(Casual D&D) A Game of Trust

[Guilt Puppy]

Looking down the slope from your perch, you can see the white horse raking its hooves across the rocks, trying to climb. As you head down the animal calms, allowing you to search the bags freely.

The pack is organized cleanly: Food, rope, a bag of caltrops, and other miscellaneous items all seem to have their own place. After some searching you notice that the lining of the left bag folds up: Inside are eight leather envelopes, each containing a carefully sealed letter on thick parchment.

(OOC: Sure, I can run Victus... I wasn't planning on being too melee heavy with the game -- dependent a little on the player make-up, of course -- so he may work better as an NPC. Email is skywise@swoo.net. There is also a Recruitment/OOC thread now, although newly-recruited folk probably won't be showing up immediately.)

 

[wings]

Remember

Aerda sighs relieved when they find the documents."Remember, do not break the seals... Now, where would you suppose we could find a decent courier? Perhaps a temple of Fharlanghn?"

Aerda scans the countryside as he talks, gaining a dread feeling. He wished someone else had seen that grim figure, then atleast he could know he didnt imagine it.

He will climb the summit again, to make sure everyone is up and informed of the situation.

 

[dpdx]

Fendric takes the letters and puts them back in the saddlebag, noting the destinations in case they should encounter them upon the journey.

Were they addressed to any places we know? I can't think of a more trustworthy messenger than ourselves.

"Your guess is as good as mine, my trueblooded friend. But I would imagine we should proceed in the direction we were headed. We know there's naught the way we came but Hedrogura."

Fendric looks back up the slope: "There is also the matter of Sir Exantrius' burial. I would also imagine we should carry him with us until a suitable cleric or knight could be found, although if it gets to be too troublesome, we can take care of it ourselves. I have performed funeral blessings before, and I'd be honored indeed to say his last rites, if yet unqualified."

Fendric then starts back up the hill, calling to Victus: "if you would help me, I'd like to get Exantrius and his things down the hill and upon his steed, without damaging him, so we can set out again."

 

[Uriel]

Niccolo starts awake, excited to show the Knight that he had finished the Banner.

Looking over at the assembled group and the Expired Cavalier, the Gnome's Heart breaks.
'but..but...he was going to ...I was...' Niccolo steps forward, tears brimming in his eyes and lays the Banner upon the old Knight.
'Mayhap this will serve as a Shroud for such a fine Old knight as Exantrius, since he hath no need of it anymore in life...'
The little Bard steps away, lest any see the tears falling down his cheeks.

Turning back, Niccolo clears his throat.

'The Lay of Exantrius'

Aged was he, though in truth he be
an Ageless, Eternal Paragon of Virtue...
His Deeds were many, too numerous to list,
Lest ye have a century for the hearing.
Alas, I have not the Heart to recant them all.
Nothing did he fear, not Demons, nor Mortals, nor even Failure, which even the best of us fears at one time or another...
He was an Enigma, one that I will never be able to explore personally, yet in the time that I did know Noble Exantrius, did I come to Love him, that Figure out of Fable. My Companion, my Friend and for a brief moment in time, My Liege.
Rest Well, Noble Knight.'

 

[dpdx]

Fendric and Victus carry the noble warrior, now shrouded brilliantly with Niccolo's banner, down the slope to the paladin's mount and set him across the animal's back. Fendric then takes the rope from Exantrius' saddlebag and ties the body to the saddle carefully (Use Rope: 18), trying equally as carefully to tie the rope in a way that would preserve the ancient hero's dignity.

"The full eulogy you deserve will have to wait just a little while, my noble friend. Until then, may the Holy Light shine on your spirit forever..."

After Niccolo's poetry, Fendric cannot resist the urge to cry, and he does so, softly, wiping the tears away with the sleeve of his vestments.

"Well said, friend. Well said..."

(Removed the bit about riding onward. We need a little time to grieve.)

 

[wings]

The passing

Aerda sits back down soon after the ordeal, on the stone perch, his barefeet on the hard stone. He slept without shirt, and remained so. His curly hair still immaculate against his flesh, he truly is a beautiful creature. The luscious red eyes wet with liquid. He sighs, and goes to fully dress and prepare for the ride.

He eats some ration, and gives some to astrule as well. Then pushes the hawkit over towards fendric, urging the bird to perch on his shoulder, perhaps to cheer him up some. The magnificent bird takes flight, to do just that.

He shines his rapier and makes sure his bow is in working order. He ties his hood back on, along with a dark scarf of light material to hide the features below his eyes. He well help anyone who needs it, then finally get on his saddle.

 

[National Acrobat]

"That was beautiful Niccolo. You didn't miss your calling." Merrim smiles. "I would imagine that the followers of Fharlanghn would do well, but we could deliver them as well...."

 

[dpdx]

"Hello, little friend..." Fendric pets the hawk softly. He then rises, walks over to his horse, removes some rations, and sits back down. He, too, will share with Astrule, while nodding and smiling at Aerda.

When Fendric is finished eating, he stands up, to address the group, earnestly, and sincerely:

"My friends, may the Shining Light Most Holy bless you and focus your minds in these trying times ahead. We must now decide whether we are capable, and willing, to finish what Exantrius set out to do. I, for one, see it as my most Holy duty to finish his noble work, but I realize that the rest of you may, um, not concur with such an assessment."

"I will understand, then, if any of you wish to return to Hedrogura, but I will be traveling onward, and I would very much wish that each of you will join me. I have grown to trust you, and care about you, one and all, and it would put my doubt at ease that I am capable of this quest if I was not alone."

"I cannot guarantee that we will be paid by anyone for our task. And I cannot guarantee that even our horses, much less any of Sir Exantrius' own property, will be ours to keep at its end. But I do hope that I can count on each one of you to help me continue."

"In the meantime, I think Sir Exantrius himself would wish that even in his absence, if anything he had could help see us safely back to civilization, we should use it until the time came to return it. His horse I will need to convey him to the Temple or office of the Order, and I would not wish his armor to be removed, but if any of you are adept at the longsword, for example, or need a shield, you might be able to 'borrow' it for the time being. I see no evil in that."

(The blade, however, might think differently. O Holy Light, please give me guidance in these trying times...)

"You may need time to consider this. I understand. May the Shining One bless you all."

With that, Fendric goes over to the mount, and takes the reins to lead him next to his own horse. Softly, he talks to the horse, "I need you for one last task, blessed Ophistus. I trust that you have carried this great man throughout his service, and I ask that you again would carry him to the sanctity of his final resting place, that he may bathe in the Glorious Light of Pelor."

 

[wings]

Well

He didn't expect such a long-winded and noble speech from the Cleric. It seems all those pointless seeming trips to the tavern for conversion wasn't a waste, he did in fact seem to have all his ideals in the right place. Well, the right places when concerned with Pelor, anyhow.

He nods, "I will accompany you, my friend."

 

[National Acrobat]

All he had to do was ask...briefly "Yes Fendric, I would be happy to accompany you. I have enjoyed the time that I have spent with my new friends and I have always wished to travel. Plus," a small tear comes to her eye, "Exantrius was such a noble soul that I feel that I would be letting him down if I didn't. I would be honored to help him in his last quest."