Jannot the Tanner (final post)

[AStott]

Well, that's it so far. I''ve caught up with all the sessions up to the current point. We should play this coming sunday (the 22nd), and the next session should be posted by tuesday or wednesday.

I'd love to hear some feedback from either of you two who are still reading...

 

[peteyfrogboy]

I've gotten spoiled by the rapid fire posts so far, and I'm eagerly awaiting more! It's interesting to see the game in its entirety rather than through the recollection of someone who was there.

In case you're pandering to your audience, there are some of us out here who enjoy a good soap opera as much as a dungeon crawl.

 

[AStott]

I've gotten spoiled by the rapid fire posts so far, and I'm eagerly awaiting more! It's interesting to see the game in its entirety rather than through the recollection of someone who was there.

That's kind of why I left in a lot of the out-of-character comments. It just seemed like it added a lot to the reading experience to catch a bit of the undercurrents happening during play.

In case you're pandering to your audience, there are some of us out here who enjoy a good soap opera as much as a dungeon crawl.

I'll tell you, I really didn't plan a soap opera. Jannot is supposed to be saving the world (of course, not via a dungeon crawl). I can't say I'm disappointed with the direction things have headed, because really it's been quite fun. As you noted from the last session though, I hoping to balance out the focus a little by spending a little less time on the relationship with Celeste. We'll see how that goes.

I don't think that either my player or I really thought through some of the implications of trying to run an adventure with a character like Jannot. I recall a comment that went past, something to the effect that Kent said he'd never try to play a character like this again. It certainly makes it challenging for me to provide an interesting adventure hook when the main character would prefer to just peacefully run a tannery...

 

[AStott]

Well, we played yesterday. Something... interesting happens to Celeste. More information coming, as soon as I get the log file tweaked.

 

[AStott]

Oh yeah, my story hour... Funny how Christmas just drives things out of your head. Well, since it turns out we aren't playing today (Kent is traveling), I'll make an effort to get last weeks log posted here... that is, if I can tear myself away from the Fellowship of the Ring extras...

 

[AStott]

Session 13: A Chill in the Jungle

<Kent> Oaky, since we'll need 3 days of food, On the way out, Jannot will try to get the attention of either Kallick or Yentil.
<Kheldar> Right, on your way down, you catch Yentil with an armload of bed sheets, headed out the door.
<Kent> "Excuse me, but would we be able to get food for the road here or should that be elsewhere?"
<Kheldar> She turns and cranes her head at you over the pile she's carrying. "Oh, um... you might talk to Kallick. He might be able to sell you something."
<Kheldar> "Did you sleep well?"
<Kent> Jannot nodds, "Yes, everything was rather nice. Thank you."
<Kent> With that Jannot will walk back toward the dining/kitchen area that Kallick seems to favor.
<Kheldar> "Oh good. I hope we'll see you back here again some time..."
<Kent> Jannot glances back to her, "Yes, perhaps so." and smiles. Though realistically he doubts he'll see the place again.
<Kheldar> Celeste stays and chats with Yentil while you head in.
<Kent> okay.
<Kheldar> You hear some banging back in the kitchen area.
<Kent> Jannot will approach the kitchen and wait a minute to see if Kallick notices him.
<Kheldar> You can see Kallick in there at a wash tub of some kind. He's scraping away at a pan.
<Kent> Jannot clears his throat.
<Kent> Gently.
<Kheldar> He doesn't seem to hear you.
<Kent> Ah. Louder, "Excuse me, Mister Kallick?"
<Kheldar> He turns, hands held up, dripping. "Eh? Oh. I thought you were finished up."
<Kent> "Oh we finished eating. Actually we're getting ready to leave. I wanted to thank you for the pleasant stay and the good food. But I was also wondering about perhaps getting some food for the road trip ahead of us."
<Kheldar> He grimaces, then shakes the excess water off his hands and wipes them on a grubby towel nearby.
<Kheldar> He stumps over your direction. "I suppose we might be able to do something. What exactly are you looking for?"
<Kent> Jannot moves in a little bit. "Well, we're only going to be between towns for a few days, so, perhaps something cured that doesn't necessarily have to be cooked or heated. And maybe bread..." and Jannot continues to describe normal travel food...
<Kent> Things that don't spoil quickly.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> "I can put something together. Are you leaving now?"
<Kent> "Well, soon. we were going to see if there were any others travelling North that we could group with. Other than that, yes."
<Kheldar> "I don't think you'll find anyone headed that way, or they probably would have been here last night."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Yeah, I suppose you're right."
<Kheldar> "Ok, well, let's say one silver for three days for you and your wife. Some salted beef, some bread and the like."
<Kent> A silver? that seems rather expensive.
<Kent> hm. Well, does Jannot think that that is a reasonable amount?
<Kheldar> Most likely. It's probably the salted beef that drives the price up. Fresh beef is cheaper, but... three days... in hot humid weather?...
<Kent> Yeah... well, Jannot thinks. How much money do they have left?
<Kheldar> Well, there is about nine and a half silver hidden in the bread, and just over one silver in your pouhc.
<Kent> Right. "Well, okay then. but for a silver, I hope that that's some pretty good beef." Jannot says with a smile pulling it out of the pouch.
<Kheldar> "I'll go put it together in a bundle for you." He stalks back into the kitchen.
<Kent> Jannot thanks him and walks back out to the dining area.
<Kheldar> Celeste is still in the entryway talking with Yentil.
<Kent> Jannot won't go too close to them, but will try to hear what they're talking about.
<Kheldar> Sounds like its just ... chit chat, nothing of consequence.
<Kent> okay. Jannot will just wait.
<Kheldar> There is some giggling from the girls, but that's survivable.
<Kent> Jannot will glance over at them when they giggle. A bit nervous at what they're discussing.
<Kheldar> After a bit, Kallick pokes his head back out
<Kheldar> "Ah." He sets a cloth wrapped bundle on the counter.
<Kent> Jannot moves over to him.
<Kent> "Thanks for the hospitality." and moves to shake his hand.
<Kheldar> "Yeah, well..." He awkwardly sticks his hand out and gives you an overly strong shake.
<Kent> "We'll be seeing you on the way back." and with a smile Jannot picks up the bundle and makes to leave.
<Kheldar> "Good." He heads back into the kitchen.
<Kheldar> As you approach the girls, they look over at you. They smile at each other, the Celeste says, "Oh, ok. I know what you mean... Looks like it's time to go though."
<Kent> Jannot slows... "Um... something I should be aware of?" he says with slight concern and a touch of humor.
<Kheldar> Yentil gives you a twinkling smile and heads out the door. Celeste smiles and comes to you. "Oh, just girl talk. You got the food then?"
<Kent> Jannot shows it to her as he stuffs it into his sack. "It's salted beef and such. It should be able to last us to shershel easily, since we still have a little left from before." Shouldering the sack.
<Kheldar> That should give you enough all told for perhaps 4 days of food each.
<Kent> Right.
<Kheldar> The two of you head out and begin walking north, up the road towards the jungle.
<Kent> A little ways from the inn, Jannot will speak without turning "So, what were you and Yentil talking about?"
<Kheldar> "Just talking. She's a nice girl. Kallick is her uncle, did you know that?"
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head and smiles a little.
<Kent> "Yoiu didn't say anything that might give the idea that we weren't married did you?"
<Kheldar> "Of course not... Jon. I told her we were on our way to visit my family up in Miraj."
<Kent> "Okay. I was just wondering. Sorry to pry." he smiles back to her.
<Kent> "That food cost a full silver. We'll have to be sure to be careful. If our journey turns out to be too long, we could eat ourselves to death."
<Kheldar> "Oh... Maybe when we reach Miraj or Freehold we can find some work."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. It dawns on him that they really don't have any strategy or plan other than get out of the area.
<Kheldar> true
<Kent> "Perhaps we should think about that. I'm not sure what I could do other than what I've been trained to do for so long... but that might draw attention."
<Kheldar> "Do you think people in other cities are looking for tanners too? I just figured it was in Zuqar..."
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. "I certainly hope not. If they are... we're going to have a rough time of it."
<Kent> "I can read and write. I could look for work as a teacher or a scribe of sorts... what about you? My wife, Anne?"
<Kheldar> "Well, I'm not sure..."
<Kent> Jannot chuckles. "We shouldn't be thinking about this sort of thing right now. It'll just lower our spirits and make the journey longer. The day is young, " he smells the air and looks at the sky... whats the weather like?
<Kheldar> "Perhaps when we reach Miraj, my relatives can help us some."
<Kheldar> Pretty much no change in the weather since recently.
<Kent> Jannot nodds, "Perhaps. You know, if there are problems other than in just Zuqar, we might not want to involve your family... or maybe only let them know that you have arrived with no mention of me. But like I said, the weather is clear and the air is fresh..."
<Kheldar> She nods. "We can see what things look like when we get there."
<Kent> "Right." Jannot forces a smile, though he's now got something new to worry about - what will they arrive to face at Shershel...
<Kheldar> So, you guys pass into the jungle. It's certainly different from walking through the fields around Zuqar. You have lots of shade now, although the air is definitely wetter.
<Kent> Have we seen any strange animals? or travellers for that matter.
<Kheldar> There are numerous bird calls, and you occasionally spot something skittering off through the trees along the ground.
<Kent> Hm. like snakes or not quick enough to catch a glance?
<Kheldar> No no, larger, like.. wild pig, yeah, that's it. Mostly just moving undergrowth though.
<Kent> Great.
<Kent> Hm.... tasty...
<Kent> Well, Jannot will check to make sure his sword is easy enough to draw if need be, but It's just nature - nothing to fear... much
<Kheldar> Around about a little before mid-day, you hear up ahead of you (out of sight through the trees), the sound of men's voices, and laughter.
<Kent> well.. is the road windy?
<Kheldar> Yes, somewhat. Some of the larger trees it was easier to move the "road" around.
<Kheldar> They're getting closer, and in fact, you spot some glimpses of movement up ahead through the trees.
<Kent> Jannot will stop and motion for Celeste to stop and he'll listen for a bit. Are they moving or stationary?...
<Kent> Hm... Do they sound (from their laughter) to be out of the ordinary? Menacing at all?
<Kheldar> Not that you can tell.
<Kent> Hear the sound of armor? Metal clanking or anything?
<Kheldar> You can hear something metalic, but you realize that they must have an animal of some kind pulling a cart or wagon.
<Kent> Well, they can't be afraid of everyone that comes down the road. After all, what would they do in heavy traffic? Jannot looks to Celeste and shrugs and starts walking forward again, but taking her hand in the process.
<Kheldar> The two of you continue forward, and after just a little bit, you see a pair of men coming towards you. They're at the head of a pair of oxen pulling a pretty fair sized wagon.
<Kheldar> They spot you quickly, and their talk dies out, though they continue moving forwards.
<Kent> Jannot sighs in relief.
<Kent> Jannot smiles to Celeste and then looks the wagon over. Is it just the two of the men and the wagon then?
<Kheldar> Nope, behind them comes another wagon of similar size. This one led by one man, and behind that is another pair of men.
<Kent> Ah, so it's a wagon train then.
<Kheldar> All five of the men are armed, although none appear threatening.
<Kent> good enough. As te two groups draw closer, JAnnot will step aside making sure that there is plenty of road space for the wagons to pass.
<Kheldar> The first man past nods in thanks and greeting, but doesn't say anything on his way by.
<Kent> As the second wagon draws up, Jannot will call up to him, "Hey there, how's the road up north?"
<Kheldar> "Not bad," he says. "No real problems." He continues moving by.
<Kent> Jannot nods to the fellow and will just wait untial they all pass.
<Kheldar> They head on by. After they're just a little past and moving into the trees behind you, you catch someone say something you can't make out, and the whole group of them burst out laughing.
<Kent> "Hm.' well, that was interesting."
<Kent> okay. Jannot looks over to Celeste and smiles, "Shall we continue?"
<Kheldar> She nods and the two of you continue.
<Kheldar> About an hour after you guys stopped for lunch, suddenly something unusual happens.
<Kheldar> Suddenly, Celeste cries out in apparent pain, stumbles, and drops to the ground.
<Kent> Jannot draws his sword and crouches and calls to Celeste "Are you okay?" He spins around looking for attackers.
<Kheldar> There is no response from Celeste. You don't spot anything out of the ordinary in the trees around you, although it occurs to you suddenly that it's completely quiet. No birds or anything seem to be making any noise.
<Kent> Jannot moves to Celeste, still looking around and tries to rouse her or see what's taken her down.
<Kheldar> She is lying on the ground, her eyes wide open. She seems to be shivering.
<Kent> Jannot looks her over, is she injured? is she breathing? Do her eyes track movement?
<Kheldar> You don't spot anything obvious. She is breathing.
<Kheldar> No, she stares straight up, not appearing to notice you.
<Kent> Jannot will examine her a little more closely, any darts or needles that may have been a projectile?
<Kheldar> No, but you realize that she is... COLD... If she stays like this, maybe you could have purchased some fresh meat!
<Kheldar> Cold, as in literally ice-like temperatures.
<Kent> Uh... Jannot sheathes the sword. How far is he from the ocean? How far from the coast is the road at this point?
<Kheldar> You aren't sure. You haven't seen the ocean in a while.
<Kent> Jannot will use his hands to try to warm her face. "Oh Celeste, What's wrong?" Then he picks her up in his arms to try to warm her and mutters a prayer to Qaran to please help her...
<Kent> You don't seem to be warming her so much as she's cooling you.
<Kent> Really...
<Kheldar> As you pick her up though, there is suddenly... well, the trees around you light up as if there is suddenly a bright light somewhere around you.
<Kheldar> In fact, as you check around, you spot... little tendrils of pure light coming out of the tips of Celeste's fingers.
<Kent> How very interesting.
<Kent> Yowsers! Jannot is in shock, but still holds on to her. Is she still cold?
<Kheldar> Oh yes, definitely.
<Kent> Jannot will mutter the prayer for help again.
<Kent> ... and one for protection for himself as well.
<Kheldar> The light that comes from Celeste's fingers seems to puddle on the ground about you. You realize that your legs are beginning to feel a little cold, but you also notice that Celeste has start to shiver less.
<Kent> Wow, how odd. Jannot will stand up holding her.to him, trying to warm her as much as he can.
<Kheldar> Your arms are beginning to feel numb. The cold coming from her is really quite... amazing.
<Kheldar> Imagine cradling an ice sculpture...
<Kent> If he lets her go will she stand or is there any response from her?
<Kheldar> You haven't felt any response from here. Other than her shivers, which are now relatively far between, she is essentially limp.
<Kent> Limp? not frozen?
<Kheldar> No, not frozen. Limp.
<Kent> Jannot will hold on to her until his arms hurt with the cold. Until it feels like he's getting frost bite.
<Kent> And continue to pray for her... actually more like plead.
<Kheldar> The light has stopped coming from her fingers. It still continues to pool around the two of you, feeling something like a cold mist.
<Kheldar> She almost seems a little warmer.
<Kent> Jannot will start to try to talk to her. Ask her if she's okay.... any physical response?
<Kheldar> No, but you realize suddenly that she hasn't been blinking.
<Kent> Um... well, that would only alarm Jannot if she was conscious and she wasn't blinking...
<Kent> Jannot continues.
<Kheldar> After a bit, it does seem like she's warming up a bit. The light around you is beginning to fade somewhat.
<Kent> Wow. Jannot Begins thanking Qaran, but retains hold of Celeste.
<Kheldar> After a bit, the light has completely faded. A bit after that, Celeste has returned to a somewhat normal temperature, although she still is not... responding.
<Kent> Jannot will try to get a response from her. Shaking her. Trying to get her to follow hhim with her eyes. Is she stil breathing?
<Kheldar> Yes, she is still breathing. Slowly, and normally.
<Kent> Huh. How strange. Jannot has NO idea what's going on, but he looks around for an open area to try to put their things and bring Celeste off the road.
<Kheldar> You put your belongings next to a tree, and are just picking up Celeste to move her, when her eyes blink a couple times and her hand comes up to her head, "Whoah, did I trip or something?"
<Kent> Holding Celeste in his arms, Jannot just stares at her for a couple seconds. "Um... Yeah, you fell." He proceeds to carry her off the road to the belongings.
<Kheldar> "Did I black out?"
<Kent> He sets her down on her feet. making sure tha she can stand okay.
<Kheldar> She is a little unsteady, but seems to be ok.
<Kent> "Jannot still stares at her. "Well, I guess you did, but that may have been because you get ... um... well, cold enough to freeze the sea!" he says fairly gently.
<Kheldar> "I... oh no..." She doesn't exactly seem ... surprised.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Jannot steps back and sits down, looking at her. "Is this... normal for you?"
<Kheldar> She gingerly sits down, a few feet away.
<Kent> Jannot just continues to watch her.

<Kheldar> aaaand... enough for today...
<Kent> NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
<Kheldar> Kidding.
<Kent> .... oh boy do I have some choice words...
<Kheldar> [gm busting up laughing over here]
<Kent> man oh man... I WILL crawl right through this phone line...
<Kheldar> Do I look scared? You haven't managed to do that yet despite your numerous threats...
<Kent> .... psjdfj oikd; podkfosd alednk....
<Kheldar> ahem
<Kent> okay.

<Kheldar> She sighs a little, then says, "It hasn't happened in a long time."
<Kheldar> "It used to happen when I was a girl..."
<Kent> Jannot closes his mouth and thinks for a bit... "Are you a mage?"
<Kheldar> good guess
<Kheldar> "No. My parents tried to find out what was happening to me. No one really knew, although of course they couldn't afford any who really might have known. As I got older, it just kind of... stopped happening."
<Kent> "Wow. Well... Um. Is there anything that I can do to help you when it happens? Have you ever tried to ... freeze things other than yourself?" In spite of himself he does smile a little.
<Kheldar> She gives you a rueful smile. "I doubt there's anything you can do but wait. It hasn't ever hurt me."
<Kent> Jannot nodds.
<Kheldar> "When I was a little girl, I used to wish I could do things with magic, but I never could."
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. "Boy, aren't we a pair. So all my... praying and warming... wouldn't help a thing, huh?"
<Kheldar> "That's not really true. It made you feel better. Made you feel like you were helping. That's important."
<Kent> Jannot laughs... "But now it just makes me feel a bit stupid." and he smiles.
<Kheldar> She sees to be completely serious, not smiling. "It's not stupid."
<Kent> "Oh. well. Okay then. Um, thank you. But, how often is this going to happen?"
<Kheldar> "I don't know. When I was younger, they were never more frequent than perhaps once every couple weeks."
<Kent> Jannot sighs to himself. "Have you ever had the ability to know when it was going to happen before it did?"
<Kheldar> She shakes her head. "I wish I did..."
<Kent> After a pause, Jannot asks, "Did your parents find out nothing about the ...phenomenon?"
<Kheldar> "Some... doctors thought I was cursed. Others mumbled something about strange blood. Most just shook their heads and didn't seem to know anything."
<Kent> Jannot stands up, "Well, you gave me quite a start there, but I suppose you're allright. There was also light coming from you. Like it was coming from inside you..."
<Kheldar> "Yes, pooling on the ground... I'm sorry, if I'd known, I would have warned you. It hasn't happened in such a long time."
<Kheldar> She nods, "we'd better get moving again. We were going to make good distance today..."
<Kent> Jannot looks her over and, satisfied that she's come to no harm, picks up his sack and smiles at her. "Well, I was afraid mostly that you were being hurt, but since you're fine..."
<Kent> This little side adventure ... how long was it... 5 minutes?
<Kheldar> hard to guess, with the trees over head, but it felt like maybe between a half bell and a full bell all together.
<Kent> So, Jannot was holding on to an Ice Sculpture for ... 45 minutes?
<Kheldar> No, that counts the ... thawing time, and chatting, etc.
<Kent> okay. So we lost between half an hour to an hour.
<Kent> alright.
<Kent> Jannot mentions to her, "By the way, another thing I noticed when you became.... cold, was that the animal life around the area seemed to know that something was going on. The whole area just became silent... birds and all.
<Kheldar> "That's... interesting..."
<Kent> "Maybe what's happening to you is more than just inside you. dunno..."
<Kheldar> She quietly considers that.
<Kent> And they continue their travels.

<Kheldar> Yes... Now I think I'll call a halt. I need to prepare a couple things for next time.
<Kheldar> heh heh... Interesting events, eh?
<Kent> Um... yeah. That was wierd. Perhaps she's a mage and doesn't know it...
<Kheldar> From what you've heard, mages are made, not born. For the most part it just takes hard work (and perhaps a little innate talent).
<Kent> OH?
<Kheldar> Something like this is not something you've heard or read about.
<Kent> Okay. Didn't realize that. Nothing about... ice elementals? or fairies?
<Kheldar> Well, there are certainly tales about those kinds of things...
<Kheldar> Shoot, you could learn some magic if you had someone to teach you. Although you might not be real good with it.
<Kent> allright.... Okay. I'll bear that in mind.
<Kent> Boy. Just cuoldn't have the trip to Shershel be uneventful, eh?
<Kheldar> Hey, do you really like the alternative of something like that happening ... say in the middle of the eating area at the last inn?
<Kent> well, that's what I'm (Jannot's) concerned about now...
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Maybe investing in a hand-drawn cart would be prudent.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> Just dip her in a bucket of water and sell off the ice for profit... takes care of your money worries...
<Kent> There's an idea. Nice ice for sale 10 cents a pail.

Next time... Fellow Traveler

 

[AStott]

Session 14: Fellow Traveler

<Kheldar> So, It's getting on towards late afternoon that day, when you hear a deeper voice call out from behind you, "Ho there, what news?"
<Kent> Jannot turns around stiffly since he didn't hear anyone approach from behind.
<Kheldar> Looks like it's just one... well... of all things, it must be a dwarf.
<Kent> Huh....
<Kheldar> He is short, and stocky, like you'd expect. He wears a stiff leather jerkin, decorated with apparently "non-professional" etchings in geometric patterns. His beard is neat and orderly, and at his side is a short sword... or at least for you it would be a short sword.
<Kheldar> He also appears to wear a fairly bulky pack.
<Kent> So, this fellow actually caught up to us on the road? travelling the same direction we are?
<Kheldar> Apparently so.
<Kent> Hm. Wouldn't have thought that the shorter legs would have been so quick.
<Kheldar> His shorter legs must be made up for by a greater endurance and less need for breaks.
<Kent> Ah. I see. Yes.
<Kent> Jannot smiles at his fortunate luck at meeting a dwarf for the first time and greets huim, "Hello there sir dwarf. I know of no news. Where do you travel to?" Jannots smile doesn't fade as he approaches the dwarf.
<Kent> Question, Since Jannot was always interested in meeting Dwarves and elves, would there be any cultural - customary greetings or what not that He'd know of?
<Kheldar> Well, first of all, you've probably seen dwarves before, although not too many. Dwarves, while rarer around these parts than elves are sometimes seen, mostly merchants to and from dwarven lands.
<Kent> Oh. I didn't realize that. I figured that they were more... private. and it was just happenstance that there were elves in the city of Zuqar.
<Kheldar> Now, admittedly, you've probably only seen a couple and mostly likely never talked with any. They don't have any kind of "dwarf-town" like the elves have...
<Kent> okay.
<Kheldar> As far as cultural stuff goes, dwarves... well, they can appear friendly initially, but dwarves tend to be... deep. They won't show their true selves except to their friends. The typical "once an enemy, always an enemy and once a friend, always a friend" applies here.
<Kent> okay.
<Kheldar> This dwarf will probably be a little less clannish than typical, being a traveler in the human lands, but don't expect to know exactly what he's thinking.
<Kheldar> "Well, I would suppose that no news is good news when one is on the road."
<Kent> Jannot will offer his hand in greeting.
<Kheldar> The dwarf briefly takes your hand in greeting as he gets closer. He looks you up and down once, then glances briefly at Celeste.
<Kent> "I am travelling with my wife Anne to Miraj. Where are you headed?"
<Kheldar> "It is strange to see... such a small group traveling through the jungles." He glances down at your sword. "You must have some experience traveling this road."
<Kent> Jannot half grins and half grimaces. "No, not really. We're travelling beause I can't find work and we're needing to visit some family... unfortunately."
<Kheldar> "Unfortunately?... What kind of work do you look for?"
<Kent> Jannot pauses and looks the fellow over - no smile. "I'm telling you an awful lot about myself.... what are your travels taking you to or from?"
<Kheldar> The dwarf gives you a hearty grin. "You must be a trader." He begins to move again, up the road. "Come, let's travel while we talk. My name is Danek."
<Kheldar> After a brief moment as the three of you walk, the dwarf continues, "I too am making my way towards Miraj."
<Kent> Jannot's eyebrows rise. "That is fortunate. I was a bit leary of travelling alone on the road since there were no other groups preparing to go. Meeting you today, Danek, is a very good thing, I think." He finishes with a smile.
<Kheldar> "You were so desperate to leave?"
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. "No, not desparate, but with no job, one must make a decision sometimes sooner than they'd like."
<Kheldar> The dwarf nods.
<Kent> Jannot looks over to the dwarf, "If I may ask, I have always been interested in dwarves and your mountain homes. Can you tell me a little of your clan?"
<Kent> While the Dwarf prepares to detail a long, involved history, Jannot smiles toward Celeste and takes her hand.
<Kheldar> The dwarf is quiet for a moment, then asks, "What is your name, traveler?"
<Kent> "Oh, I'm sorry, I'm called Jon."
<Kheldar> "Jon, then... I am not often asked about my clan. What causes you to be interested?"
<Kent> Jannot smiles - something else he can be honest about - "Ever since I was a child I was always a reader. I found that the most interesting books to me involved Dwarves and sometimes elves as well. Since a little boy I wondered about how different your lives must be from our in human cities."
<Kheldar> "I suppose these book described us as a greedy, selfish race, with no care for others outside our clan?"
<Kent> "Oh, not so! If that were the case, would I have been so ready to greet you? Besides, I've read enough books to know that the author only tells you what he thinks about the subject... perhaps not always the truth of a matter.."
<Kheldar> He grunts. "Are you a scholar, Jon?"
<Kent> "I'm something of a librarian... but not much of one. Perhaps why I am not easily able to find work."
<Kent> "I more enjoy reading the books more than anything else."
<Kheldar> He thinks for a bit, then asks, "Are you familiar with Droogan Ironfoot?" This is not a name you've heard before.
<Kent> Jannot frowns, "No, I don't think so. Should I be?"
<Kheldar> "Droogan is our clan father. He worked to hollow out the caves when my clan makes its home. I am merely a trader, bringing to humans some of the minor products of our forges in exchange for some on the things which we can not find in the mountains."
<Kent> Jannot nods, "I'd think that you'd need a cart or a wagon for such things."
<Kheldar> By the way, you have noticed that he's essentially ignored Celeste.
<Kent> Hm. Interesting. okay.
<Kheldar> "Not everything of value comes in a large package. Those things that do, I merely prepare the way for others who deliver on the deals that I make."
<Kent> Jannot smiles. "Of course. I think I see. So where do you travel from?"
<Kheldar> "Far to the south, Jon. Much farther I'm sure than you've traveled."
<Kent> After a pause, Jannot will ask, "Since you've apparently travelled these areas before, is it safe to travel here at night? How late should we travel through the jungle?"
<Kheldar> "It wouldn't be much of a bother to me, but with your weaker eyesight, I should think there would be much difficulty."
<Kent> "What about animals and such?"
<Kheldar> He shrugs, "Sometimes they're a problem and sometimes not. Each day can be different."
<Kent> "So, it would seem that travelling with us might slow you down... However, if you'd travel with us I think we'd be the safer for it. What do you think? May we join together for thiis travel?"
<Kheldar> "I suppose that's true, you might slow me down... How well do you handle that blade?"
<Kent> Jannot shrugs. "To be honest? Not well."
<Kheldar> He shifts his pack, and hitches at his sword belt, "Perhaps I can show you a thing or two about swordplay"
<Kent> Jannot's face brightens, "You could do that? That would be great."
<Kheldar> "It would be a shame for your travels to end prematurely when you still have so much to see and do."
<Kent> Jannots face clouds a little. "Are there ... many such concerns along this particular road?"
<Kheldar> He shrugs, "I've had some pretty quiet trips, and I've had... well, you never know, Jon."
<Kent> Jannot nods, "Well, then I'd gladly accept any tutoring you'd offer in the use of the sword."
<Kheldar> "truely, it's nothing."
<Kent> Celeste has been rather quiet so Jannot looks over to her.
<Kheldar> She appears to be listening, but hasn't wanted in interject anything into the conversation since the dwarf has been speaking with you.
<Kent> He smiles at her. "Isn't it truly fortunate to have encountered another trqaveller, and one so friendly, Anne?"
<Kheldar> "Oh yes, a fellow traveler helps fill the quiet spaces on the road."
<Kheldar> She grins at you and mouths, "He seems nice"
<Kent> Jannot grips her hand just a little firmer and accompanies it with a warm smile. Turning back to Danek He asks, "So, do you think that near sundown, or soon after would be a good time to halt for the evening?"
<Kheldar> He looks over at you, glances at Celeste, then says, "Oh, there is no need to push things. We can certainly stop before sundown."
<Kent> "Thank you. we appreciate it very much." With that Jannot doesn't have much else to say until they stop.
<Kheldar> Right...
<Kheldar> The day goes by... Danek seems to have no complaints about taking (what you are sure must seem to him as) frequent breaks. He makes a good travel companion, occasionally pointing out plants and explaining an interesting fact or tidbit about them.
<Kent> Hm. Seems like an either VERY well travelled fellow or a well educated individual as well.
<Kheldar> He doesn't push about your background, and he doesn't share any of his, but rather finds other neutral subjects to help pass the time.
<Kent> Ah, he's very adept at reading people as well, then... hm.
<Kheldar> During some of the breaks, he shows you some things about holding your weapon, apparently realizing quite quickly that even your own estimate of your inexperience was probably... an inflation of your current abilities...
<Kent> Well, you EXPECT a guy to lie about somethings...
<Kheldar> He seems to pick up on the fact that the two of you slow your pace towards the end of the day, not used to walking for a whole day, and the three of you set up a makeshift camp just off the trail well before sunset.
<Kent> That early, huh?
<Kheldar> Well, probably a bell or so before sunset.
<Kent> Well, I guess it gets pretty dark aafter the sun sets in a forest.
<Kheldar> Very true.
<Kent> Okay, well, .....
<Kheldar> He spreads out a bed roll of his own, and prepares a fire, starting it in a somewhat interesting fashion...
<Kheldar> He pulls something small out of his pack after setting up the wood, does something with it, then suddenly squeezes it, then dumps some glowing tinder into the twigs at the base of the woods. This catches, and much quicker than you would expect, there is a campfire ready.
<Kent> "Wow.Impressive! How does that work?"
<Kheldar> He gives you a somewhat pleased grin. "Do you like that? It's one of the goods that I trade."
<Kheldar> He shows you a cylinder, perhaps two inches long, made of some kind of metal. He pulls it apart into two cylinders. "You place some tinder in here, squeeze the two halves together, and the tinder is ignited. This is just a taste of some of the magic of the dwarves."
<Kent> Jannot ponders the device. "May I see it?"
<Kheldar> The dwarf nods and hands it to you.
<Kent> Jannot will of course look inside and around the thing.
<Kheldar> It's quite unremarkable, just two hollowed out cylinders, each with one end open, one smaller so that it just barely fits inside the other. It's blackened inside.
<Kent> Jannot will look around and pick up a dry leaf or something to insert inside.
<Kheldar> ok
<Kheldar> The dwarf watches with a somewhat amused smile.
<Kent> ... and will duplicate the effort that he saw the dwarf perform.
<Kheldar> You push the halves together, but when you open it up, nothing has happened.
<Kheldar> "You must push it together quite rapidly," explains the dwarf.
<Kent> Ahh...
<Kheldar> You try once again, and this time, when you open it up, the crumbled leaf has ignited, and is smoldering.
<Kent> Jannot will dump the leaf on the fire... So the two halves did they scrape each other like flint and iron?
<Kheldar> The insides actually seem to be made of the same material, and are fairly smooth.
<Kent> Jannot puts the thing back together and hands it back to the dwarf. "Fascinating How much does one of those cost?"
<Kheldar> "I usually sell them for a single gold. They last much longer than your flint and steel, and are much easier to use."
<Kent> Somewhat sadly, Jannot says, "Well, I wish I had a gold to spare for such things... but life soometimes doesn't allow it. I'm afraid my flint will have to last me for a while."
<Kheldar> The dwarf nods and puts the thing away.
<Kent> Jannot will go ahead and move to lay out bedding with Celeste near by... hopefully she's drawn the same conclusion that Jannot has about the ... sleeping arrangement.
<Kheldar> Yes, indeed.
<Kent> Then it dawns on Jannot that there's a way to avoid the sleeping arrangement. To the dwarf, "I was wondering. Should there be a watch through the night? Or is it safe?"
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> The dwarf looks around and tugs at his beard, "I shouldn't worry about it too much. Most of the animals shouldn't bother the fire if we leave them alone."
<Kheldar> [good thought though]
<Kent> "Oh, okay." ... shoot.
<Kheldar> The evening before bed passes mostly quietly. The dwarf does go over some things with your sword, do you continue with Celeste's reading sessions?
<Kent> Yes. Definitely.
<Kent> Though I was wondering if there was a way to arrange the bedding so that there's a little privacy .
<Kheldar> Hmm... not and still be near the fire. You can of course, set up on the opposite side of the fire from the dwarf.
<Kent> Yeah, I suppose that that is the most likely scenario.
<Kheldar> The dwarf appears to find your lesson with Celeste somewhat interesting, and you can tell that he's half paying attention to the two of you while he works with a knife on a portion of his leather armor, scratching away...
<Kent> good enough. Jannot won't mention anything... until the next day.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kheldar> And the night passes fairly quietly.
<Kent> no details?
<Kheldar> Hmm... do we need any?
<Kent> well, The two of then have never slept in such close proximity before. In the very least... they'd be paying very much attention to the person lying very close to them... resulting in likely less than good sleep.
<Kheldar> Yes, true, although knowing that someone else is just *over there* does change the situation from if it was the two of you in a room together.
<Kent> Okay. Good enough, though Jannot will follow up with what is becoming a customary prayer of thanks and protection to Qaran.
<Kheldar> Yes, interesting thing about that, you certainly haven't noticed anything explicit that you feel could be tied back to Qaran since... well, since the dungeons...
<Kent> Well, If Qaran is there and looking out for Jannot... then I'd think that perhaps the god is just biding his time for now. I mean, nothing ever happened BEFORE that would have drawn Jannot to Qaran, but that didn't mean that Qaran wasn't there.
<Kheldar> Certainly true. Interestingly enough, you might recall that Celeste is a follower of Az I believe...
<Kent> Right... Hm. I'd forgotten about that.
<Kheldar> heh... Which means that odds are... she probably views Qaran as being... well, at the very least, not a deity... Although she certainly would agree that he exists as a being of some sort.
<Kent> I'll have to ask her about that some time we don't have a dwarf listening.
<Kent> Do we need to have a discussion on the social effects of the local religions?
<Kheldar> I don't know, do we? Does it matter?
<Kent> I dunno. I might have a misconception of scope here.
<Kheldar> I'm sure it would be interesting, and would certainly help solidify some of the religious system of this world...
<Kheldar> Oh? In what sense?
<Kent> well. Tell me this. Has Jannot been acting ... appropriate?
<Kheldar> Yes, I certainly think so. For followers of the new gods, think of the greeks or romans. In the past, you didn't feel any need to pay homage to any of the gods, after all, what had they done for you. Now, since you feel that Qaran has made a difference in your life, you feel... some sense of... duty? desire to honor him so that he'll help you in the future?
<Kent> okay. Fine. If so, then I'm likely pretty close.
<Kent> Duty, no. Gratitude? Yes. Fear of Kyten? Yes.
<Kheldar> Whatever, the point being that you would have some respect for him.
<Kheldar> heh... quite so.
<Kheldar> So, I think you've got things pretty much in line.
<Kent> ok.
<Kent> We wake up... ?
<Kheldar> Right... let's see...
<Kent> You know, speaking of which, you'd mention it if you thought he had a meaningful dream, of course...
<Kheldar> No dreams lately that have felt significant. Of course, from what you've heard, Qaran is not a god who tends to speak through dreams...
<Kent> Okay. Though, now you have me thinking about Az...
<Kheldar> So, next morning, the dwarf seems... somewhat distant, he doesn't say much. He seems to try to keep his distance from you. You get the impression that he's trying to grant you and... your wife a little privacy.
<Kent> Heh. Interesting. well, travelling on the road - especially wioth company, isn't the place for ... intimacy.
<Kheldar> It occurs to you that you've never read anything about dwarven women traveling...
<Kent> AH!
<Kent> Fine then. He'll deal with it.
<Kheldar> Yes.
<Kheldar> Once breakfast is completed, and the three of you are ready to travel, he seems to lighten up a little, and pretty much returns to his (apparently) normal self.
<Kent> Though. I would like to interject - Jannot after waking and after getting up from the bedrolls will give Celeste a hug and ask her how she slept... hopefully she takes it in stride.
<Kheldar> She returns the hug in a convincing fashion and smiles, "I'm still not used to using the ground for a bed."
<Kent> After the hug, Jannot will smile. "Well, after the travels, no ground for a bed any more."
<Kheldar> She nods, "It will be nice to get to my relatives' house."
<Kent> Jannot smiles and nods and will make to pack up the blankets.
<Kheldar> The three of you are eventually ready to go, and you set out on your second day of travel in the jungle.
<Kent> Cool.
<Kent> Always a good night when you wake up from it.
<Kheldar> yup
<Kheldar> So, the day again passes pretty much without event.
<Kent> When we stop for lunch...
<Kent> Jannot will ask the dwarf, "Danek, I was wondering if you had any ... opinion on what Anne and I were reading through last night."
<Kheldar> ...trouble maker...
<Kent>
<Kheldar> "That's an interesting book you have there. Where'd you get it?"
<Kent> "I bought it from a couple that was down on their luck and trying to come up with money to travel back to their home." Jannot will stop and pull the book out. "Would you care to lok at it? The first section is missing..."
<Kheldar> He looks over at it, but doesn't seem to be particularly interested. "You may keep it... Seems in rather poor shape..."
<Kent> Jannot nods and replaces it in the bag. "Have you heard that story before?"
<Kheldar> "Hard to say, given the short section you covered last night. When was it supposed to have happened?"
<Kent> Jannot shakes his head. "Cant really tell. I don't know the author and the front portion of the book is missing. It's hard to tell if it's true or just a tale."
<Kheldar> "You are teaching your wife to read?"
<Kent> Jannot smiles and nods. "Yes, I love reading and she wanted me to teach her. What kind of person would I be if I didn't want to share with her a lifetime of reading?"
<Kheldar> He pauses... "Interesting."
<Kent> After a time Jannot asks, "Do you enjoy reading, Danek?"
<Kheldar> There is a somewhat long pause.
<Kheldar> "Dwarves keep their stories here," he points to his head. "Not on paper."
<Kheldar> "The things we commit to paper are not for casual interest."
<Kent> Jannot smiles, "You must know a great many stories then. Perhaps we might hear one over a fire?"
<Kheldar> He grins. "What kind of story would you like to hear?"
<Kent> Jannot laughs a little. "Something adventurous... epic. With gods and men battling."
<Kent> "... for the fate of the world." He finishes with a big smile.
<Kheldar> "Ah..."
<Kheldar> "Perhaps I should tell you of Garan and Galith, two unusual dwarves of the Amil clan..."
<Kent> Jannot replies, "Sure, sounds great."
<Kheldar> "Garan and Galith were brothers, and mighty members of their warband." He goes on to tell of some of their mighty deeds. Unusually enough, they apparently at some point learned something of human magic, and even more unusual, were able to maintain their high status within the clan.
<Kent> Hm. odd.
<Kheldar> They disappeared during a climactic battle with an ancient demon, deep within the mountains, taking the demon with them to wherever it was they went, saving their clan in the process.
<Kheldar> It's a fairly long tale, and quite interesting.
<Kent> Heroic... although the ending isn't very encouraging.
<Kheldar> He never really mentions whether or not it's true.
<Kent> Jannot, after a pause, says "Thank you for the story. I have read that book we were talking about earlier a number of times. Though I don't know the whole tale, would you like me to tell it?"
<Kheldar> He seems somewhat intrigued by your offer, "I would find that interesting."
<Kent> Jannot looks over to Celeste and smiles and then begins to tell the tale that he's read so often... with it's missing beginning.

<Kheldar> [...what? No additional garnishings to the tale from what I've read in your background?]
<Kent> Ah. Um. Well, I really didn't have much detail in place... I figured that it was something that you'd take an interest in and .... fill in.
<Kheldar> I guess I cheated on my story anyway... I didn't make it up on the spot... ask Sareth sometime...
<Kent> Right. At least it wasn't something that I recognized.
<Kent> That book idea I came up with was... original - however incomplete it is.
<Kheldar> Although, interestingly enough, the official spell list for fangor doesn't include a couple spells supposedly invented by Garan and Galith... not that you'd know that, of course.
<Kent> Heh. I figure that learning spells isn't like going shopping either.
<Kheldar> Although it'd certainly be interesting to see whether or not Celeste has any talent for spellcraft.
<Kent> I know, I know. I was going to get to that eventually... though how and how without arousing suspicion... is to be determined.
<Kheldar> suspicions? by whom?
<Kent> well, if wer're finding out about her... then why not try to figure out about Jannot as well?
<Kent> Trying to fill ing the rest of the prophecy (if there's anything remaining) finding out about Kytens influence in Zuqar and telling authorities...
<Kheldar> Ah...right, I see.
<Kent> there's a lot of things to do...
<Kheldar> Yes, true...
<Kheldar> So, during the day, you do pass two groups of people. One is fairly small, just four men and a couple pack horses. The other is larger, with a couple wagons and a few pack horses as well.
<Kheldar> Both groups eye the dwarf interestedly. Both are reasonably friendly. Neither group poses any problem (unless you care to cause problems)
<Kent> Jannot will of course ask, if the dwarf doesn't beat him to the punch, about the road ahead.
<Kheldar> In each case, you end up asking before the dwarf opens his mouth. There seems to be little of any concern ahead of you.
<Kent> Jannot is growing less reclusive by the day... perhaps this personal progress is not ... wise.
<Kheldar>
<Kent> Anyway, regarding the story that Jannot was telling... the story tells of an unnamed large town that was populated by men, but bordered on elven and dwarven lands...
<Kheldar> ...and did this city have a wall?
<Kent> Not originally, but the inhabitants bacame... strange and built up temporary walls and such just before the elves and dwarves decided that the humans had perfomred some... abomination and had to be eradicated. At which point the battle was fierce... and you know the reast.
<Kent> There you go.
<Kheldar> ... an interesting thing to consider... What would both elves and dwarves find abominable...
<Kent> I believe that that is called a ... hook.
<Kheldar> heh... That or a fable, one of the two..
<Kent> Right. OF course...
<Kheldar> Too bad only I know...
<Kent> entirely up to you.
<Kheldar> Or at least up to the next roleplaying group that happens to start their adventures in a town located near elves and dwarves...
<Kent> oohhh.... That would be a ... bad place to be...
<Kheldar> I happen to like tying my various adventures together into one world as much as possible...
<Kent> Well, then... but... I WANT TO FIND IT!
<Kheldar> Perhaps you can play the bard who wrote the story...
<Kent> HA! I tend to stick to humans... but... anything is possible.
<Kheldar> Who says a human didn't survive... or... embellished the tale a little.
<Kent> Oh, the elves and dwarves didn't stop until every one inside the twon was gone. At a nearly one-for-one cost of life. It was a much harder battle that the elves and dwarves expected - since the townfolk weren't warriors...
<Kheldar> Too bad in the actual event it was the humans destroying the elvish and dwarvish towns...
<Kent> urk... I uh probably wouldn't have wanted to read that story accross the fire from a dwarf.
<Kheldar> Naw... the author changed the names to protect the... uh.. guilty.
<Kent> Hm. that'd be... conniving of you...
<Kheldar> Who me?
<Kent> ... grumbling ensues...
<Kheldar> ...laughter ensues...
<Kent> [insert standard empty threat here]
<Kent>
<Kheldar> heh
<Kheldar> cute

<Kent> So, does Danek enjoy the story?
<Kheldar> He seems to find it amusing... "Wiped out the entire town, did they?"
<Kent> "Well, that's what the book tells. Never heard the sort of thing anywhere else. Have you?"
<Kheldar> "Sounds like a parable of sorts," he comments.
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Yeah, I suppose it could be. I always wanted to find out if the town really existed..."
<Kheldar> "If so, it would have to be located to the north west or south west."
<Kent> Hm. Jannot is stricken with the glimmer of eventually doing travelling for pleasure instead of need now that there's an actual lead.
<Kent> "Really? I've never had the opportunity to ask, but how do the elves and dwarves get along in neighboring lands?"
<Kheldar> He shrugs, "about as well as you might expect for a race with apparently no practicality."
<Kent> Jannot chuckles. "Yeah, I had a conversation... of sorts with an elf once. Very hard to make a point with."
<Kheldar> He nods, "Nice that someone else understands."
<Kheldar> So, the remainder of the day passes much as the previous day, and before you know it, you are camped, presumably within a day's travel of Shershel.
<Kent> Cool. Thankfully, Celeste hasn't had any relapses of... cold shoulder.
<Kheldar> Yes, true, although she did mention that at least in the past they didn't happen all that frequently... of course, things could easily be different now.
<Kent> Right. I meant to ask her about that... but considering company... It'll wait.
<Kheldar> I'm sure it'd be easy enough to have a quiet conversation without being overheard once everyone has bedded down for the night.
<Kent> okay. I wasn't sure i the dwarf would be able to overhear.
<Kheldar> Most likely not, if you keep your voices low.
<Kent> okay. Then, I suppose night comes on and we ... eat and bed?
<Kent> Once bedded... he he he/.. can't help chuckling, Jannot will ask Celeste, "I have been wondering about your ... episode the other night."
<Kheldar> She whispers back, "yes?"
<Kent> "When it's happened in the past was there ever anything else going on around you that might have triggered it? Stress? Perhaps travelling?"
<Kheldar> "Not that I can remember. Mostly my memories from my childhood were reasonably pleasant."
<Kent> After consideration Jannot asks, "When was the first time it happened?"
<Kheldar> "It first happened when I was... maybe seven years old."
<Kent> "Okay, tell me this, do you remember where you lived when it first happened?"
<Kent> Jannot thuinks and says, "Do you think that it was before or after your parents moved into Zuqar?"
<Kent> "Right. I forgot. So, was it just you and your parents then, or did you have sisters and brothers?"
<Kheldar> "It was definitely a few years after we moved to Zuqar."
<Kent> Jannot continues, "Did your parents ever attribute it to your moving into the city?"
<Kheldar> "They figured it was the fluoridation... errr...
<Kent> ..... ha ha.
<Kheldar> "No, they never were able to figure out what it was, and they seemed to me to stop worrying about it when it stopped a few years later.
<Kent> Hm. "Okay. I was trying to figure out in my head if it could be related to the plague way back then, but if it was a few years after... then I'm not sure.
<Kheldar> "I don't think they ever figured it was that. After all, usually the plague caused... death, not strange things like this..."
<Kent> "Sorry to bother you about it."
<Kheldar> "It's ok, I can understand why you'd be curious."
<Kent> "Sorry to bother still. I hope you sleep well tonig
<Kheldar> "You too... Jon."
<Kent> Jannot smiles as he passes into sleep.

Next time... Arriving in Shershel

 

[AStott]

(sigh) Kind of sad to not yet have any readers yet who are loyal enough to bump for me. Guess I'll have to do it myself.

 

[peteyfrogboy]

Oh, um, bump?

 

[AStott]

Session 15: Arriving in Shershel

<Kent> okay. Now where were we?
<Kheldar> I believe the two of you just fell asleep.
<Kheldar> So, what do you do?
<Kent> He he he... humorous... Have nice dreams, maybe?
<Kheldar> Maybe, I'll have to roll to find out... DOH!
<Kheldar> You die.
<Kent> HA! Now you have to come up with something.
<Kheldar> Ok...
<Kent> :>
<Kheldar> In your dream, you find yourself walking through streets that you don't specifically recognize, but they somehow seem strangely familar.
<Kheldar> You feel pleasant. The air is cool. You are relaxed.
<Kheldar> You turn a corner and find yourself in front of a building that is of ... distinctly elvish architecture.
<Kheldar> You look at it for a while...
<Kheldar> ...feeling kind of funny... until at last you walk into the building.
<Kheldar> Inside, everything seems to lose focus, and the only thing that stands out to you is a figure approaching you.
<Kheldar> You realize suddenly that this is the elf from the bookshop back in Zuqar.
<Kheldar> You find yourself without anything to say, and after an awkward pause, he speaks in a dry, hollow voice, "He was convinced that his city was doomed, and so he traveled..."
<Kheldar> He cocks his head somewhat sideways at you.
<Kheldar> Then, after staring at you for a second, he says in a somewhat more lively voice, "Looking for your father's sons, are you?"
<Kheldar> You give a jerk and find yourself awake.
<Kent> Huh.
<Kheldar> It's still before dawn. The fire has burned down low. Everything is quiet and still.
<Kent> No aninmal sounds?
<Kheldar> Not many. It's still fairly early.
<Kent> Jannot will check Celeste.
<Kheldar> She seems to be sleeping peacefully.
<Kent> Hm. "Wierd...' Jannot mutters and lies back down to try to finish his sleep...
<Kheldar> You have a little bit of a hard time getting back to sleep, but at last you drift off, only to be awakened what seems to be a few short seconds later by a nudge, apparently (as you open your eyes) from Celeste.
<Kheldar> "Sleeping in today?"
<Kheldar> You realize that the sun is up.
<Kent> Jannot will sit up. "I suppose I am. I had a strange dream... but, that's just a dream. How late is it?"
<Kheldar> "Not that late, but time to eat some breakfast and get moving. Danek says we should be able to reach Shershel this evening."
<Kent> Jannot will nod. and get up. Pulling on his boots, Jannot replies, "Good. it'll be nice to not sleep on the ground." Jannot might seem a bit less his happy-go-lucky self today.
<Kheldar> She nods, and as you get up, begins to roll up the blankets.
<Kheldar> Danek appears to already be up as well, and is eating something.
<Kent> Troubled by a dream that seems to imply that he's to be doing something.
<Kent> Has Celeste already pulled out some food?
<Kheldar> Yes, it looks like she's left some for you on a rock near the fire.
<Kent> He'll go eat it. While eating he'll observe the dwarf for a little bit.
<Kheldar> As yesterday morning, the dwarf is studiously ignoring you and Celeste. (Not that that's a whole lot different with regards to Celeste.)
<Kent> Hm. persistent.
<Kent> Okay then. After eating, Jannot will help to finish packing up and get ready to go.
<Kent> He's feeling a bit anxious about what to do upon arriving at Shershel... and what'll be waiting for them.
<Kheldar> Things are quickly packed up, dirt dumped on the fire, and soon the three of you are ready to depart.
<Kheldar> The dwarf is quickly back to his normal self, and the day passes...
<Kent> Jannot will, after a bit, ask the dwarf, "Danek, so, how did you sleep last night?"
<Kheldar> "Oh, just fine. One does get used to sleeping outdoors after a while..."
<Kent> Jannot mutters an 'Mmm Hm.' as a reply. He'll move over to Celeste and taking her hand, "And how about you? how was your sleep last night?"
<Kheldar> She gives a somewhat forced grin. "I'll be glad when we get to Miraj. This gets... old."
<Kent> Jannot replies with his own half-smile. "Yeah, I agree, love."
<Kent> And he continues on walking.
<Kheldar> She... graces you with a smile.
<Kent> well, it's something.
<Kent> As yesterday, you pass a couple people headed south along the road, but once again, nothing of great interest occurs.
<Kent> During mid day - perhaps during lunch Jannot will ask Danek, "So, when was the last time you were through these parts? to Shershel?"
<Kheldar> "Well, let's see... I think it much have been about six months or so."
<Kent> "Have there been any significant changes since then?"
<Kheldar> He shakes his head. "No, this is a pretty... backwoods kind of place. Almost like frontier area, but not quite as rough like it is out in the direction of Kalocsa. " He gestures to the west.
<Kheldar> "Shershel and Lagan are both fairly independant places. They don't change a whole lot."
<Kheldar> "I figure they joined the Free Kingdoms mostly for trade purposes."
<Kent> Jannot will nod and not pursue any other discussion in particular.
<Kheldar> right... general pass-the-time chit chat.
<Kent> yeah.
<Kheldar> So, sometime in the late after noon, the three of you break out of the jungle into some open fields. There are a number of farmers out in the fields, presumably hoeing, or what ever farmers do. I don't suppose you've ever been all that fascinated by farmers.
<Kent> Not particularly.
<Kent> Maybe the crop.
<Kheldar> Danek grins and turns to you. "Yeah, we're not that far now. We'll get there before sundown."
<Kent> ... I've heard that before...
<Kent> ... suddenly you hear a metallic clank sound and...
<Kheldar> ...you die.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> You make you way down the road. At one point, Danek asks, "Do you plan to stay in Shershel a few days, or will you just continue on tomorrow?"
<Kent> Hm. Jannot will look at Celeste, "Should we discuss it?"
<Kheldar> She says somewhat quietly, "I don't mind continuing tomorrow. I'd really like to get up to Miraj. Is there anything we actually need to do here?"
<Kent> Jannot thinks for a bit, "I suppose not. Though I might want to visit a church or library this evening to check some things."
<Kheldar> "I suppose we should pick up some food too."
<Kheldar> Danek has mentioned that it's another 3 days (although slightly shorter) up to Lagan.
<Kent> We should hjave a day's rations left.... but it's nice to have a buffer.
<Kent> To Danek, "I suppose we should be going directly. What were your plans?"
<Kheldar> "There's not much of my kind of business here in Shershel. I'm really more interested in Miraj and Freehold and such. I plan to continue on tomorrow."
<Kheldar> "I wouldn't mind continuing to travel with you two..."
<Kent> Jannot smiles, perhaps for the first time today. "That would be very good for us as well. Do you know of a place decent to stay the night?"
<Kheldar> "I think I could find something. How comfortable do you want to be?"
<Kent> Jannot chuckles. "Well, any bed that I don't have to fight off rats will be better than the ground of the last few days, but I'm thinking that my wife might want something a bit nicer than that."
<Kheldar> "Well, I can think of a place. They'll probably charge you... " he thinks for a second. "about 9 copper."
<Kheldar> [that sounds prety low]
<Kheldar> Sounds to you like it's probably a decent place, and for that price, might include breakfast and dinner.
<Kent> Ah. that's 4 times the price of that little place we stayed before. Just trying to get a feel for scope.
<Kheldar> Yup. I don't think that included breakfast either.
<Kent> "I'm sure that that'll be more than adequate, Danek. Lead the way." Jannot says with a halfway honest smile to Celeste.
<Kheldar> "I do have to take care of a couple things in the morning," says Danek. "But that shouldn't take too long, and shouldn't prevent us from reaching Lagan in three days."
<Kent> Jannot will assent and proceed.
<Kheldar> Before long, you are able to spot Shershal down a slope. If you had to guess, you'd say it's probably about a fifth the size of Zuqar.
<Kent> Hm. smaller than I'd imagined. Is it on the coast? with a harbor?
<Kent> So the road has meandered back to within view of the sea then.
<Kheldar> Yes, it is near the coast, but you don't spot a significant harbour. Instead, it appears the the city has grown up right next to a decent sized river. The sea lies perhaps a half mile downstream from the town.
<Kent> okay
<Kheldar> Ok, so the three of you make your way down to Shershel. You have passed a few small farming villages.
<Kent> is it walled?
<Kheldar> There is a... wall of sorts. It's mostly a wooden barricade. Probably intended more to keep out dangerous animals. It's actually set out just a little from the city, so there are a few groves of trees and farms inside the wall.
<Kent> Hm.
<Kent> Elf friendly then...
<Kent> Who knows... ok, probably some people know.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> By the time you reach the wall, there are a decent number of others headed into the city. Mostly farmers and the like, carrying a farming implement or two.
<Kent> What about guard presence?
<Kheldar> Yes, there are guards. You spot a few wooden towers sticking up over the walls, but not all of them appear to be manned.
<Kheldar> There are a few guards at the gate, but they don't seem to be stopping anyone. Just.. watching.
<Kent> Good. That's what they should do. Jannot will just relax a little bit.
<Kheldar> Strangely enough, there seems to be no gate tax.
<Kent> Why is that strange?
<Kheldar> Many cities charge a gate tax of some amount. Usually it goes to help with upkeep on the walls.
<Kent> Jannot will ask Danek about it.
<Kent> "Danek, Is there no gate tax here?"
<Kheldar> He shakes his head, "Naw. Not too many taxes here actually. They've been trying to attract new citizens here for quite some time. It's just a little too out of the way though."
<Kent> ... suspicious...
<Kent> Jannot will continue along.
<Kheldar> Right. You make it past the wall, and are soon into the city proper.
<Kheldar> Danek seems to know what he's doing, which is good, because despite having lived in a much larger city, it's still definitely confusing.
<Kent> Is the volume of traffic larger than Jannot would expect
<Kheldar> It's less than in Zuqar... as to how that would compare with other towns this size... you aren't really sure.
<Kent> well, okay then. Is it a clean city/town?
<Kheldar> Yes, it seems to be a nicer place than Kastor, the town south of Zuqar.
<Kent> oh.
<Kheldar> Kastor is the only other comparably sized town you've been in.
<Kent> But Shershel is larger than Kastor, right?
<Kheldar> Yes. Definitely. Not twice as big, but definitely bigger.
<Kent> okay.
<Kheldar> At last, Danek leads you to a place called the Humble Brewer.
<Kent> Hm. okay. Sounds like a happening place.
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> You head inside. It seems to be a fairly quiet place, but it does seem to be respectable enough.
<Kent> alright. Jannot will let Danek make the first move.
<Kheldar> [unless you have objections, I'll just summarize getting a room and let you get on to visiting a church or whatever else you have planned for the evening...]
<Kent> okay. That's fine.
<Kheldar> With Danek's lead, you and Celeste get a room to share. Sure enough, you are charged 9 copper.
<Kheldar> Leaving you with 1b and 4t in your purse and 9s, 4b in the loaf of somewhat stale bread.
<Kent> ... okay. Jannot will try to make certain that that includes meals and a bath.
<Kheldar> There is a somewhat crude bath available.
<Kent> okay
<Kheldar> Danek gets his own room, and gives you a couple last words before he heads to his room, "I'll be here around 2 bells after sunrise tomorrow. I'll wait for you a bit, but try not to be too late." He grins.
<Kent> Jannot will thank him for the help and then they wil part to their rooms and dinner I presume.
<Kheldar> Yes. The room is actually fairly nice, larger than the "last inn" before the jungle. There are even a pair of single beds that have been pushed together in the room.
<Kent> Good. Very good.
<Kent> How convenient.
<Kent>
<Kheldar> On the other hand, it does mean that you'll get to sleep in a bed rather than ... on the floor.
<Kent> what time of day is it now?
<Kheldar> It's just shortly after sundown.
<Kent> Hm. So there's little traffic around after sundown, eh?
<Kheldar> Well... yeah, not too much.
<Kent> And we haven't eaten yet?
<Kheldar> True.
<Kent> Hm. Hm, hm, hm... perhaps lumbering around at night in a strange city alone wouldn't be the wisest plan of action.
<Kheldar> True. Morning might be better.
<Kheldar> Right.
<Kent> But that'll be pretty short of time. Jannot will try to remeber to wake earlier in the morning to try to hit a temple.
<Kent> And now... on to the room - situating the belongings... eating dinner.
<Kheldar> Yes... oh... Dinner is good. The bath, even better.
<Kent> Nice. Jannot will take the opportunity to wash out his clothes as well.
<Kheldar> Yes, good idea.
<Kheldar> When Celeste returns from her bath, it's apparent that she had the same idea.
<Kheldar> She is pretty relaxed and seems content.
<Kent> Good. Sweaty clothes make a bad pillow.
<Kent> Jannot will check the window and door to make certain that they are sound and then perhaps suggest a reading lesson.
<Kheldar> [paranoid, are we?]
<Kent> [always.]
<Kheldar> Celeste is eager to continue with her lessons, and time seems (as always) to pass by all too quickly.
<Kent> As the finish the reading lesson, Jannot puts the book away and then turns back to Celeste with a half clever smile. "I was wondering, " he walks closer over.
<Kent> [nervous?]
<Kheldar> [never]
<Kheldar> She looks up at you. "Yes?"
<Kent> "When you bathe... if you were to have one of your spells, wouldn't you be in trouble? All stuck there like a fish in winter?" He finishes with a big smile. It was a joke at her expense.
<Kheldar> [funny picture]
<Kheldar> She thinks seriously for a moment. "I'm not sure... it's never happened before."
<Kent> Jannot chuckles and sits next to her. "I was just joking around. Trying to be funny. Sorry to poke fun."
<Kheldar> "Thanks a lot," she says, only semi-serious. "Now I'll be afraid to take a bath."
<Kent> Jannot screws his face up, "Well, don't stop bathing on that account..."
<Kheldar> She grins. "Well, if we're lucky, it won't happen again. Maybe it was just that once..."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Sure. Besides, what can be done to stop it anyway? Might as well not worry about something until it happens. I shouldn't have brought it up." It seemed like Jannot wanted to say something else there, but maybe not.
<Kheldar> She shrugs. "It's ok. We'll just try not to worry about it."
<Kheldar> Then, changing the subject, "What do you think of Danek?"
<Kent> Romantic thoughts out the window, "Oh. Danek? Um, he seems to be a real nice fellow. A bit odd sometimes - like how he acts in the mornings, but very nice to travel with none-the-less. I really appreciate that he's shown me a little of the sword."
<Kheldar> She nods, "That could be useful. I just can't figure out if he hates me, or what his problem is."
<Kent> Jannot replies, "Well, I've always heard about male dwarves travelling and seen them around, but never a female dwarf. Perhaps it's just the way that they interact with each other that we don't understand."
<Kheldar> "I suppose that could be." She sounds uncertain.
<Kent> "Well, maybe you should ask him about something tomorrow - get him to talk to you. I'm sure that he wouldn't ignore you if you asked a direct question. He might open up a litle that way."
<Kheldar> "That's a good idea. I think I'll do that."
<Kheldar> "So, you said something about wanting to go to a temple tomorrow? How about I'll find us some food while you're there. That way we'll be able to get back in time."
<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Good thinking. You do that. I was just going to ask someone about a dream I had last night... it was strange..." and Jannot will describe it to her. And not leave out the tie to the sons of the fathers.
<Kheldar> "Do you thinks it's magic? or something from Qaran?"
<Kent> Jannot shrugs, "I don't know. But it couldn't hurt to check, could it? Or do you think that I'd be leaving a trail by which someone could follow us?"
<Kheldar> "I suppose that if strange stuff has started happening to me, maybe strange stuff will happen to you too," she says somewhat jokingly. Then, more seriously, "I wouldn't worry about leaving a trail. Although I probably wouldn't mention the whole... tanner thing."
<Kent> Huh. Why didn't I think of that.
<Kent> "HA! Not bloody likely. Get myself killed or soething like..."
<Kheldar> [gonna get better at this lying thing, eh?]
<Kent> [na... just at leaving things out.]
<Kent> "Okay, so that's a plan then. we'll try to wake a little early, pack up, have breakfast and then you get food and I'll see a priest."
<Kheldar> She nods. "Sounds... (yawn) good."
<Kent> Jannot pauses, "I'm glad we're in this together... Anne." he smiles.
<Kheldar> "It does make things easier..." (grin) "Jon."
<Kent> Hesitantly, but quickly, he'll give her a peck on the cheek and then stand up. "Well... time to go to sleep."
<Kheldar> [gm raises an eyebrow]
<Kent> [it was the right time.]
<Kheldar>
<Kheldar> "Uh.. yes. I think so."
<Kent> Jannot's palms are sweaty at this point and he rubs them on his pants, "Well, I'll get the light. Um, Sleep well."
<Kheldar> "Yes... pleasant dreams?"
<Kent> Nothing else? How did she react?
<Kheldar> Sorry, she seemed a little surprised, but no apparent objections.
<Kheldar> You get the light while she crawls under the covers of the one bed, leaving the other for you.
<Kent> okay. alright. Yep. Jannot will move his sword to within reach of the bed, which brings him back down to earth a little bit. "What was I thinking !?" he mutters to himself under his breath. crawling into bed.
<Kheldar> [nice]


Next time...