Otis return after about an hour in the twilight, the falchion still in his hands. "Bloody barbarians... Not my fault if she don't want to be found." he muttered before dropping the weapon at the cave entrance.

"I'm going back to Nulb before folks there start to wander where I've been. I'll be back in couple of days with some supplies but in the mean time what are your plans going to be? Are you moving on the temple?" he asked.

[Private to Iviana: Even as he said the words Iviana felt the desire tugging at the back of her mind. The temple! Even just to see it from a distance might be enough to settle her curiosity. ]

OOC: apologies for the lack of detailed posting, still struggling...

Ronalt nodded, "After a little rest we will continue onto the temple."
"Leave the supplies here, if you can please.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:18, Sat 23 Oct 2010.

Otis nodded his farewells and left for Nulb.

All the items are identified, it takes quite a long time and the pile of ashen coins grows prodigiously. Some of the items were exceptional and they were well pleased at the haul. The only question remaining, who got what?

OOC: the potion of cure moderate wounds is recognised by Arek, the scroll only required read magic. So deduct 1000 gold...

longsword Sword +1, +3 vs. regenerating creatures
dagger of venom
shortsword +1
small crossbow of speed
plate +2
small shield +3
robe of useful items
potion of cure moderate wounds
elixir of health
scroll: magic missile (x5 missiles), lightning bolt, hold monster
wand of paralysation
bastard sword +3, Frost Brand, +6 vs. fire using/dwelling creatures

[Private to Tindoome Uurraumo: You should have at least some small change, Add 10x10gp value gems to you sheet]
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:57, Fri 22 Oct 2010.

"Gimme tha shield," Arek stated, his hand outstretched to take it.

"Gwythe, you ta' tha' dagger."

"Tindo, tha' robe an' wand."

"Iviana ditch tha' splint armour and git tha' plate an' short sword."

"Kalador ta' tha' bow an' tha' bastar' sword."
With the half orc's obviously superior strength, it was fairly clear why Arek had suggested the larger weapon be carried by him instead of Ronalt.

"Ronalt, yer git tha' longsword an' curin' potion."
Arek snagged the elixir from the collection and tucked it away in his pack.

"You two girls sor' out the scroll b'tween yers."

Kalador nodded and replied, "Sounds good to me Arek." He dropped his longsword and picked up the bastard sword and short crossbow of speed. Kalador placed the bastard sword across his back and stow the crossbow the best he can.

Iviana picks up the shortsword, giving it a practiced twirl, and then shakes her head.  "Lydia wouldn't approve," she says.  "Gwythe?" she offers, laying it hilt-first across an arm and offering it to the thief.  Then she starts practicedly unstrapping her scale armor, before asking Ronalt if he could help get the plate fitted on.

OOC:  As has been pointed out, a cloak goes over a robe, so the posts changes.

Tindo continues to eye Arek suspiciously at his outburst, and then quietness when challenged.  She nods her head as if understanding something about the dwarf when he doesn't reply, moving on to inspect the wand, and the robe.  Determining she can use the robe she shrugs out of her cloak puts on the robe and the cloak again.  She then begins checking out the patches as they become apparent.

OOC  Gwythe take the dagger.  You should have a magical blade of some sort, even if it isn't the first one you'd pull.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Mon 01 Nov 2010.

The mages huddled together and made their trades.  Unfortunately the process took a few days to complete and everyone was growing restless.  Finally they were done, their supplies of food and worse ale now dwindling they were pleased to hear a familiar voice.  Otis yelled out "Ahoy the camp, Ronalt ye've git visitors!"

Without waiting the blacksmith appeared carrying fresh foodstuffs and bringing a companion dress in the garb of a monk. "This is Brother Yew! He's come, recommended by the council, in Hommlet to join you and find out more about the temple.... apparently. Anyway here he is."

He looked around then said "So any sign of Yesil?"

Gwythe will take both the weapons and spend the next two days mixing up practising with them and recovering from his injuries.

[Private to GM: Back to full HP for me? I'm presuming some more healing from Arek.]

"Thankfully not," quips Tindoome.  She turns to the newcomer, "Why would the council recommend you Yew?

The slender half-elf rested his halberd with its head downwards and bowed respectfully when he was introduced to the more experienced group of adventurers. His gaze swept around the group, lingering on each for only a moment. When Tindo spoke to him he gave her his full attention.

"I was referred to the Council in Hommlet to learn more about the one called Lareth the Fair. Apparently he was a very bad man, for an elf, and was linked with an evil temple in this area. I need to understand more about him and the evil he was associated with, so that I will know whether I could or should try to do something to address that evil.

"Before I met with the Council in Hommlet I was approached by someone who tried to persuade me that Lareth was a protector of this area and that I should join them. I did not believe him and told the Council of it. Perhaps they were pleased with my honesty. One member of the Council suggested that I should pretend to accept the invitation but I have no skill at such deception. My skills are in stealth and alertness, agility and speed, direct action and swift reaction. The rest of the Council members recommended that I join your group instead because you are investigating the temple. It seemed the wisest course so I have followed their guidance."

Tindo nods her head along as he explains, "Your robes still seem unusual for one with elfin heritage flowing in their veins.  I wasn't aware there were orders that accepted those of part blood."

Gwythe looks up at the mention of Lareth but doesn't say anything, simply staring at the newcomer for several seconds.

Then with a simple grunt under his breath he'll step over to Otis and poke through the food that he has bought, seeing what supplies they now have.

Observing the politeness of the half elf, Ronalt stepped forward, "Welcome, I am Ronalt." extending a hand in greeting.
"We recently lost a few good souls to a ogre mage and you would help to bolster our number again."

Brother Yew was paying attention to Tindo's question and was slow to respond to Ronalt's greeting. His automatic response was to bow again but when he recognised the meaning of the extended hand he grasped it and shook it solemnly.

"I am pleased to meet you, Ronalt. The Council mentioned your name. They did not mention ogre mages. I am sorry to hear of your losses."

He turned back to Tindo to answer her question.

"Your observation is correct, late arwen. [Private to Tindoome Uurraumo; Iviana: elvish for 'honored lady'.] It is most unusual for anyone but a human to be accepted into monastic orders. I would never have been accepted if I had not been raised at the monastery since birth. The monks raised me as an act of charity after I was left on their doorstep as an infant. I showed sufficient aptitude to be accepted into the order but for the last year my progress has not been as swift as might be expected. That is part of the reason why I am here now. The Master of the monastery advised that I need to understand myself more fully first. So I have travelled to Verbobonc to learn about my mother and I was travelling to the Gnarley Forest to learn about my elven heritage when the Council suggested that I combine my search with yours."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:18, Sat 06 Nov 2010.

In the week that had passed, Arek cared for all the injured, bringing everyone back to the peak of their health. He even did his best with the limited tools available to repair shields, armour and other metal items damaged in recent encounters.

"Kalador, ya ta' me ole shield. Mi' save yer skin."
Although showing signs of many fights, the small wooden shield was still quite serviceable and shouldn't pose any problem for the burly half orc. [Private to Kalador: Note that Kalador CAN use heavy armour but will be unable to use any of his thieving skills while so equipped. The shield won't pose too much of a problem unless he's unable to take it off his arm for some reason.]


Arek raised an eyebrow.
"Yer kin use tha' t'ing then?"
The lack of armour on the thin, but well muscled young man had Arek concerned about his survivability on the battlefield.

"Don' know 'bou' tha lass but ah doub' she's far. Prob'ly rais'in ah horde ta tear dat robe apar'."
The last was said with a glance at Tindo and the faintest of smiles hidden within his beard.

The half elf was plainly bewildered by the dwarf's words but his eyes indicated that he was referring to the halberd.

"I have no knowledge of what weapons my kin use," he replied uncertainly. "I do not know them."

The first time Iviana catches Gwythe practicing with his new weapons, she walks over to her pack, and carefully unpacks the mundane shortsword she keeps wrapped.  Then she approaches the thief, with a smile.  "I'm not allowed to fight with them anymore, but that doesn't mean I've forgotten everything Dad taught me," she explains.  Provided Gwythe is willing, she spends her time between spells helping him practice with the sword, and seems to quite enjoy herself doing it.  She's a gentle, patient, and very positively oriented teacher, clearly not of the confrontation-makes-you-stronger school.

And once the Identifying is done, she applies her magic to Mending spells, assisting Arek in the general repair of supplies.

She breaks off from just such a session when Yew approaches, watching the newcomer with a kind of wary hope through the introductions, a slight smile crossing as Gwythe moves over to poke through Otis's supplies.  His reply to Arek breaks out an involuntary laugh.  "Oh, the t'ing is generally out of favor this age anyway.  It's very nice to meet you; my name is Iviana.  The Temple is, has to be, our focus, but I'll be glad to help if we can find anything further about your mother on the way.

"Yes welcome Brother Yew.  I'm sure any order is enhanced by accepting one with an elven bloodline, and if you want I can fill you in on some customs of our folk as we travel.  There are certain beliefs that we all share that may help things fall into place.  I am Tindoome Uurraumo."

Looking around to her fellows she continues, "Once we have had a bite to eat, I thnk we are about ready to move of again as well."

Brother Yew bows to each of the ladies as they address him.

"Thank you, late arwen. It is an honor to meet you. It would give me great pleasure to learn about elven customs from you."

Then he responds more directly to Iviana.

"I think there is some misunderstanding about my mother. She is human. She was from a wealthy family in Verbobonc and my father was an elf visiting the town from the Gnarley Forest over thirty years ago. My mother is now married to a wealthy merchant. All she knows of my father is the name she called him by - Larry.  Larry the Fair."

Gwythe chokes on a piece of dried meat that he is tearing up using his teeth, and then coughs to clear the obstruction, looking over at the newcomer. "Well, isn't this nice." he comments sarcastically. "Where to next, oh fearless leader?" he asks Arek.

Kalador accepted the small wooden shield and said, "Thanks for the shield Arek." Looking at the newcomer, he said, "Hello Brother. I am Kalador."

Yew bowed to Kalador as well.

"I am pleased to meet you, kalador. You look like a fighter. Perhaps we can train together in weapon skills or unarmed combat. I have not had a sparring partner since leaving the monastery months ago."

He looked pleased with that idea.

Kalador smiled and nodded. He said, "Sounds fine to me Brother Yew."