"Whot are ye looken fer, in a relashunship?" She asks.
"At this point?" Sandru asks. "Someone nice, that I like, and who likes me seems like a pretty good deal."
Lio looks quite serious. "Have ta 'ave summe goals."
"Well, ain't no one ever gonna accuse ya o' lackin' ambition," Koya remarks.
Lio actually reaches out, and touches his hair very gently.
"My father had the same hair," he comments quietly.
Sandru is affable, friendly, and particularly fond of a good meal and a fine drink. He is especially good friends with Kalimac and Ameiko, and gets on well with Alaric, Melinda, Myriana, Shalelu, Spivey ... practically everyone, really. Even those whom he does not know very well can expect a friendly smile from him at the very least, and he is always open to getting to know someone better.
His respect for Rhost's cooking borders on devotion. He effectively treats Koya as if she were his mother.
He is a regular at the card games, and a devotee of the evening entertainment in all its forms, but especially dance. He is an enthusiastic if untrained volunteer during Myriana's periodic efforts to get everyone dancing.
DATES: Calistril 2 – Calistril 4
LOCATION: The Boreal Expanse
SPECIAL ENCOUNTERS: None
WEATHER: Calm
WIND: Light
DAY/NIGHT CYCLE: Polar Night
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE: -40 degrees Fahrenheit / -40 degrees Celsius
DISTANCE TRAVELED: 48 miles
TOTAL DISTANCE FROM SANDPOINT: 3639 miles
TOTAL TIME SINCE LEAVING SANDPOINT: 149 days
Upon your return to the Caravan, you are greeted warmly by your fellows. They had to fight off the occasional undead monster who happened upon the wagons, but they were never so unfortunate as to be menaced by a massed swarm, and they were able to defeat their opponents with claw, weapon, stealth, and pulses of positive energy. When the clouds above dispersed, they tell you, so did all of the undead, fleeing away towards the south.
Xanderghul was reluctantly cajoled into allowing himself to be treated for frostbite, and is doing well.
* * *
On the first day after your experiences in the Storm Tower, you repair the damage done to the Caravan.
, ,
You are down once again to only 2 units of Repair Materials. It has become extremely clear that, were it not for your skill at scavenging repair materials from cold wastes, the Caravan would be nothing more than a useless pile of broken wreckage by now.
But it is not a pile of wreckage, you have weathered every difficulty thrown against you, and Morale remains high.
Once repairs are done, many of you likely take the opportunity to show the wonders of the Storm Tower to those who have not yet seen it, or otherwise spend time with friends, or in some cases to take advantage of the unusually "pleasant" weather to get further than a 30 feet radius away from your fellows for the first time in weeks.
The next day, you set off on your journey towards the north pole. Although snow drifts from the blizzard are piled high, the pleasant weather somewhat offsets the difficulty of the travel, and you are able to proceed at three-quarters of your top speed.
Using the astrolabe and his knowledge of the geography of the area, Ulf tells you that barring delay, you should reach the pole well before next week is over.
Using the astrolabe and his knowledge of the geography of the area, Ulf tells you that barring delay, you should reach the pole well before next week is over.
Rhost looks delighted by this news. "Give warning?" he asks Ulf. "Day out -- best guess?"
Rhost looks delighted by this news. "Give warning?" he asks Ulf. "Day out -- best guess?"
"Will do," says Ulf.
A short time later, Shalelu enters the wagon. Pausing only to nod a greeting to Myriana and Ameiko, she sits next to Liothonae and wraps her arms around her, if the other elf permits it.
Will:
For all the progress Lio has made over the last few months while traveling with the caravan, she remains terribly fragile emotionally at times. Telling Ulf about her past, about his family, went pretty well, up to the point where she noticed how pale his hair really was. When she saw more of herself in him, than Ausk, that's when everything she told him of life in an Orc encampment replayed itself in her mind. In her memories. But now she didn't have the scars to prove it. She had beautiful things, and warmth, and love, and she became terrified and overwhelmed. Now she had something to lose.Lio doesn't look up. But as Shae wraps her arms around Lio, Lio's sobs change, hot tears, which rapidly cool as they run down her face, escape her ability to repress them. Lio cries in Shae's arms, unable to properly form words for a long time.
"At this point?" Sandru asks. "Someone nice, that I like, and who likes me seems like a pretty good deal."
"It's 'e nice part thot's tricky." Lio says. "Bought, eventually we'll get ta civilizashun again, p'rhaps ye'll faind summaunne 'ere." A pause. "If summaune as unlaikable as me can find love, 'eres no reason for ye naught to." She offers.
"Well, ain't no one ever gonna accuse ya o' lackin' ambition," Koya remarks.
"Goals are good. 'ave ta start somewhere." She smiles. "'sides, ye'll get ta travel e'en moare, ef we go on another epic quest a'er this unnes dunne."
"My father had the same hair," he comments quietly.
"So did my mother." Lio gets quiet for a bit. Her hand lets go of Ulf's hair. She takes a breath, and looking quite fragile, after closing her eyes for a short moment, says, "I ken I need a stiff drink. 'ere's only so much excitement I can handle in a day. And I think I've about reached my limit." She's not angry or upset at Ulf, but she is overwhelmed, and even though she's pretty calm right now, she probably needs a little time, and a lot of booze, to process all this.
Shalelu blinks once, looking at the two women before her as the uncomfortable silence stretches.
"So ..." she says at length. "Milk for the baby! Should we perhaps attempt to get the musk oxen inseminated when we reach Ul-Angorn?"
Lio blinks. And then cannot help but laugh. It's a quiet, soft, surprised sound. Unexpected by Lio, who blushes.
Upon your return to the Caravan, you are greeted warmly by your fellows. They had to fight off the occasional undead monster who happened upon the wagons, but they were never so unfortunate as to be menaced by a massed swarm, and they were able to defeat their opponents with claw, weapon, stealth, and pulses of positive energy. When the clouds above dispersed, they tell you, so did all of the undead, fleeing away towards the south.
* * *
On the first day after your experiences in the Storm Tower, you repair the damage done to the Caravan.
Once repairs are done, many of you likely take the opportunity to show the wonders of the Storm Tower to those who have not yet seen it, or otherwise spend time with friends, or in some cases to take advantage of the unusually "pleasant" weather to get further than a 30 feet radius away from your fellows for the first time in weeks.
After feather-falling to the ground from the roof, Lio gives Shae a very passionate kiss. There's something in her eyes, very much akin to joy. Her eyes also reveal, she really wants to do that again.
Back with the caravan, Lio checks on Jorun first, making sure he's ok.
The next morning, after her rituals with Jorun, Lio seeks out Zaiobe, and once she finds her, offers her hand, so the other woman can speak to her with her telepathy.
After she's talked with Zaiobe, she seeks out Shalelu, Kalimac, Attatoq and Myri. "I really want to go out a bit, maybe hunt? What do ye think?" She asks. "Woudna mind tryen changing ento a wolf." She adds.
Mel smiles at the reassuring comment from Zaiobe but it doesn't erase the worry from her eyes completely. She casts a spell and leans over to kiss Zaiobe.
Then she seems to remember the control panel, "Or he can go up on the elevator.." She says blushing. It's fairly obvious that she is just waiting for them before heading up herself.
"As long as someone gets me up there. I'm not going to miss out on the view."
"Maybe we should bring the whole crew up here for dinner, though. They deserve a look at the view, and I'd like to give Koya the opportunity to leave a found-mark of her own up here."
"I think you've defaced it quite enough for the caravan, but if you're concerned, I could draw some @#*!s around your name or something," Alaric says genially.
"I don't actually know. I always thought it was more about reaching a new destination outside one's own horizon, rather than about being the first for a particular destination." He shrugs, "But either way, I haven't left a mark after all. I doubt anything I have at my disposal will scratch this material. Maybe adamantine would work? Or Stone Shape? In any case, it's a good idea to leave the first mark to Koya."
"The important thing is that no wonder, natural or manmade, should remain unvandalized," Alaric agrees.
Assuming he consents to it, to get Alaric on the roof, Zaiobe picks him up, flies out one of the windows, and around the building a few times, before finally alighting on the rooftop.
Alaric hangs out with Kalimac during the rhino training, mostly to help get the creatures used to his clanking presence. Occasionally he can be seen striking what he probably thinks of as a noble riding pose, which he quickly sheds if anyone notices.
After she's talked with Zaiobe, she seeks out Shalelu, Kalimac, Attatoq and Myri. "I really want to go out a bit, maybe hunt? What do ye think?" She asks. "Woudna mind tryen changing ento a wolf." She adds.
"I'd like that. I haven't been hunting in weeks, what with all the driving and rhino training. Let me get Attatoq and I kitted up and we'll be ready to go."
"The important thing is that no wonder, natural or manmade, should remain unvandalized," Alaric agrees.
Rhost smacks his forehead with his palm as though he suddenly realized something.
"The important thing is that no wonder, natural or manmade, should remain unvandalized," Alaric agrees.Rhost smacks his forehead with his palm as though he suddenly realized something.
Mel, whose eyes had been bright with amusement at Alaric's comment, looks over at Rhost with one eyebrow raised.
His character seems to have broken completely. He's far too happy, and far too in love to even convincingly fake menace. At least for the moment, all he wants to do is bring Mel along with the joy she has given.
Mel, whose eyes had been bright with amusement at Alaric's comment, looks over at Rhost with one eyebrow raised.
Rhost nods knowingly.
Rhost nods knowingly.
Mel turns a few shades green, "Not the same thing."
Alaric hangs out with Kalimac during the rhino training, mostly to help get the creatures used to his clanking presence. Occasionally he can be seen striking what he probably thinks of as a noble riding pose, which he quickly sheds if anyone notices.
Kalimac thoroughly approves of this, and ropes Alaric into giving the rhinos treats every now and then to get them to equate Alaric's presence with positive things.
Close she slides her body against his, sucking on her lower lip for a moment as the movement sends lightning quick sensations through her body, to kiss him. Into his lips, "Good surprise?"
Mel turns a few shades green, "Not the same thing."
Rhost shrugs. "Is," he says.
Rhost assists Kalimac, occasionally asking basic "why" questions.
Kalimac thoroughly approves of this, and ropes Alaric into giving the rhinos treats every now and then to get them to equate Alaric's presence with positive things.
Alaric gamely participates. If Attatoq is around, the uncleric makes a concerted effort to be friendly and at ease, though it's plainly obvious he finds the wolf to be terrifying.
Kalimac thoroughly approves of this, and ropes Alaric into giving the rhinos treats every now and then to get them to equate Alaric's presence with positive things.Alaric gamely participates. If Attatoq is around, the uncleric makes a concerted effort to be friendly and at ease, though it's plainly obvious he finds the wolf to be terrifying.
Kalimac briefly toys with the idea of having Attatoq give Alaric treats, but decides in the end that Alaric is an adult and can overcome his fears in his own way.
Lio doesn't look up. But as Shae wraps her arms around Lio, Lio's sobs change, hot tears, which rapidly cool as they run down her face, escape her ability to repress them. Lio cries in Shae's arms, unable to properly form words for a long time.
Shalelu simply holds Liothonae, letting her cry, waiting until she is ready to talk, if she even wants to talk at all.
Lio is happy to assist Kalimac, or even just to watch. She can contribute a few spells to speak to the rhinos. She probably stands near Myri while these shinanigans are going on... if Myri is present.
"It's 'e nice part thot's tricky." Lio says. "Bought, eventually we'll get ta civilizashun again, p'rhaps ye'll faind summaunne 'ere." A pause. "If summaune as unlaikable as me can find love, 'eres no reason for ye naught to." She offers.
Sandru nods. "It's a fact that there's no one so horrible that there isn't someone out there for them."
"Goals are good. 'ave ta start somewhere." She smiles. "'sides, ye'll get ta travel e'en moare, ef we go on another epic quest a'er this unnes dunne."
Koya grunts. "Not sure how many epic quests I got left in me. Remember, in elf years, I'm well over three hunnerd."
"So did my mother." Lio gets quiet for a bit. Her hand lets go of Ulf's hair. She takes a breath, and looking quite fragile, after closing her eyes for a short moment, says, "I ken I need a stiff drink. 'ere's only so much excitement I can handle in a day. And I think I've about reached my limit." She's not angry or upset at Ulf, but she is overwhelmed, and even though she's pretty calm right now, she probably needs a little time, and a lot of booze, to process all this.
Ulf nods. "I'll buy you another one, to toast with, when we reach Ul-Angorn." With a final look at you, he gets up, and leaves you to your processing.
"Um, you got a moment?" he asks.
Back with the caravan, Lio checks on Jorun first, making sure he's ok.
"Wouldn't mind seeing the roof," he allows.
The next morning, after her rituals with Jorun, Lio seeks out Zaiobe, and once she finds her, offers her hand, so the other woman can speak to her with her telepathy.
After she's talked with Zaiobe, she seeks out Shalelu, Kalimac, Attatoq and Myri. "I really want to go out a bit, maybe hunt? What do ye think?" She asks. "Woudna mind tryen changing ento a wolf." She adds.
"I'd like that. I haven't been hunting in weeks, what with all the driving and rhino training. Let me get Attatoq and I kitted up and we'll be ready to go."
"Yes," Shalelu replies.
As Kalimac trains Rags to be ridden, part of the training will involve getting him used to having a saddle on. As well as a rider. Kalimac will fit Rags up with one of the saddles he had made in Iqaliat and has Alaric sit in it (preferably in full armor). This is good practice for Alaric, too, since the way a rhino walks and runs is different than a horse. This way Alaric can get used to the undulations of a rhino's stride.
Sometime late in the 17th week on the Path, Ulf finds you.
"Um, you got a moment?" he asks.
Mel blinks twice, her eyes clearing from what looks like a debate in her own head, "Of course." With a friendly smile, "How can I help?"
Mel blinks twice, her eyes clearing from what looks like a debate in her own head, "Of course." With a friendly smile, "How can I help?"
"Well," he says. "Um ... apparently, we're, uh ... second cousins. I mean, don't worry, I'm not asking to get yearly Crystalhue cards or anything, just thought maybe you'd like to know."
As Kalimac trains Rags to be ridden, part of the training will involve getting him used to having a saddle on. As well as a rider. Kalimac will fit Rags up with one of the saddles he had made in Iqaliat and has Alaric sit in it (preferably in full armor). This is good practice for Alaric, too, since the way a rhino walks and runs is different than a horse. This way Alaric can get used to the undulations of a rhino's stride.
Alaric not a good rider: no natural talent combines with his complete unfamiliarity with any animal larger than a loaf of bread. Still, he does the best he can and actually is attempting to get better. Hopefully bone-jarring thuds are the best teacher.
"Well," he says. "Um ... apparently, we're, uh ... second cousins. I mean, don't worry, I'm not asking to get yearly Crystalhue cards or anything, just thought maybe you'd like to know."
Her green eyes search over his face, "On the chelixan side or the belkzan side?" Voice warm, curious.
As Kalimac trains Rags to be ridden, part of the training will involve getting him used to having a saddle on. As well as a rider. Kalimac will fit Rags up with one of the saddles he had made in Iqaliat and has Alaric sit in it (preferably in full armor). This is good practice for Alaric, too, since the way a rhino walks and runs is different than a horse. This way Alaric can get used to the undulations of a rhino's stride.
Alaric not a good rider: no natural talent combines with his complete unfamiliarity with any animal larger than a loaf of bread. Still, he does the best he can and actually is attempting to get better. Hopefully bone-jarring thuds are the best teacher.
After one particularly hard landing, Kalimac remarks, "You know, I specifically got a military saddle to keep you seated." He shakes his head. "Well, if we can get you stable, you're going to be one formidable front line warrior. Visually, at least. Maybe the sight of you in full armor atop Rags here will get some foes to consider talking rather than fighting."
"The Belkzan side," he replies. "No Chelish relatives that I know about."
Mel thinks about for a brief moment, "That is probably fortunate for you, the Chelish side seems to be really insane." A pause as she looks at him for a moment, "How far back?"
The blush goes deeper, "I want..." And for a brief second, the entirety of what she wants is in her eyes: a lifetime, to be taken, possessed, to be cherished, to be his. "I want to make you feel as good as you make me feel." A pause, and much more quietly, barely heard above the rasp in her voice, "And in this moment I want you to pin me against the wall and take me." The blush traveling down her body as the words leave her mouth and her left leg lifts to wrap around his waist.
Rhost struggles to throw off the effects of the undead's glancing blow in the Storm Tower.
"All of it," Reta says firmly, punching her newly worn armor to make sure fists cannot get through. "Reta didn't do none of it, and you can't prove Reta did, Reta am not was even there, Reta am sure of this, Reta am was there and not see Reta there at all."
Myri merely chuckles. "I do like you, Reta, and I like the way you think." She smiles at the others in the wagon and ducks her head slightly. "Thank you for allowing me to spend a few moments with you, but I think maybe I'm going to take a walk now." she says as she turns to leave.
Myriana drops down onto the snow. She massages her temples before setting off North, then taking a wide circuit around the camp. She of course makes sure to avoid it's defenses.
Sandru:
Alaric hangs out with Kalimac during the rhino training, mostly to help get the creatures used to his clanking presence. Occasionally he can be seen striking what he probably thinks of as a noble riding pose, which he quickly sheds if anyone notices.
Perception to notice:
and if she notices, to not be seen noticing (stealth?):and if seen, to pretend not to have noticed anything (bluff):
After she's talked with Zaiobe, she seeks out Shalelu, Kalimac, Attatoq and Myri. "I really want to go out a bit, maybe hunt? What do ye think?" She asks. "Woudna mind tryen changing ento a wolf." She adds."I'd like that. I haven't been hunting in weeks, what with all the driving and rhino training. Let me get Attatoq and I kitted up and we'll be ready to go."
"I would like that." Myriana says. "If I can keep up that is" she adds a little dubiously.