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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AStott" data-source="post: 531518" data-attributes="member: 7825">Session 9: What Happened on the Way to the Executioner<Kheldar> As I recall, Jannot had just fallen asleep after a long... question answering session.<Kent> I wonder if he had any interesting dreams...<Kheldar> You wake the next morning feeling extremely stiff and sore, but not feeling too bad compared to what you might have expected after yesterday.<Kent> Huh... right.<Kent> I imagine he wakes in response to... gruel of some sort ?<Kheldar> Something like that. Breakfast is... well breakfast I suppose.<Kheldar> The morning passes slowly and quietly.<Kent> okay... well, are the guards in the romm now any that Jannot saw the previous day?<Kheldar> Nope, as a matter of fact, you haven't seen this pair before.<Kent> Hm.<Kent> well, Jannot waits. He gets yelled at when he talks,...<Kheldar> Yes, true.<Kheldar> It is beginning to get near what you figure is lunch time, when the door opens and six guards enter, dressed (like last time) in primarily black uniforms.<Kent> yay. Jannot will likely slink back away from the door of his cell.<Kheldar> They certainly seem to have come for you.<Kent> well, they COULD have come for someone else.<Kheldar> After a brief discussion again with the jail guard, you are again pulled from your cell and securely bound.<Kent> Oh ... yay!<Kheldar> They take you from the room, but this time you are ac...<Kent> During the short passage to the questioning area, Jannot will mutter a quick plea to Qaran for help and mercy...<Kheldar> Interestingly enough, this time you are led up some stairs.<Kheldar> Then up some more stairs.<Kent> wow... don't want to be too optimistic right off the bat...<Kheldar> Then up some more. You are definitely above the ground floor...<Kent> Oh great... probably going to give him some flying lessons or something...<Kheldar> You are eventually brought to a closed door guarded by another pair of black garbed guards.<Kheldar> Some salutes pass back and forth, during which you notice a ... distinct... lavish expense to your surroundings.<Kent> Hm. Anything with symbols or sigils on it? Perhaps anything he may have read about... poo.<Kheldar> None that you spot.<Kheldar> The door is opened and you are led inside.<Kheldar> The room is... rather amazingly furnished and decorated. Brilliant tapestries hang from the walls. Expensive looking vases are filled with flowers you don't recognize.<Kent> Jannot doesn't bother to hide any expression of surprise.<Kheldar> The room is of a fairly large size. Standing at intervals are perhaps another half dozen guards in black.<Kent> Wow. Exactly how large is this room?<Kheldar> Down at the far end of the room there is a slighly raised area (just up one step).<Kheldar> The room is perhaps... 40 feet wide and... maybe 60 feet long.<Kent> Hm. Big, but not Huge.<Kheldar> Yes.<Kent> height?<Kheldar> Oh, only a little higher than a normal ceiling.<Kent> k<Kheldar> On the raised area there is a pair of cushioned chairs and a small table. Sitting at one of the chairs is a man looking right at you.<Kheldar> He is tall, and somewhat on the thin side. His hair is straight and very dark.<Kent> Hm. Are the chairs next to each other or facing each other?<Kheldar> The chairs are across the small round table from each other, but the one in which the man sits is turned to face you.<Kheldar> He wears predominately black with highlights of a dusty purple.<Kheldar> You do not recognize him from any of the royal parades you have seen.<Kheldar> He wears a relatively simple circlet from which dangles a pair of ruby four pointed stars, one at each temple. (Like silver dollar sized)<Kent> Gotchya.<Kheldar> Your guards bring you to within 15 feet of the raised area and stop, keeping a firm grip on you.<Kent> Strange. Does it look like the crown of the previous crown?.k<Kheldar> No, not at all.<Kheldar> Although, you do notice that on the table lies a slightly more formal crown which might be the royal crown. At least the royal symbols are there.<Kent> hm... k<Kheldar> The man gazes at you for a moment, then says in a slow, lazy voice, "He certainly doesn't seem like much, does he?"<Kheldar> No one answers, in fact, he doesn't seem to expect an answer.<Kent> Jannot responds. clears his throat, "Well, I am just a tanner."<Kheldar> He gives you a somewhat ruthless grin. "That you are."<Kent> Jannot just carefully watches him... duh.<Kheldar> The man slowly gets to his feet, still looking at you.<Kheldar> Then he closes his eyes, raises his arms and tips his face towards the ceiling.<Kheldar> "Kyten!" he bellows. "I call on thee!"<Kheldar> He waits for a moment.<Kheldar> You sense an uncomfortable shift in the guards about you.<Kent> Ah. I see. Jannot is a bit disturbed on the off chance that something dramatic may happen so mutters another quick prayer for protection to Qaran.<Kheldar> As you do, there is a faint rumbling in the floor.<Kheldar> Immediately, the man in front of you resumes speaking. "Do we kill this man, lord? This one that opposes you?"<Kheldar> It occurs to you suddenly, upon hearing the name Kyten, that you recognize the 4 pointed star symbol...<Kheldar> You've read about a Kyten. Supposedly one of the new gods. Destroyed or imprisoned or just ignored (depending on who you listen to), over two hundred years ago.<Kent> uh huh... <Kheldar> He was... well, not a pleasant god. He desired power and conquest. He had control in the domains of earth and fire and blood.<Kent> hm. Interesting. Oh you're talking about magical 'domains' right? okay.<Kheldar> More things that they are interested in and have some control over.<Kheldar> Qaran's domains are the city of Zuqar.<Kheldar> He also has control over the sea.<Kheldar> A domain is an affinity of sorts.<Kent> Um... Right. OKay. So it would seem like Kyten would have more power tha Qaran on the surface.<Kheldar> Perhaps. Domains are not neccessarily attached to power levels.<Kheldar> A god who is really powerful in the... flower domain... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> well, ok, I suppose some domains are better than others.<Kent> Well, okay. We'll be sure to pay close attention to the arm wrestling contest. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> After having spoken, the man in front of you is silent, arms still raised, eyes still closed.<Kent> Jannots apprehension metes away as time passes.<Kheldar> Suddenly, an incredibly low, rumbling voice is heard throughout the room.<Kheldar> "This one is... favored. He may be important."<Kheldar> Then... "Kill him."<Kent> GAH! oh great...<Kheldar> The room goes (very) quiet.<Kheldar> The man's eyes snap open and his arms drop to his side. He gazes at you.<Kent> Is Jannot still bound and all?<Kheldar> Yes.<Kheldar> Just arms tied behind you.<Kheldar> And a guard on each arm.<Kent> Right, nothing to shield himself with... except for the handy guard. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> True. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> well, does he just LOOK Jannot to death?<Kheldar> "Favored, are you? How has this come to pass? I am told you are not a religious man..."<Kent> Does it look like he wants an answer?<Kheldar> It appears so, judging from the growing impatience.<Kent> Jannot just shrugs nd shakes his head.<Kent> [ha ha ha... piss off the crazy guy why don't ya!]<Kheldar> He scowls. Then after a moment, returns to his chair.<Kheldar> "Prepare a place where we can isolate him from his... 'favor', and then we will kill him. Return him to his cell for now."<Kheldar> "Yes sir," Says one of the guards next to you.<Kent> Jannot speaks, "Wait. Favor. What does that mean?"<Kent> -to the wierdo on the chair<Kheldar> He looks at you contemptuously and gestures the guards away. You are turned and propelled in the direction of the door.<Kent> Before exiting the room Jannot will call out to him again "Did you kill the rightful king?"<Kent> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /><Kheldar> You don't hear a response, and you are unable to catch a glimpse back in his direction.<Kent> Hm... k<Kheldar> You are taken back down to your ... now familiar... cell and thrown in. Your six escorts leave.<Kent> Is the former neighbor still in the opposite cell?<Kheldar> Yes. No one has come for anyone else in the room. Just for you... [how special you must feel.]<Kent> Jannot gives him a wry half-grin.<Kheldar> He mouths something to you. Something like "... you ok?"<Kent> Jannot nodds and tries to mouth - went to see king - bad guy<Kheldar> He seems slightly confused, but waves it off, apparently satisfied that you haven't been tortured again.<Kent> well, Jannot gives up easily enough and awaits... what is sure to be a unique form of confinement.<Kheldar> You wait... through lunch...<Kheldar> ... and dinner.<Kheldar> Apparently, whatever preparations are being made take some doing.<Kent> Jannot has now been given confirmation that somehow he has been made the focus of a very bad guy being led by a not so friendly deity...<Kheldar> [awww... they're just misunderstood...]<Kent> his amusement at being left alive wears off quickly and he begins to think about how inthe world he's supposed to be 'favored' and what he's supposed to do about it.<Kheldar> any trains of thought you'd like to share with the rest of us?<Kent> well, he thinks that maybe Qaran by preventing him from speaking to that priest was actually being protected by Qaran... as well as his rather fortunate luck at not contracting the disease/plague twice now...<Kent> Jannot is coming to the rather strange belief that he has been actively protected somehow by Qaran for some reason... perhaps to oppose the psycho following the awful Kyten.<Kent> Before meals he'll do something that he hasn't done since his mother told him to as a child - ask Qaran to bless his food. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> No strange rumblings in the floor this time... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> - just in the stomach, right? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> Right. The food certainly needs the blessing.<Kent> that's all, before sleeping he'll spend some quality time trying to seek his own guidance from Qaran. I mean after all, if he's going to be killed, exhaust all options.<Kheldar> Right. You gain no insights.<Kheldar> You are (presumably) having problems getting to sleep. You are therefore already awake when a pair of guards comes into the room. It shouldn't be time yet for the guard to change.<Kent> Awww... no sleep for the weary?<Kheldar> There is a brief discussion. You catch something about "transfer", and there seems to be a slight discussion.<Kheldar> Presently, the two visiting guards, and one of the room guards approach your cell.<Kheldar> Your door is unlocked by the room guard, who says, "Go ahead and take him. You shouldn't have much trouble with *him*."<Kent> Hm. okay then.<Kheldar> The two guards step forward and take your arms, guiding you out of your cell.<Kent> well, Jannot isn't going to give then a good reason to beat the snot out of him.<Kheldar> Of course not.<Kheldar> You are escorted from the room and down some stairs.<Kent> Oh... great... down.<Kheldar> At one point, as you are making your way through a hall, the guard on your left momentarily releases your arm.<Kent> Jannot is NOT suicidal... Though I feel him becoming something of a smart alec. He looks over to the guard that let go and says, "What? was it something I said?"<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Oh, so he is suicidal...<Kheldar> You get about as far as, "What..." when you see him yanking his sword from his sheath, and bring it down in a blow... aimed at the other guard's head.<Kent> ...urp... OOH! KEWL!<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /><Kent> Jannot doesn't peep.<Kheldar> Apparently having hit with the flat, the other guard goes down in a heap on the floor.<Kent> Jannot looks at the fellow... in mild shock.<Kheldar> He sheathes his sword and says quickly, "I'm Tomar. You're Jannot. There, now we're introduced. Give me a hand with this."<Kheldar> He bends down and takes one arm of the knocked out guard.<Kent> Jannot nodds and grabs the fallen soldier on the other side.<Kheldar> Under Tomar's guidance, the two of you drag the guard into a dusty storage room of some sort that lies nearby.<Kheldar> After propping the body up against a sealed barrel of some kind, Tomar gestures to the man's sword. "You want that?"<Kent> Jannot grabs it... "Well, I just might need it."<Kheldar> [plus it can't be that much harder to use than a broom handle, right? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> ]<Kent> Sure... how much did I sink into that skill? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> 1/2 point?<Kheldar> "Ok, we'd better get moving."<Kent> okay to Tomar, "Thank you. Why are you doing this?"<Kheldar> "He gives you a toothy grin. "It's worth my while."<Kheldar> He gestures for you to leave the room ahead of him.<Kent> Hm... Jannot's sure that the fellow has ulterior motives, but he can't worry about that now. "Anything I should know?" Jannot asks leaving as the fellow gestures.<Kheldar> He takes one more look around the room, then follows you, shutting the door behind him.<Kheldar> Then, in a quieter voice, "Just follow me and stay quiet. If we're noticed, we're both dead."<Kent> "Then I probably shouldn't be carrying a sword, don't you think? Kind of noticeable isn't it?"<Kheldar> He shrugs, having already moved off down the hallway. "The trick is not to get noticed. You might need it, later."<Kent> Jannot follows, has he sheathed his sword or is he holding it ready?<Kheldar> Well, I suppose you took the sword and sheath together. But, considering that you don't have a sword belt, either you drop the sheath, or keep it sheathed, or occupy both hands.<Kent> I was just going to ask. what about the belt that the guard was wearing?<Kheldar> Actually... [thinks] I suppose it's just as easy to have gotten the belt too. Strap it on.<Kent> Especially since the belt prolly was 'though' the sheath in some fashion.<Kheldar> Yes, certainly.<Kent> k<Kent> belt, sheath and sword... in hand.<Kheldar> Too bad about you not having shoes or boots... or sandals...<Kent> err... no time.<Kent> ... Jannot thinks of his spare boots back at the house...<Kheldar> So, he leads you down some more stairs. The atmosphere is becoming quite moist, and somewhat chill.<Kent> Ahh... water. fantastic.<Kheldar> He leads you at last into a room with a kind of rotten fish kind of smell. There is a door against the far wall that is chained shut.<Kheldar> He fishes out a ring of keys and inserts one into the lock on the chain.<Kheldar> He pulls the door open and looks through.<Kheldar> It's quick dark inside, the only light seems to come from the torches out in the hallway.<Kent> Jannot eagerly looks through as well. "Should I grab a torch?"<Kheldar> "Yes, we'll need it."<Kent> "For how long will we need it?"<Kheldar> "Not long enough for it to go out. Quickly now!"<Kent> Jannot goes and grabs the nearest torch off the wall.<Kheldar> When you come back in the room, He gestures you forward and says quietly to you, "We'll follow the ledge there for a ways, then we'll need to swim for a bit. Can you swim?"<Kent> Jannot nodds.<Kheldar> "Good. Let's go." He gestures for you to hand him the torch.<Kent> Jannot motions for him to lead.<Kent> Jannot hands it over.<Kheldar> He takes it and steps in. As you follow, he motions for you to shut the door behind you.<Kent> Jannot pulls the door tight.<Kheldar> You find yourself in... a waterway of sorts. There are 3 or 4 foot ledges on each side of a central area containing water... of unknown depth.<Kheldar> He looks around, then leads the way.<Kent> while following Jannot feels like he should thank Qaran for providing him a way to freedom.<Kheldar> You follow him for a bit. He follows various branches with no apparent logic.<Kheldar> At last you reach an apparent end to the walk way. The water continues on through a large grate, beyond which there are no walkways.<Kheldar> He gestures for you to come close.<Kent> Jannot approaches.<Kheldar> Quietly, "There should be a couple broken bars down there." He gestures into the water. "We'll have to go through there. Then we'll need to swim a ways. We'll reach another grating, which should also have some broken bars. Beyond that is the sea."<Kheldar> "You should probably buckle that sword on."<Kheldar> There is (of course) a loop to keep the blade secure.<Kent> Ah. Jannot sheathes the sword and makes sure that it's snug in it's sheath. Right-o. loop in place.<Kheldar> Tomar takes a few deep breathes, then says "follow me." He plunges into the water.<Kent> ... Jannot follows suit - a few quick deep breaths and he jumps in.<Kheldar> Without any light, of course you can't see, but you follow the grate down into the water about 6 feet or so.<Kent> Is the water particularly cold or the normal summer water temperature?<Kheldar> No, it's fairly normal temperature.<Kent> k<Kheldar> Sure enough, you find an opening in the bars which you slide through. You kick for the surface, and realize a couple things.<Kheldar> First of all, there is only a foot or two of headroom above the water, and two, there is a slight current which is picking up speed.<Kent> out or in?<Kheldar> The way you want to go. Out presumably.<Kent> okay, that makes the swimming go easier.<Kheldar> Quite true. You do hear some splashes echoing back from up ahead. Presumably this is Tomar.<Kent> too dark to see?<Kheldar> There's no light at all.<Kent> on forward.<Kheldar> It's quite awkward swimming with a sword strapped on, but you manage all right.<Kheldar> Suddenly you hear, "carefull, here's the grate" from up ahead.<Kent> I imagine he would. Jannot tries to slow his approach while aware that he doesn't want to whack himself on a broken bar.<Kheldar> You realize that quite a bit of current has picked up, but when you suddenly hit some metal bars, you don't feel much more than some residual pain from your previously wounded arm.<Kent> Nice.<Kheldar> Out of the darkness, a hand flails at you briefly before settling on your shoulder.<Kheldar> From beside you comes, "You ok then?"<Kent> "Everything is good so far."<Kheldar> "Ok, we're going to go through here, then we'll be swimming underwater for a bit. You'll want a couple big breaths before we go. Swim forward about a slow 10 count, then kick for the surface.<Kent> "How far is the under water part?"<Kent> "Okay. No problem."<Kheldar> Be careful coming up. There could be rock up there. If so, you'll need to go a little further. There should be some light at that point. We'll come up on the shore outside the wall.<Kent> "I'll swim with my eyes open then... easy enough."<Kheldar> "Ok, I'll go first. Follow me after a 5 count."<Kheldar> You hear a couple deep breaths beside you, then some splashing as he submerges.<Kent> "Go on. I'll be right behind you."<Kent> 1<Kent> 2<Kent> 3<Kent> 4<Kent> 5<Kent> quick breaths... long breath and go... swimming for 12 seconds or so.<Kheldar> You pull yourself down the grating, and perhaps 10 feet down you find the opening in the grate.<Kheldar> You pull through it and quickly move along.<Kheldar> After a bit, you do notice some light from ahead and above.<Kent> a foot or two past the first light and Jannot surfaces at a reasonable speed.<Kheldar> You kick for the surface, and find that you are coming up out of some kind of under water cave. The surface of the water is still a bit above you. You kick for the surface, and arrive somewhat out of breath. You seem to be about 50 feet from shore.<Kheldar> A few hundred yards away, the walls of the city loom up in the dark. There is only a thin sliver of a moon.<Kent> Is my benefactor visible?<Kheldar> You spot a shape moving through the water towards the shore. You don't hear any splashing. He is apparently attempting to be quiet.<Kent> Jannot will swim toward shore at a slow pace trying to be quiet.<Kheldar> You reach the shore, and Tomar helps you out of the water.<Kheldar> He whispers quietly to you as you move up the shore. "We'll need to get out of sight of the walls. Then I'll leave you where you're supposed to be. After that, you're on your own."<Kent> "But who wants me saved? Why did you help me?"<Kheldar> He quietly pats at his side where he might keep a purse. "Some gal..." He shrugs and gestures you to come with him.<Kent> Surprise registers opn Jannots face... and he follows the fellow quickly while imagining Celeste hiring some ne'er-do-well to rescue him...<Kheldar> [curious, any suprise on Kent's face?]<Kent> Yeah, there's a little...<Kent> He he...<Kheldar> excellent... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> very excellent...<Kent> ... of course she probably had to sell of stuff to get the money to pull this off...<Kheldar> He leads you up near where the shoreline breaks and there are bushes and such. He follows these away from the city.<Kent> Jannot follows. Are the walls still in sight? Are there guards visible on the wall? No alarms apparently being raised...<Kheldar> Not for long. The shore line curves around a bit, and soon a swell of land blocks your sight of the city.<Kheldar> Apparently no alarms.<Kheldar> Tomar stops, and as you step forward, he gestures to a clump of trees up ahead. "That's where you're supposed to be."<Kent> Jannot's probably been near here in the past on a fishing excursion or some such.<Kheldar> It looks vaguely familiar. You seem to be north of the city.<Kent> k<Kheldar> "Good luck, buddy." Tomar says. He pats you on the back.<Kent> "Thank you..." Jannot says to the fellow. <Kheldar> "Not a problem. I had to get out too."<Kheldar> "I really wouldn't go back there if I were you. They'll be looking for the both of us pretty quickly. I'd get as far away as you can. I don't know how far Kyten's influence reaches..."<Kent> "Okay, I imagine you are right, but tell me, who is it that's after me? who is in charge of the city now? Did the elves REALLY attack?"<Kheldar> "I heard you met him the other day. I'm not sure who he is. My captain tells me what to do, and I'm good. I do what he says...."<Kheldar> "That doesn't mean I have to like it."<Kheldar> "As for the elves?..." He shakes his head. "That's just bad business... They didn't do nothing. I'm not sure what this guy has against elves..."<Kent> Jannot swears aloud. "I knew it! I KNEW that they wouldn't have attacked."<Kheldar> He nods sympathetically.<Kheldar> "Right. I'm going to get moving. I never saw you, never heard of you in my life."<Kent> Jannot nodds. "Watch your self, and may Qaran watch out for you too."<Kheldar> "Sure. Good luck to you."<Kheldar> With a last pat on the back, he heads through the bushes, presumably headed for the road, which you believe may not be that far inland.<Kent> Boy oh boy... and Jannot doesn't wait - he proceeds to his savior.<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> Ok, you make your way towards the trees, but don't see anything or anyone yet.<Kent> Jannot resists the urge to call out... and keeps on looking.<Kheldar> You notice a shape moving off to the side and spot the shape of someone looking out from behind some brush.<Kent> Jannot unsheaths the sword - which likely makes a noticeable sound - and speaks quietly, "Who's there?"<Kheldar> "Jannot? It's me... Celeste..."<Kent> Jannot quickly sheaths the sword and jogs over to her... eagerly.<Kheldar> [fumblingly sheathes the sword...]<Kent> well, hopefully nothing gets injured...<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> "Celeste? How did you do it?"<Kent> ... under the moonlight... pretty calme evning... fairly romantic...<Kheldar> "Are you all right?" She seems in a hurry... "We need to go as soon as we can..."<Kent> Jannot moves to her and pauses to look at her reaction, is she hurt? worried? happy? "I'm fine... just a bit bruised."<Kheldar> She gives somewhat of a sigh, as if she were holding her breath. "I brought some clothes for you. I left them over there." She gestures to some bushes back behind her.<Kent> Jannot just looks at her for a moment and then says quietly, "Thank you..." he moves close to her, pauses and then gives her a hug.<Kheldar> She tenses a little, but then sags against you. You hear her breath catch somewhat. "I'm glad you're ok," she whispers.<Kent> Jannot doesn't say anything for a little bit but keeps it brief. "Moving his arms back he pulls her away from his chest. "So, what happened yesterday after I was captured? And how did you manage to rescue me?"<Kheldar> "You've been gone for a couple days, Jannot." Then... "you'd better get changed, we probably need to be moving."<Kent> ...oops... right.<Kent> "Okay," he says, "But I'll be waiting for that story to be told. Tell me as I dress..." he says moving toward where she pointed for his clothes.<Kheldar> "Tomar told me I should be quiet. Just go change and we can get moving."<Kent> Jannot nods and goes to change.<Kheldar> Back behind the bushes, you find a couple of sacks, most likely taken from from your shop. The first one you check contains a couple changes of clothes for both you and Celeste, and... your spare boots!<Kheldar> You check real quick. There seems to be some food, as well as some odds and ends, including a book. You can't tell which one in the dim light.<Kent> Yay!. what was in the other sack, out of curiosity? What about the key to the chain on my dingy?<Kheldar> You don't notice the key in the sack.<Kent> ok.<Kent> Dressing quickly Jannot picks up the bags and the old clothes and returns to Celeste... oh and he also keeps the sword buckled on.<Kheldar> Right.<Kheldar> "I brought as much as I could..." She sounds almost apologetic.<Kent> "I'm sure that you did... Celeste," he says moving close to her, "What has happened in the last couple of days?"<Kheldar> "Come on, lets go, I'll tell you as we go..."<Kent> "Okay" he says waiting for her to lead off.<Kheldar> She gestures inland. "The road isn't that far. I thought we might head north." She starts moving that way. "I mean, unless you know where to go?"<Kent> Jannot shakes his head no and moves to follow her. After a minute he says to her, "It's gone isn't it... the shop? the house?"<Kheldar> "I don't know, Jannot."<Kent> Jannot frouwns, "Then... how do you know that we need to leave? How did you know where to find me?"<Kheldar> As you guys continue to walk, she explains a little. "I was worried when you didn't come back, so I asked around a bit."<Kheldar> "I heard that they took a tanner up to the citadel and I was worried for you..."<Kent> "So... how did you manage to get someone in to rescue me?"<Kheldar> "I was coming back to the shop after looking for you, and I spotted a bunch of guards going into your shop."<Kheldar> "That... well, that can't be good, Jannot."<Kent> Jannot hangs his head. "So, why was that fellow willing to rescue me? Did you pay him somehow?"<Kheldar> She seems to wince... "I had to give him some of your money."<Kent> [Oh man, you can't be serious... ah.]<Kheldar> Then quickly, "He wanted to leave the city and guard anyway, he said."<Kent> "Oh, well, sure. That's great! Is there any money left?"<Kheldar> "a... a little... You aren't mad are you? It was all I could find..."<Kent> Jannot chuckles lightly. "Not at all, Celeste. You saved my life! What's coin when compared to my life?" and he gives her a big smile.<Kheldar> She smiles back, and the moonlight seems just a little brighter...<Kent> [laughing ensues]<Kheldar> [man, is there an echo in here?]<Kheldar> [my consultant seems to be laughing too...]<Kent> Oh... I see. ;]<Kent> when you said you wee consulting before I thought you meant you were making dice rolls... silly me.<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Hey, I did make a dice roll or two in there somewhere.<Kent> Oh, I'm fairly certain that you did.<Kheldar> Actually, this consultant of mine is pretty good, she's picked up on a couple things I would have missed...<Kent> Hm. Good then, giver her a raise! [vile snicker...]<Kheldar> uh... how vile? nevermind.<Kheldar> bad Jannot, no XP for you!<Kent> never mind. Nothing to interrupt the play session over. Hey, that was me, NOT Jannot. Well, I don't need the xp... Jannot does, so , I'm good with that.<Kheldar> bad Kent, no XP for you!<Kheldar> Right, so anyway... <Kent> Celeste is less worried... Jannot is still the same worried.<Kent> "Okay, so you saw the guards enter the shop when? Yesterday? today?"<Kheldar> She thinks back...<Kheldar> "It was yesterday."<Kent> "Did you watch them or just keep out of their sight?"<Kheldar> "Oh no, I stayed away. They were the citadel guards, the ones that wear all black?"<Kent> Jannot nodds, "That was smart. Did you see if they took anything?"<Kheldar> She says quietly, "I don't know. I didn't stay to watch... I was scared."<Kent> "Of course." Jannot says. "Did you return to the shop later then, to get these things?"<Kheldar> "Oh yes. "<Kheldar> "They... They'd broken into the house and the shop, but I didn't notice anything missing. I didn't stay long then."<Kent> "Did you happen to grab the keys? or the key I had... onthe mantle in the kitchen? it went to my boat."<Kheldar> "Oh, yes, I forgot!" She holds up some keys on something around her neck. "I brought them."<Kent> Exzcellent. "well, we might be able to travel by boat then as opposed to walking... what do you think?" Jannot is reluctant to give up the little dingy... it's beat up, but it's his.<Kheldar> "We'd have to go back in the city, Jannot..." She seems... frightened.<Kent> Jannot nodds reluctantly. "Right, of course. That'd be stupid of me. I just... I just don't want to leave it all behind. I fell like I've lost so much..." he drifts off feeling sorry for himself.<Kheldar> quietly... "I'm sorry, Jannot. I know what that's like."<Kent> Jannot stops walking. "Maybe I should just get over myself and not be selfish... I mean, look. I'm wearing my clothes and boots again, ALIVE! And I had a ... friend that cared enough to save me." Jannot looks to her and tries to smile..<Kheldar> She stops and turns to look at you, giving a kind of sad smile.<Kheldar> after a brief pause... "Come on, I think the road is just up ahead..."<Kent> Jannot steps to her again, "Celeste, thank you. Thank you for being there for me." <Kheldar> "You did the same for me..."<Kent> Jannot looks down and chuckles lightly, kind of surprising himself a little. "Yeah, " He looks up, "I suppose I did, at that." He smiles at her. "Lets go..."<Kheldar> The two of you move on, coming the the northern trade road just a little later. <Kheldar> I like that as a place to stop.<Kheldar> Gives you time to think about what's next. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> Yeah, you would. it's late at night and they haven't found a plave to shelter and sleep for the night... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> Next time I guess...<Kent> besides... there was something else... Let me think... what was it. I was going to... Now I remember. That Sage fellow. He said that he had a colleague up north that would be able to do more research.... Maybe I could try to find him. Or... maybe I should try to find some elves...<Kheldar> Interesting idea.<Kent> and perhaps we should stick close to the sea if Qaran has selcted me as 'favored' or something... we'll just have to see, won't we?<Kheldar> eeeeyup.<Kent> Go, go spend some quality time with your ... consultant... under the sliver of a moon.<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /><Kent> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> You should have heard her... making comments... Something about romance novels and "I didn't know men could be so..." blah blah blah... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> Believe me, I wish I had. I though it was gonna happen... I really did.<Kent> AH HA HA HA HA HA ha ha ha ha ha ...<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Now is not the time.<Kent> Did I make you look bad?<Kheldar> Or as my consultant said, "I can't wait to see how you write up THAT scene..."<Kent> Ah. well, lets say that my wife tells me that I'm the one with all of the creativity...<Kent> ;D<Kheldar> So, um... Does she know about this Celeste? <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> [hearty chuckle] Ha! I only tell her what she NEEDS to know...<Kheldar> Wise man...<Kent> ... he he, yeah, right.<Kheldar> Yup, definitely.<Kent> well, Sareth will be interested to get this post. I think he may feel as slighted as I do about being shorted one romantic episode...<Kent> Sorry I didn't get to talk to the librarian... and the sage...<Kent> Fortunately I didn't wait too long to save celeste...<Kheldar> Yes, true. Things certainly took an unexpected turn. You had me concerned for a bit about how the campaign would continue without seeming contrived... I'd thought about having Jannot die, and having you continue the story with another character and tying things back in (perhaps as celeste or something). I think this worked better though.<Kent> YIKES!... Yeah, thanks for the help out there... but on my behalf, I would have continued lying, but it was Jannot's plan to continue working... and he couldn't do that by lying about his name...<Kheldar> Yup, I figured that. We'll see if he still feels like working. I may have to continue pulling strings to force him to become a hero... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> well, I think that hero-hood is something that gets thrust upon someone... not many who seek it find it, I imagine.<Kheldar> Oh, he'll never think of himself as hero I'm sure. But hopefully those around him will as he finds himself doing the right thing in the circumstances he finds himself.<Kent> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /><Kent> Yeah, he's a good fellow... not like my next character...<Kent> Heh... I've already made him. He's not a nice guy. Perhaps I could meet up again in the future with that helpful guard...<Kheldar> }:><Kheldar> Sareth has been thinking about some potential characters for when he gets back... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Some interesting ideas, one of which is Tomar... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> There are other ideas too, which I won't tell you because they'll make you realize something that you missed... <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /><Kheldar> You'll eventually find out. It'll be very interesting when you do.<Kent> You know... I hate it when I miss things... just by a hair. like that fellow packing up his store on the sly... that ... irked me...<Kheldar> Oh man, you were so close to having him too...<Kent> So, what was the deal? If it were that close, then why didn't he understand where I was coming from>?<Kheldar> If only you'd told him the truth. You lied at just the wrong time there...<Kent> ....grumbling loudly... but it wasn't a lie! He asked if I was a merchant inghte city. well, I had been, but the shop was in disrepair, so at that time I wasn't but I was thinking about opening shop back up! ALL TRUE!<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /> Such is life. On the plus side, you should be happy that I run this game by creating people and having you interact with them (while they stay consistent with who they are) as opposed to just railroading you into a plotline of my making. It makes for a better adventure.<Kent> Oh... don't misunderstand the frustration... some of that is directed at mydelf as well. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kheldar> Occasional ... being irked... is the price of having fun. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /><Kent> Oh... and it keeps me a comin' back, it does...<Kheldar> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> Oh good.<Kent> He he... yeah. I was really wondering how you were going to pull him out o fthis little fiasco.<Kheldar> Well, Jannot hasn't lost yet, although I can't explain how truely close he came in between last session and this one. Really. Thank Sareth for the wonderful realization that Celeste probably knew where you kept your money...<Kent> Sareth, eh? You must have really been worried if you had to consult outside help to save him...<Kheldar> Oh yeah, he's my consultant too, but during the week, not during the session.<Kheldar> Oh, he offers ideas now and then. He has since the beginning. In fact, he wrote the original version of the prophecy. I took and modified it into its final form.<Kent> Hm. If that's the case, you're going to have to come to a point that you kinda cut him off - if he's planning on becoming a player.<Kheldar> Yes, you're absolutely right. There are actually already a number of things that he doesn't know about. I starting to wean him off the long term information and only give him access to the short term stuff.Next time... Explaining the Details</blockquote>

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