With the information they had found, the group decided to head to Kalaman overland through the Rugged Coast. This would include a lot of travel through Ogre-controlled lands. And the biggest threats to travelers, other than ogres, were spotted lions and packs of wild dogs. But they tended to stay away from the roads.

About an hour or so after they had left the ruins, the dirt road turned into a pre-Cataclysmic paved road with stones stamped with the mark of Istar. The road would take them to the village of Rockhorde and bypass Ogreshield completely in less than a day. And in another day and a half, it would take them to the capital of Ogrebond, which was about twice the size of Flotsam. And perhaps they could find a library there. Or some merchants. It was their largest trade center after all. And the group had picked up some gear and a dozen horses that would be worth a nice sum of money.

And they could feel the temperature lowering as they traveled north, some caused by the winds that were picking up. For as they had left the forest behind, they were now riding on the plains. And the morning passed without incident.

Caitlin rode in the front of the group, Athena, her owl, sat securely on the horn of her saddle. The eyes of the familiar were closed but she heard just as well, a fact that her human friend relied upon. The mercenary was concerned with the threat those ogres posed, fortunately the flat countryside made an ambush difficult, yet not impossible. The group had shown they were very capable of handling dangers on and off the road, but never had they faced giantkin in larger numbers, this was why she was a little tense, an emotion that transferred to her feathered companion. Occasionally the owl turned her head 180° and hooted as if she was trying to reassure her friend to relax and trust her.

Perhaps, the mercenary thought, she should find a name for her horse, something she still had not done. "Should we rest for a while? The horses seem a little tired?" the woman asked, not looking at anyone in particular.

Kora says "let me know if you are uncomfortable in this weather. I picked up a wand that can keep us Warded from the weather, but using charges on everyone daily will mean it only lasts 10 days or so."

"Thy concern speaks well of thy character, Caitlin, and there is much wisdom in ensuring the hooves beneath you are well-tended - goodness knows I do," the centaur laughed broadly at his own jest, not so much in thinking the wit sparkling, but simply in broad strokes as seemed his nature.  "Tho most horses are notoriously prone to exaggeration of their maladies.

"But keeping them rested in case speed is required seems wise enough.  If the group wishes, I can take wing to scout ahead to suss out potential troubles along the roadway, or remain if my presence is preferred for security."  Talrand seemed a creature used to movement, especially across wide open plains that permitted him to properly stretch his legs, but he was also mature enough an equine to be considering the rest of his herd-er company.

"Please, be my guest. I could ask Athena, but during the daytime she is usually a little grumpy." the sorceress replied, slightly amused at Talrand's jest. The owl turned her head towards Caitlin, hooting agitatedly at the accusation. "See? That's exactly what I mean!" the mercenary huffed, then grinned and gently scratched Athena's favorite spot. "And it means you can rest a little longer."

"I have some experience with tracking, Perhaps I could join the scouting efforts, or explore a different area," Tavion proposed considerately. "Or, if it's preferred, I'm willing to hang back."

"That is not a bad idea, Tavion. Perhaps you could establish a safe perimeter around our resting site. Talrand can fly ahead and check if there's anything or anyone near the road that may become a threat." the mercenary suggested, offering both men an option to be helpful. "In the meantime we can get a fire started."

Upon receiving the nod of approval to scout the area, Tavion mounted his horse with a sense of purpose. His eyes meticulously scanned the ground for tracks or any signs of disturbances. Although quite far from where the group was going to rest, there was a noticeable ease and satisfaction in his demeanor, he clearly enjoyed applying his skills to the task at hand.

As the group stopped for a break and a meal, Tavion continued forward on his scouting mission.

Caitlin gathered some wood and put together a fire site that would not run the risk of accidentally starting a wildfire. Starting the fire with a simple cantrip, the sorceress held out her hands in order to warm up.

Tavion made his way back to camp, comforted by the welcoming glow of a fire. "Nothing out of the normal," he reported as he got close.

Talrand flew off as he had said he would, scouting the party's path ahead.

Talrand changed shape and took off. Rising in the sky to his preferred altitude and then following the road north for over half an hour.

"Thanks for taking a look." Caitlin said, nodding in thanks. "Tavion, how did you come to serve Majere, if I may ask? - At least I figure you serve him, given that symbol you are wearing around your neck." the sorceress asked politely, curious about the man's background.

Talrand's galloping form returned to sight within the hour, having a pleasant jaunt, with a sprint at the end for the sheer pleasure of movement.

"Plains beith such a pleasant environ - far nicer, far nicer.

"Ah, salutations, mine companions.

"The road ahead appears clear of troubles, with nary a creature stirring.  The city of Rockport indeed lies within sight of an hour's good ride, tho methinks it shall take a few hours for the party's travel to reach it.  I chose not to approach it too closely lest they have concern over mine flying atop the walls, ho ho!"  The centaur chuckled at his jest, and chewed a bit of trail ration before he pulled the worn journal from his backpack.

<Brown>"I was looking at this tome this morning.  If there are booksellers or antiquaries, it might doeth us well to find materials to clean and restore it... there is much information within, and I suspect the writer of great insight and noble character, by how he speaketh of his journeys and his companions, but it is the information he appears to have at hand about the Key that speaketh with greatest volume to mine ears."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:51, Sat 27 Jan.

"It's nice to know that Rockport is so close," Tavion replied to Talrand when he made his report. "It would be nice to restore such an important text, and to hopefully find out more information on what exactly the key is."



When Caitlin asked about his journey to becoming a follower of Majere, Tavion's eyes took on a distant, reflective quality. "It was during a dark time in my life. Before embracing Majere's teachings, this was a tale I kept hidden, even from myself," he confessed. "I escaped Tarsis right before it fell. The experience is seared into my memory: the turmoil, the loss, and the harrowing choices that one should never have to face..."

He paused, collecting his thoughts. "In the aftermath, I found myself adrift in a sea of uncertainty. The world as I knew it had crumbled, and with it, my purpose seemed to have vanished.  There was a void within me, a yearning for something to make sense of the senseless, to answer if I had made a horrible decision when faced with one of those harrowing choices."

"I dedicated myself to making up for my mistake, if it indeed was one. That's when I found solace in the teachings of Majere. In the midst of ruin and sorrow, Majere's tenets of discipline, order, and inner strength spoke to me. They enabled me to get up in the morning and not be a waste of a life. Day after day I would wake up and help with something, anything. Most recently it was rebuilding the temple of Shinare in Flotsam. I learned that even in the face of great turmoil, one could find peace and purpose within themselves."

Tavion's expression softened. "And how about you? How did you find your calling?"

Caitlin nodded thoughtfully at Tavion's tale, he had been careful not to reveal too much, avoiding details but she agreed some things were better left in the past. "Not sure if I would say it is a 'calling', it is more a way to make a living in this messed up world." she remarked, admitting that she did not feel her pursuits were particularly noble. "Well, my father was a town guard in Flotsam and after an incident, that cost my cousin's life, he started teaching me how to fight. My uncle taught me how to control the ambient energies of the land and after he passed away I tried to find my own path in life." the mercenary summarized, leaving out her brothers or her dad intentionally. "At least that is the gist of it, nothing special or spiritual. No intervention from the gods when I might have needed it the most." she shrugged, having no code of honor save for keeping innocents out of harms way and always try to get the maximum reward.

Tavion listened intently to Caitlin's story, nodding as she spoke of her journey. He paused for a moment, considering her words about her family and her choice to also leave certain details unspoken. "The absence of a spiritual or divine guide doesn't diminish the significance of your path. You've honed your skills and instincts to protect -- as the rather large explosion of fire outside the tomb proved. That in itself is admirable."

Tavion's expression softened slightly. "And sometimes, the gods do intervene, but not always in ways we expect or recognize immediately."

Turning his attention to Talrand, Tavion asked, "I am rather curious about your path as well. Your wisdom and perspective seem rooted in a rich and varied past."

Talrand nodded in response to Tavion's question/observation, and turned to have the breeze wash across his face.  He gestured a powerful arm across the distant vista.

"Mine people travel swiftly, and across many great miles, but it is the openness of the plains that speaketh best to the heart of flying grains and fierce breath of the world.  Mine own herd beith many, many miles away, being tended by one of mine mates.  I range farther and further than mine peoples, to help support the herd in kinder meadows, especially the younglings and aged, and to ferret out great troubles that might rise to threaten the herd... fierce though we are, there is always something greater and darker, and beith one of mine own tasks to bring warning of such a treat."  Unsaid, tho expressed in the fierce intensity of his brow, and unconscious flexing of a head-sized fist, was that he likely brought word after the threat was extinguished...

"But heavy words.  The plains beckon, and the strangeness of the ogre city awaits."

Kora nods in agreement. "I must agree that the concept of an Ogre city, or even a village, is mind-boggling. I had believed them to not be a gregarious people. Creating a hub such as a village or city attracts visitors. Perhaps my assessment is wrong, though if we find an Ogre library I'll definitely suspect the presence of a gnomish God."

They talked, they ate, and they rested for a little while before they continued their journey north. The road they were following was edged by loose gravel and overgrown by weeds in places. It curved around the base of a grassy hillock. To the east, the gravel formed a side trail that headed towards the coast. A milestone carved out of a single block of granite indicated that the trail led to Rockhorde. At the point at which the trail departed from the road were the skeletal remains of a large rodent the size of a dog. Some kind of note, rolled and tied with string, stuck out of the skeleton's ribs.

Tavion listen to Talrand's account of his life with keen interest, fascinated by the centaur's experiences. He was also curious about the Kora's story, though that conversation would have to wait for another time.

As their journey continued, Tavion kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings for anything unusual. When they arrived at the fork in the road, he was immediately noticed the skeletal remains with a note sticking out of its ribs. He pointed towards it, although it was hardly something he expected anyone could overlook.

Kora states "such a note is just along to be read. Makes me wonder if reaching for it triggers a trap. Anybody able to determine that?"