Rhun's Greyhawk OMEGA Campaign (ToEE) - Continued

[Rhun]

You spend the next couple of hours hiding out in the dark, twisted woods near the Temple compound, until you are sure that your pursuers have returned to their warren beneath the structure. Then, you return to the clearing in which you left Shoon's wagon and your mounts, and begin making your way back toward Nulb.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Finally resting on his horse, Ciaran begins to speak.

"Shoon, what are you willing to do to save Lord Krane?"

 

[Dire Lemming]

The monk had been concentrating intently on the road ahead of him and seems surprised by Ciran's inquiry. "Er... What do you mean? I... Well, helping you find Lord Krane is not my only reason for being here you know. I would do anything in my power to save... er, well I suppose I haven't really told much about her have I?" At this, Shoon does not say anymore, though he looks as if he might with some prodding.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Ciaran thinks a moment, silent in his brooding way.

"It can be tough to commit to a course of action," he begins. "We risk death, but if we die before we find and free the others, then there may be little point to our sacrifice."

"But..." he considers, "I am concerned about what happened in the temple this time. We stayed in the bowels when we felt outclassed, because you wanted a prisoner. I cast a web, then my sparks, to slow and soften up some guards for the taking. Yet, once all was done... you, and we, ran. Sometimes, I wonder if you are trying to catch a guard to learn more about their prisoners, or if you simply expect it to be done for you."

"Nothing is certain, and we all risk death every time we enter the compound. Yet we do it again and again because we have decided it needs to be done. We could have abandoned you to that infernal wizard from before, but we returned to save you. We were lucky that he was just playing with us. But we did not rely on luck to make our decisions."

Ciaran sighs. "All I ask is next time, be willing to follow through with opportunity. If you want a prisoner, take one. You may die in the process, but that is the way with us all. Certainly, if we run every time, only to fight when we are safe, we will never find our quarry. We will never find... her."

 

[Dire Lemming]

Shoon's mouth opens as if he is about to say something, but not a sound comes out. He looks at the mage like this for a moment, then a look as if he is about to jump up and snap Ciaran's neck passes across his face, but a moment later it is gone. He looks away, and returns to staring at the road ahead, now looking quite a bit more disgruntled than he did just a short while earlier.

 

[Dichotomy]

"Ciaran," Aeron calmly calls to the mage and steps next to Shoon. "Your words are unjust. While you may question Shoon's use of strategy, questioning his motives or intent is not warranted. He has given of himself, his time, his cart, and very nearly his life, in order to help us.

"But take heart," Aeron warms his expression and tone as he now approaches Ciaran. "We have surely had to fight denizens worse than I expected here. There is much more than simple banditry. But, even against the forces they have, we have made a dent. Be comforted in the knowledge that each time we have struck against them, we have made some measure of success."

The Last Prophet takes in the rest of the group. "Even in light of what just happened, I am more and more convinced that the Shining One has brought us here and lights our path. What he has put in place, no martal powers can undo."

He turns once more to Shoon. "Keep faith, my friend. All is not lost."

 

[Dog Moon]

He turns once more to Shoon. "Keep faith, my friend. All is not lost."

"'Whereever there is life, there is hope,'" Deren quotes from some long-forgotten source. "We still live," he tells them. "Fewer of them do. For now, that's what we have to hold on to. Tomorrow, well, that's another day and we don't know what will come of it yet. I fear the Lady isn't done with me yet."

 

[Dire Lemming]

Shoon looks at Aeron and smiles, but sighs, saying; "That is not what bothers me." He give Ciaran a furtive glance, then goes back to watching the road.

 

[Rhun]

Day 13, dusk

Soon enough, ramshackle cottages and hovels begin to appear alongside the rutted dirt track, and soon after that you are on what passes for the road that leads through the heart of Nulb. The sun is setting beyond the far off Lortmils as you make you way through the small village, exhausted from the days efforts.

 

[Dire Lemming]

Shoon steers his wagon towards the waterside hostel and parks it in the barn as usual, unhitching Beam and setting him up with some nice hay. "I assume that some of you will wish to stay in the barn again? You are welcome to use my wagon if you find it more comfortable than the hay." Once everyone else is ready he heads inside with them, and keeps an eye out for Redhand.