Chapter 2: Off to see a Sage

[Muargath]

Muargath shrugged her shoulders again, barely noticable under the blanket wrapped around her.  "No problem, more for us."

As she listened to Sinen's decree, Muargath took another sip from the bottle.  So no visiting the sage after all.  Just as well, with my luck she's probably a some insane hedge-wizard, living in some gods-forsaken mud hut out in the middle of nowhere... or worse, another wizened old elf roosting in a treetop!  Muargath passed the bottle in the other direction... to Junas who was lying on his back, stargazing.  "Here you go, Junas.  Have a drink."  She winked at the young man who was, in all possibility, older than she.

"There is serenity in Chaos.
Seek ye the Eye of the Hurricane."
- so says the Principia Discordia

[Gashnum Invraldi]

"You best get on your way then mate." Gashnum said to Sinen.
"You find your sage, and I'll make sure the rest of us get to Hog on time." Gashnum threw a small stick onto the fire.
He looked around to the group.
"We'll set out at sunrise."

Gashnum smiled as Muargath opened the bottle and took a drink. He missed the look that she gave to him. As he was opening the second bottle.

Gashnum popped the cork on the second bottle and took a healthy swig of the rare vintage. Gashnum swallowed and took another drink. He sighed as the alcohol entered his stomach. He offered the bottle to the the nearest person on his left. It was the elven maiden who, he took note, looked quite cold.

"Here. take a drink, It will warm you up." Gashnum extended his hand and offered her the bottle.

The warrior who acts out of honour cannot fail. His duty is hounour itself. Even his death - if it is honourable - is a reward and can be no failure, for it has come through duty. Seek honour as you act, therefore, and you will know no fear.
-From the 183rd Ritual of Devotion

Edited by: Gashnum Invraldi at: 2/10/03 3:45:38 am

[Gararion]

Gararion turned to Dray and spoke.

"Yes I know your first name, I picked it up as I approched both you and Sinen and offered to join you.  And I believe the words you speak are true.  My name is Gararion."

Gararion help his held out and shook Dray's hand.

As Sinen anounced their departure Gararion readied himself for the venture, which didn't take much doing.

~I offer you a Cup of Joy~
~Visit Santharia  Live the Dream~

[jamalian]

Jamalian sat quietly. He felt no need to rest, but as he had the chance, he might aswell sit down for a while.
He leaned back on the stump of a fallen Oak tree and layed his head back on the rough bark.

[Junas]

Junas sat up quickly when Muargath talked to him handing him the bottle of wine. He smiled and took the bottle, taking a large sip of the delicious wine. It flowed down, burning his throat, a good burning, warming his belly. He handed it back to Muargath.
"Thank you," he said sweetly while smiling.

Draw this darkness out like poison. Stab, retrieve, again decline. Help me drive the dagger deeper, trace with me explicit line. Take this blade a test of faith and strike me deep and true. I put all my trust in you.

[Viresse]

She furrowed her brows as Sinen spoke.
They were going ahead without her. She wouldn't be able to watch them at the Sage's. They could be plotting very important things while they were gone. That was not good. She felt she needed to know what exactly was happening and how it was to happen. An orange flicker erupted in the corner of her mind's eye as she thought; to her it was a color of indecision.

If they depart, then foul things she could avert would happen.
She paused in her thought for a moment.
I sould so self-righteous, don't I?
The orange color faded from her mind's eye as she shook her head slightly. She looked to Sinen, speaking to him in a tone that sounded hurt and decisive in attempt to get a rise out of him.

"While you lead this band, I have no qualms of your leadership. But I am not fond of this Idea of seperation, Sinen. Is there a reason You hurry so? " She cocked a brow as she spoke, she had questioned his intent. Her plan of questioning everyone's intent began to move.

Perhaps it was good that the trio departed. While Gararion seemed like a man she could trust; she was not sure. But while they were gone she could strike up a conversation with the others and question their intent in the guise of polite interest. Perhaps she should let them go, so long as she could take Gararion aside and speak to him.

She looked to Gararion with a questioning look. She hoped he read it properly and they could step aside and speak if possible.

*pokey de Viresse at viresse@santharia.com* - character descriptions moderator
The Santharian Dream - Home sweet Home...

Edited by: Viresse  at: 2/11/03 3:10:46 am

[Gashnum Invraldi]

Viresse seemed to be ignoring Gashnum so he brought the bottle back up to his lips and knocked back another drink. He could feel the wine burning its way through him. Gashnum loved that feeling, soon he would be able to fall asleep despite the pain in his leg.

Gashnum watched the elf-maiden converse with the mage-like character Gararion. Who was going to see the sage with Sinen. Viresse seemed to be deep in thought, in fact ever since Gashnum had joined up with the group it seemed that she had been deeply thinking. Maybe she was a tad paranoid, or was she just shy. Gashnum hadn't had many run in's with elves so he couldn't really judge what this one was thinking.

Gashnum didn't care weather or not these three went on to see this sage, all he cared about was making sure his hide and the hide of his friends got through it all and further north. He had a shipment to deliver afterall...

Gashnum took another drink then put the cork in the bottle and set it near Muargath without a word. His mind was set on sleep now, for he hadn't slept in nearly an entire day and was weary. He gathered a blanket from the bundle and laid it on the ground, he took another and cast it over himself. He laid down, with his feet to the fire and his back on the ground. He looked up at the sky but the stars were no longer out. The wind had brought in cloud cover. They would be lucky indeed if they were not wet when they awoke at sunrise.

Gashnum closed his eyes. He could see the flickering glow of the fire through his eyelids, to him it was soothing. Noticing his master was going to sleep, Duster came over and laid himself down near Gashnums side. There was still some scattered conversation around the fire as Sinen and his two chosen were preparing to set off. Before he fell asleep Gashnum sat up and spoke to those who were staying.

"Its best we get some sleep now. We must set out at sunrise if we are to make the best time." Gashnum didn't wait for replies he returned to his blanket and covered his face with his hood to keep his ears warm. And soon he fell asleep to the sound of the crackling fire..

The warrior who acts out of honour cannot fail. His duty is hounour itself. Even his death - if it is honourable - is a reward and can be no failure, for it has come through duty. Seek honour as you act, therefore, and you will know no fear.
-From the 183rd Ritual of Devotion

Edited by: Gashnum Invraldi at: 2/12/03 4:38:55 am

[Gararion]

Gararion stood waiting for the time that would come as they would depart.

Gararion took one last glance at each member of the party that would be left behind.  As his eyes strayed across Viresse face he icked up on a questioning look.

Gararion looked back at Viresse giving a look of aknowledgment as he made his way up back on the road away from the ears of the others.  

He wondered if Viresse would follow...

~I offer you a Cup of Joy~
~Visit Santharia  Live the Dream~

[Viresse]

She watched the group quietly as Gashnum started to make a bed for himself. She was unhappy with that aspect as he stated that all should get some sleep. That meant no interrogation by the fire this night. She pursed her lips.
Well, nothing's going to happen your way if you don't try and do something. You need to stop floating about the river and be a rock! Set yourself and see what's coming.
She noticed Gararion had caught her eye and departed over the burm. She excused herself and departed, following him.

Upon the other side, she spoke to Gararion in a hushed tone that only the Elves could pick up. She did wonder if Sinen would be able to hear them, but she shrugged it off. At leats he'll know her intent.

" Gararion, I'm still not sure if I can trust anyone. Including you, I hope you understand.  But if we are of the same interests; to make sure that the fabled Fire Gem does not fall into corrupt hands, then we need to trust one another. And I am defenitely going to need your help as you depart on... I can't have them leave without the knowledge that you will watch them with that goal in mind."

She raised her brows and waited for an answer.

*pokey de Viresse at viresse@santharia.com* - character descriptions moderator
The Santharian Dream - Home sweet Home...

[Gararion]

Gararion listened silently as the wind blew cooler and stronger on the road here to Viresse's words.

As she raised her brows waiting for a response Gararion took no time in asnwering the elven maiden.  He knew his purpose and was happy to know Viresse's as well.

"I understand that trust has to be earned not gained in the ways of life and often this may take many years amoung some.  Being a mage my soul has meet many who distrust me for my powers in the mystics.  But mostly what causes this mistrust is one's own lack of magic."

Gararion paused for a moment to let his words sink in, then continued to speak in the low voice that matched the quietness that Viresse had spoken in.

"Our mind think and speak as one being Viresse.  I too am here to make sure that power does not fall within evil hands once again.  I have lived through and seen many days where both the good and evil have been corrupted by power that is presented to them.  I have learned to understand these power and the pull they have towards the ways of darkness as I hold great power within myself.  So I agree in the words that come your mouth.  We do need to trust each other if we hope that this power does not fall in the hands of those who may be currupted by the power of this Fire Gem.  I will share all knowledge that I obtain on our journey to this sage that we seek in return for knowledge that I am certian that yourself will obtain."

Gararion now remained silent as the wind wrapped his cloak around him.  Gararion seemed to breath in the refreshing air that the cool breezes brought.

~I offer you a Cup of Joy~
~Visit Santharia  Live the Dream~

[Muargath]

Muargath noticed that besides herself and Gashnum, only Junas had accepted any of the wonderful Whisperdown wine.  As she took another drink from the bottle, she watched the others sitting around the fire... and those who refused to.  How rude, some of these people.  Here we are, supposedly traveling for the same purpose and to the same end,  and what adventuring party do we make?  A sad, sorry one, I'd say!

Gashnum set his lightly corked bottle by her, where the neck was tilted and resting against her outer thigh, before he settled into his blankets.  Muargath gladly took ownership of the half-empty bottle, for hers would not stay full forever.  Sadly, it was very nearly gone already.  She took another swallow and welcomed the slow, familiar burn of fruity goodness that filled her body with it's magical warmth.  A lightness of being slowly engulfed her and she was truly happy for the first time in a long while.  She watched the elves stepping out from the camp area, the wizard elf and the female elf- she still didn't know their names- and supposed they were off to play or talk business.. whatever elves do.  Muargath suspected nothing, because she couldn't care less what those two were doing.  

In fact, Muargath cared very little that the party was apparently splitting up so soon...  In her experience, when a group divided so early in a venture, it meant that the whole thing was a major bust.  It just wasn't going to happen.  Truthfully, this wouldn't be the first time she'd been ditched from a party, but still and all, it was very rude to do it to these other, fine people.   Tilting her head back, she let the last of the wine trickle into her mouth.  Mmmm.  Licking her lips, she set this empty bottle between her feet and absently reached for the other one with her one, free hand, for the other was holding her blanket shut around her.  She pulled the cork with her teeth and spit it into the fire.  Ptoo!

She didn't bother to offer it again, anticipating that it will only be refused again.  She smiled mysteriously at that, and continued to watch Sinen and Dray discuss their departing mission.    

"There is serenity in Chaos.
Seek ye the Eye of the Hurricane."
- so says the Principia Discordia

[Sinen Darkchild]

Hefting his pack of equipment up on his back Sinen turns to Dray.
"Let us be moving."

Sinen walks in the direction Gararion and Viresse had just gone. His ears picking up their conversation. He smiles. When he is near enough to not need to yell he speaks in a slow steady voice.

"Viresse, I wouldn't split the group like this if not for a dark feeling on my mind. Something moves that is unwholesome. You can be assured that my intentions with this fire gem are none other than good. I trust you'll look after the rest while we head on. Gararion, we should get moving. Time is against us already."

 Fools rush into battle blindly, but who is really the fool? The fool or the fool who follows him.

[jamalian]

Jamalian looked around himself. The group was splitting and everyone he was left with seemed tired.

"If anyone wants to sleep, ill stay guard. Im not tired anyway, so i feel no need to even try to sleep."

He pulled a throwing knife from its sheathe on his belt and held the blade tightly. As the moon rose higher in the starry nights sky, its light shone from the knives gold trim.

[Muargath]

"If anyone wants to sleep, I'll stay guard. I'm not tired anyway, so I feel no need to even try to sleep."  It was the short, dark-haired elf who spoke.  

Muargath glanced over at him and watched him heft his knife by the blade.  She smiled, her eyes a bit glassy.  "You wish to guard?  I won't stop you..."  She took another swallow of wine, then shook the bottle a little to gauge how much liquid was left in it.  She stared into the flickering flames of the campfire.  "So, Hog, is it?  Ah, it's just as well... I was heading in that general direction anyway.  Better to travel with people," she spoke aloud, possibly to Jamalian, or maybe to the sleeping Gashnum, or even just to the fire itself, "especially people you know, than by jus' yerself.  So's I've always thought."

She thought back to all the times she's traveled alone....and sighed in wistful regret.

"There is serenity in Chaos.
Seek ye the Eye of the Hurricane."
- so says the Principia Discordia

[Gashnum Invraldi]

Gashnum was  fast approaching sleep. He was at that edge, where reality mixes with dream. Duster's head lay across his thigh, the hound was already in the land of dreams. Gashnum loved sleep, in fact it was one of the things he did most often, especially after a good drink.  He could half hear the fire-side conversation. To him it was almost a dream, but for the moment he was anchored to reality.

"especially people you know, than by jus' yerself. So's I've always thought."  Muargath's inebriated voice came through to Gashnum.

His subconcious attached the statement to a dream-like image of Muargath. His concious attempted a coherent response. But in his condition, it was little more than gibberish.

"mmm.... yes, it always was better on the road...... when you know someone...." Gashnum's voice trailed off. His own drunken state forced his voice to continue to speak his thoughts.
" 'Cause ya know.." His voice was growing fainter as sleep took him.
"These roads, can be... lonely" The last word was almost lost to the wind, and Gashnum fell into sleep at last. His mind settling into a complete dream state. He would not wake untill sunrise.

The warrior who acts out of honour cannot fail. His duty is hounour itself. Even his death - if it is honourable - is a reward and can be no failure, for it has come through duty. Seek honour as you act, therefore, and you will know no fear.
-From the 183rd Ritual of Devotion

Edited by: Gashnum Invraldi at: 2/12/03 5:10:10 am

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