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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AStott" data-source="post: 579499" data-attributes="member: 7825">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. <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> 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... <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, 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> <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> 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> <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> "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... <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> 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. <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> 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> <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> 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? <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> 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... <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> 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... <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> 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... <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> 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> <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" /> Who me?<Kent> ... grumbling ensues...<Kheldar> ...laughter ensues...<Kent> [insert standard empty threat here]<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> 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</blockquote>

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