CH 1: The Road Travels East

[mltillis]

Caramon holds back a branch for Goldmoon and Riverwind, as they exit the brush and step upon the road.... " I've never heard the forest this quiet before "....

[Breila]

Goldmoon sighs and replies to Tanis: "Yes. You have learned by now that I am the Que-Shu chieftain's daughter. Riverwind is the son of a shepherd. He was the only one to see the person I am, not just the princess, and over the years, we fell in love. This mismatch angered the people in power, as you can imagine. The whole story is a little more complicated, and involves the blue crystal staff. When we are settled somewhere in relative safety, I will sing you the song the old man in the inn asked me for. Then you all will know."

[JadedDM]

Tanis nods. "Very well then." He turns to walk away, but Riverwind greatly surprises him by addressing him.

"Tanis Half-Elven," he says. "That is your name?" The ranger recalls hearing that from one of the others.

Tanis turns back to face him. "Among humans, that is what I am called," Tanis answers. "My elvish name is long and difficult for humans to pronounce."

Riverwind frowns. "Why is it," he asks, "that you are called half-elf and not half-man?"

The question strikes Tanis a blow across the face. He could almost envision himself sprawling in the dirt and has to force himself to stop and swallow an angry retort. He knows Riverwind is asking this question for a reason. It is not been meant as an insult. This is a test, Tanis realizes. He chooses his words carefully.

"According to humans, half an elf is but part of a whole being. Half a man is a cripple."

Riverwind considers this and nods once, abruptly, seeming satisfied with the answer.

Awkwardly excusing himself, Tanis walks a bit of away, looking to the road in anticipating of the kender's return. Flint approaches him.

"You know, lad, in all the confusion, I completely forgot about Kitiara. She must have arrived late, wondering where the rest of us were," the dwarf commented.

"No...no, she didn't. I forgot in the chaos, too. Tika gave me a letter she had sent. She has a new employer in the north, and couldn't make it," Tanis explains.

"You mean...she broke the oath intentionally?!" Flint fumes. "No wonder we've had such bad luck!" He calms down when he notices the expression on the half-elf's face. "Eh, I'm sure she's fine, though. Kitiara is more than capable of taking care of herself, right?"

Tanis nods slowly. "Yes, she certainly is."

[Jenara]

Laurana watches the exchange between Tanis (that name was still strange to her) and Riverwind with interest. Tanis's answer intrigued her, why did he hide behind a beard with these Humans? What was so bad with the world he left behind?

Just as she goes to discuss just that with him, Flint steps in front of her, discussing the Human, Kitiara. Tanis was mourning her loss, of that she was certain.

"Tanthalas Quisif-Nan Pah." Waiting for Flint to return to the group, she addresses him in Elven, "Why do you allow me to stay?" she asks simply her hands on her hips.

[JadedDM]

Tanis turns to her and frowns. He speaks in Elvish haltingly, not used to the language anymore. "What else can I do with you? Leave you on the side of the road? I'm hoping that when we get to Haven, we can arrange transportation for you home. If there are no answers to Haven, we're going to Qualinost anyway...we can take you then. I am certain your father did not approve of you being out here, yes?"

[Jenara]

"My father is too busy chasing shadows." She answers as if it answered everything. "I will prove my worth, I will make you proud of me." Her voice, trying to sound all mature and responsible suddenly breaks.

[JadedDM]

Tanis looks ready to argue with her further, but he is interrupted when Flint tugs at his sleeve. "What is it?" he asks, switching back to Common.

"The 'scout' returns," Flint says dryly.

Indeed, Tasslehoff is running down the road toward them. He waves his arm three times.

"Into the brush!" Tanis orders.

Tas comes dashing up, pouches and packs bouncing wildly as he runs. "Clerics!" he gasps. "A party of clerics. Ten."

Flint grunts. "Clerics? I thought it was a battalion of goblin guards the way you were running. Clerics are no concern."

"I don't know, Tasslehoff says dubiously. "I've seen clerics from every part of Kryn and I've never seen any like these." He glances down the road apprehensively, then gazes up at Tanis, unusual seriousness in his brown eyes. "Do you remember what Tika said about the strange men in Solace hanging around with Hederick? How they were hooded and dressed in heavy robes? Well, that describes these clerics exactly! And, Tanis, they gave me an eerie feeling." The kender shudders. "They'll be in sight in a few moments."

Tanis shares a look with Flint. The dwarf raises his brows. Both of them know that kenders do not feel the emotion of fear, yet were extremely sensitive to other creatures' natures. Tanis couldn't remember when the sight of any being on Krynn had ever given Tas an 'eerie feeling'--and he had been with the kender in some tight spots.

"Okay, get in the brush. Maybe you should talk to them, Sturm. We need information about the road ahead. But be careful, friend."

[Talyn]

Raistlin lets out a long drawn out sigh. "Or perhaps we should say nothing to them and stay hidden." he suggests somewhat acidly. "Have you forgotten we are wanted men and women?"

He looks away, not wanting to waste any more breath trying to talk the fools around him out of their folly.

[Breila]

"I am with Rastlin. Let's hide." Without any further words, Goldmoon goes back into the brush. "Can you hide our trail?" she asks Riverwind.

[Jerrard]

Sturm nods his head, "Do not worry, I do not intend to throw my life needlessly." He adjusts his sword, checking the ancient blade before stepping out into the Road.

He walks on confidently, stroking his mustaches. "Hail brethren, what news from the road?" He asks loudly, hoping the others can hear.

[Jenara]

"You-?" Laurana starts to protest, but stops herself, if Goldmoon can do it, so can she.

Stepping into a dry area she waits with the others, standing next to Tas. "Clerics? We are hiding from Clerics?" She almost follows Sturm, but doesn't.

[mltillis]

Caramon hesitates at the brushline, his glance going from his brother and the others, to Sturm walking down the road..... "I don't like this Tanis.... Would Sturm be hiding in the bushes if it was you or I walking down that road?"....

[JadedDM]

Riverwind does what he can to hide the evidence that the party was here, then he joins Goldmoon in the brush. Tanis, Tas, Flint, Raistlin, and Laurana join them. Caramon, however, hesitates.

"That's why I chose him to talk to them," Tanis explains to the big warrior. "I figured he'd be too stubborn to hide with the rest of us." Whether Caramon joins them or remains with Sturm is up to him.

The companions wait in silence. Gray clouds mass overhead, the sky grows darker and soon water begins to drip through the branches of the trees.

"There, it's raining," Flint grumbles. "It isn't enough that I have to squat in a bush like a toad, now I get soaked to the skin--"

Tanis glares at the dwarf. Flint mumbles and falls silent. Soon the companions could hear nothing bu the rain splattering against the already wet leaves, drumming on shield and helm. It was a cold, steady rain, the kind that seeps through the thickest cloak. It runs off Caramon's dragon helm and trickles down his neck.

Tanis looks out to the road through the brush. Like Tas, he has never seen anything to compare to these clerics in his hundred or so years on Krynn. They were tall, about six feet in height. Long robes shrouded their bodies, hooded cloaks cover the robes. Even their feet and hands are wrapped in cloth, like bandages covering leprous wounds. As they near Sturm, they glance around warily. One of them stares straight into the brush where the companions are hiding. They could see only dark, glittering eyes through a swath of cloth.

There are indeed ten of them. They pull with them a small wagon, and within it lies an eleventh member of their order, seemingly unconscious.

"Hail, Knight of Solamnia," the lead cleric says in the Common tongue. "We come from the east," the cleric answers to the knight's question. "But today we travel from Haven. It is a chill, bitter day for journeying, knight, so you may find the road empty. We ourselves would not undertake such a journey save we are driven by necessity. We did not pass you on the road, so you must be traveling from Solace, Sir Knight."

[mltillis]

Caramon decides to stand with Sturm. He quickly steps away from the party's hiding space, then moves up closer to the knight..... " Raistlin will give me grief over this....but I have your side "....He says quietly.

[Jerrard]

Sturm gives his companion a quick glance, there was nothing he could do now. "Indeed myself and my companion travel from Solace." He pauses, looking closely at them. "I am curious, what brings you traveling on a day like today? Are you fleeing from the Armies to the North? I am traveling to my Homeland, and would be interested to hear of such news."