CH. 8: Proving Worth

[JadedDM]

Haahqae (Steel Tankard Inn, Common Room)
"Oh, have you fought renegades before?" Ismene asks, her curiosity piqued at his statement.

As they are speaking, the door to the inn swings open and a patched up Grubnick and Gregeddin step inside.

Kendra and Arulia (2527 Market Street, Greylock's Gorgeous Gems)
The sword wound quickly closes and then vanishes from Kendra entirely, not even leaving an unsightly scar behind.

(OOC: Arulia casts Cure Light Wounds on Kendra, restoring (1d8): 8 HP. Kendra is now fully healed.)

Grubnick (Steel Tankard Inn, Common room)
Grubnick, with Gregeddin in tow, heads to the Steel Tankard, a rather dirty hovel for an inn, especially when compared to the High Hand. Looking around the common area, they spot Haahqae speaking with what appears to be another gnome, although this one is female.

[HorizonsDream]

"It was my test to get into the army," Kendra explains. "Believe me, the draconian that I fought was worse off," she adds with a small smile. She really didn't have any regret in killing him in the least. "And I don't think she is going to go check and see if I healed myself with the church. Though, it might be a good idea to keep it covered for different reasons."

Kendra sighs and runs her fingers through her hair as she looks down at her breakfast. "I'm not sure how you can help. I'm not even really sure what I'm going to do today with the army. I assume it is training since I'm new. I'm probably going to have to deal with people that don't like me because I killed that draconian, too."

[Haahque]

“Yes, err, I think I have anyways, but I’m not sure if they were considered powerful enough to be called renegades. I thought that had some connection with being a powerful wizard that was outcast, I’ve only fought rather weak wizards, like there was that one time in the iron mine near this town…” He’s about to launch into another story when he notices his companions approaching. “Oh, it looks like some of the others have arrived. Gregeddin here was part of my team as we fought the possibly renegade hobgoblin wizard Sekla and her demons. Gregeddin, would you like to regale us with the story?”

After he speaks he'll glance over to the other girls that had promised to help. By the looks of things, the adventure was about to begin and he should make sure the whole group is acquainted before that happens.

[TristenC]

Grubnick walks in and waves to the gnome. I want to check your bandages before we head out. Do you have a private spot we could use for a minute? I might be able to do something... he says to Haahque. Seeing the new gnome, he gives her his best smile, Hello, I don't believe we've met. Call me Gobax, and you are? he extendes gis hand to Ismene to shake.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae and Gobax (Steel Tankard Inn, Common Room)
"Ah, hello again, Ismene," Gregeddin says upon seeing the female gnome. "It's good to see you again."

"Oh, hi, Gregeddin!" Ismene replies. "Did you all really fight demons?"

"More like kobolds and sligs, and a pair of what we now know are baaz," the bard replies. "But their leader was a renegade, yes. Although she claimed to be from the future of all things."

Ismene looks at Gobax with some surprise, but manages to get her bearings and shake his hand. "Uh, hello, Gobax. I'm Ismene. How do you do?" She has pale skin, grey eyes and blonde hair. She's wearing red robes but has a grey wool coat over it to keep warm. A ferret is sticking its head out of the coat, unwilling to leave the warmth but evidently wishing to keep an eye on things around her.

Haahqae notes that the two women he hired are still at the bar. They are keeping tabs on the party, but have made no move to approach them yet.

[BishGada]

In the back of his mind Tulbas feels this has already happened, but he pushes that feeling back and continue after his mother, trying to help to his sister Maelana, while their father guarded their backs. His father was always very respected among their village. He was very smart and practical. He always found time to listen to any of the people problems, give advice, a hand or just to let speak their mind. But now all he offered is urge them forward. It seemed a lost cause... The Dragons are on their tails. What chance of survival do they have. Tulbas had done all he could to help, at some stages he carried Maelana on his back, even though he himself wasn't so strong. They saw other families running. Their friends and neighbors. His father tried to help them as well but everyone got tired. His father could manage to keep the group of nearby people ordered and quiet and they made good pace. But that wasn't enough. The sounds of battle, that started behind them, now came from all directions. They were surrounded. If only Raetmal would be with them. He was a powerful magic user. He would have saved them. Maybe even Teleport them away from danger...

[djhyland]

"Well, I don't know how to help, either," Arulia admits. "Even if I could have joined the army, I'd be where you are now. But at least you might get a chance to make a difference. I'll be here in town, looking for a job or getting married, and I doubt either will provide much opportunity to help." She considers for a moment. "There's got to be some way to get closer, at least. The army has to need blacksmiths to repair horseshoes and buckles and such...maybe I can find work there."

[HorizonsDream]

"Couldn't you join the temple?" Kendra asks. "You can heal, after all. Though, keeping your faith a secret would be kind of hard."

[Haahque]

"Yes, I guess the demons did look a lot like these Baaz creatures we see so often these days. It's just that before that adventure I had never seen a Baaz before, so when I saw the scales and the wings and the owner of the mine telling me that they were demons, I thought, sure, demons. Also the turning to stone when they died seemed pretty demonic. But I digress, a request was made for somewhere more private, so let us make to my room. I do have a modest room here in this inn, and it should offer a might of privacy for you to bind my wounds. If you would follow me this way." Haahqae will then lead as many of the party as wish to follow up to his room. If it appears that Gregeddin desires to stay in the common room, Haahqae will point him towards the two women so that he can get his own opinion on the new recruits.

[djhyland]

Arulia shakes her head vigorously. "No...I couldn't even enter the temple to join the army! When we were talking to the guards outside, I felt her eyes on me, and the only thing that kept me hidden was Fizban's protection. I knew that if I went in, she'd find me. She's not the kind to take kindly to those who serve other gods, I think." She shakes her head again, this time less violently. "If I could have joined, I would have. Then I wouldn't be worrying about finding money to support my family or about what kind of person my father will find to marry me off to."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae and Gobax (Steel Tankard Inn, Room 15)
"Best give them privacy," Gregeddin recommends to the others, figuring Gobax probably doesn't want to reveal his 'secret' to a group of mercenaries he does not know.

The two head up to Haahqae's room upstairs. Compared to the room Gobax has at the High Hand, this place was a real dump. The curtains have moth holes in them, the bed sheets smell of a faint odor--and there's an old red stain on the wall that one hopes is ketchup, but it's probably best not to think about it much. The window isn't completely level, either, so a cold draft is being let inside.

Tulbas Erogund (Unknown location)
The details begin to return. His sister's name was Maelana. She was younger than him; no more than a child he could carry on his back. His father was a good man, well-respected. These details return to him, having been shut out for the past two years.

His uncle could help them, if he was here; he was a mage, like Tulbas' mother. But he was a dark elf--banished from the light of Silvanesti three years ago. This was the worst punishment imaginable to the elves, as the death penalty is unthinkable to a race that cherishes life over all else. Raetmal could never return to this forest, under any circumstance--even an emergency like this one.

The party had grown in size, now consisting of several families. Tulbas noted that these families came from several different houses. Members of House Royal and House Mystic mingled freely with House Servitor and House Gardener. Rank and caste mean little when running for one's life.

Up ahead, there's a scream. A trio of dragonmen emerge from the darkness, swords and shields in hand. At once, Tulbas' mother begins chanting in the spidery language of magic. "Kalith karan, tobanis-kar!" A number of glowing projectiles fire from her hands, arc around her people and slam into the draconians with lethal force. All three immediately turn to stone upon impact.

A second later, Tulbas' mother drops to her knees, exhausted. His father helps her to her feet. "What is it?" he asks. "Are you alright?"

"Drained..," she replies. "I have no more of the Art left in me."

"But...the ring?" his father objects. "Where is it?" he demands, realizing she is not wearing the family ring.

She shakes her head. "I no longer have it. We must keep going. We are nearly to the edge of the forest. If we can make it, we can escape."

[TristenC]

Well enough, thank you. And yourself? He responds to Ismene pleasantly, waiting her reply before moving on upstairs.

Once there, Grubnick checks the other gnome's injuries. When he is sure nobody will overhear or see, he casts cure light wounds on Haahque; hoping that will repair most if not all of his injuries. How did your recruitment go? I was able to find a couple of fighters myself. I presume the girl in red robes was the mage you met yesterday?

[Ooc: I might put another heal on him depending on the roll. IC is still down]

[Haahque]

"Oh yes, it went well indeed, Ismene is the amazing mage that I met yesterday yes. The girls I pointed out by the bar are also willing to come, as long as they get a share of the loot. That seems to be all they care about, but if it saves Tulbas so be it." Haahqae replies, his voice going from misty optimism while speaking of Ismene to hard and uncaring while talking of the other girls.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra looks at Arulia with a confused expression upon her face. "You don't join the army by going to the temple," she points out. "I joined the army by going to the Fire Snake's Commander. It had nothing to do with the temple."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae and Gobax (Steel Tankard Inn, Room 15)
After Gobax casts his spell of healing, Haahqae instantly feels better. His sprained leg from jumping down a chimney clears up at once, and he watches as the arrow wound that nearly killed him closes up entirely, not even leaving a scar behind.

(OOC: Gobax casts Cure Light Wounds on Haahqae, restoring (1d8): 8 HP. Haahqae is fully healed.)