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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 1397656" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Realms #258] The Archer takes a Bow[/PLAIN]"We should take the cure to Barnacus ourselves," Windstryder said flatly and Morier shook his white-maned head again."I disagree," he asserted. "Malcolm has offered us a way to deliver the cure faster than we could manage ourselves. We should avail ourselves of it.""I do not know Malcolm and know not if we can trust him with the cure," Windstryder said disapprovingly. "He is a druid and that automatically lends my trust to him from ranger to druid; however, I do not know him.""I've known Malcolm for years," the albino argued."So, Morier, you think we should trust Malcolm with the blood and tears?" Ledare asked. "Are you sure?""I am saying that I would trust him with them without hesitation," the eldritch warrior replied with a nod."I'd argue that that decision rests ultimately with Windstryder," the Janissary told him. "These days it's hard to be sure of anything, or anyone.""Debate is pointless," Feln growled. "Our mission is too important for us to deliver this cure. We need to give the druid the ingredients and send them off. It will take days for us to get there overland and those days will cost lives.""But how do we know the druid's albatross will make it to Barnacus? What if it is shot down or captured by the enemy? Then everything we have fought for is lost, and Barnacus may well be lost as well," the ranger persisted, giving the half-orc a somewhat betrayed look. She had clearly been hoping for his support.Feln sighed heavily and regarded the elf. "I know it is selfish, Windstryder, but I have never been a hero," he apologized. "It feels good and I am going to stay here for at least a few days.""Yeah!" Vade agreed. "We should relax a little."Now it was Windstryder's turn to sigh and she looked away from the group for a moment while she gathered her thoughts. The others discussed the matters of re-outfitting themselves in Hillville Junction and identifying the few magic items that Vade had been carrying about, while the ranger pondered her course. Ledare had decided to take Gellir up on his offer to craft her a new suit of armor by the time Windstryder had decided what she must do."I understand your desire to stay here to rest," the elf announced to her companions. Her tone indicated that, while she understood the desire, she in no way agreed with it. "I could go alone, but I do not believe I will be back in a few days. We could rest here and go ourselves in a few days. Of course there is no guarantee that we will make it there in time to save the city.""Which is why I think that Morier's plan is the best one," Ixin said in a diplomatic tone. "Malcolm has offered us a method to get the cure to Barnacus quicker than we could deliver it ourselves.""Perhaps the albatross is the safer route," Windstryder conceded. "My vote is to trust the Druid and his messengers. I believe he was sent to aid us at this moment. I believe our efforts need to be away to the other clues we have sought. Adamancales' apprentice for one.""I'm glad you agree," Ledare said with a smile. "I'm sure that the druid's messenger will arrive in the capital unmolested." The ranger nodded."Just the same, I will confer with Anta to see if she chooses to travel with the Albatross and protect it," Windstryder offered. "A hawk is a noble fighter to protect the Albatross. But she is her own girl. I do not control her in anyway. She and I have an... understanding... and she chooses to travel with me. The Gods will guide our paths, I foresee, to where we need to be."At that moment, the others had no idea that the elf had already decided where it was that she needed to be.Some time later, after they had given over the blood and tears to Malcolm and the druid had used his rapport with nature to convince a bird to take the two small vials to Winesada in Barnacus, the Companions were treated to a meal fit for the Lord of the Manor. They dined on mutton flavored with a heady pear and currant glaze, a platter of sliced and roasted root vegetables, hearty wheat bread sweetened with honey, and fine pastries stuffed with fragrant cheese. Wine flowed freely from several large pewter pitchers, and both Vade and Ledare agreed that Ruze would have been in his glory before such a repast.No one thought much of the fact that Windstryder had elected not to attend the dinner. Not until Lord Arundel bade his steward read the note while they finished up the last bits of pastry. "This was left by your associate, the elf," Lord Arundel explained as his steward unfolded the sheets of parchment,"with instructions to have it read aloud after we had supped.""Lord Arundel, I require this be written down for the annals and for my report should I be unable to give it upon my return to Barnacus, and I must apologize for my bluntness, for I know not the ways of the court," the steward read from the parchment. "I am an elf raised far from any elven community that would teach its people the waypaths for interior navigation. The King chose me to sally forth singly for that is where my skills and weaknesses are best served. I do know I seem not to be on the good sides of those I encounter. In my mind what I say is clear and without brutality, but those that interpret me, see me differently. I often do not operate well in a team, and the King's advisors must have foreseen this. So Ranger Teams One through Four were dispatched as units, and I was sent alone.""Well, your friend is certainly verbose," Lord Arundel remarked with a chuckle as he began lighting a pipe."Now here is the ironic part, my Lord. My team recovered the cure for Barnacus," the steward went on after a signal from Arundel. "First noble and quiet Feln who, although not a ranger and not charged with the King's mission, travelled and protected me on the waypath. He fought hard and put his life at risk for the King. I would like him to be formally commended.""High praise indeed," Lord Arundel said with a note of surprise in his voice. Gellir merely harrumphed and gulped down a goblet of wine."Second, although charged with her own mission, Janissary Ledare allowed my mission to continue under hers," the steward read. "She commanded with clarity, thoughtfulness, and care for her soldiers. She risked her life several times to assist me in my mission and the King's. I know it goes without saying, but I formally commend the Lord Janissary in my report."Lord Arundel said nothing, but smiled proudly at Ledare while indicating that the steward should read on. He shuffled to the next sheet of parchment and went on."Ixin and Morier are warriors I would fight next to any time," the steward said. "We scouted and deployed on a hillock where we were outnumbered 12 to 1 by the enemy. We struck swiftly and efficiently and dispatched all of the insect creatures and their brood, quietly and quickly. But we did not stop there, my Lord. We continued to the lair where Morier and Ixin alone killed the brood Queen - suffering near-mortal wounds in the process. I formally recommend commendations for Morier and Ixin.""You shall have to tell our bard of this tale," Lord Arundel told Morier. "I am sure she would like to spread it about.""And lastly, there is Vade," the steward read. "How he does not end up in the King's jail for his sticky fingers, I do not know. How he escapes the clutch of the robbed, I do not know. But I sense his heart as pure, and he uses his skills for the cause. These are skills I do not personally respect or like. I believe them to be underhanded. Yet, I am not a Lord or Judge. I am a ranger and my thoughts are my own. Were it not for his abilities in support of the team, I do believe we would have failed. I thusly recommend Vade for commendation as well."Gellir harrumphed again and, with a shake of his head, he muttered a single word under his breath, "Halflings." The sound was almost drowned out by the steward shuffling to the last piece of parchment, but Vade's hearing was keen. The halfling glared at Gellir and stuck his tongue out when the dwarf turned his head."So, it is only after I have learned the value of teamwork that I must travel on my own again," the steward read on. "I am afraid I must follow my duty and see the blood and tears safely to Barnacus. The King would expect no less from me, and I shall not fail in my mission.""What?" Feln said, standing so abruptly that his chair tipped over backward with a bang. Servants scuttled forward to right the chair immediately."Calm yerself, orcblood," Gellir growled across the table and Lord Arundel nodded."Yes, do sit down," he advised. "I believe there is more.""Feln, you may travel with me anytime, brother, but your waypath lies with the others now," the steward went on after the martial artist had settled himself back in his chair. "Ixin and Morier, your battle prowess shall serve you well. And little one, remember what I said, although your heart lies pure there are many who would not have the patience to deal with your deft fingers. Janissary Ledare, it was a pleasure serving under you. Our waypaths are determined. Where we meet next only Brogine knows.""She followed the druid's bird?" Ixin asked, after a pause."So it would seem," Lord Arundel remarked."Should we go after her?" Morier asked, tensing to stand, but Feln shook his head."She knows the lands too well and she has too much of a head start," the half-orc admitted. "We'd never overtake her. And anyway, I don't think she'd want us to try."</blockquote>

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