For the Love of Tomeri...(23June2004)
- Thread starter simmo
- Start date
simmo
First Post
The mephits are there because Caleb has the 'Elemental Archon'* prestige class from the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. Originally he took the PrC because he liked the idea of having some mephits fawning over him (which they can do in combat sitautions to give him bonuses). At higher levels they will even sacrifice themselves to save Caleb.
However, what he did not count on was that I tend to role-play mephits as being somewhere between Dobby (from Harry Potter) and Gollum (from Lord of the Rings). So in fact they are often less than useful and provide some comic-relief from time to time.
In last night's session the mephits actually did something useful :\ and that write-up should be coming out next week.
Cade actually has the leadership feat and hence he has a half-celestial cohort (Sir Osbourne de Maddox). Serena has Zakar, the hound archon, as a companion who is a skilled tracker and reasonable combatant. The reason why Serena has a hound archon companion will become clear much later in the campaign (even Randomling who is playing Serena does not know why is with her and not serving with the other archons on Mount Celestia).
*PrC: Elemental Archon Source: F&P p190 Reqs: any neutral; Knowledge (nature) 8 ranks, Speak Language (of chosen element); Ability to cast protection from elements as a divine spell; Patron: Akadi, Grumbar, Istishi or Kossuth. I.e. servant of one of the elemental deities
However, what he did not count on was that I tend to role-play mephits as being somewhere between Dobby (from Harry Potter) and Gollum (from Lord of the Rings). So in fact they are often less than useful and provide some comic-relief from time to time.
In last night's session the mephits actually did something useful :\ and that write-up should be coming out next week.
Cade actually has the leadership feat and hence he has a half-celestial cohort (Sir Osbourne de Maddox). Serena has Zakar, the hound archon, as a companion who is a skilled tracker and reasonable combatant. The reason why Serena has a hound archon companion will become clear much later in the campaign (even Randomling who is playing Serena does not know why is with her and not serving with the other archons on Mount Celestia).
*PrC: Elemental Archon Source: F&P p190 Reqs: any neutral; Knowledge (nature) 8 ranks, Speak Language (of chosen element); Ability to cast protection from elements as a divine spell; Patron: Akadi, Grumbar, Istishi or Kossuth. I.e. servant of one of the elemental deities
Last edited:
Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
I think the mephits are hilarious, personally. 
Although actually getting them to DO anything is nigh on impossible.
Hopefully Sir Osbourne will carry his weight a little more in the party.
Although actually getting them to DO anything is nigh on impossible.Hopefully Sir Osbourne will carry his weight a little more in the party.
simmo
First Post
Here are the details that Tallarn posted about Sir Osbourne on Randomlingshouse/forum:
Sir Osbourne de Maddox (Paladin 5)
Str 22 (+6) Dex 11 (+0) Con 21 (+5) Int 13 (+1) Wis 19 (+4) Cha 19 (+4)
BAB +5 Init +0 HD 5d10+25 (hp 57) Fort +13 Ref +5 Will +9 Grapple +11 AC 23 flat 23 touch 10 Move 20ft Fly 60ft
Languages: Planar Common, Celestial
Race: Human half-celestial, Gender: Male, Height 6'1", Weight 189lbs, Hair: Blond, Eyes: Blue, Skin: Perfect, AL LG, Age 39
Skills: Ride +8, Handle Animal +12, Knowledge (religion) +9, Heal +12
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword), Power Attack, Cleave
Paladin: Aura of Good, detect evil, smite evil 2/day (+4melee +5 dmg), divine grace, lay on hands (20hp), aura of courage, divine health, turn undead, mount, spells 1) 1
Half celestial: Wings, natural armour +1, Daylight at will, smite evil 1/day (+5dmg), Spell-like abilities: Protection from evil 3/day, bless, aid, detect evil, cure serious wounds, neutralise poison 1/day; darkvision 60', acid, cold and electricity resistance 10, DR 5/magic, SR 15, +4 save vs poison
Equipment:
+1 large metal shield
+1 full plate
+1 evil outsider bane longsword
Sir Osbourne de Maddox (Paladin 5)
Str 22 (+6) Dex 11 (+0) Con 21 (+5) Int 13 (+1) Wis 19 (+4) Cha 19 (+4)
BAB +5 Init +0 HD 5d10+25 (hp 57) Fort +13 Ref +5 Will +9 Grapple +11 AC 23 flat 23 touch 10 Move 20ft Fly 60ft
Languages: Planar Common, Celestial
Race: Human half-celestial, Gender: Male, Height 6'1", Weight 189lbs, Hair: Blond, Eyes: Blue, Skin: Perfect, AL LG, Age 39
Skills: Ride +8, Handle Animal +12, Knowledge (religion) +9, Heal +12
Feats: Weapon Focus (longsword), Power Attack, Cleave
Paladin: Aura of Good, detect evil, smite evil 2/day (+4melee +5 dmg), divine grace, lay on hands (20hp), aura of courage, divine health, turn undead, mount, spells 1) 1
Half celestial: Wings, natural armour +1, Daylight at will, smite evil 1/day (+5dmg), Spell-like abilities: Protection from evil 3/day, bless, aid, detect evil, cure serious wounds, neutralise poison 1/day; darkvision 60', acid, cold and electricity resistance 10, DR 5/magic, SR 15, +4 save vs poison
Equipment:
+1 large metal shield
+1 full plate
+1 evil outsider bane longsword
simmo
First Post
Part 17 Anakharim, Ride!
chapter 1 The Return of the Caleb
Andrew watched the people in the tavern going about their business and Littleby spent some time studying one of his tomes. When the barmaid finally came around to their table the dwarven scholar ordered a cauldron of shlock with a good helping of curtain dumplings. The barmaid grimaced at the request and went to the kitchen. Littleby put his ion stone back in to his pocket, glad that he did not have to rely on it for sustenance.
In the kitchen the barmaid told the barkeep about the unusual order and the two got in to their usual argument about who was going to prepare the food.
“I think that we can whip something up,” the barkeep stated confidently.
"We, don't have a chef.” The barmaid crossed her arms to indicate that she had no desire to get involved with the cooking.
“Shut up woman.” The barkeep snapped angrily. He motioned for her to bring him some ingredients from the bottom shelf and the surly woman complied.
“We never have a chef,” she complained as she handed him a jar full of congealed matter that defied classification.
“Exactly,” the barkeep replied smugly. He flipped open the pages of the cookery book that he used for all his recipes and chose one that sounded similar to the order given by the dwarven scholar. By pure coincidence the Ogg cookery book actually contained the food that the dwarf was referring to and the barmaid left her husband to his food experimentation.
“Littleby," Serena said as she got up from the table. "I'm going for a walk.”
“Okay,” the dwarf replied. He was busy concentrating on his tome, his stomach rumbling in anticipation of the culinary delights due to be served in the near future.
“I'm going to have a look around town.” Serena left the tavern, crossed the green field and entered town.
Whilst Serena was exploring the town of Ecstasy and Littleby was enjoying his bowls of shlock with extra helpings of curtain dumplings, the mephits were busy on the look out for Caleb's friends.
“Diving in to rubbish is a great adventure," the mineral mephit was amazed at all the things that were thrown away by the residents of the town.
"There are many interesting things here and we could even make some money.” The earth mephit had not got very far in his search of the rubbish heap outside one of the tavern. Their master's instructions had been quite explicit. Pretend to take out the rubbish, whilst looking for Caleb's friends (who were possibly inside the rubbish).
“Oh yes, where I come from looking in to rubbish is a favourite past-time," the ooze mephit agreed excitedly. "It's almost a science of looking in to useless things that may still have some value. You would not believe how often people throw away the secret pass phrases that they've written down on scraps of parchment. The only trick is to find out what the pass phrases relate to.”
Unfortunately for the mephits the tavern whose rubbish they had chosen to go search through happened to be the one that Caleb and Cade were going to for a drink. Caleb happened to spot one of the mephits flying off with something shiny through the window of the tavern and he did not look pleased.
“COME HERE,” the earth genasi commanded after exiting the tavern. The ooze mephit tried to hide the cutlery which it had salvaged behind its back. Caleb waited until the ooze mephit was eagerly floating in front of him and then with a quick jabbing motion punched it straight in the face.
The ooze mephit's nose flattened and it tumbled back through the air. The small creatures slimy wings beat furiously trying to keep it airborne and dirty cutlery scattered in all directions. The other two mephits quickly backed away from the rubbish heap and dropped everything that they were carrying.
“Ooh, he touched me.” The ooze mephit spoke in an even more annoying whining and nasal voice that normal. With its nose flattened the creature's voice sounded like the air escaping from an inflated pig's bladder. “The Master blessed me with his touch.”
“STOP LOOKING IN THE RUBBISH AND START LOOKING FOR MY FRIENDS.” The earth genasi glared at his helpers and they covered from his wrath. Turning his back on them Caleb walked back to the tavern and joined Cade for another drink.
“Aha!” Cade called out from across the bar when Caleb walked in. He'd gone across the tavern to order some more drinks and as he got chatting with the barkeep and some of the locals, he heard the tale of the folks that had arrived in a flying ship. He confirmed that their description matched that of Caleb's friends and he eagerly marched back to where the earth genasi was sitting.
“I've found them, your friends. At least I've found where they are.” The halfling spoke rapidly and excitedly.
“HOW DO YOU KNOW MY FRIENDS?” Caleb had been resting his eyes after downing a pint of the local brew and was a little taken aback by Cade's sudden reappearance.
“The ones that you described to me, I found out where they are.” Cade quickly told his new friend about the gossip going around relating to some people arriving by flying ship. The halfling spoke quickly and Caleb just about managed to keep up.
“OH.” Caleb's chair gave way beneath his weight as he lent back on the chair and the earth genasi suddenly found himself staring across at the ceiling from the ruins of his chair. None of the splinters had got past his thick armour and several of the other patrons were amused to see the tall man lying on his back.
“Their in the Cricketers, a pub called the Cricketers. What Cricket might be I have no idea, but it sounds very stupid name to me.” Cade stood over Caleb, watching the earth genasi slowly get to his feet.
“ISN'T IT A SMALL CHIRPING INSECT?” Caleb asked, having stood up and kicked aside the ruins of the wooden chair.
“Possibly.” Cade was eager to be off and he smiled excitedly at the prospect at further adventure. This Caleb figure was certainly interesting and he was sure to have interesting companions. “Well then shall we go. Come on then lets go.” The halfling was already across the tavern floor and out of the door by the time that Caleb had retrieved his hammer and located the exit.
chapter 1 The Return of the Caleb
Andrew watched the people in the tavern going about their business and Littleby spent some time studying one of his tomes. When the barmaid finally came around to their table the dwarven scholar ordered a cauldron of shlock with a good helping of curtain dumplings. The barmaid grimaced at the request and went to the kitchen. Littleby put his ion stone back in to his pocket, glad that he did not have to rely on it for sustenance.
In the kitchen the barmaid told the barkeep about the unusual order and the two got in to their usual argument about who was going to prepare the food.
“I think that we can whip something up,” the barkeep stated confidently.
"We, don't have a chef.” The barmaid crossed her arms to indicate that she had no desire to get involved with the cooking.
“Shut up woman.” The barkeep snapped angrily. He motioned for her to bring him some ingredients from the bottom shelf and the surly woman complied.
“We never have a chef,” she complained as she handed him a jar full of congealed matter that defied classification.
“Exactly,” the barkeep replied smugly. He flipped open the pages of the cookery book that he used for all his recipes and chose one that sounded similar to the order given by the dwarven scholar. By pure coincidence the Ogg cookery book actually contained the food that the dwarf was referring to and the barmaid left her husband to his food experimentation.
“Littleby," Serena said as she got up from the table. "I'm going for a walk.”
“Okay,” the dwarf replied. He was busy concentrating on his tome, his stomach rumbling in anticipation of the culinary delights due to be served in the near future.
“I'm going to have a look around town.” Serena left the tavern, crossed the green field and entered town.
Whilst Serena was exploring the town of Ecstasy and Littleby was enjoying his bowls of shlock with extra helpings of curtain dumplings, the mephits were busy on the look out for Caleb's friends.
“Diving in to rubbish is a great adventure," the mineral mephit was amazed at all the things that were thrown away by the residents of the town.
"There are many interesting things here and we could even make some money.” The earth mephit had not got very far in his search of the rubbish heap outside one of the tavern. Their master's instructions had been quite explicit. Pretend to take out the rubbish, whilst looking for Caleb's friends (who were possibly inside the rubbish).
“Oh yes, where I come from looking in to rubbish is a favourite past-time," the ooze mephit agreed excitedly. "It's almost a science of looking in to useless things that may still have some value. You would not believe how often people throw away the secret pass phrases that they've written down on scraps of parchment. The only trick is to find out what the pass phrases relate to.”
Unfortunately for the mephits the tavern whose rubbish they had chosen to go search through happened to be the one that Caleb and Cade were going to for a drink. Caleb happened to spot one of the mephits flying off with something shiny through the window of the tavern and he did not look pleased.
“COME HERE,” the earth genasi commanded after exiting the tavern. The ooze mephit tried to hide the cutlery which it had salvaged behind its back. Caleb waited until the ooze mephit was eagerly floating in front of him and then with a quick jabbing motion punched it straight in the face.
The ooze mephit's nose flattened and it tumbled back through the air. The small creatures slimy wings beat furiously trying to keep it airborne and dirty cutlery scattered in all directions. The other two mephits quickly backed away from the rubbish heap and dropped everything that they were carrying.
“Ooh, he touched me.” The ooze mephit spoke in an even more annoying whining and nasal voice that normal. With its nose flattened the creature's voice sounded like the air escaping from an inflated pig's bladder. “The Master blessed me with his touch.”
“STOP LOOKING IN THE RUBBISH AND START LOOKING FOR MY FRIENDS.” The earth genasi glared at his helpers and they covered from his wrath. Turning his back on them Caleb walked back to the tavern and joined Cade for another drink.
“Aha!” Cade called out from across the bar when Caleb walked in. He'd gone across the tavern to order some more drinks and as he got chatting with the barkeep and some of the locals, he heard the tale of the folks that had arrived in a flying ship. He confirmed that their description matched that of Caleb's friends and he eagerly marched back to where the earth genasi was sitting.
“I've found them, your friends. At least I've found where they are.” The halfling spoke rapidly and excitedly.
“HOW DO YOU KNOW MY FRIENDS?” Caleb had been resting his eyes after downing a pint of the local brew and was a little taken aback by Cade's sudden reappearance.
“The ones that you described to me, I found out where they are.” Cade quickly told his new friend about the gossip going around relating to some people arriving by flying ship. The halfling spoke quickly and Caleb just about managed to keep up.
“OH.” Caleb's chair gave way beneath his weight as he lent back on the chair and the earth genasi suddenly found himself staring across at the ceiling from the ruins of his chair. None of the splinters had got past his thick armour and several of the other patrons were amused to see the tall man lying on his back.
“Their in the Cricketers, a pub called the Cricketers. What Cricket might be I have no idea, but it sounds very stupid name to me.” Cade stood over Caleb, watching the earth genasi slowly get to his feet.
“ISN'T IT A SMALL CHIRPING INSECT?” Caleb asked, having stood up and kicked aside the ruins of the wooden chair.
“Possibly.” Cade was eager to be off and he smiled excitedly at the prospect at further adventure. This Caleb figure was certainly interesting and he was sure to have interesting companions. “Well then shall we go. Come on then lets go.” The halfling was already across the tavern floor and out of the door by the time that Caleb had retrieved his hammer and located the exit.
simmo
First Post
chapter 2 Lost & Found: The Centre of the Multiverse
Littleby continued studying his books whilst chewing on the shlock with extra curtain dumplings. Eating this kind of food and trying to have a conversation was next to impossible, since if you stopped chewing the dumplings glued ones teeth together.
The dwarven scholar was busy reviewing some earlier entries in the living tome when he came across an entry that he'd not seen before. It contained detailed instructions on how to destroy a creature fuelled by negation and return an undead creature back to a state of death. Littleby paid careful attention to the details of the entry and some of the other topics that he'd been studying began to make sense. By the time that he'd finished reading, he was confident that he had mastered the enchantment.
Serena was walking around town at a leisurely pace. Everywhere that she went people were friendly and she soaked up the relaxed atmosphere in the town. Just as she was about to head back to the Cricketers, she came across the three mephits.
”Lady Serena, where are the children?" the mineral mephit asked. "That were running amongst your feet?” The ooze and earth mephits both laughed and the seer made a point of ignoring them.
“They're back in Haven,” Serena explained. She realised that the mephits were never far from their master.
“Ah, Haven yes. Where are we now Lady Serena?” the earth mephit asked.
“Ecstasy,” the heart seer replied. She sighed and was about to ask the pesky creatures were Caleb was when the ooze mephit interrupted her.
“Are we still at the centre of the Multiverse, Lady Serena?” The ooze mephit's whining and nasal voice sounded even more high pitched and annoying due to its nose being flattened.
“Yes," Serena stated. She disliked dealing with the mephits and wanted to be away from them quickly. "Have you seen Caleb?”
“Yes Lady,” the mineral mephit answered. The earth mephit chuckled, but the ooze mephit jabbed it in the ribs.
“Where is he?” Serena asked. The seer was getting tired of trying to get information out of the irritating creatures and thought about using her gifts as a seer to locate her friend.
“At the centre of the Multiverse Lady Serena.” All three mephits burst out laughing and soared upwards to avoid the seer who lunged toward them.
“Thank you,” Serena replied acidly.
“Which happens to be two streets away.” The mineral mephit had ceased laughing first and realised the trouble that they could get in to with their master for annoying one of his friends.
“Okay, thanks.” Serena began to walk away.
“Which also happens to be here.” The earth mephit was still laughing at the old joke, whilst the other tow mephits had moved on already.
“Yes, two streets in which direction?” Serena asked as she was about to walk off.
“That way.” The mineral mephit pointed in a random direction.
“No, he went that a way.” The earth mephit shouted in it's hollow voice, sounding like someone trapped beneath the ground.
“Who's in charge, you or me?” The mineral mephit punched the earth mephit, causing it to spin backwards through the air.
“You berk, you always get us lost.” The earth mephit prepared a counter-charge when the ooze mephit intervened.
“No. He went that a way.” The ooze stated confidently and pointed in another direction.
“Yes," the other two mephits agreed. "He went that a way!”
Despite being pointed in the wrong direction by the mephits, Serena did eventually spot Caleb walking through town accompanied by a well dressed halfling. The mephits abandoned their quest to look for Caleb's other friends. Instead they argued amongst themselves whether or not the Dabus in Sigil were real creatures or if they were avatars that the living rebuses used to interact with visitors to the city. In the end their argument was interrupted by an angry shop-keeper who chased them away from his apple cart.
“Caleb!” Serena called out, pleased to be reunited with her friend.
Caleb was oblivious to the arrival of his companion and continued in his long and slow discussion with Cade. “SO IT WILL BE NICE TO SEE MY FRIENDS AGAIN.”
“Caleb!” Serena was standing right next to the tall man, but his attention was focused on his mug and the halfling.
“I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM SINCE THEM FOR AGES NOW,” the earth genasi mused.
“Caleb!” Serena waved her hand in front of the genasi's face in exasperation, but beyond all reason he failed to notice her.
“There's someone shouting at you,” Cade pointed out.
“OH, HELLO.” Caleb was surprised to see his friend standing close by and was somewhat confused as to why she was waving her hands in front of his face.
“What are you doing here?” Serena asked.
“UH, I'VE COME TO FIND... YOU.” Caleb smiled, pleased that he'd succeeded in finding one of his friends.
“Good.” Serena replied. She was curious to find out who the well dressed halfling was and realised that it would take a day or two before it occurred to Caleb to introduce him.
“You're in the Cricketers aren't you?” The halfling smiled at the attractive seer and smiled.
“Yes,” Serena replied.
“Hello I'm Cade,” the halfling held out his hand in greeting and the seer shook it.
“NO SHE IS NOT," the earth genasi corrected the halfling's comment about the Cricketers. "SHE IS STANDING HERE.”
“No but she is staying in the Cricketers.” The halfling smiled at the seer and continued to shake her slender hand. “Hello I'm Cade Highdale.”
“How on Lammed do you know that?” Serena asked.
“Ah, I asked some people.” The halfling stopped shaking Serena's hand and gave her an even more dazzling and friendly smile.
“HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE,” Caleb stated by way of explanation. He was about to introduce the halfling to Serena but he saw that they'd already finished shaking hands.
Ooh, a mind walker how exciting. Cade had been looking the petite seer up and down. Having seen how many crystals she wore and had sown in to her clothing, he came to the conclusion that she was a mentalist of some form.
A magician, Serena replied mentally. Very nice.
“I dabble.” The halfling said out loud. He shrugged his shoulders and tried to smile shyly.
“SO THIS IS CADE, HE HELPED ME TO FIND MY FRIEND." Caleb finished introducing Serena to Cade, unaware that the two had already had an entire conversation. "OH, YOU SORRY. I MEANT YOU.”
"He seems to know his way about,” Serena replied to Caleb. She arched one of her eyebrows, making a mental note to keep an eye on the halfling.
“YES,” the earth genasi had been impressed by the halfling's knowledge of inns and taverns in the town.
“Most interesting." Serena commented. "We've lost Malkir.” The seer added the last statement almost as an after thought, remembering to tell Caleb about Malkir's departure with the old Githzerai mystic.
“Oh dear.” Cade said looking a little forlorn, his smile almost slipping away.
“REALLY?" Caleb asked. He scratched his head, trying to figure out the significance of Serena's last statement. "WELL I AM SURE THAT HE WILL TURN UP AGAIN.”
“Yes, I'm sure that he will.” The seer sighed and there was a brief moment of silence.
“WHICH ONE WAS MALKIR AGAIN?” Caleb asked.
“He's the one who is missing when we get to the pub Caleb," Serena replied. She was annoyed by how slow Caleb could be at understanding things as she was aware that he had a sharp mind and keen intellect when he put some effort in to it. "I found your mephits digging through some rubbish earlier. You may want to rescue them.”
“I THINK THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED DOING THAT NOW.” The earth genasi laughed, remembering the flattened nose of the ooze mephit. His punch had hit it like a battering ram and his fist made a satisfying thump when he struck it.
“My name is Serena Allman.” The seer realised that she had not given the halfling her full name.
“Very pleased to meet you,” the halfling gave her a warm smile and shook her hand again.
Littleby continued studying his books whilst chewing on the shlock with extra curtain dumplings. Eating this kind of food and trying to have a conversation was next to impossible, since if you stopped chewing the dumplings glued ones teeth together.
The dwarven scholar was busy reviewing some earlier entries in the living tome when he came across an entry that he'd not seen before. It contained detailed instructions on how to destroy a creature fuelled by negation and return an undead creature back to a state of death. Littleby paid careful attention to the details of the entry and some of the other topics that he'd been studying began to make sense. By the time that he'd finished reading, he was confident that he had mastered the enchantment.
Serena was walking around town at a leisurely pace. Everywhere that she went people were friendly and she soaked up the relaxed atmosphere in the town. Just as she was about to head back to the Cricketers, she came across the three mephits.
”Lady Serena, where are the children?" the mineral mephit asked. "That were running amongst your feet?” The ooze and earth mephits both laughed and the seer made a point of ignoring them.
“They're back in Haven,” Serena explained. She realised that the mephits were never far from their master.
“Ah, Haven yes. Where are we now Lady Serena?” the earth mephit asked.
“Ecstasy,” the heart seer replied. She sighed and was about to ask the pesky creatures were Caleb was when the ooze mephit interrupted her.
“Are we still at the centre of the Multiverse, Lady Serena?” The ooze mephit's whining and nasal voice sounded even more high pitched and annoying due to its nose being flattened.
“Yes," Serena stated. She disliked dealing with the mephits and wanted to be away from them quickly. "Have you seen Caleb?”
“Yes Lady,” the mineral mephit answered. The earth mephit chuckled, but the ooze mephit jabbed it in the ribs.
“Where is he?” Serena asked. The seer was getting tired of trying to get information out of the irritating creatures and thought about using her gifts as a seer to locate her friend.
“At the centre of the Multiverse Lady Serena.” All three mephits burst out laughing and soared upwards to avoid the seer who lunged toward them.
“Thank you,” Serena replied acidly.
“Which happens to be two streets away.” The mineral mephit had ceased laughing first and realised the trouble that they could get in to with their master for annoying one of his friends.
“Okay, thanks.” Serena began to walk away.
“Which also happens to be here.” The earth mephit was still laughing at the old joke, whilst the other tow mephits had moved on already.
“Yes, two streets in which direction?” Serena asked as she was about to walk off.
“That way.” The mineral mephit pointed in a random direction.
“No, he went that a way.” The earth mephit shouted in it's hollow voice, sounding like someone trapped beneath the ground.
“Who's in charge, you or me?” The mineral mephit punched the earth mephit, causing it to spin backwards through the air.
“You berk, you always get us lost.” The earth mephit prepared a counter-charge when the ooze mephit intervened.
“No. He went that a way.” The ooze stated confidently and pointed in another direction.
“Yes," the other two mephits agreed. "He went that a way!”
Despite being pointed in the wrong direction by the mephits, Serena did eventually spot Caleb walking through town accompanied by a well dressed halfling. The mephits abandoned their quest to look for Caleb's other friends. Instead they argued amongst themselves whether or not the Dabus in Sigil were real creatures or if they were avatars that the living rebuses used to interact with visitors to the city. In the end their argument was interrupted by an angry shop-keeper who chased them away from his apple cart.
“Caleb!” Serena called out, pleased to be reunited with her friend.
Caleb was oblivious to the arrival of his companion and continued in his long and slow discussion with Cade. “SO IT WILL BE NICE TO SEE MY FRIENDS AGAIN.”
“Caleb!” Serena was standing right next to the tall man, but his attention was focused on his mug and the halfling.
“I HAVE NOT SEEN THEM SINCE THEM FOR AGES NOW,” the earth genasi mused.
“Caleb!” Serena waved her hand in front of the genasi's face in exasperation, but beyond all reason he failed to notice her.
“There's someone shouting at you,” Cade pointed out.
“OH, HELLO.” Caleb was surprised to see his friend standing close by and was somewhat confused as to why she was waving her hands in front of his face.
“What are you doing here?” Serena asked.
“UH, I'VE COME TO FIND... YOU.” Caleb smiled, pleased that he'd succeeded in finding one of his friends.
“Good.” Serena replied. She was curious to find out who the well dressed halfling was and realised that it would take a day or two before it occurred to Caleb to introduce him.
“You're in the Cricketers aren't you?” The halfling smiled at the attractive seer and smiled.
“Yes,” Serena replied.
“Hello I'm Cade,” the halfling held out his hand in greeting and the seer shook it.
“NO SHE IS NOT," the earth genasi corrected the halfling's comment about the Cricketers. "SHE IS STANDING HERE.”
“No but she is staying in the Cricketers.” The halfling smiled at the seer and continued to shake her slender hand. “Hello I'm Cade Highdale.”
“How on Lammed do you know that?” Serena asked.
“Ah, I asked some people.” The halfling stopped shaking Serena's hand and gave her an even more dazzling and friendly smile.
“HE'S A FRIEND OF MINE,” Caleb stated by way of explanation. He was about to introduce the halfling to Serena but he saw that they'd already finished shaking hands.
Ooh, a mind walker how exciting. Cade had been looking the petite seer up and down. Having seen how many crystals she wore and had sown in to her clothing, he came to the conclusion that she was a mentalist of some form.
A magician, Serena replied mentally. Very nice.
“I dabble.” The halfling said out loud. He shrugged his shoulders and tried to smile shyly.
“SO THIS IS CADE, HE HELPED ME TO FIND MY FRIEND." Caleb finished introducing Serena to Cade, unaware that the two had already had an entire conversation. "OH, YOU SORRY. I MEANT YOU.”
"He seems to know his way about,” Serena replied to Caleb. She arched one of her eyebrows, making a mental note to keep an eye on the halfling.
“YES,” the earth genasi had been impressed by the halfling's knowledge of inns and taverns in the town.
“Most interesting." Serena commented. "We've lost Malkir.” The seer added the last statement almost as an after thought, remembering to tell Caleb about Malkir's departure with the old Githzerai mystic.
“Oh dear.” Cade said looking a little forlorn, his smile almost slipping away.
“REALLY?" Caleb asked. He scratched his head, trying to figure out the significance of Serena's last statement. "WELL I AM SURE THAT HE WILL TURN UP AGAIN.”
“Yes, I'm sure that he will.” The seer sighed and there was a brief moment of silence.
“WHICH ONE WAS MALKIR AGAIN?” Caleb asked.
“He's the one who is missing when we get to the pub Caleb," Serena replied. She was annoyed by how slow Caleb could be at understanding things as she was aware that he had a sharp mind and keen intellect when he put some effort in to it. "I found your mephits digging through some rubbish earlier. You may want to rescue them.”
“I THINK THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED DOING THAT NOW.” The earth genasi laughed, remembering the flattened nose of the ooze mephit. His punch had hit it like a battering ram and his fist made a satisfying thump when he struck it.
“My name is Serena Allman.” The seer realised that she had not given the halfling her full name.
“Very pleased to meet you,” the halfling gave her a warm smile and shook her hand again.
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simmo
First Post
chapter 3 A Knight Indeed
Serena, Caleb and Cade walked in to the Cricketers just in time to watch Littleby scoff down the last of the curtain dumplings. The barmaid gingerly picked up the bowl, walked through the kitchen and threw it on the rubbish heap at the back. Once the barmaid had left, the three mephits emerged from beneath the rubbish and continued their discussion on the link between the Mercane and Arcane.
“Found rock boy,” Serena joked as she sat down next to Littleby.
“And me,” Cade piped up as he climbed on to the bench next to Serena.
“Oh yes, this is Cade,” the seer waved her hand over in the halfling direction by way of introduction.
“Hello,” Cade greeted the others cheerfully with a bright smile.
“Good day," the dwarven scholar reached across and shook Cade's hand. "Littleby Cakebeard.”
“Pleased to me you, I'm Cade Highdale.” Cade looked over at the other man at the table who had yet to be introduced.
“I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE TORANNA THE GRAY?” Caleb asked, completely serious.
“Ooh, I've heard of Toranna the Gray,” Cade said quickly having heard of her arrest in the Cage. “I heard about that. Was that you? Wow.” He looked at the others in admiration, the chant on the streets was that Toranna was going to dance on the leafless tree in a couple of weeks.
“And your name is?” Cade asked the other man at the table who'd sat quietly watching the proceedings.
“Andrew," the man replied after clearing his throat. "And yourself?”
“Cade Highdale,” the halfling replied brightly.
A middle-aged man with feathery wings and a shining countenance walked in to the tavern. He wore a long sword in an ornate scabbard at his hip and carried a large metal round shield with the symbol of a platinum dragon. The helm that he wore was shaped to resemble the head of a dragon.
The man marched gracefully across the tavern and as soon as he reached the table got down on one knee. He bowed before the somewhat embarrassed halfling.
“Your Highness, thou didst not warn me of thine departure." The paladin spoke softly and respectfully to Cade.
“You looked so busy,” Cade shifted slightly in his seat.
"Verily you Highness, dangers lurk ever present." The warrior rose to his feet and briefly looked at each of the other people at the table. Satisfied that none of them posed an immediate threat to his charge he lowered his guard a little.
“Yes, but I found this basher who was big and burly to hang out with and I'm sure that everyone is too high on druid fluid around here to bother me.” The halfling smiled at his guard and patted him on the arm to reassure him.
“I'm sorry,” Serena said quietly.
“REMEMBER KIDS, DON'T DRINK DRUID FLUID.” The earth genasi laughed loudly and the bench beneath him groaned in protest. The mephits peeked in through the back of the tavern and snuck in over to where their master was sitting. They never tired of watching their master fall through different pieces of tavern furniture.
“They have potions and things and sit on plinths for hours.” Cade couldn't figure out what the barmy sods were thinking about when they sat on those rocks, but to each their own he thought.
"Surely thou has heard the ill-fated tidings Your Highness," the warrior of light continued to stand, declining the seat that was offered to him.
“No,” Cade replied somewhat confused about what Sir Osbourne was talking about.
"The knights have fallen in the defence of those who do march," Sir Osbourne took off his helmet and held it tucked under his arm.
“The knights who are guarding the modron march?” Serena asked, wanting to verify that this was indeed what Sir Osbourne was referring to.
"Most assuredly," Sir Osbourne stated.
“Attacked by whom?” Serena asked, already guessing at what the answer would probably be.
"I know not the names of these foul assailants, that do make a mockery of all who call themselves knights." Sir Osbourne spoke with righteous anger. His blood boiled at the thought of holy knights being struck down and he was eager to smite the evil-doers. "Her Holiness, Lady Toujin, knowest of this things of which you ask."
“Did she mention a symbol, a purple flower?” Serena was fairly certain that the attackers were the Anakharim, but she wanted confirmation.
"Mayhaps my Lady," Sir Osbourne shook his head to indicate that he did not know for certain.
“The Anakharim,” Littleby said after looking up from one of his note books. The dwarven scholar kept extensive notes and had recorded all the information that they'd gathered about the malevolent order of knights.
“That's right, thank you Littleby.” Serena smiled at her friend who was busy looking up what he'd written down about the Anakharim.
"Yea that is assuredly the name that Her Holiness, Lady Toujin, did utter during her sermon." Sir Osbourne looked towards the door as if expecting the priestess of Bahamut to walk through the door at any time. "Her Holiness will be present shortly."
“We have run across them before,” Serena sighed and was somewhat despondent about the reappearance of the evil knights. “I am Serena Allman.” She'd almost forgotten to introduce herself to Sir Osbourne and informed him of the names of the other people at the table.
"I am honoured to make thine acquaintance fair Lady. I am Sir Osbourne de Maddox, Defender of Dawnthrone and Sworn Protector of His Royal Highness Cade Highdale." Sir Osbourne bowed deeply in front of Serena. He looked Caleb and Andrew up and down and bent over to whisper something in Cade's ear. "Your Highness, thine safety cannot be guaranteed with such as these."
“With these people here I'm sure that it will be,” Cade said loudly and he pushed the knight gently aside. He gave Sir Osbourne a reassuring smile and rolled his eyes at the others to indicate that it could be a burden at times to have an over-protective guardian.
"Such is thine will." The knight sighed and stood guard close to the halfling.
“Everyone, this is Sir Osbourne a friend of mine.” Cade went over the name of those gathered around the table quickly and the knight had difficulty keeping up with the halflings quick speech.
“These are the knights who were guarding the march?” Serena asked again.
"Fair Lady the answers to thine questions can be answered by Her Holiness, Lady Toujin," the knight said somewhat apologetically.
“Yes, they are the ones who said that they were going to try to guard them from the Anakharim,” Serena could still picture Sir Vamish clearly and had seen the riders leave early in the day. It was sad to hear that they had been attacked so soon after leaving the town and she hoped that he was OK.
“WHY DO THE MODRONS NEED GUARDING?” Caleb asked. The question had been bothering him since he'd heard about the knights in town shortly after his arrival.
“Good question.” Littleby put aside his notes and drank from his tankard. The question had been had been on his mind as well for awhile and he was glad that the earth genasi had voiced his concerns.
“Perhaps it is to do with hit and run tactics,” Cade suggested.
“The modrons are slow to react to danger." Serena thought about what the Anakharim might be able to do against tens of thousands of marching modrons. "Perhaps if someone were to rush them and retreat quickly they would not be able to deal with it.”
Serena, Caleb and Cade walked in to the Cricketers just in time to watch Littleby scoff down the last of the curtain dumplings. The barmaid gingerly picked up the bowl, walked through the kitchen and threw it on the rubbish heap at the back. Once the barmaid had left, the three mephits emerged from beneath the rubbish and continued their discussion on the link between the Mercane and Arcane.
“Found rock boy,” Serena joked as she sat down next to Littleby.
“And me,” Cade piped up as he climbed on to the bench next to Serena.
“Oh yes, this is Cade,” the seer waved her hand over in the halfling direction by way of introduction.
“Hello,” Cade greeted the others cheerfully with a bright smile.
“Good day," the dwarven scholar reached across and shook Cade's hand. "Littleby Cakebeard.”
“Pleased to me you, I'm Cade Highdale.” Cade looked over at the other man at the table who had yet to be introduced.
“I THOUGHT THAT YOU WERE TORANNA THE GRAY?” Caleb asked, completely serious.
“Ooh, I've heard of Toranna the Gray,” Cade said quickly having heard of her arrest in the Cage. “I heard about that. Was that you? Wow.” He looked at the others in admiration, the chant on the streets was that Toranna was going to dance on the leafless tree in a couple of weeks.
“And your name is?” Cade asked the other man at the table who'd sat quietly watching the proceedings.
“Andrew," the man replied after clearing his throat. "And yourself?”
“Cade Highdale,” the halfling replied brightly.
A middle-aged man with feathery wings and a shining countenance walked in to the tavern. He wore a long sword in an ornate scabbard at his hip and carried a large metal round shield with the symbol of a platinum dragon. The helm that he wore was shaped to resemble the head of a dragon.
The man marched gracefully across the tavern and as soon as he reached the table got down on one knee. He bowed before the somewhat embarrassed halfling.
“Your Highness, thou didst not warn me of thine departure." The paladin spoke softly and respectfully to Cade.
“You looked so busy,” Cade shifted slightly in his seat.
"Verily you Highness, dangers lurk ever present." The warrior rose to his feet and briefly looked at each of the other people at the table. Satisfied that none of them posed an immediate threat to his charge he lowered his guard a little.
“Yes, but I found this basher who was big and burly to hang out with and I'm sure that everyone is too high on druid fluid around here to bother me.” The halfling smiled at his guard and patted him on the arm to reassure him.
“I'm sorry,” Serena said quietly.
“REMEMBER KIDS, DON'T DRINK DRUID FLUID.” The earth genasi laughed loudly and the bench beneath him groaned in protest. The mephits peeked in through the back of the tavern and snuck in over to where their master was sitting. They never tired of watching their master fall through different pieces of tavern furniture.
“They have potions and things and sit on plinths for hours.” Cade couldn't figure out what the barmy sods were thinking about when they sat on those rocks, but to each their own he thought.
"Surely thou has heard the ill-fated tidings Your Highness," the warrior of light continued to stand, declining the seat that was offered to him.
“No,” Cade replied somewhat confused about what Sir Osbourne was talking about.
"The knights have fallen in the defence of those who do march," Sir Osbourne took off his helmet and held it tucked under his arm.
“The knights who are guarding the modron march?” Serena asked, wanting to verify that this was indeed what Sir Osbourne was referring to.
"Most assuredly," Sir Osbourne stated.
“Attacked by whom?” Serena asked, already guessing at what the answer would probably be.
"I know not the names of these foul assailants, that do make a mockery of all who call themselves knights." Sir Osbourne spoke with righteous anger. His blood boiled at the thought of holy knights being struck down and he was eager to smite the evil-doers. "Her Holiness, Lady Toujin, knowest of this things of which you ask."
“Did she mention a symbol, a purple flower?” Serena was fairly certain that the attackers were the Anakharim, but she wanted confirmation.
"Mayhaps my Lady," Sir Osbourne shook his head to indicate that he did not know for certain.
“The Anakharim,” Littleby said after looking up from one of his note books. The dwarven scholar kept extensive notes and had recorded all the information that they'd gathered about the malevolent order of knights.
“That's right, thank you Littleby.” Serena smiled at her friend who was busy looking up what he'd written down about the Anakharim.
"Yea that is assuredly the name that Her Holiness, Lady Toujin, did utter during her sermon." Sir Osbourne looked towards the door as if expecting the priestess of Bahamut to walk through the door at any time. "Her Holiness will be present shortly."
“We have run across them before,” Serena sighed and was somewhat despondent about the reappearance of the evil knights. “I am Serena Allman.” She'd almost forgotten to introduce herself to Sir Osbourne and informed him of the names of the other people at the table.
"I am honoured to make thine acquaintance fair Lady. I am Sir Osbourne de Maddox, Defender of Dawnthrone and Sworn Protector of His Royal Highness Cade Highdale." Sir Osbourne bowed deeply in front of Serena. He looked Caleb and Andrew up and down and bent over to whisper something in Cade's ear. "Your Highness, thine safety cannot be guaranteed with such as these."
“With these people here I'm sure that it will be,” Cade said loudly and he pushed the knight gently aside. He gave Sir Osbourne a reassuring smile and rolled his eyes at the others to indicate that it could be a burden at times to have an over-protective guardian.
"Such is thine will." The knight sighed and stood guard close to the halfling.
“Everyone, this is Sir Osbourne a friend of mine.” Cade went over the name of those gathered around the table quickly and the knight had difficulty keeping up with the halflings quick speech.
“These are the knights who were guarding the march?” Serena asked again.
"Fair Lady the answers to thine questions can be answered by Her Holiness, Lady Toujin," the knight said somewhat apologetically.
“Yes, they are the ones who said that they were going to try to guard them from the Anakharim,” Serena could still picture Sir Vamish clearly and had seen the riders leave early in the day. It was sad to hear that they had been attacked so soon after leaving the town and she hoped that he was OK.
“WHY DO THE MODRONS NEED GUARDING?” Caleb asked. The question had been bothering him since he'd heard about the knights in town shortly after his arrival.
“Good question.” Littleby put aside his notes and drank from his tankard. The question had been had been on his mind as well for awhile and he was glad that the earth genasi had voiced his concerns.
“Perhaps it is to do with hit and run tactics,” Cade suggested.
“The modrons are slow to react to danger." Serena thought about what the Anakharim might be able to do against tens of thousands of marching modrons. "Perhaps if someone were to rush them and retreat quickly they would not be able to deal with it.”
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Mathew_Freeman
Adventurer
Quite why no one had picked up that Sir Osbourne calls Cade "Your Highness" is unclear to me. It's not like he has any particularly Kingly attributes or anything.
It's not like he has any particularly Kingly attributes or anything.
simmo
First Post
Part 18 The Modrons Dilemma
chapter 1 Where Do We Go From Here?
The priestess of Bahamut walked in to the tavern, her white and gold robes flowing around her as she breezed across the room. Her fair features were like those of an high elven maiden, but her webbed hands and bluish skin indicated that she descended from their aquatic cousins. Her golden hair and eyes shone with an inner light, casting a spell over all those who gazed upon her.
"You would be Cade Highdale." Lady Toujin extended her hand to the halfling who kissed it. "Your knight has been telling me about you." She winked at Sir Osbourne and the celestial warrior actually blushed in embarrassment.
"Suren," the halfling replied. He shared a secret smile with her at making Sir Osbourne go red.
"It must be difficult to be separated from your people," the priestess said in a hushed tone so that the others could not hear.
"Yes," Cade replied nervously.
"It is fortuitous that you have come to replace Sir Vamish's who has fallen in his quest to protect the marchers. The healers say that he will recover." Lady Toujin spoke louder so that the others at the table could hear as well. Her voice had a musical quality, almost as if she was singing as she talked. "He is calling for his sister, but apparently she has not returned."
"Sister?" Serena asked in surprise.
Cade Highdale was unsure of what to respond and realised that everyone was looking at him to say something in reply.
"Is his sister also a knight?" Serena asked, having seen that Cade was just as confused as she was.
"Of sorts." The priestess tried to think of how best to describe Greir's role. She was a knight in her own way, but did not ride a horse or wield a lance. "She went to one of the Anakharim basis to find out when they would next attack the march. She has not returned."
"Why do your knight protect the march?" Littleby was keen to hear the priestess' explanation about why the Order of Planar Militants were safe-guarding the marchers across the Outlands.
"They are not my knights," Lady Toujin said with her eyes down-cast. "But I am in agreement with them that the knights should not be preyed upon in this manner." The priestess had been charged to join the knights to provide spiritual guidance, but she was eager to play a more active role.
"Is it normal?" Littleby asked.
"Being preyed upon?" Lady Toujin replied, unsure of whether the scholar was referring to the attackers or not.
"Being guarded," Littleby clarified.
"Yes, the marchers have always been protected when they march through this side of the Outlands." This was the first march that Lady Toujin had witnessed and her superiors had made her study the histories of the previously recorded marches.
"Several hundred years ago when they last passed through here?" Littleby pondered again on why the march had left early. No new evidence had come to light and he was left with his original theory.
"That is correct." The priestess sighed, expressing her frustration at not being able to reveal more. "Now that the leader of the knights has fallen, the Anakharim will continue to prey on the marchers each time that they travel on to the Outlands." Lady Toujin had requested additional assistance from the celestials, but they were strangely reluctant to have anything to do with the modron march. The archons in particular had commented about the possible chaotic taint to the modrons, seeing as how they had broken with the previously established order of marching every 17 cycles.
"That does not sound nice at all." Cade smiled at the beautiful priestess trying to cheer her up.
"No it is not," the priestess replied in a subdued voice.
"IT IS NOT REALLY OUR PROBLEM EITHER IS IT?" Caleb stated. The earth genasi could not see the point why they should help the modrons as they seemed capable enough, especially the higher ranking ones.
"Very, very..." Littleby muttered. "Good point well made Caleb."
"AFTER ALL THE MODRONS DID NOT LOOK PARTICULARLY HELPLESS WHEN THEY FLATTENED YOUR HOME TOWN." The genasi looked at Serena to read her reaction, but the seer appeared lost in thought.
"Stunningly elaborated Caleb," Littleby said in a neutral tone. It was difficult to tell whether he was agreeing with his friend or jesting in a subtle manner.
"It is not technically my home town but that does not mean that I do not care for it." Serena spoke up, she stared back at Caleb accusingly angry at being reminded of the destruction that the modrons had caused. "Whilst it's not our problem I am not sure if we want to add to our extensive list of problems."
"Extensive list of problems," the halfling said excitedly. "You'll have to tell me about them some time."
"In good time," Serena commented, brushing Cade's request aside for the moment. She looked at the dwarven scholar for support in not helping the modrons. "Littleby what do you think?"
"I have to admit that as much as it pains me, I feel that it would be best in our long term interests to protect the modrons." If the modrons are indeed on the look out for signs of those who want to bring back Orcus, the dwarven scholar mused, then we will be helping ourselves by aiding the modrons.
"What about you?" Cade asked Andrew, who'd sat in silence at the end of the table smoking his pipe.
"Well," Andrew replied with a sly grin. "I'm interested in getting back to Sigil."
"We all are," Littleby agreed.
"The route that we take to get there does not bother me so much." As a member of the Free League Andrew did not have any loyalties to the cause of others. "There's no place like Sigil."
"We're not in Sigil any more," one of the mephits shouted up from beneath the table.
"There's no place like Sigil, thank Tomeri." Serena said in agreement to Andrew. The mephits began to sing about a road made of golden bricks, but did not get very far as their master kicked them from beneath the table.
Lady Toujin had sat down next to Littleby and he could smell enticing perfume. "Do you know much about modrons Cade?" The Dwarven scholar asked the halfling traveller in order to get his mind back to the subject of modrons.
"A bit." Cade grinned, pleased to be the centre of attention again. "The usual things. They march around and most of them don't come back. There's a big chap...."
"Primus," Serena supplied the name of the top modron.
"That's the chap," Cade smiled at her appreciatively and lost track of what he was going to say next.
"Have you ever heard of an instance where someone has made a deal with the modrons?" The dwarven scholar had been thinking of how to get the information from the modrons about the possible return of the dead god and wanted to know if the modrons could be bargained with. "Such as we'll protect you and then you can help us."
"Not really they seem quite capable of looking after themselves," the halfling replied cheerfully. He caught the attention of a passing barmaid and ordered another round of drinks.
chapter 1 Where Do We Go From Here?
The priestess of Bahamut walked in to the tavern, her white and gold robes flowing around her as she breezed across the room. Her fair features were like those of an high elven maiden, but her webbed hands and bluish skin indicated that she descended from their aquatic cousins. Her golden hair and eyes shone with an inner light, casting a spell over all those who gazed upon her.
"You would be Cade Highdale." Lady Toujin extended her hand to the halfling who kissed it. "Your knight has been telling me about you." She winked at Sir Osbourne and the celestial warrior actually blushed in embarrassment.
"Suren," the halfling replied. He shared a secret smile with her at making Sir Osbourne go red.
"It must be difficult to be separated from your people," the priestess said in a hushed tone so that the others could not hear.
"Yes," Cade replied nervously.
"It is fortuitous that you have come to replace Sir Vamish's who has fallen in his quest to protect the marchers. The healers say that he will recover." Lady Toujin spoke louder so that the others at the table could hear as well. Her voice had a musical quality, almost as if she was singing as she talked. "He is calling for his sister, but apparently she has not returned."
"Sister?" Serena asked in surprise.
Cade Highdale was unsure of what to respond and realised that everyone was looking at him to say something in reply.
"Is his sister also a knight?" Serena asked, having seen that Cade was just as confused as she was.
"Of sorts." The priestess tried to think of how best to describe Greir's role. She was a knight in her own way, but did not ride a horse or wield a lance. "She went to one of the Anakharim basis to find out when they would next attack the march. She has not returned."
"Why do your knight protect the march?" Littleby was keen to hear the priestess' explanation about why the Order of Planar Militants were safe-guarding the marchers across the Outlands.
"They are not my knights," Lady Toujin said with her eyes down-cast. "But I am in agreement with them that the knights should not be preyed upon in this manner." The priestess had been charged to join the knights to provide spiritual guidance, but she was eager to play a more active role.
"Is it normal?" Littleby asked.
"Being preyed upon?" Lady Toujin replied, unsure of whether the scholar was referring to the attackers or not.
"Being guarded," Littleby clarified.
"Yes, the marchers have always been protected when they march through this side of the Outlands." This was the first march that Lady Toujin had witnessed and her superiors had made her study the histories of the previously recorded marches.
"Several hundred years ago when they last passed through here?" Littleby pondered again on why the march had left early. No new evidence had come to light and he was left with his original theory.
"That is correct." The priestess sighed, expressing her frustration at not being able to reveal more. "Now that the leader of the knights has fallen, the Anakharim will continue to prey on the marchers each time that they travel on to the Outlands." Lady Toujin had requested additional assistance from the celestials, but they were strangely reluctant to have anything to do with the modron march. The archons in particular had commented about the possible chaotic taint to the modrons, seeing as how they had broken with the previously established order of marching every 17 cycles.
"That does not sound nice at all." Cade smiled at the beautiful priestess trying to cheer her up.
"No it is not," the priestess replied in a subdued voice.
"IT IS NOT REALLY OUR PROBLEM EITHER IS IT?" Caleb stated. The earth genasi could not see the point why they should help the modrons as they seemed capable enough, especially the higher ranking ones.
"Very, very..." Littleby muttered. "Good point well made Caleb."
"AFTER ALL THE MODRONS DID NOT LOOK PARTICULARLY HELPLESS WHEN THEY FLATTENED YOUR HOME TOWN." The genasi looked at Serena to read her reaction, but the seer appeared lost in thought.
"Stunningly elaborated Caleb," Littleby said in a neutral tone. It was difficult to tell whether he was agreeing with his friend or jesting in a subtle manner.
"It is not technically my home town but that does not mean that I do not care for it." Serena spoke up, she stared back at Caleb accusingly angry at being reminded of the destruction that the modrons had caused. "Whilst it's not our problem I am not sure if we want to add to our extensive list of problems."
"Extensive list of problems," the halfling said excitedly. "You'll have to tell me about them some time."
"In good time," Serena commented, brushing Cade's request aside for the moment. She looked at the dwarven scholar for support in not helping the modrons. "Littleby what do you think?"
"I have to admit that as much as it pains me, I feel that it would be best in our long term interests to protect the modrons." If the modrons are indeed on the look out for signs of those who want to bring back Orcus, the dwarven scholar mused, then we will be helping ourselves by aiding the modrons.
"What about you?" Cade asked Andrew, who'd sat in silence at the end of the table smoking his pipe.
"Well," Andrew replied with a sly grin. "I'm interested in getting back to Sigil."
"We all are," Littleby agreed.
"The route that we take to get there does not bother me so much." As a member of the Free League Andrew did not have any loyalties to the cause of others. "There's no place like Sigil."
"We're not in Sigil any more," one of the mephits shouted up from beneath the table.
"There's no place like Sigil, thank Tomeri." Serena said in agreement to Andrew. The mephits began to sing about a road made of golden bricks, but did not get very far as their master kicked them from beneath the table.
Lady Toujin had sat down next to Littleby and he could smell enticing perfume. "Do you know much about modrons Cade?" The Dwarven scholar asked the halfling traveller in order to get his mind back to the subject of modrons.
"A bit." Cade grinned, pleased to be the centre of attention again. "The usual things. They march around and most of them don't come back. There's a big chap...."
"Primus," Serena supplied the name of the top modron.
"That's the chap," Cade smiled at her appreciatively and lost track of what he was going to say next.
"Have you ever heard of an instance where someone has made a deal with the modrons?" The dwarven scholar had been thinking of how to get the information from the modrons about the possible return of the dead god and wanted to know if the modrons could be bargained with. "Such as we'll protect you and then you can help us."
"Not really they seem quite capable of looking after themselves," the halfling replied cheerfully. He caught the attention of a passing barmaid and ordered another round of drinks.
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simmo
First Post
chapter 2 I Have A Theory, It Could Be Modrons
"As much as I appreciate that following the march is going to be useful, it's going to take years!” Serena sounded exasperated at the thought of following the modrons at all. “We do not have the time."
"They've been pretty brisk this time," Cade pointed out. The chant-mongers in the Cage had been spreading the word about how far the modrons were progressing and several fortunes had already been won and lost in betting how soon the marchers would reach the next plane.
“I bet that they know of a portal to Sigil." Littleby still clung to the idea of bargaining with the modrons as they had seemed rational and orderly creatures to him.
"I bet that they do too.” Serena conceded the point. “I would not imagine that the march goes through there."
“It may be possible that we can bargain with them for his information." Littleby was busy formulating a plan in his mind as to how to bargain with the modrons for this information.
"Did you have a problem with them the last time that you tried it?" Andrew pointed out, referring to the less than stellar success in the port city of Haven.
"We did not really have much to offer them that time," the dwarven scholar countered.
"What can you offer them now?" Andrew asked, willing to give Littleby's idea a go if it sounded reasonable.
“We could offer to get rid of the berks that are attacking them," Cade suggested. Until he'd arrived in Ecstasy the only modrons he'd seen were rogues in Sigil and they were extremely rare. The halfling was curious to find out more about why the creatures were marching early and also to see if any profit could be gained.
"I don't think that they care. That's just a guess though." The human shrugged his shoulders in resignation. "If you want to try then I am all for it."
"WHAT IS THE POINT?” Caleb asked, who was still bothered by why they should help the modrons in the first place. “IF YOU SAVE A FEW MODRONS HERE - THEN THERE ARE SIMPLY SOME MORE TO GET HACKED TO PIECES IN THE ABYSS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT IS THEIR CHOICE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MARCHING AROUND THE OUTER PLANES."
"I'll answer that question later." The dwarven scholar answered somewhat cryptically. He had a theory, but lacked sufficient evidence to prove it just yet.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE HELPING A GROUP OF POWERFUL MODRONS GET BACK TO MECHANUS." The mephits clapped and cheered in support of their master, commenting on his brilliant reasoning skills. However the others at the table ignored them and concentrated on figuring out if they should help the modrons or not.
"Well the knights of the Order of Planar Militants feel that it necessary." The dwarven scholar knew that this argument was not the best in his arsenal, but he was hoping for Sir Osbourne's and Lady Toujin's support.
"Your Highness, prithee it would honour me greatly to be of service to the holy knights who do seek to keep the modrons safe in their travels.” Sir Osbourne spoke from the heart and was rewarded with a grateful smile from Lady Toujin and a slight frown by Cade.
"Well yes certainly," the halfling said somewhat uncertainly.
"WE'RE NOT KNIGHTS," Caleb pointed out. The only knights that he respected were the Tectonic Knights Of Grumbar and they only rode out to preserve the status quo.
"He meant the knights who were in town," Serena whispered to the earth genasi.
"OH SORRY," Caleb mumbled.
“Thou art not?” Sir Osbourne said with a trace of a smile. “Alas, the misfortune is entirely thine.”
"The question still remains, if we try to strike a bargain with the modrons then what are the terms of the bargain going to be?" Serena brought the discussion back to the original topic, wanting to avoid an argument by Caleb and Sir Osbourne.
"Bargain with the modrons,” Cade mused. “Why not simply help them?"
"They will not care," Andrew replied flatly. He was firmly of the opinion that helping with modrons would not give them any benefits in return.
"You will be doing the right thing," Cade said and Sir Osbourne was nodded in agreement. Unfrotunately none of the others indicated that they agreed as well.
"How do we know where they are going to be attacked?" Andrew asked, realising that the tide of opinion was turning towards helping the modrons.
"We follow them," Cade replied with a hearty laugh.
"So we are going to follow them until they need help." Andrew sounded even more resigned, like an explorer who knows exactly the fate that awaits him in Undermountain.
"They needed help the other day.” Cade reminded the others that Sir Vamish and his knights had not gone very far before they encountered the Anakharim. Therefore it seemed logical that the companions would not have to travel far either. “The good knights helped them out so far. They had a set back and have regrouped and are planning to ride out again today."
"Okay, let me follow Caleb's line of reasoning.” Andrew was not willing to give in just yet. He knew that he had Serena's support and Caleb's but he had not won over the others. “Suppose we go follow them and help them out but they don't help us."
"Doesn't that get us closer to a portal to Sigil?” Cade asked rhetorically. “There's a portal in Faunel."
"Isn't that many days travel away?" Serena countered.
"Yes, but all portals are many days travel away." Cade was aware of the same portals as the others and knew that their choices were travelling to Automata or Faunel for a portal to the Cage. Or waiting in Ecstasy for another nine days for the portal to re-appear.
"Although isn't there a portal here that will open soon?" Serena asked, having forgotten that it would not open for awhile.
"MAY BE WE ARE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION.” Caleb wanted to try approaching the problem from another angle, chipping the boulder on both sides. “WE SHOULD NOT BE ASKING WHY THE KNIGHTS ARE PROTECTING THE MODRONS. WE SHOULD BE ASKING WHY THE OTHER KNIGHTS ARE ATTACKING THE MODRONS? WHAT POSSIBLE REASON WOULD THEY HAVE?"
No one answered the question and there was a uncomfortable pause in the conversation. "Lady Toujin,” Littleby addressed the beautiful priestess of Bahamut. “What do you know of the Anakharim?"
"I do not know a great deal about them but they have recently taken an interest in the modrons." Lady Toujin did indeed know little about the evil order of knights. Her superiors had told her a fair amount of information, but unfortunately she'd been distracted during her studies and could not recall much.
"I wonder why?” Serena asked after having been struck by a sudden and disturbing thought. “And the question is do we connect this to our running theory?"
"They have been taking modrons recently," Lady Toujin stated, remembering that this was something of great concern to her superiors.
"WHAT, CAPTURING THEM?" Caleb was surprised to hear this piece of news as he'd assumed that the Anakharim were simply killing modrons.
"Those poor lawful mites," Cade said with a heartfelt sigh. His smile disappeared momentarily, but not for long.
"WHAT POSSIBLE REASONS WOULD YOU HAVE FOR CAPTURING A MODRON?" Caleb asked the question aloud, although he was simply thinking it through in his mind.
"Paperweights?" Littleby joked. The others laughed, but the mephits did not join in.
"I've been told that when they die they disappear." Now that the subject had turned to the modrons in detail, Lady Toujin found that she was remembering more and more about what she'd been told.
"That's right,” the seer agreed. “They return to the source."
"So if you took them apart to analyse, you would try to avoid destroying them." This all sounded a little too familiar to Littleby, but he could not recall exactly where he'd come across this before.
"That's a horrible thought." Lady Toujin shivered in her white and gold robes. She hugged her arms around her waist and Littleby caught sight of some magical rods and wands that she had tucked in her belt. He recognised one as a rod that could bring back someone from the dead.
"They might be trying to turn them rogue." Serena tried not to think about what the Anakharim might do to the clockwork creatures of law. She did not like them much after what they'd done to Haven, but felt genuine pity at hearing the news that the evil knights might be capturing them for experimentation.
"It could be, but I've never heard of anyone managing it." Lady Toujin had not met many rogue modrons, although she'd recently rescued one that had later become a cleric of Bahamut. The creature called itself Strontium-90.
"WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO ANALYSE THEM?" Caleb asked. He did not much care for the creatures of law and could not see why anyone else might. They had little to do with the element of earth.
"They have great strength and mobility,” Lady Toujin pointed out. “But I've not heard of any who study them."
“Heiron Lifegiver studied modrons once," Littleby stated quietly. The strange sage that he'd met in a closet under the Council of Law building in Automata had written a book on the anatomy and workings of modrons. The dwarven scholar had spent some time with Heiron, before they both had to flee from the Council of Anarchy, led by Jezrene Quickeye.
"There is a line of reasoning that runs to say that everything is connected. What if we connect the Anakharim to anarchists ideology."The seer took in all pieces of the puzzle and tried to see where the malevolent knights fit in to the grand scheme of things.
"There is certainly a linguistic coincidence," Littleby commented. One of the mephits laughed at what it thought was dwarven humour.
"That is what I was thinking.” Serena spoke very slowly as she was formulating how best to explain her ideas as she was speaking. “I have a theory..."
"I hate to interrupt but the suspense is killing me. What is the theory?” Andrew asked in annoyed tone. “You are drawing out your words. I... have... a... theory...."
"Pike it and I'll get to it.” Serena chuckled at Andrew's impatience and smiled to indicate that there were no hard feelings. “Our running theory about why the modrons are marching early. Is it possible that the Anakharim are connected to it?"
"I DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAD A THEORY,” Caleb had been keeping up with the flow of the conversation so far, but felt that he might be starting to fall behind. The sudden mention of a theory left him somewhat confused.
"Oh yes," the seer stated confidently.
"Here she goes," Andrew muttered under his breath.
"We think that the modrons are after the thing that Miranda is after." Serena said, referring to her wicked step-mother.
"WHAT?” Caleb asked, feigning shock. “THEY WANT TO KILL YOU?"
"No," Serena answered, annoyed at Caleb's attempt to make light of her theory.
"SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF TROUBLE TO MARCH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MODRONS AROUND THE PLANES SIMPLY TO KILL YOU." Caleb laughed and his mephits joined in as well. Serena gave him a hard stare, but it had no effect on the earth genasi and some of the others grinned too.
"Perhaps the Anakharim are simply trying to profit from the march, rather than anything greater.." Lady Toujin left the end of her sentence hanging, hoping that these people would fill in the blanks. She heard from Sir Vamish's fevered talk that his sister had sent back reports of Anakharim joining mortal and modron parts and was afraid that the evil knights were planning on building an army of super knights.
"We have to find out more about the Anakharim," Littleby concluded.
"I could get information out of them," the halfling volunteered.
"YES,” Caleb agreed and slapped his fist against his open palm. “HIT THEM AND MAKE THEM TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT."
"I'm a very good talker," Cade stated cheerfully.
"How are you going to get in?" the seer asked. She liked the sound of Caleb's plan, but did not think that it was going to be that straight forward.
"Oh, he goes in and hits them.” Cade said with a smile as he pointed at Caleb. “Once they are unconscious then I can get the information out of them."
"Alright."Serena stated although she was far from convinced.
"NOT AFTER I HIT THEM," Caleb said, retuning Cade's grin.
"This speculation is all well and good but until we actually get there, it's all theory." Lady Toujin hoped that they would come to some kind of decision soon as the knights were riding soon.
"Shall we ride with the knights or..." Littleby looked around to see what everyone's reactions were, but could not tell what the consensus was.
"Come on, these knights are very friendly cutters, honest." Cade saw hat Andrew was not happy with his cheerful determination and winked at him mischievously.
"Well, I'm certainly reassured by his presence." Serena commented as she pointed to Sir Osbourne. "Let me go and get a friend of mine who might be helpful." The seer clutched her locket and disappeared in to her Garden.
"Ooh, does she do that often?" Cade asked excitedly. No one answered his question, but the halfling did not seem to mind.
Since Serena appeared to have agreed that they should help the modrons, this left only Andrew and Caleb opposed to the idea. The earth genasi was not planning to shift his opinion, but Andrew nodded his head in agreement with Littleby.
"Excuse me I just have to go and get some important spell components." Littleby rushed in to the kitchen just in time before the barkeep was about to scrape out the cauldron in which he cooked the shlock with curtain dumplings. "Excuse me,” Littleby asked holding out a new bowl. “Can I have some more of those marvellous curtain dumplings?"
"As much as I appreciate that following the march is going to be useful, it's going to take years!” Serena sounded exasperated at the thought of following the modrons at all. “We do not have the time."
"They've been pretty brisk this time," Cade pointed out. The chant-mongers in the Cage had been spreading the word about how far the modrons were progressing and several fortunes had already been won and lost in betting how soon the marchers would reach the next plane.
“I bet that they know of a portal to Sigil." Littleby still clung to the idea of bargaining with the modrons as they had seemed rational and orderly creatures to him.
"I bet that they do too.” Serena conceded the point. “I would not imagine that the march goes through there."
“It may be possible that we can bargain with them for his information." Littleby was busy formulating a plan in his mind as to how to bargain with the modrons for this information.
"Did you have a problem with them the last time that you tried it?" Andrew pointed out, referring to the less than stellar success in the port city of Haven.
"We did not really have much to offer them that time," the dwarven scholar countered.
"What can you offer them now?" Andrew asked, willing to give Littleby's idea a go if it sounded reasonable.
“We could offer to get rid of the berks that are attacking them," Cade suggested. Until he'd arrived in Ecstasy the only modrons he'd seen were rogues in Sigil and they were extremely rare. The halfling was curious to find out more about why the creatures were marching early and also to see if any profit could be gained.
"I don't think that they care. That's just a guess though." The human shrugged his shoulders in resignation. "If you want to try then I am all for it."
"WHAT IS THE POINT?” Caleb asked, who was still bothered by why they should help the modrons in the first place. “IF YOU SAVE A FEW MODRONS HERE - THEN THERE ARE SIMPLY SOME MORE TO GET HACKED TO PIECES IN THE ABYSS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT IS THEIR CHOICE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO ARE MARCHING AROUND THE OUTER PLANES."
"I'll answer that question later." The dwarven scholar answered somewhat cryptically. He had a theory, but lacked sufficient evidence to prove it just yet.
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE HELPING A GROUP OF POWERFUL MODRONS GET BACK TO MECHANUS." The mephits clapped and cheered in support of their master, commenting on his brilliant reasoning skills. However the others at the table ignored them and concentrated on figuring out if they should help the modrons or not.
"Well the knights of the Order of Planar Militants feel that it necessary." The dwarven scholar knew that this argument was not the best in his arsenal, but he was hoping for Sir Osbourne's and Lady Toujin's support.
"Your Highness, prithee it would honour me greatly to be of service to the holy knights who do seek to keep the modrons safe in their travels.” Sir Osbourne spoke from the heart and was rewarded with a grateful smile from Lady Toujin and a slight frown by Cade.
"Well yes certainly," the halfling said somewhat uncertainly.
"WE'RE NOT KNIGHTS," Caleb pointed out. The only knights that he respected were the Tectonic Knights Of Grumbar and they only rode out to preserve the status quo.
"He meant the knights who were in town," Serena whispered to the earth genasi.
"OH SORRY," Caleb mumbled.
“Thou art not?” Sir Osbourne said with a trace of a smile. “Alas, the misfortune is entirely thine.”
"The question still remains, if we try to strike a bargain with the modrons then what are the terms of the bargain going to be?" Serena brought the discussion back to the original topic, wanting to avoid an argument by Caleb and Sir Osbourne.
"Bargain with the modrons,” Cade mused. “Why not simply help them?"
"They will not care," Andrew replied flatly. He was firmly of the opinion that helping with modrons would not give them any benefits in return.
"You will be doing the right thing," Cade said and Sir Osbourne was nodded in agreement. Unfrotunately none of the others indicated that they agreed as well.
"How do we know where they are going to be attacked?" Andrew asked, realising that the tide of opinion was turning towards helping the modrons.
"We follow them," Cade replied with a hearty laugh.
"So we are going to follow them until they need help." Andrew sounded even more resigned, like an explorer who knows exactly the fate that awaits him in Undermountain.
"They needed help the other day.” Cade reminded the others that Sir Vamish and his knights had not gone very far before they encountered the Anakharim. Therefore it seemed logical that the companions would not have to travel far either. “The good knights helped them out so far. They had a set back and have regrouped and are planning to ride out again today."
"Okay, let me follow Caleb's line of reasoning.” Andrew was not willing to give in just yet. He knew that he had Serena's support and Caleb's but he had not won over the others. “Suppose we go follow them and help them out but they don't help us."
"Doesn't that get us closer to a portal to Sigil?” Cade asked rhetorically. “There's a portal in Faunel."
"Isn't that many days travel away?" Serena countered.
"Yes, but all portals are many days travel away." Cade was aware of the same portals as the others and knew that their choices were travelling to Automata or Faunel for a portal to the Cage. Or waiting in Ecstasy for another nine days for the portal to re-appear.
"Although isn't there a portal here that will open soon?" Serena asked, having forgotten that it would not open for awhile.
"MAY BE WE ARE ASKING THE WRONG QUESTION.” Caleb wanted to try approaching the problem from another angle, chipping the boulder on both sides. “WE SHOULD NOT BE ASKING WHY THE KNIGHTS ARE PROTECTING THE MODRONS. WE SHOULD BE ASKING WHY THE OTHER KNIGHTS ARE ATTACKING THE MODRONS? WHAT POSSIBLE REASON WOULD THEY HAVE?"
No one answered the question and there was a uncomfortable pause in the conversation. "Lady Toujin,” Littleby addressed the beautiful priestess of Bahamut. “What do you know of the Anakharim?"
"I do not know a great deal about them but they have recently taken an interest in the modrons." Lady Toujin did indeed know little about the evil order of knights. Her superiors had told her a fair amount of information, but unfortunately she'd been distracted during her studies and could not recall much.
"I wonder why?” Serena asked after having been struck by a sudden and disturbing thought. “And the question is do we connect this to our running theory?"
"They have been taking modrons recently," Lady Toujin stated, remembering that this was something of great concern to her superiors.
"WHAT, CAPTURING THEM?" Caleb was surprised to hear this piece of news as he'd assumed that the Anakharim were simply killing modrons.
"Those poor lawful mites," Cade said with a heartfelt sigh. His smile disappeared momentarily, but not for long.
"WHAT POSSIBLE REASONS WOULD YOU HAVE FOR CAPTURING A MODRON?" Caleb asked the question aloud, although he was simply thinking it through in his mind.
"Paperweights?" Littleby joked. The others laughed, but the mephits did not join in.
"I've been told that when they die they disappear." Now that the subject had turned to the modrons in detail, Lady Toujin found that she was remembering more and more about what she'd been told.
"That's right,” the seer agreed. “They return to the source."
"So if you took them apart to analyse, you would try to avoid destroying them." This all sounded a little too familiar to Littleby, but he could not recall exactly where he'd come across this before.
"That's a horrible thought." Lady Toujin shivered in her white and gold robes. She hugged her arms around her waist and Littleby caught sight of some magical rods and wands that she had tucked in her belt. He recognised one as a rod that could bring back someone from the dead.
"They might be trying to turn them rogue." Serena tried not to think about what the Anakharim might do to the clockwork creatures of law. She did not like them much after what they'd done to Haven, but felt genuine pity at hearing the news that the evil knights might be capturing them for experimentation.
"It could be, but I've never heard of anyone managing it." Lady Toujin had not met many rogue modrons, although she'd recently rescued one that had later become a cleric of Bahamut. The creature called itself Strontium-90.
"WHY WOULD YOU NEED TO ANALYSE THEM?" Caleb asked. He did not much care for the creatures of law and could not see why anyone else might. They had little to do with the element of earth.
"They have great strength and mobility,” Lady Toujin pointed out. “But I've not heard of any who study them."
“Heiron Lifegiver studied modrons once," Littleby stated quietly. The strange sage that he'd met in a closet under the Council of Law building in Automata had written a book on the anatomy and workings of modrons. The dwarven scholar had spent some time with Heiron, before they both had to flee from the Council of Anarchy, led by Jezrene Quickeye.
"There is a line of reasoning that runs to say that everything is connected. What if we connect the Anakharim to anarchists ideology."The seer took in all pieces of the puzzle and tried to see where the malevolent knights fit in to the grand scheme of things.
"There is certainly a linguistic coincidence," Littleby commented. One of the mephits laughed at what it thought was dwarven humour.
"That is what I was thinking.” Serena spoke very slowly as she was formulating how best to explain her ideas as she was speaking. “I have a theory..."
"I hate to interrupt but the suspense is killing me. What is the theory?” Andrew asked in annoyed tone. “You are drawing out your words. I... have... a... theory...."
"Pike it and I'll get to it.” Serena chuckled at Andrew's impatience and smiled to indicate that there were no hard feelings. “Our running theory about why the modrons are marching early. Is it possible that the Anakharim are connected to it?"
"I DID NOT KNOW THAT WE HAD A THEORY,” Caleb had been keeping up with the flow of the conversation so far, but felt that he might be starting to fall behind. The sudden mention of a theory left him somewhat confused.
"Oh yes," the seer stated confidently.
"Here she goes," Andrew muttered under his breath.
"We think that the modrons are after the thing that Miranda is after." Serena said, referring to her wicked step-mother.
"WHAT?” Caleb asked, feigning shock. “THEY WANT TO KILL YOU?"
"No," Serena answered, annoyed at Caleb's attempt to make light of her theory.
"SEEMS LIKE AN AWFUL LOT OF TROUBLE TO MARCH TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MODRONS AROUND THE PLANES SIMPLY TO KILL YOU." Caleb laughed and his mephits joined in as well. Serena gave him a hard stare, but it had no effect on the earth genasi and some of the others grinned too.
"Perhaps the Anakharim are simply trying to profit from the march, rather than anything greater.." Lady Toujin left the end of her sentence hanging, hoping that these people would fill in the blanks. She heard from Sir Vamish's fevered talk that his sister had sent back reports of Anakharim joining mortal and modron parts and was afraid that the evil knights were planning on building an army of super knights.
"We have to find out more about the Anakharim," Littleby concluded.
"I could get information out of them," the halfling volunteered.
"YES,” Caleb agreed and slapped his fist against his open palm. “HIT THEM AND MAKE THEM TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT."
"I'm a very good talker," Cade stated cheerfully.
"How are you going to get in?" the seer asked. She liked the sound of Caleb's plan, but did not think that it was going to be that straight forward.
"Oh, he goes in and hits them.” Cade said with a smile as he pointed at Caleb. “Once they are unconscious then I can get the information out of them."
"Alright."Serena stated although she was far from convinced.
"NOT AFTER I HIT THEM," Caleb said, retuning Cade's grin.
"This speculation is all well and good but until we actually get there, it's all theory." Lady Toujin hoped that they would come to some kind of decision soon as the knights were riding soon.
"Shall we ride with the knights or..." Littleby looked around to see what everyone's reactions were, but could not tell what the consensus was.
"Come on, these knights are very friendly cutters, honest." Cade saw hat Andrew was not happy with his cheerful determination and winked at him mischievously.
"Well, I'm certainly reassured by his presence." Serena commented as she pointed to Sir Osbourne. "Let me go and get a friend of mine who might be helpful." The seer clutched her locket and disappeared in to her Garden.
"Ooh, does she do that often?" Cade asked excitedly. No one answered his question, but the halfling did not seem to mind.
Since Serena appeared to have agreed that they should help the modrons, this left only Andrew and Caleb opposed to the idea. The earth genasi was not planning to shift his opinion, but Andrew nodded his head in agreement with Littleby.
"Excuse me I just have to go and get some important spell components." Littleby rushed in to the kitchen just in time before the barkeep was about to scrape out the cauldron in which he cooked the shlock with curtain dumplings. "Excuse me,” Littleby asked holding out a new bowl. “Can I have some more of those marvellous curtain dumplings?"
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