Broccli_Head
Explorer
22 Ches to 2 Tarsakh: Exodus of the Stormwolves
As they force-marched from Westgate to Reddanspyr, Aris’ thoughts were heavy. To add insult to injury it began to rain almost as soon as they had left the Black Hole of Faerun. However, Chauntea smiled upon them again as the cattle, used to defeat the mind flayers of the Quivering Thumb, lolled around after the combat like bovine are apt to do so that the beleaguered troop could travel to the nearby town in disguise as cattle herders and merchants. Aris would have to donate at one of her temples in the near future.
“Thank you Miliekki, Chauntea, Tymora, for your help and mercy,” the usually non-pious Aris muttered over and over as his boots squelched in the muddy road.
Per Aris’s order, Jhovan kept a keen eye on their gladiator-fellow Manta. No one in the party trusted Manta anymore whom they suspected was still enthralled by the illithid’s powers. After a day and a half of travel, they made Reddanspyr. There the weary companions sought refuge at the temple of Oghma. Aris, always thinking ahead, had made previous arrangements with the clerics of Oghma, on their previous outing. He was glad that the god of knowledge also imparted to his clergy an understanding that some knowledge, is meant to be kept hidden. They had proved very discreet.
Upon arrival the party sold the cattle and donated the proceeds to the temple. Further donations were given from Aris’s personal funds for the clerics to attend to the wounds of Jhovan, Alberia (now shedding her role of Valeria the Red—though still preferring the red hair!), Nosr and even Manta. They were reunited with Randall, Sandrine and Babu, Gnome Artificer Extraordinaire (G.A.E.), Manta’s four students, and the rest of the Aris’s retainers who had left the day the rescue became compromised. Again Aris had planned ahead.
As they rested in the courtyard, contemplating the pyrrhic victory over roasted calamari, Jhovan came to talk to Aris about Manta. Alberia also wanted to talk about Manta and the betrayal at the arena. By now Aris had figured out what happened and surmised that two things were going to happen now. Either he must tell Manta to leave and possibly have him killed or reconcile and make sure his allegiances were firmly with them. Alberia was for expulsion. Jhovan of course in his pragmatism offered to have the possibility of Manta further betraying them ended forever. The clerics dispelled what ensorcelled him and Nosr repeated the dispel just in case.
Even so, Manta and his companions exchanged harsh words before Jhovan, taking matters into his own hands, knocked the ex-gladiator unconscious. To reassure themselves that Manta was back to his old self (but what his old self was, how could they know, knowing him for less than a tenday). As far as the paladin of Tyr was concerned, Manta had been a mole from the beginning. They locked him up in one of the isolation rooms in which the priests and monks used to meditate and read. This infuriated Manta and reminded him of his captivity in the arena games. Tantrums lasted through the night with the water genasi destroying books and throwing them at an irresponsive door behind which Jhovan stood guard. By dawn he had finally he calmed himself and began contemplating his surroundings. Picking up a book with lots of pictures, he began at first to browse and then to read….
Aris took stock of the losses. They had suffered two casualties: the powerful mageling, Séance and Manta’s newly freed half-orc Zert. Both were raised (Manta paying for Zert). Furthermore, Kith was still missing and they had not rescued Dorthan. Aris had to prevent Alberia from sinking once again into depression and stayed up with her as the days progressed talking of his plans for her castle and inspiring her with tales of her father in the Tuigan War. Séance left the group saying that his work in Westgate remained unfinished. Aris too longed to go back and get Kith and have another crack at rescuing Dorthan, but that would be tantamount to suicide.
“What about Manta?” Jhovan , kindly reminded the group fingering a dagger.
Aris replied, “I gave you a second chance.”
“But Jhovan hasn’t betrayed us!” retorted Alberia, coming surprisingly to the defense of the ex-assassin.
“Doesn’t Tyr also represent justice delivered with temperance and resolve. For some reason the Tyrites I know bow more to the chaos of their emotions. Abbot Grigor has lasted as long as he has in Westgate because he wisely chooses his battles and cares and look to the safety of his people. He does not preach justice with the sharp end of his sword or throw the lives of his friends and subjects away. Your actions in Westgate, Alberia cry out emotion and led to recklessness. If you had not been so hotheaded, and selfish, and returned to the Arena, and instead had stayed at rendezvous point as planned, two of our number would not have died.”
Mollified by this, the others remained silent. Manta was then freed completely without any further arguement and after much counseling from the high priest and Aris, Manta decided to stay with the group. As a parting gift, the priest of Oghma gave Manta a magical longsword. The gladiator decided that reading had its rewards.
Now reconciled to each other the party made their way to Cormyr. Jhovan was happy to be reunited with his family and caught up along the journey. The heroes, with the whole group of retainers caught a boat from Teziir to Suzail and they all arrived safely and without incident. In all the trip took a tenday.
As they force-marched from Westgate to Reddanspyr, Aris’ thoughts were heavy. To add insult to injury it began to rain almost as soon as they had left the Black Hole of Faerun. However, Chauntea smiled upon them again as the cattle, used to defeat the mind flayers of the Quivering Thumb, lolled around after the combat like bovine are apt to do so that the beleaguered troop could travel to the nearby town in disguise as cattle herders and merchants. Aris would have to donate at one of her temples in the near future.
“Thank you Miliekki, Chauntea, Tymora, for your help and mercy,” the usually non-pious Aris muttered over and over as his boots squelched in the muddy road.
Per Aris’s order, Jhovan kept a keen eye on their gladiator-fellow Manta. No one in the party trusted Manta anymore whom they suspected was still enthralled by the illithid’s powers. After a day and a half of travel, they made Reddanspyr. There the weary companions sought refuge at the temple of Oghma. Aris, always thinking ahead, had made previous arrangements with the clerics of Oghma, on their previous outing. He was glad that the god of knowledge also imparted to his clergy an understanding that some knowledge, is meant to be kept hidden. They had proved very discreet.
Upon arrival the party sold the cattle and donated the proceeds to the temple. Further donations were given from Aris’s personal funds for the clerics to attend to the wounds of Jhovan, Alberia (now shedding her role of Valeria the Red—though still preferring the red hair!), Nosr and even Manta. They were reunited with Randall, Sandrine and Babu, Gnome Artificer Extraordinaire (G.A.E.), Manta’s four students, and the rest of the Aris’s retainers who had left the day the rescue became compromised. Again Aris had planned ahead.
As they rested in the courtyard, contemplating the pyrrhic victory over roasted calamari, Jhovan came to talk to Aris about Manta. Alberia also wanted to talk about Manta and the betrayal at the arena. By now Aris had figured out what happened and surmised that two things were going to happen now. Either he must tell Manta to leave and possibly have him killed or reconcile and make sure his allegiances were firmly with them. Alberia was for expulsion. Jhovan of course in his pragmatism offered to have the possibility of Manta further betraying them ended forever. The clerics dispelled what ensorcelled him and Nosr repeated the dispel just in case.
Even so, Manta and his companions exchanged harsh words before Jhovan, taking matters into his own hands, knocked the ex-gladiator unconscious. To reassure themselves that Manta was back to his old self (but what his old self was, how could they know, knowing him for less than a tenday). As far as the paladin of Tyr was concerned, Manta had been a mole from the beginning. They locked him up in one of the isolation rooms in which the priests and monks used to meditate and read. This infuriated Manta and reminded him of his captivity in the arena games. Tantrums lasted through the night with the water genasi destroying books and throwing them at an irresponsive door behind which Jhovan stood guard. By dawn he had finally he calmed himself and began contemplating his surroundings. Picking up a book with lots of pictures, he began at first to browse and then to read….
Aris took stock of the losses. They had suffered two casualties: the powerful mageling, Séance and Manta’s newly freed half-orc Zert. Both were raised (Manta paying for Zert). Furthermore, Kith was still missing and they had not rescued Dorthan. Aris had to prevent Alberia from sinking once again into depression and stayed up with her as the days progressed talking of his plans for her castle and inspiring her with tales of her father in the Tuigan War. Séance left the group saying that his work in Westgate remained unfinished. Aris too longed to go back and get Kith and have another crack at rescuing Dorthan, but that would be tantamount to suicide.
“What about Manta?” Jhovan , kindly reminded the group fingering a dagger.
Aris replied, “I gave you a second chance.”
“But Jhovan hasn’t betrayed us!” retorted Alberia, coming surprisingly to the defense of the ex-assassin.
“Doesn’t Tyr also represent justice delivered with temperance and resolve. For some reason the Tyrites I know bow more to the chaos of their emotions. Abbot Grigor has lasted as long as he has in Westgate because he wisely chooses his battles and cares and look to the safety of his people. He does not preach justice with the sharp end of his sword or throw the lives of his friends and subjects away. Your actions in Westgate, Alberia cry out emotion and led to recklessness. If you had not been so hotheaded, and selfish, and returned to the Arena, and instead had stayed at rendezvous point as planned, two of our number would not have died.”
Mollified by this, the others remained silent. Manta was then freed completely without any further arguement and after much counseling from the high priest and Aris, Manta decided to stay with the group. As a parting gift, the priest of Oghma gave Manta a magical longsword. The gladiator decided that reading had its rewards.
Now reconciled to each other the party made their way to Cormyr. Jhovan was happy to be reunited with his family and caught up along the journey. The heroes, with the whole group of retainers caught a boat from Teziir to Suzail and they all arrived safely and without incident. In all the trip took a tenday.
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