Everyone stumbles, we all fall and fail.  It is inevitable.  Finding another way, crawling forward and getting back up again is what makes you a hero.  –The Warrior; The Nature of Conflict, What do you fight for?

  You all gather in the inns tavern in the early morning hours.  It is just after four o’clock in the morning.  And the inn’s tavern is almost quite.  There is only the occasional snoring of a small band of farmers off to one side of the hall.  Whom have been laid down with clay basins beside them and some old and frayed woollen blankets upon them.
  At these hours there seemed to only be a lone golem about the inn, keeping watch over the building and its guests.  Though tall the golem was very old, its body was a patchwork of wood, stone and iron – most of which was rusted.  Its name was Luum and he spoke with a scratched, hollow voice.  Like that of young man spoken up through a stone well and metallic grates.
  He provided you with stew, bread, cheese and some pears along with very strong tea.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:00, Tue 27 May 2014.

Jubei was already sitting in the hall of the tavern and his expression was as bright and cheerful as a stormy autumn morning. He had no doubt paced up and down a good bit, given the peculiar arrangment of tables and chairs in spots where he had probably turned several times. Either way, now he was sitting at one of the many tables, leaning heavily onto it while he waited for the others to join him finally.

Phelan didn't seem fully aware of where he was, the lack of sleep having affected his orientation as he absently narrowly avoided colliding with some furniture. Lambent's action of waking him up had elicited a somewhat brusque greeting quickly followed by an apology. He felt exhausted; even his usual curiosity at the golem was somewhat muted. He was impressed at the power the simple Isleborn-created automatons had, but simply felt unable to work up the enthusiasm to study it.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Wed 08 Jan 2014.

Those footfalls were liable to wake a bear out of its hibernation given the pressure behind them...as the woodsman would say, or any land dwelling folk; he was still getting used to this whole above liquid world anyways. Nonetheless, his body hadn't complained in this impromptu alarm, and so with little more than a few cracks and pops here, Enkii arises from his slumber and makes off to the inn with nary more than a yawn in his tracks...make no mistake though, he isn't as inattentive as appearances let on. Perhaps a better citation would be that his reaction didn't seem to suffer from the post-snooze malaise.

Thankfully, Xeela was not to get the ridged edge of a trident for breakfast as her familiar face snapped the Musadi back into his soldier-like stance. His apologies were customary, not in the least bit forced, and the extra companion was very much a comfort in this twilight hour. Holding the door open thus, he slithers inwards shortly whence Xeela herself would choose to part through, and takes up residence among his own coils next to Jubei's own bulk, quietly settling in, "'Morning..."

The night was long and sleep was to fleeting for Drex and only after Lambent has woken him did he became aware of the time, place and even who he was.

As usual Drex spent the first part of the morning arranging statutes, candles and trinkets of his gods in different orders and patterns before he joined the rest of the group he belongs to.

As he enters he seem to be in a far better mood than he was on leaving Galdion. "Good morning all hope you had a better nights res than I had." he said looking at Enkii first then looking at each at the table. Drex picks up a piece of cheese and puts it in his back pak, then takes a pear and gulps it down.

Lambent comes wandering in from outside. Anyone that had spared a look out a window would have seen him meditating in the courtyard, threads of psionic energy twisting around him as he focused his innate power and went through his martial exercises. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Small stones and items would hover a little more than an inch above the ground while motes of blue energy, barely visible in the light seemed to dance around him, following the movements of his limbs as he contained the energy inside him.

He regarded the repast with interest but did not eat anything, preferring to sip at the strong tea the golem had made.

Xeela hab been sitting on the edge of a chair for most of the morning, not feeling like talking to any of her not yet so awake team mates. Jubei also didn't seem to be a good choice to talk to and since she didn't have a topic to talk about anyhow she just remaned quitet, exept for when somebody grunted his 'good morning'. Usually then she lifted her right hand and greeted back.
Aside from that she managed to spend the entire morn' nibbling on an apple, slowly but steadily consuming it.

Jubei looked over his companions and let out a snorting grunt before he guzzled down some tea. "It would seem to me that most of us didn't had that good of a night's rest.", he said with a deep rumble and rubbed over his chin. "I would wager that we all had nightmares of some sort?", he continued on and shuffled a little before grabbing himself a whole loaf of bread along with some sizeable portion of stew. Though given his size that was probably closer to a small breakfast for him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:58, Thu 09 Jan 2014.

"I would seem that way..." Drex takes a swig of water before he stats the obvious that they have to finish up and continue on there journey.

He takes a piece of cheese and puts it between two pieces of bread and eat this new creation of his.

Lambent says nothing as he listens to the conversation. He wouldn't call what he saw a 'nightmare' so much as a vision of sorts, but he would not let it trouble him.

"It is best not to dwell on the musings of the slumbering mind, friends. Let them pass as a duck lets water pass from his back and focus on the task at hand,"

Drex takes the last bite of his creation.
"That is true Lambent, but for sum people it is better to talk about it." Drex looks towards Phelan, "Can you, Phelan, remember anything of you "Dream", if I can call it that?"

"If you mean in regards to last night...?" The question trailed  off into a yawn. "I don't even remember sleeping, let alone any dreams. Kept waking up during the night." He nibbled on a piece of cheese absently.

Jubei listened to the others for the moment as he dipped his bread in the stew before eating that and then furrowed his brows a little. "I have to say I find it... peculiar. First we go investigate about strange dreams, and promptly we all suffer from nightmares... I'd say we should absolutely check out this conduit once we have time for it."

Drex looks at Jubei, "We can stop there, it is on our way to Kyssean and I think it should be close to the main road."

"So no one can remember anything of these nightmares?" Drex asks looking now to the rest of the group.

    Whether reluctant, unwilling or simply not able to recount the night’s visions the adventurers ate their early breakfast in near absolute silence.
  As the moon was falling towards the eastern horizon the party of adventurers departed from the inn and resumed their journey upon the northward bound road.  Not long after leaving the inn they made their way through a spares forest which dotted the low hills about them ran up to the lone mountain to the east and it was quite clear that the forest grew much denser there.

  Clearing the edge of the mountains foothills the paved road splitting off towards the northwest and the northeast, between the two roads stood a tall wooden sign.  Worn by the weather so much that what little paint remained upon the coming letters were little more than white flecks within the wooden engravings.  Even in the coppery moonlight it was easy to see that the sign pointing northwest read Stryne and the sign pointing northeast read Kyssea
  The morning wore on as the moon began to fade in the greying lightening sky as in the early dawning hours the stars too began to fade.  The road to Kyssea turned sharply east at what seemed to be the northernmost edge of the mountain’s forest.

  You all recall from your conversations in the guildhall that the mountain north of Galdion was home to a druidic settlement and that the druids of the Crystal Isles were hostile to strangers when compared to the more neutral attitude their other druidic brethren scattered throughout the world.  They did not abide trespassers and occasionally visited nearby villages and small towns for trade and conversation.

  When the eye of the sun rose over the western horizon the adventurers found themselves beneath thick, dark clouds.  Far more foreboding then was usual for the temperamental weathers of the isles.  What was more peculiar was the stillness here.  The breezes had died and not a single insect or animal call could be heard.  Not even the stirring of the tall grass or the leaves on the nearby trees.

  As the sun rose it vanished behind the clouds overhead casting the party of adventurers into near absolute darkness.  The eerily distant horizon, from which they had come, was barely visible and it was only about a mile behind them.  If they were to proceed they would have to do so with the aid of their own lanterns.


living of their greatest weapon against the living dead.
  Drex and Enkii’s lanterns light your way as you continue upon your journey.  Without the sun it is difficult to tell the passage of time though you soon think you can make out a gathering of lights not far on the horizon.
  Drex you keen ears catch and unusual sound just to the north of your position the movement of some animal clearly on the prowel.  You warn your companions to prepare themselves for whatever it may be.

Congratulations on entering your first battle in this game!  Would you all be so kind as to roll Initiative?  Rules about how combat is handled in this play-by-post game can be found in the house rules section.  Please note that the area outlined by the green dashed lines is the space within which you may place yourselves for the battle.
Terrain features are negligible in this battle and thus have not been drawn in for the sake of simplicity.
Drex and Enkii you are both carrying lanterns which sheds bright light within 10 squares of you.  I will be indicating what areas are dim and dark around you by means of appropriately coloured boxes (again see the house rules).
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:09, Sat 11 Jan 2014.

Phelan began to feel nervous as he recalled information discussed about a hostile druidic settlement in the area. He held his crossbow in an attempt to reassure himself, even as he looked around cautiously.

8 for initiative. Please place Phelan in a central position relative to the party (mostly to coup the benefits most of Magic Weapon). Failing that, he would be located at O15.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Tue 14 Jan 2014.

Jubei had stayed rather alert the moment this odd weather had appeared. His weapons were held at the ready for whatever may come. Though that being said, he never seemed to be not ready as he probably even slept in his armour.

20 for Initiative, boooyah! Being 'the big guy' Jubei would be placed at the front of the group. M-N, 16-17 or whichever spot that would be.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:48, Sun 12 Jan 2014.

Sensing his companions' alertness raised, Lambent slid seamlessly into his battle stance and moved to stand next to Jubei. His usually blue eyes had gone a shade of purple as a hint of red started to enter the usually calm exterior.

18 Initiative. Standing next to Jubei on his left.