Zorlon - Levdia

[ThetaOrionis01]

"Well," Lurel says thoughtfully, "it may be that I can do something about the terrain." He holds out his hand, and shows the wolf branded into his palm. "The sign of a rockbrother. The Earth elementals allow me to use the magic of earth - and unless it interferes with their designs, I should be able to clear a path for us where the going gets difficult. And there's more."

 

He grins uncomfortably at the others. "Don't be alarmed, but lycanthropy is one of the gifts of Earth. I can turn into a wolf at need."

 

"However," he adds after a brief pause, "there's nothing I can do about the rain, unfortunately." He pulls a face, and starts stuffing one of the tents into his pack.

 

Even folded the tent doesn't fit very well, and Lurel empties his pack on the floor. Hastily he picks up a little worn doll. "Just a keepsake," he murmurs. "Used to be my sister's."

 

Lurel repacks his belongings more carefully this time, finding space for his share of the food supplies and the gloves too. He places the doll gently between his spare clothes, holding on to it for just a little bit longer than necessary.

 

With a sigh he folds the tent into as compact as space as he can, then straps it to the top of his pack.

[Switch]

"Geez Lurel. Got any other tricks up your sleeve? Just don't go eating us in the night..."

 

Ford grins slightly.

 

"As for my skills, well, I can handle a blade alright. Oh, and I got this special piece of straw..." He pulls a piece of straw out of his pocket. "When I blow on it, it disrupts people's hearing. Let's out a really quiet yet powerful noise, but it messes with my hearing too. So I guess it could come in handy for distraction but not much else..."

[ThetaOrionis01]

"Sounds like I'm not the only one with tricks up my sleeve then," Lurel replies with a grin. "Now all we need is for Midge to tell us that he can turn off the rain, and we're all set."

 

Lurel's grin turns into a yawn.

 

"Of course I don't know what skills the locals had whose attempts to reach the sea failed, but somehow I think that between us we have a wide range of skills, which I hope will give us a much better chance of success. What we don't know, though, is how far this ... ward....whatever you want to call it that's keeping people away from the sea.... is prepared to go. Maybe there have been no deaths we've heard about because people gave up rather than persevered. Maybe if we don't give up we have to expect greater danger. But perhaps that this....thing...isn't trying to kill from the outset is a good sign."

 

Again Lurel yawns, and can't stop. "Oh, I don't know. I guess we'll have to be prepared for anything, and pay attention to the smallest clue. But I can hardly keep my eyes open - I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep. How do we split up the rooms for tonight? I don't care - just tell me which bed is mine."

 

Lurel looks ready to fall asleep on the spot.

[Emry]

"I'd like to run through my kata practice before retiring, and I do not want to keep Lurel awake. I'll go in the other room.

 

"Just so you know, it's more a mind clearing and stretching regime that I practice daily. There's not a lot of jumping around or noise for that matter, but it can be disconcerting to see someone flashing a blade around near you. If you all choose to stay in this room, I'll not be offended."

 

Lisette wills the staff back into its previous dagger shaped form, picks up her gear, and heads to the door.

[ThetaOrionis01]

"Well, see you in the morning then," Lurel says to Lisette. "Good night."

 

Lurel flops onto one of the beds, pulls the blanket over himself and is soon fast asleep.

[Switch]

"Night."

 

Ford yawns and stretches. He eventually gets up off the floor and collapses onto one of the beds with a thump, not even bothering to tuck himself in, and is asleep in the matter of a few minutes.

[Emry]

Lisette moves quietly into the other room, put the gear on a bed and proceeds to run through her kata of stretching and daggerwork. If no one else decides to join her by the time she is finished, she drops the bar over the door, prepares for bed and is soon fast asleep.

[Malchik]

OOC> ShinJiOh, if you want to post an earlier piece (in time) I'll shift this post to tomorrow morning.

 

Nothing not even dreams disturbs your sleep. The time agreed to meet Padden means that your breakfast, bread, cold meat, hard boiled eggs and fruit has been left out for you on a table in the tavern. There is also juice that you later identify as apple and raspberry.

 

While you are sorting out what you want Padden proudly presents each of you with a hand-sized rectangular block of dark chocolate. (He does not tell you the walk to and from his farm took eight hours.)

 

He then says, with a tinge of embarrassment in his voice. "I hope you'll let me guide you as far as the path goes. I don't get much chance to do anything with Taffo - he's just sooo lazy. We can get there in a day. But I must get back to my mother the next day. She is not well and although she is keen for me to go, if there is an emergency..."

 

He says no more immediately then blurts out. "The thing is we'll only have time to stop once. There are things of interest and if you try to see all of them I'll have to turn back. You can do the other two on your way back. I'll tell you the three places and if you've got any questions about them I'll try to answer and then you can decide."

 

He spells out the choices.

 

"There's the abandoned farm where Zekic and his family vanished from. It's got this weird hole in the living room floor but it doesn't go anywhere. Then there's the Moldo's old place. It's a burned out shell but nobody likes going there. They say it has a strange feeling about it. And then there's the Beacon. It's just a small stone monument with a plaque giving its history. People claim that they can hear voices in the air but I never have. Does one of those sound particularly interesting?"

 

OOC> Please post any questions in one post each after which please vote giving a reason. The one chosen will be the majority vote or, if there is a tie, Lurel will decide. Padden has bought you food and drink as well as chocolate. You can visit the other two on the way back. So humour him.

[ThetaOrionis01]

Lurel thanks Padden, and nibbles on the chocolate. "Mmm...this is good! I'm sorry to hear your mother is not well, but I hope you'll pass on our thanks to her too - this is the best chocolate I've ever eaten. If you don't mind me asking, what ails her?"

 

He pours himself some juice and helps himself to some bread and fruit while he considers the options.

 

"Why those three places in particular?" he asks Padden. Chewing on a mouthful of bread and fruit he considers his next question.

 

"You said Zekic was your friend, so I guess you've been to his house a lot of times before he left. You said there was a weird hole in the floor - but is there anything else about the place which is strange?"

 

After a sip of juice, and another mouthful of bread Lurel asks quietly:

 

"Did you know the people who lived at the burnt out farm?"

 

Lurel continues his breakfast while he waits for Padden's answer.

[Switch]

Ford thanks Padden for the chocolate and stows it away in his backpack.

 

"I'll save this for later."

 

He grins and starts eating some of the cold meat.

 

"Zekic's place sounds... interesting... wonder why it would have a hole in the living room that doesn't go anywhere? On the other hand, if we went to the burnt out farm maybe we could find out more about the strange force that seems to turn people away from the beach..."

 

He drinks some juice as he thinks.