Once, before, some of the party traveled on an Elven Swan boat.  Aided by magic, the vessels are quick and comfortable, but there are not great in number.

They take up the miles quickly.

There are friends along the way- to Theoderic, family.  They pass the castle of his Elven grandmother, Entherin.  And his home in Raviniacum.  But time is of the essence, the danger is real, and Theoderic does not permit himself long reunions, just brief visits.

Though Aelasuria can tell, seeing him.. he wishes it were longer.

In Theoderic's land, the Meuse branches.  The smaller Chiers river, a tributary, seems scarcely big enough for the Elven vessels.  But the Swan boats are surprising.  They draw less water than it seems they should, and they can float where common sense says they should run aground.  They continue as far as they can.

But soon, the Chiers is too small even for the magic Swan boats.  At the horse-ranch of Epoiso, birth place of many of the horses in Theoderic's army and his own horse Westwind, they can go no longer by boat.

They have saved a lot of time, but they must continue on foot.  They know the road- most if not all of the party has been here before.  But the road is snowy now, and the going is difficult.  They walk for two days east from Epoiso.

It is a week after the battle of Namaco, and the party approaches the village of Longus, where Theoderic's land meets Lucimburic. Much of the party would recall being here- it is the village of the forest-priestess Fica, and her ferret Inkspot.

There is a blanket of snow, and the town is decorated for the winter solstice.

There is a very strange sign at the Longus House, the ridge top tavern that is the hub of the town.

It reads "Welcome Elves and Dwarves."

Under that, it says, "Our kitchen now features Elven and Dwarven specialties".
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:30, Mon 21 Jan 2013.

"And his home in Riedonica."

Since when is Riedonica Theoderic's home? Isn't that Raviniacum? Do we actually pass Raviniacum? If we do, is there any chance Rita can visit the children, however briefly?

I fixed it.  It's Raviniacum.

Is there a chance for any of us to make a brief visit to Raviniacum, the way Theoderic does? Rita would want to take even the smallest chance to visit the kids.

When they actually stop at Entherin's castle Aelasuria helps to make sure that he take a little time with his grandmother. While she knows they are in a hurry she thinks it's just to important for the two not to have a little time together. She also takes a few moments when they stop by Raviniacum to visit his mother letting them have a little precious time together. War was a hard time for all this would be a few brief moments of piece and joy. Something they were all fighting for so that they could have such times again without fear of Hun attack.

She knew Rita who was likely already tending to the children at the orphanage. IF there is time Aelasuria pays a brief visit as well. Though she won't push it to far knowing that they travel with haste for a good reason.

"Theo we really should have a swan boat Commissioned for ourselves if they will allow it. If your grandmother doesn't have one I think we should have one specially made for her as well."

Once they reach the village Aelasuria speaks softly to Theo. "Perhaps we should see how Fica is doing. She probably has news to share and I hope she is doing well."

Seeing the sign she glances at Theo, Rita and others with a touch of surprise. "Do you think they have a elvish or dwarvish cook on hand? Let's go inside and if Fica isn't here I am sure someone can send her word. I suspect she will come to see us."

Gently hugging Spicca Aelasuria whispers to her softly.  "You don't have to wait for me inside the village if your uncomfortable Spicca. I will see you again soon! Or you can stay if you like!"

Going inside Aelasuria looks around eager to see what things have changed since their last visit. If they really had specialties from her homeland or other elvish lands she certainly would be happy to try some. "You have Elven specialties here? I think Ovo would have loved to see the Dwarven ones."

Scolo awakes with a start, feeling the movement of the boat he jumps up eyes wide, but he is no longer in the boat, they have been walking for some time now, yes he remembers a horse ranch? Edgar approaches
You were asleep a long time, Master...

Scolo looks at him, then pulls out his tiny scale from his backpack. He reads a set of instructions, measures several things on the scale and reads some more ...

The wizard sits up, in shock. He looks at Edgar, his mouth agape.

Master Scolo, it's okay ... begins the chaos bird.

Yes Edgar it is okay, says the wizard. I am sane today ...

He looks around him taking a deep breath, he sees the artifacts of himself, yet not entirely himself, his memories stir and tears well up in his eyes. Of course this will only be for a moment. He sniffs down his feelings and cleans himself up. How will he face them? What will he say?

The wizard Scolo was not always a strange and silly man. When he was a budding professor at the university he was brilliant and practical. But over the years he has found that where magic may generally have a price the magic of understanding chaos, the mindblowing sensations of the unsane has its own special price.

He puts away his scales of sanity and writes in his to do list. The camp breaks, and the wizard cooks waffles. Edgar is abuzz.
Shall I get Melissa or the queen? They have been -
Yes, I remember - Scolo interjects. No. Not yet. I need some time with my thoughts.

When they reach the sign Scolo laughs, a gentle laugh, restrained.
He looks at Melissa as they ride closer together.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Tue 22 Jan 2013.

 Rita would certainly have stopped to say hello in Raviniacum, and see what’s going on, and check on the children, and make sure they were eating their vegetables, and wearing clean socks* and… until at last someone noticed, “We’re moving again… wait, where’s Rita?”

Whereupon the adventurers, having fought terrible battles with Demons and Hun armies, undertook their greatest challenge yet:  extricating Rita.  But extricate they did, and Rita was returned to the Swan Boat.

* * * * * * *

In Longus, Theoderic is as curious as anyone about the strange "Welcome Elves and Dwarves" sign, which is even more puzzling on close examination, as it becomes clear that the "and Dwarves" part was added later.

It is when they meet inside with the proprietor and the people of the town that they learns the reason:  Elves and Dwarves were here, and not too long ago.  And Humans, too; a combined army of Elves from the Alps, Dwarves from the Dwarven Kingdom, and Human warriors from the south, under a leader named Heolstor.  They all traveled east, to fight the Huns.

It is quickly clear what has happened: long ago, Aelasuria's people promised help.  That help has arrived, in fact, more of it than anyone expected.

* * * * * *

Fica, of course, is not present.  As Aelasuria and Rita recall, she is a bit shy and not a "people person" and goes out of her way to avoid meeting Theoderic. She has her reasons.

* * * * * *

Melissa rattles off the details of the place for Scolo... but mostly to make herself useful.  She studied Theoderic, and his holdings, their strengths and weaknesses.

"This is a frontier town," she says.  "East of here are the Lycanthropes, of the Duchy of Lucimburic.  They are allies of Theoderic, well, you know that, what with all the Lucimburic troops that were with us.  They can be a bit peculiar.  Sometimes their animal ways take over.  But this place... it's just a.. rustic farm and forestry town."

Melissa is going out of her way to avoid giving the place a "stupid rural peasants" sound.  Born and raised in Lutetia Parisiorum, she may have had a miserable time there, but she considers herself more sophisticated and worldly than the people of a distant, out of the way place like Longus.  In fact, Longus being as out of the way as it is kept it safe.  Melissa explains that the Emperor simply thought this place wasn't worth the effort.

"We should keep Edgar out of site," she suggests.  "People like this don't react well to... things like Edgar."



*Yes, they had socks in this era.

She was amused though not surprised that Rita had to be extricated from a tangle of happy young ones. She had a feeling that in the end Rita would likely settle down to care for them full time. She could be wrong though the strong attachment made her inclined to feel that way.

"It seems that Heolstor is ahead of us Theo. Ovo would be very happy to know the dwarves are on the move and fighting back against the Huns." Aelasuria smiles feeling better knowing that her people were on the move as well. It simply wouldn't be wise to hide away and hope things would resolve themselves. Realzing Fica wasn't coming Aelasuria shakes her head realizing she had forgotten a few good reasons Fica might not want to come into the center of town.

She inquires with the proprietor for more information although she doubts she will get much. "Did they leave any Messages for King Theoderic or myself I am Aelasuria Soulwater. How many days ago did they leave? We probably should pick up a few provisions here. How long till we move on Theo?"