Listening to the banter between Kali, Bander, and Na'shok, the dark-haired human smiles a little as she watches the ebbing beach. Biting her lower lip, she considers what the hobgoblins might do -- probably send a unit around to the far side. How fast could they get there? she wonders to herself. Faster than us? By the three moons, I hope not. She turns her head to consider the far shore when Thalasi starts to speak.
Opening her mouth, she's about to say something to his comment about being wary 'of those trained in the Art', but closes her mouth again as he continues to prattle on. Turning back to try to keep track of the hobgoblins again, she glances towards where the waning gibbous red moon Lunitari is climbing into the sky, the silver Solinari -- a waning crescent -- still yet to rise, and shakes her head at his pompous lecturing. "Tell me, Thalasi, did you decide to leave Qualinost, or was it strongly suggested to you?" she asks of the receding shore.
i am no Dark elf 8f that is what you are suggesting. he replies.
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Bander looks at the elf, "Did you ah misuse one of these crazy dangerous items? Which honestly I kinda wanna see now. Do you have any?"
No kenderkin. I understand that at my beginning levels of magic there are some items beat left alone. he reaponds.
'Left alone?" Bander looks around like the idea of not utilize these items is preposterous.[b]"
Yes kenderkin, they might harm someone you love.
Bander shrugs, "a whole host of maladies can be fatal that many folk engage in everyday. Bees sting some die, had an aunt slip on the ice and break her noggin, heard of a bloke who was sitting under a tree and the falling fruit killed him. All great reasons to never go out of the house by that reasoning.'
There are some fates worse than death kendeekim
"I would suppose so. But facing the day before you is life. If you turn away . . . are you really living?"
Slam shakes his head but his only verbal response is a quiet prayer and the sounds of Oars hitting the water.
Bander looks to Slam, "So now that we are out for moonlit boat ride on a remarkably beautiful night are you going to tell us what this is about."
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Peregrine only shakes her head slightly at Thalasi's (affronted?) response to her question. "Loved like a kender, I expect," she says -- meaning that you love kender mostly when they're not around. She listens to his warnings to Bander, then turns her head and says, "The kender has a name, Thalasi -- Bander Drunkensquirrel. You might consider using it."
Her gaze turns once more to the shore behind them, looking for signs of pursuit, whether boats in the water or movement heading southwards to the bridge. Hearing Bander's question, she muses, "A blue crystal staff, presumably. Also presumably in Master Slam's hands."
The kender appreciated the way I spoke to him, but as you greeted everyone in the group but me, Peregrine, execpt to show disdain towards me, I do not believe that you are in a position to speak to anyone on how they interaect with other people, even if you do wear the robes of Lunitari, And may I remind you, i do not need a lecture on how to use my magic, I am trusted by the Conclave and the elven white robes, if I was not Par Salian, Master of the Conclave and head of my Order would not have gifted me with the Staff of Magius. You may want to remember the tenets of the Order of High Sorcery. he replies to the red robe.
Bander smiles politely when Peregrine speaks up for him. He looks her way waving off any offense. The resulting clash surprised him.
"Um yeah so the Kender." He points to himself. "Often overlooks being treated like a child. Whether that is in sweet polite titles. Or when one comes your defense when we take no offense." He looks between them both. "But this?" He points between them. "I think you two have issues about the color of your robes or some other enlightened mystical navel gazing reason. But all us are here in part because of some staff that our ogre friend carries. Let's hear it. You two can have your argument over whose robes are better later."
The elf replies to the kenderkin It was not I who gave the kenderkin the name of the children of krynn. and he goes on ignoring what else the kender was saying. Yes, it is time that we hear why an ogre wears the symbol of whom the Solamnics call Kiri-Jolith, known to my people as the Bison of Heaven
At the words "enlightened navel gazing" leave Bander's mouth, Kali lets out a snort of laughter that soon dies as she goes over what he is saying in her head and considers how she has been treating him up until now. He has a point, she decides, but now wasn't the time for an apology. She instead keeps an eye on the shore and listens to the conversation while petting Na'shok.
He looks at the elf, "I know you mean well. It's the being paired with the dismissive delivery . . but that's not just for kenderkin."
Unfortunately, perhaps, Peregrine doesn't see Bander's wave -- he's in the prow, she's in the stern, and they're facing opposite directions. Still, Peregrine's head turns towards where Thalasi sits, then returns to her watch behind them. "I greeted you before I even knew your name, Master Elf, and introduced myself to everyone at the same time everyone else was trading names. Spoke right politely to you until you came on all pompous and arrogant. Haven't lectured you, neither; betwixt the two of us, who's all been going on about how amazing and dangerous magic is, how important they are 'cause they have it? I haven't spoken word one on the topic save to say I can't blow up hobgoblins just now." She shakes her head, giving another glance back at the elf wizard. "I remember the tenets just fine, White Robe. Seems to me you'd best go review them yourself -- and maybe realize that the Staff of Magius isn't a gift, it's a test and a challenge."
There's a pause, then she addresses the far side of the boat. "Sorry 'bout that, Bander -- as you can see, sometimes I have a bit of a problem with my temper; White Robes and elves both have a tendency to get under my skin. And I didn't mean to treat you like a little one. I do that again, you give me a poke and tell me to stop."
Medallions of faith don't come back until after the events at Xak Tsaroth, IIRC.
The elf smiles in the way that Thanduril did at Dain at the gates of Erebor.
If knowledge about the Art is arrogance perhaps you should return your Red Robea and maintain the status of dabbler and hedge wizaes. I am sure many would purchase a love potion or a lucky rabbit's foot from you. Those who pass the Test have the right to be proud. he says the part about the hedge wizard and love potion in a Southern matriarchs bless you little heart. and in a closing dismissive statement Remember we are not in the Tower illusory one.
"Definitely something to keep in mind," Peregrine agrees with (perhaps surprising) equanimity, then shakes her head a little; she otherwise keeps her attention on the beach behind them.
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"So, do wolves bicker like that among themselves," Kali quietly asks Na'shok once the argument between Peri and Thalasi dies down.
"Very well. I will explain my mission, though I ask that you each first swear a vow on all that you hold dear that you will not share it with another without my permission first." Slam stops rowing, but holds fast to the oars, while he waits for the other to agree.
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Once the group agrees, Slam will return to rowing as he tell the following story:
"How I came to be in the service of my lord matters not for this story; all that matters is that I serve him with faith and honor. I have always cleaved to my word once given, regardless of the consequences. I have a simple mantra: An Oath is An Oath. Thus it was that I found myself among helping a group of river barbarians fend off another tribe of the same. I do not normally engage in mercenary work, but I was repaying a debt owed. As the climactic battle waged, suddenly everything froze and a being descended from the heavens, bearing this staff."
Removing the staff from his back, he gingerly unwraps it to reveal: a rather plain-looking quarterstaff; it's clear from his face, however, that he perceives to to be more than it appears.
After carefully rewrapping it, he puts it onto his back again and then picks up his story.
"I knew...I knew this being. It was the Lord of Honor, Kiri-Jolith. He told me that the Gods were beginning to move in the world again, and it had fallen to me to herald their return. He charged me to return the staff to the statue of Mishakul in Xak Tsaroth, there to 'light a fire heard round the world.' So, given a holy mission, I finished the battle and left, and I have been hunted ever since. Someone else knows about my mission, and seeks to stop me, although I know not who or what they are."
Bander with a look of real interest calmly nods at the Ogre's demand. He raises his hand in the manner of an oath, "By the ties that bind one to a mother's love I so bind myself from sharing what you are about to say without your permission." He looks to Slam with wrapt attention. For now.
After Slam shares his story. Bander looks puzzled. He looks up at the Ogre attempting to give him a look in a new light. "Ah okay. Where you hit in the head during the climactic battle?" He shrugs, "The Lords of Light return?"
The elf contemplates the message of the ogre. As he does so he looks up to Solinari for guidance and gives a gasp.
The Hobgoblins are not following you. But they are turning to Toede about what to do.
Bander looks up at the sky wondering what has caused the elf's gasp, "What is it?"
Kalisuel, seeing there was little she could pick out now that they are far from the shore, turns her attention to Slam as he demands their word that they would not speak of this without his permission. She's curious, and she knows something is afoot. She stops petting Na'shok and looks Slam in the eye.
"I promise that I won't tell anyone," she says before listening to his tale. She has to admit that she's just as skeptical as Bander, but he's obviously carrying something important, even if it appears to be just a plain staff.
"Slam, Bander has a point. This is a lot to take in, and it's almost too much like a fairytale. The hobgoblins are obviously after you for some reason, though," she says looking unsure and uncomfortable with what's going on. "So we're just going to go to this Zac Saroth place and do what? wander around looking for a statue? How would we even know we have the right one?"
After completing his story, Slam again focuses on rowing the boat, although he is no longering mumbling prayers to himself.
At Kali's question, Slam says "Faith. Believe that the Gods will show us the way and they shall."
The elf points up The constellations, they are gone. The constellation known as Valiant Warrior, Eli to my people and the constellation known as the Queen of Darkness, Draton QUEEN, are gone. Do you not know what this means? Do you not know what is coming? What has come?
"Faith." is all that Slam says in answer to Thalasi's proclamation.
War. Already the Amcient Elven Hokeland has been run over run. Takhisis has come with her shrieking hosts and E'li has come to fight her. he counters
"He's right its like there are whole sections of the sky just . . . gone. Whoa." Bander sits in stunned quiet. There is a first for everything.
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"So, do wolves bicker like that among themselves," Kali quietly asks Na'shok once the argument between Peri and Thalasi dies down.
Na'shok shrugs, an oddly human expression.
"Yeah, they fight over simple things. Wolves are almost as dumb as men."
When asked for a vow of confidentiality, Maddok only nods vigorously. He lacked the speech to speak his heart.
"Why do the gods speak to Slam?" the minotaur asks after Slam's finished his tale. "Maddok doesn't hear them."
Shaking off the impact of what he has just said the elf replies. WIzards have known the gods are with us. We still draw upon their power
"I do not know why my lord has chosen to speak to me, Master Maddok, I just know that I must obey them."
"Are you sure this won't cause another Calamity," Kali asks. Her eyes fix Slam's. "I do not ask to be rude, but if you are carrying something of great power and were given instructions by some being, then how do we know that they don't mean harm?"
"I can be certain of nothing, although it is my understanding that much mortal hubris was involved in the Calamity; I am hardly a scholar in such matters, however. What I do know is that I have given my word, and I would have the life snatched from my body before I retracted it."
The elf is about to say something but stops himaelf.
Peregrine looks over at Slam as he demands oaths before he'll say anything; she looks appraisingly at him, then nods slightly when it comes around to her. "Peregrine Stoup swears to your terms, ogre -- though I'd really like the knowledge of your actual name sometime soon."
Considering his dramatic tale, she looks up into the sky, south to where Gilean's Tobril now shines in solitary splendour, the primary stars that make up both constellations of Takhisis and Paladine having vanished. "Hm," she says thoughtfully. "That's ... less good than it has been. Or better, depending." She glances over at Thalasi when he speaks of still drawing upon the gods' power -- for wizardry, one would deduce -- and smiles a little. He might; her people's Art uses much older techniques.
"Well," says she once Slam concludes, "that sounds like a right noble thing to do, and a right useful one as well. Xak Tsaroth, huh? I'm not remembering my cities very well just now -- just that I don't think I've heard of that one. Pre-Cataclysm, I'd guess?"
KS: Geography: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Xak Tsaroth is pre-Cataclysm. But your knowledge skill roll wasn't enough to pinpoint it exactly. You suddenly need a map.
Bander listens. He pats his pouches but then he looks resigned. "Xak Tsaroth. I miss my maps. I used to have some. Did you know that some alcohol catches on fire really easy."
Know history
Using my diviner ability
"I do know that," Kali says with a grin. "It was dwarven whiskey and the guy who was drinking it was too busy trying to put the flames out to pay much attention to me. I–" she begins to say before clamping her mouth shut and looking away.
I don't think mentioning being a pickpocket is going to help you with this group, Kali.
The young woman returns to watching the shoreline behind them and petting Na'shok.
"Anyway, do we even know where this place is," she asks in a much more subdued voice.
Know history 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23Using my diviner ability