CH 3: Trouble Arises

[Nuke]

"Journey, and 'er I don't even know where we be goin'."

Lost again in the conversation his friend have around him, even when he is present, he follows.

[Jerrard]

"We ride to Solanthus." Erastin smiles. "The Gem belongs to someone, we need to find out who." He pats the Dwarf on the back. "Come lets get our gear and move, Galenye would you like to ride with me as before?"

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm certainly not one to pass up such an offer," Galenye says with a smile.

[JadedDM]

Selowen sighs over-dramatically, even going so far as to put a dainty hand upon her forehead. "It seems like we just left the road. Now we are returning it? Oh, well," she adds, getting up. "I'll get my things."

It takes an hour for the party to gather their gear, and for Erastin and Targin to retrieve and saddle up their mounts. It is Fourth Watch (10 AM) by the time they set out, taking the road south to Solanthus. Although calling it a road might be a bit of an overstatement. It was really more of a well-maintained trail.

Erastin offers to let Galeneye ride alongside him, which weighs down his horse quite a bit. But this allows Targin on his pony, Ash, to keep up with the group at least.

Solanthus is 120 miles away, so they have a long journey ahead of them. It took them three days to get from there to here, so it stands to reason that's how long it will take them to return.

Fortunately, the weather is clear and warm. Hopefully, they don't run into any trouble along the way.

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(OOC: Hmm, so who exactly is carrying the light-gem? I never updated your inventories and now I don't recall who's holding it.)

[LittleLuna]

Jinali takes the offer of Karathos. "I'm very glad that we are in fresh air again, I think sitting musty halls isn't what I'd like to do all day!"

[Jerrard]

(ooc: Selowen had it last, but Erastin will take it, if thats ok)

"Indeed it does seem the road calls us. I thank you all for coming, and perhaps the journey and the City will be of more interest, I know watching me fight could not have been fun." Sitting astride Gallen he pats his side. "Come let us ride." He says with a smile, "You can hold on tight, I guess."

[Nuke]

"Solanthus, well why didn't 'ca just say, stead of beating around the anvil."

Astride a pony that is still a bit too big for him, he gets comfortable for the journey ahead.

[JadedDM]

The party sets off at the same pace as they took to get to the High Clerist's Tower in the first place. After a couple of hours, they don't really come across anything noteworthy, although around noon they spot a single, silent stag not far off the road, behind a stand of trees. It gazes passively at the party.

Alas, it is not the fabled White Stag of legend, but it does seem to have an inhuman intelligence lurking behind its eyes. Or perhaps that is just the viewer's imagination. After a few moments, it gives an impertinent flick of its white tail and springs off toward the woods.

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(OOC: I added the light-gem to Erastin's inventory. I also gave stat blocks to Ash and Gallen, which can be found in the Character Stats thread.

What's the marching order here? Any suggestions?)

[Jerrard]

(Erastin/Galenye, Karathos/Jinali, Selowen, Targin?

The way I see it Galenye should be on point, as she is on Gallen, she will be if she is up front)

[HorizonsDream]

(Yeah, she can be in the lead. It's cool by me.).

"I'm not sure if we scared it off, or it was just annoyed by the fact that we showed up," Galenye says as she watches the stag run off into the woods.

[Nuke]

"Nice rack on that one." Targin turns to Selowen casting a sidelong glance. "Dinner on the hoof there."

[JadedDM]

Selowen appears aghast. "Surely you wouldn't really kill such a beautiful creature?" she asks the young dwarf, putting a hand to her mouth.

[Breila]

"It is food" Karathos tells Selowen. "But I agree with you, there's something special about that stag." He turns and looks at the spot where the animal disappeared.
Pulling his attention back to the road, he asks Jinali: "Are you comfortable, my dear?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Wasn't there a story about some sort of White Stag?" Galenye asks as she absently leans back against Erastin on his horse. "

[Jerrard]

"Indeed there is, there are two such stories, the first tells of Huma Dragonbane, he came across a Stag in his hour of need. The Stag lead him to Gwyneth, the Silver Dragon who aided him in his fight with Takhisis, the story is a sad one, as the Great Huma died, not before admitting he loved Gwyneth." Erastin lowers his head, so much tragedy. Leaning against Galenye he closes his eyes a brief moment.

"The second tells of Sturm, the Heroes were lead by Sturm following a Stag to the Forest Master, who told them of the War, of the Blue Crystal Staff."

"Both times they were touched by the Stags Beauty, and did not kill it." He looks round to Targin. "We will not be killing the Stag my friend."