Subject: Re: Osred's response

Garyth walks over to where Osred and Pensive are speaking. "We need to get moving." Strain and sleeplessness show heavily around his eyes, but, ridiculously enough, he looks apologetic at having interrupted their conversation. "You're going to have to talk on the trail." He nods to them and turns away, getting the rest of the men moving to strike camp and hit the trail again.

Subject: Re: Osred's response

Pensive's eyes light up at the priest's response. He nods, "Thank you. Thank you very much."

It was not from the god of these men. He is relieved. Pensive takes the figurine back from Osred, and hardly hears Garyth's admonition.

He will await for Garyth's order to move out.

Subject: Together again at last

Garyth prods the Falcons through their morning meal, and everyone is back in the saddle before the sun has fully risen. Rennik says something to Tichenor, and the big wolf runs off into the woods. Then the Halfling rides his pony up to the front of the column, his eyes fixed intently on the ground.

The elf remains near the rear, fingering something around his neck with a distant expression on his face. Osred rides companionably beside him.

The group rides into the canopy of the deep forest. Within seconds, it is almost as dark as night. Several Falcons light lanterns, though Rennik seems to prefer riding ahead of the circle of light. Occasionally, Tichenor pops out of the brush, looks around as though checking up on everyone, then disappears again. The men speak little. There is something unsettling and oppressive in the darkness under the trees. Garyth gets the feeling that the whole world would be this dark if the demon had its way. Every plant and animal and man would be dead, and the world would be a frigid desert. He wonders what sort of creatures would make his world their home then, and he shudders.

He must have fallen asleep in the saddle, because he suddenly comes awake when Rennik whistles to him. He stops the column and rides ahead. Rennik points through the trees at a dark shape in a clearing. "That's the trader's barn. We're here."

Garyth looks over the buildings. "Some light coming out of the cracks in the trading post. Think Gully is home? Think our friends made it?"

Rennik only shrugs.

Subject: Re: Together again at last

"I'll scout it out," says Pensive, dropping from his saddle.

Subject: Re: Together again at last

"Wait," Garyth says. "If they are in there, it might do for them to see a face they recognize a bit better." He turns and is about to ask Rennik if he'll take a look when a thought occurs to him. He glances around the buildings quickly. "Where are Gully's wolves?" he wonders aloud.

Subject: Re: Together again at last

Pensive raises an eybrow. "I don't plan on being seen at all."

But he waits for Garyth's word before continuing toward the cabin.

Subject: Re: Together again at last

Garyth narrows his eyes, searching for any signs of movement around the buildings. "Fine," he says. "But be careful. The last time we were here there were several wolves living with the trader and they seemed protective. Either they're here and they're not letting us see them, or they're not here, so maybe something bad has happened."

Subject: Re: Together again at last

Pensive nods. "I'll be careful."

And then sneaks off into the darkness.

Subject: Re: Moving toward Gully's (short turn)

For the first time in days Kasen lets his guard down enough to get a decent night's sleep, even if interrupted by a warm body with terrible breath. It was a chance, to let his guard down, but the trading post had been passed over by the demon and it was unlikely that they would come roaring back. Besides, if Elise knew where they were she would have attacked them on the road while Farron was comatose.

Allowing himself a few minutes to enjoy a real bed Kasen finally rises and slings Truth across his back. He had only had the sword for a few days, but already he felt a great comfort at its weight across his back. It was as if the hands of all the men who had held it before were on his shoulders, offering him comfort and council.

Spirits high he follows the smell of bacon out into the lodge and helps himself to a generous portion, which he digs into while standing by the fire. "The only thing better than bacon in the morning," he sighs contentedly, "is waking to find someone else has made it for you."

Subject: Reporting back to the group

Pensive nods. "I'll be careful."

Pensive watches the men for a bit, then stealthily makes his way back to Garyth and the others.

"Four men-- two dressed like wizards, and a portly human. There is a boy with them as well, rather young by his size."

Subject: Re: Reporting back to the group

Portly! You'd better be talking about Gully...

Subject: Re: Reporting back to the group

HAH!

Pensive frowns. "There was another human as well, a burly man with a hard. . . honest look about him."

Subject: Re: Reporting back to the group

Garyth listens to Pensive's report. The two wizards would be Farron and Sa'id, and the portly one sounded like Gully. But who were the burly man and the child? Random travelers, perhaps, or had they come with Farron and Sa'id from Nesalin? Friendly, at any rate, since Pensive didn't say anything to the contrary.

"Alright," says Garyth. "I'll go ahead first and signal for the rest of you to come ahead once they know we're here." He slides off his horse and walks ahead to the building, knocking tentatively at the door when he arrives.

Subject: Knock, knock...

There is a quiet knock at the door. Sa'id almost doesn't hear it over the sizzle of bacon and the breakfast conversation. He cocks his head. No, there it is again. He glances at Gully, then at Kasen. Both have heard the sound as well.

Sa'id stands up. "Just to be safe," he says quietly, "give me a moment to cast a spell." He kneels down about ten feet from the door and begins an incantation [Magic Circle against Evil].

"If it's an agent of the demon, it should not be able to enter now. Gully, Kasen... could one of you get the door?"

Gully nods, and moves toward the door. Kasen's sword is in his hand, and Sa'id is comforted by the sight of the blade that dispatched multiple wraiths. The necromancer can't see Manut, but is confident that the boy is in the room. Cutter takes up a position near Kasen, but doesn't growl.

There is a pause, then a faint clank of armour from outside, as though whoever is out there is turning around. Gully opens the door, careful not to block Sa'id's vision. Sa'id peers out. The form looks familiar...

"Garyth? Is that you?"

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

How far away the encounter with the wraiths feels, now that they are warmed by a fire and surrounded by a sense of comfort. Farron had recovered, harsh words had been silently forgiven and forgotten. Even so, the moment the sound of knocking reaches his ears Kasen is unsurprised to find that Turth is comfortably in his hands. Perhaps skipping his morning ritual of donning his plate had not been the wisest course.

Without speaking he slides into position a half step behind Said and to his right, easily close enough to push the mage aside should it come to that and balances himself on the balls of his feet.

That Sa'id appears to recognize the man is of small comfort. He has not, as yet, attempted to cross the necromancer's spell of warding.

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

Garyth hears the door latch open and immediately feels himself tense up, ready to draw his sword should an enemy be on the other side. The door swings open and his eyes immediately come to rest on the burly man that Pensive mentioned, who already has his sword unsheathed.

"Garyth? Is that you?"

Garyth's eyes flick over to the speaker. It's Sa'id. The big man is obviously protecting him. Garyth feels himself relax, the tension flowing out of him. A smile slowly spreads across his face and he turns and waves to the others waiting behind. "Come ahead, boys!" he shouts. "Our friends are here!"

He turns back to the people inside and takes a step through the door. "I got your message, Sa'id," he says. "We got here as quickly as we could."

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

Closing the ground between himself and Garyth in three swift strides, Sa'id takes the other man's head in his hands and kisses him firmly on both cheeks. "In my country," he says, "this is how we greet a friend."

Then he grins. "You look terrible, but it's good to see your face. Who else is with you?" Sa'id turns, gesturing about the room. "Gully you know, but this is Kasen -- the squire of Sir Conal, who Elise murdered. He saved my life, and Farron's, in a battle with wraiths that Elise sent after us."

He pauses. "Sunmaster Fellus should be joining us here as well. I don't suppose you've seen him?"

OOC: I'm explicitly copying Ty on this message. Ty, let me know how many copies of it you get. I'm also assuming that Garyth doesn't get blocked by my Magic Circle against Evil. ;)

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

I only got one.

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

Garyth bumps into the circle and his deep dark secret is revealed.

Mark

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

So it seems like you get messages that come from me directly, but not messages that come from the list. I'm trying an experiment: I set up a non-list address, [address removed by editor], that does nothing but forward the messages it gets to [address removed by editor]. I'm also copying you explicitly. You should get between one and three copies of this message -- let me know how many it is.

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

OOC: Rennik holds up a lead sheet and walks unharmed through the Magic Circle.

IC: Seeing that Garyth entered freely and without attack, Rennik approaches the door to see Sa'id and the others. He strides into the room and grips Sa'id's forearm in his own, giving him a strong handshake and speaking to him in the halfling tongue.

"Friend Sa'id, it is good to see you alive. These are dark times." Looking at his company. "It seems you bring another strong arm to the fight."

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

"Yes," Sa'id replies in Halfling. "He saved our lives." He pauses. "Do you remember Manut? The boy is indeed here."

Sai'd will wait for everyone in Garyth's group to get inside before saying anything about the Sunmaster.

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

Do you need anything from me?

I would imagine the reunion would not need DM interference for a while.

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

Pensive watches the two wizards with curiosity. The lighter skinned one had a. . . drawn look about him, somehow.

He nods at both of them. "I am Pensive," he says tentatively. "We met in Nesalin, very briefly."

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

Osred stands a moment, filling the doorway to the inn, then steps into the room, smiling. Clearly, the demon had not taken these men. If all that their companions had said of them was true, they would be strong allies in the coming fight. One of them, though, the pale one, is not well. By Heironeous' grace, the battle cleric thinks, he soon will be.

Subject: Re: Knock, knock...

Jake, is Osred casting Lesser Restoration on Karl?

Subject: Reunion, continued.

The clanking of armour and breathing of horses tells Sa'id that there are more people outside. "Who else is with you?" he asks. "No matter, if they follow you they are our allies. You'll have to introduce us. I'm doubtful that we can feed you all, even between Kasen's goods and Gully's stockpile, but at least you should all come in and rest while we wait."

He pauses. "And you have to tell me everything that has happened to you. Then we will relate our tale."