreliable. It's the nature of this business I guess. I am billing an average of 37 hours a week right now, and we generally only bill about 60% of our total working time, so you can imagine what my schedule is like.
On the plus side, I think I might be able to nail a 10,000 bonus check for this quarter, so maybe it will all be worthwhile.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: at night
I expect a portion of that bonus check to make it to us players as compensation for inconveniencing us.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: at night
Hey, I'm not making engineer level money!