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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AStott" data-source="post: 610636" data-attributes="member: 7825">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? <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> He he he... humorous... Have nice dreams, maybe?<Kheldar> Maybe, I'll have to roll to find out... DOH! <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 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> <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 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> <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> 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> <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 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> <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f641.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":(" title="Frown    :("  data-smilie="3"data-shortname=":(" /><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=":)" /> 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. <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> 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?] <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> [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> <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> "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...</blockquote>

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