Tales of Faerun

[Naktis]

Nawen wasn't in a good mood in the beginning of their journey. She had never been in a desert and had no idea what to expect. She had hoped that their journeys will take them only to the places she was familiar with and eastern part of Faerun was not familiar with. Their travel to Dalelands also provided an opportunity to see more of the world which might prove useful for her future adventures but at the moment Nawen wasn't concerning herself with such thoughts.

 

Unfortunately the weather was too hot for her and she had to take her hood off, showing everyone that she's a Drow but strangely enough it didn't bother her now.

 

As their caravan approached the fork Nawen noticed a man sitting on a rock. She noticed that he had a lute. "How strange to see a bard in the desert." The drow thought as she watched the man cautiously. She kept her eyes on him even when his icy blue eyes were focused on her.

Edited January 30, 2013 by Naktis

[josh900]

Tannin had kept quiet through most of the day. Figuring that his usual talkative manner would be unwelcome after the death of a companion. Though when they came across the wandering Bard he couldn't hold his tongue. "Not particular thanks. We're more than well prepared for anything that we may come across." He said with a hint of unpleasantness in his tone. The way the Bard was looking at the women told Tannin all he needed to know. The Bard was a walking stereotype probably interested in traveling with them purely for aesthetic reasons. Despite this Tannin's true reasons for not wanting him to tag along were not malicious in nature. In fact he was trying to ensure that the Bard wouldn't do or say something stupid that might result in him receiving bodily harm from the female members of the group.

[AurianaValoria1]

Bilron and Maeve slowed their carts whilst Rhaine kicked her horse to canter ahead of them, placing herself between them and the man on the road. The black steed danced under her, tossing his head even as the bit pulled at the corners of his mouth, his eyes wide.

 

"As you can see, we have a great many blades already," the Doomguide began, the silver hilt of her own bastard sword glimmering at her hip, "and we intend on traversing the Anauroch. We have enough supplies for ourselves, and little more to spare. If you wish to travel with us, you will have to be self-sufficient."

 

The last thing they needed was a moocher draining that much more of their supplies. They were pushing it as it was. Though more blades were usually always welcome, in this case, it could be a detriment.

 

She shifted in her saddle, "Tell me of your name, traveler."

[Ithildin]

Echo spent the first part of the journey lost in her own thoughts; she hadn't yet spoken to anyone about encountering Mahira in her dream. The sudden loss of Aricia had upset the halfling so much that at times it seemed difficult to breathe, and for that reason, she was in no mood for conversation. Sitting very still in her saddle, she watched the movements of the animals around her, horses and oxen alike, remembering what the stable hand had told her about the connection between Loudwater's animal thefts and a ring of bandits in Llorkh. The fact that the caravan would pass through that part of the world unnerved her, but perhaps the presence of so many well-armed travelers who were obviously accustomed to fighting would be enough of a deterrent for potential thieves.

 

With her mind on such black matters, Echo wasn't especially concerned when the caravan's path crossed with that of a solitary bard. He seemed friendly enough, and she thought that listening to his songs and tales along the way might help lighten their hearts for a while, but prudently chose to remain silent while Rhaine spoke with him.

[Macman253]

Bard chuckled, he understood that and he was fully capable of sustaining himself. "My fair lady, I have wandered many places and I am fully capable of taking care of myself. My name is Bard, All I ask for is travelling companions... I seek no food nor shelter." He said with a gentle smile, he noticed the group was well armed and hardened by years of warfare. A look he had seen on many faces, but the look that was on their faces was that of grief.

 

"They lost a companion, but not to battle." He deduced from their faces, their movements were heavy with grief and guilt. He smiled wide, his teeth were white and his looks handsome but he knew those would not cheer up the travellers. Bard had a innate knack for reading people, it was a trait he learned early in his childhood and it served him well in the militia aswell as in life afterwards. He also had a unique skill to bring cheer to those without it and hope to the hopeless.

 

"I also offer my services, your party seems downtrodden. I am fair with a lute and song, I am a good cook aswell." He said, the truth was that he was an excellent cook. His father owned a tavern and his mother had taught him quite a lot but the majority he learned from his life as a bachelor. When you have no wife to cook for you, you tend to learn how to cook on your own. "My real reasons for asking is simple, I seek adventures. Those which I can write of and may someday become great legends. That and my feet hurt..." He said as he patted the large tome strapped across his chest with a leather strap and a light chuckle.

[AurianaValoria1]

Rhaine paused for a moment. His request did not seem unreasonable, and perhaps his music would serve to lighten the mood...

 

"Very well...Bard," she said at last, hesitating slightly at the redundancy of his name, "You are welcome to join us."

 

Sori began bouncing up and down beside her mother at the prospect of a musician joining them, and Maeve had to fight to keep the girl from bouncing right off of the seat of the wagon.

 

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Maydiira coughed as she hit the floor of her cell again after being thrown into it. The hunger pains had ceased long ago, but she was still dehydrated. There was moisture on the dank walls, and the urge to crawl up to one and lick the water off was almost unbearable...

 

She had yet to find a way to escape. Attempting to discern the proper way out by guesswork alone was impossible; the cavern complex was a winding labyrinth of tunnels that she could barely glimpse as her captors escorted her to and from her cell. And the only chance she had of actually escaping was if she could somehow kill her escorts while they took her to meet Valthanarax.

 

She would be lucky if she could summon an equalizer before the wizards slew her...

[Macman253]

Bard smiled and nodded, he walked around to the back of the carriage and sat down. Setting his weatherbeaten lute across his lap as he relaxed. His muscles began to feel much better as he sat down and stretched. It felt good to get off his road-weary feet and in the presence of companions, he idly strummed his lute and sang a tune of cheer.

 

And who are you, me pretty fair maid

And who are you, me honey?

She answered me quite modestly:

I am me mother's darling.

 

And will you come to me mother's house,

When the sun is shining clearly I'll open

the door and I'll let you in. She said to me

on that fair mornin'. So I went to her house

in the middle of the night When the moon

was shining clearly.

 

She took me horse by the bridle and the bit

And she led him to the stable Saying "There's

plenty of oats for a soldier's horse, To eat it if he's able"

 

Then she took me by the lily-white hand

And she led me to the table "There's plenty

of wine for a soldier boy, To drink it if you're able."

 

He sang, the tune was foreign but it was soft and cheerful. His fingers slinked along the neck of the lute dexterously as he strummed the choords. He idly tapped his foot in rythym with the tune and smiled, he gave a wink and a smirk to the little girl that cheered at his arrival as he played, he loved children and had often dreamed of what it was like to be a father. Despite his secret desire he could never see himself settling down for the married life, his skills were not suited to that life. Maybe, in his travels if he could be fortunate enough to earn a fortune and keep it this time. He would settle but until then he was happy walking with the wind and listening to the horizons call. He stopped his singing and played his lute expertly, his fingers stretching across the strings as he played a light and feathery tune.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Macman253

[AurianaValoria1]

The caravan began moving forward again, ambling along the road at its former pace. Rhaine hoped that Bard's playing would serve to ease some tension and grief in the minds and hearts of her companions as they continued on, the sky tinting pink as the sun descended through the heavens.

 

At last, as the last rays of the sun vanished beneath the horizon, the company reached the walls of Llorkh. By Bilron's request, they kept just outside the city, unhitching the oxen a short ways off of the road and forming a circular campsite with the wagons. The horses were tethered to a nearby lone tree.

 

As Bilron watered and fed the animals, Maeve began pulling food and drink out of her cart for the family. All the while, Rhaine perched atop one of the wagon's wheels and simply watched the activity.

[GrueMaster]

Tak'we looked upon the strange softskin with suspicion at first. The thri'kreen was still getting used to Amendale and Weyland being with them, and having another outsider traveling with the party discomforted him. I don't like the way he stares at Nawen, either, he added quietly in his thoughts. His anxiety faded quickly though once the bard began to play his instrument, the warrior taking a liking to the cheerful tune.

 

When they stopped outside the city of Llorkh to camp for the night, Tak'we gave a sigh of relief. He'd wanted to be outside without his cloak on at least once before going into yet another softskin village. He set his pack down by the wagon and opened up his cloak and hood, then realized that not everyone was used to the sight of a thri'kreen.

 

*Tck-tck* He clicked nervously. "It isss good to finally resst, issn't it?" Tak'we spoke quickly in a light tone, trying not to sound anxious. "That cloak iss sstuffy." Oh, dear... he muttered inwardly, hoping no one would be frightened by him. "Do you need any help?" the thri'kreen asked Maeve eagerly, trying to make himself appear not as terrifying as most softskins found him by being helpful.

[Ithildin]

After the caravan halted outside Llorkh, Echo fed her mare an apple. I don't have many of these left, and probably won't be able to get more for some time; please savor it, she projected. To her amusement, White-Nose didn't respond, and sulked for a while after eating the gift.

 

At that point, the halfling decided it might be a good time to tell Rhaine about her dream and the nature of the worry stone in her pocket. On her way to where Rhaine was sitting, she thanked Bard for his entertainment. "Your music has done much to improve my mood," she added, smiling shyly as she walked past.

 

Someone had built a fire, and its light gilded the wings of the Doomguide as she perched above one of Bilron's wagon wheels. The halfling climbed up and settled near her as comfortably as she could, then began to relate the details of her last conversation with Mahira. Upon reaching the part about the stone, she pulled it out and turned it over so the inscription was visible, then handed it to Rhaine. "I'd like you to have this; it makes no sense at all for me to sell it, when you and everyone else here can put it to good use." She paused, and then hesitantly asked, "If it's not too much trouble ... would you mind telling me a little about Lord Kelemvor? I didn't have time to ask Mahira any questions, and won't see her again 'til the Feast of the Moon. I wonder whether she and Lady Aricia could be happy, wherever they are now ... what happens to us after death? Do we all end up in the same place?"