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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Storminator" data-source="post: 4328959" data-attributes="member: 305">Tarn sees the obvious questions both sides have regarding the oddities and appearance of the other and decides that introductions might set a better place to start than demanding explanations. With a look at Roland that says I will handle this, I speak loudly enough that the other companions of this motley crew can hear me. "Tarn Redleaf here, long ago a simple farmer but now a priest in the service of Areon."  I stick out my hand to the one the referred to as Walter. "My sincerest condolences on your friend, I wish we had the power to do something for him. We've had a strange and long road that led us here, I am sure the tale in its entirety would convince you I am mad. Let me introduce my companions." "The Lady Kirenne, paladin in the service of Areon. Roland, my fellow priest and exorcist. Mort, Roland's man and faithful companion, sailor by trade. Pease, I must say I have no explanation of your background, but I suspect we are standing in his native lands. You may have noticed his fondness for riddles." a brief rolling of the eyes to Walter but shielded from Pease. "In short, we are here seeking a faster route to travel across the world. Might we have the pleasure of your names and your purpose here in turn?" TarnRoland nods, happy to let Tarn take the lead.  He looks to the eyes of Kirenne and Mort...hopefully, they are watching these newcomers and their little demon prisoner and that cat.  If so, Roland can turn his attention to their surroundings.  He wouldn't be surprised to see some strange creature rise out of the pond, or the ground, or fall from the sky.  He also fully expects that the ghost of the dead man is going to show up soon if he doesn't get the Prayer of Passing done.RolandDavin gives the priests a long hard look..."pleasantries can wait..." he then turns to Argus and mutters some words under his breath.DavinAs the newcomers dismiss Tarn's greeting, I lean in close to him to say quietly "The only real evil I sense is in the small demon. Though they seem rough, I cannot think they mean ill here."Kirenne"Our journey hasn't been pleasant thus far," says Roland, clearly annoyed, "and it seems yours hasn't either. So either quit....." Roland stops, with an apologetic look to Tarn.RolandArgus leaves Davin to his muttering and walks back to the group. "Look" He says to the priests "I apologize for the harshness of our meeting, but as you can see, we're in kinda dire straights here. Argus is the name. We escaped here through a teleportation circle from a place of such evil, the likes of which you kind hearts have probably never seen. A terrible Angel has pulled my cousin Luthur's life spirit and put it into this imp, and we're hoping to find a way to put him back. We're a little surprised that you guys can't do anything about that because Luthur has been killed and brought back before...by priests. so, you can see why my cousin Davin is a bit wary of The Church. We're not giving up on Luthur yet, and working over this imp may cut some nasty spirits loose in this land, so if ya can't help us, ya might want to stand back. We're not afraid of these bastards, but we probably should be." With a nod to the group, Argus returns to confer with Davin. Argus"These fellows seem to have resources of their own, and certainly their own odd tale.  Roland, I think we let their brother alone, it sounds as if dead is not a completely accurate description of his state. Why don't we see about preparing a decent meal and maybe a cup of tea. Mort, can you see if there is any wood about for a small fire?"  Tarn shakes his head and gives a brief chuckle at the odd thought of having a tea party in Faeryland, but no other intelligent course of action seems to present itself. TarnRoland nods.  "Souls trapped in imps....Argus, you and your friends have made this strange place even stranger.  And I'm curious to hear about what the church did Luthur, but that will have to wait.  C'mon Mort, we'll look for wood and maybe see what we can find to eat around here."  Roland wanders off with Mort, careful to keep one eye behind him.  He looks at Mort and smiles.  "Everywhere we go, it's angels and demons.  What the heck?  More than you bargained for when you signed on with me, eh?  I'd release you, but where would you go in this place?"  He chuckles and claps Mort on the back.  "Stuck with me for now, my friend."Roland"Well, Davin, whaddya think we should do?" asks Argus. "We could try the book, but it's one Evil sumbitch. I doubt I could control it. Without a better spellcaster than me, we could all end up dead or worse." ArgusDavin puts his hand on Argus' should and guides him away from the group and begins speaking under his breath. "I suggest checking in the book."DavinAfter a tense set of introductions, the two groups mutually disassociate. Roland and Mort gather a meager bit of wood. There's precious little alive here in the desert. Roland muses about Mort's 'bargain' but Mort shrugs. "It could be worse. I accused ya o' raising ghosts… but I think yer blessing saved our ship. Now yer trying ta save others." He shrugs. "And yer right," he grins, "I'm stuck!"Davin and Argus plot to use the book on the sly. While they're contemplating the idea, the imp pipes up "good idea that! You wrecked my private version of the Pit, but ya gotta admit I was punching above my weight there for a while! Heh heh!" The imp waggles his eyebrows, sees Davin's menacing glare and squeaks "and yer brother's soul is chafing me in here, can you get it out? Ain't right!"The group settles into an uneasy camp. The dead body of Luthur Catskill weighs on the larger group. It draws eyes like a lodestone.As Tarn heats water for tea and doles out some hard tack, the sun sets. In the strange way of Faeryland, there's no transition. Suddenly the sun is on the horizon, unmoving. Knowing that they are looking for "the place where the sun stands still," the priest half of the group takes the sunset as a good sign -- it used to go right to night. Argus and the rogues notice that they have almost no food, just enough for a night or two down in the dungeons. Their new companions, however, seem to have packed for a long trek…Actions?DM OutBardic Knowledge: The Four CornersLend me your ears friends, for a tall tale! I speak of the fabled Four Corners, a mythic gateway, a crossroads between worlds! What is it? Why a magical place! A place where mortal realms and faery kingdoms overlap with heaven and hell! A place where, if one treads carefully, one can get from one realm to another - easy as walking.Have I been there? No friend, tho I've been close a time or two. You can't just walk up to the Corners you know. It's guarded on all sides. In our mortal realm it can be found in the Haunted Forest, and no man risks those woods lightly my friend. The Four Corners is watched by the Scimitar Guild, as cruel and heartless a band of wizards as any I've met.And if you pass the Scimitars, what do you find? Wonders gentlemen, wonders. The woods give way to a desert, but one mixed with hellfire and angel's light. The fickle desert dragons and the trickiest fey stalk the Corners, and they are not to be trifled with. Oh sure, they've magic and gemstones and faery gold, but if you get some, best run like the wind.But beyond wizards and dragons and elven princelings, incredible danger marks the other pathways. In some ways, the Devil's Road is the worst, for nothing will stop you from treading there. Oh no. It's returning from his path that's hard! Once the Beast has his hooks in you, he's loath to give you up. But what if a dead man knows the secret you need? He may still be in the Pit…Just one more road completes this tale… the Areon Way. Reverence requires I say little, friends. No man walks easily into heaven. Areon's Sentinels see all. His Watchers judge. His Guardians defend the path, lest the monstrous invade his kingdom. And His Avengers sally forth from the Four Corners.How did this marvel of the world come to be? None can say. Many have tried to unravel the mystery. Was it a mighty spell? The site of a great battle between good and evil? Just a weak spot in the Veil? All three? Some things can never be known…</blockquote>

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