DM Barcas - Kingmaker: New Beginnings (Inactive)

Game Master Isaac Duplechain

Taisper sort of crumples and sits back on the ground as Verik comes to. He looks at Jemini with gratitude and smiles at the paladin. "Thanks Jemini. And praise to the Inheritor." He closes his eyes briefly, and seems actually to pray, his lips moving quickly but only a mumbled whisper coming out. He opens his eyes, and looks at the ashen face of his cousin. "So," he says to the others, though he's looking at Verik. "...now that he's back, can we kill 'im for not listening when we told him to quit jogging ahead?" The teen gives a sideways smile, but a look of utter relief is still on his face.

Berrin stands back as Verik gets administerd to but kicks the 'wyrm of him after Taisper finishes it off. Rocking from foot to foot nervously he watches for those brief seconds that pass an eternity as Jemini heals the pudgy priest. Sighing in relief as he opens his eyes he can't help laughing at Taisper's grim joviality. "Yes I do belive we can kill him now."

"Anybody else hurt?" he asks looking about and heading to Nicholay and his mother. "Are you two alright?"

Nicholas Jr. is crying softly at the sight of so much blood, but his mother stoically holds him. "Yes, we're all right. Maybe we should set up camp so that we can give him a chance to rest. Tatzlwyrms are fairly territorial, so there shouldn't be any more nearby."

Verik cracks his eyes open and peers up at Jemini's beautiful anxious face and moist eyes. A million words race through his addled mind; But as inspiration and profoundity threaten to combine upon the tip of his tongue the pain assaults his senses once more, and he croaks, "Ouch, stinking lizard..."

Slumping back to the ground he clasps his holy symbol and sends wave after wave of healing power pouring forth. Once he and everyone else in the vicinity are fully healed he clambers back to his feet looking sheepish.

"Don't worry Nicholas Junior we are all fine now see. And these beasties won't be bothering anyone anymore thanks to my friends here." he says smiling at the boy. Turning to the others he shakes his head.

"I don't know what compelled me to run into that rough ground, you would think a cleric would be wise enough to stay on the beaten path, but apparently not. Foolish of me, I'm lucky you were all here to bale me out - thank you."

"Camp does sound like a good idea. Maybe one of you could even skin these beasts, I would have no objections to lining the cesspit with one particular hide..."

Channel Energy 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 2, 6) = 15

"Well, if nothing else, the females are suitably impressed by the shredding. These tatzwyrms are really something!"

"Oh I see we've already reached the point where we can joke about it have we? No you are quite right I'm sure, thirty seconds ought to suffice." Verik says, though he is smiling faintly.

"But, yes if they had been alive that one would have got my vote, he seemed very ardent."

Clapping Verik on the back as the cleric rejoins the ranks of the living, Zander smiles widely, "Good to have you back, you gave us a scare there for a bit."

Once the party has recovered, Zander eyes the tatzlwyrm corpses, "Well, on the upside, I think we caught our dinner for the night!" Kneeling down to examine the body, he pulls out a dagger and goes about finding where the edible meat can be cut on a tatzlwyrm.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

With rations being so precious in this adventure path, I'm having flashbacks to Metal Gear Solid 3 with the most common question after an encounter being, "So... how does it taste?"

Tandlara breathes a sigh of releif at the sudden turn the battle takes in their favor. We made too many mistakes. We got too comfortable. She admonishes herself and soothes Avansatra with gently hushing words. Checking her pouch she finds that Riddleskin is unhurt but flustered by her failed attempt to dismount her horse.

When her animals are checked over, she wanders closer to the others, but does not quite stand among them, instead she stares hard into their surroundings, keen elven senses bent to the task of keeping watch, so that they do not suffer such a dangerous near miss from happenstance again.

As it turns out, tatzlwyrm meat is quite sharp and surprisingly tangy, with a chewy texture. It is a bit of an acquired taste, but it would probably go over well in Cheliax or Taldor as a foreign delicacy for the pampered aristocracy.

Setting up camp doesn't take much time at all. The fire and food make the late afternoon quite comfortable. Zander examines the tatzlwyrm skins and concludes that they can be tanned and sold at Oleg's if they get back in the next few days. Jemini and Taisper both stick quite close to Verik, figuratively smothering him after his literal smothering.

After she feels suitably satisfied that Verik is doing well and carries no darkness within him from the brush with death, Jemini mingles with the group at large. "I'm sorry for having flung you and little Nicki into such a dangerous situation," she tells Ilyana, " - and that after you specifically warned us about these creatures. I hope the remainder of our trip is less eventful."

'It is lucky for us that you were wise enough to stay safely back, but not run into the countryside. That would have been dangerous. After so much trouble with the other humans in the wilderness is it is nice to meet the acquaintance of a good-spirited on with sense.'

Tandlara chimes in, as she stalks about the edges of the camp, staring into the surroundings, her solid green eyes picking out details otherwise shadowed, she keeps her back to the flames, unlike riddleskin, who eyes the leftover meat while licking at his paws.

Ilyana laughs softly, Nicholas Jr. asleep on her lap. "We always taught him that the wilderness is dangerous, but it will provide for us. He's actually pretty good with a bow for his age. Once he's older, he'll understand better that the tatzlwyrms weren't being cruel or unjust, they were simply acting out their nature. It's us people, the humans and dwarves and elves, that are capable of cruelty contrary to our nature. Everywhere there are people, there is injustice. The bandits didn't take Nicholas because they are slaves to instinct, but because their greed and cruelty outweighed any goodness in their hearts."

Berrin goes around camp making himself usefull, getting the horses tethered he strokes down Bessie, helping Zander skin and cook the tatzylwyrm's. Sitting down by the fire he cleans and whetstones his blades content to listen to the conversations though he casts Verik the ocational acusory glance.

Once camp is set up, Zander spends most of the early evening skinning and dressing the tatzlwyrms. Once the meat is prepared, he brings it in and hands the cooking over to Berrin, who has proven himself a more than capable chef in their travels. Settling in, he chews away at the meat while listening to the women chat away.

When Ilyana mentions the boy's skill with a bow, he perks up a bit, wondering if the lad might be interested in some archery lessons at some point in the future. As he reexamines the newcomers in the light of the campfire, he thinks to himself, 'These seem like good people... They don't seem too bothered by me so far... not that they've paid very much attention to me either... Maybe I can trust them? They seem to be getting along with everyone else well enough at least...'

I haven't deducted any rations for the past few nights as we've been eating game, but I think the venison has run out and we're down to rations and tatzlwyrm. How many days worth of rations do the tatzlwyrms provide?

Satisfied his cousin is fine, and seeing an opportunity, Taisper walks over to where Berrin and Zander sit. "Hey guys. Great work, both of you. That was great fighting. Sure started weird, but man did you finish it strong." The inquisitor sort of beams at the larger warriors. "So, say, I uh, I hope this isn't real awkward, but how did you guys get so big?" He eyes Berrin's biceps in particular. "I mean, Zander's shorter than me, a little, but I'll bet he weighs as much and he has these big arms. And Berrin! Keeper's keys, you're massive! We're almost the same size but you have like 30 pounds on me! How did you guys do it? Exercise? Do you fight a lot? Eat a lot? Mom always said I was gonna be skinny my whole life, but there's gotta be something I can do, right?" He looks hopefully at the more experienced fighters.

Zander looks puzzled at Taisper's question as he looks down at himself. Though his biceps are more toned than the inquisitor's, the difference in their builds isn't too much different. "I don't know Taisper, I guess I just spend a lot of time outdoors? I imagine using my bow all the time has strengthened my arms and one pretty much has to keep in good shape running through the forests all the time. Berrin here is probably more the one you'd want to talk to about buffing up, he's built like an ox!"

My strength is only 1 point above yours after all. I'd never really pictured Zander as being mega-buff, just rather toned. Should he weigh less than 180? I just kind of pulled that number out of the air, heh. I guess I've also always attributed Dexterity to hand-eye coordination and muscle-reflexes than being especially buff?

5'9" and 180, while not massive, is a rather strapping fellow. 6' and 180 (like Taisper) is a BMI in the mid-teens, IIRC, so Zander would be about the size of a small halfback or tailback. (NFL scouting rec for halfbacks is 5'11"/210.)

I don't think you necessarily need to change anything, I've always pictured Taisper as one of those mesomorphic can't-keep-weight-on types, while Zander would be more solid and look more imposing.

LOL I keep adding stuff to this. :-p What I'm doing mechanically is building up to Taisper using his level 4 attribute boost for his STR. (getting ahead of myself maybe, but hey I'm optimistic! XD) So but so he would just know that, regardless of the fact that they're similar in terms of actual strength, Zander looks a lot tougher, and Berrin looks like a linebacker, and he would love to have some of that mass.

'I once knew a man who spent 40 years and his entire fortune on drinking draconic blood yearly to improve his physique. He went bald and died in agony. Turns out there were traces of quicksilver in it.' Tandlara muses, though she keeps her back to the campfire, she speaks loud enough to be heard.

Berrin looks quisicaly at Taispar at his question. "I don't know really, never gave it much thought. I've always been big I suppose, but after my stint with the Red Stripe mercenaries I gained some weight and it just stayed." Berrin shrugs as he continues. "Keeping buisy helps, and sure, I eat well. Swimming, climbing, carrying stuff and swinging a sword. I guess it just got easyer the more I did it. Does that help?"

Taisper blinks. He looks at Tandlara's back, then at Zander and Berrin. "Oh. Uh, thanks, Tandlara! I'll avoid stuff like that. That's...that's pretty grim."

Berrin looks quisicaly at Taispar at his question. "I don't know really, never gave it much thought. I've always been big I suppose, but after my stint with the Red Stripe mercenaries I gained some weight and it just stayed." Berrin shrugs as he continues. "Keeping buisy helps, and sure, I eat well. Swimming, climbing, carrying stuff and swinging a sword. I guess it just got easyer the more I did it. Does that help?"

The inquisitor nods. "Does, actually, yeah. That's kind of what I suspected, I suppose." he jabs a bit more tatzylwyrm meat onto his fork. "Here's to it!" he says, and swallows it down.

"Also, Taisper, you're still quite young. Until about now your body has primarily been busy building itself up; you can expect that to start changing direction from now on - and in the next few years you're naturally likely to gain more bulk on your frame, just" Jemini glances surreptitiously about the camp, "don't overindulge."

Berrin looks at Taisper from head to foot. "I was younger than you are now when I joined the Red Stripe, and bigger too, some are just bigger than others Taisper but I'm sure if you keep exercizing like you do and keep traveling with us you'll gaine some weight. It's tough work, riding, setting up camp, breaking camp, swinging that morningstar. You'll grow, I'm sure." Berrin nods with the last.

"Thanks you guys, I appreciate all the advice. I really do. I just, when I saw those...those fey things back at the snowball fight in the mountain? When I saw them I realized, man I'm not strong enough. I need more power, more strength. So I've been looking for ways to, you know, to get better at things, physically and...um...and in my mind."

"Hei, no problem man. But you know our tactic will be hide and run if we ever see those freaks again right? Unless we have some serious support and gear, I'm not coming anywhere near those things."

'They were fey, and certainly powerful. I would imagine we won't see them again for a long, long time. In many ways we are blessed to have seen them at all. Even should they be a threat, we know the face of the enemy. If that is what they were.'

Remembering the encounter with the fey on the mountain sends a shiver down Zander's spine. "Berrin's right for now, but if we're serious about establishing ourselves in this land we'll have to stand up to big threats like that eventually. For now though, our focus should be preparing ourselves to confront the Stag Lord and put an end to the banditry around here. Whoeever those creatures were, let's just do our best to steer clear of them for as long as we can."

"Not much further then; shall we stay here overnight - or push the last little bit to Oleg's before we tug in for bed?"

"Seeing as we've already made camp, with food in our bellies and Nicholas Jr. sleeping already thers no sence but staying I rekon. But I undestand where your coming from Jemini, I'd like a good bed as well."

Jemini's eyes glaze over for a bit at the thought of a warm soft bed, "I reckon we can take a couple of days off when we get to Oleg's - I wager all this exploration has left us stronger for it and we'll be more able to face what these wilds have to offer when we venture forth again. I think I'm even starting to get a feel for how this weather prediction works."

Verik listens to the conversations quietly his mind adrift as he pictures a golden city briefly glimpsed. A delusion like as not, but really what was my addled brain thinking gold would be a terrible building material. And any fantasy city is less a wonder for me because I could only tend to it rather than shape it...

But maybe it would have been better if the wyrm had killed me? I seem destined to be a burden to my friends. My foolishness, my swollen pride, that got us into trouble, and while the others have torn through our enemies with ease I have seldom even managed to strike a foe... I can imagine all of them immortalized in some bronze civic center piece, but does a dumpy little bureaucrat fit in that image? Maybe I should go back to my ledgers, Abadar was probably just being kind in including me in the vision, I am no hero - that much is plainly obvious.

He stirs the fire head watching the sparks dance as Taisper bemoans his scrawniness. Ha, be careful what you wish for, I would give a great deal to have a build that could not be described as barrel shaped.

He steals an occasion glance at Jemini watching the shadows and the warm light of the fire dancing across her perfect features. The Princess does not marry the clerk Verik. I cannot even blame her when my own purile affections have been hung on beauty, you are a fool amongst fools, and unfair with it. A shallow ardor leaves you defenseless, but look through her eyes and see reality a strident, stocky, prudish, opinionated, ineffectual, day dreamer... Self indulgent, and self pitying to I suppose, ha.

Eventually he rises offering his companions a wan smile, "I'll take first watch if there are no objections."

With that he turns and walks off a ways, absent mindedly casting a light spell onto the head of his morningstar and venturing to the edge of the firelight.

Jemini takes aside Taisper quietly, pointing out Verik she confides to him, "Taisper, I think you should have a word with Verik - I think his brush with death has brought him closer to Abadar than he ever was before; and it's depressing him in some way. I wager you're the one who could understand him best in this situation."

Berrin just shrugs and watches Verik walk off. Cleaning his utensils he puts them away and heads to check on the horses. Making sure their secure and comfortable he gives Bessie a pat. "Thats it old girl. You did good today, I didn't hear single whimper from you as we faced those 'wyrms. Good girl." he mutters as he pats her.

Heading back to camp Berrin gives Reggie a sidelong look, wondering if he should keep trying to teach him to play fetch. Shrugging he sees he has nothing better to do so he clicks his tounge and calls the beast over. Reggie looks up lazily from where he's lying next to Nicholas jr. tilts his head quizically and plops back down. Berrin just shakes his head and heads for his own bunk for the night.

During Last Watch

Irori, thank you for the new opportunities; although I find it hard to make sense of this place. There doesn't seem to be a common thread binding the Stolen Lands - it's just one large mess. This offers many opportunities to test oneself and grow; I'm looking forward to see what the next weeks will reveal.

Morning time? Will we get XP on our return to Olegs! Seeing as we'll be taking some time off!

Jemini smiles broadly at little Nicki as he makes his way out of the feathers. "Hi! Did you sleep well? The sun is promising Sarenrae's blessing onto us today. I'm looking forward to reaching Oleg's. Have you been there before?"

Jemini takes aside Taisper quietly, pointing out Verik she confides to him, "Taisper, I think you should have a word with Verik - I think his brush with death has brought him closer to Abadar than he ever was before; and it's depressing him in some way. I wager you're the one who could understand him best in this situation."

"M-me?" Taisper looks up at Jemini in disbelief. "I...suppose. I mean you're right, of course, about Abadar, but...I don't think I'm really...I mean he's not...hmm. I'll try." The golden-eyed inquisitor stands from where he was speaking with Berrin and Zander and begins walking back to where Verik is settling in for his watch. Part of him really didn't want to go; he still wasn't entirely comfortable around Verik after their verbal dust-up back at Orlivanch's (I've never seen him so fierce, not even with the bandits), and as such wasn't eager to enter into extended dialogue after so traumatic an event, when his emotions were bound to be raw. Also, he kind of regretted leaving the fire where Berrin and Zander and he were just talking. Taisper was the oldest child in his family, so having the two older, hardier, stronger warriors around was a little bit like having a couple big brothers, and he found he liked that. It was nice to be able to get the perspective of "the guys" sometimes.

In his heart, however, Taisper knew Jemini was right. Verik wouldn't know what to do if Jemini came over to him. She was there when he woke up, and I saw the way he looked at her. I've seen enough of my friends get that look when they saw another girl or boy that they fancied to know what it means. Guess I can't say for the rest of the group how he'd react. Maybe if he's still a little sawed-off with me that'll help. Guess we'll find out. He takes out the elemental eyes and rolls them around in his hand, feeling the weight and warmth and odd smoothness of the stones.

Man, now that I think about it, I wonder what it's like to die. Or almost die. Probably shouldn't ask.

"Verik, hey." Taisper gives the cleric a nod. "What's eating you?" Taisper winces at his horrible -- although honestly accidental -- misspeak. "Aw gunsmoke, Verik, that was completely the wrong thing to say. I'm sorry, gosh. But really; is something up? You were pretty far gone, I won't lie. I was even more crazy furious than I was when Tandlara almost returned to the gods back at...ah, back at , you know, that place."

"I'll be honest, buddy; Jemini's pretty worried, I think. About you. It's tough for me to tell with her sometimes when she's worried as a Leader, and when she's worried as a woman. I think with you right now it's a little of both, really. I'm not worried about you as a, well as a whatever-we-are in this group, I'm just worried as family. Like I said you were pretty far gone, and I don't have even the foggiest idea what that's like to go through, what you saw or felt or how much...man, how much that must have hurt."

Taisper takes a deep breath. "M' point is, I guess, that I'm hoping if there's something still bothering you, I can maybe help. Even if all I do is just sit here while you empty your head, I know that can help sometimes. My kid brother, Tarl, he used to get the Horrors something fierce; gave mom fits trying to figure out how to stop it. I won't waste your time with all the crazy remedies she tried -- though sometime, you'll want to hear, it's a pretty funny story -- I'll just tell you that what I figured out helped him most was if I just sat there at the edge of his bed for a bit each night, let him talk himself to sleep, get everything out of his mind that was eating at the edges, take those big-toothed brain-chewers away for him, well, like I said that helped more than anything else mom and dad tried."

"So look, I'll believe you if you say 'nothing's wrong' and you want me to just head back to the fire. But I'll also still be ready when one day you come back around 'no something is wrong', if that happens. So..."

Taisper lets that last bit hang in the air, and waits for a response, continuing to roll the gems around in his hand as he does so.

6 Gozran 4708

The morning comes with a bright sun nestled in blue skies. The open plains stretch out in front of them with the promise of a return to Oleg's in mere hours. The light touch of spring hour promises good weather, a good omen for the Taxfest party they wish to throw. The relief of Verik's recovery flows through the expedition and their guests, with the tatzlwyrm meat cooking on the fire to wake them as breakfast. Tatyana tends to the fire, greeting them with a quiet smile as they awake. Nicholas Jr. stirs a bit as he wakens, then he springs up while shouting at the top of his lungs. "Good morning everybody!!!!!"

With everyone startled, the horses begin to shift and stamp their feet. Reggie begins to whine and yip, barking at the noise. Where there was once quiet, there is now a gentle chaos of a new day full of good omens.

I do want to see Verik's response, just tag it as occurring earlier.

Did we gain another girl? Tatyana?

"Hey hey Nicki! Be a bit quieter just for the moment, Berrin and Zander aren't morning people and can be a bit grumpy if not given a bit of time to attune to the morning... - or you could jump on them and wake them up!"

Pretend that says Ilyana. Whoops.

Tandlara had risen early and performed her rituals. She sent the soul of the captured vole onwards, it would find a perfect freedom in the First World, she had set to see it had no family this morning. It had been on old rodent, unlikely to survive the predators of another summer. She had resigned herself to the fact that she too was a trapper. How spending time with humans make you question things you take for granted. How many hypocrisies do my people perpetrate out of habit?

She is meditating near the edge of the camp when Nicki arises. And her totally green eyes follow the boy around the camp, unblinking and seemingly distant, she seems an island of calm.

Half rising with a start Berrin reaches for his sword at little Nicho's shout, the following barking and the agitatied horses make him roll over and half rise with his swoard in his hands and his hair in his eyes. "huh..? wha..? Wha's goin'..? huh..?" Sweeping his hair out of his eyes he stumbles around as he spins in circles looking for the threat. Finally focusing on the dog and boy he furrows his brow in puzzlement and groans as he turns back to his cot, falling down in a heap.

A few minutes later he stirs and with a sigh sits up. "Who let that child in the house...? An' shut that dog up!" he mutters still half-asleep. Shaking his head he gets up and heads for his pack. Tearing his shirt off he takes his waterskin and pours it over his head, shaking himself awake and pulling his hair back into a braid. Smaking his lips he pulls his shirt back on and heads to the fire to head up some breakfast. "Mornin." he mutters to anyone present as he plods down.

Zander sits up with a start at the child's wake up call and looks around the camp, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He hadn't slept particularly well thanks to the discomfort caused by sleeping in his mask, but it was better than scaring the child and his mother out of their wits...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Stretching, Zander spots Tandlara on the edge of the camp and gives her a wave before throwing off his blankets and standing up to face the day. Scratching at the back of his neck, Zander pulls the map out of his pocket and checks their position against various landmarks he's noted on the folded up piece of parchment. Things were starting to get pretty crowded with all of the exploring the party had been doing. 'It'll be nice to get these scribbles copied onto a more accurate map once we get back to Oleg's...' mused Zander as he looked towards the eastern horizon. 'Shouldn't be much further now...'

Stowing the back map in his pocket, Zander begins packing up his bedroll and getting ready to hit the road.

Jemini nudges Nicholas jr grinning, "See? Uncle Berrin needs a bit of quiet time in the morning before he's ready to face the day."

Nicholas Jr runs over to Berrin. "Can I play with your dog?" Seemingly with the terror of Verik's evisceration forgotten, the child's enthusiasm is infectious. It seems that his sleep was restful to the point of overexcitement. Running over to Reggie, he wraps the thylacine in a hug.

Ilyana smiles, obviously happy to see her son happy. Standing next to Taisper, she says to him, "It's been a while since I've seen him so happy. Thank you, all of you. I have far more hope now. Perhaps I will stay closer to Oleg's, to keep my family safe." Her face darkens. "If you find that anything happened to Nicholas, please bring me word of it and justice. I long for his safe return, but I fear he is too good a man for the bandits to tolerate."

Taisper, fresh from morning Exercises -- which he is still trying to ratchet up, much to his body's consternation -- returns Ilyana's smile. His eyes sort of flash when she utters the word 'justice', and he nods. "Oh, hey, it's just what we do. We're sure glad to help. I just know we'll find your husband and he'll be o-kay, and if there is trouble, well, we'll certainly handle it. I personally guarantee justice will be served." He says this last perhaps just a little too intensely, but is still smiling warmly, his face and voice not really matching up all that well.

Earlier

Verik makes something that might be either a laugh or a sigh, or a little of each and turns to his cousin, "I don't think you will understand Taisper, I don't think self doubt is in your nature... But for me, well I always seem to be letting the rest of you down, sure I can heal a wound here and there, but so can you and Jemini. But when it comes to combat... I fear that I am dead weight...

You, Jemini, Berrin, Zander, and Tandlara, you could be the stuff of legends with a little luck and a lot of effort. I want to be a part of that, I really do. And my heart tells me to strive for it and to kick destiny in the balls and take what I want; but perhaps that is selfish I cannot be a millstone around your necks."

He smiles,

"Then again a big part of me wants to shake me until I stop being a self pitying fool. The problem is I can make arguments for either case, what if I left and you died for the lack of my healing magics?

Its like we are different sides of the same coin Taisper. You know you are right, and I think that can be a weakness as well as a strength. I fear that I am wrong, or weak, or prideful...

He shrugs, "Ah, listen to me rambling. It all matters little, I just have to get stronger is all, and watch where I am running."

Verik wakes up before the dawn as usual feeling surprisingly cheerful, gags at the stench of his own sweat and blood stained form and decides that a shower is definitely in order. After grunting a greeting to all thos awake before the sunrises he shuffles off behind the nearest handy obstruction and bathes in cold created water, running his fingers wonderingly across the dozens of thin silver scars which now criss cross his stomach and chest.

Feeling clean and invigorated he changes into a fresh set of clothes and dons his breastplate trying his best not to clank, before finally settling down to pray.

Dear Abadar,

Nearly got to see you sooner than I would have liked! As you know I've been experiencing some self doubt, but I will continue to...

His prayers end as Nicholas Junior awakens, and he smiles and waves at the lad while thinking evil thoughts. I wonder if a sudden shower of cold water would shut him up?

After their hearty breakfast and watching Nicholas Jr. tire himself out, the expedition sets out towards Oleg's. It is only a few miles, an easy march over the grassy plains of the border between the River Kingdoms and Brevoy. A slight breeze makes the grass sway, a cool reminder that winter is only just barely past. The ride takes only a few quick hours, with the exploration made simple by being able to see for miles in all directions. Seemingly quickly after setting out, Oleg's is in sight. The fort appears to have undergone quick repairs from the fire a few weeks ago, with its walls entirely returned to wholeness. Several tents stand to the east of the main trading post, with a small fence curtailing the movement of the half-dozen horses that mill about. As they approach, they see several men on horseback riding towards them.

As they come within sight, it is Kesten Garess leading three guardsmen. He waves to the group, riding up close. "Hail! It's good to see you return. We were beginning to wonder!" He and the other guards match their speed as Kesten fills them in on what occurred. Speaking mainly to Jemini, he brings them up to speed. "I received word from Houses Garess, Lebeda, and Orlovsky about the Lord Mayor. My House and yours sent several more guardsmen to protect the trading post. We now number nearly two dozen, which made Oleg move us all out to the side of the fort. A messenger from House Orlovsky said to expect their aid in the next few days as well. We have seen several traders come and go. Most of your goods were purchased, which has put Oleg in a much better mood. Two of them are there now, though one is more of a cleric than a trader and seems to have little to do in life other than sit and wax philisophical. Svetlana seems to like him, though, but she likes everybody." By the time he finishes giving the update, they are at the gate of the trading post.

Svetlana rushes out as they are putting their horses away, pulling each of them into a series of quick hugs. "It's so good to see you! I was so worried about you all!" She even hugs Ilyana and Nicholas Jr, greeting them as familiar friends. Oleg comes out behind her and nods at them. He makes eye contact with Verik while making a writing gesture with his hand, obviously intending them to go over the finances of their consignment sales.

A middle-aged, slightly balding man in the robes of a priest of Erastil comes up to them. He offers his hand to them in greeting. "Hello. I've heard quite a bit about you and your quest. I'm Jhod Kavken. Nice to meet all of you."

With all the excitement, several of the guards have wandered into the trading post. Most of them stare uncomfortably intensely at Jemini and Tandlara, though one in particular seems to be eyeing Berrin. The excitement and happiness of the reunion ripples through the assembled group. Even the normally grumpy Oleg seems affected. He ducks into the storeroom for a moment, coming out with several jugs. "All right, don't get used to it, but this round is on me!" The guards all cheer and rush him as he tries to get the mugs of ale out to everyone.

Taisper gladly joins in the celebration, pleased to have new folks to talk to and tell jokes with, especially since he's used up pretty much all the jokes he knows on his companions and doesn't dare start repeating them. Eventually, he works his way over to Jhod Kavken. "Hi Jhod! I'm Taisper, how are ya." Taisper smiles winningly.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

"Say, Jhod, I was wondering if you knew anything about a man who...called up some old gods, or something. Turned himself into a bear by a defiled temple of Erastil out in the woods. We found him and were able to help him, my cousin Verik over there helped send him on to peace. He and Berrin -- that's him over there -- they buried him, after we freed him from a corrupted form he was in. He'd been trapped, there, see. It was pretty crazy! Anyway, that ring any kind of bells for you? You being a priest of Old Deadeye, and all?"