Kellandra sits and eats, a little more hungry after a long walk in the woods
Thanks to you, it has been a long day.And we hadn't had time to eat at the inn..
The unicorn nods. "You may sleep here until morning."
Nodding, Drakkor replies with a question.
”Will we learn more tonight or tomorrow morning? I know I have questions, and I don’t need to sleep much myself.”
"What are your questions?" the forestmaster asks.
Waving a quick hand at the humans with the unique staff, he asks his first question.
”Why have you brought us here? Is it for the staff?”
The half-elf listens to the response by the Forest Master.
Waving a quick hand at the humans with the unique staff, he asks his first question.
”Why have you brought us here? Is it for the staff?”
"Too point you in the right direction," said the Forestmaster. "The staff needs to be returned to Xak Tsaroth."
The White Robe raises an eyebrow in acknowledgement of the Forest Master's statement.
"As we discussed. But why?"
Ahto sighs in resignation. "It figures," he mutters. "At least we'll have full stomachs and a good night's sleep before we go."
"As we discussed. But why?"
"As forestmaster, I always believed in the Gods of Good," she says. "It's for a test of faith."
Do you know what we can find in Xak Tsaroth? Did someone inform you about the staff and why it must be returned in that place? Do you know anything about the staff itself?
Nodding at Kellandra's questions he elaborates himself, clarifying for the Forestmaster.
"Right now, it is a place as good as any other place to take the staff. However, I think he may know more, but he does not know EXACTLY...do you Forestmaster? Your FAITH in the gods is directing you here? He BELIEVES, which is the basis of any faith, but exactly what he KNOWS...? The question I have is WHY return it to a destroyed city? How is this a test of Faith exactly, as it appears as nothing more than one of survival? Who knows what monsters lurks in such a place now. Will you...CAN you elaborate? Or is this just your best guess? Forgive me: You keep us safe and fed, offer us kindness, and certainly I do not want to sound rude or uncaring of this. However, how can I reason with anyone's Faith if I do not ask simple common sense questions?"
"Faith and common sense don't always align, Drakkor. Because of that, sometimes terrible things are done in the name of faith. But sometimes, you just do them."
Varis comments the sudden question barrage
"Yet, I agree with general sentiment. What can you tell us about the ruins and why the staff needs to go there since it just got out?"
Nodding at Kellandra's questions he elaborates himself, clarifying for the Forestmaster.
"Right now, it is a place as good as any other place to take the staff. However, I think he may know more, but he does not know EXACTLY...do you Forestmaster? Your FAITH in the gods is directing you here? He BELIEVES, which is the basis of any faith, but exactly what he KNOWS...? The question I have is WHY return it to a destroyed city? How is this a test of Faith exactly, as it appears as nothing more than one of survival? Who knows what monsters lurks in such a place now. Will you...CAN you elaborate? Or is this just your best guess? Forgive me: You keep us safe and fed, offer us kindness, and certainly I do not want to sound rude or uncaring of this. However, how can I reason with anyone's Faith if I do not ask simple common sense questions?"
"I don't know exactly," says the Forestmaster. "I'm pretty sure that you will have a fight on your hands."
Riverwind speaks, "A dragon awaits us there."
"Of course there will be," Ahto grumbles, adding another sigh. His tone would make it easy for one mistake him for a surly dwarf if he wasn't sitting there in plain sight.
Frowning, Drakkor shakes his head.
"No one disputes dragons existed, just like we know the gods existed before the Cataclysm, but we know they supposedly left the world when the gods did! Astinus' books have plenty of stories of dragons in them to verify that. If there truly is a dragon at Xak Tsaroth, then that may mean the gods are truly behind this staff business! Its only logical. Whatever agreement...or barrier held them all in check...seems to be weakening, if not gone already somehow. I must confess, I do not look forward to facing a dragon, but if this means it helps to bring the gods back to Krynn...imagine all the suffering that could be removed in the world with divine magics returned!"
Varis dabs his lips with a nearby leaf as if with finest napkin. Incongruous with his warrior features and armor, but somehow seeming natural.
"Facing the dragon? It might want to help! Also, there were dragons of good and dragons of evil, it may want either to bring balance against the dragon armies or to prevent the gods from returning to keep the inbalance. Ours is to protect the former, or face the latter."
He is getting excited.
"We might actually get to do something about The Return, and not just keep the tradition alive!"
Riverwind just nods, but inwardly he's worried.
”Then we just head to the fallen city? See what happens? While I’m glad to have a destination we can all agree on, the variables…are many here. Unless you have any advice for us on how to face a dragon, then maybe we should just finish our meal and get some rest.”
Dragons, the legends say, left at the time of Huma Dragonbane and Magius of the Red Robes. The Cataclysm took place a thousand years after. the wizard corrects the minotaur.
Drakkor smiles and rolls his eyes silently.
"Yes. Regardless, dragons are the singular problem NOW. Not in the past. How do we...fight one? Can they even BE killed? Can they be reasoned with?"
The more informations we get on this dragon, the more prepared to fight it we can be. We will need powerful armors and weapons, and we will need to trust each other, to learn to fight as a team. What do WE know, currently, about dragons?
Logic would dictate that the best way to not get gored by a bull is to avoid the horns. If we can avoid this dragon that is the best case scenarios. From my reading of the legends, only the most powerful of magical weapons could harn a dragon, thus the dragonlances. Dragons, from my study are resistant to all but the most powerful of magics. I do not see a dragonlance available and my magics are just beginning to develop.
"And again...why fight it." Varis sighs
"Tell us what you know. Forest master. Why did you expect us? How? And why do we need to go back
Frowning at the wizard’s analogy, Drakkor continues.
”I have learned to harm supernatural creatures with my bare hands. It’s not impossible to do, but knowing more about dragons in advance could help us more. And wishing for a magical weapon that kills dragons…you might as well wish for an expert dragon slayer.”
The only places that would have information on how to fight dragons would be the Great Library of Palanthus, the Tower of High Sorcery in Wayreth or perhaps the libraries of the White Robes in Qualanost. I do not see that we are able to get to any of these places. he remarks.
Riverwind says, "I don't know how to defeat a dragon."
"If the gods have returned, and they're steering us towards Xak Tsaroth, it's probably because they need soldiers, and we just happen to the first batch of conscripts. And everyone knows, once you've been drafted, your choices are to fight, die, or desert; and with that third one, you're as likely as not to end up dead anyway. So, you form up in ranks on the field with the weapons and armor you're given, and face whatever enemy stands across from you. If our foe is a dragon, and what we have to fight with is what we have, then I guess that's how it's going to be. If there's any luck or divine intervention to be had, hopefully it'll reach us before it's too late."
Ahto shrugs, as if the comment were merely his own private thoughts running through his head, rather than being spoken aloud. He takes a sip of his drink, then resumes eating.
"All fights are the same, you avoid your enemy weapon, be that sword, claw or magic; at the same time, you hit them with your weapon. The details will be different in fights against goblins versus harpies versus giants versus dragons. But, in general, you hit it hard enough while avoiding its teeth and you shall win.
Wise advice from a stablehand I once had: if you want to win, don't lose."
Drakkor frowns at his colleagues assessments.
”I was simply wanting what we don’t really have: more information and some basic answers to que about defeating a dragon. It is said dragonfire can melt stone? I’m not fireproof by any means. Are any of you?”
He leaves that question hanging in silence for a moment.
”I’m not saying I won’t go, but I would be an idiot if I didn’t say I wasn’t at least worried about facing a lost city with a dragon hiding in it somewhere. Fighting it in its territory, and on its terms. We may have to try and sneak in. Do the gods expect us to act like assassins in the night and kill a dragon while it sleeps? Does it even sleep? These are basic questions we are glossing over that will keep me awake and wondering …”
He waves a large hand in front of his face as if wiping away bad air.
”Regardless, we have a destination…chosen by the gods themselves it seems. Who am I to question that? Let’s get some rest. I believe we have a long journey ahead.”
"With the risk of repeating myself, we may not want to fight thin dragon, but to help or be helped. I'm not blind nor stupid, we don't have enough information. But we're not likely to get more so obsessing about the lack of it doesn't help. Your good sleep would help. Keep your faith, Drakkor, such as it is and let's donthis!"
Varis again sighs and heavily stands up. "Long way to go and this armor isn't getting am lighter. Nor we younger."
I hope so. I'm ready for the next morning.
The next morning comes. it's a partly cloudy morning. And there are crepuscular rays through the forest.
Ahto rises early and packs his gear. As he waits for the rest of the group to wake, he spends his time cleaning his armor and weapons. Unsure if their host will provide breakfast, he refrains from eating until it is clear one way or the other.
Drakkor quietly meditates until time to go.
Kellandra plays a ballad on her luthe, trying to soothe her own fears in the music
It sounds beautiful, but she isn't really happy with her performance, knowing she could have done better. if food is served, she eats, if not, she tries to hunt something for breakfast
Varis gets up and sits where they had dinner, expecting the breakfast too. One doesn't travel on empty stomach. But he is impatient, the gods are coming back!
The Centaurs are there, bringing breakfast. Chicken eggs, all nicely over easy; venison, and fresh bread -- all ready to toast.
Drakkor eats a little, but looks anxious to get going.
Once the centaurs have finished setting the table and laying out the breakfast provisions, Ahto holsters and sheaths his weapons, and makes his way over to the table.
"MMmmmm; it smells great. Thanks again for your hospitality," he says to the Forestmaster (if present), and to the centaurs. He nods his head respectfully to all, giving the deeper nod to the Forestmaster (of present).
Assuming no one objects, he takes a seat at the table.
The Forestmaster nods.
Varis takes a hearhty breakfast,thanks their hostile and centauri profusely...and challenges the biggest one on one round of hand wrestling.
Ooc: not sure about english expression, the game where two people try to force the oponent hand down and elbows are fixed on the Table
The White Robe wakes up in the morning and does his daily rituals. He washes himself to the best of his ability and then studies his spellbook. Needing quiet for contemplation as he studies his spells, he will find a quiet place to do so.
If he needs to cast Mage Armor on himself at the beginning of the day he will.
He will eat what food he has or is offered
[ooc] Arm Wrestling contest.
Solinari is in High Sanction, Lunitari is waning, and Nuitari is waxing.