The Necromancer's Pact VII: Lake of Tears II

[sacreddeamon]

Thokk

Thokk remain stoic the entire ride, merely riding along and watching everything as it passes him. Once at the town, he nods at Elthans suggestion, and wanders around lookking for a symbol to Moradin. Not finding one, he curses the people under is breath, and proceedes to the nearest blacksmith, borrows it for several mintues, and hammers out a crude symbol, a hammer. He then affixis it upon the shield and continues on his way.

[runehawk]

Lizardkin Druid

Seeing that the people of that town did not react in a hostile manner, the druid decided to attempt to find a temple of Ehlonna if possible. With all the vast wilderness between towns, he was confident of at least finding a human ranger or two.

He also decides to draw some money from the group to stock up on their food. He is unsure how/where to buy them and wonders if Fizahn will tag along.

OOC: not sure who i draw money from but ssathiya wants to accomplish 3 things.
1. warn 'nature' types and get info
2. buy food supplies
3. figure out a way to detect oncoming attacks. up til now they'd been located quickly twice and he doesn't like being blind.

[Dark_Stalion]

Evandur

Evandur sits in the cart with the body. He seems to look sad in a detached way, more like he's sad about a beautiful thing that has been broken than a friend who has died. He reaches out as though to touch Si'rene's face a couple of times but stops short befre he actualy contacts the dead flesh.
[hr]
On entry to the town he searches for a shrine to Sune to pray at, distancing himself from the party.

[blackfox]

Katrin
Katrin remains silent for most of the ride to Two Stars, responding to questions with single-word answers. She fights to keep her grief under control, knowing that she can't let it overwhelm her, believing that if it does, the panther side of her could break loose.

At the inn, Katrin simply nods when Tiriel explains what she is going to do. She also leaves the inn and wanders the streets in search of a temple of Selune, following Elthan's advice.

It is ironic, isn't it? I follow Mother's lead and I end up like this... At least they won't shun me. They might even be able to help.

[Spaz]

Yix


Yix confused as to where he should go, hangs around Achkby. Yix hasn't been his usual playful self, much like the othersc have not been themselves. "Things will be all right won't they?" Yix questions Achkby

[Dr._Bob]

In the fading light, the party splits up, each member seeming lost in his or her own thoughts.

By lamplight you make some special purchases, anticipating a possible encounter with Lady Valentine. As you wander through the streets, you notice something unusual, however - there are no obvious temples to your gods.

Tiriel visits three different smiths, but finds them ill-prepared to repair her mithral armor. One offers to repair the chainmail with conventional steel, but this option doesn't appeal to Tiriel, and she politely declines.

Stymied, you reconvene in the inn to prepare for the push across the River Mulsantir.


OOC: Let me know what items you buy. Standard prices.

[Erikkin]

Fizahn:

Fizahn spends the first part of the journey taking careful pains to anchor himself to the cart. Once he is confidant that he won't fall off, he sleeps in short naps. He awakes every couple minutes to make sure he's not in danger of falling off the cart. He also awakes with his hand on his dagger whenever someone approaches him. He doesn't talk at all.

Fizahn is relieved when they arrive at the town. He considers Trinark's proposal to change course. "Good plan. Let's do it." He looks at Achkby's response to the proposal with slight confusion. "Listen, stupid halfling, we're still going north. Noone said anything about not going north. The plan is to go north a different way. There are a few routes to the place we want to get. We're worried that they know the one we want to take, so we plan on changing routes, but still going to the same place. Do you understand now, ignorant hedonist."

Fizahn leaves the others and heads to his room. He fingers his stained and ripped clothes and examines his unruly hair in a mirror. I need to get that cut. Shave what looks like it's almost a full-fledged beard. Plus, I need a cloak. I still haven't replaced that cloak. Thrice-damned mindflayer. I'd look good in a hat, too. Nice tri-cornered hat with a plume. With these goals in mind, Fizahn ties a gold piece around his neck and heads out into the town.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Disappointed that no one in town can help her repair her armor, Tiriel focuses on obtaining the garlic that Elthan had suggested while she commissions a smith to repair her sword.

Once her sword has been repaired she returns to the Inn. After listening to her friends discuss alternate routes, Tiriel approaches the Inn-keep and asks if he knows if the frozen lake is stable enough to cross.[hr]

[ooc: I'm assuming that her sword can be repaired since it's steel.
She'd also like to pick up some powdered garlic, or if that's not possible, 20 heads. Cost?]
Purchases:
*repair for flamingLS = ?
*20 powdered garlic/heads of garlic = ?
*3 sheets paper = 12sp (4sp ea.)

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

Callos, unfortunately, didn't truly have a goal in mind as he wandered the streets of Two Stars. Instead he was lost admist the halls of his mind, plotting and planning, trying to find some sort of plan that would allow for everything to go alright. Vampires were powerful undead, that he knew, with strength relative how powerful their were before turning. Unfortunately their strength kept growing naturally as well. Very dangerous. Espicially to fight and even harder to kill. Requiring much work...Perhaps it was time to talk to Elthan, see what the other might possibly know or think.

Still keeping his eyes open for anything in particular that caught his eye, the necromancer snapped his fingers irriatably. So much to think about and so much to do!

((OOC:

Knowledge Religon check to see how much he knows about vampires?
Knowledge Check - (1d20+13)[25]. Specifically how to repel and slay vampires and special attacks.))

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

The lack of temples didn't overly bother Lumpy much. He was only interested in Shaundakal's shrines, and he'd come to know those as few and far between. instead, he focuses on his needs, visiting every smithy the town has. He needed a new flail (again), and he'd settle for nothing less than the best he could find.


((OOC: Buying a new flail. Masterwork if possible. Plus enough rations/feed to get him back up to 10 days worth for the trip ahead

(3)15gp
))

[sacreddeamon]

Thokk

After visiting the blacksmith and working his armor, he simply buys 10 days food and returns to the inn, were he polietly and silently refuses mead for the night. Instead, he wanders over to the fire, pulls out a whetstone, and begins to sharpen his sword, then proceeding to polish all his armor. After it reached a mirror bright shine, he graps a fistfull of soot, and gently rubs it all over the mail, dulling it.

[Dark_Stalion]

Evendur

Evendur was not too hopefull of finding a shrine, so looks instead for the garlic suggested. Not a fragrance he'd been particularly fond of at any point in his life, but if it would help, it would help and a paladin has to do what a paladin has to do.

He also looks for a tendays trail rations before retiring early to bed.

[blackfox]

Katrin
Katrin finds it strange that there are no temples to be found in the city. She does purchase an extra waterskin and searches briefly for a place to fill it from, on the assumption that Trinark would be willing to bless the water, and that holy water ought to be as useful as a holy symbol against the undead.

Katrin is still frowning suspiciously as she re-enters the inn.
[hr]
(OOC: Waterskin--1 gp)

[Frojoe21]

Aeroz

Having no praying to do or any real supplies necessary, Aeroz simply wanders around the area until he finds a tavern or some other similar place. After about an hour, he goes to find the nearest member of the group.

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

[OOC]For the record, his comment about proceeding was supposed to be to Trinark before they left the ambush-site.[/OOC]

"We need to keep moving as fast as we can," argues Achkby, "It doesn't matter who we come across. Nothing is more important than time now."

Achkby almost tells Yix, that yes, of course, everything would work out just fine. It's like protecting a child... except that Yix isn't really a child, and that Sheyra, fair judgement be upon her, was, and look at her now.
"We shall see, Yix," Achkby responds quietly, "Things haven't been so great this far... I don't see that changing any time soon."

[hr]
Achkby wanders around aimlessly, unsure of what to do. He had never been prepared for anything, realy, just... reacted. He wasn't sure what to do now, with warning. This was all an unfamiliar process to him. Still, he tried his best, mulling over what he knew about demon-horses, vampires, and other undead.
[OOC]Knowledge (Arcana) (1d20+11=18)[/OOC]

Deep in his thoughts, Achkby does eventually stumble into a spice shop.
I have plenty of rations and don't much like garlic, but I suppose the least I can do is provide some variety.
Achkby buys three heads of garlic (1 sp), five ounces each of fennel (5 sp) and bergamot (1.5 sp), and 10 ounces of cumin (3 sp). He also buys a pound of sugar (10 sp), a half gallon of sunflower oil (1.5 sp), a pound of raisins (10 sp), and three pounds of walnuts (9 sp). Wandering next door, he purchases two pounds of sardines (8 gp) (Best avoid goit...).

If he can find it, he'll purchase a scroll of Dispel Magic but he doesn't think the odds of finding such a thing are high.

He considers seeking out silvered weaponry, but realizes, realistically, that regardless of what he's weilding he won't be able to do anything to a vampire.

[hr]
When he meets up with the others, Achkby asks if anyone has some gold they'd like to trade for platinum pieces.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

When he rejoined the others, Callos seemed more thoughtful then usual. Granted, he was quiet most of the time recently but it was a brooding and withdrawn kind of quiet. Now the necromancer looked as if he was actually thinking about what he was doing. A couple of things struck him as needing to be done. It was only right that they should be but it was hard to put them into the proper order...better handle the most delicate one first...

He approached Tiriel (And Katrin if their hanging out together) carefully and quietly. A serious look on his face as he laid a gentle hand down unto her shoulder and gave it a supporting squeeze.

"...Tiriel...it may be hard for you...but shouldn't we lay Si'rene to rest? This may be the last oppertunity you have to do it for a good ways. I'll even help you do it."

[runehawk]

Lizardkin Druid

The death of his comrade and the fate of his missing companions distract him as he walks beside Fizahn in the crowds.

Keeping his arms by his side and speaking in low tones, he convinces the few wary onlookers he is no threat and is treated to nothing more than prolonged stares or sideward glances.

With Fizahn's help, he secures rations to be delivered to the inn where the pack is dwelling.

The smell of the town is the same as any human settlement to ssathiya but the smell of woodsmoke and human scent is not as stifling as the larger cities. The breeze from the open plains keep the air cold, clear and crisp.

He wanders about, after parting with Fizahn, looking for individuals clad in similar raiment to those he'd met in Teflamn. A tell-tale animal companion would be a dead give away and he kept an eye out for that. He thought back to Tcha who would be somewhere in the highlands near his hunting grounds and hoped the moody reptile was content with its solitary life.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Tiriel is an open person. She plainly wears her emotions and her moods are easily read. So when Callos speaks to her he can easily see her surprise written across her features. For a moment, Tiriel doesn't know how to respond and Callos fears that he might have acted too quickly. But her features relax and after a sigh she speaks,
"You're right. Thank you, Callos.
It'll be impossible to make a grave in this weather - what should we do Katrine?"

[Dark_Stalion]

Evendur

"If I may be so bold to suggest," evendur interjects quietly," it is the custom among some societies to burn their dead upon a funeral pire."

Evendur pauses for a moment, considering the positive benefits of doing such with reguards to their current plight.

"Even though it may not have been her societies preference, burning would be far easier to execute than digging holes in this frozen earth. Once it is done it would also be posible to take some of the ashes with you, a keepsake to remember her by."

Evendur pauses for a moment before continuing in a much quieter tone.

"As for staying here, I am not of an easy disposition about doing so. This is an unholy place. No temples arround? No shrines? Whodo these people pray to? I grow more and more uneasy the longer we stay here."

[Spaz]

Yix

Despite partialy knowing what Achkby's answer would be, Yix was slighly discouraged to have his beliefs confirmed. He follows Achkby around as he has no real need to go anywhere, and feels the need of a familiar face in the strange town. He doesn't buy anything, but almost doesn't follow Achkby out of the spice shop as he takes in all the aromas. Thinking of all the delicious meats that can be covered in spices Yix hurries towards the Inn to order himself a decent meal.

[Dr._Bob]

Tiriel finds a blacksmith with the skill and inclination to polish and hone her longsword. He admires the weapon, now returned to its mirror polish, for a moment before passing it back to her. "It is a fine weapon m'lady. May it serve you well."

Several of you collect mirrors and garlic to ward off Lady Valentine, should she make an appearance. Others create makeshift holy symbols, keeping them close at hand.

There is a strange vibe in the town, which several of you pick up on. The townsfolk are friendly enough, but somewhat reserved. When a few of you comment on the lack of shrines in the town, they either quickly change the subject or excuse themselves.

Tiriel learns that the River Mulsantir is indeed frozen solid, and thus will be passable for at least the next month or two. The townsfolk seem to be anticipating the arrival of the winter caravans with news and tradegoods from the west coast.

...

Some of you don't feel much like sleeping, choosing to polish your armor and weapons or check and double-check your gear. Your thoughts turn towards Si'rene's corpse lying silently in the back of one of the wagons.

Even though you are hopefully safe within Two Star's walls, you decide to keep watch shifts in pairs ... just in case.

As it happens, the night passes uneventfully. Rising at dawn, you all share a quick traveler's breakfast and leave the strange town of Two Stars behind you.

Once Two Stars is just a dark mound on the horizon behind you, your party halts. One of the wagons is sacrificed to create a wooden funeral pyre, and Si'rene's body is laid to rest upon it. As Tiriel sets the pyre aflame, your thoughts turn towards the others whom you've lost on this journey - Wottworte, Sedryn, Linda, and that green-haired fellow. You also consider Lissa and Hajih. Are they alive or dead? How is Darius faring back in Telflamm? Did Kiah, Nyssa and Nolan make it back to their respective homes? What was the 'urgent danger' that called them back to the west?

The smoke from the funeral pyre stings your eyes, forcing you to avert your gaze. Before you lies a fork in the road. One road slopes gently downhill toward the frozen River. Another cuts to the left - the Cold Road. Which will you take?

[blackfox]

Katrin
Katrin remains stonily silent thoughout the ride from Two Stars and Si'rene's cremation. When the group turns to the fork in the road, Katrin quietly says, "I think we should try to cross the river. It would save us a lot of time--time that we need."

[runehawk]

Lizardkin Druid

Unable to find a fellow nature-aligned adventurer, the druid resigns himself to awake and head out in the morning.

He stands close to Fizahn, seemingly lost in thought while staring at the gnome's new haircut!
At Katrin's voice, his head jerks up and he nods wordlessly.
He pauses in his steps to let his eyes scan the cold plains and he silently promises his missing companions that they would be returning to find them.

[kuja.girl]

Tiriel

Tiriel tries her best to shake of the feeling of dread that shes had since they entered the clearing yesterday. Si'rene's death has made her realize that she's come to care a great deal about her traveling companions, new and old.
After having spent a good part of last evening making "garlic-bombs," she feels more confident and resolved to see this "quest" through to the end. So it is only with a slight hesitation that she agrees with Katrine,
"Whichever way we go, they'll follow. We hadn't firmly decided on a route before they took Haijh and Lissa so I think it's safe to say that they'll be watching both roads.
And since that's the case, I vote for the shorter, and quicker, route."
______________________________
[edit: I've revised my ooc post, with a question for Dr.Bob]'

[Tiriel's garlic bombs - 20 loosely packed and tied sachets of paper filled with powdered garlic.
She'll distribute one to everyone (12 including Trinark), keeping one for herself and giving the extra to our best "shots" who won't be entering melee. Looks like that's Achkby and Fizahn - who wants the extra 7 them?]

[Callos_DeTerran]

Callos

"Bad idea. If we simply cross the river, then chances are we're just blundering into an ambush. Not to mention, I don't believe we can outrun them. At this point, with the river frozen, I think our best bet is the mountains...that is if Sethra didn't seem to just "know" were we are.."

The necromancer broke off, a frustrated look on his face as he contemplated the problem in front of them. It should be much easier then this, in fact it was but none of them would go for it. Best to at least put it out there...

"Best plan at this point is simple...split up between the two paths. Look at it this way, scrying is a simplish sort of act. You focus on a single place, item, or person and the spell allows you to see them, right? What happens if Sethra focuses on the object he has been for awhile and finds half of us missing? Two possible things. The first is that he assumes the other half died and focuses on one group. The other is that he figures out we split up and has to divide his time between scrying on both groups, not to mention anything else he needs to keep tabs on. Both solutions are a win. If he thinks half of us are dead, then some of us can act freely against him while the other acts as he expects them to act. If he catches on to the ruse, then we force him to spend more time watching us, AND split up his forces to try and counter our movements. The downside is that both groups could very well be overwhelmed by what Sethra sends against them. Barring this sort of action...best choice is the mountains. While Sethra may be able to find us, at least we can hide from Valentine and whatever she has with her. Trying to outrun them is simply not an option."

It was a solid, enough, arguement but he knew that it would never really work. The bonds between the different people were too great in order for them to split up for the sake of something like better chances. After all, look at what they had already been through and survived! Thokk in particular seemed angry enough to want to get caught by their pursuers. So what else was there to do? He had said his piece, and now it was back to his persanol business. Giving a long and tired yawn, Callos climbed out of the wagon and stepped over towards Ackby (Last time I checked he had his own horse...). He wanted to speak with the halfling but it was best to wait until they were decided about the course of action.

[bhdrake]

Lumpy

"Ain't so simple no more. I figure it's more than just magic on us now, they might well be tracking us the old fashioned way too. Certainly they're in the area, and there ain't no way we're gonna go no where without leaving a noticable trail."

Lumpy furrows his brow as he thinks,

"It boils down ta taking the surer route over the quicker one. If we head east, we can follow roads pretty much straight ta the iron lord, but that's prolly expected'a us, and roads are easy ta set ambush on. If we go north, we have ta cross this big lake.. Ashane, I think, instead'a this river. Now the elf- Si'rene-" He adds her name almost as a respectful afterthought,
"- wasn't sure if the lake'd be passable right now. Either it's unfrozen enough that we can boat across somehow, or frozen enough that we can walk it, which is stretching it. Anything else, and we might end up losing all kinds'a time. It ain't an easy choice, but I'm still more fer the long way."

[kuja.girl]

{ooc: Dr.Bob - you said that the rive is frozen, but Tiriel asked about the lake, is that frozen as well?}

[Dark_Stalion]

Evendur

Evendur smiles vaguely, remembering someof his training.

"I think that we now come to one of the many parabels. Take the smooth, short, easy road down to evil, or take the dificult, long, winding root up towards good. Though it would be more dificult to take the winding path it has better results in the end. I choose to follow the Cold Road."

Evendur turns to the left fork.

"Besides, as Callos said, if one group fails, then there will still be another which may slip past Sethra's creatures and get the message through."

[HempRope]

Achkby, Halfling Sorcerer

Achkby shakes his head in response to Callos' plan.

"A month ago, I would have said the same thing," says the halfling from astride Bess, "But that hasn't worked. We saw what splitting up got us... or rather, lost us. We need to stick together.

"Lumpy, I agree, we can't try to outrun them. That's why we need to go straight ahead. We won't avoid them going around, we'll still have to make a river crossing, and it'll take long whether we have an ambush or not. We need to press ahead."

[hr]
Achkby almost says Fizahn should take the garlic, seeing as the gnome wasn't nearly so useful in combat, but he doesn't. It'll just make people mad, and besides... then he'd be responsible for turning back the vampire, and we shouldn't be dependent on him.
Achkby asks for the garlic himself, saying that's he's an excellent shot -- the regional champion rock-thrower as a kid.

[Spaz]

Yix

Yix turns his head between the two paths as if studying them intently. "We'll meet our fate no matter which way we go, might as well get it over with." Yix says after musing over the question for a few minutes