Gabe3e

I can hardly bear to write. Last night, after the boys were sleeping, I told him, Zonas, what I knew of our recent dealings… the Lord Ordoth instead of Lord Olin, the mysterious cruel mistress up north in the keep, the slaves, the Banites, the Amnian, his own tracker who was in league with the Amnian somehow… I’m afraid I made a right ass of myself, I was so distressed, and he took it all as begging for my companions’ freedom. In truth, I was hoping to move him somewhat, but it was not my first motive… I wanted to cut through the mess. He did not answer with meaningful words, but I took much meaning in his demeanor. I judged him true-hearted, trustworthy… When I closed my eyes for the night, my heart was full of hope… And now here I am — here we are, for James and William are with me… Followers, all, with no leaders. They have gone this morning and I know not what to do but crawl back to Grimclaw and marry that idiot blacksmith.

Today has been the strangest day, yet, I think. Without looking, we have found Zonas and the little woodland creature Jaran saw a few nights past, and the man who stole Delen’s horse… And we are again with Jacob and dear William… though I am imprecise, for I am travelling with them; G’Kar, Jaran and Kalcryx are the prisoners of Zonas.

Ach, this makes no sense at all…

With Connor, this morning, we set out from Weatherford for Mosstone. I know not what we planned to do there, only that Jaran has a promise to keep to Mystra, and that there are not at present more pressing quests. We had not ridden far at all when the little imp… faerie — I know not what, but it was exactly as Jaran had carved it — emerged from the woods in a panic, exclaiming something about orcs. So we rode in the direction it indicated and found an elfish looking woman under seige by orcs. This was not too surprising, for Connor did mention there were very many orcs about of late.

My companions wasted no time in coming to her aid, but before the orcs could thoroughly be dispatched, a third party appeared, a man wearing no marks of allegiance, two who wore the mark of Mystra, and our friend the thieving tracker from days and days ago. They also wasted no time in entering the fray, proclaiming that my companions were under arrest! There was much confusion, and I am uncertain as to what happened, but Jaran gave herself up, Kalcryx promised to give himself up as soon as the orcs or whatever it was he was against were dealt with, and G’Kar, of course, had to be bludgeoned into submission. And then I found out that the one man — a dark-haired fellow, fair skinned with light eyes — was Zonas.

My hands are trembling as I write this… it is too strange… We argued a bit. He would send us — James and William and me (and Connor too, and the elfish woman of course) — away while he brought my companions to justice, but I convinced him to give us leave to camp with them, at least for one night.

My companions were searched and stripped and bound mercilessly, quite creatively, in truth — I would not have thought to be so thorough as to bind each individual digit against movement. And then they were blind-folded and gagged and presumably left to be for the night. And then Zonas came to me with a glass orb and ordered me to show him our boys… Rather, his boys now. It was not much longer but that I found myself in Grimclaw again, leading him up the stairs to my old room to collect the boys… And now again we are at camp.

It seems like a dream, it is so odd. I wonder, when the sun rises tomorrow, will it be a pleasant fancy or a nightmare?

7 - 8 Uktar, 1357DR
[Game of July 19th, 2003]

Long Summary

*7 Uktar* night

As night passes, the bound and gagged G’Kar, Kalcryx, and Jaran are also
blind-folded. After an hour into the first watch, G’Kar regains conciousness.
The paladin takes the first watch, the cleric takes the second.

G’Kar wakes up in the middle of the night to find someone whispering near him,
and fondling him. He stiffens with fear and outrage, but relaxes slightly when
he realizes he is being healed, presumably by the cleric.

The ranger takes the third watch.

Flanna wakes up through some of the watch changes. The dawn watch is manned by
Zonas. Flanna, feeling kinda shitty but well-rested, gets up and starts to go about
her morning business, studying spells and writing in her journal. As she does so,
she hears the mage declare “She is not a threat.”

Kalcryx wakes up and starts to move around, attempting to get his guards’ attention
so that he might be freed enough to pray. He is ignored, and resigns himself to
making do without the full ceremony.

After his watch, Flanna notices Zonas lay down a small rug, and pull out six or
seven books. He spends nearly an hour mumbling to himself while leafing through the
pages.

–//–

Somewhere in the woods, within a mile, Lyta and Connor camp for the night. Lyta
sends her spider familiar out to reconnoiter…

*8 Uktar*

Dawn comes, and Connor wakes up. He hears noises in the woods around them, and
wakes Lyta, covering her mouth with one hand, and telling her in their common
tongue of the noise.

Lyta checks in with the spider… She has a cricket in her mouth. She reports
that the two-leggers have not yet left their nest.

Connor sneaks out into the woods, seeking out the makers of the noise. Out of
nowhere, he is faced with a large, muscular elven figure, tawny skinned, and
paint-faced.

He speaks in the language of the Suldusk (?), “Sorry if we have made too much noise.
We tried to be quiet, to make sure there were no others.”

Connor tries to explain his situation, but he is interrupted. “We require your
help, half-human. We came to you because we smelled the Suldusk in you.” He
explains that they are tracking a party of dangerous killers.

“They have committed a great crime against us. They murdered two of our warriors.”
Connor sees around him six more elven warriors and two Voadkwin, elven-like giants
nine feet in height.

The elf continues to explain the story of the surviving druid, saying that he
remembered nothing of how he got there, but that he awakened from his confusion to
find his companions bludgeoned to death. He did not know how he had come to be in
this glade, remembering only that he had travelled with a female.

The elf goes on to describe the attackers: one was elven-like, but tall and
bronze, one was a drow, there was a human girl with red hair and blue eyes, a
human boy with red hair and green eyes, they may have been related, and there
was a dwarf.

“May we camp with you and explain the situation to your mate?”

“Uh…” [giggles all around] Connor smiles politely and explains that she is not his
mate, yet. ;) Connor asks for a moment to confer with his ‘mate’.

In Lyta’s estimation, though she knows nothing of them, the party did not seem
to her like cold-blooded murderers, except, perhaps, the dwarf. [Shuka: The
dwarf’s got some anger-management issues…]. Decide that there is more to the
story, and it should be fully investigated before any act of revenge is taken
upon the party. “If we slay them outright, we would be no better than those we
are accusing.” Lyta surmises.

Connor and Lyta march out to meet the elven party.

“We have met the people you seek,” Lyta says.

“And who are you?”

“I am Lyta, of the Suldusk Magii…” nods of greeting all around. Lyta explains how
a group matching this description came to her aid while she was being attacked by
orcs, without seeking any reward or hoping for any gain that she could see. “I am
not convinced that these noble actions could be done by cold-blooded murderers.”

“It is often the case with these types, they attack the weak, like vultures.”

Connor steps in to explain that he had been travelling with that party, telling of
the slave caravan. He recounted how he met the party in Weatherford, that they
agreed to go on an errand of mercy to free the slaves, and tells of the battle for
their liberation, and how they were cared for afterward. “It definitely seems that
there is more to this story.”

The elves think a bit, and the leader asks, “What is it you propose?” Uhhhh… bork
bork bork! Seemingly noble creatures have captured seemingly noble creatures…
quite a puzzle.

“Will you at least help us seek revenge against the dwarf and the human mage?” the
elf asks.

Connor and Lyta promise that they will seek out information, and if it is true that
any of the party is guilty of the crimes charged, they will aid in the vengeance.

Connor proposes that he will assist them in tracking, so long as they hold action
until the truth of the situation is determined.

“A moment to confer, if you will.” The elves back off a ways and talk quietly
amongst themselves. A few words ride the wind, to Connor’s ears… they seem upset
at the prospect of submitting to the command of a half-human. After a few moments,
they return.

“Very well. But if the opportunity for arrows to fly in a vengeance arises, we
will let the arrows fly.”

“Don’t you want to know why your druid has no more memory? What if there is more
responsible for the death of your two men?” Connor asks.

“Then we shall leave one alive.” Much bickering. The elf finally agrees, “We will
not attack at first, but if there is too much talking, we will attack. The fires
of vengeance have burned too long in our hearts.”

The elves and half-elves confer and formulate a plan.

–//–

In the morning, Flanna and the helmlings are told to leave.

Flanna is confused… “I thought we agreed that I would travel with you and care
for the boys…”

“We had an agreement that you would leave at daybreak that precedes this agreement.”

Flanna talks to William and Jacob, asking if they want her to come with him.
William is amenable, but Jacob is still angry with her. “You threatened me with a
sword, and I am not angry with you,” she says, sweetly, but he does not soften.
Punk. =)

“You should save your supplies and travel-time and simply leave now. We feel no
great need to escort you through this forest.” Zonas tells her.

Flanna is asked if she has gathered her stuff… she gets away with quite a
bit… but not Jaran’s bag of holding, including one ring…

“There is a ring that is not mine, but is not theirs, either. It was loaned to
them by a very powerful mage who will want it back…”
“Fine.”

“But I do not know which one it is…”
“Fine!”

“So I will take them all?”
(not fine =) )
Zonas shows rings to Jaran and tells her to point out which is the one
Flanna is talking about. Jaran points to the ring of wizardry. =) It is
given to Flanna.

Helmling’s are allowed two of the war-horses, and Flanna is asked if she
requires a horse.

“It would make my travels easier.” She is told to ride with the helmlings, she
protests on the grounds that “I am still a maiden and I have not been so close
to men.” She’s told she’ll survive.

—//—

The spider says: the two leggers are abandoning the nest
“Which way are they going?”

“They follow the rising sun.” The spider reports that two crunchy ones and a
small one stayed in the nest.

“You have done well, I shall meet with you soon. Enjoy your crunchy cricket,”
Lyta tells the spider.

Flanna gives the Lifebringer to Helmling James Mixalot. He takes it, and soon
he is engaged in conversation with himself.

“No, I am not Kalcryx of Helm. Yes, I am aware of that. I will do my best.
Thank you. I understand…”

Flanna and the helmlings chill for a bit, baffled and aimless.

—//—

Lyta, Connor and the Suldusk approach the campsite.

Connor disappears into the woods with them, but he is loud and crunches many
leaves. “Be quiet!” the elves hiss. Connor continues to obnoxiously crunches
leaves all the way to the camp.

Even the human ears can hear the ruckus among the woods.
James turns around and pulls the lifebringer. “We have company.”

Connor and Lyta enter the campsite. Seeing that it is a familiar face, James stands
down. “Good of you to join us, we knew you would not go far.” Connor explains
his companions.

Lyta convinces the leader of the Suldusk to step out from cover.
Connor asks Flanna to explain what happened that day. Lots of
translation…

[Marianne’s Version]

She’s 15, certainly she’s no match for you.
wild elf 1 to flanna: [elven] “So we meet again, human murderer.”

Connor to flanna: This is a friend of one of the elves you encountered. Please, tell us what happened.
Flanna, looking confused, “What?
elf 1 in elven to connor: I have seen this one before. Her elven is very poor. You should know that a few days ago was not the first time they have killed our people before. They left me nearly weaponless.

Connor asks flanna to explain what happened. Where were you when you killed elves?
Flanna: “…and I *tried to save them but g’kar thought I Was endangered. There were *5* of them!” Crying in terror of the memories.
elf 1: She took shelter behind her beast, making herself tiny and weak, much like her dwarven companion
Lyta, quasi translating: HE says you were very smart to have hidden in battle…
Connor tells the elf that they may have been charmed.
elf 1: That’s not possible. We elves are resistant to such magic. We are not weak of spirit.
Flanna sighs. “They fought side by side with humans. PEasants. They clothed them in forest garb. If they were not themselves charmed, then they were in league with these humans, and this fox woman.”
elf: A vixen?
Flanna describes the fox woman.
elf: I know of this one.
Connor: What do you know of her?
elf: “Perhaps what she says is correct.” The elf sheathes her weapon. “But you will tell her she is wrong. Suldusk do not fall under such enchantments. But you may tell her she will be saved for pity.
flanna falls to her knees in praise. “Oh thank you!”
connor: What do you know of this woman?
elf: She is a temptress. She controls others almost like you humans keep cats for entertainment.
connor: Does she live around here?
elf: She travels from parts of the forest. She is a collector of sorts.
connor: What do you plan to do then?
elf: What is your command? We have agreed that we would follow you until such a time as we could no longer hold back our arrows.
Connor asks Flanna where the rest were being led.
FlannA: I was not told how far it was. We were told of another keep to the northeast, held by the Amnites and Lord Ordoth. So, perhaps a day and a half. I’m uncertain.
Connor proposed tracking the group towards the keep.
Lyta: “Do you have horses? They will gain considerable lead as we are on foot.”
Connor: “They have bound prisoners, they will be slowed quite a bit.”
Lyta: “We must stay close behind though. We must not lose track.”
elf [always in elven]: You can talk to them, and get them to release the prisoners to us.
connor: That will not happen. They have already tried to explain themselves to the humans already
lyta: There was no human mage with them…
elf: Perhaps he was invisible.
connor: They are formidable foes. Attacking the Paladin and those with him
elf: Then we will die for the honor of the Suldusk. Will you die with us?
Connor: I don’t believe in your cause. You do not have all the facts.
elf: Of course not. A half human would not be of adequate blood to hold such honor.
Flanna explains what happened to Delen, the human mage. Connor explains the situation with the elves. [vengence, blah blah] Flanna sighs.
Flanna explains about the previous experience with the elves to Connor: “We were minding our own business and all of a sudden a hail of arrows spewed from the trees, all headed towards Jaran. Suddenly the trees were filled with elves. They had prejudice against Jaran. They would not be reasoned with, refusing to speak a language we understood. One was saved whom we released. [etc etc] JAran did her best to present herself as being non-threatening, and we left the captive means to free himself and weapons to protect himself.”
They continue tracking, and the elves follow the ranger Connor’s lead. Flanna continues to plea about the honor of her companions.
Flanna: “I will not raise my hand against Zonas and his friends. They did not think I would be allowed entrance to the keep. I beleive Zonas was trying to save me, but perhaps I am just being hopeful. I am in a quandry. I want to help the boys, but do not want to get in trouble. I do not want to lose face as I have presented myself as an honest person.” She seems a bit confused with herself, but quite firm about the safety of the young boys. She sits, curled up upon the ground, allowing the Helmites to lead.
Lyta: “Flanna, do you wish to come with us?”
Flanna: “I cannot protect myself on the road. I will follow.”
They follow along the road a fair distance behind.

[end Marianne’s Version]

The elf does not belief his friends were enchanted until Flanna happens to
mention that the woman transformed into a fox.

“The vixen?” he asks. He explains that there is a woman who likes to collect
people and keep them, rather like pets. He lightens up a little bit, but
declares that Flanna is wrong, that the elves were not enchanted.

So… what will Flanna’s party do? Flanna cannot decide, she curls into a fetal
position on the ground. The helmites decide instantly to follow Kalcryx. “Flanna,
will you come with us?” What choice does she have?!

They travel… indefinitely, about a mile behind the party. They do not attract
attention. The elves follow along in the woods along the side of the road, becoming
restless as the day advances.

Connor invites the elves to overtake the party and negotiate with the captors.
“It was my understanding,” the elf says, “That you would speak to them”

The elves speed up and disappear into the forest.

Connor tells the helmlings that they are going to engage the party, and that they
should stay back, but ready themselves for action.

The sound of an arrow sings through the air. G’Kar finds he is bleeding, Jaran and
Kalcryx, too, feel an arrow in their side. The paladin is beset with three arrows,
as well, while two go into the cleric.

Lyta casts fly on herself. “Talk with your mouths, not with your bows!” she
cries out in Sulduskan.

Zonas casts a spell and cries out, “Protect the boys!” He draws the attention of
the wood giants.

The paladin wheels around, and dismounts, sheilding a boy with his body. “I do not
see them!”

The leather-clad ranger rushes into the woods as well, not travelling with much
stealth, and seeks out the attackers. “I do not see them either!”

Kalcryx tries to use his lightning breath, and starts his gag smoking.

Jaran tries to pick her manacles, and by some shining gift of fortune from the gods,
she manages to free herself. She leaves them loose around her wrists, not
advertising her freedom. G’Kar also struggles, but does not find similar success.

G’Kar takes two more arrows, and guesses that another has sunk into the flesh of his
horse.

Connor rides to where he can see Zonas, calling out to him that he is under attack
by wild elves. He advances on the nearest elf, and swings his sword at him,
missing. He attracts the attention of one of the wood giants, who charges him, his
looooooong sword drawn.

The helmlings run into battle, William crying “We have come for Kalcryx of Helm!”
Flanna is baffled to find herself thrust into the fray.

Lyta flies to Connor’s side and casts lightning toward the ground. “We said ‘TALK!’
Don’t you guys understand Elvish?!”

Zonas, on horse back, casts a spell on the boy, whispering “Into the trees William!”
The boy flies off to the North.

A giant grumbles, “Traitor!” and shoots two arrows into Lyta. The paladin runs to
engage Connor’s elfly opponant, hitting twice with his cold sword, killing the elf.

An elf reveals himself in the woods to the north, taking two more shots at G’Kar.
Kalcryx struggles against his bonds, at first they do not break, but with a mighty
effort, he manages to break the chain. He now has an iron band around each wrist,
and, his hands now free, unbinds his eyes.

Flanna jumps off the horse to the shade of a nearby tree, then runs toward where
William went. One of the giants is behind a nearby tree… he runs to where she
was just hiding, and aims at James. Two of his arrows glance off his platemail,
but two others pierce through.

The ranger calls out, “I see one!” and runs toward a wood-giant, drawing his
long-sword.. He cleaves through the giant’s leather armour, wounding him.

The cleric wheels his horse around and heals G’Kar. G’Kar prays to his god.

Jaran unbinds her mouth and, casting a spell quickly, she becomes invisible.

Connor turns on the giant, slicing him mercilessly until there was no fight left
in him. To the east, they hear the ranger scream as two arrows lodge in his back

William the helmling pulls his bow, and takes a point-blank shots at Zonas with
a heart-seeker arrow. Zonas is displaced, so the arrow misses his heart by a
foot, just grazing his robes.

James advances, raising the lifebringer, then yells out, seemingly to no one “Why
not?!” The sword will not attack Zonas. Five magic missiles fly from Zonas’s hand,
lodging into William, the helmlite. He collapses in his saddle. Zonas wheels
around to Kalcryx’s side, where Kalcryx tries to claw him but fails.

Lyta flies to the north east, and calls out “There’s two back here!”

A giant draws his longsword and attacks the ranger. The paladin charges the giant,
hitting him three times, killing him.

An elf to the east has a clear shot to the cleric, nailing him, but the cleric is
not particularly hurt.

Kalcryx frees his fingers and moves toward the downed William.

Flanna skitters up the tree and clutches the floating William to her.

The ranger spins around, taking in the scene. “There!” he yells, pointing, “And
there!”

The cleric announces, “ENOUGH!” and causes a column of fire to fall down on the elf
who had just fired on him.

Jaran screams out, “Stop this foolishness! You know not what you do!” She slips
off her horse, grabbing a handfull of dust. She spits into her hand, and the area
is pummelled with blinding sleet.

G’Kar takes this opportunity to roll off and seek shelter under his horse.

A giant moves, seeking a clear shot at Lyta. He hits her once.
The elves in the south wood fire on the ranger’s last location. With four arrows,
they manage to sink one.

Connor attempts to escape the area of sleet, and turns his horse around to head
south, but his horse looses footing in the slushy soil.

{stuff}

Lyta casts a spell, and soon the east woods comes alive with writhing, rubbery black
tentacles. North of the road, three tentacles entangle two elves, and a wood
giant, and promptly disappear. On the south, a tentacle coils around an elf,
pulling him into itself.

Jaran hears the casting of a spell she cannot recognize, and then… nothing
happens.

The paladin slips and falls in the sleet, and stands again. Across the road, an elf
fires two arrows at James, causing him to double over in his saddle. It seems he
should be dead, but suddenly he pops upright again.

Kalcryx ungags himself and casts cure moderate wounds. He hears William the
helmling come alive.

More spellcasting comes from the sleet-storm, but again nothing comes of it. The
cleric runs out of the sleet, and stops short when he is faced with an angry
elf.

Jaran shouts out again, “These are not your enemies! Stop and we can talk this
out!” To G’kar, who lay near her feet, she says “I will release you, but you
had best stay your hand.” She tries to free him, but has difficulty without her
sight.

A giant, angry about being slapped around by a black rubbery tentacle, unleashes
arrows onto one nearby him. It pops out of existence.

Lyta hears the elf caught in the tentacle scream out “Aid me!” A nearby elf
advances, training his bow on the tentacle. The shot is hard, and he wounds his
friend instead.

Connor guides his horse out of the sleet storm, and past the bowman elf. The elf
spins to engage him instinctively, but can do little against Connor with the bow
in his hands. Connor swipes at him with his swords, hitting twice.

North of the road, the elves gang up on two tentacles, but they fail to dispatch
either.

“I cannot see, Kalcryx, where should I go!” William the helmling cries out. He
urges his horse forward, but it slips in the slush underfoot.

James engages the elf near the cleric, but misses his swipe.

Suddenly, Lyta disappears.

Zonas grabs Jacob, dragging him onto his horse, and moves out of the sleet to the
north.

The paladin joins Connor, cleaving the elf with his icy sword. “Who are you, what
side are you on?” he demands of Connor.

“I am on the side of good, of honour, valour…” Connor proclaims. He charges his
horse across the road, attacking an elf with his twin swords, and wounding him
badly. An elf shoots at Connor, missing, then flees northward into the woods. The
wounded one cries, “Bastard! Why are you doing this?!” and also flees. Connor
manages to slash his back as he runs. An interesting scar to explain. ;)

James’s elf lodges two arrows into him.

Kalcryx does… something… Tells William the helmling to defend himself. Flanna
runs into the woods after William.

The ranger slips in the sleet “God damn mages!”

The cleric points at the elf again, and shouts, “I said ‘ENOUGH!’ and again
causes a pillar of flame to come from the sky. The elf is now dead.

Jaran pulls of G’Kar’s blindfold, with much groping, and ungags him as well. “We
are protected with an ice storm. Do not kill Zonas. He is on the side of law.”

“Just let me at the giants, and my dwarven thrower… get me out of these manacles!”
He struggles, but cannot free himself, despite his vigorous anger.

A giant drops his bow and draws his sword, advancing on Zonas and William. He
misses, swinging over the mage’s head.

William moves foward again, carefully. “This frost extends forever, Kalcryx.”
James turns to the cleric, sword in hand, and asks “What now?” Then sheaths the
Lifebringer.

Lyta flies around trying to eliminate random irritating Suldusk.

Zonas casts a spell and reaches out to the giant. The giant cries out in pain as
the life is drained out of him. Suddenly Zonas is looking really healthy. =)

The paladin speeds over to Zonas’s side. He snaps his fingers and calls out “Here,
Heronius!” then moves to engage the giant.

Kalcryx finds his way out of the storm, and moves to his right. He calls out behind
him to William the helmite. “The storm ends here, follow my voice!”

[Apparently while I was in the bathroom Lyta cast a wall of ice in the north, to
catch the fleeing elves] Flanna was nearly hit with a wall of ice, behind her are
two very wounded looking wild elves. She takes out one of her scrolls, and casts a
fireball on them. They become crispy. She continues running after the floating
boy.

The ranger falls for a third time, and spends the rest of his life cursing mages.

Cleric “Now you will stand down,” he says to the helmite. “This will help you to
understand my point.” He casts a heat metal spell on James.

Jaran finally frees G’Kar! She attempts to move, but she slips and falls.

G’Kar pulled out of his bonds, frees his fingers, etc.

The less lively giant advances on Zonas again, and misses.

Connor sheaths his sword, and, drawing his bow, travels toward the elf having it’s
life squeezed out of it by the tentacle. William the helmite emerges from the wall
of sleet near him.

James cries out, “Kalcryx, what has he done to me!” He pulls out the luckblade, and
advances on the cleric. “The Lifebringer will not hit you, but this will.”

Zonas moves forward five feet, away from the giant. Leaning back, he casts a
lightning bolt through the giant, which bounces off a tree and disperses (?).

Heronius arrives by his master’s side, and the paladin mounts. The paladin lays a
hand upon his chest and heals himself.

Kalcryx moves toward James. “Even though they are misguided and annoying, we
must deal with this without weapons.” He starts stripping the armour off him.

Flanna determines she has fled far enough, and calls out to William that he
should wait. She climbs a tree near him, and clutches him to her again.

A hand reaches out from the ice storm, and the ranger drags himself free from the
sleet. =)

The cleric looks down at James’s horse, and laying a hand on him, he commands,
“Stay.” The horse tenses up and is still.

Jaran tries to move, slips, then crawls fifteen feet… G’Kar withdraws from
combat and makes his way out of the sleet. He heals himself and takes in the
situation. G’Kar joins Kalcryx and James.

Connor assesses the situation of the tentacle-entangled elf. He considers his odds,
and decides to take a shot at the constricting mass. His arrow flies true and hits
the elf.

William the helmling, seeing Connor, joins in the shooting. He hits the tentacle,
and it pops out of existence.

James allows Kalcryx to strip his armour.

Zonas takes off north, and claims William. The paladin sees Zonas leaving, and
joins Kalcryx, James, etc. and dismounts. He screams at G’Kar “Don’t
move!”

Kalcryx gingerly plucks the arrows from his flesh. “You should take better care
of your prisoners.”

Flanna climbs down and asks Zonas if the combat is over.
“Why have you returned?” he asks, then rides back toward the battle with the boys.

The ranger, screaming obscenities, charges on the mangled elf. The elf moves south
and disappears into the brush.

The cleric looks down on G’Kar, and commands, “Hold!” G’Kar cannot move, but he
manages to growl and gnash his teeth in his fervour.

Jaran crawls back and re-manacles herself. No doubt she is whistling an innocent
sounding tune. ;)

Connor tries to track the run-away elf, but fails. William commands the ranger to
stand down.

Lyta targets the run-away elf’s last-known location with a fireball. The forest
erupts in flames, but no one knows if the elf is caught or not.

The ranger surrenders. He raises his arm above his harms, and huffs, “Fine.”

The paladin binds G’Kar. G’Kar tries to talk to him… grumble grumble…

The cleric turns to Kalcryx and says, “He’ll be fine on his own.” He reaches into
his bag and pulls out his manacles and begins to bind Kalcryx.

“You know, you don’t have to do this,” he says, holding one hand far from his side.

Connor tracks a trail of broken brush to a charred, elfin corpse.

William does not stand down.

Zonas asks, “What part did you have in this?”
Flanna explains that she had no part in it, she only knew that it would happen.
(Bork.)

Lyta floats down next to Connor and they discuss their next course of action. “I do
not know what to do, but here is a potion. They may turn on us at any moment.”
Lyta drinks it and feels somewhat better.

The sleet storm clears. Connor suggests that the helmite stands down, and
approaches the ranger. “Good battle,” he grunts in greeting.

G’Kar continues to grumble, speaking more and more clearly as the paralysis wears
off. “Will you let me heal Kalcryx?” he asks the cleric. The cleric grudgingly
assents. G’Kar offers healing to anyone else who needs it.

The ranger calls out “You’d better come take this one, too, he shot me and pointed
his bow at me. Elf if you are on my side as you say, perhaps you should take his
weapon and tie him up.”

Connor swears, “I give you my word, he will not attack you.”

“Very well,” the ranger says.

G’Kar argues that he should be allowed to heal his party members. The paladin cries
out, “Who is hurt? I will offer healing!”

The ranger answers, “I am!” as do the helmlings, Lyta and… others… I
guess… The cleric heals himself.

Lyta seeks out healing from the cleric, “Holy one, can you heal my wounds. They are
beyond my skill.” Connor jumps on that bandwagon, the paladin heals Kalcryx.

G’Kar offers to heal Lyta some more, but the paladin steps in. “That will not be
necessary” and brings her to full health.

“Thank you for your help in defeating these elves. Why have you come back?” the
cleric asks Lyta. She explains, “you are not the only ones who want your
prisoners. These were mad with rage.”

Discussion of who is free and who is not… Lyta, Flanna, and Connor are free
to go.

“However, that one in plate, and that one who has just removed his plate,
baltantly attacked us. They will come with us as well.” Kalcryx looks on his
helmlings with fatherly disappointment. Then he asks the name of the
ranger.

“They call me the wolf.”

Kalcryx points out that ‘the wolf’ attacked Connor without provocation the other
day, so if the helmlings were going to be held, so should the ranger.

The paladin retorts “That doesn’t seem like much of an insult coming from a
murderer. However, you do have a point.” To Connor, “If you wish, you may
strike him.”

“An arrow for an arrow, makes the whole world blind.”

“That is most wise. A single arrow will not kill him, just as single arrow did not
kill you.”

Blah blah blah… discuss the ethics of lawful goodness, punishment…

“Which people, these helmites in platemail?”

“Your ranger?”

“He will be punished.”

Kalcryx says something nasty about the mis-match in power

“Anyway, we thank you for your help,” the paladin says to Lyta and Connor.

“Oh, you’re quite welcome,” Jaran answers.

“It is not the first time we have been attacked by elves, and it will not be the
last time.” the… cleric… paladin says. “Do you know a layout of these
lands very well?” he asks.

Connor and Lyta answer that they do.

“Will the two of you be willing to join us, perhaps bolster our defenses and
scout ahead.” Offer food, money… something about weeks… =I

“Since we have a vested interest in the outcome of these prisoners, we will
accompany you… but what of the girl?”

“She should leave, and be on her way.”

“A girl alone, in the forest?”

Something about how she’ll have the helmlings with her…
“They seem to have a fanatical following of this Kalcryx, we know they will…
[something…] They will be nothing but trouble, trying to escape day and
night.”

“If you send this poor girl out into the woods, even with them, you are laying a
death sentence upon them.”

the woods are not so dangerous…

The magic-boys confer as G’Kar offers to keep together, blah blah, may be able
to help in the next time…

“They will come on one condition. Their bows will be unstrung, and their weapons
will be peacebound,” the paladin announces.

Zonas wanders over to the paladin, and requests a word with him in private. They
ride around the party in a circle.

They return, and Zonas says, “Flanna come ride with us.” And the paladin offers her
his hand. They go for another lap.

Meanwhile, Connor loots bodies. All six elves are wearing elven chain.

Kalcyrx scolds James and William.

“We came to rescue you. This arrest was not lawful.”

Kalcryx explains it will all be sorted out in time. “In the meantime, please try
to protect the party,” points to *everyone*

Flanna has a nice conversation with Zonas and the Paladin.

“Something you told me last me night is troubling me,” Zonas says.

“They trouble me often.”

“You told me when you were here the previous time, a certain lord Olin was in
power…”

[Marianne takes over.]
[DM wishes he hadn’t ad-libbed this conversation, but had instead planned it out in detail instead of having a general idea of what had to happen *sigh]

Zonas: a certain lord olen was in charge. The second time you were here, a certain lord Ordoth of Bane claimed to be in charge. I told you we have a keep ne of htere. However we have not been there in many months. This…ranger…in our company sought us out.
Flanna: Suspicious.
Zonas… and said that the lady of our keep had commisioned him to find the party who had slain her husband. When he described these people to us, we knew it was the party we had been looking for. I do not think we can trust this ranger anymore. What spells do you have in memory/
Flanna: Spells to entertain the children. Wardaway, Featherfall…
Do you have any wands?
Flanna: Many, and some scrolls
If it would not be too much of an inconvenience, when we return from this…lap…sit lucas will ask this ranger for a moment with him. I do not want to kill him, so I will ask him to do it as a wand will be less destructive than something from em. When you have the chance, please fireball them.
FlannaI will try.
Zonas: I will not mind if you hit me as well. If he falls, I will heal him.
I have seen such magic before.
I do not want to strike him in combat, as he may try to get away. If he flees, strike him again.
Flanna: My wand has only 9 charges which may be used…
Zonas: I will figure out a way to compensate you for the charges.
Flanna [meekly]: That was not what I meant…
They return to the group. The paladin says: “I need to speak to you. Please come with me. This si something I don’t think the prisoners should heear.” to the ranger. They walk 40′ away from the party. The paladin looks him over very intently, looking deep into his eyes, “I should have detected evil in you a long time ago” and draws his swords.
The paladin swings at the ranger. Blades swing, bouncing off the ranger’s armor. The ranger steps back, fleeing for his life. The paladin swings as the ranger turns his back, wounding him, but the ranger keeps on.
Flanna draws her wand, brow furrowing as she tries to remember the area the spell encompasses. Surveying the field, she points the wand towards the evil ranger. Flame erupts, and as it clears, the ranger lies upon the ground, unconscious.
The paladin draws near, healing the ranger’s bleeding wounds, binding him in manacles.
Zonas steps towards Flanna: I figure everything you’ve been through, I figured you should be the one who takes down the traitor.
Flanna blushes, looking abashed and a little confused.
People are rounded back up, placed upon horses.

Lyta excuses herself and wanders deep into the woods, and casts mount. After a
few minutes, a wild horse appears to serve her.

Connor is asked what should be done with the bodies of the Suldusk. Proper
arrangements are made. The bodies are looted and cremated on a large pyre.

The party rests for the remainder of the day. Lyta and Flanna trade spells.

That night Jaran, Kalcryx, and G’Kar are not shackled or blind-folded, but are still
manacled.

Well! I would hardly have believed it had I not seen it myself, or if I had not witnessed the previous architectural feats of my companions, but G’Kar’s shrine is completed. Not so much as a nail is left to be driven in, and it is a fine little shrine, to be sure.

G’Kar hired me to prepare a feast celebrating its completion, and we had ourselves quite a nice little impromptu festival this evening. The meal came out well — well enough, I think, to be worth sitting through G’Kar’s inaugural address ennumerating in detail the seemingly endless virtues and glories of his god (I mean you no disrespect, Clangeddin, to be sure, it is just that when one is hungry and tired from laboring in your glorious name all the day, one is not so keen to hear a speech on any topic, most especially a long one).

There was such an exclamation when G’Kar took up his hammer and cast it at the bit of fabric we used for ceremonial ribbon across the shrine door, and then Weatherford erupted into a merry chaos… children, dogs, laughing, singing… and everywhere smiling faces. I doubt I shall have a better evening in very many years.

I have just talked to Mr. Smith regarding the guardians of Sir Kenrik’s tomb… I had been meaning to do so each time we have come here, but always it slips my mind. He says one must only be truthful and honest, and they shall gain entrance. “But I was truthful and honest, I was not allowed to pass.” And at this he looked a bit concerned. I explained that I was asked to state my true name, and I did so to the best of my knowledge, and he answered that perhaps it was not my true, true name… perhaps I was not who I thought I was, perhaps I was Lady Flanna… So this is the way of things, as I feared… And now I think the guardians very cruel indeed, for if they know my true name, then they might know that I do not, that I give them all I have to give, that perhaps some kindness might be shown to me… but perhaps I ask rather too much from magical stones.

Having finished that busines, I am now uncertain as to how I should best employ myself. G’Kar and Kalcryx are building a shrine to Clangeddin with the help of the townspeople, and Jaran shall be spending most of the day identifying certain items for Dyllan. Ah, I was too caught up in my own sulkiness to describe it, but Dyllan of Grimclaw has found his way here after abandoning or being dismissed from his position in the Tethyrian army.I’m afraid I made somewhat of a fool of myself, and nearly lost my purse and who knows what else to his clever hands but that Kalcryx happened to catch him in his thievery and have him out before it was too late. I’m not sure why I did it, but there was something irresistably compelling about the way he smiled at me and offered me his lap. It did not matter that he did not rightly remember my name, nor that I had never been paid any particular kindness, or even common kindness by him before… There he was, warm and friendly, inviting me with open arms and a grin that in my heart I knew was insincere. I knew… but I could not bring myself to care. And so I was very happy while I sat there, feeling his warmth, his yeilding solidness. I felt I could curl up, listening to his breath and his heartbeat and be content for hours, pretending I was safe, that I was loved… But of course, this little game was not worth my purse. And so there is my lesson: Never trust friendly men? Oh no, that’s not quite, but it shall do for now.

We are again in Weatherford. For as often as we pass through here, perhaps I should build a house. We bring with us some twenty slaves, many of whom are strangely disfigured. It is clear from the briefest glance that the tale of their recent past cannot be a pleasant one, but the true extent of the horrors they have endured reveals a capacity for cruelty I cannot understand. They claim they suffered under the hands of a dark mistress with a most ostentatiously evil-sounding appearance: long dark robes, long dark fingernails, a coiling skeletal something slithering about her neck… They claim this woman performed experiments on them — magical experiments, which explains some of the stranger afflictions suffered by some… the tough, almost lizard-like skin, the pupil-less eyes… I am ashamed to admit how much they disgust me. It is the crimes committed against them, not the slaves themselves, that should disgust me so, but even still, I find myself averting my eyes. Forgive me, Ilmater, for I have proven myself unworthy of the kindness shown to me in my times of need.

4 - 7 Uktar, 1357DR
[Game of July 18th, 2003]

Short summary: took the freed slaves to Weatherford, ran into Dylan, asked to have the slaves live in Weatherford, built G’Kar a shrine, had a feast, started off towards Mosstone, ran into a pixie asking for help, tryed to save a wild elf from a bunch of orcs, got tracked by Zonas, got arrested.

Long summary:

*4 Uktar*

slaves describe the woman who seemed to lead the experimentations: long black nails, long black hair,
skeletal snake thing curling around her neck, long robes, has a staff with a hand clutching a skull

Some of the older party members recognize the description as a woman they fought months ago in
Mosstone.

Heal the obvious wounds as best we can, drag them back to Weatherford (pop. 42 ;) )

Make camp.

*5 Uktar*

Set off in the morning, by nightfall arrive in Weatherford. As we enter town, we once again feel
warm and tingly, as after Sir Kenrik’s blessing. The town is mostly dark, but the tavern is lively
and cheerily lit.

Flanna, Kalcryx and Conner enter the tavern while the others keep watch with the slaves. inside a
crowd is drinking, and a humanish man in puffy dirty clothing and a sword in each hand is in the
cneter. He is waving his sword about, telling tales of glorious combat. Jaran notices that he has
pointy ears, and there is a small glint whenever he raises his arms. He does a flippy thing with his
swords and says “End of the tale! Now someone buy me a drink.” It is Dyllan, Velvet’s lover from
Grimclaw.

“Ah, it is Dyllan, the infamous rogue of Grimclaw,” Flanna announces.

He looks at her, has some spark of recognition, and searches for her name. “Ah, Miss…Fabiana…!”
“Flanna.”

He invites Flanna to sit in his lap. She does. [ah, hormones]

Ask him what he’s been up to… how he got here…

“In the army and fighting, and fighting a little too much, and getting kicked out… the usual…”
Kalcryx notices something with his special powers…

“What’s that in your hand?” Kalcryx asks. He’s stolen a ring from Flanna. =) Flanna gets off
his lap, finds her money pouch sitting in it. She takes it back.

“You should uh, tie that on a little tighter,” Dyllan tells her.
Flanna raises an eyebrow and responds coldly. “Thank you for the advice.”

G’Kar asks, “What else have you stolen from her?”

“Only her heart.”

Flanna snorts.

G’Kar and Kalcryx ask him about his travels. He left Grimclaw to get away from “goody-goodies like
you”, and joined the Tethyrian amry against the Amnites up along the Northern border of Tethyr.
He thinks they are fairing well, but he really doesn’t care.

Mr. Smith appears outside the tavern and talks to Jaran and Conner while G’Kar tries to get drunk on
lousy human ale. ;)

Jaran explains the slaves and their situation. Mr. Smith states that he is sure the freedmen will be
welcome, as long as they are free from disease, and updates them on the mage-prisoner. He’s been very
popular, lately… managed to kill some giant beetles. Jaran offers to leave some money to defray the
cost of their keeping.

Sleep in the tavern that night, ask us to pay for the rooms, since they have another guest, but we are
given a discount.

After some time, Dyllan and the two girls wander toward the stairs. G’Kar stands and calls out
“Girls, watch your things! This man may be good with his tongue, but he is even better with his
hands…” The bar erupts in laughter, the girls giggle. Dyllan bows.

During the night, the tavern is filled the noise of much moaning. Jaran quietly unlocks his door and
sneaks into the room. “Be quiet!” she commands. Dyllan and the girls have the bejesus scared out of
them, but Dyllan invites her to join them anyway.

*6 Uktar*

In the morning, Dyllan approaches Jaran and asks her to identify some objects for him. He presents
her with a dagger, two swords, and three rings. Jaran tries to negotiate the identification service
for the trade of one of the lesser magical items.
Dyllan sneers, “How about I pay you just like any other wizard…”

Jaran takes his six items, and, taking advantage of the paid expense of the pearl, selects two of the
mysterious items of loot to inspect as well. She identifies the rings as a ring of protection, a
ring of sustenance, and a non-magical ring. Then she curses herself for not casting detect magic on
the items before she began the identification process.

(Ring of protection +1, sustenance, non-magical, non-magical sword- masterwork, sword +2, dagger +1,
Adds in Fredericks’ magical longsword: +1 longsword and a potion: failed)

The rest of the party wanders down to the tavern in the morning, with the exception of G’Kar who was
still there. A meeting was being held, and most of the townspeople agreed to take in the freedmen,
and planned the construction of a longhouse.

G’Kar strikes up a conversation with Mr. Smith., offering his aid in the constructiuon of the
longhouse. “I would like to build a shrine, a small shrine, to my god, here in this town.” Then
G’Kar espouses the glories of Clangeddin Silverbeard.

Mr. Smith’s eyes glaze over, and as politely as he can he waves the conversation to an end “Yes, yes,
build it, build it.” Explains he’ll eventually want a shrine to a human deity, since… there are no
dwarves in town, but the shrine is welcome. He and Kalcryx begin working on the shrine, and eleven
men appear around them, curiously asking if they are hiring. G’Kar agrees to pay 3 copper pieces a
day, and with the help of Kalcryx’s followers, sixteen men go to work.

“Something has been troubling me for some time,” Flanna says to Mr. Smith. She inquires into the
guardians of Sir Kenrik’s tomb, and how one is to gain entrance.

“Just be truthful and honest, and they shall let you pass.”
“But I was truthful and honest, I was not allowed entrance.”
“Ah, that is too bad. Perhaps you are not who you think you are. Perhaps you were missing a title,
perhaps you are Lady Flanna…”
“I see, that is how it is.” Flanna decides it’s a simple matter of knowing her true family name.

G’Kar hires Flanna to cook for his workers. She asks, “Would you like a simple meal, or something
more elaborate to celebrate the glory of your god?” Struck by her words, G’Kar decides on the
glory. Flanna hires a few women to help her, and prepares a banquet feast for the dedication
ceremony. =) He gives a long, looooong speech about how great his god is. He manages to keep
himself under control enough to speak in common. The townspeople wait through the speech
politely, hungrily. =) G’Kar cuts the ribbon with his thrower, from a hundred yards away.

Flanna and Kalcryx put on a magic show. Flanna gives away copper pieces to smiling children.

Kalcryx tests his new guantlets by trying to place a single gold coin in Dyllan’s pocket. Dyllan
freaks out, demanding, “What the hell are you doing?! Get your hands out of my pocket!”

“I was just trying to give you a gold piece…” Kalcryx answers, sheepishly. Dyllan is skeptical
about this.

G’Kar snickers. “You can dish it out, but can’t take it, eh?”

*7 Uktar*

Strike out for Mosstone in the morning.

As we ride through the forest, a small being, a humanoid with translucent wings, appears next to
Jaran. It appears to be the same mysterious creature she saw a few nights ago in the woods. It is
highly agitated, and cries to her, “The orcs! The elf! The orcs! The cliff! Attacking! The
orcs…! Help! That way, that way!”

Lyta, while gathering [something] in the woods, is surrounded by orcs, one of whom has only one
eye. She takes much damage from the orc’s spears.

Kalcryx follows the faerie’s pointing and rides toward the scene of attack. The helmlings join the
fray as well.

One of the orcs moves behind a tree and casts a spell toward one of the helmlings. Kalcryx conducts
spellcraft, and determines it is “heat metal”.

Conner moves in, G’Kar moves in. Orcs are hurting some. Jaran casts acid bolt at the one-eyed orc, and he is
now dead.
{stuff}

Lyta is attacked by the orcs and spears again… takes some damage.

An orc charges Conner, Conner sidesteps. =) Conner draws his swords, vaults off his horse and
attacks one of the orcs with his cuisinart routine, landing two blows, but glancing off his armour
with the third. Somehow the orc is still alive…

G’Kar moves… and… By Clangeddin’s Fury, his Dwarventhrower flies.

“Master G’Kar mind where you’re going!” Helmling cries out as G’Kar crosses the path of his arrow.
He looses two into the nearby orc, killing him.

Jaran casts dispel magic on the helmling’s armour, and tells him it is safe to put on again. And
the Helmling re-engages his enemy with the Luckblade, but no luck piercing armor…

Flanna uses her newly acquired magic missile wand to hit one of the orcs with two missiles.

{stuff}

Lyta casts a spell on one of the orcs, causing him to float ten feet into the air. He flails around,
off-balance, and it becomes more difficult for him to aim. There is much confused, angry orcish spewing from
him. He throws a spear at kalcryx but it is wildly errant.

Conner is attacked… An orc runs from Conner, then stops suddenly, and screams something in orcish.

A voice comes from the woods, commanding “Hold!” The orc tenses up.

A man in leather advances toward the cliff, bow in hand and sneaking tree to tree somewhat
unsuccessfully. He shoots two arrows, either at Conner or at the orc. One goes wild, one goes into
the orc.

Conner cuisinarts some more… The orc groans in pain.

G’Kar, seeing a clear shot at the orc floating in the air, hurls his hammer at him twice, causing a
rain of blood and flesh to fall upon the melee below. However, the orc is still seems to be alive.
G’Kar moves around to Conner’s aid.

Bow helmling breaks his bowstring. He curses and re-strings it.

Jaran draws her swords and swung at the orcs

Flanna casts featherfall on herself and uses the new spider slippers to skitter up a tree. [Melissa
looks up what exactly featherfall does and records it for future reference =P]

A man on horseback rides beneath her tree, but doesn’t notice her. He is a blond, blue-eyed human in
silver platemail. He stops, drawing two swords. One is flaming, the other is blue and reminiscent of
ice. He bears on his chest the mark of Mystra, two flames surrounded by seven stars. [I used
heraldry! yay!!]

Lyta flies toward the fleeing orc, and cries out “You irritated me!” and casts irritation on him.
She feels the dweomer forming, and realizes it is not turning out as she hoped. She feels it will
either explode or summon something. With all her will, she bends the shape of it into a summons.
Five furry, doglike things roughly seven feet in height, armed and armoured appear among the trees,
surrounding the orc. [”Congratulations, you have just cast ’summon monster II’”]

Lyta hears the sound of spell-casting from behind her. Five missile of force fly from behind her,
over her shoulder.

The balloon orc grabs the tree and wheels himself around until he can see the dwarf. He grunts
something that is probably an expletive.

An orc mounts one of the horses, and attempts to ride away. Kalcryx attacks with the
Lifebringer, Jaran tries to attack, but misses. The orc succeeds in riding away, but stops where the
first runner stopped.

A voice commands from the forest, “Dismount!” The orc grunts back, but does not dismount.

The mysterious man in leather armour knocks back an arrow, and shoots at G’Kar, landing two arrows
through his armour. The archer is the horse-thief from days past!

Conner vaults back onto his horse and rides toward the archer. G’Kar hurls his hammer at the archer
twice, hitting, then spins his horse around.

Jaran calls the broom to her side, and casts magic missile at the orc that stole the horse.

Flanna casts wall of fog, calling out, “You, man of Mystra, why are your companions attacking my
companions?” then uses the ring of jumping to monkey over to a tree just outside of the foggy space.

He rides out of the fog slowly, crying out “Surrender, criminals! Surrender now, and no bloodshed
shall have to happen!”

Kalcryx “I will surrender as soon as I take care of these gnolls,” and moves to engage them. The Paladin attacks Kalcryx with the pummel of his sword, but does no damage.

Helmling asks for Kalcryx’s guidance, sheathing his sword and preparing to surrender.

Lyta casts blur, making herself more difficult to see and hit.

“Kalcryx of Helm, surrender NOW!” Wheels his horse around, points his staff at him, causing a green
ray to shoot out toward Kalcryx. Nothing happens, Kalcryx determines that the man looks familiar, and
that they had once raided his keep… It’s Zonas!

Stuff…

“Surrender now, and we shall spare you. If you kill me now, you will suffer the paladin’s wrath!” (?)

The archer disengages G’Kar. G’Kar whacks the shit out of the tracker/archer. Conner dismounts, and
checks the man for life, he will die if left untreated. “We cannot let this one die!” and dumps a
potion down his throat. The man regains consciousness. “Be glad you’re alive. Do NOT move.”

G’Kar dismounts, walks up to the guy and points at him. “You stole our horse.”

Helmling puts his bow away.

Jaran sheaths both her blades and stows her broom, and does her best to look unmenacing.

Flanna, seeing the helmlings disarming, climbs down and stands near them. “What’s happening?”

The paladin, the man with two swords, approaches Kalcryx, sticking him three times.

Kalcryx attacks a gnoll. They take out the last orc.

Lyta does a bunch of shit… an orc floats into the air again.

Jaran is approached by Zonas. “Finally, I have found you.”

The priest approaches G’Kar, Conner, and the downed archer, and dismounts, staring G’Kar up and
down.

“Heal me!” the tracker/archer pleas to the paladin.

Conner sheaths his swords and asks who the priest is. “My name is Theodore, and I am cleric. Let me
heal him.” Conner nods and allows the cleric to do his work.

G’Kar “this man is a thief! He has our property!” Takes a step back and threatens Kalcryx’s attacker

Helmlings ask Flanna what is going on. She shrugs.

Zonas approaches Jaran and stops near her. He appears to Jaran to be a little blurry, older, he has a
staff and holds himself straighter than last time. He has neat little bracers around him.

“Hello Zonas, we have word of your nephews.”

Flanna, hearing this, runs up to him… then halfway through realizes that this could be construed as
a charge, and stops. Zonas points his staff into Jaran’s face and asks “What have you done with
them?”

The paladin sheaths the flaming sword, than puts a hand out to touch Kalcryx. Kalcryx is frightened
and tries to evade, but fails, [I think] and is surprised to find himself healed.

To their side, an orc floats upward, then comes crashing down into the ravine. He is dead. =)

G’Kar looks around, and sees Zonas with his staff in Jaran’s face…
[”Roll me a save versus foaming-at-the-mouth…”] He lowers his weapon, and asks the paladin to put
his sword away.

Lyta, apparently invisible… does something…

“You! Reveal yourself…” Zonas says, pointing directly at the invisible Lyta.

“Put your staff away!” G’Kar growls.

“Quiet!” Zonas barks at G’Kar, then to Lyta again, “Reveal yourself!”

An orc pops back up, then realizes he is surrounded, then tries to surrender.

“I said, put the staff away.”
“I said to be quiet.”

“Shut up, Dwarf!” Jaran

something about criminals… justice…

G’Kar grumbles about who’s a criminal.

Jaran explains the situation with the nephews… Zonas asks “Is she telling the truth, Theodore?” A
spell is cast on Jaran, Lyta, and G’Kar. Jaran is suddenly compelled to speak the truth, Lyta and
G’Kar are unaffected.

“They are under the care of a Paladin in Grimclaw… a paladin of Ilmater.” Jaran explains where it
is, offers to take them.

Zonas looks to Conner. “You, you are free to go, Leave…” Then to Flanna, “You, girl, leave…”

The paladin pulls out manacles, and puts them on Kalcryx.

The cleric does similar and tries to manacle G’Kar… G’Kar refuses. Verbal scuffle.

“If you are innocent, the courts will set you free.” The cleric pulls out a court order with little
portraits of the original party… It looks legitimate, but the portrait of Kalcryx isn’t very good.
=)

Conner rides off, with plans to return. Jaran talks to Zonas about the plans to free Mosstone. He
tells her the court is Northeast… she is confused and confesses she thought it was taken over by the
Amnites. Zonas suggests she check her sources better.

Kalcryx is now manacled. “Are you letting yourself be manacled?” G’Kar asks, angrily. Kalcryx is the
picture of calm.

“Tell me where, is your companion?” Zonas asks. “He at least was someone I could reason with.”

Jaran, in a zone of truth, has no choice but to explain the whole demon story. “Are you sure this
spell of yours worked?” Zonas asks Theodore. Jaran tell them about Delenn as well. The paladin
manacles Jaran, then they turn to G’Kar. Meanwhile, Lyta negotiates to take the orc prisoner. The
paladin says that her life will be forfeit if she harms him while he is unable to defend himself.
G’Kar gives a speech about how he does not trust that they are who they claim to be, and promises to
go with them, but he will not consent to being manacled.

“You can come with us manacled, or you can come with us dead,” the paladin says.

G’Kar growls back, “Then you will have to take me dead.”

“What are you doing, G’Kar?” Jaran says, her voice filled with impatience.

“I’m not putting those things on!” He screams back.

The paladin draws his sword and attacks. Zonas moves and attacks with a lightning bolt. Then, a
column of fire comes down on G’Kar. G’Kar falls over unconscious. He is cured, he regains
consciousness, he fights some more, he is subdued again, he is healed, and does not regain
consciousness… Finally they have him in custody. Jaran grumbles, “Finally. Stubborn dwarf.”

Zonas and Flanna talk… Zonas tries to get rid of her, but she convinces him to allow her to
travel with them for a bit. “They have things of mine, and I have things of theirs. It will
take too long to sort them out now, and while we travel I can tell you of your nephews, for they
were in my care while they were in our custody, and they are now in the care of my mistress in
Grimclaw.” She claims the helmlings are her guardians and gains leave to travel with them.

“You will part ways with us at morning,” Zonas asserts.

“Why not at the keep? I might have business there. Am I not free to travel?” Flanna offers to swear
whatever oath they require to show her non-violentness toward them.

Lyta ties her captured orc to a tree and leaves him a dish of poisoned water.

Conner and Lyta meet up, and discuss, agreeing to track the party. They go to loot the orcs, finding
nothing in particular of interest with them, except a morningstar and a knife, and lots of smelly hide
armour. Conner takes the morningstar. As he picks it up, it burns him, sending a cold wave through
him. He wraps it in a cloak and feels the freezing burn again, then contrives to put it in his
beltpouch without touching it. Ropetricks. =)

We ride with the band for the rest of the day, and then make camp for the night. They unmanacle each
of the three criminals one at a time, strip them of their gear, detect magic on them, re-manacle,
repeat, then bind their fingers and toes, and gag them, and then bind them all together, all
while Zonas watches the helmlings and Flanna with caution.

Zonas comes up to Flanna and pulls out a glass globe. “You, girl… Help me with this.”

“You are some kind of mageling, I see…”

“My skills are but very very poor…”

Hands her the globe, tells her the command word, tells her to show him where his nephews are.

a picture of grimclaw appears in the globe. Zonas takes it back, then commands her to find her
things. He stares at the globe for about an hour… then asks Flanna if she will go with him, to
vouch for his relation. “Will I be safe in journeying to them?”

“Journeying to them, I cannot say, but the town is friendly to those who are lawful and good of heart,
at least when I was last there. We suspect there may be a mage with evil inclinations, but I’m sure
my Mistress Fay, the paladin of Ilmater, has cared for your nephews as well as she cared for me
after I was orphaned…”

He reaches out his hand, and says “Take my hand,” she twitters, asks what he’s going to do, and then
takes his hand timidly. He waves his free hand around in the air and…

We are in Grimclaw! It is night time.

Flanna talks to him and leads him to the temple… babbling on about how sweet and smart
the boys were and how they slept next to her, and how sad it was… and blahdiblahdiblah

“What will you do with them, once you take them into your custody? Do you have a woman to care for
them?”

“I have relations down south, my father.”

“Ah, is he a magic-user such as yourself?”

“No, he is but a simple man.”

“Their father was a simple man as well. They seemed happy on the farm, it was very sad to take them
from it… blahdiblahdiblah…”

Arrive at the temple, the door is closed. Flanna knocks, and soon the door opens somewhat. “What is
it? Is someone hurt?” Fay asks. The door opens wider. “Flanna?!” she asks.

“It is me,” Flanna confirms.

“Where have you been?”

“I have been here and there…”

“What are you wearing? Come in, enter!”

Flanna enters, Zonas following behind her. Flanna introduces Zonas to Fay and explains he has come to
claim the boys. “Are they well? Are they sleeping?”

“They are well. I will be sad to see them go, Jacob has become quite a scribe. He has a gift for the
quill.”

“He waved a sword at me last time I saw him, I’m glad to see him employed with something so…
pacific.”

Fay explains that they have not allowed him to touch a sword for six months. =)

“So, are they in my room?” Flanna asks,

“It is not your room anymore…” The paladin smiles somewhat, wistfully.

Flanna leads Zonas and Fay up to the room and they wake the boys up, gently. Zonas clasps the boys to
him, and asks Flanna if she wishes to stay here or go back with him. She takes his hand and they
return to the campsite.

“If it does not intrude upon your avuncular desires over much, might I care for these boys until they
are put in your father’s custody?” Flanna requests. He agrees.

“I’m sure you will be sad to see them go. They are very sweet and very brave.”

“It runs in the family.”

Flanna offers to care for them until they are to go into his father’s care, he assents. She puts them
to bed.

Lyta and Conner track the party without problems. They share some of Lyta’s special brew. Conner
waits until Lyta sips some before he dares to drink any.

Ashes to ashes

Something troubles me.

True, of late, most things have been troubling, but this is more of a gut instinct than the howling of my intellect against the recent injustices. Delenn’s reincarnated soul inhabitted a body which shows scars healed long before her habitation. Granted, it was only a human, but if her soul pushed another’s out, there could be problems if we run across the family.

I will have to research this further before we use such magic again. Perhaps now that her soul has fled the body, we can try speaking to the memories of it’s previous inhabitant. I will ask Kalcryx on the morrow.

On a slightly more pleasant note, the girl Flanna has come along quite nicely in her studies. Though she seems completely inept at conjuring, creating small conflagrations at each attempt, her skill with controlled evocations seems quite promising. With her rate of progress, she will no longer require my attentions soon.

We freed the slaves today, or about half of them. The fighting was very hard, and lasted for a great length of time, as the slave caravan was protected by strong warriors, a priest of Bane and an ill-spirited bard who we could not see, but could not keep from hearing. We succeeded in driving them away, but only just barely. Delen is dead, and would not be raised. Every one, I think, took severe injuries at one point or another, even me, for I felt the situation was getting desperate, and ventured too near the swordsmen in my drive to be at least somewhat useful. But I did very little to help, and was only cut down, unable to do anything more but watch the ants crawl along the clover. There were very many ants, and they marched with great diligence along a path apparently known to them all, though I could see nothing to guide their tiny feet. One after another after another, they went along, one after another after another, without any variation or deviation from the trail.

I could not see where they were going to, I had no desire to turn my head to look, though I wondered what their business was, and tried to guess. Some had crumbs of food or tiny grains of rock, I could not tell which, pinched between their wee mouthparts, while others carried nothing and still others carried bits of other dead ants. Aside from this, they were wholly uniform, nearly identical as far as I could tell, and after a time I began to think of them as being one mind distrubed among many bodies, such was the singularity of their movement. It seemed to me they were like a well-trained and seasoned army returning from a great battle, carrying their spoils and their slain fellows home with them. They seemed neither triumphant nor routed, merely determined.

Behind them, in the crotch of a twig on a fallen branch, a fat brown spider sat on her web, watching their progress as I did. She sat almost completely still, except for two front legs which she twiddled together restlessly, to no end I could detect. I wondered if she felt threatened by these little things, too tiny to be even a teacake for her, but too numerous to be ignored. I regarded her with some sympathy, then, imagining their millions of little feet, swarming over her web, those entangled in it only becoming a bridge for the next wave, wave after wave, until the glistening silk was smothered in the black chitinous bulbs of their bodies, until she, consumed with panic, was herself engulfed by their sheer numbers, unable to fight, unable to defend herself, unable even to move against the mass of those unfriendly, blank-eyed faces.

Ach. My fingers are nearly numb with cold. I shall sleep now.

A half-elf appeared in town today seeking us. He had the look of the troublesome wood-folk about him, but his manner was refreshingly rational… he had actually sought us out after finding one of Kalcryx’s stones, and he hoped to join us, though he did not express any desire to dedicate his life to Helm. He spoke to us of the troubles of this land he had witnessed in his travelling. Orcs, he said, are multiplying quickly, spreading and overrunning the land in small, loosely organized groups, and were becoming seriously troublesome. Also, he had come across a slave caravan of three carts, each perhaps with fifteen ill-looking humans imprisoned within, heading slowly to the west. I found this news, considering the letter recovered from Lord Ordoth, to be deeply disturbing.

There was some discussion, some indecision, but soon we agreed to investigate the caravan, and so, tomorrow we shall head out west… toward Mosstone and the evil within, but not directly to it quite yet.

Ah, my bath is ready! And it is a large tub, deep and wide, and there is soap and a pile of snowy white, fresh-smelling cloths. May these good and generous people of Weatherford be ever under the eyes of the right gods, and never attract the eyes of the wrong!