Out From the Door Where It Began
Subject: Vacation
I do not remember if I sent this to the group but I will be on vacation from Friday Mar. 31 until Thursday April 6. I will be able to post on Friday, April 7.
I will be meeting Karl for dinner on Friday in DC.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: Vacation
So send all bribes for the DM to me. I'll be sure he gets them. ;-)
From: Ty
Subject: is everyone ready to go?
Should I write a new turn?
From: Scott
Subject: Re: is everyone ready to go?
Go, man! GOOOOOO!
From: Mark
Subject: Re: is everyone ready to go?
Go for it.
Let's finish this thing by Thursday. :)
From: Ty
Subject: Out from the door where it began...
Bartok finishes strapping the last of his gear to his pack, checking his ropes and climbing equipment one last time. The Belneth had said that these men would need him, and the only thing he can think of that he is better at than most is climbing Kessel. That must mean the Gods need him to climb. He sits back for a moment, eyes closed, thinking of his previous ascents, mentally revisiting each face and path on the mountain. Only a handful of his people had ever reached the summit, and he was one of them. Though it had not come without cost. He silently prays to Mielikki for the souls of lost friends, and for protection for those he is with now.
Nearby, Rennik is sitting on his pack, chewing on the leather wrapped round his axe handle. His eyes are distant and hard. One hand absent mindedly scratches Tichenor behind the ears. The wolf, for his part, keeps one wary eye on the big winter wolf lying near the fire with Manut sitting on him. Tichenor and Cutter had made a sort of uneasy peace early on, but Tich maintains a wary distance from the much bigger wolf.
Farron and Sa'id sit at one of the tables, poring over their books and notes. Farron is writing in his traveling spell book, Sa'id making comments and suggestions as he works. While they work, the two wizards are oblivious to the rest of the world.
Kasen sits on a stool near Manut and the fire, slowly oiling Truth. The huge blade gleams like a mirror, and seems to have its own inner light. Pensive sits cross legged on one of the tables, and watches the Knight care for his weapon. There is a ritual to it, not unlike the meditations the monks did before practicing their skills. It is the ritual that prepares a man to test himself even as far as death. Pensive can feel the deep calm in Kasen, the centering of his being. He hasn't quite woven himself into the fabric of the group yet, but he is comfortable in his own skin, and Pensive knows that many never know that peace. Under the monk's robes, the amulet of Elvira is warm and smells like grass.
Garyth comes back into the lodge, Vincy right behind him. He looks over the rest of his men, and smiles. Robert, Munchy, and Osred sit on the floor. Robert is telling a joke. In his typical fashion, the build up is long, elaborate, and no punch line could ever be enough pay off. But that doesn't matter. Robert makes every inch of the story count, with many asides and interjections that are funnier than the joke itself. Garyth walks over and gives the guardsman a playful swat on the head. "You men ready to go?"
Osred nods, "Ready, Sir. Just give the word."
Garyth looks around the room. Most of them had been up since before dawn, preparing. The Sunmaster was the only one who hadn't come out yet, and it was quietly agreed that he should be given as much time to rest as they could afford. But it's time to go. Garyth says, "Can someone go get the Sunmaster, and make sure his gear is ready? We leave in fifteen minutes."
Farron and Sa'id immediately close up their books, and go to the Sunmaster's room.
Rennik gets up, shouldering his axe. "I fear for the old man, traveling in those cold and damp sewer tunnels. We barely made it ourselves."
Garyth nods, "Better that then risk him going down the gullet of a swamp dragon." He rubs his ribs in a sudden memory of pain.
A few moments later, the wizards return, supporting the old cleric between them. Fellus is grimacing. "I'm afraid my joints are acting up this morning. This usually happens after I use a powerful prayer, and the one I used to get here yesterday seems to have hit me harder than usual. Growing old is a terrible thing."
Robert says, "But it's better than the alternative." Munch just smacks him in the head. "That is such an old joke. You need to get some new ones."
Rennik throws his pack over his shoulder. They were going back into the wilds. Without anything being spoken, leadership passes from Garyth back to him. "I will lead. Let me stay about fifty feet ahead of the rest of the group. In the main group, the soldiers take the outside positions and protect the mages and the priest. Bartok, you take the extreme rear, and watch for followers. Let's go."
[Pausing here. Please check in with a ready to go, or RP if you like.]
From: Mark
Subject: Re: Out from the door where it began...
Bartok grunts at Rennik's assumption of command, but seeing that the humans accept it, and knowing that his own skill in the forest pales next to the rangers, he accepts it. He makes sure that all his gear is strapped down and that his greatsword is locked in place. Nothin worse that a sword rattling out of a scabard while climbing.
He waits for the rest of the party to move out and brings up the rear, about 50 feet back.
OOC: Ready to go.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: is everyone ready to go?
Yep, I'm more or less ready--just have to roll for HP and I'm good to go.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: is everyone ready to go?
Ready to go.