Chapter 4: And so it Begins...

[Sinen Darkchild]

(OOC: new chapter...lets get this story moving again.)

Heading north from Hog and a bit west as to avoid the Paelelon forest. Such a fine morning, little cloud cover in the sky, and a gentle breeze blowing. The song of birds hovers on the air. To the common person all seemed well, but to Sinen something seemed out of place. Sinen heads off on the path he chose Alia walking beside him.

ALIA "Sinen, I can tell that your a bit uneasy. What's wrong? And don't tell me nothing, I'm not stupid you know."

Sinen glances at Alia and then back straight before he even begins to speak.

SINEN "My dear Alia, the only thing that is wrong is that it is such a fine day, but my heart feels like it is a day of gloom. Something is odd. I can feel it." He drops to a hushed whisper "I feel as if many of the questions I've long tried to answer may soon near being answered. So long have I waited, but I wonder the cost to know the answer now."

Alia doesn't respond to this she just keeps walking beside Sinen as he leads the group to the town of Elsreth in search of the Spirit Dragons.

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

[Muargath]

Muargath followed along not far behind Sinen and Alia... close enough to hear them talking, but not enough to hear what was being said.  She was aware of Elende and Gashnum keeping pace nearby, yet she did not converse with anyone.  The day was sunny and bright.  Perfect.  Too perfect, it seemed.  

Muargath still did not like the idea of going to Elsreth but hopefully the group would only be passing through in the night.  Hopefully...

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

[Elende]

They left Hog early in the morning. They were west of the Paelelon forest when the sun was high in the sky. For everyone  it seemed to be a perfect day, sunny and bright, a gentle breeze blowing and the songs of birds filling the air...For everyone but Elende it was.

 If it was up to him he would travel during the night to avoid the bright sun. For all his life the sunlight was not his best friend. The pain from the sting of the sun rays was almost unbearable to him.

 While everyone enjoyed this sunny day, Elende kept his hood on to protect his eyes, walking under the shade of trees or other features where he could. He only wished that the day would soon be over.

[Gashnum Invraldi]

Gashnum sucked in the air of the new day with renewed vigor. Though he had travelled through this land a dozen times before, he took in every detail with delight. The sound of birds trilling around the trail. The comforting sound of old leather boots crunching on the sandy gravel at their feet.

In his right hand he held lightly the haft of his beloved spear. His leg was causing him only minor grievance and it bore his weight without too much of a limp. In the same hand as his spear he held the lead to his horse, wrapped tightly through his fingers. The loyal animal was packed with fresh supplies, and most of the gear brough along by the company.

He looked around to the rest of the group, noting that there was very little conversation. Everyone seemed to be basking in the sunny morning cool, and the beauty of nature. Except Elende, Gashnum noticed that the elf carried himself as though being in such a happy place burned him to the core. Not to mention the hood he carried.

The trader wiped the sheet of perspiration from his brow with his free left hand and broke into a light jog to catch up with Muargath. His horse neighed softly behind as it was forced forward sharply by the short lead.

"Such a beautiful day, don't you think?" he asked her, keeping his eyes forward. He walked quite close to her. So that only she could hear his voice.

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

[Gararion]

Gararion followed close to Elende as he grew quite curious of this elf and he seemed the only one not talking to another.  With that Gararion spoke up.

"Weather not to you taste sir?"

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[Elende]

Elende heard someone approaching  and then a voice came from behind him.    
 "Weather not to you taste sir?"
  As he turned his head to meet the voice he saw a figure that must have been Gararion. He made a slight grin that could barely be seen from under his hood.
 "It's the sun....the rays....it feels like burning arrows piercing my eyes. For as long as I can remember myself I avoided the sunlight. I was born with this...eeemmm...curse?"

 There was silence for a few seconds, then Elende turned once again towards Gararion.

" Do you happen to know anything of this fire gem or of the purpose of our travelling to Elsreth?"

[Muargath]

She heard him jogging up before he spoke, even amid the clomping of his unhappy packhorse. "Such a beautiful day, don't you think?"

Muargath smiled and replied just as quietly, "Yes, and if I'm not careful when we get to Elsreth, it might be one of the few remaining sunny days for me, for a long, long while... assuming I am lucky enough to get cell-time even.  Hmmm.  By the time we reach the northern edge of the Paelelon Forest, I should have my decision on whether to continue on or not."  She slowly shook her head, her long, white hair smooth against the thrown-back hood of her woven cloak.  "I don't have any real proof this gem exists.  Sinen hasn't shared anything he knows about it and my faith can only stretch so far..."

"So the big question is, do I believe enough in a child's tale to risk my life and freedom for it?"  Muargath looked over to Gashnum.  "It's a mighty tough call."

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

[Gashnum Invraldi]

Gashnum nodded sagely. He didn't know exactly why Muargath didn't want to go into Elsreth. The two companions walked on in silence for a few moments. Gashnum pulled a pewter canteen from a pouch at his belt, unscrewed the tin cap and took a long drink of the herbaly infused water. He exhaled happily as he felt the water slide down his throat and coat his stomach.

He passed the canteen to Muargath. "Here, you look like you could use a sip. Tis only water."

As Muargath took the proffered canteen Gashnum continued in a lower voice.
"You don't need to worry about the reality of the stone. I know that it is more than a mere childs bed-time story."

The trader shrugged his shoulders emphatically.
"Besides, aren't all stories based in truth.?"

He continued in his quiet tone.
"And if your worried about being spotted once we reach the town, I believe I have a sufficient amount of clothing which would disguise you quite effectivly."

He looked to his friend and shrugged again.

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

[Dray Ducroix]

*Dray just follows along just ot the left and slightly behind Sinnen. Seeing him out of the corner of his eye Dray keeps pace and lets his mind drift. HE goes back to that tower when he last saw sinnen and they defeated the mage trying to remember what exactly happened and how he got out of the tower. He remembered falling when he tried to get up after expended so much energy and then cold. imense cold and after that everythign is blank until he woke up alone in the forest outside the tower*

"What happened back there....I may never know, everyone spilt adn ran for the exits I guess they all survived, but unless I happen to run into them like Sinen I will never know"

[Muargath]

Muargath took the metal canteen from Gashnum gratefully and had a long drink of the cool, herbal water.  Mmmm.  That's good.  I should ask him how he makes this...  She took another, long drink before handing it back.  Some of it had dribbled to her chin and she wiped that with her sleeve.  

Glancing around to make sure they weren't overheard, she whispers, "You mentioned that before, but I've yet to hear your take on it.  You, my friend, are about as forth-coming on information as Sinen is," she teased, "but I suppose I can wait until you are ready to share."  

Muargath linked her arm though Gashnum's and drew even closer, "Clothes may or may not help to disguise me... I'm afraid I have angered some people in Elsreth that could very well see through such a casual illusion."  She cautiously looked back between them toward the Gararion, who was now over by the dark elf.  Together they shadowed the rest of the group along the treeline.  She drew her gaze back to Gashumn and looked up into his brown eyes, deepset in a rugged face.  Tugging his arm lightly for emphasis, she added, "At first, I thought he, the elf-mage, was one of them.  But now?  I think not."

She sighed softly, with a touch of regret.  "I believe that even you might not want to travel with me, if you only knew the trouble I bring on my heels..."

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

[Gararion]

Gararion nodded his head in reply.

"I know little more then any of yous do, though I have this feeling that I have heard of such a tale within my teachings within Ximax.  Thus here I am, to follow my instincts and search this gem out for myself to settle my mind."

Gararion paused for a moment then continued.

"What choice lead you to join us good sir?"

My Website ~ ~Santharia~ Live the Dream

[Elende]

Elende noted Gararion's words carefully. In fact, he wasn't sure if he should be worried that  another one knew so little about this gem or pleased that he wasn't the only one. Elende took a deep breath before answering Gararion's question.
 
"What choice...well....sometimes we do thing that we do not comprehend. We act in ways for no apparent goal with no abvius goal in mind. Sometimes only we retrospect we can discover the purpose of our actions....but this is not exactly an answer is it?"
 
Gararion nobbed his headed slighty and smiled kindly or at least Elende though so.
 
"Maybe the true reason was to find myself to seek my destiny. You may say that in a way we are both for the same reasons.....we are following our instincts a call from within ourselves"

[Sinen Darkchild]

*A very uneventful day faded to night after what seemed like an enternity. Sinen stopped after a moment and turned the others signalling them to stop as well.

SINEN "I think we shall camp here tonight...but I intend to leave by sun up."

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

[Muargath]

Muargath looked around at Sinen, more than a little dismayed that they were going to camp that night in such a open place- practically on the roadway as it were, and less than a day's hard ride south of Elsreth.  "Sh...shouldn't we at least leave the road?  Maybe, go to the west a bit?  or east, beyond the treeline?"

 

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

[Muargath]

Muargath nodded in comprehension of the acute silence, the only answer to her question.  

With a small sigh, she shrugged her shoulders and moved to the side of the road.  An old tree had fallen long ago and now she rested against its solid, grey trunk.  "Your choice then..." she mumbled, mostly to herself.  She glanced at Gashnum and then away, in to the shadowly woodland to the east.  Muargath pulled her woven cloak atighter round her thin frame with an air of petulance around her...

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

Edited by: Muargath   at: 7/11/03 10:19

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