(Casual D&D III) The Man in Black

[wings]

Hmmm

He makes to order the drink which he assumes would still signal the want to see Kester, and his assumption is confirmed and in a moment he is once again fishing his fingers into a glass...

He once again settles into a little place by the wall, leaning and watching the preceedings. He didn't feel the need to elaborate on what anyone said, Fendric was still a capable mouthpiece. When the idea that lasting compulsions stayed behind he didn't seem to notice, continuing to light his pipe as he was before and after the suggestion, his face the calm indifference famous to the elves.

With atleast one pair of eyes watching him for some clue to the riddle, he finally took the pipe to his mouth and smoked idly. If Nurthk expected him to reveal something, he wasn't about to.

 

[dpdx]

"Shall we see if they're about ready to go, then? I'd like to reach our next spot by nightfall."

With that, Hiritus comes back into the room, sans Tatlock, grabbing a piece of wall behind Fendric.

"Are we about finished, here? Justice is still hitched outside, and I'd hate to get her stolen my first day..." he says half-aloud into Fendric's ear.

"Why yes, my anxious young Brother, I believe we are!" comes Fendric's mirthful reply.

So, Kester, do you dare risk overland travel with our intrepid band, or is this goodbye? I should warn you, that until you gain the trust of the rest of the Fellowship, it may be a bit... uncomfortable... to be watched as often as you will be.

Anyway, I leave it in your hands - you have been a boon to us, as far as I can tell, May the Light Reveal It to Be True, and as far as I am concerned, you are welcome to join us at least as long as it takes to prove or disprove the others' suspicions about you.

We'll be gathering our things outside if you wish to join us."

 

[Guilt Puppy]

"I appreciate your offer, and its meaning as a gesture does not go unnoticed... But I'll have to decline, for now. There's quite a bit of other work to be done... At the very least, I'd like to find out more about Thedoric, and Exantrius, as well as any moves my adversary has made, of late... Whatever I can dig up, I'll be happy to share with you -- you know how to find me."

"So I bid you fare well," he says, bowing his head politely, "and I leave you with one last bit of advice: As you travel, travel wide around the crossroads. They are places of his influence."

...

As you leave the room, you find Tatlock waiting, wide-eyed as a puppy, seeming expectant.

"So, have you decided? Am I coming with you?"

Shavah looks up at Oliver, whispering softly: "You do have an extra horse."

(So, where to, folks? Geographically, it should be roughly a three day trip to either Despia, Valsport, or the Glades of Sesphar, with Despia being perhaps closer to four, maybe five...)

 

[Sparky]

The old rogue nods at Raven's suggestion and leans back in his chair to speak quietly into the ranger's ear. "Agreed. We need to talk to Nurthk. Thanks for the drink."

For good or ill, this man has bound himself to us. Oliver eyes Kester through a cloud of Aerda's curling pipesmoke. He coughs, eyes tearing and blows his nose. Glad he's not coming. I need the rest.

As the group files out of the room Oliver shoots a relieved glance at Raven. He bustles into the tavern and stoops a moment in a cough, taking advantage of the opportunity to take stock of his various weapons and pouches. He shrugs his shoulders, wincing as they creak and protest. Tatlock bounces forward, youthful exuberance and expectation.

He considers the young man at Shavah's words. Farmboy... bet he knows his way around animals. This could work out nicely. For me. He looks up and glowers at Tatlock, "Aren't your parents missing you, boy?"

 

[dpdx]

Fendric, having come up next to Oliver, raises an eyebrow at Tatlock's request. Before the cleric can himself dash the young boy's hopes, Oliver asks the question.

(Praise Pelor! - for once, I am not the killjoy.)

Hiritus, tending to his pack beside a nearby table, chuckles softly to himself, and watches intently the scene before him.

"I'm not sure he knows what he's getting himself into, Brother.

While I admire your courage, and your aim, Mr. Tatlock: The true test is what happens when they fight you back. I don't doubt that you could hold your own, but the truth is that none of us knows whether you would be an asset or a burden to us, and in what it would take to find out, lies the success or failure of our quest, which is the reason we are together in the first place.

That's not a bad thing; that just is. Your friends on the Nightwatch know you better than we do - why not rejoin them? At some point, you might make a fine adventuring band in your own right.

But this isn't an adventure. So you probably don't really want to live this life. It's not all rings, inns and weapon-shopping."

Fendric nods his assent silently, a wan smile crossing his features.

 

[DrZombie]

Raven winces at the boy's question, then looks relieved as the rest of the group tries to fend him off.
"Go home to your parents, boy, and get some experience under your belt. The local militia looks fine to me. If I pass here in a few years, and you still feel like adventuring, I might take you up on your offer, but for now, leave it be. I've seen to many lads getting killed before their first real shave."
"And now, gentlemen, and fine lady, offcourse" he says with an exagerated flourishing bow towards Shavah, "Let us leave this town. It's only been a few days, but it feels like I've been stuck here for weeks. I need to see some new horizons."

 

[Guilt Puppy]

Tatlock seems disappointed and confused, but seems to accept your refusal. Shavah steps forward, searching her purse, and hands over a small amount of coin. "A reward for a job well done, lad."

...

With Tatlock and Kester both attended to, it seems time to head off. Aerda suggests South, toward the Glades of Sesphar. It should be a quiet journey, with few major points of civilization in between.

Marching order? Watch order? Any other travelling tendencies you'd like to specify?

(OOC: wings mentioned out-of-game that he was interested in Sesphar next, so unless I've missed some other posted intentions, I'll go with that.

Also, since you're heading off now, time for XP:

Fendric: 2100
Raven: 1950
Nurthk: 1900
Aerda: 1750
Oliver: 1700
Niccolo: 1500)

 

[DrZombie]

[WOOHOO level]

 

[Festy_Dog]

Nurthk sits atop his horse, Gale, and ponders the next destination.

Better to get it over with sooner than later, he thought to himself.

 

[dpdx]

The two Pelorites retrieve their horses (one the conventional way), and prepare to go underway in the staging area outside the stablery.

"Was it the Glades next, Brother? I seem to remember Aerda saying that was closest..."

"Yes, Fendric, I think that's what has been decided," replies Hiritus from atop Justice.

Fendric slides Vespers within whispering range of his cohort. "You do remember in Bethel when we first discussed you coming along, do you not, Brother?"

"Yes..."

"And you do remember what I told you this experience might entail then, also?"

"What are you getting at, Fendric?"

"Yes, well, I just wanted to inform you that when we get assaulted by orcish brigands, or demented snakes and woodchucks, or thralls of the ring, May Pelor Grant Them All a Painful Death, any time from now is usually the time. Be vigilant, Brother."

As if in response, Justice snorts. Which is good, because it deflects attention from Hiritus' eye-rolling and chuckling.