Warriors Of The Coast

[Velmont]

He concentrate on the ritual, but Jango isn't that use to spend so much time on one magical task. his magic is instinctive, is quick. As he hears that voice at a moment, he surprise himself at thinking.

And why do I want that bird? If I am unwelcome, I could always use my magic to keep people on the defensive. I can't pass my life to fear and hide. I...

He stop a moment, but quickly continue teh ritual. Holding more longer would have wasted it.

What I am thinking? That's not me. Let's keep concentrate.

He eyes turn back on teh bird. He find it beautifull. After a moment, he knew he had done the good choice. Not only it would become a friend, this animals doesn't have the social guideline of the people of the village. He would be able to speak to him without having to fear for his reaction. He could talk to him about things he couldn't talk to his own family... maybe it could help him to see the truth behind that voice... but could that bird really understand what would be happening to him?

Keeping his concentration he try to talk to that voice in his head. Why should I not bother about that bird? If I listen to you, I should isolate myself. Why?

 

[DEFCON 1]

"I am Khalia ir'Indari. Of the Knights Templar, Archivists Order."

The older gentleman smiles at her and outstretches his hand to shake hers. "Tod Ellston... Knight Templar, retired." His smile is wide and inviting and puts the young woman at ease immediately. "I take it you were summoned to Newthrone as well? I was living out the good life down in Pitchwall when I received the letter from Elder Nevillom. As much as understand the need to recommission, I have to say I rather enjoyed spending my waning days lying out in the sun." Khalia finds several things interesting as she listens to Templar Ellston. One, that he says he's retired even though he doesn't look older than his early forties; two, he never released her hand the entire time he spoke with her; and three, he has very beautiful eyes. All of these things swirl about in her head as the caravan begins to move.

*****

The journey up to Newthrone takes several days, but for the most part is uneventful. Ari and Skarghash speak to Talak'na only a few times over the course of the journey, however Khalia's time with Tod Ellston takes a much more familial turn. The one thing she notices as they exchange stories about life in the service of the Flame is that he is exceedingly charismatic. And very attractive, if she said so herself.

The caravan finally pulls into Newthrone... the New Galifar capitol and the main hub of commerce and life in the Q'barran province. While it is much more active and populated than Seawell, it doesn't even come close to matching the size or crowdedness of some of the larger cities in the Five Nations proper. The carriages and carts all travel to the large Orien transportation guild station... a series of buildings five times larger than the one back in Seawell, and everyne begins to load out. The dwarven Orien worker pays Ari and Skarghash the second payment of 10 gold for their work (if you could even call what they did "work"), and they sign out and are free to go about their business. Khalia reclaims her steed and luggage, and stands outside the station's lobby. Templar Ellston does not take his eyes off of her while he hoists his pack onto his shoulders, and once more gives her a large smile. "Shall we go to the temple, my Lady? We wouldn't want to keep Elder Nevillom waiting."

 

[drothgery]

"Shall we go to the temple, my Lady? We wouldn't want to keep Elder Nevillom waiting."

"Yes, but does he want to see the Lady, the Scholar, or the Adventurer?" She said. "The first truly requires a dress that is most unsuitable for travelling long distances; the last, weapons and armor that would have the caravan master believing I had no confidence in his guards."

 

[DEFCON 1]

Why should I not bother about that bird? If I listen to you, I should isolate myself. Why?

The questions rattle around inside his head, and he tries his best to "reach out" to this... voice... entity... whatever it is that keeps contacting him. Or does it? Is the voice real? It sounds just like the voice he "heard" down in the Cult temple... but how can he be sure? Jango waits patiently as he works, hoping against hope that the voice would respond... but nothing happens. Disappointing.

What isn't disappointing though, is that as the sun rises in the east, Jango flips the final page of Zan's book and vocalizes the last incantation needed to bind this hawk to him permanently. As the final word is spoken, a wash of arcane power flows over the hawk's feathers, and he shakes his head one time. The bird has suddenly become inbued with an intellect he had never experienced before, and he squawks one time in surprise and appreciation. What surprises Jango is that he can actually feel the happiness that his hawk now feels for being opened to the world, and a flow of emotion goes back and forth between the two of them. (Gain Empathic Link)

As Jango stares into his new friend's eyes... there is something else that the elf now notices... his eyes and ears seem to... have become... more keen? More sharp? More clear than they ever had before? He glances around the lab and is surprised by how much more he picks out in the details of his surroundings that he just never noticed before. The sounds from the streets have become more intense, and everything he looks at can be focused on much easier than ever before. (Gain Alertness feat: +2 Spot/Listen // Gain additional +3 to Spot checks in bright light)

Zan comes over to the boy and puts a hand on his shoulder. "I think our job here is done. Congratulations. Both of you. I know you're probably both tired, but I'd suggest you actually go for a walk and get to know each other. And Jango? This new friend of yours needs a name." He laughs easily, and the hawk leaps from the shelf and lands on Jango's shoulder. The changeling then ushers you both to the back door. "Don't worry about the lab. I'll clean everthing up. It's the same thing Allustair did for me, so it's only right that I return the favor forward. Now go you two... go out and experience this new world together."

And with that, elf and hawk step out into the streets of Seawell, bonded together always.

 

[DEFCON 1]

"Yes, but does he want to see the Lady, the Scholar, or the Adventurer?" "The first truly requires a dress that is most unsuitable for travelling long distances; the last, weapons and armor that would have the caravan master believing I had no confidence in his guards."

Templar Ellston smiles and shakes his head. "I'm sure I do not know. The Elder Nevillom has always been a mercurial fellow. However, as I do not think he plans on hitting the trail just because of my arrival... I'm not so arrogant to believe he was waiting on just me... I think that I will just go see him straight away to find out what this whole little recruitment drive is all about. Get me some answers before settling in, as it were. However, if you decide to find lodging first and get cleaned, then I wish you all the best, my Lady. And do not worry... I will refrain from mentioning you arrived in town with me but didn't go rushing headlong to drop at his waiting feet. That is the least I can do. He gets so huffy if he thinks people aren't jumping to action on his every whim."

 

[DEFCON 1]

Skarghash leaves the Orien station and begins walking through the streets of Newthrone. It is a bright day, if not a little chilly, and everywhere he looks people are hurrying about. Newthrone is a city of over 23,000 people... and he has to wonder if they are all out and about today because the streets are PACKED. Skarghash holds in his hand the address of where he should go to enlist in the training course taught by the Valenar elf Zendarrill Lorren, and he starts moving through the streets... keeping his eyes peeled for any signage that might help him along. He finds that despite the crowds, he is able to walk along with a minimum of difficulty because everyone seems to immediately part around him. Apparently the Watchman uniform he wears is not enough to put folks at ease, as far as his appearance is concerned. His raggedy hair, the slight drooling... people know better than to get in Skarg's way.

However, there is one small lad who doesn't seem bothered by him. As a matter of fact, this young human boy of about eight who was sitting in front of booth across the street rushes right up to him holding a small wooden horse and begins speaking. "Horsie? Horsie sir? Only ten coppers! Would my master like a horsie for sale? Just ten! Carved it myself, I did! A steal for just ten coppers!"

 

[DEFCON 1]

After signing out at the Orien station, Ari Osten gathers his equipment and begins glancing outside the station trying to decide his next move. The crowds rush about up and down the street, and he sees that the pace here is much faster than back in Seawell. He watches Skarghash head off and sees Khalia in a discussion with an older man in clergy robes, and he reaches down to place a hand upon Onyx at his side.

He hears footsteps coming up from behind him, and as he turns... he sees the hobgoblin Talak'na Darhakesh walk up to him. He carries most of his equipment on a pack on his back, and there is now a large, ornate heavy flail on his belt. He looks down an Onyx and then back to Ari and nods. "You-- earn job-- here? Newthrone good place for-- earn job. Guarding jobs good. I head to Blademark Guild house. Earn job again. I Blademark earn job for many years-- paid good. You mercenary? You come with me, you look Deneith material. Earn job. Yes?"

 

[stonegod]

"You-- earn job-- here? Newthrone good place for-- earn job. Guarding jobs good. I head to Blademark Guild house. Earn job again. I Blademark earn job for many years-- paid good. You mercenary? You come with me, you look Deneith material. Earn job. Yes?"

Ari's eyes narrow a bit at the hob. Probably not after anything dastardly, but he still had a hard time trusting them sometimes. "Was Deneith once, during the War. I have some free time on my hand, though. Might be up to another free-lance, depends on the terms."

 

[drothgery]

Templar Ellston smiles and shakes his head. "I'm sure I do not know. The Elder Nevillom has always been a mercurial fellow. However, as I do not think he plans on hitting the trail just because of my arrival... I'm not so arrogant to believe he was waiting on just me... I think that I will just go see him straight away to find out what this whole little recruitment drive is all about. Get me some answers before settling in, as it were. However, if you decide to find lodging first and get cleaned, then I wish you all the best, my Lady. And do not worry... I will refrain from mentioning you arrived in town with me but didn't go rushing headlong to drop at his waiting feet. That is the least I can do. He gets so huffy if he thinks people aren't jumping to action on his every whim."

"The problem, my friend, is that I doubt things are as simple and straightforward as we have been told. And the appearance I project may well affect what I can do to help. Still, I suppose you are correct. Father told me something of the Elder before I came to this part of the world." Khalia said.

 

[Velmont]

As Jango feels the joy of his bird, he smiles. I am happy you liked it, but you quickly realized that this gift has too edges, I just hope they won't be as sharp as mine. he thinks.

As Zan offer him to clean the laboratory, Jango thanks him and leave. Jango eye looks at sleeve and see the shirt had been ripped by the claw of the hawk. "You have good claws. But do not mind, I can repair that." Jango concentrates and the rip dissapear from his sleeve. "I'll have to buy a leather glove and should pad. You'll have a better grip and you won't need to fear to hurt me. But before going to see for these items, I think it would only be fair to present you to my family. But Zan was right, you'll need a name. One that suit you. The choice of a name is important." From his mind, a name come to him, instinctively, but Jango wondered why that name: Griot. In some obscure and primitive society, they were the artist, but also advisors of the chief. Was that why that voice seems to dislike the idea of a familiar, because the animal could become a voice to speak against him? "Griot. That doesn't sound too bad. What do you think about that name? Come on, let's go to the watchmen post. My sister will surely be there and most likely, with my father. After that, we could go to see my mother at the Green Lilac before getting some rest, we've been awake all the night."