12/2/2006

Players: Kathi, JC, Chris
Characters: DM & Salaisee, Elendil & Cyrus, Billi

After Elendil's departure Billi and Salaisee learn from Muriel and Billi's grandparents of several recent attacks on halflings within Silverymoon. The first was ten days ago when a noted halfling bard was found wandering and confused, her mind wiped clean of all memory, and the second was three days ago when Ignacious P. Dillurd, the caretaker for a group of street urchin messengers, was found dead in the river, tortured, burned and beaten to death.

Salaisee shudders and asks if Billi and Muriel would consider taking a carraige home just to be safe. They get one for all of them and it drops off Salaisee first at her home (where she finds a note on her door saying she's needed at the temple in the morning) and then Billi and Muriel at Billi's.

Elendil wakes in the morning, has breakfast, and then heads off to Fortune Hall to meet with his mentor, Sister Morgalyn, who is one of a trio of priestesses who directly serve the high priest. She an older, retired adventurer who was in Silverymoon during the Time of Troubles and Elendil respects her knowledge, experience and keen insight very much. He tells her of their journey to Ash Temple, finding Faragon and Arimus, and how he'd come to need the previous days Restoration. The two talk for a while and then Morgalyn gives him the usual assignment of dealer at casino night (although this time he gets to choose which table he wants instead of being assigned one), and an unexpected assignment of forming a team and entering the Champions Challenge eleven days hence.

From the temple Elendil goes to find Salaisee. An acolyte at Dawn Dancer Hall tells him that she had been there earlier in the morning but had since returned home so Elendil heads off that direction. When he arrives he finds Salaisee packed for travel and just about to walk out the door.

"Elendil, I'm glad you're here." Salaisee tells him. "I was just coming to find you. Come in please."

Salaisee tells him that she has been assigned as an escort for a group of pilgrims travelling to Waterdeep and that they are to leave as soon as possible, meaning that afternoon. For Elendil this is terrible news not only because he extremely fond of his beautiful adventuring companion, but also because he was counting on Salaisee being a part of his Champions Challenge team.

As the two walk through town to Billi's to give their friend the unhappy news Elendil is glad as their hands and fingers intertwine and he brings her hand to his lips kissing it with a sad smile. When they reach Billi's house and knock on the door neither of them is all that surprised when Billi and Muriel answer the door dressed in the same nightshirt which is more than big enough for the both of them to fit into. Billi is very upset that Salaisee has to leave and he has a few choice words for those of Salaisee's superiors who would send her out again less that a day after our return.

The group has lunch together at the restaurant near Billi's that the halfling has been barred from but he gets in thanks to a good disguise and winks at his across the street neighbor when she comes to wait our table. After lunch and a tearful farewell to Salaisee Billi walks Muriel back to the Fleetfeet offices while Elendil walks Salaisee to the stables where she is to pick up a horse that's been assigned to her while travelling. However, once there he has a flash of inspiration and offers Sander to his friend for the duration of her trip. Salaisee gladly accepts. He shows her some of the idiosyncracies of the saddle and then casts Speak w/Animals to let Sander know what's going on. "Easy journey. Protect Salaisee. Return safely. Much love."

Again Elendil and Salaisee's hands find each other as they walk to the caravan run and before he helps her up into the saddle he hugs and kisses his friend fiercely, pleasantly surprised at the degree to which the feeling is returned. He watches the caravan with a heavy heart as it sets off slowly in a fairly disorganized fashion.

"Make sure to give Sander an occasional apple." He calls out waving, knowing Salaisee will take good care of the horse. "It keeps him regular."

That afternoon, after Billi has dropped of Muriel at Fleetfeet, the halfing heads off to Dragonfly Cave where he finds Arondar and the Lady Hightower enjoying some afternoon tea with his grandparents.

Elendil decides on the Bronze Pegasus being in the mood for some venison stew, a dish the restaurant is known for. He is shown to a small table in the beer garden where a friend of Lasarra's spots him and points him out to the man she's with. The man, a large human fighter type with many tatoos on his arms and a shaved head, invites him over for a beer and the two men hit it off fairly well talking about life, adventuring, women and good ales while his companion is off powdering her nose. His name is Jolley and Elendil asks at one point if he's familliar with the Champions Challenge. Jolley replys that he's competed a couple times and for the most part enjoys it, but that he's not part of a team this year having just gotten back into town.

"Alicia and I haven't really been out much since I got back a couple days ago." He says patting and squeezing the womans rear as she returns to sit in his lap.

"My mentor feels my luck must be running true following our recent adventure and has given me the task of forming a team to enter." Elendil tells Jolley trying to politely ignore the fact he is fondling his companion openly, something she is starting to visibly get into. "Would you be interested?"

"Yea, absolutely!" Jolley replies with no hesitation. "You can always ask for me at Woodhall if you need to. Find a guy called Musielak as he's my training coordinator."

"Jolley," his companion interrupts him. "I'm ready. I mean, I'm ready to go and...." She leans in to whisper in his ear. The man listens with a smile and then nods.

"Well, it was nice to meet you Elendil." He says rising from his chair. "Let me know when you want to get together and go over the details with the rest of the team."

After his dinner Elendil heads home hoping to find a reply to his letter from Teal. There is none to his disappointment and he sleeps fitfully throughout the night. The next morning he and Billi have to carry on with the unpleasand tasks of returning Faragon's things to the Silver Knights, Arimus' staff to the Druid's Grove, and Nate's belongings to his family.

End of session.

Next Session 2/3/2007