~ The Dwarven Blockade: [Archive] [Home] [Previous Turn] [Next Turn] ~

Crayne looks at Nigel and nods, "That is indeed a dilemma Nigel. It is most unusual for the dwarves to venture from their strongholds. It does seem that they have been mistreated in some manner and have a resentment towards Rinder. You may be rest assured that we will look into this matter and try and resolve it as quickly and quietly as possible." Crayne looks to the rest of Rinder's Six to see if they are with him.

Emma nods to him in encouragement. All of the tasks Nigel has set for Rinder's Six so far seem to be matters of great importance to the survival of their country and their way of life. And the church of Anhur had bid her to join the group so that such problems could be overcome.

'Looks like it'll take me a little longer to see this through to the end,' she thinks to herself, "And those war preparations will just have to be counseled by another follower of Anhur. My place seems to be here...' She smiles as she looks around at the fine collection of misfits that comprise Rinder's Six. 'Besides, what would they do without me?' she mentally jokes.

"I'll be happy to assist," Emma speaks aloud, "A good priestess of Anhur is ever dutiful to the needs of her countrymen."

Crayne then continues, "Nigel just to clarify - You have no suspicions at all of your own that would perhaps provide reasoning for the Clans to take such action as this? To restrict and damage the Kingdom of Rinder's war effort against Caerloon seems ridiculous in my eyes. And to suggest that the dwarves would be allied with Caerloon seems even more the ludicrous. Perhaps you could tell me what you know of the dwarves and their different Clans and what their relations have historically been like with the Kingdom of Rinder? Also, is there a possibility that the dwarves could be at war with each other? Are their differences enough within their different clans to wage such a war? It is an unlikely I know but at present we have little to go on and it might just suggest why the dwarves are on the defensive."

Nigel nods as he listens to Crayne's questions. "Very good questions, indeed, Mage Crayne. Unfortunately, I am not the Minister of Dwarven Affairs, so I cannot answer as well as he might. However, I will tell you what I know." He clears his throat before continuing.

"The Dwarven Clans have lived peacefully among us for centuries, residing mostly in the Raimead Mountains. Only rarely have we taken up arms against one another, and even then, it was usually to hunt down a band of renegades and not a general war. There are a number of Clans, exactly how many I just do not know. They are all based around prominent families. The dwarves spend most of their lives working the caves and mines. I would not be surprised if Sir Bryant has many a dwarven team in his mines, perhaps even the one you...visited." He smiles with that last word.

"I cannot suspect that the Clans have outright allied with Caerloon. It would not make sense diplomatically or tactically: they would be instantly surrounded by Rinder's troops before any of Caerloon's men could get that far north into our kingdom. So there must be some other element at work here. What that is, I do not know. What I do know is that the situation must be brought under control, and the Dwarven Blockade broken!"

Crayne then looks over to Storm, "Storm!" he calls, "Do you have any idea as to why the dwarves would have taken such an action?"

Storm's look becomes suddenly grim. The mention of the dwarven clans' surprising action sparks all sorts of emotional fires within the sturdy dwarf. He is so within himself that Hannibal's comments go over his head completely, as if he doesn't even hear them, and Naeron's valiant and noble request to join with Rinder's Six seemingly does not even enter Storm's ears.

Only when Crayne addresses him directly does he even show signs of being conscious. He blinks his eyes, coming back to the real world, upon hearing his name. He looks at Crayne, a pained look on his face, and then turns to Nigel. "Ye ain't be jokin' on this, Nigel, are ye." The expected "no" sends a shiver through Storm's spine. The dwarves of Rinder were always on excellent terms with the government, as far as Storm knew (granted, he doesn't actually know much of the subject), and he had no idea why the dwarven nation would do such a thing. But that thought was unimportant to Storm, but rather he wondered about his own family; if all the clans were agreed on this action, than his father had to be playing some sort of important role in the matter. That thought sent another shiver up Storm's spine, this one even worse than the last.

Emma also looks to Storm, plainly interested in what the Dwarf might have to say about his people. She realizes that Storm is the only Dwarf she's ever actually met before. She had read about them in many of the books at her temple library, of course, especially about their exploits on the battlefield. But, that really only gave her a general sense of what they were like.

'Are they all like Storm?' she wonders, 'At times he seems misguided in his actions...good intentions, always...just not always well-thought out. Like the way he brought down Rayton. I'm sure he thought he was doing what was best, but he could have killed him. I wonder if the other Dwarves might also be misguided in some way. Maybe something has happened to bring them down to the Raimead mines that's really just a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of the facts?'

"Nigel? Storm?" Emma asks aloud, "Have the Dwarves been on hard times lately? Perhaps they seized the Raimead mines in order to obtain the adamantine for themselves for some reason? They might be beset with their own problems that require the ore. Do either of you know of anything that would cause such a thing to happen?"

"It is a possibility," Nigel replies, looking to Storm for a response. "I do not know of their situation. Like I said before, it is not my area of expertise. Yet there are always those who believe things could be better...and perhaps those who feel this way have gained power within the Clans. They must have followers. Even if not all the dwarves are in support of the blockade, enough are to make it a serious threat to our war effort, to say nothing of our sovereignty."

Storm turns to Nigel. "I be a Strongblade. But I's not be talkin' to me family in...well...er, must be at least a tenyear by me reckoning. Me's told ya that when me answered yer note on the door to join the Six." He pauses in thought, making a decision within himself. "I don't be knowin' much about where me family stands, but me dad, Thorn Strongblade, be the chief Strongblade smith. Me family's be a good a place to start askin' questions as any." It pains him to think of how his first encounter with his father, and the rest of his family, will go but he feels too strongly for his new friends to let them down now. His final statement is final and resolute, and after he states it he turns off to go find a good meal and a place to sit alone and think.

Before he walks away he makes one last announcement: "We go to the north pass."

Emma watches the burly Dwarf walk away, curious as to why he hadn't spoken to his family over ten years. 'What would have brought him out of the highlands,' she wonders, 'That's probably as important a question as why the rest of his kinsmen have come down...' But how could she go about asking such a question? Storm never seemed like the type that wanted to discuss such personal matters.

Hannibal listens to Sir Nigel, taking in the full weight of things as they unfold. It had not really hit him, even after the battle at the fort, that this country was indeed at war. As he listens, he strokes several days of facial growth, promising himself a shave and hot bath before they set out.

Watching Storm leave, Hannibal nods emphatically. "I'm all for taking this one! Bernigan can't show his snake of a hide, smile it off, and then slither away this time!" Looking at the others, "As to which way I think maybe Emma or Naeron would have better knowledge of the paths then I, let's just get moving soon!"

After the meeting has concluded with Nigel, Crayne addresses Rinder's Six: "Phew! Am I glad that that's all over with! What a mess! I don't know about the rest of you all but I could do with a large meal and a tankard of frothy ale. If you would all care to accompany me I will shout you all a meal," he offers with a smile.

"Perhaps we could make for the inn near the Temple of Anhur," he suggests merrily. "Then to walk our meals off Lady Emma here could show us something of her past by taking us around the splendid Temple that we passed a few days back. I would take delight if you would approve of my request Lady Emma!" Crayne looks at Emma for a moment and smiles warmly.

Emma takes the mage by the arm and says, "Certainly, Highbrow! Now that our lives are once again confirmed to be our own, thanks to the just verdict of the Council Knights...and in no small part due to your efforts in questioning the suspects...I'd be delighted. And I'm very much looking forward to that meal. Let's celebrate our good fortune! And afterward, I'll give all of you a tour of this city where I grew up...as well as the temple of Anhur."

As they depart the Great Forum, Emma spends some time reflecting on all that's gone on. In some ways, she feels just as fatigued as when she started out in the morning with the leftover achy effects of chasing Rayton through the tunnels beneath the city. It's a mental tiredness now, though. And even that is overridden by the joy of accomplishing everything they had set out to do.

'Anhur favored us more than I ever thought possible,' she thinks to herself, 'The Zone of Truth wasn't just a fable...it really worked. And speaking with the dead thief's spirit...wow! I've never done anything like that before. Crayne and Naeron spoke with such fire and determination that Anhur himself must have been guiding their words. And then, to have the Knights of Rinder hear us out and embrace our ideas so fully...it just feels good to be alive. This is truly a moment worth celebrating.'

On reaching the inn Crayne addresses the group: "I am very proud to be of Rinder's Six this day. You all did exceptionally well back there to bring down the treacherous Hannah of Seden. Also, may I point out that I myself, having listened to Emma and Naeron's argument in favour of Sir Bryant to succeed as King, am now fully behind this recommendation and will be until he is sitting upon the throne. It is a good man that you work for, Naeron.

"Finally, I would like to welcome Naeron to the group and thank him for his assistance in the last dilemma that so nearly cost us dearly. I suggest we raise a toast to Rinder's Six and drink to the good of the Kingdom! May Caerloon fall to its knees at the might and strength of the Valiant Rinder!"

"I agree," Emma says, "We've all done well! Especially you, Crayne. You did an admirable job convincing the knights of our case. There might be a future in politics for you, if you'd be so inclined. Who knows, perhaps one day, I'll bring a case to you and you'll get to be the judge...or if you'd rather, maybe you can join the temple of Anhur and become a prosecutor." She smiles and laughs, then grows more seious.

"But the days ahead will certainly be interesting. Not just for Seden, but all of Rinder. I imagine that Duke Elgar and Lady Katherine have much to reflect upon with the charges against Lady Hannah being completely proven. I just hope that this scandal will harden their resolve in supporting the war efforts against Caerloon. We need all of the duchies to face the Caerloon force as well as the Orcs.

"To Rinder's Six and the good of the Kingdom!" Emma raises her cup and drinks another large gulp of her wine. As she sets the cup back down on the table, she feels a little woozy. 'Whose idea was it to celebrate like this again?' she wonders, 'Mine? Or the Highbrow's? Maybe I shouldn't have ordered the wine. I'd better go easy with this stuff...or I'll wind up like that time in Robert Wade the Younger's tent.'

In her slightly drunken haze, the memory of that scene comes back to her. And also, the memory of his kiss. Or had there been more than one kiss? Or had they been her kisses instead of his? She could hardly remember how things became so passionate exactly.

Then she turns her thoughts back to the comments of Lady Hannah as she was being questioned about the Caerloon encampment and her connection to the Baron General. She had said that Robert the Younger had met with her, not his father. So, did that mean Robert was fully in support of his father's plans? And, did he try to seduce the real Hannah as well, she wonders. A tiny spot of jealousy gathers in the pit of her stomach at that idea.

Her thoughts are finally shaken and the dreamy look leaves Emma's face as Naeron begins to speak. She takes another drink from her cup to push away the bad images of Robert and Hannah, as she listens to Duke Bryant's diplomat.

"I am ready to return to Raimead..." He paused then, seemingly uncertain. The Six didn't know what he was hesitating for. He glanced at his hands, then looked

up again, a decision having been made. "Friends. I see in you the hope of Rinder, the strength, diversity and fire that it will take to preserve our nation. Though I dare not presume, I would humbly ask... humbly ask that you allow me to join your number, permanently. It was time for me to choose my Calling, to make my own way. I had not yet done so, wanting to wait until the war was over, when my service at court would not be as necessary. But now I see my service to him is here, if you will have me..."

Canter nods. Storm takes a drink. Even Cy smiles.

"Certainly, Naeron," Emma says, trying hard not to slur any words, "Rinder's Six would be well honored to...to have you join us. We'll be returning to Raimead anyway. Perhaps when...when we get there, you can ask your liege to grant you permission to join us, permanently...after, ummm...after his...ascens-ascenshuh-ascension to the throne of Rinder. In the meantime, I'm sure he will see the benefit of you...con-con-continuing with us."

Following the meal, and after giving herself some time to recover from some of the effects of the potent wine, Emma leads the way onto the streets of the city. "This...is the market district," she says, spinning about with her arms outstretched to indicate all of the stalls that line the street. "There are inns, taverns, and lots of businesses all along here, but most of the shopkeepers have closed up by this time of the evening. I used to shop here sometimes during the days that I spent here. As a young girl, my father sometimes brought goods to sell here as well from our outlying estate."

She leads them down toward the docks, taking them out onto one of the piers by the sea. "Over there is the beach where I used to go sit on the rocks and meditate," she says, pointing. She laughs, her spirits high from the wine and the memories of her youth. "Sometimes I would meditate more on the birds and the water than my lessons, I'm afraid. This was one of my favorite places. I could sit and watch the ships come in all day long."

Finally, she takes them back into the city proper and guides the way to the temple of Anhur. "This is the third largest temple of my caste in all of Rinder," she says, taking on the tones of a lecturer, "It was built almost a hundred and fifty years ago to commemorate a great sea battle that took place along the coast. A lot of people don't realize that followers of Anhur fight wars on the land and the sea. They say that Seden was actually the lovely daughter of the local lord back then. She fell in love with one of the sea captains that defended the city from the attack of some barbarian invaders. When word came back that the captain had lost his life in the battle, she threw herself from that cliff that you saw down by the beach. She died upon the rocks in despair. Her father was so grief-stricken that he renamed the city in her name. I think it was called Lavanne before that.

"Let's go inside," she says, walking up the steps and opening the large doors, "C'mon...don't be intimidated by the size of the place. It's just another building...and it was my home for almost six or seven years." As everyone congregates in the foyer, Emma points to the candles that are lit upon a small side table. "There are six candles," she tells them, "Each one representing a different weapon and a different devotion of the noble warrior's spirit. The mural over there shows their images:

"The first is the sword. It symbolizes dedication and commitment. The second is the spear, for directness of purpose. The third is the flail, for exactment of justice. The fourth is the bow, representing the lofty goals that each priest must strive toward. The fifth is the lance, symbolizing Anhur's great power. And the sixth is the staff, for humility and kindness to others," she explains.

"All of the priests try to train in as many of those weapons as we can," she tells them, "Though the ones that are used most often on the battlefield are more regularly chosen. It's said that the most powerful priest to ever serve the caste of Anhur used nothing more than a staff." She reaches out and touches Crayne's newly acquired weapon. "Who knows, maybe you could become one, too, Highbrow," she smiles.

She then takes them further into the temple itself. They pass into a large room with a high ceiling and a balcony that runs all the way around the second floor. A few acolytes of Anhur are currently gathered at an altar on the far side of the chamber.

"This is the sanctuary," she whispers to everyone, "Those people are new initiates to the faith. During wars and uncertainty, more people join our caste than at any other time. They are wearing gray robes right now because they haven't been purified and ordained yet. Our faith teaches us to prepare our religious 'soldiers' before simply handing them the responsibilities of Anhur's priesthood. To take just anyone off the street and make them a priest would be like taking a farmer from his field and asking him to lead a charge of cavalry into battle. You might get lucky and

he turns out to be a great leader of horseman, but more likely he'll cost you the battle with his inexperience. We prefer to make our priests as successful as they can be by setting a rigid curriculum for them to follow...not the least of which is proper weapons-training. Speaking of that, let's go this way..."

Emma takes them to a side passage and down a long hall. As they get closer to a large set of double-doors, the sound of weapons clashing can be clearly heard on the other side. Before she opens them, she turns to address everyone again. "This leads to the training ground," she explains, "I used to spend the better part of three hours a day down here, learning the use of the spear and the flail. My masters always told me I needed to slow down. I think I probably gave a few too many bumps and bruises to my sparring partners due to my enthusiasm. I haven't been back since Edryd taught me the proper use of my broadsword, though, so maybe we can find one of my old weaponmasters and I'll surprise him."

She grins mischievously and opens the doors. The clamor from other side grows louder as she leads them into a courtyard. There are a few men dressed in padded armor battling among themselves. One group of ten or so has a large man addressing them on the proper use of the sword. "That's Torrence, our Weaponsmaster," she says, "He's almost sixty now and still going strong. He's probably the best fighter pound-for-pound that I've ever seen. He used to beat the pants off of me every day. Those people that he's training are Adepts. They've completed the first two years of their training and have moved on to study a new weapon."

She directs their attention to some of the various statuary and the cultivated garden around the courtyard's edge. "All of that is carefully maintained by the first year students. It's supposed to teach us patience, I think. For me, I just trimmed the hedges while I watched the older students train. That's probably why I got in trouble a lot when I was first here. Always breaking the rules, I'm afraid. I guess I was too eager to start learning the things the older students getting to do."

She smiles and points to the nearest statue, an eight foot monstrosity of an armor-clad warrior thrusting his sword into the heart of a dragon. "That sculpture is over a hundred years old, they say. It's by an artist named Valerio. It's supposed to be a rendition of Anhur himself battling the Serpent of Evil. I don't think I've ever seen any serpents like that before. I've read about them, of course, and if they really are out there, I'm sure they're evil."

She looks around at the group, curious if they are getting bored yet. She gazes at Crayne and raises an eyebrow. "How about if we go check out the library next?" she smiles, "It's one of my favorite places." She takes them back into the building and takes a different passage, then up a flight of stairs and down another long hallway lined with doors. "All of these lead to the living quarters of the priesthood," she says, "And behind that door down there is the library." She pauses as they finally get to it. A big smile is on her face as she opens the door. The inside is easily as large as the sanctuary downstairs, but it's filled with row after row of bookshelves and reading tables.

"This place contains the combined histories of many of the duchies of Rinder," she says, beaming with pride, "It's also the largest publicly available library in Rinder, and probably the world. I studied mostly law, philosophy, and history here. My master, Frances, used to tell me he could always find me in one of two places...here, or down at the beach. Feel free to look around if you like. Most of the books are available for anyone to use, as long as you're properly supervised by a priest of the temple. I certainly qualify as that, so if I can help you locate anything, I'd be happy to help."

She points to another door on the other side of the room. "That's the reserved section. We have some books that are too old and fragile to make available to the general public. You have to have special permission to look at them, and a priest must handle the books for you. We have a lot of good translators here, too, so many people find it useful to keep a priest along all the time. I'm not so good at the interpretation stuff myself, but there are others that can help if you find anything you need translated."

Leaving everyone to a little exploration of their own, Emma sees a fellow-priestess in the distance and approaches her to catch up on old times. Their idle chatter goes on for a few minutes and then Emma comes back to check up on everyone. "Okay...that's pretty much the tour. There's not a lot else to show you guys, unless you want to see the dungeon where we lock away violent criminals. That's not exactly a highlight of the place, so we can skip that and I'll lead everybody back out when you're ready..."

"Emma," Crayne asks, "are there any books in this library of yours dealing with herbs and their study? It has been an interest of mine lately and I would like to sit down and read a bit if you wouldn't mind."

"Of course!" Emma responds smiling. She leads him over to one section of the shelves, and Crayne smiles as he looks up at the stacks of books on the subject. He thanks her, and she leaves him to rummage through the tomes.

"Cy," Emma says softly, "perhaps I might interest you in something here as well. In that section over there are the stories of the great Cavaliers. I thought perhaps you might like to read one?"

Cy smiles and nods slightly. "My Lady Emma, how thoughtful." He casts a glance down at his beaten and battered shield, then grabs it tightly and moves off in the direction of the books.

Canter yawns, turning to Hannibal. "I think I'm about ready to turn in for the night...it's been quite a day."

"Yeah," Hannibal replies, "Storm? Coming?"

"Aye," Storm replies, still apparently lost in thought.

"Emma, we'll head back to the inn...we'll see you and your bookworms in the morning, huh?" Canter asks, patting her shoulder.

"Yes of course," she replies. "Have a good night."

"I'll follow these fools," Naeron says to Emma, winking to Canter, "and make sure they don't find any more seedy friends tonight!"

"Emma! Take a look at this!" Crayne calls out, his voice ringing through the library. Other priests look up from their studies, and Emma's face grows slightly red, but she soon shakes it off, wondering what Crayne could have found which was so exciting.

She rushes over to find the Mage sitting on a nearby stool, his head buried in an old dusty book. "What is it?" she asks, looking at the book, "that's not a book about herbs! It must have been mis-shelved, here..." she reaches for the book, tugging it from Crayne's grasp.

"No!" he cries out, snatching it back. "It's fascinating. Look! A spell!" he points at the text, in old arcane symbols.

"Ooo, I haven't seen many books with that sort of script in this library. Only in the reserved section...I should bring it back," she caution.

"Not..." he yanks it back, hugging it to his chest, "...until I copy this spell first!" With that, he plops himself down at a nearby table and takes out his own spellbook. Soon, he is hard at work copying the spell.

Emma then approaches one of the new students, introducing herself. She asks the student if he knows where Francis is. The student replies that Francis had turned in for the night. Emma is disappointed, but understands. "I will just have to make it a point to return soon, then," she tells the student, as if he knew what she was talking about. "Do me a favor, please tell Francis tomorrow morning that Emmalya of Serralund came to see him. And tell him that she is making a difference." The student is a bit confused, but promises to deliver the message.

About an hour later Cy reappears. He sits down at the table next to Emma, who just sits there watching as Crayne finishes his transcription. "It must have been one of the really old tomes," she explains to Cy as if he had witnessed the whole episode, which he had not, "perhaps written by one of the ancient battle-mages of the church...

"Oh!" she catches herself, "but you don't know what I'm talking about!"

Cy smiles. "Doesn't matter. Your books are fascinating. Perhaps someday I can return and spend some more time here. But now I feel we must all get some rest, as we have a long journey ahead of us."

"Yes, you're right," Emma replies. "Crayne?"

"Mmmm..." he replies, his head still buried.

"It's about time now, come on..."

"Okay, one more line..."

In the morning, Emma calls upon Anhur to heal her and her comrades. Within a few hours, all are back to full health, the combination of a good night's rest and some extra holy-help did the trick. Also, once he is healed, Crayne ventures out into the marketplace, where Emma had shown them the night before. Now that he knew what to look for, he searched for a good book on herbalism. Within an hour he had purchased one, telling himself, 'this ought to keep me busy on the road...'

"Okay," Canter says, pulling out a map of the Kingdom of Rinder. "Now it looks like we have four options for places to approach the Raimead Mountains. We've been through this pass before," he points to the crossing near Merriam. "But Storm, you said we should head for the northern pass, is that right?"

"Aye," Storm says, stabbing at the map with his finger. "That one."

"Alright then," Naeron says, "the northern pass. I'll see to it the Knights have some mounts for us." With that, he sets off in the direction of the Great Forum.

"If anyone can talk the Knights out of some horses, it sure is Naeron," Hannibal says as he watches the half-elf disappear into the bright sun.

About an hour later Naeron reappears with one horse for each of them, seven in total. "I think it will take us about two, perhaps two and a half days to get there," the diplomat explains. We should take the main road, I think."

"Fine," Cy says, looking up at the sun. "Let us make haste, then."

And with that, they are off. The mild weather along the northern coast keeps the temperatures up well above the freezing conditions further south. And for a number of hours in the afternoon the road actually follows the shoreline. They can see ships just off the coast, with their large white and blue sails billowing in the breeze.

By nightfall they have made good time. The Grand City of Seden is far behind them, now. They pull off the road and make camp atop a tall hill. One side of the hill extends down to the shore, far below and in the distance. Yet the sea breeze and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore can just barely be heard in the distance.

"I used to live by the water," Crayne offers, chewing on some meat caught in one of Storm's snares. "Yeah, Mistledale was on this lake. It seemed so large...you could look out on the water and it was endless. But now..." his head turns to face the Northern Sea. "What is out there? Does anyone know?"

"They say," Canter replies, finishing his meat, "that if you sail out too far it just stops. You cannot go any further."

"I have heard the wind gets so fierce...the gods won't let you sail too far," Hannibal replies, taking a sip of water from his canteen.

Cy laughs. "You jest. I know for sure. It is just the sea. It is flat, and blue. And if you go to far, you simply fall off."

Emma bursts into laughter. "Fall off?"

Cy nods seriously.

"Don't mind her," Naeron says to Cy, smiling, "she's still feeling the effects of the wine from last night.

Emma playfully slaps Naeron on the arm. "Am not!"

"Come now!" Canter says, "play nice..."

The following day travel resumes. The party approaches a fork in the road, where one route heads south toward Merriam and the other continues ahead, westward, toward Raimead. There at the crossroads are a small number of buildings, an inn, a baker, a tanner, and a woodsmith.

But it is not any of these buildings which causes concern. The cloud of dust on the southern road grows as the horse approaches quickly. "Whoever that is, he sure is in a hurry," Naeron observes as Hannibal nods in agreement. They are stopped outside the baker's shop, taking a midday rest and enjoying some fresh bread.

Crayne, however, has stopped chewing. His eyes are narrowed as he watches the approaching rider in fascination.

"Crayne, what is it?" Cy asks.

"I think...I think I know that man..." the mage replies distantly. Then, suddenly, he erupts:

"Woah! Uncle! Karelth!" He screams as loudly as he can as the rider passes.

The rider yanks on his reigns, pulling his steed to a hasty stop. Slowly he turns the animal around to face Crayne and the rest of Rinder's Six. His face is dirty from the road, and looks slightly bruised, too. His clothes are ripped and torn in places. He narrows his eyes as he looks at Crayne.

"Can it be?" He inches closer, dismounting. His legs are a bit unsteady. He must be at least fourty, but he walks as if he is quite weak. "It is...it is you! Crayne!"

He almost falls forward, throwing his arms around Crayne and his weight on him as well.

"Uncle!" Crayne whispers, patting him on the back and separating from him to look at his face. "What has happened? Why have you left Halen?"

"Halen..." the man repeats, out of breath. His eyes have found their way to Storm, who is taking a sip from his canteen.

Storm stops drinking, suddenly aware that all eyes are on him. "Hmm?" he says, his eyes wide and his cheeks puffed with liquid. Crayne quickly grabs the canteen from the dwarf's hands, causing Storm to spit out his mouthful of water in protest. But no matter, the stranger is already emptying the canteen into his own dry mouth.

"Oh!" Crayne realizes, "introductions! Friends, this is my uncle, Karelth. Karelth, I present to you my friends and comrades, Rinder's Six."

Karelth's eyes widen as he hears the name, Rinder's Six. "It's a...a...pleasure," he just barely whispers, still catching his breath. His attention then refocuses on Crayne. "Crayne," he starts, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's a good thing I found you! They came for me, Crayne! They came for me! I just barely escaped!"

"Came for you?! Who?!" Crayne demands.

"Them..." Karelth replies, "...the Mages..."

"You don't mean..." Crayne's voice trails off.

Karelth nods slowly. "I do. The Red Dragon School."

1. Everyone is now up to full hit points, thanks to Emma's efforts.

2. Crayne, you may add the spell "Levitate" (2nd spell leve) to your spellbook. I know it's not "Fly," as Crayne had dreamed, but it's getting closer! He has also purchased a book on herbalism for 2 gp.

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