[Lakelands] Six For Adventure

[Raven Crowking]

"Most people are stupid and mean," she stated as she started walking beside him again. "Would you like to come to my house for dinner?" she asked.

Selanil glanced at the girl as they walked and shook his head in amazement...

Selanil expected to be led to one of the scattered farmhouses or herdsman's crofts, but the girl led him instead steadily toward a small hill topped with a single, ancient thorn tree. He could see that there was a passage cut into the hill, outlined with two upright stones and a capstone. There was no sign of smoke or fire, of hanging laundry or animals kept for food.

"You may call me Etain," the girl said. "My mother you may call Maeve, when you see her. She will like you, I think."

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Selanil followed the girl warily, unnerved somewhat that she was leading him not to a house, but instead to a passage cut into a hill topped with an ancient tree. He looked around in wonder. He had expected a normal farmhouse setting for this bold little girl and none of those trappings apparently existed here.

Once the little girl provided her name, Selanil broke his silence. "I am Selanil. You live inside this passage?" he asked, nodding towards the entrance into the hillside.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Etain glanced at Selanil with a sly look. "In the passage? No," she replied. "Whoever would live in a passage?" She smiled. "The passage does lead to where I live, though. Selanil," she said, and repeated the name, rolling it around on her tongue. "What does it mean? Shining friend, I think, or something quite like it."

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

After camp had been set up and watches organized, Horsom leaned back against the bole of a colossal and majestic pine, wrapped in his travel cloak against the chill spring evening. He took in a deep breath of the clean forest air and sighed contentedly. His father's mother was born in these woods - perhaps this was why he felt so at home here.

Horsom leaned forward to place another branch on the fire. "I've made an offering to Celene and Herne on our behalf, asking for a safe journey tomorrow and success in avenging the slain against the panthers that have been plaguing us." He pointed with his chin towards the bridge. "Someone has created a small shrine at the foot of the bridge. Looks Lakashi." He pulled a leg from one of the roasted conies cooling on a nearby rock. "That was one hell of a shot to bring that rabbit down Fellan. And here I thought I was fair shot with the bow. And Glom.. interesting cooking technique. A snap of your fingers, a crackle of lightning, and we have roast rabbit! You'll have to teach me that sometime."

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, Horsom tossed the bones into the fire. "Hey did I tell you lads about the lake serpent that launched itself onto the deck of our ship last Belanmont.."

"Twice today, actually." Fellan interrupted quickly as Glom groaned. "Horsom is a very pleasant fellow, if a bit long-winded", thought Fellan. "Let's get some sleep lads. I'd like to get to Selby-by-the-Water early tomorrow. Keep your weapons close by.. you never know when something big and hungry might invite itself to dinner."

 

[wolfheart]

Dain regarded the half-orc and was perplexed by his anger. He had only called him half-breed to get his attention, and after all he was one. His hand reached for the head of Tor-Angol which rested in a baldric on his hip.

When Maldordo started in with his silver-tongued ramblings, he knew for sure that the man was a cat. For no other creature could twist and mold words like that. Again, he wondered what sort he had fallen in with.

Dain gathered himself up and addressed Kregor, "Sir, if my hail insulted you than I am sorry. But, I overheard your conversation with the boy. Which, I must say, proves that you have risen above the feral nature of your kin." Dain hoped this little aside would smooth over any rough edges. "It would seem," Dain continued, "that we are of common purpose at the moment. Though one of us might find this beast on our own, the rewards are far greater in join us and finding the beast together. I have been sanctioned by the Archdeacon of the temple to gather a group of stout hearted men to tackle this menace. And the temple has some information that might prove valuable in defeating this menace. We have a witness."

With those words Dain stopped short. He had given away more information than he thought he should. But he didn't want the others to catch on that he felt this way, so he gathered himself up again and looked Kregor in the eye and asked, "Are ye in or are ye out?"

 

[Raven Crowking]

"Let's get some sleep lads. I'd like to get to Selby-by-the-Water early tomorrow. Keep your weapons close by.. you never know when something big and hungry might invite itself to dinner."

Horsom looked up, puzzled. "Even if we rode hard, we could not reach Selby until the evening after tomorrow at the soonest."

Fellan grinned. "Well, that's true lad...if you take the road. It so happens that I know a short cut that begins very near this bridge, a sort of a way behind the road, as it were. The guardian in these parts is friendly enough, and will no doubt let us pass for a few kind words."

 

[Ulorian - Agent of Chaos]

Horsom was thankful that Fellan's intimacy with the supernatural guardians of this region was stronger than his intimacy with geography.

 

[maddmic]

Kregor looked the short pair up and down. Facing Maldordo he shakes his head.

"I understand your desire to avoid a confrontation. But please don't underestimate my intelligence. I am not stupid like the more barbaric of my kin. Although, I must admit that I am a bit short tempered."

Turning to Dain he continues.

"Hence my reason for being upset at the term 'half-breed'. I don't expect you to understand what it's like to be looked upon with unfavorable eyes your entire life. So, I will spare you the details. Dain was your name? And your companion, his name is? As a matter of fact, I was on my way to find the captain of the guard to find out what is going to be done with this menace that terrorizes the outlying farms. One might say that I'm a protector of sorts. So yes, if you will have a half-breed, then I will join your band in investigating this problem. Tell me, where are the rest of your group?"

 

[Samuel Leming]

Maldordo once again addresses Kregor, "My name is Maldordo the cat. You don't have to feel bad about having some unintelligent kin. Some of my relatives can't figure out how to open a simple door and think that a strand of yarn is the greatest invention ever." Maldordo makes a repeating up/down motion with his index finger for emphasis. Maldordo continues, "As far as I know, we're the first people Dain's found. Right now I'm most curious about this witness that Dain's mentioned..."

 

[wolfheart]

"It is true, you are the first two I have recruited. As for the witness, I should leave that to the Archdeacon, for it was he that spoke with her." Dain looked about as though to make sure no one was listening, then said in a low voice. "this beastie that we seek is no mere panther, our best guess is that it is a manticore. If this news gives you pause to continue I will speak no ill of it. But, if you wish to take your leave, I would ask you not to repeat what I have told you. We do not need to overly panic the general populace, if you catch my meaning."