CH 1: The Road Travels East

[JadedDM]

Sturm frowns with great disapproval as he sits down. He begins stroking his long mustache. "I see you wear the red robes. Surprising. I would have guessed black was your color."

Caramon interrupts, "Hey, you're right, Raist. Flint and the others should be here by now. I hope everything is okay."

[Breila]

Goldmoon follows the exchange, noticing the animosity between "her" knight and the mage. As she doesn't know anything about red or black robes - or mages at all - it doesn't make sense to her. But she would learn, eventually.

[Talyn]

Raistlin shakes his head at the Knight. "You have gained armor but no insight it seems." he says to the Knight. "You judge me to be evil, just because I seek power?" He shakes his head and coughs again.

His voice drops even lower. "And what of you Sir Knight, what did you find in your homeland?" he asks, staring directly into Sturm's eyes, his voice slightly mocking.

[JadedDM]

"I heard rumors. Some say my father is dead. Some say he's alive." Sturm's face darkens. "But no one knows where he is. All I found was my inheritance in the ruins of the castle."

"Your inheritance?" Caramon asks.

Sturm smiles, a melancholy smile that softens the lines of his proud face. "I wear it," he replies simply. "My armor and my weapon." He gestures to the splendid, if old-fashioned, two-handed sword.

Caramon stands up to peer over the table. "That's a beauty," he says. "They don't make them like that these days. My sword broke in a fight with an ogre. Theros Ironfeld put a new blade on it, but it close me dearly."

Sturm's smile vanishes as he caresses the hilt of the sword lovingly. "According to legend, this sword will break only if I do."

At this point, Tika returns to their table with a steaming bowl of spiced potatoes and a pitcher of ale with several empty mugs, and a glass of hot water. "Can I get anyone else anything?" she asks, noting the new arrivals.

[Talyn]

Raistlin takes the glass of hot water and reaches into his robes for a moment before pulling out a few herbs which he drops into the water. He stirs it a bit, a pungent and very strong smell starts to fill the air in the area around the table. He coughs slightly before he sips from the glass and he breathes a small sigh of relief. He looks up and stares straight at the Elf he and his brother encountered on the road. "Brother..." Raistlin begins. "Since she is alone in the town until she finds her friend, perhaps you should offer the young Elf the company of our table?" he suggests, shooting Sturm a somewhat amused glance.

He knows it will surprise the knight, him suggesting something like that. He looks away from the group towards the storyteller by the fire. "He tells the old tales, ones I have only read about and briefly." he observes somewhat interested.

[Breila]

Goldmoon takes in the smell of Raistlin's herbs. Is it anything she can recognize?

[JadedDM]

As Raistlin predicted, Sturm does appear quite surprised. For that matter, so does Caramon. The warrior blinks dumbfounded for a moment, his jaw hanging. After acquiring his bearings, he nods. "Sure, Raist. Dunno if she'll accept, but I can ask." He had all ready asked her if she wanted help finding her friend, so he was unsure she'd have anything further to do with them.

Standing up, Caramon approaches Laurana's table. Scratching the back of his head, he says, "Uh, excuse me, Miss Lara. My brother wants to know, if you'd like to join us."

Meanwhile, Goldmoon recognizes one of the herbs used in Raistlin's tea. It is undoubtedly marjoram.

=====================

Goldmoon makes an Herbalism check (1d20): 10, pass. Recognizes marjoram.

[Jenara]

Lara (who is at the bar, waiting for Otik, assume he gives a nod of acknowledgment to her statement about Tika) turns some what taken back, they had made no attempt to talk to her, she consider saying no on principle. However the night would be long spent alone.

"I would be pleased to accept your kind offer." she gives a regal bow, one fitting her station. She turns and waits for Caramon, when they reach the table she waits to be introduced and for a chair to be pulled out for her.

[JadedDM]

Caramon introduces her to the others. "This is Miss Lara. We met her on the way into town. Miss Lara, this is Sturm Brightblade, an old friend, and uh..," he looks to the two barbarians and frowns in concentration. "Sorry, what were your names again? Goldsun and Riverstorm?"

Sturm stands up and makes a polite and formal bow to the elf maiden. "A pleasure, my lady," he says.

[Jenara]

"Hello Sir Knight." Lara offers her hand and smiles, she had heard of the Knights, they were honorable and honest..

Humans, strange creatures, she'd watched them interact, the Mage glared at her with those scary eyes.

"I am looking for a friend who I believe lives here.. I met Caramon and Rastlin on the road." She gives a wide smile, flashing her shiny white teeth.

"So you are all friends? The Barmaid Tika said you were all meeting, but some people are missing?" She enquires, keeping her eyes fixed on them, she listens intently and thoughfully.

[Breila]

Goldmoon had opened her mouth to give their names correctly, but as the conversation between Sturm and Lara began, she shut it again. Remembering her promise to Riverwind to keep silent, and in alignment with her role as "servant", she keeps her head down and listens.

[Talyn]

Raistlin shakes his head at his brother. "You got their names wrong." he says chidingly to the big man. He looks back at Lara. "You have not told us who you are looking for yet." he says, his eyes piercing as he stares at her. "Perhaps we can help you find your lost friend? We all use to live in Solace after all." he is most definitely not revealing all his motivation behind that request.

[Jenara]

Lara blushes, hiding under her hair, "I am hoping he lives here, he I heard stories that this is where he went." She raises her head, maybe they would know him?

"His name is Tanthalas Quisif-Nan Pah" She says, hoping they might know the name, "We are due to be married." She gives a happy girlie smile, her pretty face lights up, filling the room.

"He is quite lovely, Tall, Strong, Handsome, and oh so wise and clever.. We will be married and live happliy ever after." Her fingers play with her hair as she speaks, her whole body seems to sing thinking of the idea...

[Breila]

Goldmoon's head jerks up at Lara's words. She sounded so happy, yet so naive... Goldmoon is torn between envy for a woman luckier than her with her love and the feeling that the elf, too, is headed for a disappointment. She, too, had thought to be married... but at least, she could be sure of her love.

She turns to Riverwind, giving him a loving smile and squeezing his hand.

[JadedDM]

Sturm sits back down, but only after Laurana has taken her seat. "Yes. There are four others we are waiting for. I hope they haven't run into any trouble."

"Yeah," Caramon agrees. "We all go way back. I've known Sturm here since we were kids." He looks to Raistlin when his brother points out he got the barbarians' names wrong and blushes. "Oh, sorry."

"It's Riverwind and Goldmoon," Riverwind corrects testily, the first time he has spoken since they arrived at the inn.

"Sorry," Caramon apologizes again.

The big warrior turns his attention back to the elf maiden. "Tana...Thantal...err, wow, that's a mouthful. I don't know any other elves that live about here, but then, we've been out of town for five years now, so who can say?"

Riverwind returns the soft squeeze of hands to Goldmoon, inclining his head toward her and giving her an almost imperceptible smile.