Thave feels the small hand at his thigh give a small push. he breaths in and his hand reaches up for the rusted amulet tied to a thong around his neck, the magic of the amulet flows through his body.
He looks up and takes a step forward. "I am Thave, Thave Arustunson. I will leave these walls, prove the blood of heroes flows in my veins."
For all of his bravado the youth seems hardly fit to venture beyond the walls.
'Where are the brave folk? I know they say that every year, I always hoped to a part of retrieveing the flame, but brave?' There's Thave' Watching as Thave steps out, Sariel Looks first to his pet pig, and then to his mentor. Sir Dramott nods and gestures towards the mayor. Almost on cue, Proudsnout begins to move. Sariel whispers, "Hey wait for me.' and quickly steps out beside the piglet.
Smiling his best smile, he faces the mayor. "I recon Thave shouldn't go alone, so I will go as well." He looks at the crowd, waving, Realizing he forgot something. "Oh, I'm Sariel." He begins to step back and Proudsnout lets out a loud "Oink!" Holding his place his smile widens, gestuing toward the piglet. "And this is Proudsnout, he'll go too!"
”Me too,” Finn says stepping forward keeping and eye on Proudsnout. He whispers, ”Do you you have to bring the pig?”
'Do I have to bring...' Giving Finn a strange look, he puts his finger to his lips, "SSShhhh, he's sensitive, he'll hear you." Noticing that Proudsnout is giving Finn the stinkeye, he nudges the proud piglet, "Pay attention to the Mayor Proudsnout, he's about to speak." Proudsnout looks from Finn to Sariel, Giving a loud He then sits, ignoring both Finn and Sariel and stares at the mayor waiting for the important people to speak.
Thave smiles to see Finn step forward, and claps him on the back. but his eyes are watching the pig with curiosity.
Soon everyone in the town square begin to draw their attention to two individuals that appear to be in a last minute deep conversation. Moltus Vargidan, used to such scrutiny, jabs his apprentice hard in the shoulder.
"oh. OH! Sorry. Very sorry. Ahem. Have no fear! I, Menas Dalaston, will take up the call!" The sorcerer then strikes a heroic pose, fists on his hips, and face upturned in the breeze. This does not inspire confidence in anyone.
'Does he look this worried every year?' His eyes shifting from the Mayor Sariel looks at the crowd, seeing if anyone will step forward, turning back to the mayor as he brgins to speak. 'Brave enough?'Looking to Thave. 'Thave has the blood of hero's running through....Who?' Hearing Sir Drammot speak his name, Sariel turns looking at his instructor and swallows hard, 'Me? Ummm,
The second comment is not even heard by the boy, but the pig has sharper hearing. Standing to his feet, Proudsnout turns and glares at Jimes, but turns back to Sariel and starts head butting the back of the boys calves, forcing him to move forward.
Looking from his mentor to his pet pig, "All right, I'm moving stop being pushy." then turning back to Drammot, "Thank you for your confidence Sir Drammot, I will try not to disappoint." As if in a dream, he moves forward, followed by his pet pig. Accepting the lantern from the Mayor. Looking the mayor in the eye, he gives a weak smile. "I will try to keep everyone safe and return the lit torch to Kassen."
Finn hefts his backpack and makes sure it is as comfortable as possible before setting out. He turns back one last time to wave at the assembled townsfolk.
Accepting the lantern from the Mayor he follows him to the wagon, Proudsnout in tow. Lifting the pack designated for him, he attaches the lantern to it. '"May not return...sacrifice shall not be forsaken." I remember him saying that last year.' Smiling to himself, he looks at Proudsnout and winks. Sorting through the pack, he finds his section of the map. Putting his pack on he holds out his part of the map, showing it to the others.
Nodding to Sir Drammot, "I won't let you down Sir," He Waves to the crowd, then turns to the others and asks "Who would like to lead us out?" Seeing Proudsnout head off down the trail, "Oh, never mind." He then starts to follow his pet pig. "Wait for me, you should probably let me be in front, I have a shield."
The sorcerer takes a few moments to check the contents of his backpack. "Hmm? Tinder? Certainly not for illumination. I can produce light whenever I want. For warmth, I suppose", Menas spoke to himself.
Moltus Vargidan said his goodbye in his distant, not-really-there sort of way. As Menas followed Sariel, the sorcerer noticed his mother and father came from The Ten Toes to see their son off. "Goodbye, Mum. Goodbye, Dad. I'll be back sooner than you think. Love you!"
Thave takes a quick inventory, pulling out the bottle and sliding it into his inner pocket of his road cloak.
"Menas, I am at your service, lead the way." He shoulders the backpack and gets ready to move out.
"Menas, I am at your service, lead the way." He shoulders the backpack and gets ready to move out.
Menas looked completely surprised by Thave's proclaimation. "Ah. Thave. We are in the service of each other if we are to come back in one piece, friend. But the sentiment is appreciated." The sorcerer pulls out his trail map to keep handy. "Come, let's follow the paladin outta town."
'In each others service, I like that.' As they get past the edge of town, Seeing Menas has pulled out a portion of the map, Sariel stops, pulling his out as well. Holding it up asking, looking at Menas "Hey Menas, should we compare map pieces and sort out where we are going?" He then kneels laying his piece of map on the ground, "I think it's like a puzzle and we all have a piece."
After they compare map pieces, Sariel shrugs, "I didn't mean for proudsnout to take off like that, he sort of has a mind of his own. I don't know a lot about the woods and I'm a little nearsighted. If someone else wants to be in the front I would understand."
'In each others service, I like that.' As they get past the edge of town, Seeing Menas has pulled out a portion of the map, Sariel stops, pulling his out as well. Holding it up asking, looking at Menas "Hey Menas, should we compare map pieces and sort out where we are going?" He then kneels laying his piece of map on the ground, "I think it's like a puzzle and we all have a piece."
The sorcerer puts his map next to Sariel's to compare. "I sincerely hope the elders each gave us the same map, in case one of ours got lost, instead of some ridiculous puzzle: compounding our adventuring even more."
After they compare map pieces, Sariel shrugs, "I didn't mean for proudsnout to take off like that, he sort of has a mind of his own. I don't know a lot about the woods and I'm a little nearsighted. If someone else wants to be in the front I would understand."
"Oh. No problem." Menas kneels down to see if the pig wishes to come closer for scratches. "My own experience with familiars is extremely limited, but I've read some familiars can be quite willful and sometimes disobedient to their master's orders."
"As for woodlore, most of my information is academic, as Thave and Finn will tell you. In the past, I pestered both of them for working knowledge of the wilds."
and a piece of the Trail Map that leads from Kassen to the Crypt of the Everflame.
'Familiar? What's a Familiar?' Shrugging, Sariel looks at the two pieces of paper on the ground, then looking toward Thave and Finn, he asks "What do yours look like?"
'Stubborn pig, Menas is just being friendly.' Seeing Proudsnout has stopped ten foot further up the path, Sariel tells, him, "don't be a snob, Proudsnout, Menas is a friend."
Finn puts down his pack and rummages through its contents until he finds the map. He places it next to the others,”Let’s see what we have here.”
When the edge of the forest comes into view, Menas smiles. "Gentlemen, here on the edge of the forest, I feel I must confess a secret. As some of you may know, my sorcerous talents come from the fey. Either due to close proximity or some fey blood down my family line. But when I am in a natural woodland area, my magic ability increases; allowing me access to a small number of additional spells." The sorcerer nods to the halfling warpriest. "Even a small talent for healing, but only once a day."
”That could be useful but let’s hope we don’t need it,” the halfling says pragmatically.
'Fey bloodline, that is quite different. How trusting to share with us. I hope Finn is right, a accident would be terrible' Smiling that Menas is will to share his families secret, turning and nodding with Finn. "Yes we must be careful so no one is injured, it would take away the fun of bringing back the "torch"
Stopping near the edge of the woods. Sariel gestures towards the path. "Proudsnout and I are willing to keep leading, but his sight is better than mine." turning to Thave, he asks, "Thave, I've been told that elvish eyes see better in the shadows, would you like to take point?"
"If Thave would rather not, than I will", Menas answered. "Mr. Vargidan said I had 'twilight eyes'; he observed I was able to see in low-light situations better than others."
The sorcerer looks around his companions. "I'm revealing a great of myself so early in this adventure. It is my hope that you are all as forthcoming with pertinent information as I have been."
"I am happy to take the lead, my eyes are able to pierce the shadows of the forest with ease. If worse comes to worse, I have a statue of an ancient earth goddess, I can invoke it's power for healing as well."
Thave stops to hand Sariel his piece of the map and leads the way.
Smiling at Menas, "No problem, I'm always forthcoming! It's one of the few things I do well!"
Accepting the map Thave, Sariel's smile wide, "Thanks Thave, I will follow you." Motioning from himself to Prousnout. "If you see something we should do better just let know."
Looking down at Proudsnout, "Come on Proudsnout, try not to get underfoot ok?"
”I’ll take the rear”, Finn volunteers as the party moves out.
The forest has always made Menas feel amazing. The sorcerer smiles wide at all the beauty of autumn. He even bend down once more to scratch Proudsnout's shoulder as they walked. "So, fellows, where are we in relation to the map, you figure?"
Finn scratches his head for a moment as he looks over the map, ”Hmm.”
'Not sure, looks like the trail.' Looking over Finn's shoulder, "I'm not sure, but we should be able to keep following the trail right?"
Menas looks over Finn's shoulder as well. "Well, conceivably, since this journey is undertaken every year, there might be a worn trail leading toward the crypt. So that's something to look for."
Thave nervously handles his walking stick, with a snikt he exposes about an inch of blade before closing it again and leading the way down the path.
"Onward."
Not known for his wood craft Finn hikes his pack back up and follows along whistling a whimsical tune.
Thave will move behind a tree and ready his crossbow.
'Ogres, I was not expecting Ogres.' Seeing the great beasts, Sariel shakes his head, hoping to change their minds. "Gentlemen, do you mind if I call you gentlemen? Maybe gentle ogres? We would not be a taste meal. we are on an important mission for our people and will defend ourselves. Wouldn't it be easier to sup from natures domain instead of us sticking in your throats?"
Seeing the beasts continue to advance, Sariel sighs and begins to draw his sword. "Proudsnout, stay towards the back, I don't want them thinking piglet is on the menu as well."
So that is what a ogre looks like.
"Oh boy! Here they come!"
The halfling moves up next to Thrave, squaring his shoulders as he draws his rapier. He puts on a brave facade as he squeaks, ”You pig faced elf lovers will find we’re not easy meat. Why don’t you find a goblin to pick on.” He whispers, ”Let them come to us.”
Realizing the ogres would not let them pass, "Remeber, we were willing to let you leave." Sariel moves towards the left, attacking the one on the end. Lifting the simple longsword, he calls out, "Erastil let my aim be true!" and he slashes at the beast.
Round 1
Menas outstretches his palm and casts a spell.
"Úrċhráíchéán Ḋráóíḋhéáċhḋ!"
An arcane projection that almost looks like a sprite slams into one of the orcs .