4/24/2010
Players: Kathi, JC, Chris
Characters: DM & Salaisee, Elendil & Jolley, Billi
Start Date: 8th of Mirtul, morning
It's a cool blustery day with heavy dark clouds. Salaisee casts Create Food and Water (including apples for the horses) and despite the ominous looking horizon we have a nice breakfast before breaking camp and setting off.
About an hour into our travel the sky lets loose and it POURS a cold nasty rain for more than an hour. We stop for a standup lunch under some tall cedars which offer only meager protection. It's cold and wet with barely enough room to move around. We set back out after lunch. It drizzles all day but is otherwise uneventful. We find a usable campsite and settle in.
It gets COLD overnight and we make sure to keep a good fire going, huddling together under the bearskins in the tent when not on watch. Just before dawn, during Jolley's watch, the clouds disperse revealing the final night of the full moon. Not but a few moments later, as his eyes are adjusting to the moonlight Jolley sees something large suddenly loom up in the distance and come charging towards us. He calls out to wake everybody up. Hearing something from behind as well the fighter spins around drawing his sword and sees another coming at him. ETTINS!
MELEE
Elendil pops up immediately and grabs his staff. The bracing cold as he bursts from the tent is lost in the adrenaline of battle. Billi and Salaisee rouse quickly as well and although the fighting is fierce and intense, it doesn't last long. After the battle Elendil casts Cure Critical Wounds on Jolley, Salaisee casts Cure Critical Wounds on Elendil and then Cure Light Wounds on herself. Jolley finds a medium-sized emerald on one of the ettins and Billi finds a bag with 50 platinum pieces on the other. Billi thinks the gem is probably worth 1500 gp. Jolley nods and puts it away in one of his belt pouches.
9th of Mirtul - Just about the time the sun begins to rise the wind changes direction and really begins to howl. It is miserably cold but the ground here is frozen so travel should be at normal speed. Elendil rubs his hands briskly before the fire and casts Create Food & Water. During the casting he specifies he specifies hot food for the people and warm oats for the horses, and he encourages everyone to eat before it gets cold. Gladly accepting the magic spice pot from Billi, he sprinkes some cinammon and sugar on the thick porrage from the casting and then goes to attend to the horses.
Shortly after setting out in the morning, we find a site with several stone boulders arranged as a sort of shelter. Within we see several Argent Legionnaires. They call out to us in greeting so we tie the horses to the string they have already setup and join them for an early lunch. Billi strikes up a conversation with the halflings as we introduce ourselves. It turns out this is the group known as The Wayward Patrol.
The Argent Legionnaires are roasting a wild boar that they killed earlier in the day and Billi uses his endless spice jar to flavor the meat which we all share for lunch. Robair makes a play for Salaisee who laughs, thanks the elf and politely declines.
Billi tells of our encounters with trolls and ettins. Alexis writes it all down in her journal and promises to report the incidents back with the Silver Knights. After lunch, they offer to send us on our way with some wild boar. Billi manages to talk them out of some flat bread also.
We set back out on the trail and hope to reach Khelb before nightfall. Despite the cold our spirits are good and the days travel is uneventful. Just before dusk, we top a hill and see the small Thorpe of Khelb nestled in a valley in the distance. Once arrived we board the horses with Bub Kalley (the stable manager) and his young daughters at the stable. It's 30 sp for all horses for the night.
We head to the hotel, the Crossroads Inn. There are several groups gathered in the common area. We also see Reamonn, the Great Druid of Silverymoon to whom we brought the Druidic Staff some number of months ago. The half-orc companion turns out to be the attendant for the local Druid's grove. The cost here per room per night is 5 sp. Jolley and Billi each get separate rooms but Salaisee and Elendil (in a moment of either frugality or shared assent) get a room together.
During dinner we are taken very good care of. As the only four real guests for the evening the owner and staff go out of the way to make us comfortable.
The Elven musician playing quietly in the corner is very good. She plays many different instruments and at one point Salaisee joins her in song. It's a sand song during which the bard playing begins to weep. When she takes a break, a very self-important halfling comes up to Salaisee and asks her to dance. Salaisee declines saying that she's tired after a hard day's riding but thanks the him for the offer.
Billi goes after the bard who he finds crying softly outside. He strikes up a conversation with her, manages to mostly cheer her up and gets her to come back in for another set of more upbeat music. The bouncer brings in a new keg, Local legend has it that Stachee's mead is so special that the first mug of her keg newly tapped is considered to bring the imbiber a full day of good luck. Everyone interested in purchasing the first mug draws a number and Stachee draws from a matching set of numbers. The one whose number matches gets to purchase the first mug.
Elendil naturally wins! It has a blessing associated with it. (+1 luck bonus can be used any time in the next 24 hours). Elendil enjoys the full body of the young brew, knocks mugs with all around, and then sits back down smiling.
"I think my feet are finally warm." He says with a yawn.
A few moments later, as the mugs are drained, the other patrons begin to disperse given the late hour. Elendil catches Salaisee's eye and smiles. Salaisee holds his gaze fully for several long seconds, raises her mug to him again, and as we wave seen others in the tavern do in what is obviously a local tradition, she drains the last half pint with authority and slams the empty down on the table.
Jolley and Elendil (and any other man fortunate enough to be paying attention) are then treated to Salaisee leaning back in her chair and stretching, arms over head, back arched slightly, legs outstretched under the table as counter balance where she rubs against Elendil's leg with her foot.
When she returns to a normal sitting position and reaches up to knead the muscles in her shoulder Elendil rises and offers her his hand in a help up. He intertwines his fingers with hers. "Good night all."
Jolley nods, Billi waves, and Elendil and Salaisee retire to their shared room. Jolley waits a moment for them to round the corner and then taps Billi on the shoulder.
"I betcha Elendil's gonna get lucky tonight. In fact, I'd put money on it."
"He's always lucky." Billi says.
"Not like that ya little goofball, with Salaisee. Whatdaya say? 10 gold, you interested?"
The halfling considers the offer and is just about to take the bet when he remembers seeing his friends dance together in the Greengrass competition and then later again at The Dragonfly Cave.
"You know," Billi says in a mildly uncharacteristic display of wisdom, "Maybe some other night."
---
Elendil lets loose his companions hand and turns to latch and lock the door behind them. "I hope the shared room is... alright?!" He tuns back to find Salisee right in front of him, their faces only inches apart.
She reaches up and lays her hand lightly on his chest, her fingers tracing the circle of silver thread fabric sewn over the heart. Her face is that of a beautiful child like goddess as she looks up at him searchingly. Elendil starts to put his arms around her and leans in for a kiss but Salaisee holds her head back slightly and keeps him at bay with a gentle pressure from her hand.
"And why would I share a room, and a bed, with you now when in your own house, that you have welcomed me into, you have expressed no interest in doing so?"
Elendil was struck hard by her words and searched her face. She was serious! How could he have misjudged her so badly. "I... I didn't think... " Was all he could get out. Then he nodded and his eyes fell. "I'm sorry, I'll find the proprietor and get another room." He turned to go but Salaisee, now holding his shirt by the fabric at the chest, held him in place.
"Do you have somewhere else to go?"
Somewhat surprised Elendil shook his head mutely, no.
Salaisee's tone softened to a breathy whisper but she still held his shirt firmly and looked straight into his eyes. "Is there somewhere else you'd rather be?".
The question brought Elendil to the bleeding edge of present time. He took his beautiful dancing partner by the hips and pulled her body close.
"No!" He said changing his hold to her shapely bottom and nearly lifting her off the floor into his arms. "There is nowhere else I want to be!"
The two kissed with a considerable hunger. When finally they separated Salaisee released his shirt and smoothed the fabric.
"Good." She said very matter of factly. "And in the future when you feel that way you will come and tell me that so we can find some time together." It was not a question, she was telling him what she expected. He broke into a big grin.
"I will, yes."
"Good." She said, again very matter of factly. "For the next time I am feeling that same way my invitation will be less subtle than the last. I could not believe you didn't follow me back upstairs the other morning. What could you possibly have been reading?"
Salaisee streched again and removed one of the pins that held her hair back. Elendil sat down on one of the small chairs and started to remove his boots and the thick wool socks that were part of the cold weather gear they all carried.
"It was one of Dalton's papers on the proper brewing of healing potions before they're enchanted and blessed. I was thinking of pursuing the craft as a way of making... a tax payment... or two... or..." His words trailed off to nothingness as he watched Salaisse sit on the edge of the bed and remove her high soft boots and tight leggings that were part of her cold weather gear. She smiled as he watched her undress. When she got down to just undergarments Salaisee stood up and looked around.
"Ah alas, no more of that mead." She said with a pout. "I shall have to quench my thirst in other ways." She came and stradled him on the chair. Elendil reached under her loose top and stroked her sides (and the sides of her breasts) slowly with his thumbs.
The two kissed with a considerable ferocity. When finally their lips separated Salaisee rolled her neck as she ground her body into his. She reached up and again rubbed the same shoulder she had earlier. This time Elendil caught the hint.
"Here, let me." He said pulling her hand gently away. "Turn around and sit in front of me."
Elendil let her get up, pushed the chair back a little, and handed her a pin for her hair. She folded her legs and knelt in front of him on the thick rug facing away. Elendil took a deep breath as she pulled her hair to the side and pinned it in place. He pushed the chair back a little bit more so he was sitting right on the edge almost kneeling himself behind her, and spent many long minutes running his fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp and the long verticle muscles and tendons of the neck. By the time he got to her shoulders and upper back Salaisee had began to hum quietly and she started leaning slightly one way or the other, stretching and arching her back, to insure his touch fell where she wished. It was a tune that Elendil was not familliar with.
When he finally stopped Elendil leaned forward and kissed the back of her neck. He rubbed his lips lightly across her shoulder and up the right side of her neck ending at her ear which he kissed and breathed heavily into.
"Hopefully that takes away some of the days cold hard ride." He whispered. Salaisee turned her head and found his lips with hers.
The two kissed slowly, delicately, with a tender passion. When finally their lips separated Salaisee turned and helped Elendil out of the remainder of his clothes. Their lips and their bodies met again and again throughout the course of the night, and in the morning he awoke early at her touch. She smiled, whispered a blessing in his ear, and welcomed him to the new day in a manner he would remember for the rest of his life.
---
For the others the night passes quietly.
10th of Mirtul - The next morning, breakfast is served with great skill. Billi elaborates on his grandmother's sticky buns and the proprietor comments that she may have to visit Silverymoon to find out for herself if they're really all that like Billi says.
We pick up the horses and then head further up into the mountains toward the pass leading to Hawk's Nest. The way is mountainous and narrow and the journey again promises to be cold. We should be there by the evening of the third day.
Morning travel is quiet. We camp for lunch under a large oak tree. The pulled pork and flatbread sandwiches are very good. The cool temperatures help the meat from going bad. Afternoon travel is quiet and we find another campsite that looks to be well used along the trail. Billi searches the area fairly thoroughly but finds nothing dangerous or alarming.
Elendil casts Create Food and Water (mostly for the horses) and then we setup for the usual watches. It's a quiet night.
11th of Mirtul - (Cool but warming, it might get into the lower 50's). Travel speed should be good with the wind at our backs. The morning is quiet and we find a small ravine with cold fresh water for refilling water skins. After lunch, we are traveling through the lowlands as we climb toward the pass when we hear and then see a pack of dire wolves tracking us. Elendil gets out his composite longbow and starts to fire.
MELEE
During the battle, the pack mule, Grog, goes down. Jolley quickly takes out two of them. Elendil and Salaisee both get in some good damage as do several of the horses.
Elendil casts Cure light Wounds on himself and Sander. Salaisee casts Cure Serious Wounds on Grog.
End of session.
Next sessions: 06/12