Chapter 1: The Road to Dagger Falls

[NoTrammeling]

Randal Morn holds up a restraining hand, and his band lower their bows. Apparently there is some discipline amongst the rag-tag bunch. He may look like the man you've heard about, his hair is the right color and he's certainly as comely as the rumors say. His blade, too, holds up with legends if it is indeed the famed Fang's Bane. It certainly looks old enough.

"What luck, master dwarf, I knew the suffering of my people would bring aid from the outside world." He looks back at his men, a self-assured smiled painted on his face. They seem to take great heart at this. He calls to the surrounding woods, "Show yourselves! I give you my word that you will have free passage!"

He gives Elianna a short nod, indicating he's heard her question but means to wait.

[Jenara]

Elianna waits, arms crossed, waiting to see what happens, if he is in fact Randal morn they will be safe.

[Faeryl Nhiikira]

Seraphina opts to wait for others to step out first. Never can fully trust Big Folk in her experience, and she's not about to be the guinea pig led to slaughter if it can be helped.

[onlie2005]

Maria is a little more anxious to show herself. She remembers her mother's stories of Randal Morn and her exploits in his service. The girl never met Randal Morn personally but she knew of him Stepping out from out of the cover of the tree she reveals herself. Maria in some ways is the spitting, though of course childlike version of her mother save for being mostly fairskinned and having reddish brown hair instead of dark brown. She shares her mother's piercing hazel eyes. Something about the way her shoulders are shown, sort of like brave yet vulnerable might remind Randal Morn of her father Allistair Fireheart.

[Jenara]

Elianna ushers Maria towards her with a motion of her head.

[Breila]

Eringard leaves cover, too, pushing the cloak back over her shoulders so that the robes show (and she could easily draw the morning star if necessary.
"I am Eringard, of Lathander's temple at Dagger Falls. I am on my way home, because I am needed there." she says simply. She observes the man, does he fit the description she has heard, too? Is there something she could ask him that only the real Randal Morn would know? Does his description of Constable Tren match her experiences with the man?

[onlie2005]

Maria moves over to Elianna's side, her head held high as she says, "I am Maria Fireheart. I came here to help."

[HorizonsDream]

Raina looks to Jain with a look of surprise, as she had never expected to meet Randal Morn on this little adventure. "This could be a good thing," she says softly before she climbs out of the depression to join the others. She looks a little star struck as she looks over Randal with a smile. "I'm Raina," she says. "I didn't think, for a moment, that our little group would meet you."

[NoTrammeling]

Heaving a heavy but silent sigh, Jain Longleague follows Raina out of the depression. He bows his head deferentially, letting the party speak for him.

Meanwhile the man claiming to be Randal Morn removes his helm. He smiles when he sees Eringard's garb, nodding politely to her, "It is my hope you restore the Morning Lord to his place here, he is lost in too many of our heart's."

He pauses, cocking his head as if to listen for something, then returns his attention to the party, specifically Maria. "Fireheart... What are you doing in Daggerdale? If the Zhents got their hands on you..." He frowns at the group, eyes flickering to Gimak and Elianna. He visibly struggles with some inward problem before speaking, "Very well! I'll take my allies where I can get them." He forces a laugh for the benefit of his men, but his eyes are coldly determined.

"The disease then. Right. So far it is contained to Dagger Falls, would that it was contained to only the Zhentish son-of..." He coughs, catching himself. "No doubt Tren would gladly sacrifice a few of his own to draw me out, make no mistake that is what this is: some Zhentish scheme to eradicate us. It is a frightening ailment, beginning as a simple cold but one night the sufferer falls to sleep and never returns to the land of the waking. Already over one hundred lay trapped in their dreams! And there have been disappearances..."

The man called Morn runs a gauntleted hand through his hair, troubled.

[Breila]

"What nature is that sleep?" Eringard asks, alarmed. "Can they at least swallow when given something to drink?" As an afterthought, she adds "And who are the people that disappeared?"

[Jenara]

"Help comes from unexpected places, perhaps those that once came to you aid as a child might come again?" Elianna says, making a slight gesture with her hand, "We have been employed to find the cause, and that is what I aim to do." She looks over at Jain, and then at the Man who calls himself Randall Morn and then back again, before nodding.

"Could you tell us where it started? Who was the first to be affected?" She asks patiently, arms still crossed.

[Faeryl Nhiikira]

Seraphina remains hidden, listening in. She also makes sure to keep an eye out for potential ambushes. She has never trusted easily.

[JadedDM]

"You can count on us to get to the bottom of this sleeping sickness," Gimak states. "But how do we get word to you once we do? You mentioned something about a reward?"

[HorizonsDream]

"What do you mean there has been disappearances?" Raina asks. "On top of people not waking up, those same people are disappearing too?"

[onlie2005]

Maria seems to eye Randal Morn for a moment as if she suspected something. But then let it pass. She did keep in mind of what the Zhentarim mention. This worried her. What would the Zhentarim want with her.

I would like to help as well. But what do you mean by if the Zhentarim got hold of me? Is there something more I should know?