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Message: <blockquote data-quote="hewligan" data-source="post: 4450812" data-attributes="member: 19688">Jovik and Jokad Head EastJokad isn't in the best of moods. In truth, it had all been rather anti-climactic. Perhaps he had been naive to think that his return to Sandpoint would result in one long procession of celebratory drinks, followed by some soft companionship, followed by some more drinks. In the end it had been a little less than that. Sure, the drinks had been ready enough in coming, as had the slaps on the back, and the roast dinners, and, well, more drink, more food, drink ... sleep.But no soft body. Specifically, not even any real recognition from Amryl that she was aware of what a great hero he was. Was she even a Shoanti? His people would have held a great feast in his honour, and there would have been a queue of maidens lining up to partner with him. But therein lay the problem. She was a city girl now. As much as her father shunned his own blood in Sheriff Hemlock, feeling that the man had left his own roots too far behind, become too soft, too civilised, the truth was that his own children had done the same. They had never lived in the wilds. They had never been true Shoanti. And so while Amryl's father saw Jokad as the perfect suitor for his daughter, she had other ideas.I mean, she liked him. She clearly liked him. She blushed each time their eyes caught. But ... but ... well, he wasn't sure, but he thought that perhaps she was looking for something else. Proper courtship.Proper courtship lead to proper marriage. That led to babies, and needing a professions, and old age, and death. He was too young.The thought saddened him. She was a beautiful girl. A REALLY beautiful girl, with ample ... attributes, and bright eyes, and perfect hair, but she was a girl born of the town and she clearly expected things to be done a certain way. Jokad wasn't sure yet how much he liked her. He wasn't sure if he liked her *enough* to make any sort of commitment.And so he left.He walked in to Jovik's room, only remembering to knock at the last moment, when the door was already open, and spoke with his friend. He didn't bother trying to articulate why he wanted to follow the rogue to Fort Rannick, just said that it sounded like a good chance to get some more action into his sword arm. Jovik had laughed, slapped his friend on the shoulder, and told him it would be great to have him along. And he meant it.Jokad's night in the White Deer was a sedate affair. He tried to enter into the banter downstairs, but after a few short words with Amryl's father, he paid up his tab (despite great protestation from the old man that he wouldn't take Jokad's coin, he was, after all, as good as family now, the young barbarian did manage to force him to take a couple of gold to at least spread amongst the staff as tips), and retired to his room. Deep down he hoped he would hear some footsteps pad to his room in the night, that perhaps she would come to him in her desire. Instead he passed a largely sleepless night listening to the creaking of the old building.In the morning the two men met, as agreed, at Sheriff Hemlock's office. Shalelu was waiting for them. Kael too sat drinking from a steaming mug of tar-like coffee. He smiled as they entered, shook his head in mock disdain, and offered up a few words to them."You guys are crazy. A long journey to a remote fort on the very edge of Magnimar's lands, and all you will get is a guarantee that you will get snowed in for the winter. Good luck!"They learned from him that he was to stay. There was much for him to study here. He had met with the apothecary, and with the rather ... esoteric sage, and had paid to rent some study place and equipment from both of them. There were vague promises to communicate at the thaw, to agree either for Kael to join them, or for them to return. Time and circumstance would dictate.Sheriff Hemlock was not best pleased. Indeed, the look of disappointment on his face was all too evident. He tried to persuade them to stay. Explained that Fort Rannick did not really need more men. The ogre threat had been defeated there, and now the fort was in a rather dull consolidation phase, just rooting out remnants in the low hills.Shalelu's incredulous expression had suggested that his reading of the situation was perhaps not quite correct. Wisely, however, she held her tongue.In time he gave up his attempts to convince them to winter in Sandpoint, and slumped, like a defeated man, into his chair.Kael offered a up a last hug, as he pushed you out of the door. "Don't worry lads, I will hold the fort. Well, you can hold the fort, I will watch the town, but you know what I mean!"And so they departed to Fort Rannick.</blockquote>

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