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[cats]

Drec:

IC: "I don't know about that Thor. We can strap our packs to the horse and then travel that much faster, and a bit longer."

OOC: If we do that, and the horse runs away with all the gear, I blame raven for catching the horse.

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

The group continues onwards. The horse won't hold still for any luggage to be fastened on to it (and moreover, has no saddle or saddlebags to render such fastening practical). Fortunately, Ezmi seems able to handle it well enough that it doesn't actually slow the group down...much. It's nearly dark when they arrive at the fork in the road with the inn and guardpost that they passed on the way out. A friendly voice cries out: "Oi! What the bloody hell happened to you lot? Seems as if you've changed a lot in a week."

 

[cats]

Drec:

IC: "True. I found god. Ezmi found a horse. A party member melted. And we traded in our elf friend for a dwarf. Leanna..." Shoot has Leanna changed. Well I supose there should be one stable person in the party. "So how did the bar fight go?"

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

Melda looks shocked. Ignoring your question about the fight for the moment, she gasps: "Melted? What did you run into out there that could melt people? Do I need to call in reinforcements? Was it a dragon?"

 

[cats]

Drec:

IC: "Oh it was nothing that serious. Although you should do something about the spiders in the area. She used some sort of sorcery and the results were unpleasent for her to say the least. If you ask me, thats a good reminder not to tamper into the arcane. Corupting the work of the gods in all that stuff is good for... well that and the ocsional dragon."

 

[Ravenloft]

"Duly noted Thor, I shall do my best to keep the lady out of your way. I must forge a bond with her to do that though, and I would greatly appreciate it if the rest of you not undermind my efforts?" Ezmi explained.

 

[Brains123]

"I shall have no problem with the beast if you keep it to yer self. But dont be expecting me to climb aboard that foul thing."

He follows after the horse as the two continue their conversation. The group finally meets up with the women at the fork and Thor listens to the conversation. Only grunting when his name is said he responds little.

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

If it pleases, we would ask that our fallen companions share go to him.

OOC: Um, cough... Sorry to violate forum rules by contradicting your post Raven, but Melda is the soldier who chatted Ezmi up on the way there, not the woman who hired the group. The gang is still half a day away from the city. Slight confusion ensues... fortunately, the universe bends slightly to accomodate the fact that even though this quest has had various long hiatuses for us and we have forgotten, Ezmi remembers and doesn't blurt out details to the representative of the law. Even if she does seem to have the hots for Ezmi.

IC: Melda shivers and nods. "Aye, that's too bad, but an accident is an accident. I'll have to send a squad to investigate the area, which means another few days of paperwork for the poor sod who's posted here next month." Changing topics, she grins at Drec, "As for that barfight, it was quite the sight to behold. I almost had the whole lot of them calmed down when one daft fool said something about somebody's mother, a troglodyte and a truncheon and all hell broke loose. I haven't had that much fun rounding up brawlers for years." As she speaks, you notice that she still sports a faint black eye and is slightly favouring one arm, as if it were bruised. She nods at Ezmi. "Hello there, girl! Where'd you find the horse?"

 

[Elayne]

Leanna nods to the guardswoman. Drec's succint explanation of their journey was a bit mind boggling, but then, that seemed to be Drec in general.

"I'm eager to continue onwards to the city," Leanna commented. They weren't far now. Soon, they would have the rewards they'd so justly earned from their meandering journey.

 

[Ravenloft]

OOC: Er... Oops?

IC: "Ah Melda, I picked her up on the road back. Never mind that though, it looks like you took a few hits there, perhaps you could use a gentle hand to help sooth the pain?" Ezmi offered with a wink.

 

[cats]

Drec:

IC: "I wouldn't take her up on that offer. Thor there is a tad more gentle."

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

Melda looks the dwarf over appraisingly. "Aye. I can tell that those axes are used extremely softly and considerately." she snorts. "I'd not mind having him at my back in a fight, but I'd rather have Ezmi soothe my bruises."

She grins widely, "How about it, lass? It's almost night and there's enough room for the lot of you in the barracks, even if you don't want to share bunks. I'll escort you to the city in the morning myself."

 

[cats]

Drec:

IC: "That would be mighty kind of you."

OOC: A sharp axe is a gentle axe.

 

[Brains123]

Thor chuckles to himself at the womens comments and his hands almost unknowinly drop to his weapons.

"Theses fine pieces of smith work have saved my hide from many a fight. But I have never known them or me to be soft in anyway. I would have to agree with you that Ezmi would be the one to ease your wounds."

He chuckles again and lets the conversation rap up. As the women speaks of the group staying the night be groans wiith frustration.

"I would rather just finish this journey and be done with it...but then again an escourt would be kind of you."

(I vote to stay and let her escort us...that way we can get back into the town unchecked.)

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

OOC: I think that's two votes for staying. I'll wait a few hours and see if there are any objections and then move the plot along.

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

The barracks, while not precisely spacious, are a definite improvement over sleeping outside, especially given the rain which begins in the middle of the night and continues until morning. Some of the soldiers are friendly to the group while others remain aloof, but no-one objects to sharing dinner with them from a big pot over the hearth. The stew is based mostly on vegetables with some traces of meat and is pleasantly filling. There are only 10 soldiers in a barracks built to hold 30, indicating that the current rule is far more peaceful than the previous one.

In the morning, two soldiers head out towards Adaran to look into the matter of the spiders and Cassandra's untimely death. Melda leaves a grinning Gregor in charge until her replacement arrives and shoulders her pack, walking near the horse. The animal remains a bit jittery, but a night in a warm stable and good feed seem to have convinced it not to completely fear its captor.

 

[cats]

Drec

OOC: Does Ezmi need glue?

IC: The bed was a refreshing change and I was very much at home in a baraks enviornment. But in the mourning all the envionment did was remind me of my now destroyed home town and my dislike of dragons of every sort. I looked forward to the quiet walk back into town.

I packed my things qietly, and put on my bag. "Come on guys, lets get out of here."

 

[Brains123]

Thor slept soundly through the night thankfull for the soft bed. The first one up he munches on the avaliable food and follows after the group when they leave. He tags along always aware of the scenery as they continue on to the town.

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

The scenery as the group moves onwards consists mostly of farmers' fields and the increasing traffic on the road, which has widened since the barracks. Most of the fields are full of ripening grain, the major staple for the city. Ezmi has difficulty preventing her horse from sampling the attractive grain heads, but between her and Melda, manages to keep the grazing to a minimum.

At around midday, the party arrives at the great gates. Many wagons laden with produce wait for inspection in a line outside the gate. Fortunately, there are relatively few pedestrians and Melda is just waved through. The rest of the group is given scant attention, though the guards look faintly surprised to see a horse with no saddle. The horse, in turn, is becoming increasingly difficult to manage in the busy city. At one point, the beast manages to unseat Ezmi, who falls slightly less than gracefully (1 sub dmg). Melda grabs the reins just in time to prevent any serious calamity. One of the gate guards yells at Ezmi to get the beast to a trainer.

 

[Ravenloft]

Ezmi asks those who seem friendly if they would like for her to perform a dance for them. She dances if they do, using it to subtly flirt with Melda.

Dance Performance Roll 17+8 Total:25

During the night's stay Ezmi attempts to sooth Melda's 'pain' with massage.

Heal Roll 13+1 Total:14

In the morning, she makes a point to get up early and go to feed and groom the mare she captured.

Ezmi thanks Melda for catching the mares reins before anything bad happened as she dusts herself off and straightens her dress out.

Red with embarassment over being thrown from the mares back, Ezmi intends to go to the stables once buisness has been taken care of, and see about having her trained. She wants to work as closely with the trainer and the mare as she can.

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

Previously: Ezmi garners favourable reactions to her dance and Melda seems extremely appreciative of the massage.

Now: After checking Ezmi over and finding no serious damage, Melda still agrees with the idea of training the horse. She warns Ezmi that stabling costs can be expensive and training varies in price by the reputation, if not always the skill, of the trainer. "Have you folks got anywhere to stay in the city or are you just planning to use inns for a short time?"

 

[cats]

Drec

IC: I saw ezmi seemed fine and thus remained quiet. The guards question how ever wasn't a leave alone answer. "The three of us have a friend in town. She may or may not let us stay there very long. Other then that we have no plan."

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

Melda nods. "Well, I need to report back to the guards and the barracks in town tend to be pretty full, so I can't give you any direct help, but I know that Captain Argyle has a house in the East district that he's looking to rent out. You can find him at the East district barracks if you like. Otherwise, maybe your other friend will have some advice for you."

 

[cats]

Drec:

IC: "That does sound like a plan. I personaly would not like to be bogged down here long. But thats just my normal patern."

 

[DerelictionOfSanity]

Melda leaves the group as they head towards the old woman's shop. She moves instead in the direction of one of the city's magical jaunting points. She gives Ezmi a chaste peck on the cheek as well as a folded piece of paper. The rest of the party just gets a smile and a jaunty wave.

You make their way to the shop, where the old woman sees you. She rapidly deals with her current customer, who seems equally eager to get away unseen and beckons for you to all come inside.