The Sorceror's Staff

[RosevilleCAguy]

Marvak

Marvak was curious as to why the wizard never looked behind him. Ah, well. He had followed as he had been instructed. At this stage, things were rather slow. After all, there is little call for an assassin's services within a friendly encampment, particularly since the wizard's instructions had been explicit regarding the subject of offending their rather long-nosed hosts.


"Master Wizard," he inquired, "How long do you think that we shall cool our heels as guests of of our current hosts?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

He looked back at his one adventurer.

"Well, unless we get some help, you'll be going on a suicide mission. Eat up. We'll just have toi sit tight until I can grab up at least two others, and maybe a goblin or two."

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

Marvak

Marvak was pleased that the wizard had taken note of him. That was about the only thing that pleased him. Despite the assurances that the goblins were friendly, Marvak distrusted them. Smiling faces and tasty food often hid ulterior motives and tasteless death.

The activity in the encampment seemed to be dying down. Marvak still could not shake off his sense of unease. Since he was the one who accupied his skin, he was the one best equipped to asses the risks to it. With the excuse of taking care of an intimate bodily function, he slipped away from the table in order to conduct a quick reconnaisance to the camp environs.

Once away from the festivities, he slipped quietly into the shadows and headed to inspect the perimeter of the camp.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Fledgrin

Saving the world?
Wizards had always been a bit on the dramatic side, but this one seemed at ease as he spoke.
I glanced to the girl, wondering what he thoughts were on this issue. Perhaps I was getting myself into more than I could handle. I thought of the item I held beneath my cloak and realized I was already in at least that far.

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

His lone adventurer departed, and the other two seemed a bit surprised at his question. He shrugged, and got himself a mug of water and plate full of food. He looked around the camp once, then began to eat.

Where was he supposed to find more adventurers, he wondered. He probably wouldn't. AT least the other wizards, what little were left, were coming up with a backup plan, which he hoped would be more successful.

 

[Sweetp4u]

Nadia

The wizard caught me off guard and the words he said were a bit of a shock. Was he serious? Did I laugh or feel fear? From the look on his face it was very serious.
I toyed with my food on my plate, lost in my own thoughts. I had been in the forest awhile, so it is very possible I had no inkling what was going on in the world of man. I avoided it at all costs.
His other men never arrived, so he was in need of aid to stop someone. Well, what more could I do? Tell him to piss off and go back to my forest?
Fledgrin looked a little uneased about the whole thing, but I spoke for myself when I said, "I am in." Taking up a cup of ale, I took a hearty drink and set it back down.
"Fledgrin, you do not have to venture along with me. You make your own choice in the matter." I turned and gazed at the wizard, "I will aid, just fill me in on what we're doing."

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

He started, and coughed, hitting against his chest in order to finish swallowing. He gulped down his food, and looked up, staring at the elf for a moment. "You're....in?"

He clapped his hands together. "Great! Okay, basically- the Emperor of the New Continent got his hand on a item of magic, and he's decided to take over the world. His already killed off most of the wizards. I need adventurers to help me collect other items of magic so the remaining wizards can battle him. But they are protected by spells which set off traps if wizards get to close. So I need some adventurers to collect the items."

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

Marvak

Marvak moved from shadow to shadow as he examined the perimenter of the Goblin encampment. While it was solidly built, it was hardly impenetrable, particularly to one skilled in the art of stealth and disguise.

On the other hand, there appeared to be no ulterior motives on the part of the goblins. The fact that the camp could be penetrated by the forces which opposed the wizard and his quest was something that he should be made aware of.

Marvak slipped back into the central clearing and made the appropriate ajustments to his clothing.

He sat at the table with the wizard and waited until he had finished talking to the others. "Wizard, are all in this encampment known to our hosts or accounted for by them? If not, we may have a problem."

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

He glanced over at his companion, and rolled his eyes.

"The only in this camp besides us and these two are goblins. You can't exactly hide in a goblin encampment. And they've been watching us all since we entered. Besides, I doubt if the Emperor knows what we're up to, or, if he does, I doubt that he cares. You should be more worried about the mosters that live in the areas where the items are kept. They're the real danger."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Fledgrin

Her words were true, but I didn't feel particularly welcome with this group, though that was probably more due to the fact that I carried the item, and the dangers that went along with it were...well, a little more than I wished to deal with.
And all for momeny, I thought. It's always over money...when will I get myself into something of greater importance?
The wizard sat there, not seeming at all to notice me, but representing my last thought just the same.
"i will aid you as well," i responded. "if it please you, wizard."

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorain

He nodded. "Good," he said simply. He looked around a little, and then started eating again. He let them talk amongst themselves and eat, maybe even talk to him if it pleased them. But his mind was elsewhere, planning ahead.

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

Marvak

Marvak studied his companions. The female appeared competant, perhaps a bit rustic, but she was what she appeared to be.

Her companion was different. He appeared ill at ease with her, the wizard, and him. Perhaps it was the unspoken gleam of avarice in his eyes. One mercenary can usually recognize another.

"So, he asked, "where are you from."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Fledgrin

I eyed the man wh'd asked the questin for a moment, then replied, "Far from here. And you?"

 

[Sweetp4u]

Nadia

Stabbing a piece of meat with my dagger, I popped it into my mouth and chewed in bliss. Loved how they prepared roasted meat. Swallowing, I motioned for one of the servers to bring me more water.
"Boys, do stop. Sit and enjoy the meal. heh?" I smiled and went back to eating, Fledgrin still looked a little uneased about something. I eyed him questioningly, what is wrong was clearly in my eyes.
I didn't get an answer, so I let it rest for now. Turning to the wizard I asked, "Where are you heading exactly?" Stabbing another piece of meat with my dagger I thanked the server and dug back into eating.

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

He looked up from his food, swallowing slowly. "The Heart of the Goblin Kingdom. They've got one of the items there, in a small valley. It should be the easiest to get. After that, we've got a short jog South, into the Marsh. There's an old fort down in those swamps where I'm meeting someone to give me a few,....things."

He reached out, and helped himself to some more roast and some fruits from the abundance before them.

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

Marvak

As expected, the other was unwilling to answer his question. Marvak smiled. "It looks like we come from the same place then. I too am from far away. We also journey to the same place." He glanced at the wizard. Judging by the way he was eating, provisions might be difficult to come by wherever they went. Marvak asked "So, wizard Sorian, when do we leave our hosts here?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

He took another bite, then looked at his companion. He watched him for a moment as he chewed, and then the wizard swallowed. He turned his attention back to his plate.

"We have to wait for three things, first, everyone needs to eat their fill, second, we have to wait for our guide to be choosen, and third, well, I guess there are only two reasons."

 

[RosevilleCAguy]

Marvak

Marvak thought the wizard's advice good, although by its tone, he would not be accompanying them. He reached out filled his plate with the fruit that others seemed to eat with impunity.

"Well wizard, the first I can and will do. As for the second, I feel that Nadia is probably the best versed in woodcraft." At least, among those I have no reason to distrust yet, he added as a mental afterthought.

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

He frowned, and looked at his companion. "Who's Nadia?" He wondered who this Nadia person was. Perhaps the elf? It was possible, but how did he know her name, they hadn't been properly introduced yet.

Oh well, he let it drop. He'd probably heard it around the camp. "No, I mean a goblin. Only they can get us passage into their lands during this festival. Even elves are turned away from the gates unless they come to an encampment first and bring a scout with them. It's an odd little tradition, but goblin are odd, if good, people."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Nadia

I heard my name mentioned but not what was said, "Yes?"
I turned to glance at the wizard and the man standing behind him, neither was even looking at me.
Shrugging, I was more than full and ready to rest some. Taking the ale with me, I rose from my seat at the table.
"Good Eve everyone. Let me know when you are ready." I excused myself from the table and made my way over to the camp 'general'.
"Thank you for the warm welcome and sharing of your meal. I must excuse myself and get some much needed rest before I continue on." I smiled warmly and left the scene.
Festives were nice, but I was too worn out to stay up til late hours doing who knows what?
I made my way back to the inn and sat down for one last drink before retiring. This quest the wizard wanted aid on was a mystery to me, perhaps later he would fill me in a little more before I lost my head?

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Fledgrin

I listened as they talked back and forth, wondering if I'd made the right choice in agreeing to the quest. Oh, well. Mostly, I wanted rid of the cursed item I crried, then I would be free to do as I pleased again. Mercenary work cold be a burden more than anything, even when it paid well.
I waited for more information on this journey I'd agreed to.

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

At that moment, one of the goblins stepped close and whispered in the wizard's ear in the elven tongue. The aged wizard nodded, and excused himself from his companions. He went to the head to the camp, and said a few quick words, after getting a nod, he returned to the others.

"You two, eat all you can, get some supplies from the goblins, and mount up. I'm going to get the elf, then we'll be on our way."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Nadia

I turned towards the back when I spotted him coming towards the building.
There goes my idea of sleep. Sighing, I grabbed my things and walked out to meet him.
"I suppose we are leaving right away?" I asked quietly.

 

[The GrandMage]

Sorian

The wizard nodded, looking around a moment.

"Yes. We must leave as soon as we can. The scouts have returned. The trolls plan to attack. If we don't go soon, we'll have to fight our way out."

 

[Sweetp4u]

Nadia

"trolls?" Sighing, I shouldered my bag and nodded, "I am ready. Where is the others?" I fell into stride beside him and moved towards the celebration once more.
Fledgrin said he would accompany us, where ever we were heading.. Favors are on our side for now.
"Ready when you are."