Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 9:47:18	Gamis Pfaebinn, paladin, has decided it's time to introduce his fiancee to his unsuspecting parents. Therefore, he and the young lady in question, one Mirielle Dyer, are travelling to the small village of Lilac Ford. With Sir Pfaebinn riding his paladin's mount, Valor, and Dame Dyer on a magical steed of her own conjuration, they set out from Garic's City in the early morning light.
#2 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 9:56:55	After sliding down from Valor, Mirielle casts her spell to create a magical 'horse.' Yes, Valor, I know it isn't as good as you, but this way Gamis can focus on what he needs to do if we're attacked by something. With a touch of awkwardness she mounts the 'steed' and grins at Gamis. It feels a little odd to be traveling with just the two of us. Arcane spells prepared: Arcane Spells (Save DC: 15 + spell level +1 for Conjuration/Necromancy) Level 0 (4/day): detect magic, disrupt undead, message, read magic Level 1 (6/day): cause fear, mage armor, magic missile, mount, obscuring mist, sleep Level 2 (5/day): continual flame, Melf's acid arrow, mirror image, protection from arrows, summon swarm Level 3 (4/day): fireball, greater magic weapon, keen edge, Leomund's tiny hut Level 4 (3/day): enervation, summon monster IV x2 Level 5 (2/day): teleport, waves of fatigue
#3 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 11:24:15	Valor nickers and eyes the arcane equine, nostrils working as he tries to catch its scent. One ear pivots front to back to front again, but he subsides with a shake of his mane and clops on alongside it at his partner's urging. Gamis, for his part, scratches Valor's shoulder and returns Miri's smile. "It does, doesn't it... And no cave or anything to go looking for trouble in. It's nice, for a change." He brushes his fingertips momentarily over her upper arm, unable to get close enough to hold her hand while they're mounted. Spells: 1st: cure light wounds x2 2nd: bull's strength, shield other 3rd: cure moderate wounds
#4 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 11:31:12	We can use that shelter spell I learned, tonight. She smiles at his gesture, then looks up at the sky. Do you think that rain will be back by then? Though, it'll be a little cool, even if it doesn't start raining.
#5 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 11:39:11	He follows her look up at the sky and ponders it for a moment. "I can't tell... Maybe." He adds to himself, .oO(Never a ranger when you need one.) "Even if it doesn't, since you have the spell, we should probably use it. Hey, there's a thought... Once we've been to the Ford, maybe we can use your teleporting spell to visit more often?"
#6 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 11:52:00	Mirielle's eyebrows jump at the suggestion, and she gets a thoughtful, considering, look on her face. A long gaze at Valor and Gamis, and she nods. I think so. Valor is pretty big, but I think I could move the two of us plus Valor, and Lilac Ford is well within my range. She grins. That should make your parents happy!
#7 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 12:04:35	He returns the grin. "I'm sure it will... They don't see me for two years, then all of a sudden I'm popping up randomly for a day with my wizardess on my arm and this fellow with his head over our shoulders." He gives Valor a pat. "Smart, pretty, and infinitely useful... They'll love you for sure."
#8 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 12:42:03	Mirielle laughs, shaking her head. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she says, Careful, there, you're making me sound like a trained dog!
#9 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 13:05:53	Gamis hooks his forefinger around an imaginary band circling his neck and puts on a look of mock surprise and confusion. "Hey, where'd this collar come from?" His eyes lock onto Miri and he assumes an expression of dawning comprehension. He cracks a grin at her. "Darling, I think it's safe to say we have each other equally housebroken."
#10 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 15:29:58	Miri giggles again, then nudges her mount closer to Valor, reaching out to take Gamis' hand, briefly. Trained, perhaps, but never broken. Turning her attention back to the scenery, she points out a hill, and asks, There's a pretty hill. If it has a name, it'd be a handy landmark.
#11 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 16:30:18	The paladin accepts her hand and kisses it before releasing to let their mounts resume comfortable spacing for the walk. "Agreed." He looks to the hill she points out. "It is a pretty one... Couldn't say what its name is, but for our purposes, maybe we could call it something like... First Hours' Hill? Outset Knob?" he shrugs self-depreciatingly, and his pauldrons clank. "Maybe we'll name a hill after each flirt I make to you..." They travel on towards Lilac Ford.
#12 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 19:57:30	Laughing, Miri glances around. Well, then I get to name something! Um, that stream... She guides her mount closer to the stream they are paralleling. Stream, I dub thee "Shining Paladin River!"
#13 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 21:56:18	Gamis laughs. "And when the sun sets, over one of those hills in the distance there, I'll name them Horizon of the Pink Mage." He points to a rock. "That boulder I'll--" he stops, face losing mirth, as he feels both with his legs and through their bond Valor going suddenly tense. "I think he hears something," he whispers to Miri.
#14 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 22:05:54	Miri's eyes widen and she stops her mount, listening intently. She looks at Gamis, ready to shrug, when Ix communicates something. [swm]Hear growling, laughing, shouting... That way.[/swm] Miri looks back at Gamis, whispering Ix hears it -- growling and laughing, over there. She points further up the stream.
#15 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 22:16:56	Gamis frowns and unships his bow from over his shoulder and nudges Valor forward at a brisk pace. The warhorse complies, ears turned forward as he parallels the stream at a canter. As they pass over roots and underbrush, following on, the sound reaches the paladin's ears, too: harsh, yapping laughter, and infuriated bellows that somehow carry an equine tone. They break into a small grassy meadow around the stream, and there at the edge of the trees on the far side, the first thing they see is the man on a horse hanging impossibly upside-down by one forehoof--wait, no, that's not quite right. But the dark-cloaked figure, with a lupine-ish snout sticking out of the hood, doesn't take the time to give them a better look as it turns with a flap of its cowl and makes to run. One muscle-knotted arm of the inverted centaur shoots out and catches it by the quiver across its back and holds fast with another angry bellow. Gamis is already setting an arrow to the string and drawing to fire at the fleeing gnoll.
#16 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 22:26:00	Following close behind on her mount, Mirielle raises her hand and points at the creature, releasing five pink energy balls to fly out and strike it. Howling in pain, it twists harder in the horse-man's grasp, the strap of the quiver breaking to let it fall, then stagger, forward. Fear lends it strength to run into the cover of the underbrush.
#17 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 22:32:35	Gamis swears quietly as intervening foliage promises to ruin his shot. Valor canters forward, towards the horse-man, and the paladin looses the arrow. As he thought it might, the gnoll doesn't even need to duck, hide saved from a shaft by tree branches. The cloaked figure sprints without a glance back, dodging underbrush as its paws carry it away. He looks to the snared centaur, arms thrashing and bellowing furiously again, as the gnoll escapes. The paladin's eye is drawn by the numerous small puncture wounds dotting his bare chest and shoulders. Seeming to feel the human's gaze on him even in his rage, he turns his face to look back at him. "Are you alright?" the paladin asks, lowering his bow, knowing the gnoll has every advantage for getting away.
#18 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 22:36:15	Mirielle guides her mount to Gamis' side, gazing wide-eyed at the horse-man. A... centaur? It's... I never expected to see... I mean, meet, one. We'd best help him down, Gamis. That leg was never meant to support so much weight, by itself, in that manner.
#19 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 22:42:52	"Please do!" the centaur exclaims brusquely, in a voice that sounds naturally rough in Common, looking up at the strap he's dangling from, attatched to a stout limb that apparently sprung and dragged him up. He levels another glance in the direction the gnoll went. "Okay," Gamis says, drawing his sword and rising up in the stirrups. "Swing or something; you look like you could land bad and hurt something." "Just cut, human," he answers, though he waves his limbs enough to get a decent swing. "Now!" The paladin slashes at the strap and parts it, releasing the centaur to gravity. The landing is graceless, but probably the best he could manage under the circumstances as he flops hindquarters-first onto his side with a thud.
#20 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 22:50:56	Scrambling down from her mount, Mirielle hurries to the side of the centaur. You were injured before, I hope you're not injured further... What fascinating musculature... I wonder what the internal organs are like... The centaur growls low in his throat, and Mirielle pauses in her gesture of drawing forth her holy symbol. Blushing furiously, she hastens to assure him I wasn't intending to dis-- I mean, no disrespect intended. Sir. May I offer some healing, sir?
#21 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 22:58:35	"Don't bother," he says, struggling to rise to his four feet. "I need to--ohhh..." He sways slightly, putting a hand to his forehead. "Easy," Gamis advises, considering reaching out a hand to steady his high humanoid shoulder, and Valor nickers. "You don't look so good. No big wounds... What happened; what'd that thing do to you?" "Never you mind," is the gruff reply, though the centaur still isn't on-balance yet. "It's just a little poison; nothing I can't handle." "You'd better let us treat you, then. It's alright."
#22 zombiegleemax Jul 04, 2004 23:07:27	Of course you can handle it. I can see that you're very strong, but wouldn't it be more expedient to let us help you? The centaur looks askance at Mirielle, but finally grunts his assent, studiously looking over her head at the area where the gnoll vanished. Mirielle holds her holy symbol reverently, praying to Thalos for healing for the centaur. Casts Cure Light Wounds
#23 zombiegleemax Jul 05, 2004 0:03:12	As some of the wounds close over, including older arrow pockmarks, Gamis asks the impatient patient another question. "How long ago did it poison you?" "Not more than half a minute. Kept sticking poisoned arrows in me." He gestures at the punctures Miri's spell is knitting up, though it might be notable he makes sure not to hit her in the head. "Mangy gnoll bastard..." The paladin sighs. "You'd better wait a little longer, then. You're not out of danger with the poison. She can help." "If you think I'm going to let him get away, you're out of your mind!" "One minute, that's all it'll take," Gamis says to him. "He can't get that far ahead of you, can he? I think I have a general idea how fast you can move, you can catch up." Tactful as the statement is, it still earns both the paladin and his mount a glare. Valor lays his ears back momentarily in reply. "You're looking pale, and as many times as you've been stuck, you probably have a mightly lot of venom in you right now. Don't want to collapse, do you? Besides..." He points to the gnoll's spilled quiver on the ground. "You declawed him a little, by the look of things." There's a brief moment where he looks pleased at the disadvantage he wrought on the gnoll, but he buries it. "Hmph... Oh, go on, then!" the centaur snaps. "Thanks..." Gamis dismounts to help Miri treat the horse-man for the poison. Valor stands off a few feet away and watches the patient warily. "You have a name?" the paladin asks as he helps his fiancé work. "Yes," the centaur replies testily. "That's one thing we have in common with your 'civilization.'" Catching Gamis resisting the urge to roll his eyes, he makes a reply. "Mennedael. Mennedael of somewhere, but I'm not going to tell you where. No need for humans to know. It's far away, anyway." "I understand. Mennedael. I'm Gamis, and this is my betrothed Mirielle." The centaur gives a gruff "Hi." "Almost done... Why're you after that gnoll?" "A week ago he and his band killed a number of young of the tribe. I'm going to bring his head back. He's all that's left; me and my brothers have taken care of the rest. He just got a head start, and I've been catching up on him. Followed his trail right into that trap." "Revenge, then?" "No Demmionite nonsense," the centaur replies. "That's just our way. He has to answer for what he did, doesn't he? And you saw what he was doing when you came trotting up. He'll answer to me." "Understood... There. Now give it a couple more seconds and we should know if you'll relapse." Mennedael clops over to where an oversized bow, sword, and quiver of arrows lay on the ground--his, apparently. He paces impatiently while he does the prescribed waiting, then grunts softly as his metabolism finally rejects the toxins his prey put into him. He shoulders his gear eagerly and bends forward slightly to look at the ground, picking up the trail again. Then he pauses for just a moment, one hoof raised in mid-step, facing away from them. "Well, thanks," he says simply and roughly, then trots off on the gnoll's trail.
#24 zombiegleemax Jul 05, 2004 10:00:53	As the centaur disappears from sight, Mirielle lets out an exasperated sigh, and rolls her eyes. At least he deigned to thank us. Hmph. Another few minutes and he would have been on that gnoll's cooking spit.
#25 zombiegleemax Jul 05, 2004 11:00:20	"Yeah... Too determined not to do this on his own, I guess. I think he'll be okay, though; the gnoll only fought him after he had him helpless." Gamis clanks over to the stream to wash his hands after treating the centaur, then returns to Miri's side. "Ready to get back on the road?"
#26 zombiegleemax Jul 05, 2004 11:45:01	Mirielle finishes stowing her salves and herbs, and washes her own hands. Ready. No, wait! She goes up to Gamis, stands on tiptoe and kisses him, then grins. Now I'm ready!
#27 zombiegleemax Jul 05, 2004 20:12:44	The paladin smiles back at her, then places his hands at her waist and whirls her up into her saddle with one swift motion. Then he calls Valor over, climbs into his own stirrups, and leads the way over the stream and back onto the road they follow.
#28 zombiegleemax Jul 06, 2004 10:14:40	Miri giggles, and rides after Gamis. Perhaps we'll have to call that 'Stuck Centaur Creek,' instead. How far do you think we'll get today?
#29 zombiegleemax Jul 06, 2004 11:16:50	"Halfway there... It's been so long since I went this way, it's hard to remember landmarks and such. There's not many villages along the route, though, I seem to recall... But we're moving a whole lot faster than I was on foot. And camping shouldn't be a problem." The two of them travel on until early evening, when Valor feels he's had enough for one day, and go about making camp.
#30 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 14:19:49	I'll make the shelter when we're ready for bed. I have to stay inside it or the spell will end, but you can go in and out as you please. She puts a pan of water to heat on the campfire.
#31 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 17:00:59	Gamis unsaddles and de-bards Valor, but only manages to give him a light brushing before the horse insists on pulling away so he can go have a good roll a stone's toss away from the campsite, then a shake. Setting the brush down, Gamis puts out their rations while his partner unwinds in proper equine fasion. "Okay. I'm looking forward to seeing this spell." He takes a drink to drain his waterskin as much as possible before refilling and removes his armor.
#32 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 22:42:18	Ixchal darts after Valor, playing a risky game of 'Catch the Tail' while avoiding the stallion's hooves. Mirielle looks back from laughing at the sight to see Gamis working at his buckles and hurries over to help him with his armor. Going to sleep unarmored, tonight, are you? she murmurs, glancing up flirtatiously.
#33 zombiegleemax Jul 07, 2004 23:29:54	Gamis grins and deepens his voice to a ridiculously exaggerated sultry purr. "The better to wind you in my arms, my dear." He lays his greaves aside and assumes his more normal tone. "And with Ixchal on guard, what do I need to be worried about? Besides you, that is." With his cuirass and the last of his armor removed, Valor trots over in search of treats before Gamis can get much farther than kissing Miri. He sighs and releases her. "He needs his oats..." Making eyes at his fiancé the whole time, the paladin gives his partner his deserved treats for the day.
#34 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 9:30:28	Miri blinks and starts to protest when Gamis releases her in favor of feeding the horse, then giggles. Yes, and I believe I was about to start cooking our dinner when you distracted me! Going back to the campfire, she tosses dried rations into a pan and adds the now-hot water and some spices. She pours the remainder of the hot water into two cups with some herbal tea, and refills the pan with water. It shouldn't take too long to be edible, though it won't be up to mama's standards.
#35 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 9:40:00	The paladin looks his most innocent at her suggestion. "Me? Distract you from cooking?" His expression turns honest thoughtul as Valor munches the carrot he was just given. "I suppose that is quite the conflict of interests." He pats the horse and arranges a few patches of his coat that were missed when he went off. The destrier ambles off back to his rolling spot and lays down to enjoy cool grass and a little afternoon sun. Gamis sits next to Miri with their tea and watches the fire. "Hardships of travel," he sighs. "Fresh air, new sights, the best company, and edible food. Not sure how I get by."
#36 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 9:46:33	Smiling up at Gamis, she makes sure he has enough room on the log next to her, then leans against him. I hope Lilac Ford is nice and quiet. Sometimes I miss old Devon's tower. He was quite a sloppy person, but it was a quiet place to study and research. Not that I expect to be doing any studying or researching at your parents' house! It's just that the city gets a bit wearing after a while.
#37 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 9:58:12	He wraps his arm around her waist as she leans, and his face looks a little somber. "I hope it's quiet, too... Part of me's been worried about the village," he confesses. "I've been away so long, and I don't know if anything's happened. "Hopefully just nerves, though, and if everything's okay, we'll have plenty of time for rest and relaxation." Gamis smiles at her, giving her a gentle squeeze.
#38 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 10:04:39	Miri reaches across and gives Gamis an awkward hug, mindful of their mugs of hot tea. Those dreams you've had, she says more than asks. They've worried you, I know. And we never sent to inquire if the village was harassed by Khan.
#39 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 10:11:53	He returns Miri's embrace, leaning the side of his head against hers and nodding. "Or the Flame, more recently... I just don't know. But we'll find out. And then we'll make a habit of checking in more often. Isolation both protects and endangers them, I guess you could say." Gamis is silent for a moment, taking a slow sip from his tea.
#40 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 10:24:41	It's not as though they're unprotected, Gamis. There's Gray Master and his squire, right? And the village's adults should be able to wield a few weapons, I imagine. She kisses his cheek, then leans forward and stirs the pot of stew. Ixchal bounds up, a fat mouse in her teeth, and proceeds to eat it next to the fire.
#41 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 10:41:44	"Shantus? He left a couple of days before I did to go looking for some good to do... I think he headed in the direction of Reise, but by now, he could be anywhere. You're right, though, they aren't unprotected." A smile crosses his face as she kisses him. He congratulates Ixchal on a successful hunt and holds their bowls for Miri to spoon into when their dinner is ready for consumption.
#42 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 10:51:58	If a weasel can look smug, Ixchal does. Mirielle chuckles, and notes, That's not her first mouse since we started setting up camp. It's more... dessert. She uses a stick to lift the pot from the fire, and then serves their food. Catching Gamis's eye as she fills his bowl, she suddenly blushes deeply.
#43 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 11:02:00	Gamis chuckles and shakes his head at Ixchal. "And I thought I had an appetite..." Noticing Miri's blush, he leans against her just slightly in a nudge. "What?" he asks softly as he holds her bowl in his other hand.
#44 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 11:23:13	Grinning, Miri takes her bowl and begins eating, pausing to bat her eyelashes playfully at Gamis. We'll be under your parents' roof, this time tomorrow...
#45 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 11:29:34	Gamis smiles and nods. "Uh-huh. We... could stay at the inn, if we'd like to have a little space to ourselves..." he points out as one hand walks across her shoulder.
#46 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 11:38:06	Hmm... she muses, swallowing a mouthful of stew. I like that idea. We shouldn't press the matter if your parents really want us at their house, but since we're arriving unexpectedly, it might be kinder to stay at the inn, anyway.
#47 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 11:52:32	"Good reasons," Gamis agrees, releasing her shoulder so he can take a bite of his stew. "I think they'd be okay with us sharing a room anyway, if we end up staying at the house. "I'll get to show you off to my brother, my sister, the neighbors, Gray Master... Let them know they'll be invited down to the city someday for the ceremony..."
#48 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 14:07:53	With a bit more conversation, the meal is finished, dishes washed, and Mirielle takes a small crystal bead from her pouch. It's going to look like a hemisphere, darling. We'll be able to see out, and you and Ix can go in and out as you please. No-one will be able to see in, and we'll be protected from rain and such.
#49 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 14:13:51	"Okay." Gamis stands watching interestedly, then takes a step back to give Miri room for casting. Feeling his curiosity, Valor looks over to witness the spell as well.
#50 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 14:26:47	Miri gestures, intones a phrase, and vanishes under an opaque dome. Interestingly, it is dark grey, and not pink.
#51 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 14:36:40	Valor nickers, and Gamis's eyebrows raise, impressed. He reaches out a hand tentatively and passes it through the dome, then puts his face through it to look inside. "Wow... Very neat."
#52 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 14:40:57	Miri grins proudly, as Gamis admires her handiwork. It should be a bit more comfortable than the tent.
#53 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 15:01:52	The knight steps inside completely, then out, then in again. "Could we conceivably build a fire inside it?" he asks, fetching their bedrolls and setting them within the dome.
#54 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 18:24:31	We could, but it shouldn't be necessary. It'll be exactly this temperature all night -- we won't even really need a blanket, and rain, even a sandstorm, wouldn't get in. She grins and adds, So you'll be sure to take me along next trip to the desert.
#55 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 19:12:31	"Definitely," Gamis agrees, returning the grin. "That's something we should prepare for when we get back home... But that's later. For now: you want anything else brought in here? Your bag?"
#56 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 20:38:00	Nope, I have my bag right here. She gestures behind her. The rest of the food, I suppose, and anything you want kept safe.
#57 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 20:46:09	"Just in case it does rain. If it does, Valor might try to join us, but it looks like there's room." Gamis slips out of the hemisphere and between several trips gets his arms, saddle, bag, and the part of their gear that looks water-susceptible inside the shelter, with room to spare. He looks at the semi-tidy pile, satisfied, and removes his boots.
#58 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 20:49:55	Eek, the boots! Miri pretends to wave away a cloud, then sticks out her tongue and scampers to the other side of their gear.
#59 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 20:53:33	Gamis grins and pursues her, going around the pile. "Yes, the dreaded pedibeast is going to attack you with his poisonous feet... And you should watch it," he adds teasingly, "I'm harder to outrun when I'm unarmored. And you can't leave the dome."
#60 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 20:58:12	Hampered by her giggling, Mirielle continues to dodge around the pile. Ixchal jumps onto some gear, bouncing eagerly on her front paws while waiting for a chance to join in. Oh dear, what ever shall I do!
#61 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 21:09:48	"There's no escape for you, my pretty. You may as well just accept the inevitable: I'm going to catch you." So saying, he feints to the left and then lunges to the right around the interposing luggage.
#62 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 21:59:49	Completely taken in by Gamis' feint, Mirielle is the picture of bewilderment as she finds herself captured. B-but, how? Ohhhh, you! Her laughter takes any sting from her protest.
#63 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 22:05:47	"Gotcha," the paladin says with a grin, and gives her a lift and a twirl. "Maybe I won't attack you with my feet, though..." he muses flirtatiously as he sets her down again. "Maybe I'll just go for the neck."
#64 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 22:10:16	Will you really... She laughs, softly now, melting against him... Fade to black...
#65 zombiegleemax Jul 08, 2004 23:22:28	In the morning, mage and knight are awake for the dawn as usual, but they take their time getting up. Gamis gets a fire going for morning tea while Miri reviews her spellbook, and sure enough the shelter disappears when Miri walks through its walls. The eat rations dry this morning and wash it down with tea. As it turns out, without needing to ride through the city, the two of them get back on the road slightly earlier than they did the previous day.
#66 zombiegleemax Jul 09, 2004 15:07:22	After a few yawns, and pulling her cloak more tightly around her shoulders, Mirielle gazes with interest at the surroundings. Funny to think you and I have travelled more in a year than some people do in their whole lives...
#67 zombiegleemax Jul 09, 2004 19:50:49	Gamis nods. "It is... But I guess if everything we needed--not just food and such, things we need to do like the trip to Hardaja or fights with orcs... If all that was within one mile of the house, we might be the same. And have an awfully crowded but interesting neighborhood, I imagine. "They don't have the luxury for it either, I guess..."
#68 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 8:31:21	After a moment's thought, Mirielle looks sidelong at Gamis, and says, Darling, I really wouldn't want the Maw in our backyard, or ravening orcs across the street. Attempting to keep a straight face, she finds it difficult to suppress the smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
#69 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 10:36:33	Cracking a grin as well, Gamis looks back at her. "Are you sure? Imagine the dinner parties we could get invited to."
#70 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 13:24:52	Mirielle's face scrunches up. Imagine the sort of food that would be served! "Ah, Sir Pfaebinn, you'll be sitting between Gronk the Orc and Lady Blood-spatter the Ghoul. I'm sure you'll enjoy the first course, a lovely chilled soup of eyeballs and chopped leeks."
#71 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 13:40:19	Gamis winces visibly and laughs. "Point to you, love... I guess it's just as well that we have to travel after all, then." The road wends on, and in the afternoon, the paladin looks around them, a hint of excitement coming over his visage. "This is looking familiar now... Yes. I've explored this far from the village and the lodge. We're getting close."
#72 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 14:04:05	Looking around with renewed enthusiasm, Mirielle grins at Gamis. How much further, then? Ixchal wakes from her doze in front of Mirielle, and crawls up to the mage's shoulder. She looks around, and chirrups inquiringly at Gamis.
#73 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 14:59:56	"Never rode a horse into town from here, but... Well before sunset. Maybe two hours." Gamis smiles back at Miri, and presses on. When the road makes a bend around a copse of trees standing all to themselves, Gamis raises a gauntletted hand and points ahead. "There!" At this distance the bank of the river makes a thin ribbon across the open ground, running at basically a right angle to the direction Miri and Gamis approach at. It widens, slows, and shallows out considerably at the ford itself. Standing along the far side of the bank is the short row of two dozen lilac trees the village takes its name for, with a few volunteer stragglers on the near bank as well. Chimneys, roofs, small fields, less blossomy trees, and fences make up the community from this distance. The rush of the river reaches their ears, and Gamis grins eagerly, reining Valor slightly so he can pause and look at it from this distance for a moment. "That's it," he tells Miri with a grin. "That's Lilac Ford."
#74 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 17:20:04	Sitting and gazing at the town, Miri finally turns to Gamis with a smile. It's beautiful, Gamis.
#75 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 18:18:08	He returns the smile warmly. "Thanks... I wasn't the one who built it that way, but..." He shrugs, still smiling, and brushes his knuckles against Miri's arm. "Alright. Let's go see the folks." The paladin lets Valor increase his pace to a trot for this last little stretch of the trip, over the field, to the riverbank. The road dips down into this particularly wide stretch that's only a foot deep at most, where Valor's hooves shift gravel and river rock and his nostrils draw in the smell of the lilacs and the village. Valor climbs back up on the other side, into Lilac Ford itself, and Gamis looks about eagerly. There aren't a great many people about the sleepy little village at the moment, but he waves to those he sees. He receives surprised looks at first, and wonders if he's really changed that much in two years. Whispers start, then one elderly man steps out of his yard and looks up at his face. "Well, bless me, it's the Pfaebinn boy! Look at you, son! A genuine knight, horse, armor, and all!" he laughs, straightening up slightly. Gamis smiles back and reaches down to clasp his hand. "Thomas! You're still looking well, aren't you?" "You, too, Gamis. City's been treating you good?" "Yeah, it's been real good." Gamis's head lifts, listening to something aside from the now-chattering villagers, and he smiles. Miri might guess what it is when she picks it up as well: the rhythmic clang of a hammer striking steel somewhere in the village (maybe that's partially why he feels so at home in his armor...). "Thomas, I'll catch up with you later; right now I ought to say hi to the family." "Oh, sure! I'll just spread the word that you're back in the meantime." "I'm sure you will, old cobbler." Gamis smiles at Miri, then leads the way along the edge of town, going downriver a couple of roads, where the sound of the forge gets clearer. Three homes up can be seen a modest single-story house, thatched roof, bathouse in the back yard, and another building up against the road where the hammer sounds are coming from. As they get closer to it, a little girl with long brown hair, pretty, looking to be 12, runs around from the rear yard and pushes open the front gate. "Gam!" she shouts, and runs towards them. Smiling ear-to-ear, Gamis gets quickly down from the saddle and kneels to accept the excited hug. "Lisia, hey!"
#76 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 19:23:33	Miri smiles and nods silently to the curious townsfolk, leaving them to wonder who the person accompanying Gamis might be, and nudges her horse along after Valor. Seeing Gamis greeted so enthusiastically by his sister, she smiles again, still sitting silently on her horse, stomach a knot of nervousness.
#77 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 19:38:32	The forging sounds stop at Aelisia's shout, and two men appear in the shadowed side door of the smithy, aprons, gloves, and black smudges clearly declaring their profession. At the same time a woman steps quickly out of the front door. There is a rush, and then Gamis is being buried under a crush of Pfaebinns. He comes out of it with charcoal smears on his armor and his face, but he doesn't stop smiling, surrounded by a confusion of greeting voices. When things calm he sets his sister down and steps to the side of Miri's horse, reaching up a hand to help her down. "I'd like you to meet someone," he says to his family, still grinning. An array of blue and gray eyes turn to Miri. "Mirielle Dyer, my fiancé. Miri... This's my kin."
#78 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 19:49:50	Reminding herself firmly that she is a powerful wizardess who could reduce the town to smoking rubble if so inclined, Mirielle bravely curtsies and greets the future in-laws with a Pleased to meet you. Ixchal balances on her shoulder, fur raising and smoothing as she attempts to sort out the complicated emotions being felt by her mistress.
#79 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 20:07:51	Gamis's father is the first to step forward to Miri and offer his callused hand to shake, though he keeps an eye on Ixchal. She can see where Gamis must get his skin tone and his build, and the gray tint to his eyes. "Nice to meet you, Mirielle," he says, smiling. "Call me Kellef, or Dad, if you like." The patriarch's face is squarer than his eldest son's, cheekbones lower, and a modest smile. He doesn't seem to shave as routinely as Gamis, and there's a heavy dusting of gray in his hair and stubble. "And I'm Mom, or Eluvis, or Ellie," says his mother, taking her other hand. Here is the source of Gamis's hair color and his looks, with her wide, straight smile and blue eyes. Neither is she a short woman either, maybe four inches taller than Miri. The middle child shakes her hand next. "I'm Matrul, nice to meet you." The brother is a closer copy of their father, gray eyes and dark-brown hair, but stockier and slightly shorter. Aelisia, matching her height, looks levelly at Miri with wide blue eyes, then at Ixchal. "You have a weasel on your shoulder," she points out by way of greeting in a clear voice.
#80 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 20:13:52	Blushing and smiling, Miri shakes everyone's hand. One eyebrow quirks in response to Aelisia's version of 'hello,' and she nods solemnly. Yes, I do. Her name is Ixchal, and she's my familiar.
#81 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 20:24:33	Miri might read a 'why not just say "pet?"' in the sister's nod. She glances at Ixchal again as she finally takes her turn to shake Miri's hand. "I'm Aelisia, but Gam leaves the first part out a lot... Can I pet her?" she asks of the weasel.
#82 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 20:55:01	.oO(Too close to 'Alissa;' that name will always seem sad to me now.) Lisia is pretty, though. She turns her face to Ixchal. [swf]This is Gamis' sister; she wants to pet you.[/swf] Ixchal leans forward from Miri's shoulder, sniffing the air. [swm]Okay. If she pets nice, okay. If not, I bite.[/swm] [swf]You will not bite.[/swf] Go ahead and pet her, but don't pull her tail. Mirielle lifts Ixchal into her hands, and holds her for Alisia.
#83 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 21:07:44	"Thank you," she says, both in response to the compliment and to being able to pet Ixchal. She strokes her tentatively at first, like a cat, and tries rubbing her behind her ears. Lisia smiles, and withdraws her hand after a few pets. "Why don't you come inside?" Eluvis suggests, gesturing towards the house. The two smiths look back at the forge. "Ought to stoke the fire too," Matrul says. "We just came right out here. I'll see you inside." "And we'll have to do something with these two, won't we?" Kellef observes, looking at the two horses. "Will the back yard work, son?"
#84 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 21:16:25	Oh, just Valor... Miri hurries over to her horse, pulling her gear from it, and patting its neck, before stepping back and releasing the spell. The horse nickers at Valor, and vanishes. Mirielle turns back to her future in-laws, slightly flushed at realizing she just dispelled her transportation...
#85 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 21:26:31	There's a moment of silence at the Pfaebinns, even Matrul on his way to the forge, stare where the horse had just been. "How did..." Kellef starts, but Gamis breaks in with an explanation. "Magic, Dad. Miri's a wizard." "Ohhh! You went to the Hightower, then?" he says.
#86 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 21:33:36	Yes, Mr. Pfaebinn, after my apprenticeship. Ixchal, annoyed at trying to balance on Miri's shoulder while she shifts the weight of her saddlebags in her arms, scrambles to the ground. I apprenticed to Devon the Red, though you may not have heard of him. He's practically a recluse. I've been at the Hightower under Master Cione for the past couple years.
#87 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 21:41:45	"Kellef," he says gently, still smiling. "Can't say I've heard of either of them, but that happens when you've been out of town for... eight years now." His eyebrows perk slightly at the realization. "You said your last name is Dyer, though? That's a little familiar."
#88 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 21:48:14	Kellef, she repeats, blushing again. Her grip slips on her quarterstaff as she continues struggling with her unwieldy burden, and she sets the saddlebags down with a thump, and regains control of the quarterstaff and crossbow. Yes, my family has a business in Garic's, making and selling dyes. It's a good sized family, and the business has been going for quite some time, so you may well have encountered one of us.
#89 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 21:56:46	"I must have... I don't think we moved in the same circles, though... Blacksmiths and dye-makers." "One occupies themselves with making clothes certain specific colors, and the other makes their clothes black as an occupational hazard," Gamis says with a grin. Kellef smiles, then beckons. "Okay, let's get your horse taken care of. You two could probably do with a rest after the trip." Mr. Pfaebinn starts for the gate, but pauses and scoops up the saddlebags Miri was having trouble with. "I'll take these for you, Mirielle," he says, and continues his path to holding the gate. Gamis smiles at her and takes her hand in his left and Valor's reins in his right.
#90 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 22:04:51	Relieved at having the initial interview done with, Mirielle smiles happily at Gamis, shifting her crossbow to under her left arm so that she can hold his hand. .oO(That's done... Now to hope they aren't offended by his carrying a new sword.) Maybe I shouldn't have dismissed my horse before we found out where we'll be spending the night, she comments softly to Gamis.
#91 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 23:04:39	"It's okay," he replies quietly. "It's a little village." In the yard, Gamis unsaddles and de-bards Valor, then puts some treats down for him. Matrul emerges from the forge sans his gloves and apron and approaches to admire the great gray giant, giving him a few scratches before he goes inside. With Valor taken care of finally, Gamis smiles at Miri and opens the front door for her, then follows in to drink in memories of the old home. The kitchen/dining the front door opens holds a scrubbed wood table of not immodest size, with chairs tucked under it. Gamis's mother is busy in the kitchen, and his father enters the living room to its left through the back door, apparently having just paid a visit to the washouse, judging from the sudden disappearance of black streaks. "Gamis, you want to get out of that armor and relax a little? I don't know how the furniture would take you sitting down with it on." "Yeah, that sounds good, Dad... How much of my room has been given over to storage?" "Heh... Quite a lot of it, actually... Maybe tonight you and Mirielle should stay at the inn, then we can try to clear it out tomorrow for you." "Alright," Gamis agrees. He leads Miri to the settee in the living room and encourages her to sit by lowering her hand. Kellef takes the chance of helping him out of his armor as an excuse to inspect the mail's craftsmanship near the window looking out the front yard to the street, but Aelisia emerges from down the hall to occupy Miri. She carries in her arms a lanky tabby tomcat, a little more than a year old. "This is Bellows," she says to Miri as she sits beside her with the cat.
#92 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 23:14:09	Miri watches Kellef helping Gamis with his armor, amused at the idea of watching someone else at 'her' task. When Aelisia sits next to her with the cat, she carefully reaches over and scritches it behind the ears. Bellows? Does he spend his time in the forge, then? Ixchal chirrs deep in her throat, watching from the floor, and fluffs her fur. [swm]Nasty thing, shouldn't touch it![/swm] Miri looks at her familiar, shocked. It's only a cat, Ixchal!
#93 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 23:32:56	"He gets underfoot if we let him in, but he likes the heat in the winter. I was kinda lonely after Gamis went to the city, and a neighbor's cat had kittens, so Mom got him for me," Lisia explains to Miri. Bellows, for his own part, sniffs Miri's hand, allows her to scratch his ears, and purrs softly. He starts to offer his cheek and jaw for petting when he hears Ixchal and slits gold eyes at her, muscles tensing slightly as he watches the weasel just as carefully as she watches him. "What's the difference between a familiar and a pet like Bellows?" Gamis's sister asks Miri. "Isn't it a wizard thing?" "Son, where's the sword Mat and I made for you before you left?" "Oh, it's safe at our house in Garic's, Dad. Miri couldn't enchant it permanently, so we had to get another one. Damascus," the paladin explains to his father, drawing a few inches of the blade to be shown. Kellef leans in to admire the pattern.
#94 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 23:41:41	Well, a familiar starts out as an ordinary animal, but the binding spell changes it to a magical animal, and attaches it to the wizard. Miri watches Alisia for signs that she is overexplaining as she goes on. It makes the animal stronger and smarter. In fact, as I gain skill, Ix keeps getting smarter. She's as smart as most people, now, and we can talk to each other in a special language. Kellef stares at the sword, and in a puzzled voice asks, "Son, since when does damask steel glow pink?"
#95 zombiegleemax Jul 10, 2004 23:54:18	"Heheh..." Seeing the back of his head, Miri can spot some embarassed color climb into Gamis's ears. "That's from the enchantment, Dad. I forgot to tell Miri she didn't need to make it glow, and her magic tends to be pink, when you can see it. My fault. It's not that bad, really. Sort of rose-colored." The paladin draws the sword the rest of the way so his father can feel the balance, then takes his axe out of his belt to show it as well. "The Church of Agathalos gave this to me..." Lisia nods, seeming to feel she understands sufficiently, and looks between cat and weasel staring each other down. "She's really that smart?"
#96 zombiegleemax Jul 11, 2004 0:00:29	Miri winces at Gamis' embarassment, and mutters to herself, Well, at least he'll never grab the wrong sword by accident... Looking back to Alisia, she smiles and nods. Yes, but she still has the personality of a weasel. A mischievous one, at that. She's also brave-- she saved Gamis' life one time.
#97 zombiegleemax Jul 11, 2004 0:12:05	"Really?" Aelisia is instantly interested, a trace of worry in her eyes as she watches Miri in hopes of hearing the story. Bellows rises from her lap and hops down from the settee, ears turned back slightly as he walks past Ixchal--not too close, but not so far away as to give the impression that he's afraid of the weasel, either. He slips out the back door, and Gamis's mother crosses behind his path as she comes out of the kitchen to stand behind the armchair, hands resting on its back as she surveys the living room and listens to Miri as well.
#98 zombiegleemax Jul 11, 2004 7:58:40	Mirielle glances across to Gamis, mentally cursing herself for worrying his family. Looking back to Aelisia, she nods, Yes, quite a while ago. A bit over a year now. An elf of our acquaintance disappeared and we went in search of him. It turned out he'd made a dangerous enemy who'd kidnapped him, and taken him into a cavern... .oO(I don't think I want to explain the Maw to these folk...) He attacked us as we tried to take Redrik out of there, and I scared him off for a bit with a trick, but he came back and jumped us from the darkness. He knocked Gamis out and we were all pretty banged up, but Ixchal managed to bite him on the neck and kill him. Grinning sheepishly, she adds, I'm afraid I'm not much of a storyteller. Gamis, maybe you could explain better...
#99 zombiegleemax Jul 11, 2004 11:56:58	"That's pretty much the high points... In my defense, though, he had poisoned me in our first scrape. Made me easier to knock out. He was tricky... His scabbard seemed to emit magical darkness, so it was hard to see him and fight with him. That was it, though, Ixchal got him and he won't hurt anyone again." Gamis looks at the weasel, then bends down to place his breastplate with the rest of his armor arranged on the floor. "Wow..." Lisia says, watching Miri's familiar as well. "Bellows hunts rabbits sometimes, but nothing as big as a man." Eluvis smiles wanly and asks Miri if she'd like any tea. Matrul enters through the back door as Gamis straightens up and raises his eyebrows. "You've been filling out, brother." "Yeah, it comes with the territory," the paladin says, glancing over arms and shoulders that neither as muscular nor as defined two years ago as he shrugs. "You look like you could lift the anvil by yourself no problem," Kellef declares. "Are you sure we can't get you to settle down and work in the smithy?" he asks with a mostly-kidding smile.
#100 zombiegleemax Jul 11, 2004 12:24:02	I would like some tea, thank you, Mirielle replies to Eluvis. Her gaze wanders across Gamis' muscular back as he jokes with his father and brother. I think Lord Malifaeyr would object nearly as much as Agathalos if Gamis were to switch to smithing. He's been working as a weapons trainer for the Jackals.
#101 zombiegleemax Jul 11, 2004 13:43:00	"That's probably true," Gamis says as he buttons up the shirt he removes from his bag and rolls the sleeves to his elbows. .oO(No need to tell them about the Jackals being decimated at the moment... And I'll ask about any trouble in the area later.) Ellie brings in a tray and sets it on the end table to distribute green tea. Gamis accepts a cup and squeezes onto the settee between his sister and ladylove, and the rest of the family takes seats as well. "How's Gray doing?" he asks his dad. "He's well, but we think he's loney," Kellef replies. "We've been seeing him in town more often since you left. I guess he enjoyed the company out in that cabin." "We'll probaly go visit him tomorrow sometime. Thomas said hi when we crossed the river; I see he's still kicking, too." "And he still makes a good boot," Eluvis says, twitching the hem of her skirt slightly to show her footwear. "We swapped these for a batch of tacks last month. He was so proud of the shoes he made Samantha's wedding. His niece," she adds for Miri's benefit. "She and John Sterrman got married last fall." "Really..." Gamis rests his hand over Miri's as they sit while he gets an overview of events in the little village while he's been away.
#102 zombiegleemax Jul 11, 2004 16:45:52	Miri scoots over a bit, making room for Gamis, then finds herself leaning forward to admire the boots. They look comfortable, she agrees. Focusing on her cup of tea when the talk turns to village weddings, she resists the urge to hide her ring.
#103 zombiegleemax Jul 11, 2004 17:57:39	Mrs. Pfaebinn smiles a little and shifts her feet, then takes another sip from her cup. The tables turn in the conversation, with the family wanting to know how things are in the city. "It's grown a lot since we lived there," Gamis says. "There's at least one new inn, and the Iron Wolf, which does weapon- and armorsmithing, but nothing from our trade. "We have a house, just south of the market... An adventurer's guild opened there not long after I arrived, and Miri and I are two of the senior members there." With surcoat folded up on the floor and his pin hidden in it, he indicates the one on Miri's dress. "The Silver Sword. If you listen in the taverns a little bit you'll probably hear talk of one of the other members, Hermy Woodhome, a friend of ours... Remarkable halfling. Capable hero, too, and his minstrel does his best to boost his reputation..."
#104 zombiegleemax Jul 12, 2004 10:15:35	There was a tournament last summer, lots of contests. Gamis competed, and did quite well. I think there might be something this summer too, but nothing's been announced. .oO(If anything's to be said about the fight in the Pass, I'll leave it to Gamis.) She smiles at Gamis. Did you tell them when you were knighted?
#105 zombiegleemax Jul 12, 2004 14:24:26	"Almost won that tournament... Took the hit completely wrong in the last match and got knocked out of the saddle." He adds silently to himself, .oO(But if I'd been champion, I would've been in Juste's place with the Jackals and not up in the pass...) You got knighted, too," he reminds Miri as he returns the smile, then begins to explain Khan to his family. "This would've been the spring I arrived in the city... There was some trouble with a goblin warlord named Khan. Some friends encountered some of his forces outside Garic's... I didn't end up a part of that group, but then again I didn't find out until later what they came up against. They came out alright, and sent word to the capital about him massing. They sent troops and dispersed them, but it seems Khan was never captured. "He started recovering his strength and gathering goblinoids and set up a 'blockade' around the city that winter. Riese let Lord Malifaeyr deal with it himself, though, so he took volunteers into the Jackals and tapped the Silver Sword for help. While the rest of the army he'd gathered dealt with Khan's army, we were teleported to Khan's camp so that we could... well, cut off his leadership. "We were successful, and Malifaeyr rewarded us with knighthoods in the Jackals. We bought the house with part of the spoils we brought back from that, too."
#106 zombiegleemax Jul 12, 2004 14:41:18	With Ixchal making it very plain that she is the owner of Mirielle's lap, Miri answers Eluvis' questions about the house. It's at 16 Wildrose, south of the main market square. We have a nice neighbor across the street who is kind enough to watch it for us when we're out of town -- his name is Mitch. We had the thatching fixed up when we bought it, and there's a bit of garrett space that my apprentice sleeps in.
#107 zombiegleemax Jul 13, 2004 11:51:54	"Oh, you have an apprentice?" Mrs. Pfaebinn asks, sounding impressed. "Kellef was well along in the craft when he had one--this was before Gamis and Matrul were old enough to be much help. And you're so young..." "Troy Weftrus," Kellef supplies. "Good kid. After he finished he said he was going to Riese to work." "Haven't thought of him in ages..." Gamis muses. "I probably wouldn't recognize him now. Wonder how he's doing."
#108 zombiegleemax Jul 13, 2004 14:21:58	Perry isn't much help, she grins ruefully. I spend a lot of time teaching him his letters and numbers, but he's useful in scrubbing the equipment. It's absolutely crucial that everything be clean enough... well, clean enough to suit my mother's kitchen! She looks over at Kellef. All the way to Riese? she asks, impressed.
#109 shatteredtower Jul 13, 2004 14:51:12	"He was a hard worker," says Kellef. "so he probably did well enough." There's an uncertain look in his eyes before he adds, carefully, "Speaking of which, you might want to look in on your old master soon, son. He might be getting a bit restless again, so the company might do him a bit of good."
#110 zombiegleemax Jul 13, 2004 19:18:50	(So much for semi-retirement, eh, Gray? Not a bad thing, though, for such as us...)Oo. thinks Gamis as he nods to his father and assures him, "I will, Dad." .oO(Restless again?) The rest of the afternoon is spent in the company of the Pfaebinns, talking amiably. Dinner is a good beef roast and vegetable soup, and with the evening now getting on, Miri and Gamis take their leave of the family for the night to secure a room at the Ford's inn. The paladin manages to avoid being snared in the common room by villagers wanting to say hello and hear all about the city, so he and his wizardess are afforded a restful sleep. In the morning, after their prayers, the knight goes into a somewhat obsessive bout of polishing on his armor in preparation for seeing his old mentor. They return to his family's house for breakfast, but don't stay long as a somewhat anxious Gamis finesses them outside, where he bards and saddles Valor. Kellef and Eluvis get started in the forge, with some of the intricate, delicate work that she handles when it comes to them, leaving Matrul and Aelisia to prepare the room for Gamis and Miri. The two of them, mounted on the warhorse, ride off out of the village to follow the path to the lodge. Along it, Gamis remembers the variety of emotions he's felt while traveling the route: Excitement and eagerness when guided there for his first interview with the old paladin... The feeling of satisfaction after a break from training he spent back at the village... Flushed pride after his first melee, with the trogs that he took his bracer from... Valor finally carries them to the old lodge. Gamis takes a bare moment to glance around it after lowing Miri and himself to the ground, then he proceeds up to the front. He stands there for a moment with a flexing hand, then knocks clearly and calls, "Master! It's Gamis!"
#111 zombiegleemax Jul 13, 2004 19:48:59	How old is he now? Miri asks quietly. One hand gently restraining Ixchal, who wants to explore the woods around the lodge, she scans the area she's heard so much about.
#112 zombiegleemax Jul 13, 2004 20:13:18	Gamis has to think and add for a moment before he can answer Miri. "At least 60, has to be..." he replies. "Still a great man... Taught me to think and act like a paladin, and give myself to Thalos..."
#113 zombiegleemax Jul 14, 2004 14:18:25	She smiles, giving his hand a squeeze. He did a good job. He doesn't live here alone, surely?
#114 zombiegleemax Jul 14, 2004 20:33:19	Gamis smiles and returns the squeeze at the compliment. "Unless he's taken another squire or one of his old comrades has moved in... It was just him, Shantus, and I, and the two of us left at pretty much the same time..."
#115 zombiegleemax Jul 15, 2004 10:03:39	She nods thoughtfully, Too bad you both left at the same time, then.
#116 kneyejailb Aug 08, 2004 22:07:21	The door to the lodge opens. Grey Master sets his jaw carefully as he walks forward to greet them. Gamis can sense the effort it's taking his former master to maintain a steady stride, though the older man does a very good job of making it look like an easy motion. A hand clasps his arm in greeting, and he can tell that the grip has lost some strength in the last few years. But the man's gaze is as firm as ever, the confidence undiminished by time. "You are looking well. It looks like city life has been kind to you." "Plenty of time for polishing your armor and... Well aren't you going to introduce me?
#117 zombiegleemax Aug 08, 2004 22:30:01	Gamis has a brief sensation like a knife being twisted in him as he sees the signs of wear in his teacher's gait. And if the old lion is anything as canny as Gamis remembers him to be, he imagines that he'll notice. His smile has a wistful tint, but it's genuine. The younger paladin clasps the older's arm to return the greeting, almost deliberately softening the grip before deciding that Gray wouldn't be pleased to be coddled. He keeps it to medium-strength instead, and smiles. "Did you think I'd work that particular discipline out of my system after only two years out from under Shantus? It's good to see you, Master." Gamis's hand leaves Gray's arm and rests around Miri's shoulder. "This is my fiancé, Mirielle Dyer, wizard of the Hightower in Garic's. Miri, I'd like you to meet my Gray Master."
#118 zombiegleemax Aug 08, 2004 22:40:46	Mirielle curtsies respectfully, before accepting the elderly paladin's handclasp. I'm delighted to finally meet you. Hearing so many stories, it's rather like meeting a legend. Ixchal peers around Miri's skirt, nose twitching, trying to see inside the building.
#119 kneyejailb Aug 08, 2004 22:48:06	Gray Master lightly kisses the top of Mirrielles hand. "The pleasure is all mine." Releasing her hand, he motions for the couple to follow him as he starts for the door to his lodge. "I was just preparing dinner." "Will you join me?" He holds the door open for them.
#120 zombiegleemax Aug 08, 2004 22:57:52	"Certainly," Gamis says, lacing his fingers through Miri's and following Gray into the lodge. He looks around as he steps inside, taking the place in again for the first time in two years. "How has everything been, Master?" he asks.
#121 zombiegleemax Aug 08, 2004 22:57:53	Oh, we wouldn't want to be a bother! Miri says, glancing up at Gamis. The weasel darts ahead into the house and she starts after her. Ixchal!
#122 kneyejailb Aug 08, 2004 23:08:32	"You won't be a bother." "I have enough for us all." Gray Master watches as his former squire looks around. " Things have been going well." Looking around the lodge, Gamis finds that hard to believe. The place was sparse before, but now it appears to be practically empty. The old man walks to the fireplace and pulls a pot off of a spit in the middle of it, and then takes it to the table. As it cools down, he gets three bowls from a cupboard.
#123 zombiegleemax Aug 08, 2004 23:25:55	Gamis is a little taken aback by the state of the lodge, but tries to take it in stride as he trusts his memory to guide him to where the eating utensils are kept. "That's good to hear... Nothing like the trogs we chased off?"
#124 kneyejailb Aug 08, 2004 23:38:16	Gray Master ladels out three helpings of a very thin stew. More broth then anything else. He frowns and shakes his head. "Matters such as that should best be handled after dinner." "Dinner conversations should be pleasant." "Why don't you tell me about that tournement you were in? Yes, I heard of it. And how you fared. I don't spend all of my time up here anymore now that I don't have to watch over you whippersnappers full time."
#125 zombiegleemax Aug 09, 2004 0:05:34	Gamis's brows lift in surprise. "I didn't know much word about it had gotten around... Did you go all the way to Garic's to hear about it?" He takes a spoonful of the stew and obliges Gray with an account of the tournament. "It was really great, actually. Two of my friends in the city, Hermy Woodhome and Darkar Shadowood, participated in it, too... If you heard about the tourney, then I'm guessing chances are you've heard about Hermy, too... Darkar's with the Jackals down in Garic's. They made a very good showing. Hermy especially, considering heavy armor isn't to his taste and I don't think he really knew how to use that lance... And he went into it on his riding dog. He won his first match and completely unseated his opponent, but his luck didn't hold..." He recounts the other participants in the joust, leading to tilting with Juste. "I took that hit entirely wrong and he knocked me right out of the saddle. Second place wasn't bad, though, and not winning the championship may have saved my life... Sir Juste was a bit odd, but he definitely knew how to handle a lance, and he was along to help Miri and our friend Natala with a rescue from a dragon while I was out of town."
#126 kneyejailb Aug 09, 2004 0:35:29	Originally posted by Gamis Pfaebinn Gamis's brows lift in surprise. "I didn't know much word about it had gotten around... Did you go all the way to Garic's to hear about it?" "I send messages to the Church there on occasion. And they send them back to me as well. Mistress Gottrisdottir thought I might be interested in that bit of news." "And we do get the occasional travelling minstrel passing through as well. You may think the city is the center of the universe now, but we aren't that far away from civilization here." He takes a spoonful of the stew and obliges Gray with an account of the tournament. "It was really great, actually. Two of my friends in the city, Hermy Woodhome and Darkar Shadowood, participated in it, too..." Gray Master hurumphs. " If you heard about the tourney, then I'm guessing chances are you've heard about Hermy, too... "You couldn't escape hearing about him if you tried. Every bard that's come through town has sang about him. I trust at least some of it must be based on truth?" " Darkar's with the Jackals down in Garic's. "Ah, yes. He wouldn't by chance be a student of Sir Allegion's would he? I haven't seen him, in... years." "They made a very good showing. Hermy especially, considering heavy armor isn't to his taste and I don't think he really knew how to use that lance... "I wouldn't think he would. There can't be much time to learn the fundementals when you are busy slaying every dragon within a thousand miles, and wooing every available woman." " And he went into it on his riding dog. He won his first match and completely unseated his opponent, but his luck didn't hold..." "Luck will only get you so far. It's training, and the Lightbringers grace that will make you a true success." He recounts the other participants in the joust, leading to tilting with Juste. "I took that hit entirely wrong and he knocked me right out of the saddle. Second place wasn't bad, though, and not winning the championship may have saved my life... Gray Master tilts his head, but doesn't comment. " Sir Juste was a bit odd, but he definitely knew how to handle a lance, and he was along to help Miri and our friend Natala with a rescue from a dragon while I was out of town." "Wasn't your halfling friend available?" Gray Master flashes a brief smile before turning serious. "How did not winning save your life?"[/i]
#127 zombiegleemax Aug 09, 2004 3:42:16	"His minstrel will be pleased to hear that, I'm sure... As much liscense as Minto takes when composing, he truly is a capable hero and has to be one of the kindest beings in the world. And it's unreal how stealthy he can be. Gamis cracks a grin. "He was actually with me when there was another dragon's lair to be entered, otherwise, you can be sure he'd have been there if he'd caught even a wiff of what was going on. So Juste filled in. "And if it'd been him picking himself up from the lists that day instead of me, I'd have been in his place when the Jackals marched on an orc fort not far from the city, and they didn't fare too well... I don't know if Mistress Gottrisdottir told you this, but there's a contingent of the Eternal Flame that's moved in there. That dragon is with them, actually. They bolstered the forces there, and the Jackals are still rebuilding after that defeat..." Aware of where the subject is heading, he swallows his last spoonful. "Still, I ended up with a job to do in that affair after all, important in its own right, that saw me bleeding and unconscious anyway. Instead of creatures with some vicious version of our shielding spell," he rubs the platinum rings on his thumb for emphasis, "We ended up fighting ogres, orcs, and a troll with no small amount of fiendish descent, trying to keep them off the Jackals' flank."
#128 kneyejailb Aug 09, 2004 7:27:05	"The Flame. Now theres a bame I haven't heard in a very long time." Gray Master pusjes his empty bowl to the center of the table. "I think dinners done enough to talk buisness." "The Eternal Flame showing it's face again might explain the recent up surge in activity lately." "You mentioned the trogs earlier. Well they are back as well." "There could be a connection."
#129 zombiegleemax Aug 09, 2004 9:59:45	Miri listens attentively to the conversation, though keeping half an eye on her familiar. Ixchal is scouring the lodge for mice. .oO(Gamis never mentioned that Grey Master was poor... It must be because he's not attached to a particular church, but nevertheless, something needs to be done.)
#130 zombiegleemax Aug 09, 2004 14:05:23	Gamis grunts in displeasure at the news. .oO(That can be remedied... And if they are connected with the Flame, maybe they'd have something to say about them.) "We actually just got back from a mission in search of information on them... In hopes that the caretaker Mome would know something about them, we went into the Maw of Hardaja to interview him. We don't know for sure what they're doing there, but our best guess at the moment is searching for a doorway into one of Demmion's realms. And they re-opened one in Hardaja itself. "Mome tells us the leader of this group is a woman called Gaya Hoon... Does that ring a bell, Master?"
#131 kneyejailb Aug 10, 2004 1:07:08	Gray Master shrugs. "No it does not. I've heard of the Eternal Flame, but only rumours." "And vague ones at that." The old paladin begins to clear the table. "Who is this Mome you mention? The care taker of the Maw?" "And you trust him? I don't know him, but I do know some of the history of the Maw. If he's the caretaker there, he can't be trusted."
#132 zombiegleemax Aug 10, 2004 1:20:40	That's right, Mome is the caretaker of the Maw. And I don't think he lies outright... he's more deceptive. Mirielle sighs. And if anything, that's trickier.
#133 kneyejailb Aug 10, 2004 1:29:47	Gray Master nods. "It's the ones you can't trust about their dishonesty that you need to watch out for the most." He places the pot of stew back over the fire. "This can't be good news for anyone. There's no telling what foull creatures they may bring into this realm." "Perhaps it might be time for me to abandon this lodge and take up crusading again."
#134 zombiegleemax Aug 10, 2004 1:44:08	"We paid his price for his information and took it back with us to Lord Malifaeyr. Take it with the grain of salt, of course, but otherwise we don't have much on the Flame. "What's really strange is they weren't 'maintaining' the door in Hardaja after they opened it... Seems they just left it. Maybe because of how hostile the Maw itself is. We only found those gigantic scorpions on the other side." He appraises his old teacher for a moment where he stands at the fire. "Dad thought you were getting restless..." he admits.
#135 kneyejailb Aug 10, 2004 23:12:16	"Poppycock." Gray Master moves back towards the table. "I'm perfectly content here." "I just don't trust you whipersnaps to save the world without my supervision." "You may be a big hero back in Garics, but that's because they don't remeber how many times you wiggled on the ground like an over turned turtle after getting knocked off your horse."
#136 zombiegleemax Aug 10, 2004 23:24:11	"Everyone starts somewhere, and everyone grows." Gamis feels a small desire to show Gray how much his prowess has grown since he left the lodge, and to make him proud. "But before we start making any plans to go galavanting south and take on the Flame, why don't you tell me about the trogs?"
#137 kneyejailb Aug 10, 2004 23:37:37	Gray Master nods. "They started raiding a few of the out laying farms five months ago. A few times a month, they've crawled out of their holes and struck some one." "I've done what I can to patrol, but there is no rhythm to their acttacks. Other then all being at night." "Different times of night, different areas, even different methods. Some occasions they've burnt the place to the ground, other times they just drive off the inhabitants." "Not even any looting."
#138 zombiegleemax Aug 10, 2004 23:42:10	Mirielle frowns in consideration. Is it all the same area? Are they perhaps trying to reclaim territory?
#139 kneyejailb Aug 10, 2004 23:46:30	"Same area if you consider any where within twenty miles as the same area." "I considered that, but I haven't been able to catch one yet, to do any questioning."
#140 zombiegleemax Aug 10, 2004 23:49:09	Gamis sighs. "What about tracking them back to their lair?"
#141 kneyejailb Aug 11, 2004 0:07:56	Gray Masters face reddens. "My eyes aren't what they used to be. I keep loosing their trail."
#142 zombiegleemax Aug 11, 2004 0:17:04	"It's not something I'm good at, which I've had occasion to kick myself for. Never a ranger when you need one," Gamis repeats, and tries to recall who locally has a talent for tracking or owns a hound.
#143 kneyejailb Aug 11, 2004 0:53:36	Gray Master shakes his head. "I shouldn't need one." "There was a time, I could follow aa eagles trail at night."
#144 zombiegleemax Aug 11, 2004 1:28:49	Gamis's expression is sympathetic, but he does his best not to be condescending in any way. "Well, we do what we can... "What about Jack Polriman? Is he still in the area?"
#145 kneyejailb Aug 11, 2004 1:33:53	The older man nods his head. "Aye. He's still around." "I susect he's been looking into this as well." "I know he's been helping out with feeding the ones who have been attacked."
#146 zombiegleemax Aug 11, 2004 1:36:36	"Good old Jack... How long has it been since the last raid? Do you think they'll attack again tonight?"
#147 zombiegleemax Aug 11, 2004 1:54:40	When Gray Master bemoans his fading eyesight, Mirielle shakes her head. Your sight may have dimmed, but your mind is sharp, and passing on your knowledge as you have has been an enormous service. Miri looks at Gamis. Do you want to go hunting them tonight?
#148 kneyejailb Aug 11, 2004 2:01:05	"They might attack tonight, they might not." "I haven't been able to find a pattern in their behavior." "But it couldn't hurt to patrol." "I would not mond seeing jusy how much the city has sofyened you up." He smiles at his former student.
#149 zombiegleemax Aug 11, 2004 2:14:21	Gamis returns the grin. "I'm game, old lion... Good opportunity to introduce you to my horse, Valor."
#150 kneyejailb Aug 11, 2004 22:47:13	Gray Master lets a small smile spread over his face. "Good name for a paladins mount." "Well summon it here and let's take a look."
#151 zombiegleemax Aug 11, 2004 23:01:56	"Ah... Actually, he's standing outside... I think he's grazing." Gamis clanks back to the front door and opens it. He looks around, and whistles to get Valor's attention where he's browsing on the low branches of a tree. "What do you mean by 'summon?' He's not like the creatures Miri can conjure... And I don't seem to remember Insight or Claymore being like that, either." He looks somewhat quizzically at his old Master.
#152 kneyejailb Aug 11, 2004 23:08:13	Gray Master chuckles and wraps an arm over Gamis shoulder. "Just checking to see if city life has made you soft. I hear tales that some paladins have taken to stabling their mounts in the Son's realm instead of doing the care taking themselves." "I'm glad to hear you stuck with the old ways I taught you. It shows your dedication and willingness to work." "Now let's go see this stallion of yours." The older paladin moves for the door and holds it open for his former squire and his lady.
#153 zombiegleemax Aug 11, 2004 23:15:40	"Interesting... I don't know that I was following anything... I just started feeling him in my sleep and having strange dreams, then went east and met him." The younger paladin steps through the door with Miri and clicks his teeth, empathically calling Valor over at the same time. The burly destrier drops his branch and complies, ears turned forward and nostrils flaring as he regards Gray Master.
#154 kneyejailb Aug 12, 2004 0:06:58	Gray Master gives an approving whistle. "You certainly don't do anything half heatedly do you boy?" "This is some horse you've got here. You did well." He walks around Valor with an appraising eye, occasionally glancing at Mirrielle. "Very well." Satisfied, Gray Master nods. "I'll saddle up Insight, and then we can be off." The old paladin heads towards the stable behind his lodge.
#155 zombiegleemax Aug 12, 2004 0:17:03	Gamis smiles, and feeling his pleasure, Valor crooks one hoof in a momentary pose. As Gray moves to the stables, Gamis clanks over to scratch Valor's neck and arrange his mane slightly. "Hear that?" he says, facing his horse at first and then looking over at Miri with a smile. "I did well. "We should probably get Ixchal, by the way..." he adds.
#156 zombiegleemax Aug 13, 2004 19:45:39	Mirielle grins at Gamis, suppressing the urge to giggle. Yes, Ixchal... I think she found a nest of mice. Looking at the lodge, Mirielle focuses on Ixchal, and her desire for the weasel to be with her. Soon, Ixchal comes out, moving a bit slowly. She had a good meal, alright.
#157 kneyejailb Aug 13, 2004 19:58:37	Gray Master comes around the corner, astride his charger, Insight. "If we are ready, I suggest we try to find Jack Polriman first." "I'd suspect he's trying to help out the Gobi's. They lost nearly everything last week." Gray Master holds out his hand for Mirrielle. "I would be honored if you would ride with me." He glances at Ixchal. "And your... is that a ferret or a weasel?"
#158 zombiegleemax Aug 13, 2004 20:18:02	Scooping the sated weasel to her shoulder, Mirielle smiles up at Gray Master. My familiar is a weasel, sir. Her name is Ixchal. Accepting the proffered hand, she swings up behind the elderly paladin.
#159 kneyejailb Aug 13, 2004 20:39:33	"Familiar?" Gray Master spurs his horse into a brisk trot. "So you are more then just a pretty face then. A wizard?" "I should have figured Gamis would prefer someone with a brains." "He always one for trying to cover up his vulnerable areas." Gray Master gives his former squire a friendly smirk.
#160 zombiegleemax Aug 13, 2004 20:45:52	Giggling now, Mirielle manages to reply, We work well together, I think. I throw the fireballs, he mops up what's left. Besides, a skinny little wizard like me needs a good shieldwall! She grins over at Gamis, and winks.
#161 kneyejailb Aug 13, 2004 20:50:47	Gray Master guides the group down the path towards the town, turning away before they reach it, heading towards the outlaying farms. "He always could take a good hit." "Deliver them as well." "Lord Thalos found a good arm in that boy." "A good soul as well."
#162 zombiegleemax Aug 14, 2004 3:36:47	"And an adequate firewood tote, stable-mucker, and polisher, but I like to think we're somewhat past that now," Gamis adds with a teasing grin, then scans the landscape for the Gobi homestead, Jack, and results of one of the troglodyte raids.
#163 kneyejailb Aug 14, 2004 17:15:32	After riding a few miles passed the town proper, Gamis and Mirrielle see a group of three men stacking and notching large logs next to the charred remains of a house. One of the men, a short bushy haired long faced man, waves. "Just in time to help put up the new wall, Reinor I hought you might be trying to get out of dirtying up your hands." Gray Master rides up next to him and helps Mirri dismount before getting off his horse himself and grasping the mans arm in friendship. "When have I ever been opposed to a bit of manuel labour Jack? Especially when I can have my squire do it for me." Gray Master smiles, and nods at Gamis. "You remember Young Pfaebinn don't you Jack?" "And this is his companian Mirrielle." Jack nods. "Gamis." "Good to see you again." "Grab an axe and start chopping. We want to get this wall up before it gets too dark."
#164 zombiegleemax Aug 14, 2004 18:35:36	"Hi, Jack." Gamis swings down and takes a moment to loosen Valor's cinches a notch, giving him the chance to relax a little while the paladin is busy. He clanks over and picks up one of the indicated axes, then gets to it. "What happened here with the trogs?"
#165 zombiegleemax Aug 14, 2004 18:45:57	Mirielle smiles and nods to the workers, then turns slowly, letting her eyes scan the area. Stepping a bit away from the horses, she kneels and sets Ixchal on the ground. [swf]Smell around, what has been here besides humans and horses? Where did they go?[/swf] Ixchal pauses to scratch behind one ear, and sneeze, then begins sniffing around the area. Mirielle listens to Gamis' conversation while monitoring her familiar.
#166 kneyejailb Aug 15, 2004 2:33:22	Jack swings his axe into a log, trying to cut a notch into one end. "Trogs attacked here a few days ago. I've got the young ones staying with relatives back in town. Mister Gobi took a nasty blow to the head in the attavk, but his wife managed to pull him out before the beasts set fire to their cabin." "No attempt to loot it. Just to burn it down." "Your master and I got here before the flames had spread to far. But by the time we got the fire out, and the Gobis to safety the trail was cold." "I lost it near the pond in the foothills. You know the one. Where the fish are the size of your arm. Or at least usually are." "I haven't caught a big one there in months." Gray Master works quietly, concentratimg on keeping his breathing from becoming to noticable. Ixchal sniffs around, and finds a few old smells. Not something he's smelled before though.
#167 zombiegleemax Aug 15, 2004 10:53:46	"Maybe they've been fishing, then. I didn't know they could." Gamis carefully attempts to cut a notch, more accustomed lately to using an axe on... substances other than wood. "Did they come up stealthily? If they weren't careful about it, and we had a good spot to watch and listen from, we could catch them before they do any damage."
#168 kneyejailb Aug 15, 2004 13:49:46	"Steathy? No. In fact from what Gobi described they were louder then they should have been." "If we had any idea when or where they will attack again, it shouldn't be hard at all to catch them." "But there just are not enough trained men around here to put a watch everywhere at all times. And I do not like the idea of putting someone unable to defend themselves in danger."
#169 zombiegleemax Aug 15, 2004 14:16:11	"Indeed. And Gray tells me there's been no rhyme or reason at all to their raids..." Gamis sighs and moves on to his next notch. "Finding them keeps looking better and better."
#170 zombiegleemax Aug 15, 2004 14:36:53	I would expect they must have a lair somewhere. We should try to find that... Or at least get close enough to set bait. She chews her lower lip, Do they like goats? Chickens? Ixchal found some old scents, ones she doesn't recognize.
#171 kneyejailb Aug 15, 2004 17:59:55	"They like humans. " "That's one of the things that's got us confused. They aren't taking anyone back to their lair for dinner." Jack looks at the weasel. "He probably smells the trogs. This place reeked of them right after they attacked."
#172 zombiegleemax Aug 16, 2004 0:12:08	"Yeah, they smell absolutely terrible... "So no eating people, and limited looting, if any... They have to be getting food somewhere else." .oO(Really sounds like something weird...) "Any thoughts on where they could be holing up, Jack? Maybe somewhere near the pond?"
#173 kneyejailb Aug 16, 2004 1:23:04	Jack shakes his head. "We've looked every where around that pond, your master and I. The only place we hanen't looked is inside it." "And it's unlikely they'd be in there." "Probably to much like a bath for them." "There's tracks sure. But theres tracks all over this valley." "And none of them start or end at the same place."
#174 zombiegleemax Aug 16, 2004 11:19:30	.oO(Damn...) "Not much to go on, then..." Gamis is silent for a minute or so as he concentrates on notching another log for the cabin. "Just leaves us on the defensive, spread far too thinly."
#175 zombiegleemax Aug 16, 2004 20:16:50	Still, Gamis, I think you and I should go look at that pond. Crossing her arms, she rubs her hands up and down her upper arms as though she feels chilled. If only I knew what was motivating them... driving them to behave so strangely, she murmurs, while staring out across the fields.
#176 kneyejailb Aug 16, 2004 21:39:40	Jack smiles at Gamis words. "But not as thin as we were before." "The extra eyes that you two provide will be greatly appreciated." Jack sets down his axe. "As soon as we get this wall up, I'll take you to the pond." "Maybe fresh eyes will see something we've missed." "Or maybe just a woman's prospective." The ranget begons to stack the logs together, locking them in place using the notches the men have carved out.
#177 zombiegleemax Aug 16, 2004 23:30:42	Gamis lends his strength and his reach to getting the wall stacked up while Valor gives himself a shake. .oO(I hope this turns up something... Otherwise all we can do is wait for the trogs to hit somewhere again.)
#178 kneyejailb Aug 16, 2004 23:38:18	It takes about two hours of hard sweaty work, but then the wall is up. Jack and Gray Master shake off a few stray woodchips, and then go for their horses. "Hopefully I can catch a few fish while we are up there. I think we deserve a hearty meal after all that work. Gray Master shakes his head. "There are others who need it more. Stew should be fine for us." Jack sighs. "Of course. Can't fault a guy for dreaming though can you?" "Any fish I get will go to the needy." The two men mount up, and start riding towards the pond.
#179 zombiegleemax Aug 16, 2004 23:58:25	Gamis brushes chips off his armor and calls Valor over. He tightens the cinches again, mounts, then pulls Miri and Ixchal up behind him. The destrier clops after Gray and Jack while Gamis loosens his sword in its sheath slightly.
#180 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 1:07:03	Whispering in Gamis' ear, Miri says I hope he's not turning ascetic. It does no good to weaken yourself to the point you can't actually be of use to the people who need you.
#181 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 1:15:38	"That's why so many warriors prefer to die on the battlefield, in their prime..." the paladin murmurs back to her as Valor clops. "He used to be stronger, and walk steadier. The lodge is a lot barer than I remember it... You could be right."
#182 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 1:23:47	Mirielle sighs. He needs cash, and a couple of new squires. Training future paladins would give him the purpose he needs.
#183 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 2:12:17	"They're few and far between out here," Gamis says. "And he chose the seclusion... "Maybe he'll change his mind about it. I can't push him into anything... But I'll talk with him."
#184 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 10:31:15	I'm sure if he saw training a squire as a duty, he'd be amenable. Do we know anyone who might be a good candidate? Mirielle continuously scans the area for signs of the 'trogs.'
#185 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 13:54:17	"Not locally... The calling's rare. More likely to find someone in the city. I seem to remember Ariel expressing an interest, for one, but it's not as simple as wanting to be a paladin."
#186 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 14:11:58	I would almost disagree with you, there. Aren't the first signs of the calling the desire to be a paladin? Would you honestly say you don't want to be a paladin? But, of course, I do know that it's not entirely the same thing. I wouldn't have expected my own calling as a cleric... Miri's voice trails off, as she wrestles mentally with the nuances of 'desire' vs. 'calling.'
#187 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 14:22:47	"It's hard to say. Gray and Shantus trained me from the ground up; I received Da'Vane after he'd already been initiated, so I don't have their experience with training. And I haven't interviewed Ariel seriously on the matter or anything like that. I don't believe too strongly in fate, so in my mind it's more about potential..."
#188 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 14:32:52	Ariel is only eight years... I think we should look for someone older. She pauses, then slowly says, Or better yet, do you think we might convince him to go back to the city with us, for a visit? If there's someone there needing a mentor, surely Agathalos would bring them together.
#189 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 14:39:25	"Some start that young, as pages before they become squires. I was twelve when I first met him. "He's already expressed an interest in going there, what with the Flame setting up camp. Might be easy to get him to come south with us."
#190 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 14:53:04	Mirielle rides silently for a couple of minutes before speaking again. We could invite him to come back with us to attend a dinner party announcing our engagement, and mention that we'd like his opinion on whether my niece really does have a future as a paladin...
#191 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 15:01:11	"That sounds good," he says, giving her knee a gentle squeeze. "Any ideas on the trogs?" Gamis asks. "They're acting strangely, and if they're not taking anyone back to eat, they have to be getting food somewhere else. "And I hope their lair isn't really under the pond..."
#192 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 15:19:55	Ideas or fears? she asks with a sigh. I have to wonder if they are being led by something. Hopefully not a bloodtroll! But something more intelligent and cunning than you've described trogs as being. Something that wants to drive the people away from this area.
#193 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 15:25:45	"Can't imagine what for... I hope that we're far-enough removed from the Maw that there aren't more portals to Demmion's realm here. Maybe it's just for the size of territory, but that doesn't feel right."
#194 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 15:30:18	It fits in with the mystery of the missing fish, darling. They could be under the direction of whatever is eating the fish. Maybe there's a mine here that no-one knows of, with something really valuable like diamonds or mithral. Gamis feels her shrug, though he can't see it. I'm only guessing, of course.
#195 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 15:32:02	"Need more clues..." Gamis muses, and glances ahead, looking for their destination the pond.
#196 kneyejailb Aug 17, 2004 22:30:34	The four horses makes their way into the foothills along a winding path., and eventually come to a clearing and a rather large pond. Jack hops off his horse and starts rummaging in his saddle bags. "We lost the trail here." "Hopefully you can find something we missed." Jack heads towards the pond, a length of string and a shiney metal lure in his hands. Gray Master watchesas he goes. "A good man, Jack." "Theres no telling how many people would be starving if it weren't for him. The raids have raised havoc on the farms. I don't think there will be much of a harvest this year, if there is one at all." Gray Master spurs his horse forward heading along the left side of the pond. "I'll check this side. You check the other. We'll meet on the other side."
#197 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 23:12:41	Gamis nods and nudges Valor forward several paces, where he dismounts and begins to take a look around.
#198 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 23:24:59	Gamis... Gaining his attention, Miri passes Ixchal to his hands. Let her sniff around. She'll recognize the scent now that she's smelled it once.
#199 zombiegleemax Aug 17, 2004 23:30:59	"Hope the pond doesn't interfere with the scent somehow," the paladin says as he accepts the weasel and bends to set her down on the ground. "Have at it, Ix." Gamis himself goes to the shore for a moment to try peering into its depths, then looks around visually while Miri's familiar handles it olfactorily.
#200 kneyejailb Aug 17, 2004 23:50:37	The weasel sniffs around, and then bares its teeth and chitters. [swm]"Smell bad. Very bad. Fresh."[/swm] The weasel looks at the water of the pond. Gamis sees several footprints in the muddy bank, human ones probably. He's no ranger and can't tell how old they are. But occasionally one set of prints will have another less human looking on on top of them.
#201 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 3:30:57	"I'm guessing those're trog prints, but whatever they are they've been walking around here since Jack and Master were," Gamis says to Miri, pointing out the overlaping prints. He returns to Valor's side to fetch his lance, then goes back to the mud. "Optimistically, they might frequent the area. Pessimistically, they really do have a lair underwater." (Coming or going?)Oo. he asks the non-human prints as he looks at them. .oO(And can you hear me down there?) He visualizes an underwater cave of some sort down under the murk, and a handful of the nasty striped reptilians sitting about on the rocks, tending their spears.
#202 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 9:28:46	I'm not prepared to assume the bootprints were from someone we know... [swf]Do you smell stranger humans?[/swf] Ix smells fresh trog...
#203 kneyejailb Aug 18, 2004 19:00:10	[swm]"Too stinky. Only smell stink.[/swm] The weasel shakes it's head to try to get the odor out of her nostrils. The prints Gamis looks at seem to go both directions. Into the water, and out of it. Of course some also seem to go around it in both directions as well. Or at least he thinks so. Peering into the murky water of the pond, Gamis can not see more then a few feet down. But recalling swimming lessons from his youth, the pond is deep. At least to a child. Further down the shoreline, Jack tosses out his line and begins to pull it back in hoping to snag a fish on his shiney lure. On the other side, Gray Master is off his horse staring at something on the waters edge.
#204 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 20:15:02	Entertaining another thought, Gamis half-closes his eyes for a moment to awaken his divination. He spreads its range over the shore and into the water, hoping to find a lingering aura of evil. Then he walks to Jack, looking out at his fishing line. "Prints all over the place, some non-human overlapping human. Ixchal has fresh trog scent. When's the last time you were here?"
#205 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 21:34:53	Mirielle stares out across the pond, a rapturous, dreamy expression on her face. Records speak of aquatic monstrosities... some of them intelligent. I would so love to add to my collection!
#206 hermy_the_hero_dup Aug 18, 2004 21:55:28	Gamis can sense no lingering evil coming from the wter. As he approaches Jack, the ranger pulls his empty line out of the water. "It's been a few days. The fishing here hasn't been good for awhile, and I've been a bit busy trying to find those trogs." He tosses the line out again. "Are the tracks fresh?"
#207 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 22:09:52	"I don't have the expertise to tell; they walked around here sometime after you'd left, that's all I can say. No evil auras are lingering, but I don't think they'd be strong enough to stay more than a few seconds." Gamis looks at the ripples from the lure. "Their tracks are coming and going and walking all around, and their scent seems fairly fresh. I'm starting to think they're under there after all, Jack. "Gray looks like he might have something," Gamis says to the ranger, then rounds the pond the rest of the way around to speak with his master, looking at the ground as he goes.
#208 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 22:22:55	Continuing to contemplate the water, Miri narrows her eyes, then grins. She reaches into her pouch and draws out a smaller pouch, and from that a candle. She checks the candle for signs of weasel-chewing, but finds it intact. Venez ici, les creatures de l'eau, faites ce que je desire... In the water, shining animals appear, silver and nearly glowing... Mirielle Summons Celestial porpoises, commanding them to explore the pond
#209 kneyejailb Aug 18, 2004 22:40:45	The wizards three porpoises, click and squel and start to dive into the depths of the pond. Jack stares at them. "Now those are big fish." Gray Master is looking at them too when Ganis reaches him. "The work of your lady I presume." "Good thinking. You never were much of a swimmer." "These tracks weren't here last time, and they are heading into the water." "Let's see if those fish can find something, otherwise you and Jack or going to have to go in." The porpoises, resurface and splah about, shaking their heads down at the water below them. They dive back down. Jack looks at Mirrielle. "Handy trick that. Can you talk with them?" "If not I know a spell that might help out?"
#210 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 22:44:39	Miri smiles at Jack, That would be handy. They can understand me, if I speak in the language of the Celestials, but they aren't really built for talking in a way that I can understand in turn!
#211 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 22:50:01	"Much the same on the other side," Gamis says to Gray. "Any estimates on how many trogs are in this band?"
#212 kneyejailb Aug 18, 2004 22:52:13	Jack nods. "I wouldn't think so." "Fish don't usually have much reason to talk to us." "Whate are they going to say. please don't eat me?" Jack grins and, and then starts to chant and waves his hand towards the water. When the porpoises, surface again, Jack starts clicking his tongue and splashing his hand in the water. The "fish" chirp and splash back. Jack switches back to common. "They say there is no food in the pond. No fish at all." "There are nets though. At least I think they mean nets." "And a cave on that side there." He points to where Gamis and Gray Master are staring from. "It's coverted by one of the nets."
#213 kneyejailb Aug 18, 2004 22:55:20	"I've heard reports of any where between half dozen and eighteen." "There could even be more if it's an actual lair. The children wouldn't go raiding. Probably not the females either."
#214 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 22:56:50	Oh! I want to know what's behind that net! Mirielle waves her arms at Gamis, trying to get his attention.
#215 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:10:09	Gamis grunts. "Women and children could certainly make this thing messy... Looks like Miri's fish found something." The paladin clanks back over to her and Jack. "Did they work out good?"
#216 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:15:40	Miri claps her hands excitedly, bouncing on her heels, There are no fish left in the pond at all, and they found nets, one of which is concealing a cave. Apparently just below where you and Gray Master were standing.
#217 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:21:04	Gamis smiles, and looks at the water. "Good work, love... Looks like we're going swimming after all." He removes his sword belt, then starts shucking his armor.
#218 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:24:48	I'm glad I'm wearing pants instead of a skirt, she comments while helping him with his armor. The porpoises will help protect us for as long as the summoning lasts -- less than a minute, I'm afraid.
#219 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:28:31	"Damn... It'll take longer than that to get out of this. They probably could've helped us get our foot in the door."
#220 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:32:00	I can summon more if needful. Would you ask Valor to join us? I want my staff, and I left it strapped to his saddle. If you remember, I put a light on the tip while we were in the Maw, and I thought I'd put the same kind on it now that I put in your ring. I'm sure it'll be nasty-dark down there...
#221 kneyejailb Aug 18, 2004 23:37:45	Jack starts stripping down for a swim as well, but a throat clearing from Gray Master and a inclined head towards the wizard stop the ranger before he is down to his shortpants. Jack blushes. "Are you going in to Renoir?' Gray Master shakes his head. "Someone has to stay up here in case the creatures are not at home. " "Getting surprised underwater would not be a good thing.
#222 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:38:25	"It'd be a good idea to summon more; it's not our kind of battlefield." He empathically calls Valor over for Miri as he continues to remove his armor.
#223 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:52:30	Mirielle nods. Sure. Just before we dive in, then. She scritches Valor's forelock, then unties her quarterstaff after removing her boots. After hesitating uncomfortably, she strips to her undergarments. I don't swim well enough to be able to risk the extra weight... She puts her belt back on, with its watertight component pouch, and then casts some preparatory spells. Miri casts Mage Armor on herself, Greater Magic Weapon on her quarterstaff, and Keen Edge on Gamis' sword.
#224 zombiegleemax Aug 18, 2004 23:58:53	"Thanks. In that case, you'll probably need this, too." Gamis buckles his weapons back on around his waist and puts his shield over his bare shoulder, then intones in Celestial. He makes a few gestures, they lays his hand on Miri, funneling positive energy into her that makes her muscles all over her body jump momentarily as it weaves into them, augmenting her. "Ready to get wet, Jack?" he asks the ranger as he removes his boots. bull's strength on Miri
#225 kneyejailb Aug 19, 2004 0:01:16	Jack looks to Gray Master again, but Gray Master shakes his head. Jack sighs and wades into the water. "It's a bit chilly." Gray Master makes a pointed effort to avert his eyes. "If any comes while you are down there, I will do my best to keep them off your backs."
#226 zombiegleemax Aug 19, 2004 0:05:23	Gamis nods at his master. "Wish us luck." He follows Jack into the water, inhaling sharply, once, as he feels its temperature. The paladin waits a moment for Miri to use her light spell, then inhales and dives.
#227 zombiegleemax Aug 19, 2004 0:08:07	Mirielle pretends not to notice Gray Master's discomfort, and smiles her thanks to Gamis. Cold? She says to Jack, Oh, lovely... I'm sorry, Gamis, I could summon squids or a shark, but they'd have to be fiendish, and I don't want to go that path... After casting a permanent light spell on the end of her staff, she stops knee-deep into the pond to summon more of the porpoises.
#228 kneyejailb Aug 19, 2004 0:14:08	Five of the porpoises appear in the water and seem delighted to have company. They dive down around Gamis. Jack shakes his head, "I don't suppose you can summon a steak dinner once this is over with can you?" He dives down after the paladin. Gray Master turns around to watch the ground oppisite the pond. "I shall be praying for you all."
#229 zombiegleemax Aug 19, 2004 0:15:03	Gamis nods, opens his ring to get even more light, then slides into the water and begins making for the cave.
#230 kneyejailb Aug 19, 2004 1:29:40	Ten feet from the shore, the bank drops off suddenly and dramatically. The light from Gamis ring doesn't carry as far in the murk as it would on the surface, but it provides enough light for Gamis to see Jack and several of Mirri's porpoises swimming down next to him. It is twenty feet to the bottom, and against the rock cliff face Gamis can make out a cave opening. A net made of thick hemp ropes blocks access into the cave.
#231 zombiegleemax Aug 19, 2004 10:09:17	Calling to one of the porpoises in Celestial, Mirielle takes a deep breath, and holds the animal with her left hand and her quarterstaff in her right, and lets the porpoise tow her after Gamis.
#232 zombiegleemax Aug 19, 2004 11:14:03	Steeling himself against the water pressure pushing in on his ears, Gamis kicks deeper to look closer at the net, looking for some way to get through it without cutting. He approaches it from the top grabs hold of the upper edge of it, along the ceiling of the cave entrance, and gives it a tug.
#233 kneyejailb Aug 20, 2004 19:08:44	The net feels firmly in place, a quick scan reveals it is held to the wall with climbing pitons pounded in. Jack exhales a few bubbles and points downward towards the floor.
#234 zombiegleemax Aug 21, 2004 1:25:02	Gamis releases a bubble in reply and pulls himself down the net, to the bottom. He tests it again there, and if the net continues to be difficult, he pulls his sword from its sheath and takes a slice at it with all the muscle he can muster [two-handed Power Attack for 12].
#235 kneyejailb Aug 21, 2004 1:49:00	The bottom of the net is secured by ropes tied to pitons on the inside of the cave. Gamis fights off the water presure enough to get a swing at the net, and snaps one of the ropes in the net. Three or four like that and Mirrielle might be able to squeeze through.
#236 zombiegleemax Aug 21, 2004 1:57:17	The paladin keeps at the ropes, swinging hard and repeatedly in his attempt to open it up enough for the group to get through and inside. [full attacks, full Power Attack again, until net is opened up enough to be bypassed in a dolphin-friendly manner]
#237 kneyejailb Aug 21, 2004 2:18:13	It takes Gamis a bit of time. Mirri has to go back up to the surface for air before the paladin has cut an opening big enough for the summoned creatures to get through. Jack points towards the4 surface, kicks upwards to get a fresh batch of air in his lungs as well. (It takes Gamis 10 rounds to cut enough of the net for the porpoises to swin through.)
#238 zombiegleemax Aug 21, 2004 2:22:24	Gamis's feet find the bottom and kick, pushing him up to the surface. He stays long enough to catch his breath, then inhales again and dives down to the net again. Sword still in hand, he swims through the opening, casting his light out as he takes hold of one of the porpoises' dorsal fins and looks ahead, deeper into the cave.
#239 kneyejailb Aug 21, 2004 13:01:52	The light from Gamis' ring reveals a ten by ten wide and high corrider of water that goes forward as far as the light from the paladins ring can illuminate.
#240 zombiegleemax Aug 21, 2004 16:46:17	.oO(Their cave has to have air in it... Maybe we'll be lucky enough to have the chance to get a breath before the fighting starts.) Gamis gives the others a chance to catch up, then presses on, following the corridor.
#241 zombiegleemax Aug 21, 2004 22:01:27	Making sure to fill her lungs before the porpoises vanish, Mirielle follows Gamis into the tunnel.
#242 kneyejailb Aug 21, 2004 22:13:30	Miri enters the tunnel quick just in time to see her porpoises fade away back to where they came. Jack swims up behind her, and points a finger further down the tunnel. He starts swimming after the paladin. Its a good amount of time before Gamis sees light overhead. (7 rounds)
#243 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 1:51:03	Encouraged, Gamis swims steadily on towards the light. As he gets even closer to it, he closes his ring to mask its glow from whatever lies ahead. He also keeps his eyes open for a break in the tunnel--somewhere there's an actual surface of the water to break. Eagerness for air is tempered with caution against giving himself away to the enemy, and he also stays alert for hostile forms out of the water. .oO(Hermy would be all over this, I know... Well, I don't have to be as unnoticable as him not to botch this, I'm sure.)
#244 kneyejailb Aug 22, 2004 12:54:39	A few more strong kicks, and the paladin spots the source of the light.. Open sky above him. Swimming next to him, Jack puts a finger to his lip and then points upwards.
#245 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 21:02:59	.oO(The sky? Not some underground cave, then... Can't be that far from the pond, though. Hmm.) Gamis gives a nod to Jack, then surfaces, trying to be quiet as his head breaks the water, not grabbing a hard breath suddenly. He looks around carefully, taking stock of the surroundings, especially for hostiles.
#246 kneyejailb Aug 22, 2004 22:44:18	Gamis looks around, as Jack and Miri pop up next to him. Surrounding them on all sides are thick bushes. A small trail cuts through the pushes on the north, leading up a hill.
#247 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 22:59:03	Gamis strokes to the shore, where the break in the hedge is, and pulls himself out of the water. He helps Miri and Jack out onto dry land and listens for a moment, then starts along this trail, up this hill, keeping senses and sword alert as he goes.
#248 kneyejailb Aug 22, 2004 23:04:45	They don't het far before they hear something further up the trail. A short sneeze. Jack looks to Gamis and raises his eyebrows.
#249 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 23:22:55	Gamis tilts his head up the trail and holds a finger to his lips. He indicates himself and Miri, then points to the ground under his feet. The paladin tightens his grip around his sword and gives the ranger a thumbs-up.
#250 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 23:44:39	Scrambling from the pool with Gamis' help, she moves to the side of the trail, hoping to stay out of sight.
#251 zombiegleemax Aug 22, 2004 23:51:03	Miri shivers slightly and squeezes the water from her braid. Keeping quiet, she lets her eyes explore the area, looking for any signs of trogs, or clues to what is possibly directing them.
#252 kneyejailb Aug 23, 2004 0:08:57	Jack returns the signal, and then ducking down low starts up the trail. Neither Gamis or Miri can hear him as he dissapears from sight. Several tense minutes pass before he comes crawling back. Not standing up, he writes in the dirt. 2 trogs/ cave
#253 kneyejailb Aug 23, 2004 0:29:49	Jack points back up the trail at himself and runs a finger across his throat. Then he points at himself, and then at Gamis and shrugs.
#254 kneyejailb Aug 23, 2004 1:08:33	Jack draws his two swords and waits for a response.
#255 zombiegleemax Aug 23, 2004 10:22:42	Gamis crouches and writes "back-up" in the dirt, then tilts his head up the trail again. As Jack leaves he follows as quietly as he can manage, keeping his distance but trying to stay close enough to be of aid if things go poorly for the ranger. [Let's say trailing 50 feet behind Jack.]
#256 kneyejailb Aug 23, 2004 23:06:45	Jack creeps up the bath, neither of the trogs standing guard at the cave mouth seem to hear him coming. Once he is within 10 feet they spot him, but not quick enough for one of them. Jack charges up and gashes the creatures leg. It counters with a swing of it's club and a rake from a claw both of which Jack avoids. The second trog moves behind the ranger, bashing him across the kidneys. If either saw the paladin or the wizard trailing after the ranger they don't let on to it. Jack 17 ??/?? Trog A 14 injured Trog B 10 untouched Mirielle 10 48/48 Gamis 5 82/82
#257 zombiegleemax Aug 24, 2004 3:06:25	.oO(No more element of surprise, then... Need to keep them off Jack.) Gamis bursts out of hiding and charges at the trog nearest to him, taking a good and hard double-handed hack at the reptile. [charge, two-handed Power Attack for 4]
#258 kneyejailb Aug 30, 2004 23:38:44	Frowning, Mirielle lets loose a handful of magic missiles at the trogs -- three on the uninjured one, and two on the other. .oO(I don't want the whole tribe hearing this, and coming running. We need to finish this quickly!) The wizard's magic pink dart's streak across the distance between her and the trogs, striking into them with force. The previously uninjured one turns around to see what hit it just in time to see Gamis' sword swinging. It sees nothing else as it slumps down to the ground, dead. Jack uses the distraction provided by Miri's artillary support and sinks one of his blades into the remaing trog. It stiffens and falls. The first thing Gamis does after the trogs go down is listen and watch, for more hostiles coming out of the cave. Then he asks the ranger, sotto voce: "You okay, Jack?" Grinning, the ranger whispers back. "It's just a flesh wound. It'll take more then a lizard with a big stick to take me out of the fight." "Two might have done it though. " "Thanks." "To both of you." Neither man sees or hears anything coming from the cave. Jack waves for Miri to come a bit closer, holding out his hand gor her to stop about halfway to the cave. "What now? If we go in there we'll need a light source. They won't."
#259 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 0:07:06	(Offer them the chance to leave alive?)Oo. Gamis asks himself. He looks at the cave itself while he thinks, noting its width and heigth and checking if it seems to be completely ringed by the thick brush. "Then we may have no choice but to use one. Getting them to come out would probably be easy enough to do, but without their spears would be better. Let's take a peek and a listen from the mouth, at least. No light." The paladin waits to follow Jack's lead on being stealthy. The cave entrance is high, but not wide. Perhaps ten feet long but only around four wide. The bushes that ring the hole from the water, and line the path to the cave are thick and completely enclose the area. Perhaps with great effort and noise, they could be cut away or plowed through, but otherwise they keep the this area unobserved from outside. "And if they don't come out?" Jack askes before squeezing himself into the crack. He slides along the wall for a few more feet making room for his companians to follow him, and then crouches lower and creeps slowly inwards until he can barely see the light filtering in from the entrance. He stops there, and listens. Gamis moving behind him isn't nearly as quiet, stumbling over a few loose stones at one point. But it does not get a reaction from what Gamis can tell. He hears nothing except a faint trickling from deep in the heart of the cave. Jack pulls on Gamis arm, and nudges him back towards the entance. Once outside, Jackk moves to join up with Miri. "There's another water source in there somewhere. Or maybe more of the same way we came in." "Theres also something else. It was faint, but I swear I heard something in there speaking. I've never heard that laungage before, so I don't know what was said." "More tunnels, maybe? Quite the defense," Gamis says, glancing back to the pool they surfaced out of. "I heard a trickle, and that was all. If you can try to repeat some of the sounds, Miri might be able to tell; she's good with languages." "We may have no choice but to take the fight to them, now... We know where they're coming from--one of their paths, at least. And with these two dead, they'll know that we know, so we can't catch their raiding parties as they leave the pond." Miri starts to kick the ground in frustration, but stops herself. "If only I hadn't had to leave Ix behind!" she whispers. "Look, if you can lure them out, I can make the magic shelter Gamis and I used on the way here. They won't be able to see inside it, but we can shoot out from it. I can even send a fire explosion through it. " "Though, maybe we should wait for dusk to try that?" Jack attempts to imitate the word he heard, but it comes off sounding like he has a bad cold and is mumbling gibberish with a lisp. He shrugs. "I don't suppose that helps does it." "Will this magic shelter of yours stop them from shooting us?"
#260 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 0:11:28	"Technically, no. " "However, they won't be able to see us, so it means their chance of hitting us will be lower. And they won't actually know what they're shooting at, or how many... " "Will it block light from coming out?" "If it does maybe we could use it inside the cave." "It's stationary, though. Wouldn't be able to carry our light along with the dome." "So much for that plan then, I guess we are down to going in or luring them out." ""Mirrielle? Can you summon anything besides fish? Something that can run fast, and see in the dark?" "And that doesn't belomg in that cave?" "I could, but not until tomorrow. I've used up my preparations of that spell... I could summon some rats or bats, but I can't really control them." Mirielle frowns at the cave in irritation.
#261 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 0:15:15	"I don't think rats or bats would seem to out of place in that cave. The trogs would probably just ignore them." "I suppose one of us could try to lure them out." "Gamis, you much of a runner?" "Not used to moving fast on my own two feet thanks to my mail, but I'm passable, I guess. Footing could be bad, and I don't know the cave, but I might be able to lead them out." "They might also come out if I just stick my head into the cave and shout." Jack shrugs. "If you want to do it the easy way." Jack checks over his weapons. "One of us will need to do the shouting, the other should try to get a flanking position on them." "I might be able to cling to the rocks above the cave long enough for them to pass by me, and then drop down behind them." "But that will leave guarding Mirrielle up to you." "And defending yourself." Gamis nods. "I can manage. I'd recommend waiting long enough for Miri to hit them with an explosion, then getting the drop on them. It could take them a few seconds anyway with the mouth so narrow. I'll boost you up there." Jack nods and after getting a boost from Gamis hangs onto the rock face above the opening. "Don't yell anything to eleborate. I don't want to fall off because you felt like reciting the laws and codes of the land." Jack grins.
#262 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 0:18:11	"Fine, go ahead and crush my dreams of being a world-renown orator. I'll just have to suffer without any witty banter," Gamis replies, answering the grin. He turns to Miri. "You know any good challenges in their language, or should I just shout?" "I still don't know what language they speak..." Miri replies, discomfited. Gamis nods. "Alright. Maybe we'll figure it out soon enough. They should understand this, though." So saying, the paladin walks over to the two dead trogs and picks one of their clubs up. As he goes to the mouth of the cave he swings his shield into place on his left arm. Standing just outside the trogs' lair, he beats the club loudly against his own shield three times, takes a breath, and bellows a nounless challenge in at the cave's denizens. He drops the club and turns away, walking back thirty feet or so from the entrance, where he gently ushes Miri to stand beyond arm's reach behind him and draws his sword. There he waits, and listens.
#263 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 0:23:29	The wait isn't too long. A few minutes pass before noise is heard, though it seems longer to Jack. Snarls, and hissing noises can be heard at the mouth of the cave, and solid shapes standout in the darkness. A javelin is tossed out, but comes no where near the paladin or his lady. .oO(Not taking the bait? Damn...) "Don't make me come in there after you!" Gamis yells at the trogs, holding his shield up to fend off any more javelins that come his way. He considers trying to count their shapes there inside the cave, but realizes that with the narrow gap he's unlikely to get an accurate estimate. .oO(There's not so many that they're confident about coming out, or they're expecting a bigger trap than one ranger.) "If they still won't come out," he says to Miri, "maybe a slight infestation would be encouraging." .oO(I hope we've given children and females enough chance to stay back now...) "Certainly, darling." Mirielle steps up to get a clear view of the target area, and if possible centers her spell some ten feet past the cave entrance. "Rats, I think." The sounds coming from the cave get louder and seem more frantic. Mirrielle can even make out a few draconic phrases. "Where? " "What?" " Go get the Mistress!" The sounds of clubs smashing into rock, and the gnashing of tiny teeth eminate from the cave opening. Then three trogs bolt out, flinging rats off of themselves as they run towards the pair from Garics city.
#264 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 0:28:04	Blood chilled at a sudden thought of the bloodtroll, Miri hisses to Gamis, "They're summoning 'the mistress'! I knew they had a leader of some kind!" She jumps out of range of Gamis sword, leaving him free to act, and readies her quarterstaff. Gamis drops into his stance, holding his attack until a threatening trog comes into range, brow furrowing. .oO(If they know what's good for them, they'll keep running and never come back... We can hope...) The rat covered trogs continue heading straight for the Gamis and Miri. Gamis swing drops the first one in his tracks. The remaining two step over the dead ones corpse and swing their clubs at the paladin. Neither manages to conect, but one comes within a hairs width of Gamis face. Jack continues hanging to the rock. Mirielle edges around to place a troglodyte between herself and Gamis, then swings her quarterstaff as hard as she can. .oO(Between the strengthening spell Gamis put on me, and the enhancement I put on my staff, this ought to work!) The Wizardess staff smacks into one of her enemies causing it to grunt, and shake its head in an attempt to knock away all the little birds circling around it. (Good swing, Miri,)Oo., the paladin thinks. Gamis attacks, his sword an inexorable instrument of steel doom. With skill that can only come from extensive training, he focuses first on the troglodyte clobbered by Miri, then on its as-yet unhurt fellow.
#265 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 0:38:55	The paladins blade flashes twice. The first cut crosses the injured trogs chest sending a spray of blood flying and a trogdolyte onto his knees. The second trog sidesteps the blow at the last monent. Jack starts to release his grip, but stops as two more creatures rush out of the cave towards Gamis.
#266 zombiegleemax Aug 31, 2004 0:59:02	Seven so far,)Oo. Gamis thinks at the arrival of the next two trogs. oO(Need to thin their ranks; can't be overwhelmed.) He chooses his first target and lets him have it. [full attack, Power Attack for 2: +14/+9/+4, 1d10+6. Cleave away. Focusing on the trog who survived the last onslaught, then the others.]
#267 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 1:00:22	The trog facing Gamis screams in rage and slams its club into the holy warriors ribs. (4 hp damage) The two new ones charge down the path, one missing Gamis wildly, the other skirting past his sword to take an unsuccessful swing at Mirrielle.
#268 zombiegleemax Aug 31, 2004 1:27:46	Concentrating on her opponent, Mirielle swings her staff again. .oO(I can do this...)
#269 kneyejailb Aug 31, 2004 2:30:52	Or so she thinks. Miri's staff doesn't come anywhere near her target. The Trog laughs. [draconic]"This one will make a good sacrifice!"[/draconic] Initiative: Gamis 14 78/82 Jack 11 20/24 Trogs 10 ??/?? Miri 6 48/48
#270 kneyejailb Sep 03, 2004 21:50:33	Gamis's weapon arcs through the throat of the injured trog and catches one of the new arrivals across the bridge of his snout. It flinches out of the way of the follow up swing. As the first trog collapses in a heap the other two growl and swing at the paladin. Gamis weaves out of the way. Back at the cave mouth, two more rush out. Jack drops behind them and runs one oh his blades into the second one out. "Can't let you guys have all the fun!"
#271 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 22:02:25	[draconic]Sacrifice? I will eat you roasted with potatoes![/draconic] She swings again at the trog, then takes a step back, preparing to draw her wand.
#272 kneyejailb Sep 03, 2004 22:10:45	The mage misses again, but safetly steps back. The trog is to leary of the paladins blade flashing arounf to follow.
#273 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 22:17:06	.oO(And now things start to get crowded...) Gamis glances at Miri as he hears her using the tongue of dragons, then turns his blade on the trogs. He swings once into the enemy closes to the wizardess, hoping to keep them off her while he mops up. Two of the other three (or all three, if he can swing it) are then subjected to his steel wrath. [full attack, Power Attack for 2: +14/+9/+4, 1d10+6. Cleave away. First attack to Miri's trog; following attacks handed out about evenly]
#274 kneyejailb Sep 03, 2004 22:29:10	Gamis blade takes thew legs out from under the beast bothering his beloved. And continues on into the trogs wqith the bloody nose. Two more quick slash later, that one has joined the heap on the ground. The remaing two, glance about nervously, seeing Jack behind them finishing off one of their reinforcements, and bloodying the other. Seeing no where to run too, they try to beat the paladin out of the way. Only one conects, and barely at that. [color=skyblue](Gamis takes 2 hp) Initiative: Gamis 14 76/82 Jack 11 20/24 Trogs 10 ??/?? Miri 6 48/48[/color]
#275 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 22:34:25	Confidence returning, Mirielle retains her grip on her staff, moving around to sandwich a trog between herself and Gamis. Inhaling sharply, she swings the staff at the trog, mentally entreating Thalos' aid.
#276 kneyejailb Sep 03, 2004 22:36:14	Her god hears her call and guides her aim. The mages staff cracks a few of the trogs ribs.
#277 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 22:36:40	The paladin accepts the bruise with aplomb, and punishes the offending reptile and its partner with the edge of his sword. [as before: full attack, Power Attack for 2]
#278 kneyejailb Sep 03, 2004 22:47:31	Perhaps the bruising effected him more then he thought. His first swing gos wide, giving the trog he was aiming out time to duck under the next swing. Overconfidence might have came through its mind when it stepped into the last arc of the sword, but the gaping slash through its neck might making questioning its motives a tad bit hard. Jack and his foe exchange hits, but the rangers twin blades prove to be more effective. That trog drops its club and then to its knees and covers its head. The remaing trog follows suite. [draconic]"Yield! I yield!"[/draconic]
#279 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 22:52:41	Discomfort on her face, Mirielle announces They're yielding... .oO(What do we do with troglodyte prisoners? Send them to the salt mines?!)
#280 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 22:55:24	Gamis nods at Miri's translation. He can't interpret its words, but the trog's posture is explanatory enough. He pushes his sword's point into the turf to keep it in place for the moment, picks up its club, and throws the weapon away. "Ask him if there's any more," he requests of Miri.
#281 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 22:59:44	Miri nods to Gamis, maintaining her combat-ready posture. [draconic]Tell me of your tribe, their numbers and kind, and of your 'mistress.' Speak truthfully, and I will spare you the burning magics I possess.[/draconic]
#282 kneyejailb Sep 03, 2004 23:10:06	The trog Jack subdued crawls towards the others, spurred along by the occasional kick of the rangers boot. The one being interogated drops prone. "We are the Loexgix, the Dead Claw. And we are many." "And soon the world will know of the Mistress." "The Gods will quake before her! She will lead her Chosen to our rightful place!" "She will..."[/draconic] His voice seems to be regaining strength, and his head lifts up and he begins to scowl. [draconic]"She will crush those that have driven us from our lands!! [/draconic]
#283 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 23:20:29	Miri frowns, glaring into the creature's eyes. Their 'mistress' is supposedly very powerful, and is going to guide them into regaining their territory. [draconic]Your mistress will cower before my might, seeing her death written in the portents of my arrival. She will see that my great and burning magics dwarf the powers she claims, and the strength and skill of my mate will overcome any champion she may put forth! Only her submission to my will may save your tribe. Tell me now where she is hiding, that I may tell her my desires.[/draconic] Miri thumps the end of her staff on the ground, punctuating the end of her speech.
#284 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 23:27:23	The language sounds harsh enough to Gamis's ears, but he gives Miri a glance nonetheless as he picks up aggression in her tone, then looks back to the trog. He gives another glance up at the cave.
#285 kneyejailb Sep 03, 2004 23:36:45	The trog snorts. [draconic]"She does not hide." "And She does not fear your magic." "Or your weapons." "She fears nothing." "Your magic does not impress her." "Or me!"[/draconic] The crature lunges forward tearing into Miris throat with a dirty claw. (Ouch. 8 points of damage.)
#286 zombiegleemax Sep 03, 2004 23:41:01	Gamis's response to the trog's sudden move is an attempt to cleave its skull. [Power Attack for 4]
#287 hermy_the_hero_dup Sep 03, 2004 23:52:56	The sudden speed and viciosness of the trog takes Gamis by surprise, but he still manages to bite his blade into its hide. Its limp hab=nds fall away from Miris throat as it drops to the ground. Instincts kicking in, the last Trog bolts down the path towards the water hole. Miris staff catches him across the back, and Gamis sword finishes it off. Jack looks at his blades and shrugs. "I guess living in the city really hasn't lessened your reflexes.
#288 zombiegleemax Sep 04, 2004 20:45:24	"We have our days," Gamis says to Jack. "That was an awfully stupid thing for him to do," he notes of the trog as he wipes his sword clean, eyes on the mouth of the cave now. "Either of you want a little healing before we go in there?" he offers, slinging his shield.
#289 zombiegleemax Sep 05, 2004 21:24:55	Mirielle nods. Why don't you assist Jack...she says, taking hold of her symbol of Thalos. Closing her eyes, she quietly prays for healing. Cure Light Wounds
#290 zombiegleemax Sep 05, 2004 21:29:12	The paladin nods and looks to the ranger, raising his free hand and wreathing it in silver-glowing positive energy.
#291 kneyejailb Sep 06, 2004 15:09:51	Both the wizard and the ranger find themselves fully healed. Jack looks towards the cave. "What next?" "Are we goiung in there?"
#292 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2004 15:26:11	"I think we need to. It sounds like this 'Mistress' has to be dealt with, and we should make sure there aren't any more inside the cave." Gamis opens his ring again, makes sure his weapons are in hand, and leads the way into the cave with his light cast out ahead of him. [If Jack accepted the healing, how many points does Gamis now have for lay on hands?]
#293 kneyejailb Sep 06, 2004 15:31:00	Jack looks at the cave mouth again and shrugs. "I suppose we don't need to worry about giving ourselves away now, so light shouldn't be a problem." (Gamis used 4 of his lay on hands on Jack.)
#294 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2004 16:13:49	"Probably safe to say," Gamis agrees, peering into the cave as he walks in, trying to keep alert in his little pool of light.
#295 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2004 16:25:59	I hope those bodies are still here on the way back... Mirielle comments, gripping her staff and following Gamis.
#296 kneyejailb Sep 06, 2004 22:07:45	Jack takes the rearguard as the three venture into the cave. Gamis ring provides enough light to keep an eye on thew sides of the tunnel for the first two hundred or so feet. The sound of trickling water gets louder with every step. The sides of the tunnel fade branch out as they reach a natural cavern, much larger then the light from the ring can illuminate. The trickling sound seems to be coming from the many small rivulets of water creeping down the sides of the room and pooling in the center. On the edge of the ringlight, the paladin sees some movement. Something just scurried away quietlly.
#297 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2004 22:23:53	"Did you see that?" Gamis says, "Something just scuttled out of sight." He bounds forward several steps, hoping to catch up with the thing and get a better look.
#298 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2004 22:49:39	Mirielle hurries to keep up with Gamis, pulling her wand from her belt with her off hand. Arcane spells prepared: Arcane Spells (Save DC: 15 + spell level +1 for Conjuration/Necromancy) Level 0 (4/day): detect magic, disrupt undead, message, read magic Level 1 (6/day): cause fear, mage armor, magic missile, mount, obscuring mist, sleep Level 2 (5/day): continual flame, Melf's acid arrow, mirror image, protection from arrows, summon swarm Level 3 (4/day): fireball, greater magic weapon, keen edge, Leomund's tiny hut Level 4 (3/day): enervation, summon monster IV x2 Level 5 (2/day): teleport, waves of fatigue
#299 kneyejailb Sep 06, 2004 22:54:28	Jack matches the pace, and follows after the couple. Unhindered by his bulky armor Gamis is able to get there faster then he normally would, but still not fast enough to see what had been there. He does however see where it may have gone. The pool in the middle of the room has been disterbed. Its possible that what ever he saw went into there. The edges of the pool don't look very deep but a few feet in the floor under the water disappears sharply.
#300 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2004 22:59:42	Gamis nods at the ripples. "Probably gone by now, then... And you may have been right about more tunnels, Jack," he says. For the moment he consoles himself with a brief exploration of the cavern, getting a feel for its size and layout.
#301 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2004 23:06:04	Staying close to Gamis, Mirielle watches their surroundings carefully, alert to any movement.
#302 kneyejailb Sep 06, 2004 23:09:15	Jack shakes his head. "We should have heard something splashing into the water." "There has to be more tunnels." All three go around the cavern. On the far side, there is another tunnel leading out.
#303 zombiegleemax Sep 06, 2004 23:15:11	"I got the feeling it was something small. Maybe like a familiar," Gamis say. "Might've been able to slip into the water quietly if it was little enough. Or waiting in it all along... Like a frog sitting with its head peeking out." He looks ahead to the tunnel, then leads the way down it, trying to keep wary.
#304 kneyejailb Sep 07, 2004 0:17:44	The tunnel heads downward at a steep angle. Miri looses her footing but is caught by Gamis before she can slide down too far. The trio proceeds a bit more carefully after that and finally reach the bottom. The tunnel ends in another large chamber. Several sets of briight eyes greet them from the shadows at the end of the ringlight of followed by half as many javelins. Six javelins ricochet of the walls around the tunnel. Drawing blades, Jack charges forward. "Trogs! I counted six pair of eyes.! There is probably more!" The ranger moves the forty feet forward to get to them, swiping at one of the Trogs. It screams as the blade bites into it. Miris wand is out almost as quick and three mislses streak out smashing into the other creatures. Three trogs surrond the ranger, two of them getting in hits with their clubs. The two that got hit by the magic,. and one other rush towards Gamis and Miri. Driven with rage all three connect with their clubs, two on Gamis, (Gamis takes 5 hits) and the last on his partner. (Miri takes 3) Initiative: Jack 19 17/24 Miri 15 45/48 Trogs 12 ??/?? Gamis 10 71/82
#305 zombiegleemax Sep 07, 2004 8:59:43	Miri's wand shoots 3 magic missiles, not two. Unwilling to risk being struck again, Mirielle focuses all three missiles on the trog attacking her. If it falls she moves to assist Gamis.
#306 zombiegleemax Sep 07, 2004 10:24:25	Gamis's shield is tight against his body as lays about himself, chopping into one trog after another. .oO(Gotta get them out of the way and help Jack!) [full attack, Power Attack for 2: +14/+9/+4, 1d10+6. Cleave away.]
#307 kneyejailb Sep 07, 2004 18:52:25	Gamis blade cuts through the air, slicing two large wounds on the one closest to him, the last cut carrying through into the next, sending its head flying off into the shdows. (4 twentys in a row on the cleave.) With a short step his blade scratches the one facing his fiance. Three missles from her wand finishes it off. Jack does not appear to be faring as well. None of his swords can get through the defences of the trogs surrounding him. But two of their clubs find their way onto the rangers torso. A voice whispery calls out from the shadows. [draconic]"Let them come!"[/draconic] Initiative: Jack 19 11/24 Miri 15 45/48 Trogs 12 ??/?? Gamis 10 71/82
#308 zombiegleemax Sep 07, 2004 19:01:00	Gamis's eyes flicker around the darkness as he hears the voice, but he makes up his mind to focus later and moves up towards Jack. He draws his sword back as he finishes the final step and delivers a slice to the reptile. [Power Attack for 2: +12, 1d10+6. Attacking the closest trog that's flanking Jack (assuming two of them are flanking him).]
#309 kneyejailb Sep 07, 2004 19:10:00	The trog turns to face the paladin, and manages to worm out of the blades path. With one of the trogs attention elsewhere, Jack breathes a little easier and scores a hit on one of his opponants.
#310 zombiegleemax Sep 07, 2004 23:15:05	Staff raised high in her left hand, the light spell shedding radiance around her, Mirielle stows the wand in her belt and edges towards the voice. She calls to mind a prepared spell, one that will render her opponents to a state of exhaustion...
#311 zombiegleemax Sep 07, 2004 23:28:35	(Dodge this one then, you viscious lizard,)Oo. Gamis thinks as he slides into another position and whales on the enemy. [5-foot step to place the two nearest trogs in reach, then full attack, Power Attack for 2: +14/+9,+4, 1d10+6. Cleave away.]
#312 kneyejailb Sep 07, 2004 23:46:54	The young wizardess stalks forward, her staff illumiinating the area around her.Several trogs are backing away from her and the light. Somewhere around a half dozen or so of them. Moving about twenty feet past the embattled men, Miri catches sight of something at the edge of her light. Reared up to a heith of six feet, with an equal amount of tail behind it, a large snake hisses at her. It begins to wave it's... it waves it's arms? [draconic]"Come to me in peace friend"[/draconic] Miri begins to lower her guard, but shaqkes off the feeling that the creature means her no harm. Gamis feels a few ribs crack as his foe strikes home with its club. Its otherhand lashes out clawing across his face, and it closes in and bites a chunk out of the paladins neck.. (A total of 18 points for all three hits. Ouch.) Jack falls to his knees under an onslaught of clubs and claws. Victory does not seem to be theirs though. Gamis rips through the trog that dared scratch his handsome face, and sends the next flying across the room. His final swing misses but puts the last trog off balance as it steps away from the blow. Initiative: Jack 19 0/24 Miri 15 45/48 Trogs 12 ??/?? Gamis 10 53/82
#313 zombiegleemax Sep 07, 2004 23:54:39	Her eyes widening, (and a small corner of her mind wondering if the really long lab table at the Hightower will be available,) Mirielle unleashes her arcane energies in a rippling pink blast at the monsters in front of her. That's Waves of Fatigue, for those of you not reading my mind...
#314 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 0:01:56	Gamis's face contorts, creasing muscles and making the scratches sting even more. He feels concern for blood trickling into his eyes; he has no need for any degree of blindness in a melee. Restricted breath from damaged ribs is bad news as well, but he presses on. The paladin advances on the last trog with the promise of defeat etched on the edge of his sword. He glances to check on his fiancé and grimaces at what he sees. "Miri!!!" he calls her back, then lays into the remaining reptile. [Power Attack for 2: +14, 1d10+6. If trog is dropped, will then advance towards Miri's side. If it still stands, lingering for the full attack.]
#315 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 0:09:42	A cone of magical energy issues forth from the mage's hand, engulfing the snakething. Wether it has an effect or not is hard to tell. Again it waves its hand. [draconic]"You mean me no harm."[/draconic] The wizardess believes the suggestion this time. It slithers forward a few feet with arms spread open. [draconic]"Come to me friend."[/draconic] It takes two powerful cuts of the blade to drop the foe before him, and then Gamis can see Miri lowering her staff. Jack seeing this also whispers "What is she doing?"
#316 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 0:15:27	Oh, well, of course I'm very sorry if I was mistaken in your intentions... Mirielle steps forward, offering her hand to shake. Arcane spells prepared: Arcane Spells (Save DC: 15 + spell level +1 for Conjuration/Necromancy) Level 0 (4/day): detect magic, disrupt undead, message, read magic Level 1 (6/day): cause fear, mage armor, magic missile, mount, obscuring mist, sleep Level 2 (5/day): continual flame, Melf's acid arrow, mirror image, protection from arrows, summon swarm Level 3 (4/day): fireball, greater magic weapon, keen edge, Leomund's tiny hut Level 4 (3/day): enervation, summon monster IV x2 Level 5 (2/day): teleport, waves of fatigue
#317 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 0:21:09	Gamis would like to know the same thing. "Miri, no! That must be the Mistress! Help Jack!" The freedom of movement the knight feels from entering this battle unarmored is a little heady as he dashes forward. He calls out in Celestial as he nears the bizzare serpent. Silver flows from his arm into his sword as he lashes diagonally at it. [charge, Power Attack for 2, smite evil. +19, 1d10+17. AC -2.]
#318 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 0:29:05	[draconic]"Yes. You were friend."[/draconic] It slithers forward to shake hands with Miri, its tail sliding wrapping around the young mages body and starting to tighten. A burning sensation goes through Miris body and she realises that this... thing... certainly means her harm. [color=skyblue](Miri takes 7 points of constriction damage is grappled, and 24 points of acid damage) Initiative: Jack 19 0/24 Miri 15 14/48 Trogs 12 ??/?? Thing 14 ??/?? Gamis 10 53/82[/color]
#319 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 0:34:34	The paladins blade srikes hard sending a spray of blood into the air as it sinks into the abominations torso. It exhales deeply and snarls.
#320 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 0:38:35	Jack starts to his feet, but weakness overtakes him and he thinks twice about straning himself. "I'll be there in a minute! I just need to cach my breath!"
#321 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 0:44:24	Gamis snarls back and summons Thalos's might into his sword once again with a few words of Celestial. The holy-imbued strike is followed by mundane slashes, strong in their own right. [full attack, Power Attack for 2, smite evil on first: +17/+9/+4, 1d10+17, 1d10+6.]
#322 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 0:47:08	[draconic]You worthless pile of slimy scales! You're enough to make a dragon puke from laughing![/draconic] .oO(Keep it distracted from Gamis...) Squirming and kicking punctuate her insults as she struggles to escape the monster's grip.
#323 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 1:05:03	Miris squirming only tightens the creature grip on her. (7 points of damage) It snarls at Gamis and draws a nasty looking scimiter from a scabard on its back and unslings its shield. [draconic]"Help me my children!"[/draconic] The six remaing trogs advance on the paladin, clubs swinging. A couple of them strike home. (Gamis takes 5 more hits.) Ignoring the distraction, Gamis focuses on freeing his fiance. It blocks his first swing with a swipe of its shield, but the next one sinks home. The third is batted away with the scimiter. Jack raises to his feet. "Come on you scaley little dogs! I'm the one whose going to slay your Mistress!" Initiative: Jack 19 0/24 Miri 15 7/48 Trogs 12 ??/?? Thing 14 ??/?? Gamis 10 48/82
#324 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 1:12:31	Struggling for breath, Mirielle squeezes shut her eyes and focuses intently on enunciating a spell, knowing it's her only hope. Remuez-moi! .o0(Get back over by Jack, where I have room to act...) Concentration +15 to cast Teleport
#325 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 1:14:18	Gamis swears under his breath as his smite is blocked and realizes he can probably expect more claws from the trogs crowding around him, but does not relent in slicing into the scaled horror with lethal force, dogged determination, and a little help from above. One cut is saved for a lucky troglodyte moving in on him. [full attack, Power Attack for 2, smite evil on first: +17/+9/+4, 1d10+17, 1d10+6. Two attacks against serpent, then last one against a trog. Cleaving freely if I can get it.]
#326 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 1:28:31	Though she has little air to spare in her lungs, she manages to get the words out, and disappears leaving the creatures coils holding empty space. It swings once with it's sword (Gamis takes 2 hits) and then slithers back five feet to take advantage of its longer reach and hits again again. [color-skyblue](Gamis takes 17)[/color] The trogs move into the empty space created by their mistress retreat, completely surrounding the paladin. A swarm of clubs, claws and teeth ripinto his flesh. (All told 24 hits from four clubs, a claw attack, and three bites) Screaming out insults Jack hobbles towards Gamiis, stopping behind the trogs on Gamis rear flank. "Aren't you forgetting about someone!" Initiative: Jack 19 0/24 Miri 15 7/48 Trogs 12 ??/?? Thing 14 ??/?? Gamis 10 5/82
#327 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 1:38:21	Choking back a shriek, she casts about in her mind for a solution, desperate to aid her love. Dormez-vous! She knows Gamis will be unaffected by the arcane slumber, but hopes to lower the number of troglodytes swarming him... Arcane spells prepared: Arcane Spells (Save DC: 15 + spell level +1 for Conjuration/Necromancy) Level 0 (4/day): detect magic, disrupt undead, message, read magic Level 1 (6/day): cause fear, mage armor, magic missile, mount, obscuring mist, sleep Level 2 (5/day): continual flame, Melf's acid arrow, mirror image, protection from arrows, summon swarm Level 3 (4/day): fireball, greater magic weapon, keen edge, Leomund's tiny hut Level 4 (3/day): enervation, summon monster IV x2 Level 5 (2/day): teleport, waves of fatigue
#328 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 1:44:31	His main foe out of reach, Gamis lays into the trogs in his way . One swing cutting down two. He slips through the opening he creates, and with all his holy mite drives his blade through the beast. (And deals 44 points of damage!) It twitches and flails about uncontrollably as the life fades from its eyes. Turning around Gamis takes out the next closest Trog. Miri unleases her spelll and yet another trog drops, snoring loudly. The two remaing trogs look at eachother in disbelief and then ignoring Jack beside them dash past him, and the mage heading for the tunnel the brave adventurers came through. Too weak to raise his blades, Jack lets them go by. Initiative: Jack 19 0/24 Miri 15 7/48 Trogs 12 ??/?? Thing 14 very dead Gamis 10 5/82
#329 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 1:47:32	Shaking with rage, Mirielle spins on her heel, drawing and aiming her wand at the same time, sending a trio of pink energy balls after the fleeing troglodytes.
#330 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 1:50:16	The balls strike home, but do not slow the fleeing trogs down as they rush out of sight.
#331 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 1:51:39	Battered, bleeding, cracked, and weary, Gamis tries not to stagger as he turns to watch the last two trogs flee, and Miri's pink orbs fly after them. "Gray can get them if they make it out," he notes, taking a step towards the staggered ranger through the litter of trog bodies.
#332 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 1:54:21	Jack drops to his knees again. "Yeah, iwe aren't in any shape to go after them, if Gamis feels half as bad as he looks."
#333 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 1:55:20	Yes... good... Mirielle stumbles towards Gamis, then kneels by the ranger, praying for his healing. Cure Light Wounds
#334 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 2:01:16	"I'll bounce back. Still have most of my healing left for the day, but no opportunity to us it with trogs on all sides like that." Reaching Jack and Miri, he lays his sword down on the cave floor, takes a breath to center himself, and conjures a healthy measure of positive energy with a few sacred words and gestures, which he pours into Miri. [cure moderate wounds to Miri: 2d8+6]
#335 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 11:17:49	Smiling gratefully at Gamis, Mirielle squeezes his hand and then looks around at their surroundings. She picks up her staff to better light the area, then invokes an arcane spell to reveal magical auras. Arcane spells prepared: Arcane Spells (Save DC: 15 + spell level +1 for Conjuration/Necromancy) Level 0 (4/day): detect magic, disrupt undead, message, read magic Level 1 (6/day): cause fear, mage armor, magic missile, mount, obscuring mist, sleep Level 2 (5/day): continual flame, Melf's acid arrow, mirror image, protection from arrows, summon swarm Level 3 (4/day): fireball, greater magic weapon, keen edge, Leomund's tiny hut Level 4 (3/day): enervation, summon monster IV x2 Level 5 (2/day): teleport, waves of fatigue
#336 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 17:43:08	The words of Gamis's own spellcasting merge with Miri's as the paladin finally tends to himself a little. He closes the wounds on his face and neck, picks up his sword, wipes it clean again, and puts it away. He watches the wizard for a moment, letting her concentrate on her divination. "If they have any treasure stowed away in here, maybe we can recompense the people they raided." [cure light wounds to Gamis: 1d8+5]
#337 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 18:15:06	(Miri regains 18 hp. Gamis 12) The only thing that detects as magic in the room is a golden ring on the snake things finger. Its scimiter and sword appear to be finely crafted, but not magical. Nor are any of the trogs clubs Her light illuminating the caverns corners, there appears to be several areas of thick soft mold, with bits of bone surrounding them. Most likely where the trogs bedded themselves but not much else in the cavern. And no other way in then the one the trio came through..
#338 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 23:32:53	Placing the magical ring in her pouch, Mirielle indicates the weapons to Gamis. We could sell those, to help out Gray Master, and the people who lost their homes. Carefully checking each of the troglodytes and the snakey-creature, Mirielle finishes off any that are still breathing. She then cautiously but thoroughly investigates the mossy areas, searching for hidden valuables.
#339 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 23:35:55	If half eaten fish are considered valuable then Miri strikes it rich. Scraps of food, and the odd broken tooth are all she finds.
#340 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 23:40:20	Miri turns to Gamis. If that creature could have a magical ring and such expensive weapons, I would venture to guess she was stockpiling other valuables as well. We should investigate these caves and tunnels more thoroughly.
#341 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 23:43:18	"Or it took them off someone it killed, but we'll look, for sure," he agrees while wiping his own blood off the scimitar, searching out its sheath on the abomination, and picking both blade and shield up. "I was just thinking of that pool we saw back there. Shall we?"
#342 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 23:48:31	Yes, but I wish I weren't thinking the thing might have used the pool itself as a storage bin... Turning to see if Jack is well enough to follow, Miri starts after Gamis.
#343 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 23:51:26	With a final look around the cavern, Jack follows after. "What would something like that store? Snakes don't usually save food for later. They like their food fresh.. and that thing definetly had snake like qualities."
#344 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 23:54:41	"The trogs attacking farms didn't do any actual raiding either, did they? "And no eating, but with the fish all gone in the pond, it looks like we came at just the right time..." At the edge of the pool, he sets down the Mistress's arms and begins to explore the cistern, casting his light as he investigates. "No traps, please no traps; I'm roughed up enough already as it is..."
#345 zombiegleemax Sep 08, 2004 23:56:09	It was also intelligent, and a spellcaster. It might have been gathering goods, or coin. Mirielle begins investigating the area around the pool, while Gamis is searching the water.
#346 kneyejailb Sep 08, 2004 23:59:59	The light from Gamis ring does not reveal any traps. Though it's unlikely he could identify one if he saw it. The pools floor appears to be just plain rock like the rest of the cave, at least until it drops down into darkness. Miri and Jack both search around the egdes of the pond but find nothing.
#347 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 0:03:58	Gamis begins wading into the pool, wanting to check the center.
#348 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 0:06:44	The water is cold. And the drop off looks deep. Gamis light doesn't reach to the bottom of it.
#349 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 0:15:38	The paladin whistles. "Looks deep. I'm going to check it out." He places his shield on his back, out of the way for swimming, but keeps his sword in hand as he swims out past where he can touch, glances down, and then dives. A few strokes under the surface, he pauses and awakens his divination, casting it down into the depths while he holds his position for a moment. [detect evil]
#350 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 0:24:34	His powers reveal nothing. Either there is nothing evil in the water, or its deeper down then the range of the paladins senses.
#351 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 0:29:37	(It could be that deep... Wonder if whatever it was I glimpsed is still down here. Need to see if there's anything, though.)Oo. He continues with his dive, keeping somewhat mindful of his lung capacity and water pressure.
#352 hermy_the_hero_dup Sep 09, 2004 0:37:00	The paladin swims down what he estimates to be 40 feet or so before he can see the bottom. The walls around him appear to be getting further away as they spread out and then disappear out of his sight. The floor twenty feet below him appears to be littered with shiney objects. Coins from the look of them. a few other items appear to be nestled among them.
#353 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 0:48:46	.oO(There we are... Damn, this's a long dive. Should be just within my range, too, and I don't seem to see anything...) He swims all the way down to the bottom to pick up one of the coins, keeping his eyes open for some water-snake type guardian of some kind. If unmolested, he takes the coin, braces his feet against the floor, and kicks off towards the surface.
#354 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 0:55:04	Gamis touches down amid what probably is hundreds of gold, silver and copper coins. A few rusty weapons, and one or two broadswords that haven't been there long enough to begin to oxidize catch his eyes as well. And a corked glass vial.
#355 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 1:06:26	(Already got one sword in my hand; this'll do for now. This'll take a few trips anyway.)Oo. So thinking, and unbothered, he ascends back to the surface and swims to the edge of the pool, where he shows Jack and Miri the coin. "Eureka. I think they were just tossing things down there, but it's a good-sized trove. A few swords and what looks like a potion, too. I'm going to need a sack or three, and I didn't bring anything like that through the tunnel. Let's let Gray know we're alright and see how he did with those trogs, and get something to hold this in." He pockets the coin and leads the way out of the cave, through the exterior pool and tunnel, and back to the surface of the pond through the net.
#356 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 1:09:27	Surfacing in the outdoor pond, Gamis spots Gray Master seated by the side of the water polishing Gamis armor. Two dead trogs are a few feet away near the horses. Gray Master nods and puts the breastplate down.. "It seems you missed a few things."
#357 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 1:18:50	"Severe bleeding interfered with the prospect of a chase," Gamis says to his master as he strokes for shore with Jack and Miri. "Glad you were out here to catch them. But that's the end of them. Counting those two, there were twenty-one, besides their Mistress." He rises from the pond, streaming water, and helps his companions out as well. "There's some coin they had deep down in a pool in their cave. Should be of help to their victims, but I'll need a few sacks to get it all."
#358 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 1:23:50	Gray moves towards Jacks horse and digs into the saddle bags. "Jack, you still have those bags you use for foragibg don''t you?" The ranger nods and joins the older paladin at the horse. Once two large bags are found, Gray Master hands them to Gamis. "I'm sure the families will appreciate the help." "Who was this Mistress of theirs?"
#359 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 1:31:50	"Strange creature... A really big snake, with arms, able to cast spells and make acid somehow. Apparently it had promised them they'd get their territory back... Two of them surrendered, Miri interrogated them, and then they attacked us." He accepts the bags. "Thanks. Miri, can you come back with me? Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I didn't see the limits of the pool. Jack, you can show Master the direction where the other end of the tunnel seems to come out." The paladin watches his master for a moment, seeing if the description of the Mistress rings a bell with him.
#360 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 1:40:57	Gray scratches his head. "A snake with arms. Sounds demonic to me." "This will warrant looking into when you get home. The priests at the church should know that something has crossed through." Jack makes some mental calculations, and then points towards the hill behind the pool. "There in that thicket. Lets see if we can cut a path into it."
#361 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 1:46:59	"It didn't disappear after we killed it, so if it was, then it was here for the long run. We'll go get that treasure now." Gamis leads Miri back through the water, leaving Ixchal behind again after giving her a few scratches. On returning to the trogs' cave and the cistern with the treasure at its bottom, Gamis takes the first bag and dives down to the bottom again. There, he lets the bag float while he explores the perimeter of the pool more thoroughly now. Once satisfied, he starts putting coin into the bag a handful at a time. He doesn't push his breath, surfacing for air when it feels necessary and diving again to resume his task.
#362 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 2:02:30	The pool's perimeter is funnel like. About thirty feet wide during most of the way down and then funneling out to around eighty feet in radius. It takes several trips to get the majority of the coins up to the surface. All told there are around 400 gold, twice that in silver and three times that in copper. The broadswords are most certainly masterwork, but the corked bottle appears to be empty.
#363 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 2:11:20	Gamis rests, dripping, at the edge of the pool and looks at the bottle. "Wait a second... If it had leaked, it'd be full of water, wouldn't it? And why throw an empty bottle into their horde...?" He holds it up to his eye, then holds it out at arm's length and pulls the stopper.
#364 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 2:12:16	Nothing but air comes out.
#365 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 2:13:53	Trying a thought, Gamis replaces the cork, then pulls it out again.
#366 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 2:14:33	Again, nothing but air.
#367 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 2:16:33	"It... shouldn't... Is this some magical bottle of air, then?" He turns back to the pool and submerges the unstoppered bottle.
#368 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 2:17:49	A steady stream of air poors out from it, sending small bubbles up towards the surface.
#369 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 2:18:57	"Whoa..." The paladin sticks his head in the water and tries to breathe from the bottle.
#370 kneyejailb Sep 09, 2004 2:23:50	The air appears to be fresh, and easily breathable.
#371 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 2:29:28	"Handy!" Gamis exclaims as he pulls head and bottle from the water, replacing the stopper. "A life-saver if I get tossed in the water in my armor..." He gets to his feet and places the bottle in one of the sacks. "That's about everything, then... Expect, how are we going to get the Mistress out of here?"
#372 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 8:53:53	Miri grins at the air supply, then glances back towards where they left the bodies. If we can come back here tomorrow, I can have two of the transportation spells ready. We can take the body back to the Hightower, then immediately return here, or to Lilac Ford...
#373 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 10:18:34	"Excellent idea. And a lot more convenient than dragging it through the tunnel, out the pond, and back to Garic's." He picks up the two bags, a little more than 25 pounds each, holding them by the bottom and trying to prevent them from splitting open along the bottom. "Maybe we can take the chance while in town for a few minutes to sell the swords over at the Iron Wolf. There's not much for armories in the village."
#374 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 10:29:39	Miri's hand rises to her mouth in dismay. Oh, Gamis... I can only bring along about eighty pounds of objects... As much as I could lift ordinarily, you see...
#375 zombiegleemax Sep 09, 2004 11:35:32	Gamis's brow furrows slightly and he glances towards the other room. "It's comparable to Valor's size... But it wouldn't work since it's dead?" He scratches the back of his head for a second. "What if I were to carry it?" he asks.
#376 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 11:14:45	Miri's eyes widen. I know you're strong, but can you really pick that thing up? If you can... well, yes, that would work. As long as I'm not overburdened, I can work the spell...
#377 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 11:19:21	"I'd have to try... And if I use the boosting spell I used on you to make the swimming easier, it'll make it much more possible. I need only carry it until you finish the spell. We'll just have to make sure you're toting everything else, but I think it'll be manageable."
#378 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 11:23:23	Okay,she says, grinning. Perhaps we should make sure we've investigated any side tunnels, first?
#379 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 11:48:16	"Sure. I'm going to help Jack and Gray cut through the brush first, though. We may be running out of daylight by now." He kisses her lightly, then gets to his feet and goes out of the cave. He draws his axe and begins cutting through the shrubbery, following sound and sight of the senior paladin and ranger doing the same from the other side. They meet partway after some time of hard work. Ixchal pounces his foot, then streaks off to see Miri. Gamis goes through in the opposite direction to fetch Miri's cloak and clothing, which he brings to her in the cave.
#380 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 11:59:06	While Gamis is practicing his chopping technique, Mirielle carefully investigates the tunnel complex, wary of further encounters. She pauses to greet her familiar, praising her for her patience in waiting.
#381 kneyejailb Sep 10, 2004 22:10:18	Miri does not find any other tunnels in her search. Gray Master and Jack enter the cave and the senior paladin looks at the treasure brought up from the pool. "That most certainly did not all come from here." "If any of it did." "There was remarkably little looting." "That coin came from somewhere else. But from where... or why... I have no clue." Jack shows him the snake beasts body. Gray Master shakes his head. "Nor did that."
#382 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 22:19:52	"That's what went through my head, too," Gamis says to Gray. "The Mistress might have brought it. Maybe we'll be able to learn more about her when we get her back to the city. I think we worked out a way to teleport her there, then return. We'll probably sell these while we're in town, too." He pats the claimed weapons.
#383 kneyejailb Sep 10, 2004 22:25:24	Gray Master nods. "That would be the logical place to find out what that thing is." "And once we find that out, figuring out why it was here, and wether there are more of them is the next step."
#384 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 22:29:21	Gamis turns to his fiancé. "Miri, what was it the trog told you before it decided to break the truce?"
#385 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 22:52:53	They called themselves the 'Loexgix,' the 'Dead Claw.' Their Mistress promised them fame, the return of their lands, and vengeance. I didn't find out if it was against other troglodytes, or against people, but whoever it was had driven them from their territory. She prods the snake-lady with her toe. She seemed to have them worshipping her. They thought I'd make a good sacrifice.
#386 kneyejailb Sep 10, 2004 23:01:14	Gray Master snorts. "Trogs would worship a bar of soap if they ever encountered one." "Sounds to me like whatever that creature was just wanted to start a petty dynasty. Those trogs were probably ones we missed last time Gamis." "That thing came along and found them hiding and set itself up." He points at the snake creature. "Might explain why it didn't want them looting things. If they had proper weaons they might have revolted."
#387 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 23:12:48	It might have been satisfied with that for now, Gray Master, but it could easily have decided to expand later on. She frowns. I certainly hope it wasn't hiding eggs, somewhere.
#388 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 23:16:04	"We've looked in here pretty good... But if it's anything like a chicken, I don't know if eggs would be able to hatch in here." "Well, that's one plot brought down. If there is another group of them anywhere nearby, they probably won't have an organizing force like her."
#389 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 23:20:11	Mirielle turns to Gamis, feeling suddenly tired. Let's remember to check if anything has been disturbed when we come back tomorrow. Right now I want a hot bath and a solid meal. This was... a lot of work.
#390 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 23:25:13	Gamis nods. "You're right; it has been. Family's probably wondering where we've been all day. "Jack, do you want one of these swords? Master, would you like to stay at the inn in the village tonight on us?"
#391 kneyejailb Sep 10, 2004 23:26:00	Jack shakes his head at Gamis and grins. "Does it look like a chicken to you?" "Looks more like a snake to me. They usually lay them in damp areas and bury them, or bare them live. This place seems damp to me.." Gray Master nods at Miri's suggestion. "The lady is correct. You've done enough for one day."
#392 kneyejailb Sep 10, 2004 23:29:52	Jack looks at the blades and shrugs. "They look nice, but they're a little bigger then I like. Might as well sell them. Use the money to buy me a few drinks." Gray Master looks at his former squire. "My lodge will suffice for me. Dinner at the inn would be a nice change though."
#393 zombiegleemax Sep 10, 2004 23:34:01	Gamis nods to Jack, and inclines his head to Gray. "Alright. I think we're ready to leave now, then."
#394 kneyejailb Sep 10, 2004 23:45:56	Jack leads the way back to town arriving just a little after sunset. "Any chance I can get an advance on that drink." "We certainly earned one."
#395 zombiegleemax Sep 11, 2004 9:57:01	First round's on me, says Mirielle. I'll be having tea, though. I have a strict policy against drunken spellcasters. But you can go ahead and start while I have that hot bath, and change into clean clothes. She hands two gold pieces to the server in the inn. We'll all four be having dinner. The gentlemen would like something to drink while they wait.
#396 zombiegleemax Sep 11, 2004 15:01:00	Gamis takes mead for his drink and sits with the other two men while Miri goes to bathe. He gets from them a measure of how many families were affected by the trogs, and how badly. The discussion unintentionally draws the attention of some of the other inn patrons, and when pressed for an explanation, the paladin tells those that ask that the trogs that had been hitting farms, and their leader, have been wiped out. That's all it takes for the story to start going all around the inn. "I guess it's like this that word of Hermy gets so far around," the younger paladin says to the older.
#397 kneyejailb Sep 11, 2004 17:54:42	The senior paladin nods. "If that is so, how long do you expect it to be before the trogs become ogres, and the other thing a dragon?" "Things do have away of being exaggerated the further from the source they travel." "Theres not much we can do about that, but what we can do, is to remain humble and not contribute to it." "The more truthful the original tale is, the longer it takes to twist."
#398 zombiegleemax Sep 11, 2004 19:02:16	"Yes, master," Gamis agrees. "It's as simple as this: we found them, put an end to them, and they won't hurt anyone or their property again. "And besides, at the moment I'd rather eat dinner than storytell." He cracks a slight, self-effacing grin.
#399 kneyejailb Sep 11, 2004 19:09:20	"I always prefer food to story telling. "
#400 zombiegleemax Sep 14, 2004 20:12:25	Dry for a topic of conversation now, Gamis drink his mead slowly and waits in silence for the meal to be brought and Miri to return from her bath. (Maybe after the trip to the city tomorrow we'll finally be able to get in some of that relaxation we came here after,)Oo. he thinks. .oO(Do things with the family... Help in the forge a little. It's been quite a while since I did that.)
#401 zombiegleemax Sep 14, 2004 20:22:08	Clean, wearing a nice skirt and some bandages, Mirielle returns to the table. She waves to the server, who smiles and brings over a steaming teapot and a mug. Ah, lovely... There's nothing like a near-death experience to heighten one's appreciation of hot tea... and the dinner I see headed our way! She grins and kisses Gamis on the cheek before sipping from her mug, keeping it out of the way of the platters appearing before them.
#402 kneyejailb Sep 14, 2004 20:28:30	A hot dinner of roasted stag, and tuberrs in a gravy is brought before them. Jaclk immediately digs in with both hands. Gray Master closes his eyes and mouths a silent prayer before taking up his cutlery. "Thanks to the efforts of you three meals like this should be more common for the people of this valley
#403 zombiegleemax Sep 14, 2004 20:36:34	Mirielle smiles at Gray Master. I certainly hope so. And... I hope that no-one will hesitate to send word to us if our assistance is needed in the future! She glances at Gamis. As it happens, I could use your assistance. One of my nieces has become infatuated with the idea of becoming a paladin. Gamis thought you might be able to tell if her vocation is real, and she should be getting some sort of training.
#404 kneyejailb Sep 14, 2004 20:45:51	Gray Master swallows a mouthful of meat, and takes a few seconds to think before responding. "How old is this neice? Even if the path of a paladin is not for her, there are very few people that could not benefit from the training."
#405 zombiegleemax Sep 14, 2004 20:56:30	She's nine. Perhaps you'd be willing to travel back to the city with us? We're having a dinner to formally announce our engagement... She blushes and smiles at Gamis before turning back to Gray Master. She'll be there, and you could meet her.
#406 kneyejailb Sep 14, 2004 22:10:44	Gray Master sets down his knife. "I would be honored." Spitting out a mouth full of spud, Jack adds "Hes not one to turn down dinner." Ignoring the ranger, the paladin continues. "I would be honored to evaluate your neice as well. If her blood contains near as much honor and bravery as yours Lady Mirrielle, then she'll be a paladin of the finest order one day."
#407 zombiegleemax Sep 15, 2004 0:06:11	Gamis pictures Gray meeting Miri's father, wondering what effect the contrasting figures would have on each other. He also can't help but smile at the compliment paid to his fiancé and squeezes her hand briefly. He stares at his plate, which almost seems to have cleaned itself of its own volition. "Looks like the swimming took a lot out of me," he says.
#408 zombiegleemax Sep 15, 2004 0:12:48	Mirielle smiles and blushes at Gray Master's comments. Thank you, sir. She looks over at Gamis and chuckles at his suddenly empty plate. Swimming isn't your favorite activity, is all she says, ladeling more potatoes onto his plate, then reaching for what's left of the platter of venison. She holds it for him to take what he wants, then offers it to Gray Master. Ixchal puts her paws on the edge of the table, chittering from Miri's lap. Yes, Ix, I saved you some.
#409 kneyejailb Sep 15, 2004 0:17:57	"No thank you, I've had plenty." Gray Master waves the offered meat away, Jack reaches for it. "If we really did get rid of the threat, you want need to starve yourself anymore. You can go back to hunting food for yourself." Gray Master shakes his head. "The harvest this year was poor. There will be plenty of families starving stiill."
#410 zombiegleemax Sep 17, 2004 1:08:15	"We might try importing something from the city or down the river... It sounds like it'd be helpful." Gamis scratches the side of his head for a moment as he tries to recall the nearest other community downstream from the Ford, wondering about the feasibility of bringing grain to the village for the winter.
#411 zombiegleemax Sep 22, 2004 11:26:53	Mirielle chats with the men for a while about the potential food shortages in the coming winter, then excuses herself, protesting exhaustion. As she undresses and climbs into bed, she mulls over their recent experiences. .oO(All that swimming... We rarely have to do something like that, but who's to say it wouldn't come up again? Holding my breath like that wasn't easy! That's something to look into...)
#412 zombiegleemax Sep 22, 2004 23:24:52	The couple spend time visiting with Gamis' family and friends over the next few days, and arrange that his parents will come to the city for the engagement party. Gamis and Mirielle then head back to Garic's City, accompanied by Gray Master.