Date: 5/18/97

Players: Kathi, JC, Tom, David, Bryan, Davy, Jeff, Kris, Trish

Characters: DM, Rio & Glow, Beneton, Merlor, Erin, Kailin, Saunders, Bo'malus, Shalmara

Rio & Glow find themselves on a road overlooking the small town of Leilon. Being late fall it's cold, gray and blustery and Glow pulls her cloak tight around her against the wind. Before taking the form of a large hawk Rio assures her that he'll stay within visual range and then he leaps into the air circling lazily overhead getting a feel for the surrounding country side.

Seeing nothing interesting in the nearby area Rio focuses his attention on the small walled town. There is a road leading through and it seems to be fairly bustling with activity. He flies over for perhaps 10 minutes and then returns to Glow landing on a nearby rock. He returns to human form and the two head into town. They are met at the city gates by guards who ask to search their backpacks. Having nothing to hide they allow this but ask why it is necessary. The guard says something about the Zentarin having infiltrated the town and that because of it they can't be too careful.

Rio shrugs, never having heard of the Zentarin, and the two head into the small town. They pass a small shrine before coming to a large tavern called the Sword of Leilon. They decide to go in but before they can walk in the door Rio spots a small sign that says "Sun Sanctuary" and they go to investigate. It turns out to be a small grove along the eastern wall of the city and they go there instead. As they enter the grove there is a large man there and they strike up a conversation.

His name is Erin and he's a LARGE man with a strange accent. They talk for a few minutes, getting past basic introductions, before he excuses himself to go have lunch. Then he looks back and inquires if Rio and Glow would like to have lunch with him at a place called The Wandering Scholar. They agree and have a pleasant meal chatting politely before Erin excuses himself to return to his compatriots.

That evening Rio is surprised to see Lady Estarria walking through town toward the Sword of Leilon and he and Glow join her as she enters and is shown to a private dining room. A short time her "children" are shown in. Apparently they were originally shown into a different room. There are introductions all around.

Beneton (Tom) - Human Mage

Merlor (David) - Halfling Thief

Erin (Bryan) - Human Barbarian

Kailen (Davy) - Elf Mage

Saunders (Jeff) - Half-Elf Cleric of Mystra and dog Fifi (a shepherd)

Bo'Malus (Kris) - Dwarf Fighter

Shalmara (Trish) - Human Amazon

After dinner she speaks of learning more of the Traveler and the situation of its imprisonment in the Crypt Garden Mountains. She says to look for the highest peak and an owl-bear shaped boulder behind which is hidden the secret entrance to South Crypt.

Since Beneton is currently training, the group is here in town for several days. The time passes mostly uneventfully. Rio and Glow do not stay in an inn and when the group asks him about it he says that he has never been comfortable in cities and prefers to make his own home amid the trees and surrounding hills.

After the week is over the group sets out following the road to the south for a brief time and then heads off to the east traveling along the edge of a small forest near the foothills. They travel through an uneventful day and then make a small camp complete with roaring fire. During the early evening hours a group of eight Perytons attacks the group singling out the humans.

MELEE

Glow was hit by their initial attack but sustains no other damage and Rio starts Cure Light Wounds on the puncture. He is interrupted by a sneak attack by the two peryton that were initially driven away. Rio is hit for a good bit of damage and does not complete his spell. The two are quickly dispatched and Rio re-casts the Cure Light on Glow.

The next day and night pass uneventfully. On the third day Rio scouts ahead in hawk form. He is careful not to let the others see the transformation and flies ahead for several hours. As he is returning he becomes aware of something following him. Swooping back he sees a small faerie dragon following him. Rio tries some of his best aerial maneuvers and manages to get behind it only to have it disappear. The druid does a few lazy circles looking for it and, finding nothing returns to the group. A few moments later Glow spots the small creature and points it out to Rio who approaches it carefully. When he gets within five feet it vanishes again.

Not believing it is gone he calls out in the elvish tongue. "No one here will harm you little one." Slowly, beginning with the grin, the creature reappears and carries on a conversation with the party in tiny shrill voice. It likes fruits, grains and vegetables and is well fed by those carrying such things among their supplies. The conversation lasts for several rounds while Erin sets about making the camp. Finally it vanishes after gassing the halfling who sits in an intense euphoria for perhaps ten minutes.

End of Session - Pick up next time with the first watch and the encounter therein.

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