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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jon Potter" data-source="post: 2031351" data-attributes="member: 2323">[PLAIN][Realms #302] Backtracking[/PLAIN]Ledare didn't stay all night with the cleric and holy warrior of Flor. Her body ached for a good night's rest, and she conceded that it was probably in the party's best interests for her to regain her strength. Still, the hour was late when she finally left the two women to their devotions and made her way across the square to The Hard Cider Tavern.The interior of the place was not unlike the dozens of other taverns she had seen in her travels: a massive stone hearth dominated one wall, a long counter ran along another, and small tables filled most of the floor space. This place was smaller than most, and made primarily of wood, although both the fireplace and the bar were constructed of fieldstone. There were few customers in the place - which didn't surprise her overly much given the town's small size and remote location. But Ledare had more than a suspicion that the tavern's lack of business had everything to do with the presence of the VQS. What few folk there were besides Karak and the others were huddled at the far side of the room, sullenly drinking from wooden flagons and muttering amongst themselves.Karak hailed Ledare as soon as she entered the taproom and motioned her over. "Come join us, lassie!" he bellowed, upending his cup and draining its contents. "Barkeep! Bring another round o' that watered down humie beer we been drinkin'!"The bartender looked up from the conversation he'd been having with one of the locals and nodded. "We'll have to tap another keg, sir dwarf," he called. "I'll fetch one from the cellar. You've drained what stock I had on hand.""Ye do that! I ain't in nae hurry!" Karak said and grabbed two of the untouched flagons that stood on the tabletop in front of Bisayo. He clunked one down in front of Ledare and brought the other to his lips. "Ye do nae mind sharin' do ye, fancy pants?""Not at all," the elf said with a wave of his slender hand that casually indicated the forest of empty cups in front of Karak. "I have not even finished my second cup. You are clearly more thirsty than I.""Oh, aye!" the dwarf grinned foamily. "When ye said ye were buyin', well... I felt myself growin' thirstier by the second."Ledare chuckled and took a a tentative sip of the beer. It was thin and bitter, rather like the pinched young woman who was serving wine to some of the locals at the fringes of the room. "You must be wealthy indeed if you've offered your purse to cover Karak's drink tab," the Janissary said and Bisayo looked a trifle bemused by the notion."I wish I were rich... but my family is rich mainly in tradition and responsibility," the elf explained. "I have access to fine things, true. But my people do not hoard money, nor do we follow others based on the amount of coin they carry.""Just so long as ye've enough to pay O'Meyer, fancy pants," Karak said and belched expansively. He laughed loudly and raised his cup again. "That's better! Jus' makin' a bit o' room!""How are the holy women?" Ixin asked, clearly eager to change the subject."They're fine," Ledare answered. "Still praying for guidance. What have you all been doing - I mean besides trying to empty Bisayo's purse."Vade jerked at that and looked innocently at the Janissary. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I haven't done anything. I'm too weak to-""Calm yourself, Vade," Ledare soothed. "I was referring to Karak's healthy appetite for beer. Nothing more.""Oh. That's good!" Vade smiled. "Cause Bisayo helped me find someone who was going to Thumble and was willing to deliver a message to dear old pop and mama." Then his mood soured and he sulkily added, "Since I know you guys won't ever go to Thumble.""I am sorry, Vade," Ixin said. "But our mission is simply too important for us to become side tracked by personal errands.""Much as I enjoy the company of the small folk, I fear that Ixin is correct," Bisayo interjected. "If it is true what you say: that Aphyx is rising... by the gods... that would definately explain some of the strange afflictions that the local realms and kingdoms have been dealing with.""Such as?" Ledare asked, setting down her cup and devoting her full attention to the elf."Well, let's see..." he muttered. "There has been a large increase in the number of disease-carrying rats in the southern reaches of Olven Vale, near the pass leading up to Relfren. And one of the recent emissaries from Galerideleli reported that some kind of illness had stricken a small town he had passed near called Miller's Pond. And you know, of course, about the recent troubles in Barnacus?"At mention of the plague, Karak spat darkly on the floor. The serving girl was forced to jump to avoid the projectile. "Sorry, lass," the dwarf murmured as he dragged his fist across his mouth."Things seem to be moving quickly," Ixin grumbled. "I think it's important that we get those two women back to the Great Oak  and help re-establish the temple as soon as we can. I think that will go a long way towards re-establishing the balance of good and evil.""Again, I find myself agreeing with Ixin," Bisayo chimed in. "This seems to be a rather important next step. I would like to travel there with you, in fact, if you will have me.""You are welcome to join us for as long as it suits you," Ledare said, but her tone was cautionary. "But understand, it is a dangerous business we are about. Moreso, I would imagine, than just seeking out members of a royal family.""Do not worry. I consider myself well schooled in the art of battle," Bisayo replied. After a moment's consideration he added, "Just not neccessarily in the heat of battle... so to speak." Ledare nodded."When I first ventured with Kirnoth, he was not much of an asset in battle either," she reminisced. As the memories came back to her, she smiled girlishly, "Once his spells conjured up some rainbow mice in the heat of battle. Another time my pants..." She paused, blushing. "Anyway, the skills you refer to will come with time.""Thank you, Ledare. It is comforting to have your confidence," Bisayo replied. "I find your conviction very drawing. I would really consider it quite an honor to travel with your party. I might even be able to chronicle some of your tales.""Hey!" Vade exclaimed. "I was thinking about writing a song about us too! Maybe we could work together on it!""A song?" Morier asked, raising one pale eyebrow."Yeah!" the halfling said and hauled out a small guitar that he had picked up in Myles' Blanket of the Kingdom and Dry Goods when delivering his note home. He plucked a few discordant notes on the tinny instrument and grinned. "I thought we could use a little entertainment on long trips or at night around the campfire.""By the Soul Forger!" Karak groaned. "Be there nae end to my torment?""What?" Vade asked, innocently. "My uncle was quite a lute player in his day... Boy, did the ladies love him!"Moonsday, the 16th through Waterday, the 18th of Reaping, 1269 AEIn the morning, they bought what supplies they could from the only merchant in town, Myles, settled up their accounts with O'Meyer, the innkeeper, and got themselves fully restored by the blessings of Flor. They set out from Flavonshire with Matriarch Lenoire and Faithful Daughter Betina, heading northeast along the Eginnion Road, back toward the Termlane Forest and the Great Oak. The trip was pleasant, mostly, with the group taking turns walking and riding in the wagon.Vade thoroughly enjoyed his new way to bedevil Karak, and he played his eukelele incessantly despite frequent threats of bodily harm if he persisted. His musicianship left much to be desired, but he had a decent singing voice.Ledare spent a goodly amount of time talking religion with Lenoire and Betina. The Janissary felt an unmistakable connection to Flor, but she knew very little about the White Lady's teachings. As such, she was eager to avail herself of this opportunity to learn some of it firsthand. The others discussed tactics, going over the VQS' strengths and weaknesses in battle. Each member of the group had something to offer, but coordinating it all seemed to be their biggest stumbling block. They hadn't come up with any real solution by the time they reached the forbidding wall of the Wandering Trees."What now?" asked Lenoire as she scanned the treeline ahead."Oh, servants of Merciful One," a scratchy voice answered from the shadows. "Great Oak welcomes you to holy place." Saying thus, a small figure stepped from behind a tree. Said figure was clearly a female goblin dressed in crude but functional stitched hide armor. An acorn threaded on a bit of cured leather hung around her neck. Those who had been here before recognized her at once as Gorguul, the gobliness whom they had spared in exchange for information about what had happened to lead her tribe toward Chaos. She looked cleaner and better fed than when they'd left her, but she was clearly the same goblin."Come with me," she said, pointing toward a wide path that had opened up in the trees. "I lead you to Great Oak."</blockquote>

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