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"Oh, Edryd...thank Anhur you're alright!" Emma says, urging the paladin to lie back and let her continue checking his wounds. "His spirit has returned," she tells the others, calming herself down with her own words, "It's his body we must tend to now."

"You showed great bravery defending yourselves and our imminent return to the campsite," she speaks to Edryd as she works, "But two to one odds are not the most favorable, Sword-Bearer. Still, I suppose you had little choice...and probably an overwhelming desire to challenge yourself and prove your ability upon the field of battle. And Anhur certainly values that at times. Nonetheless, I worry about you..."

Edryd leans up and hugs Emma, thinking not of the mess they are, but of his gratefullness for her care and dedication. He whispers, "I saw the shadow of His face, Emmalya. He smiles upon us. He held his arms open to me, until I heard you calling. Then he told me to return and be revived, for our work is only begun..." Then Edryd weeps for several more minutes onto her shoulder, not in sadness but in joy. It is a powerful and overwhelming thing to look into the welcoming eyes of one's god.

"Edryd! That's wonderful! You actually saw the face of Anhur? It's a vision! And he has laid our task before us...," Emma whispers, holding the paladin close as he weeps with joy, and allowing her own tears to add to his.

He then raises his eyes to the others, seeing some of their miserable condition. He motions to Cy to come near. As the man does, Edryd grabs his arm and lays hands upon him before he can refuse. (6 hp restored)

Hannibal is relieved at the luck of the group. Seeing Edyrd's ravaged body is not easy but the fact that he had survived was enough for now. Stealing a moment of silence, Hannibal steps forward and takes the torch from Cy's hand and holds it low to the ground.

"Look all, I wish we could stay and lick our wounds but there is an army just over that rise that is severely pissed at what has happened. They, no doubt, will expect trickery and send out more patrols. Also, I think I spotted a mage down there on our retreat and if he can detect Dire's spellcast, then the reason to bolt is twice as real!" Looking down at Edyrd with sincere concern, Hannibal addresses Emma, "Can he ride?"

"Ride? Yes, but not very fast I'm afraid," Emma responds, "Nor very far, Hannibal. And, Canter is nearly as bad. He's been down this road before, and recently too. He's barely had a few days to recover from his last mortal wound. I'm just not sure how far we can push everyone."

She looks over her shoulder, casting a worried expression at Crayne, Dire, and the others. "What of this mage with the Caerloon army? Is Hannibal right, Dire? Could he somehow sense your involvement? Did you or Crayne weave any magic during the battle here that might lead them to us?"

"If so," she suggests, "We should strike camp and make haste for safer ground. Perhaps the priest of Lentyr that we met upon the road to Faren could help us? He did offer lodging in exchange for our earlier generosity, and it is on our way back to Rinder." She pauses and reflected inwardly for a moment, reaching down to brush the hair from Edryd's eyes. "Nire must have brought us together for this very reason," she murmurs, "In our deepest time of need, Anhur's brother has provided for our safety and protection. And, who knows...perhaps this Lentyr plays a role in our deepest time of need, Anhur's brother has provided for our safety and protection. And, who knows...perhaps this Lentyr plays a role in our journey as well." She would have to cast an augury later to determine the extent of what the stars held in store for her involvement with the caste of Lentyr.

Emma shakes away those thoughts and removes Edryd's cloak from about his shoulders. She quickly folds the garment in half and then begins to wrap it tightly around the paladin's midsection, ignoring his groans of pain. Finishing with that, she moves to help him regain his feet, but has trouble with his larger size and weight. "Someone help me get him to his horse...and bring his sword as well," she urges, "And do the same for Canter, too. We shouldn't stay here any longer than necessary."

She pauses in her steps toward Edryd's mount and looks back toward Dire and Crayne, tossing her head to push away the long curls of hair that blocked her eyes. "We do have what we came for, correct?" she asks, "I mean, Hannibal told me that you were successful...that we have the proof that will proclaim Luthor's innocence. So, we can leave now and determine our course of action when we reach the Temple of Lentyr in Faren. Is that right?"

"Yes." Dire answers in a low tone. "We have what we came for." His eyes are narrow slits, focused on the captive enemy soldier as he answers Emma's question.

Emma nods in reply and then motions to the others again, "Then let's pack up and move. The real 'Lady Hannah' also made her arrival a bit early while we were still within the camp. And Robert the Younger saw me leave. So, even if their mage hasn't been attracted to our activities, it won't take them long to come looking for me..." She casts her eyes about the ruined campsite and the dead soldiers, and finishes saying, "...or this missing patrol."

As the group goes about getting ready for their departure, she quietly and calmly assisted Edryd and Canter in mounting their horses. She takes a moment to bind their legs to their saddles with some leather strips...the same one's Canter worked with in his spare time. "This should help you keep your seat in case we get separated or if you pass out from lack of blood," she told them, "Just hold tight and we'll get you to a place of safety."

Lastly, she approaches the captured soldier of Caerloon and proceeds to use her rope to bind him tightly. "I'm afraid you'll be coming along with us, too," she tells him, pulling the rope tighter to emphasize her words, "Don't cause us any trouble and you won't receive any harsh treatment. By Anhur's law I'm honor-bound to see to your safety while you are in my care...but don't taint my honor by testing its limits." She looks toward Crayne and motioned for the mage to take charge of the prisoner. "Can you keep him in his place?" she asked, "The rope should be sufficient, but your magic might also prove necessary. What do you think?"

The captive soldier, whose magical hold wore off as Emma bound his hands, breathes quickly and deeply. His eyes are wide and focused on Dire. The perspiration pours off his face and neck, and his eyes dart about as if in a panic. He begins to step backwards, away from Dire, but trips over his own feet. He scampers away as fast as his bound hands and legs can take him, but Emma doesn't let him go far. The party notices, however, his peculiarly frantic behavior. "I wonder how much Dire had to do with this," Emma thinks to herself, remembering that the illusionist is not honor-bound by the laws of Anhur when it comes to treatment of prisoners.

Crayne looks about the group and is pleased that all are alive. Looking at Emma as she suggests taking care of the prisoner Crayne obliges with a nod, "Not a problem! You won't hear a peep out of him!" Crayne looks at the prisoner in his chaotic manner and gives him a smile. He still holds a bloody dagger in his hand. Putting the dagger back in its sheath the blood drips onto his hand and runs down his wrist. He is fully aware that the captive watches him as he does this. He then proceeds to wipe his nose and blood rubs across his higher lip. Moving his tongue out he licks his lips.

Satisfied that the alarmed soldier seems to have got the message Crayne suggests that the party make there departure. As he listens to Emma speak he wonders to himself what must have happened between Robert and herself. Realizing that now was not the time, he nods in agreement as she suggests making way for the Temple of Lentyr. "That seems the wisest at the moment. For the party is in no fit state to travel far. Let us ride on!"

Emma spent only a few moments conversing with Crayne regarding the soldier. She finally turns to mount her own horse and looked once more back toward the Caerloon campsite just over the ridge and sighed. Her thoughts were on a different Caerloon soldier...an officer and a nobleman.

What might Robert Wade III be doing right at that moment, she wonders. Was he telling his father all about her treachery and pointing out the path she had taken when leaving the camp? He'd already had his chance to do just that before she left...but he had let her escape instead. Had her passionate words in his personal tent opened his eyes? Or, was he even thinking about her at all? And, if he was, could any of it be pleasant thoughts?

She shakes her head and turns her horse to the north. "Let's go," she calls out, purposefully banishing those thoughts and digging in with her spurs to lead the way to Faren. She'd probably never see the nobleman again anyway, she thought, except on the field of battle, perhaps...

After being strapped into his saddle, Edryd looks to the others. "We need more healing than this. We need to regroup. Do we go to the old man's temple? What say all of you?"

Cy nods, "I say we visit this temple, staying here is not an option...but he must be left behind," the warrior says, motioning to the prisoner. "Kill him or let him go, but he cannot stay, he will but slow us down. I suggest we make for Faren. It is close and we know someone there who could take care of us there. I'm more for trusting a city now than these woods. Whatever we do, we do it quickly."

Emma listens to Cy's advice and nods her head, but only partially agrees with the mercenary, "We should definitely leave this place quickly, but the soldier must be brought along," she says, "Killing him in such a state would be a great sin in the eyes of Anhur, and letting him go would risk allowing him to inform the Caerloon army of our plans, strength, and numbers. After all, his body might be held, but there's nothing wrong with his eyes or his ears.

"I say we take him with us for at least the first part of our journey," she continues, "He shouldn't slow us down any more than Edryd or Canter will. And, once we leave this immediate area, we can discuss letting him go somewhere closer to Faren...or possibly leave him behind with the priest of Lentyr."

Storm stands over the leader of the group that attacked them, breathing heavily. It takes several moments for him to calm down, his anger still fueled by the man's prejudice. He rips his swords from the man's still chest, wiping them nonchalantly on the dead man's shirt. He sheathes them, spits on the man's carcass, and rejoins the group.

The dwarf addresses the group: "I be wantin' to get outa here. Ain't that big army still makin' its way fer the fort? Should we be gettin' back so that the ol' plan to san'wich thems at Dillend be workin'? Eh...I don't remember if theys said we had to be there by a certain time..." He scratches his head as he trails off.

"We'll certainly make our way for Dillend immediately upon leaving Faren," Emma agrees, "But we need to see to our wounded comrades first, and the Temple of Lentyr offers us the best opportunity to do so. And, as the scrolls of Anhur say: 'It's important to hurry to the battle, but make sure you're at full-strength before you arrive.' Since Faren is on our way to Dillend, it makes sense to stop there and regain our strength before joining with our countrymen."

"Oh ya!" He interrupts a few seconds later. "I be takin' this from under them buggers' noses." He takes the pouch of silver from his shirt and tosses it into the middle of the circle. "There be a time when I'd be a keepin' that a secret. But me's never had friends like you befur. Dis be as much yers as mine." He looks off into the woods and spits.

Emma raises her eyebrows at the display of the heavy sack, but doesn't seem ill-inclined toward Storm for having taken it away from the Caerloon camp. "The spoils of war," she nods, "And yet another burden for us to carry...but one that we can probably manage just as well as two wounded warriors and a Caerloon captive. Well done, Storm!"

She urges the Dwarf to properly stow the sack onto his horse, saying, "We've no time to divide this now...but we can do so later, once we've put more distance between us and this place."

The prisoner is strapped onto Emma's mount, though Cy is skeptical. Soon the party sets off, leaving the campsite and the battlefield behind. The wind is cold and the ground hard. The horses are tired and do not trot as lively as they had earlier in the day. But they continue northward.

About an hour later they reach the main road. Canter, on one of the lead horses, turns to face the others. "Which way to Faren?" he asks, motioning left and right (east and west) with his eyes.

"Oh ya!" Storm pipes up, "I also be swipin' this from them buggars!" he whips out the map and waves it proudly over his head. Dire, on the next horse, swipes the map from the dwarf's hands, and holds it in front of him.

Holding the map in one hand, he opens his other hand in which appears a small sphere of light, floating just above his palm. In it's cool yellow glow Dire examines the map. "This will be quite useful to the Knights, I'm sure. Well done, my thieving fellow." Then, looking up at the road, Dire points to the left, to the east: "That way."

Emma begins to fall to the back of the group. She slows her steed and begins to pray to her god, asking for his help in bringing into this plane a creature of air. Anhur is, indeed, helpful, and soon Emma has the elemental doing her bidding, sweeping up dirt and dust behind the party to cover its tracks.

As the sun begins to rise above the horizon and the dew forms on the frosty grass, the party finds itself approaching Faren. It is a moderately sized city, perhaps better described as a large town. There are a number of large streets and avenues, a couple of small market squares, and plenty of cottages on the outskirts. In the center of the city are three or four large stone buildings, obviously of older origin than the wooden buildings which line the surrounding roads.

The people on the streets seem depressed. Bread is being baked, and children sweep in front of their parents' shops, but there is a sense of sadness about the town. The peasants and merchants all look up as they see the mounted party parade down the streets, a look of awe and wonder. At the recognition of the weapons carried by the warriors, some step back. Doors are shut and children are hugged to their mothers.

"What sort of place is this, I wonder?" Hannibal whispers under his breath as he observes the locals.

Soon the party finds itself in the main market square, which is bordered by four large stone buildings. On the steps of one they can see the old priest from the road standing, leaning on his staff, handing out loaves of bread to some children. The building behind him is fairly large, looming tall over the nearby shops, smiths, and houses. But some of the statues out front are chipped or broken, and the stone has a weathered look about it.

"This place has sure seen better days," Canter says as they approach. As he looks around the scene, he notices Emma writing a note as she rides, her brow creased in thought and concentration. "What are you doing?" Canter asks her.

"A message," she replies, holding up the note, "for Moore in Mitchend. Telling him of our present situation, the troops at Wade's camp, and of the documents which strongly support Dire's innocence. It shouldn't take long to reach the Knight at Mitchend."

"That's assuming the Knight made it to Mitchend before Wade's troops did..." Canter says with an air of realism.

The priest looks up from his position as he notices the mounted party approaching. He passes his last loaf of bread to a beggar on the steps as he descends, moving toward the party. "My good friends!" He says, his aging, hoarse voice straining to achieve any appreciable volume. "I hardly expected to see you so soon. Welcome. Welcome, as a humble servant of Lentyr, I offer you shelter at this Temple."

Edryd casts a quick glance to Emma, who smiles in response to the warm welcome the old man offers. Edryd then slows his steed and looks down at the priest. "I thank you on behalf of myself and my comrades, as a fairthful sword-bearer of Anhur."

"Anhur..." the priest repeats to himself quietly. "Well, sword-bearer, what can I do for you on this cold morning?"

"We are in desperate need of some shelter and healing, good friend," Edryd replies diplomatically.

"And a warm blanket would be nice!" Crayne says from the back, shivering from the long, cold, tiring ride.

"Very well, then," the priest says with a nod. "I'll send someone for your horses, please come with me..." With that, he turns and ascends the stone steps toward the Temple entrance.

1. Once inside the temple, as per Emma's instructions, she will memorize and cast one Cure Moderate Wounds and one Cure Light Wounds each on Canter, Edyrd, and Cy, plus an additional Cure Light Wounds on Cy (see HP Status below). Following the completion of that healing, Emma re-memorizes her spells: Battlefate, Command, Cure Light Wounds, Orison (x6), Augury, Cure Moderate Wounds, and Hold Person. Emma, do you want to cast your Augury while in the Temple of Lentyr?

2. HP Status: Canter: 16/22, Storm: 26/32, Edryd: 10/21, Crayne: 9/9, Cy: 27/32, Hannibal: 9/17, Emma: 24/24.

3. How long will you stay at the Temple? Do you have any questions for the priest? Will you implore him to offer some of his own healing powers? By the time the healing is finished and spells are re-memorized, it is about mid-afternoon.

4. How will you explain the prisoner to the priest? What will you do with the prisoner?

5. Just so you know, I updated the web page recently with all the latest turns. https://members.tripod.com/~DMRinder

6. I am currently in the process of creating a (gigantic) Word97 document which will contain all the turns to this campaign. That's right, over a year's worth of posts. The reason for this is not only so that we all can have a written (printed) record of the game, but also for reference purposes: I will make this file FULLY INDEXED! That way, if you need to look up the last time Sir Nigel or Duke Bryant was mentioned, you can quickly and easily find it. It is a titanic project; I'm only up to Turn 35 and I'm at 93 pages already! As I get closer to finishing, I will let you all know.

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