Meet Bartok
Subject: Re: Reunion, and another arrives...
Could you forward it to me. I got this, but not whatever you are referring to.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Reunion, and another arrives...
Did we get a turn from Ty? If so I missed it.
Karl
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Reunion, and another arrives...
The camaraderie escapes Farron. He sits quietly wondering what blindness could allow the men around him any respite from the oppressive gloom. They think themselves warriors, he says in his heart, but all they are is the walking dead, as doomed as the zombie in the tunnel in the jungle.
Farron drinks the ale he is given, but it brings no joy or solace. He can feel it relaxing his worn and tired body and he fears what might happen if he allows it to relax his heart. Would the darkness, bled there from his head, consume him completely if he let it go? Almost he was tempted to release it and see, but he was afraid. Maybe it was a last burst of self-preservation that made him hold the darkness tight. If he held it tightly enough, maybe it couldn't strike a mortal wound. But holding it so close, it had ample opportunity to gnaw.
Sleep came, but not easily. Someone was stirring, but Farron was too tired to open his eyes. He dreamed of the blackness, shapeless and cold, and in the dream he held it tightly in his arms where it writhed and turned, trying to get in a position to strike. I can't get rid of it and I can't hold it alone, he thinks in his dream. Then the thought comes that he is not alone and in his dream the darkness shudders. And did the grayness around him lighten just a little? Farron couldn't tell. Again the darkness shuddered, and then it spoke. The words were cold and scratched at his brain like rusted wire. "No, you are not alone. Look at the men around you, Farron, each marked for death. Embrace me or release me. Either way I will have you, and with your strength then I will have them." The darkness shuddered again, but the grayness around them both seemed to lighten a little bit more. The marked dead around them seemed a little more warm, a little more like friends. Farron held the darkness tighter. He could not let it out. He could not let it consume the men around him, no matter how it gnawed. The dream fades as Farron is awakened by the sounds of the others stirring.
The priest arises from his morning meditations and approaches Farron as he rises to a kneel. The priest says something about healing but all Farron can muster is a shrug. Even so, the priest lays his hands on Farron's head and recites a prayer. Farron feels warmth fall across him, as if the gloomy sky had cracked in one tiny place and the sun could touch him even through Gully's roof. The warmth penetrated deep in Farron's body and he could feel the blood flow more freely, his heart pump with more vigor. He saw the color return to his arms and hand. He felt thedarkness in his heart shudder and twist violently and he longed to let it go. If Ido, it will consume me and my friends he thinks, and sobs under the priests hands. Afraid of losing his control he pulls away, nodding his thanks and hoping the others were too busy with their own business to notice him.
After a minute he regains control and turns back, though avoiding any other glances. He looks at his boots which look shiny through the wetness of his eyes. He rubs away the remnants of tears and notices that the shininess wasn't just an illusion. Someone had polished his boots. Manut, he thinks, and goes to the Halfling boy. "Thank you, Manut" he says, but the Halfling just shakes his head. "Then who?", but the Halfling just looks at the ground. Farron looks around the group, but everyone seems to be admiring the polish on their boots. And indeed the polish on his own was admirable. He wonders briefly on this and tries to catch a glance to see who it might have been when he is interrupted by a knock at the door.
From: Mark
Subject: door
Is anyone going to open the door?
Mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: door
No. :)
We're not satisfied that you've suffered enough. So we're taking our annual Christmas hiatus right now.
See you in March, everyone!
:-D
From: Mark
Subject: Re: door
I hates you Robertsess, hates you forever. :)(Insert Gollum sounds here)
Mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: door
:)
I think it's safe to assume that Garyth is opening the door.
Scott
From: Ty
Subject: A new arrival
Garyth moves to the door, his men moving quietly into flanking positions. Behind him, Rennik moves over to his bow, and the wizards step a few feet apart, giving themselves clear line of sight to the doorway. Garyth looks back, and smiles a grim smile. These people had been through a lot, and it had made them into hard men. No matter what happened now, they would not be taken down easily.
He turns and opens the door quickly, his hands ready to fly to his weapons. But on the other side is a Halfling, standing back a few feet from the door and looking suspiciously at Garyth. Garyth finds to his surprise that he can recognize the tribal markings and features. A Kalama. Like Melani. Not an enemy.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: A new arrival
The little halfling looks the man up and down. "You would be the human Gary'th? I was sent from my tribe with news and an offer of help from my cheiftan. Would you hear me?"
This hafling is just over 3" tall, very dark black hair, green eyes and very tanned skin. He has a large coil of rope over one shoulder and a huge sword over the other.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: A new arrival
The halfling also has a bow slung over his shoulder. It looks vaugley familiar to Rennik.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: A new arrival
If he's just over three inches tall, how big is the "huge sword"?
From: Scott
Subject: Re: A new arrival
It's Tom Thumb!
From: Mark
Subject: Re: A new arrival
But it is a +10 sword, so watch out. I traded height for magic. :)
Obviously it is 3' not 3".
Mark
From: Karl
Subject: Re: A new arrival
It's no surprise he stepped back from the door, though. One reckless move an SQUISSSHHHH!
From: Scott
Subject: Re: A new arrival
"Do you think he's compensating for something?" says Kor Garesh nastily.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: A new arrival
Oh, it often the obvious mistakes that are the funniest. ;)
From: Ty
Subject: next turn
I am going to let you guys run with the reunion and Bartok stuff as long as you want.
Check in when you are done and I will write the next turn.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: next turn
I was waiting for the rousing welcome. Bartock is starting to think he went to the wrong house. He is going to go down the road to the next trading post. :)
Mark
From: Mike
Subject: Re: A new arrival
Garyth cocks an eyebrow. What was a Kalama warrior doing here? Confused, but no longer tense, he motions for Osred and Vincy to stand down.
"Welcome, Kalama," he says. "You have the right of it; I am Garyth." He steps back to allow the halfling in. "Come in. I will hear your message."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: A new arrival
The halfling looks up at all the big men in the room. "I am Bartock, scout of the Kalama." He offers his hand in the human way of greeting. Garyth takes the hand, and the two shake. Bartock enters the room and sits. "I have travelled for many hours looking for you. Food would be nice." With that he speaks to Manuta in halfling. "Boy, get me some food and something to drink."
While sitting and waiting for the food to come Bartock tells his tale.
"First, my chieftan wanted me to report to you something we have found that worries us." He holds out the bow that had been across his shoulders. "Do you recognize this?" Only Rennik nods, knowing what it means. "This is the bow of Melani, the first scout of the Kalama. I found it several days ago in a clearing. There had been a fight and the bow had been left in the dust. We fear she is dead, for she would not leave this bow, it was too important to her." Bartock bows his head and says a quick prayer to the spirits of his family.
When he is done he continues. "My chieftan has thought of what you have told him you are going to try and do and what you have already done. He thinks you may need some one who knows how to climb. I am the best climber in my tribe. I offer my help to you, if you will have it."
Mark
From: Matt
Subject: Re: A new arrival
(Rewind a bit)
At Gully's offer, Rennik bows with deep respect.
"Your skills as a keeper of the forge would do me great honor, friend Gully. I have fought with this bastard weapon for longer than I hoped I would have to after the she-bitch Elise destroyed the haft of my axe. I would be greatly in your debt."
Returning to the fire, Rennik feels strangely at home with these humans and the elf, sitting and eating in warmth and comfort. Times have been so dark that he had almost forgotten the companionship of feast and flame, and he welcomed the distraction from the coming battle.
Taking his patrol rotation, he wondered if this would be the last time he enjoyed restful companionship, the last time of rest before the great battle, before his death.
Returning to the circle of flame and friends, he listens to the stories of the long lost companions, sharing in their victories and close calls. When the boy Manut eyes his weapons, a wry smile crosses his lips as he remembers his father slapping him away from his battle axe during his scrabbling days. Gully's intervention prompts a chuckle from Rennik, but turns his mood.
If their mission failed, Manut would need to learn the ways of a weapon quickly - along with all the residents of the island. Women, children, the old and sick... none would be safe from the black god's wrath. All would have to fight. Watching the boy's eyes linger on his weapons as Gully moved them to the side of the room turned Rennik's thoughts to the coming confrontation again, and he quickly lost his appetite.
The knock at the door snapped him back to the present and found him tumbling across the room to his quiver and bow. Coming up with arrow notched toward the door, he watched Manut's startled face and heard the elf joke at the danger.
At the sight of the Kalama scout, Rennik immediately loosened the tension on the bowstring and stood. He did not remember the halfling's face from his time in the Kalama village, but the bow on his back made his heart sink. He knew that Melani was dead - or worse. He only hoped that he would not have to kill her soulless, unyielding body in the coming nights.
The halfling's words were just as Rennik expected. Curt and without hesitation. The tale of the bow was told plainly, as was his purpose, and the prayer to the gods comforted Rennik's soul. He could be very valuable.
"Ath'tenn Bartock," Rennik says as he comes forward toward the scout to take his forearm in greeting. "It honors us that the Belneth would send us aid. You are surely welcome to join our quest"
After a moment, he adds, "how is it that you carry the Reth'tenn's bow? Are you kin, or do you seek to return it to your tribe?"
From: Matt
Subject: Re: A new arrival
OOC: Bartock? As in http://www.sonic.net/mnitepub/pccafe/reviews/anastasia/bartok.jpg ?
From: Matt
Subject: Re: A new arrival
Also, I would imagine Rennik's boots aren't shined, as he sleeps with all of his gear very close and would have woken if someone took any of it for any period. (Unless there is something else afoot, in which case he would be intensely suspicious.)
From: Mark
Subject: Re: A new arrival
Bartock shakes his head sadly. "Melani was the last of her family. Many of the Kamala have died fighting this evil, and her brother and parents had already fallen to the darkness. As to her and I being kin, it is possible. All of the Kamala are kin somewhere back. I keep the bow as a sign of my respect for her, hoping against hope that I might return it to her. I have little of her skill with it."
Mark