Final Night of 1360 DR

Your conversation with Forgesmith Lynar wraps up with him giving his provisional blessing to Talindra's presence and granting of temporary residence in Glen. You say the proper farewells and bow as you leave; Talindra making herself invisible again with a wave of her hand. Outside the room, Hammer of War Volar has been standing against the far wall. He straightens as you exit, and Lynar murmurs to him. Nodding, he gestures for you to follow him.

Night has fully descended, but as you step outside into the streets of Glen you find that the dwarves have pushed back the darkness with exuberance. There are a plethora of lamps and lanterns hanging from posts and the sides of buildings. Many of them glow with enchantment, others have brightly-burning wicks behind carefully-wrought glass.

Glen has three main streets that run the length of the village from east to west. The largest is the Dusk Road, which you've been traveling for the past several days. Houses line both sides of the street, most of them either touching or so close not even a starving halfling would be able to slip through.

North and south of the Dusk Road are a single road each. They diverge from the Dusk Road almost as soon as the road reaches the bottom of the ravine. Houses line both sides of the road; on one side the houses touch up against the back of the houses that flank the Dusk Road. On the other side, the houses are built up against the wall of the ravine.

Volar leads you to one of the latter, a narrow, six-story house that rises from the valley floor to just peek into the open air above the rim that hides Glen. It is narrow but well-built; its lower floors of stone the same color as the valley walls. Its upper floors are half-timber, and you assume its roof is of slate like the rest of the town.

The front door is locked; Volar unlocks it and gives Krackor the key. The door is sized for dwarves, but it's not too tight a fit for taller folk. Inside is a small cloak room, a place to hold muddy boots and keep the warm air of the house inside. Beyond that is a single room that takes up the entire rest of the first floor. It's empty save for a small table pushed up against the far wall and a stair case leading up to the right.

"This is yours, for the moment," Volar says. "If a dwarf family comes to the Forgesmith needing shelter, we may reclaim it. But for now, be welcome." With a bow, he turns and leaves.

((ooc: Welcome to Downtime. I don't have a detailed map of this house. A general picture of the style is below. The house is about twenty feet wide on each side. There are enough rooms for everyone to have a bedroom, if Tarron and Kali want to join you. This first room will do well for a sparring area.

Please let me know what you want to do during Downtime and how long you want Downtime to be. This thread does not have to be perfectly linear; so if you want to talk amongst each other while also talking to Neldor, Talindra, or doing other things, feel free.))


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:26, Sun 29 Aug 2021.

Corym likely hikes back across town to the Dark Door first to take a bath.  Finding a pot, boiling water, and assuming that there's a tub here seems like a stretch.

After he comes back refreshed, he declares his intent to dedicate himself to the study of the scroll so that he can treat with Neldor. "I'll only be taking breaks in order to keep up morale and eat what is necessary. Talindra, I'll entrust you to Kora's studies while I labor?"

"Kora--can you make me an appointment at a tailor?  The climbing, jumping, falling, and crawling has reduced these to rags. I'm fine with the local fashion, but I think anything they have on the shelves will require severe alterations."

"Krackor--you seem to have your own business, and we'll let you be about it."

"Kitheras--test Kali and Tarron to gain a measure of their sword strength, and see to instructing them in our patrol signs. Visual and audible. Explain our usual means of navigating the city and see what they may have to add to our paradigm."

"Nourishment, lodging, and mending are all company expenses.  We can take turns securing the day's food each morning such that everyone's tastes are suited on some day or another.  Nothing opulent, please."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:18, Sun 29 Aug 2021.

Kitheras smiled and inclined his head at the Captain's wishes.

"It seems we'll get our chance to take our measure of one another, Tarron.  Kali, I'm not sure that you needed a sword to make me sweat, but you'll get to use one nonetheless."

To the rest of the party, he bowed, and added "We'll be down stairs."

---

Kitheras removed his fur lined cloak and mantle and set them in a corner with his pouches, his bow and arrows, and his two harps. He retied his black hair behind his head and removed his sword belt and hung it on a chair, his twin short sword glinting in the candle light.

"Corym is a planner. He's an architect by trade and he plans our missions with the same vision and eye for detail that he'd use to design a soaring tower.  Sometimes that can make 'downtime' take a bit.  Add to it that Krackor seems to have a few designs of his own, and we may get to spend quite a bit of time together."

He gestured at the bottom floor, "As suggested, we'll keep in practice here. Once I've taken my measure of you, the three of us will go hunting.  When we travel through Myth Drannor we do so like shadows in the moonlight.  We made it out when so many don't because we only fight when we want to.  No one take us by surprise.  That makes things go slow, but it also keeps your blood on the inside of your body.  There are enough fights that can't be avoided to carelessly invite more."

"Most of the time when we move, we're cloaked in invisibility--so you won't be able to see each other. You'll have to listen and feel.  When we're cloaked in this way we use a set of audible commands like bird calls.  They each have accompanying visual signals.  We're going hunting so we can practice moving as a team, hearing and understanding the calls, and how to make the calls."

"Questions?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Sun 29 Aug 2021.

"We should all have dinner at the Inn together one more time before Karilla and Elorfindar leave. A fond farewell."

In reply to Kitheras Sunblade (msg # 3):

Kali had a glint in her eye while she sized up Tarron.

"I'm always up to play with someone new. My, my, aren't you the very picture of the stoic elven warrior. I bet you even have a fancy title to go with that scowl."

Kitheras frowned at Kali's good natured prodding.  Tarron was touchy about these matters--a matter he'd nearly learned the hard way.

"I see, plain enough, the blades you carry. Are you skilled with any other weapons?  Or perhaps empty-handed techniques.  Corym and Kora studied wrestling with the Binder's faithful.  I'm proficient with a bow and with unarmed strikes."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:04, Sun 29 Aug 2021.

"Well my dear, I do have many hidden talents. I adore boxing those who think far too highly of themselves for no good reason. Granted, that is mainly because I get to taunt them while punching them in the nose repeatedly. Messing with drunk people should be considered a national past-time, no?"

Even though Kali directed her words at Kitheras, she kept an eye on Tarron. She was slightly disappointed that he was unmoved by her prodding. Mainly because she knew that traveling with a person with such a disposition as him can be a terribly depressing experience for all involved.

That player lives in AUS--he'll probably respond sometime tomorrow.



Kitheras smiled but continued. "And missile weapons or blunt weapons?  Can you use any?"

Honestly, I'm just assuming that he wouldn't react just based on his previous posts. I will gladly change it if he takes the bait.

Kali rolls her eyes at the idea of using a club or flail.

"Ugh, blunt weapons have no sense of style. It feels so primitive while attacking and I have never felt the driving urge to literally bash someone's skull in. With that in mind, I am also not fond of ranged weapons for two reasons. One, I like to be right there in the thick of things when I cut down my opponent. And two, I have no patience for target practice."

In reply to Kali Xilrora (msg # 9):

As Krackor walks through the building, he sees Kitheras, Tarron and Kali bantering ahead, he searches the floors and then returns to the ground floor to hear Corym state to have a final meal in the Tavern they still had a room in.

Come on, let's go get food, then we can say goodbye to Elorfindar and Karilla, maybe Serenya too.

Corym, if we need food, I can call for it, even if that is lacking in some tastes.

And if the rest of you want to learn more weapons, I can aid you there!:-)
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:21, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

OOC: Jesus wept, 2 hours time frame to react before you get all antsy :)

"In a former life they used to call me captain. For now, I have no such command of men." replies Tarron. "That's a tale for another day though." he added, knowing full well that he would be pressed for more information if he allowed it.

His hand moves to his side, where his weapon was held. "I practice the forms daily. I'd be happy to test my blade against your own in sparring, to better understand our capabilities." he replies. He almost smiles, but the slashes on his face cause him to grimace more than smile as the pain of the still unhealed wounds cause him to suffer.

He, he, he. Kali has no chill. To be fair, generally if there is a massive change when someone else responds to my comments, I'll go back and change details to make it fit better.

The flash of pain that stopped his smile was not lost on Kali. She knew that he had the ability for humor, which was a start, at least. Kali bowed slightly in apology.

"Forgive me, I do love to poke and prod, but I fear I stepped too far. I would gladly have you trounce me in combat for recompense. It could be fun. I don't fight elves very often. Certainly, not professionally trained ones. I'd consider it an honor to beaten black and blue by you, my dear."

11:16, Today: Tarron Ianfiel rolled 4 using 1d10+2.  Initiative. – [roll=1630293411.74794.359800]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:27, Mon 30 Aug 2021.

d10--unmodified in most cases