CH 1: The Road Travels East

[Jerrard]

Sturm turns his back on the Mage, saying nothing, instead he watches the Old Man tell his story.

(Is he still telling the story of Huma?)

[SightblinderX]

"Laurana... so much has happened. I don't even know where to begin, but we... i can't just jump into this like not a day has passed. Please, part of me never thought I'd see you again, so I am in a bit of shock..." His head reeled with thoughts on how he was going to deal with her and Kitiara...

[mltillis]

"Why five years now, that we have been gone. When we left, we were just sitting out for Raistlin to take the wizards test"....Caramons voice trails off and his eyes no longer seem to be focused on the Que-shu woman in front of him.

[Jenara]

"But..." Laurana sits with her long blonde hair covering her face, biting a strand occasionally, the hair covers the look of utter dispair she wears.

"I love you Tanthalas, I will do whatever you want me to.. Do you wish me to leave you with your freinds?" Head still low she stands, ready to leave the room, "You still wear my ring." She says quietly as she goes for the door.

[Breila]

"The wizard life must be very demanding, or has your brother always been that frail?" Goldmoon tries to keep Caramon in the present.

[mltillis]

"What? Oh, Raist's health was always poorly, but not like now. The blasted wizards test did that to him. It ruined his health and left him looking like that"....Caramon continues, his voice hinting at some unmentioned tension or turmoil, before brightening back up.... "But we have stuck in there and made the most of it. The two of us together can take on most anything."

[Breila]

"I'm sure you can" Goldmoon says, smiling at Caramon. "It's good to see brothers taking care of each other like that."

[Jerrard]

Sturm says nothing of the conversation, it was not his place to interject.

He orders another drink when Tiki walks back to them, impressed how the girl had grown under Otiks care.

Rising to his feet, Tanis would not be long, but curiosity made him walk to the Old Man, he sits nearby and listens intently. No one told stories of the old gods, rather they cursed them, blaming them for the blight on the land.

[JadedDM]

While the others waited for Tanis and Laurana to rejoin them, Sturm approached the old man in the mouse grey robes with the bent, pointed hat.

"Now, where was I? Oh, right. So Huma called upon the great god, Paladine--"

"Paladine?" a young boy interrupted. "I've never heard of a god named Paladine."

A snorting sound came from a man sitting alone at a nearby table. His face was flushed and scowling and he wore a rich brown and golden robes of a Seeker. Several mugs stood empty before him. The old man appeared not to notice.

"That's Hederick," Tika whispered as she passed by the party's table. "The High Theocrat."

"Paladine is one of the ancient gods, child. No one has worshiped him for a long time," the old man continued.

"Why did he leave?" the little boy asked.

"He did not leave us," the old man answered, and his smile grew sad. "Men left him after the dark days of the Cataclysm. They blamed the destruction of the world on the gods, instead of on themselves, as they should have done. Have you ever heard the 'Canticle of the Dragon'?"

"Oh, yes," the boy said eagerly. "I love stories about dragons, though papa says dragons never existed. I believe in them, though. I hope to see one someday!"

The old man's face seemed to age and grow sorrowful. He stroked the young boy's hair. "Be careful what you wish, my child," he said softly. Then he fell silent.

"The story--" the boy prompted.

"Oh, yes, yes. Where was I again?"

Tika then returned to the kitchen and blushed at the sight of Tanis and Laurana. "Oh, uh, sorry. Am I interrupting?" Her face darkened. "By the way, Tanis"--she reached into her pocket and drew forth a cylindrical object--"this arrived for you today. Under very strange circumstances."

(OOC: Upon opening the case and reading the letter inside, it will turn out to be a letter from Kitiara saying her duties with her new lord keep her busy. She sends her regrets and best wishes to all and her love to her brothers...and to Tanis, but she will not be able to join them.)

[Jerrard]

Sturm listens intently to the story, his nursemaid used to tell him simlar ones, when he was a child. Huma, the greatest Knight to ever live, a shning beacon for all.

[Breila]

Goldmoon plays with her long golden hair, in the process making a veil through which to peek at the man Tika had pointed out as being the theocrat. So that was the leader of the people who wanted the blue crystal staff. Goldmoon was very much reminded of the old men constituting the council of elders of her tribe, old men who would do anything to increase their power. Most of all, they imposed false Gods on their people. So it was no surprise the Godess had brought it away. But it would have been safer anywhere but close to Solace, why had she teleported them so close to danger?

[Jerrard]

Sturm watches Goldmoons reaction, with Tanis's arrival he had forgotten them briefly, but now he was focused on them again now.

My Nursemaid used to tell me, stories of Huma, of the gods, even when we fled Our Castle, our home." Approaching her quietly, he whispers. "I have often wondered about the Gods, they were the reason we separated five years ago, to seek signs of the gods." He keeps his voice very low, watching Riverwind closely. "We return to find the Seekers have taken over, Hobgoblins attack people openly. My 'friend' tells me there is a bigger picture." He gives a little glance to Rastlin.

[Breila]

Goldmoon is surprised Sturm whispers to her. Wasn't he afraid to arouse the theocrat's suspicion?

Aloud, she answers: "So where was your home, and which stories were you told? I can tell you ours, if you want to." Her voice grows quieter and quieter. "And there are stories that are not for every ear to hear, not to be told in an inn, but in quiet privacy, very delicate stories."

She continues watching the theocrat in secret. Does he show any reaction?

[JadedDM]

The theocrat keeps his full attention on the old man, a bitter look on his face. He rudely waves at Tika, grunting he wants another drink now.

[Talyn]

Raistlin sits in the shadows, his gaze shifting from the old man telling stories to the man in Seeker robes. He is expecting the situation to hit a boiling point quite soon.