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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 1895525" data-attributes="member: 9255">EBERRON10/09/04SEGMENT 014SHADOWS OF THE LAST WARIt is a days travel to reach the humble hut of the hermit known only as Dorr.  When they find him, Dorr is sitting on his front porch sculpting a piece of wood.  He doesn’t look up or move.  He merely politely asks them to move on.When they don’t he looks up.  He stares hard and cold at Bonds and Temper.  “Warforged… eh!”  He says with disgust.  “Ain’t seen one of you since the war.  You are not here from Cannith are you?”  Boddynoc misses the comment and goes on about hunting the Emerald Claw and what they have done that is wrong and even evil.  Convinced these adventurers are not here to settle some sort of dept, Dorr asks them to leave again.  It is a veiled threat and the others are sure he is convinced he would win if a conflict begins.  Bonds is tempted to test it but remains quiet.Everything they offer gets little to reaction from this mysterious man.  Mentioning the Emerald Claw gets a hard look but he reverts to the inattentive bored look quickly.  Boddynoc then remembers something said at the stables.  “500 gold?”The man sits forward and looks at the gnome.  “I am to take you across rugged country to the Rose Quarry at the border of the Deadlands (his name for Mournlands).  That is all.  For this I will be given 500 gold.”The five of them look at each other wondering what the catch is.  Temper agrees as much out of impatience as anything.“Fine.  Lets go.  I have things to do.” The man says as he hops up from his seat and walks behind his cabin to a shed.  He reaches in and grabs a pack, a cloak and a sword and silently starts off.  He nears the edge of the woods when it dawns on the others he is not waiting for them.  They hurry after him and thus the group is once more on track for the adventure.It becomes clear to the group that this man is veteran ranger.  He seems to never waver or tire as he marches through the woods, brush and paths created by animals.  The two warforged find traveling through these narrow paths a bother at best.    Bane’s large axe catches on many branches.  The two smaller members can only try to keep up with the others as they have much shorter stride.  They travel until the sun goes down.  The man sits down next to a tree, leans his hat over his eyes and seems to fall asleep.  The others make a fire and try to relax.  Boddynoc notes the man seems impassive about their activities, even creating a campfire doesn’t bother him.The next day involves traveling through more fields, woods and traversing a river.  The whole time the man has said nothing.  Not even a grunt or growl.  Finally they set up camp once more.  This night is not as quiet however.  A monstrous Large Mantis attacks the Monkey-gripping warrior during his watch.  It moves about keeping running around.  If the ranger ever woke up he didn’t show it.  Finally the insect is dispatched.  Cedious is curious if the ranger is alive.  He creeps over to the man and leans down to his hat covered face.“Better sleep curious one.  Tomorrow we reach the edge where I stop, get paid and leave.”“….oh…..”   he looks over his shoulder and shrugs to the others.  Then returns to the others.  Boddynoc looks over his notes from the Bonal Journal again.  He really wants to understand what the CREATION SCHEMA is.  He feels the answers are inside but can’t find it.The next day they do indeed see the Mournlands for the first time.  They climb over a rise and see a low gray cloud.  It seems to go forever.  It resembles a slowly swirling sea of gray mist.  It is eerie to behold.“I have brought you to the Deadlands.  Five miles beyond this wall of mist is the Quarry you seek.  Give me my agreed on wages and we will depart.” The ranger says with his hand held out.“You are not going in?” asks the halfling.“I agreed to get you there, You are here.  Now I go.”“Why will you not help us?  Why won’t you go in?” asks Boddynoc as he looks at the grayness before him.  They are now within 500 feet of it.“I tell you this as a warning- This land is dead.  It is a testament to the dead and the art of death …of war.  I have had my fill of it.  I will not enter it …ever again.”Boddynoc collects the money and gives it to him.  The Ranger doesn’t count it.  He merely hefts once or twice and then nods, turns on his heel and walks silently away.  He disappears …engulfed by the green. “Well …now what?” asks Cedious looking at the gray mist that seems more alive than not.</blockquote>

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