4/8/2006

Chris: DM
Kathi: Tanji & Krysylys
JC: Neysa & Ana

We start out on horseback travelling along the main road towards Llorkh (a town smaller than Loudwater) which is rumored to be under Zentarin influence. Llorkh is roughly 100 miles away and we figure it should take us between three and four days to get there depending on the condition of the road and weather. After we get through the small village we'll have to leave the road and travel another 80 to 100 miles which will take probably six to seven days because of the slower pace through the wilds. We set a marching order of Tanji and Krys up front followed by Neysa and then Ana but when the road allows Ana urges his mount forward and rides along besides Neysa so the two can talk quietly.

Throughout the first day the weather is ideal for travel, clear and warm with mild spring breezes that bring an explosion of scents as nature rapidly recovers from the cold winter months. The day is uneventful and we find a secluded copse of trees a bit off the road for our camp. The night is cool and quiet and the morning dawns with the same cloudless skies. Setting out again we make fairly good time along the road without pushing the horses into anything faster than the occasional light gallop to break up the monotony. By lunch time high clouds have started to appear overhead and as the afternoon grows long they get lower and darker and it becomes farily apparent that if we dont find a well sheltered spot for the night we're probably going to get wet. Ana doesn't really mind being wet but he's not a fan of being cold so he keeps his elf eyes roving as evening approaches, looking for a good spot to camp.

Fortunately the issue solves itself when Krys spots a wooden building sheltered and fairly well hidden by the trees a short distance off the lane of travel. It looks to be a lodge of some type (although there is no sign) and there are several horses tied in a small shelter nearby. There is smoke rising from the chimney, complete with the mouth watering aroma of roasting meat, and the grounds are well kept so as to seem hospitable and inviting. We approach and Tanji reports that her sharp halfling ears can already hear muted conversations from within. She hops down to knock on the door as Ana dismounts and holds both his and Neysa's horse so that his companion may dismount as well.

A moment later a large man opens the door, looks down at Tanji (who can see a good bit of crumbs in his beard) and nods to the rest of us.

"It's okay to stable your horses in the pen with the others." He says seeing Ana holding the reins of Charger and Magelica. "Ildur's yard is plenty big enough for them all."

With that he closes the door presumably returning to the cause of the crumbs. Ana and Krys remove the horses saddles and tie them securely in the shelter making sure they have food and water. Ana brushes himself off and straightens his tunic (not that it really needs it) under the approving eye of Neysa and the group heads to the door where Tanji is waiting with mild impatience, the smell of the meal within demanding her attention. Tanji knocks again and almost before the loud "C'mon in." can be heard the halfling is through the entryway making a beeline for dining area.

The large man who answered the door the first time motions us over to join him at a long, mostly empty table occupied by himself and one other couple. He introduces himself as Boromir and then calls loudly to Ildur (whoever that is) to bring refreshments for hungry visitors. The room certainly appears to be a common dining area and as introductions are made Tanji has already begun pilfering rolls from a larger wicker basket. The other couple at the table are a human male and female named Stag and Edmina and they too look to be nearing the end of their evening meal. Tanji and Edmina strike up a conversation while the elves quietly survey the surroundings and the other occupants. Boromir smiles.

"Put yourselves at ease." He says brushing some of the crumbs from his shirt and beard. "You are welcome at The Night Hunt as are all travelers with the ability to find it. Ildur! Hurry up with that food. This poor lass here is obviously famished."

"It's coming, it's coming." A voice replies from back in the back.

By this time Tanji, now looking somewhat forlornly at the empty basket of rolls, has learned that Edmina and Stag are also from Silverymoon, the Palace District in fact, and that she runs a shop called Jewel Tones.

"That would explain why she seems somewhat out of place as a traveler." Ana thinks to himself, a thought confirmed when he hears Stag refer to her as Lady Cassandra. As we wait for our food Neysa asks Boromir about the surrounding area and what if anything we should be on the lookout for as we travel.

"Oh it's pleasant enough at least until you get to Llorkh, which I'd advise you to avoid if you're going in that direction. There's too many armed men in the city these days for my liking and even worse are those purple cloaked fanatics. The other way is safe as well all the way to Loudwater although the rain is going to make it a soggy trip for the next few days." When asked to elaborate Boromir says confidently that there will probably be at least two days of a heavy soaking rain before the weather turns back pleasant.

When the food arrives we find it quite delicious and thank Ildur, an older human who is the proprietor, for his hospitality. Ildur apologizes for the long wait saying that he is usually helped by his wife but that she hasn't been feeling well for several weeks and has just recently become bedriden with a high fever. Hearing this Neysa healer instincts kick in and she offers to look in on her to see if there's anything that she can do.

"Oh, well that would be appreciated if you think you can help." Ildur replies.  "I just don't know what to do other than keep her warm and comfortable."  He pauses before continuing. "But that can wait. She's not going anywhere and you folks should eat before worrying about anything else."

As we're eating Cassandra thanks Tanji for the delightful conversation and then she and Stag excuse themseves and retire to their room. Boromir, now finished and sipping on a large mug, stays with us while we eat. The others in the common room are all obvious adventurers (as evidenced by the various degrees of armor and dress) but they don't seem to pay us any mind and Ana is finally able to relax and enjoy his meal. As we order another round Boromir tells us that it has been prophisied that he die within the year so he is travelling to Waterdeep (after escorting Stag and Cassandra to Silverymoon) to see the City of Splendors before his end.

Tanji, thinking that the journey to Silverymoon will take them along the south edge of the High Forest, asks about the treant of the forest who, rumor has it, is trying to expand the forest borders, something that would be sure to cause some concern among Illustrial and the rulers of Silverymoon. As the two of them and Krys are discussing the possibilities of what could happen if that were the case, Ana and Neysa excuse themselves from the table, Ana to check on the horses while Neysa asks to be taken back to Ildur's wife.

Neysa follows the man back into a curtained off part of the structure (the couples living area) and is shown to a small room where a thin frail older woman with an nasty sounding rasp in her breathing seems to be sleeping fitfully in a large bed. As Neysa examines her it's obvious that she has a high fever and some sort of serious respiratory ailment.  The cleric asks Ildur about the symptoms, when did they start, how rapidly did they come on and so forth and then asks if it would be okay to speak with her. Ildur nods and tries to gently rouse his wife who awakens with a start.

"Someone is here to see you dear." He says in a gentle voice. "I think she can help."

As the woman focuses on Neysa she seems somewhat surprised. "Oh, an elf." She says in a weak voice.

"Just relax." Neysa says. "I'm a healer. Let's see if there's anything I can do."

Gathering herself for a few minutes Neysa casts Remove Disease and almost at once the woman drops off into a deep sleep, the sounds and the effort of her breathing much easier. Seeing this Ildur looks up at Neysa from where he is kneeling beside the bed holding his wife's hand and says that this is certainly all the payment (and more) that he could require of the group.

Neysa smiles, again thanking the man for his hospitality, and tells him to make sure his wife stays in bed for at least a couple more days to regain her strength before returning to the duties of caring for travelers. The two make their way back to the common room where another round is had by all before Tanji cradles her head in her arm and falls asleep at the table. Krys gently picks her companion up and Ildur shows her to their room. Ana and Neysa retire shortly thereafter.

The night passes uneventfully and the morning dawns to dark overcast skies laden heavily with the impending rain. However the smells of breakfast permiating throughout The Night Hunt are enough to take the groups mind off the soggy day of travel looming ahead. We come to the common area as a group only to find fewer folks than the night before. Boromir welcomes us and again invites us to sit with him. Somehow the conversation turns to the possibility of an eating contest between the big man and Tanji but fortunately for both (probably more fortunately for Boromir) it doesn't happen.

Breakfast is eggs, bacon and a hearty porridge and when Ildur delivers it to our table he again thanks Neysa saying that his wifes fever has broken, that she's breathing much easier and that in fact she had wanted to get up and help with breakfast preparations, something that he, remembering Neysa's advice from the night before, had emphatically not allowed. When Neysa visits her again after breakfast she gently reiterates the directive to her that she stay in bed at least until tomorrow to regain her strength. Ildur adds that she will, he'll make sure of it, and the sight if the two set so firmly in their decision causes the woman to sigh and lay back with a smile on her face.

After breakfast we depart but not before accepting some of the breakfast leftovers to have for lunch. Not 15 minutes into our journey it starts to rain.  We travel on in silence throughout the morning before finding a good stand of trees under which we find some degree of shelter for lunch. By late afternoon we come to a small village with one obvious tavern. Krys and Tanji decide the town must be Orlbar, a small community of mostly shepherd folk, but when we spot a large caravan in the village square, complete with several purple cloaked fighters, we move on through without stopping. A few hours later we find a good spot to tie the horses and set up the tent to camp for the night.

The rain continues throughout the evening but it dwindles slowing in intensity until, by the next morning, it is more of an annoyance than any real obstruction to travel. After another uneventful day and night the rain has stopped altogether. The following day we come to a river crossing just before it's time to camp again and we decide to stay on the this side and attempt the crossing first thing in the morning. Becasue of the proximity to Llorkh we make camp well off and out of sight from the road and the river. The night is again uneventful and in the morning we cross and then break from the road heading north to bypass Llorkh altogether.  (It is now the 22nd of Myrtul.)

Later in the morning, after only a couple hours travel, Ana, Neysa and Krys all hear something ahead coming through the underbrush. It turns out to be a group of the purple cloaked fighters who, when they spot us, advance with weapons drawn.

MELEE

Given that they are on foot (whereas we are mounted) Ana spurs Charger into a run and the two charge directly through the middle of the advancing party. Rather that get slammed to the ground or trampled the two closest wisely dive into the brambles to get out of the way.  When he's past Ana stops and turns his mount back to the others to make sure they get through safely as well.  Neysa does the same passing safely through them as do Krys and Tanji and we leave the group at a gallop as they curse and call for us to com back. We continue the gallop for 10 minutes or so to make sure we're a good ways ahead of them and then alter our direction slightly before slowing back to a walk.

Shortly after our lunch break the remaining smatters of rain finally disperses as the clouds break and the sun comes out. Krys casts a Dry cantrip on each of us. The mountains now are definitely getting closer and it looks like by tomorrow afternoon we should be well into the foothills as we begin our ascent. Late afternoon brings us to the other fork of the river and Krys breaks out the map just to be sure we are where we think we are and what the best course from here would be.  We decide not to cross at this point and instead will follow along the near side looking for the single peak and small forest indicating the vicinity of the temple we're seeking.

We set up a watch schedule of Ana for the first half and then Tanji for the second half, a schedule that will become our regular watch rotation leaving the spell casters free to study and get their required rest. The night passes uneventfully.

Next Session: 5/6/2006.