CH 1: The Road Travels East

[Jerrard]

"I believe neither of you wish to go to the Plains." Sturm states, momentarily turning, looking at Goldmoon and Riverwind. "Thus it is Haven, But what do we do if they are all like Hederick? Where do we go then?"

[Jenara]

Watching Tanis Closely for a moment she listens to Sturm and returns her attention to the Map. "There is always Qualinesti, Father.. The Speaker might help...."

[JadedDM]

Tanis frowned. "Would the Speaker of the Suns really help us? Humans, a dwarf and kender, and...me? I have doubts they'd even let us into the forest."

[Jenara]

Laurana regards him strangely for a moment, the rather uncharacteristically shrugs. "We could try, it would be better than sitting in a cold cave." She turns her back to him with a snort and checks the map once more, still looking for the ruin.

[Talyn]

Raistlin looks at Goldmoon. "The constellations are missing, two most prominently linked to the gods." he says in his raspy voice. "My belief is that the old gods now walk the world again."

He settles down to continue sipping his tea and listens to the others talk. "Qualinesti is quite close... the quickest path is through Darken Wood." he lets that settle into the room with a grim smile on his face. "The seekers can not be trusted with the staff. That much should be obvious even to you." he says meaning everyone.

[JadedDM]

"Ooh, Darken Wood?" Tas quipped. "It's haunted, right? I heard the deal walk there. I bet that would be a really interesting adventure! Let's do that."

"Qualinesti?" Riverwind scowled. "The Elven Lands? No! Humans are forbidden to enter. Not that we would want to anyway."

[Breila]

Goldmoon lays her hand on Riverwind's arm. "Times are changing, and they are changing fast. We should not rule out anything based on old prejudices. However, people in power generally want things to stay as they are, as we have discovered at our cost.

We were banned not only because of our love, but mostly because Riverwind brought proof of the Old Gods" Goldmoon holds up the blue crystal staff, now looking innocently wooden.

"I don't know your father, Laurana. but from my experience with people in power - my own father, the council of elders, Hederic the theocrat - I would prefer to look for answers somewhere away from centers of power.

That's my opinion. However, I will go wherever the rest of you goes. You know the country better."

[Jenara]

Laurana looks at Goldmoon for a moment, considering her words. "My Father is a kind and honorable man." She pulls her cloak about herself, the cold causing her to shiver slightly. "If we asked him, he would help you."

She looks to Tanis with a curious gaze, "He loved you like a Son, and misses you dearly." She returns her attention to the map.

[JadedDM]

Tanis considered Goldmoon's words. "Avoiding centers of power is difficult. But it also eliminates any place I can think of where we might find answers. We need to bring it to someone who might know something--religious scholars or historians, perhaps. We can find those in Haven." He hesitated and looked to Laurana. "And admittedly, in Qualinost, as well." He looked to the kender. "Tas, any other suggestions?"

The kender shrugged. "The only other towns in the nearby area, besides Solace, Haven and Qualinost, are mostly small villages: Gateway, Que-Teh, and Que-Kiri."

Tanis looked over the group. "Odds are slim we'll find anything there, but we can try. What say you, Goldmoon? You are the one bearing the staff. And what say the rest of you? Let's put it to a vote."

"I vote Darken Wood!" Tas immediately said, raising his hand.

"That's not a choice," Tanis muttered, putting a hand to his forehead.

[Jenara]

"I vote Haven." Laurana pipes up, raising her hand. "In the hope we find where Riverwind found the Staff."

[Jerrard]

Sturm turns from his guard duty, responding to the question, "I will go where you go Tanis, but Haven seems like a start, while the Seekers are obviously unsuitable, we may have more luck finding one of the wise."

[Breila]

Goldmoon thinks Tanis's words over, then answers. "For the moment, I would prefer Haven. Though I have been taught Qalinesti" she bows a little to Laurana, "I don't know the culture well and might misbehave, diminishing our chances for success. I'd prefer to know the world a little better before I go to Qualinost."

[mltillis]

Caramon silently mulls over the prospects... " Brother, Haven is more or less on the way to Qualinost, is it not? We can continue on to Qualinost, if we don't find answers there. "

[JadedDM]

"Lad's got a point there," Flint pointed out. "I don't care where we go, as long as it's dry land."

Tanis nodded. "Seems like we have a majority then. Very well. Let's set a watch and try to get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll head for Haven."

[Jenara]

"I shall take a watch, I want to be useful, plus we need to find food..." Laurana pipes up rather too enthusiastically. She could hunt, and she could fight, now she had to prove it to them.