CH 1: The Road Travels East

[Talyn]

Raistlin is up early studying his spell book as he watches the others do their early morning activities.

"Brother, I need hot water." he says with a slight cough. He is doing better than he was on the boat. He is still extremely unhappy with where the group has decided to go.

[Breila]

"Small rations are not a problem, Tanis." Goldmoon answers with a smile. "Plainsfolk are used to it. We often have droughts, and it's the chieftains' custom to share hardship with their people." Gracefully, she accepts her cloak from Riverwind. "Riverwind likes to dote on me, but that doesn't mean I couldn't or wouldn't do things myself." To prove her point, Goldmoon helps getting their pack ready so they are done as the same time as everybody else.

[JadedDM]

Tasslehoff comes bounding back into the cave, pots and tin plates clattering loudly. Tanis grits his teeth at the noise, starts to reprimand the kender, then apparently changes his mind. It wouldn't do any good.

Flint, seeing the tension on Tanis' face, grabs the pots from the kender and begins packing them away. "Be serious," the dwarf hisses at Tasslehoff. "Or I'll take you by the topknot and tie you to a tree as a warning to all kender--"

Tas reaches out and plucks something from the dwarf's beard. "Look!" the kender held it up gleefully. "Seaweed!" Flint, roaring, makes a grab for the kender, but Tas skips out of his way agilely.

[Breila]

Goldmoon casts a glance over to Riverwind, sure he will have something to say about the small folk's behaviour.

[JadedDM]

Indeed, Riverwind is not amused.

"Goldmoon, we may be better off heading to Haven on our own. These..," he hesitates while considering the proper word, "people are adding to our danger. We would be safer on our own."

The argument between Flint and Tas is quickly forgotten. "Adding to your danger!" Flint exploded. "Why we wouldn't be here, I wouldn't have nearly drowned--again!--if it hadn't been for--for--" The dwarf begins to sputter in his rage.

Tanis holds up his hand. "Enough." He scratches his beard. "You will be safer with us. Will you accept our help?" he asks her.

[Breila]

"There is safety in numbers, Riverwind" Goldmoon says soothingly. "And I am sure that these people are professional enough to limit their squabbles to times of relative safety. We know too little about these lands to survive long, except if we hide somewhere in the forest. But I don't think that's what the Godess wants us to do"

[JadedDM]

Riverwind frowns and nods. He may not like it, but he will not say more. He steps outside.

"It's settled then," Tanis says. "Tas, you know your way through Solace Vale. You are our guide. And remember, we're not on a picnic!"

"Yes, Tanis," the kender says, subdued. He gathers his many pouches, hangs them around his waist and over his shoulders. Passing Goldmoon, he kneels swiftly and pats her hand, then he is out the cave entrance. Everyone gathers up their gear together and follows.

"It's going to rain again," Flint grumbles, glancing up at the lowering clouds. "I should have stayed in Solace." Muttering, he walks off, adjusting his battle-axe on his back. Tanis, waiting for Goldmoon and Riverwind, smiles and shakes his head. At least some things never change, dwarves among them.

Returning, Riverwind takes their packs from Goldmoon and slings them over his shoulder. "I have made certain the boat is well-hidden and secure," he tells Tanis. The stoic mask was in place again this morning. "In case we need it."

"A good idea," Tanis says. "Thank--"

"If you will go ahead." Riverwind motions. "I will come behind and cover our tracks."

Tanis starts to speak, to thank the Plainsman. But Riverwind turns his back and begins his work. Walking up the path, the half-elf shakes his head.

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

(OOC: Marching order? Tas is up front, followed by Flint and Tanis, with Riverwind in the back. How about the rest of you?)

[Breila]

Goldmoon looks after Tas, perplexed. She doesn't know what to make of the gesture (and no, she hadn't been wearing any ring. Riverwind never had the money to give her an engagement ring, and all jewellery except her tiara had to be sold for their gear).

When Riverwind takes her pack on top of his, she first wants to take it back. Their new comrades probably think her weak because Riverwind waits on her. But she doesn't want to argue. Keeping peace in the group is the most important thing now. She lets the others pass and brings up the rear before Riverwind, knowing her beloved would be uneasy if she was out of his sight.

[mltillis]

Having practically inhaled what little breakfast there was, Caramon went to douse his head in the lake waters and fully awaken... Returning, he gathered up his and Raistlin's packs and fell in just in front of Goldmoon... " Oh, I wish we could have had a third bowl of potatoes, before we had to run last night. I don't know how long porridge is going to stick with me brother.... Hey Tas! Keep an eye out for an apple grove or something would you? "

[Jenara]

(Marching order as per mltillis Occ post.)

Laurana steps outside the cave, checking her bow and arrows before spashing her face with the water from the lake.

Did they even want her here? Tanis had made that clear..

(Ooc: I would be happy to Fast Forward to the 'road' ... just a suggestion. )

[Jerrard]

Sturm completes his routine, cleaning his armor, tightening the straps.

When he is happy he stands before the group, "Caramon, there are more important things than filling your Belly." He scoffs, then turns to Tanis. "Fighters to the outside, scout to the front?" He ask in regards to the order.

[JadedDM]

Agreeing to the marching order, the party sets off.

The thick woods of Solace Vale are a green mass of vibrant life. Beneath the dense roof of the vallenwoods flourishes thistlebrush and greenwall. The ground is crisscrossed with the bothersome tangleshoot vines. These had to be trod on with great care or they would suddenly snake around an ankle, trapping the helpless victim until he was devoured by one of the many predatory animals lurking in the Vale, thus providing tangleshoot with what it needed to live--blood.

It takes over an hour of hacking and chopping through the brush to get to the Haven Road. All of them are scratched, torn, and tired and the long stretch of smooth-patcked dirt that carries travelers to Haven or beyond is a welcome sight. It isn't until they stop just in sight of the road and rest that they realize there were no sounds. A hush falls over the land, as if every creature is holding its breath, waiting.

"Is it safe?" Flint asks.

"Safe or not, it's the way we have to go," Tanis points out. "Still, someone ought to scout--"

"I will, Tanis," Tas volunteers, popping up out of the brush beneath Tanis' elbow. "No one would ever suspect a kender traveling alone."

Tanis frowns. "Very well," he says finally. "But remember, Tasslehoff Burrfoot, keep your eyes open and your wits about you. No roaming off the road and above all"--Tanis fixes the kender's eye with his own sternly--"keep your hands out of other people's belongings."

Tas nods, pushes his way through the final few feet of brush and starts off down the road, his hoopak staff digging holes in the mud, his pouches jouncing up and down as he walks. They hear his voice life in a kender trailsong.

"Your one true love's a sailing ship
That anchors at our pier.
We lift her sails, we man her decks,
We scrub the portholes clear;

And yes, our lighthouse shines for her,
And yes, our shores are warm;
We steer her into harbor,
Any port in a storm.

The sailors stand upon the docks,
The sailors stand in line,
As thirsty as a dwarf for gold
Or centaurs for cheap wine.

For all the sailors love her,
And flock to where she's moored,
Each man hoping that he might
Go down, all hands on board."

Tanis grins and allows a few moments to pass after hearing the last verse of Tas' song before starting out. He motions for the others to step through the brush, as well, despite the fact that it feels as if every eye on Krynn is on them. The deep shade under the flame-colored leaves make it impossible to see anything in the woods even a few feet from the road. Still, this is well enough a place to rest a moment while the kender scouts.

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

The party reaches the Haven Road after an hour of traveling through the brush. It is now 11 AM.

Also, Talyn, did you want to replace that Sleep spell you expended? If you didn't do so during breakfast, now is a good time. It will only take 10 minutes.

[Talyn]

(( I shall definitely replace the sleep spell. Never know when it might be useful again! ))

Raistlin takes up position beside Caramon as they begin walking down the road, staying silent as all his concentration is on keeping pace with the group. His breathing is heavy and his pace is somewhat slow but he does his best to keep up.

[Jenara]

Listening to the trees, Laurana stands silently, her hand on her sword hilt, she was dirty and hungry, her cloak was ripped, her armor was scratched... This was not the trip she had planned.

"Something is wrong, isn't it?" She asks Sturm, watching the Kender leave, she smiles hearing his song, the Kender was at least making the trip sort of fun. "What can I do?"

[JadedDM]

Tanis looks around at each of the group. He notices Laurana attempting to speak with Sturm. Despite how she acted, he could tell she was not happy. He also saw that though the knight held his head proudly, Sturm was slogging through his own darkness.

He looks to Raistlin, concerned about the mage's ability to keep up. He had managed only so far because of his twin's help, or so Tanis feels.

Flint stumps along on the other side of Caramon. He begins to argue softly with the warrior about the ten-year old boating accident. "Trying to catch a fish with your bare hands--" Flint grumbles in disgust.

Lastly, Tanis turns his attention to Goldmoon. Seeing her clearly in the flecked gray light beneath the trees, he noticed lines around her eyes that made her appear older than her twenty-eight years. It was clear that the last few days had been hard on her. Riverwind, too, although he kept a much more stoic mask upon his face. But when he thought nobody was looking, Tanis would see the wariness that would appear momentarily on the ranger's face.

Tanis approaches the Que-Shu princess. "You said earlier...something about being banned for your love?" he asks curiously.