Lady of the Que-Shu, we will not abandon you in your hour of need. But if others know that you traveled to Solace we may not be safe here. We may have endangered your family by coming here Gavin. Goblins and hobgoblins working with the Seekers. This does not bode well. Perhaps we should hide out a few days in the caves around the lake and from there decide where to go.
Saria's eyes well up with tears. As she had expected, this reunion was to be a brief one.
"Eat, please, Lady Goldmoon, everyone. I know not your heartache, Lady Goldmoon, but I know the pain of being away from your beloveds." She casts a glance at both Kallos and Gavin as she brings her hands to her chest. Having been the wife of a mariner for so many years, Saria had grown accustomed to being apart from Kallos, but the pain of saying goodbye never dulled. She hoped Gavin wouldn't be drawn to an occupation as dangerous, yet he found something infinitely worse.
"I will prepare a package of herbal remedies, for your trip. Mother, some tea for our guests please while I gather a few things?"
"I commend you all. Brave, noble, foolish in the best way possible. I wish you all luck." Kallos adds as he reaches out to the adventurers. "I'm proud of you all."
Jakun stands again, "Caitlyn is correct. We could no more allow you to leave alone then we would let each other do so. We have helped you so far and will help you yet longer. Do you seek your beloved or is there somewhere else you are seeking to go?
Goldmoon visibly tense when Jakun confessed to his wizardry, but mastered herself.
"There is nowhere to go. I hoped that by coming to a crossroads I might find news of Riverwind. If not here, I meant to try Haven or Gateway. Perhaps New Ports."
"I am a wizard Goldmoon. I am Jakun Stormhoof. To be sure that staff is magical, may I inspect it to decipher it's qualities? I will not hold it away from you long".
Goldmoon tensed visibly at news of Jakun's calling, but quickly mastered herself.
"Forgive me, my people do not know of such things as your craft. But you have proven your heart's contents and the wisdom of my elders no longer seems so keen," Goldmoon gently handed over the blue crystal staff.
While Jackun examines the staff, Caitlyn discusses plans with the others, "Heading to the caves might make sense. Thinking about it, the sooner we set off the better. We don't want to bring trouble to our host's door. Perhaps we should set off at dawn, or maybe even sooner if there is enough moon light..."
Once Jakun gains a hold of the staff he will detect it more thoroughly and cast Detect Magic.
I would suggest sooner rather than later. We do not know who or when they will be coming to see what has transpired. replies the half-elf.
Once Jakun gains a hold of the staff he will detect it more thoroughly and cast Detect Magic.
The moment Jakun's hand makes contact with the staff, it crackles with blue-white lightning. The discharge burns his fingertips.
Goldmoon gave him a troubled look.
"I'm sorry. It's only done that to those who wanted to steal it before."
While Jackun examines the staff, Caitlyn discusses plans with the others, "Heading to the caves might make sense. Thinking about it, the sooner we set off the better. We don't want to bring trouble to our host's door. Perhaps we should set off at dawn, or maybe even sooner if there is enough moon light..."
"Yes, we should move, but we also need to disguise ourselves and the staff. She's too... Obvious. And so is the staff. Perhaps a small chariot and some stacked branches? And a paint job?"
Jakun releases the staff, "Magical to be sure".
He apprises the staff with Detect Magic anyway.
Interesting. [b] says the half-elf. [B] May I see the staff, Goldmoon? she asks.
Caitlyn found herself tensing, ever since the terrible things she'd witnessed in Wayreth she'd never been able to trust magic. When the staff crackled and burnt Jackun, she hissed through her teeth, "I hope you know what you're doing Jackun, Justin thought he did and he." With a catch in her voice, "You. You wouldn't recognize him anymore. He played with forces that don't respect man or elf, and got burnt horribly for his pleasure. It would have been a kindness if he'd died but he lingers on years later."
"Put that away. Now!" Gavin barks frighteningly, startling his family. His demeanor all too serious and ready to kill.
"A thorough examination can wait until my family is not endangered."
I agree, but as I said I would like to see the Staff. We need to be away from here. And quickly/
Thistle story stares in wonder at the staff, and even yelps a bit when it pretorcts itself from Jakun's touch. Wow! I think it's going to eh safe from walking away! No one's going to try to steal it! If everything did that, then I wouldn't need to protect people's things.
Jakun releases the staff, "Magical to be sure".
He apprises the staff with Detect Magic anyway.
The staff radiates overwhelming conjuration.
Interesting. [b] says the half-elf. [B] May I see the staff, Goldmoon? she asks.
Goldmoon hesitated, but had just started to offer over the staff before Gavin spoke. She withdrew it at his insistence.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Look, I see what you mean, Mariel, but a cart would provide a cover for the staff. It's discretion we want, not speed. Now it's late and finding a cart might prove hard. What other ways can we use to conceal a staff? Goldmoon's look, I can change, but the staff..." adds Tania, lying against the wall with her arms crossed, thinking.
Suppressing a yawn, it was late after all, Caitlyn adds, "A cart taking goods to haven or some of the outlying farms is hardly unusual in of itself. Of course tracks leading to the caves would be, but I suppose we could disguise them or abandon the cart. As for the staff, it will be hard to spot if hidden under a pile of hay or other goods."
Saria retreats to her bedroom and returns with a small bundle of clothing.
"Perhaps you should change into something more in line with the people here, Lady Goldmoon."
Kallos gives the Blue Crystal Staff a good look over as his eyes stray around the room. "Such a strange looking thing, that staff." His eyes keep trailing along the room, comparing the staff to other household objects until his eyes land on Gavin's Greatsword.
"Oh!" an idea hits him.
"Gavin! Your sword! We could use it as a disguise. I've some twine, we could tie the staff up to the backside of your scabbard. Between the sword and a cloak, it should be enough of a disguise to get you out of town."
"He does have a big sword..." reflects Tania, a smile finally creeping up her lips.
OOOH YES! That's a wonderful idea!. Thistletorp giggles and claps his hands. We could also hide it in hay, or some sticks, on the back of a horse and dress up like we're a group of thatchers or something wandering between towns! It could make sense! Or dung merchants! No one EVER questions dung merchants! Or cabbage sellers, even though they really should because cabbages are very suspicious and evil. Cabbages are always up to no good!
I dp not think that we should cover this staff up with dung, Thistlethorp.
Of course not! That would be silly!
Saria retreats to her bedroom and returns with a small bundle of clothing.
"Perhaps you should change into something more in line with the people here, Lady Goldmoon."
Goldmoon took the clothes, "That is wise. Thank you."
"Gavin! Your sword! We could use it as a disguise. I've some twine, we could tie the staff up to the backside of your scabbard. Between the sword and a cloak, it should be enough of a disguise to get you out of town."
Jakun clears his throat and ignores the stinging in his hand, "Here Goldmoon. Borrow my hat and will yourself to appear different. That should be sufficient to get us past any guards, look how well it worked for me. In the meantime I will simply wear a large cloak. The darkness and cloak will be sufficient to hide my features. Once we reach these caves we can decide where to go next.
The staff is interesting. Why it injured me when I have no intention of stealing it is interesting indeed. The magic is conjuration in nature. Not a magic that I practice. I would have thought it would be evocation based on the effect it had on me..."
Jakun places a large cloak on and uses the cowl to cover his horns.
We will still need light to see in the night. I believe I am the only one who can see in the dark. states the half-elf.
Caitlyn chimes in, "That could be a problem Mariel, although Solinari is gibbous tonight so there should be some light if the sky is clear. Still I can think of several downsides to going now, first if we encounter a patrol they will assume the worst, second those not blessed with elvensight will have a hard time of it if we gave to fight."
"So wait until morning and blend with the regular traffic?" offers Tania.
Either way, I do not think that it is prudent to remain here or in any of our loved ones homes. Depending on what takes place they may be found as aiding us and get into serious trouble.
"They don't need to know they're breaking the precious order of Solace..." adds Tania, not sure she likes the idea of heading out in the night.
"So far, only us know they're looking for this staff. We can keep quiet for the night..."
"Or, Goldmoon could hide and Gavin's family would be none the wiser. We can pretend she leaves, only to circle to the back of the house for the night..."
We could leave now, in the dark, and then hide in some barns we find on the way. At daybreak, we could pay a farmer for his cart and horses and take up the ruse then.. Thistletorp looks up from his spot poking into Gavin's bags. He puts a dagger (back) into the bag with a mumbled "and stay there!" He hops onto his chair and state fiddling with some blacksmith's puzzle. My Uncle Brambledown's stories always start as he is leaving a town at night, or the end that way. It's why he can't ever go back to Crystine. He says it makes things more exciting!
** spoiler omitted **
"I think that the hat will disguise our new friend well enough for our exit. We should go this night. We will follow those who can see best at night and my fine feathered friend can warn us of any dangers from above".
Jakun heads to the window and caws for Kossel. When the Raven lands he speaks to it in Kothian, "My friend, fly around the perimeter of this town and tell us where any sentries may lie in wait, hurry!"
Jakun looks to the rest of the room, "He will be back soon and we shall know what route is best to leave by".
The half elf will wait patiently trying to engage the Princess of the Que-Shu in conversation about the staff.
Thats neat! You can talk to birds! How can I talk to birds? You have horns and you can't talk to birds! That's amazing!
Jakun smiles at Thistle, "Yes, I have not had the need to speak with Kossel in your presence before my friend. If you learn the language of my people you can speak with him as well. He refuses to speak common believing it beneath him though he understands it quite well..."
Through his link to Kossel, Jakun keeps his awareness half in the room and half soaring above the town.
Mariel and Goldmoon engage in some light conversation about the staff while the others ready themselves and Jakun's familiar makes his patrol. Goldmoon is friendly enough, but has little to say given all that's happened in the past hour or so. From time to time she looked anxiously at Jakun's hat, resolved not to wear it until she must.
The place in Jakun's mind that was also part of Kossel brought him only the normal sensation of flying at night, marked by occasional flashes of interest in shiny things. Many of those seemed to be the glint of weapons and armor in lantern light. The raven returned after a quarter of an hour and delivered serviceable directions. No route was perfectly safe, but between dozing guards and slow patrols, Jakun thought it likely that a swift, careful group could make it clear of Solace without too much risk.
They had a simple plan, and it was almost time to put it into action, but there was one last thing left to do. Quietly Caitlyn asked Saria, "Mrs Carroway, I had hoped to stay with my folks this evening but it seems events have overtaken that plan. Could you let Ma and Pa know I'm alright? It's been awhile since I've sent word and they worry so. Tell them I love them and I'll be back in a week or two."
After speaking, to Saria she heads towards the door and says, "Time to go."
The half elf will thank the family for their hospitality and then leave with the group
Saria takes Caitlyn's hands in her own and promises her to carry out the favor.
Gavin takes a moment with his family and tells them all that he loves them. When he's ready to depart, he hugs them all one last time before walking out the door.
"I'm sorry for our short return. I'll be back sooner than later!"
It pained him to leave so soon, especially under such circumstances. All he could do was hope that no trouble would come to them due to his hasty decision to bring Goldmoon over.
Staff in place and cloak lifted, Gavin stays vigilant and for once silent. He follows behind Jak and the half elf, ready to act at a moment's notice.
Tania is relieved to leave, sooner than later. She wonders whether her mom will hear of her visit...