Rivka, while at home in the wilderness, was thrilled to get back to civilization.  Her time in the dark caverns had been more difficult on her than she'd realized.  When she'd first stepped into the sunlight, she felt glorious, despite the pain of readjusting to the brightness.  She knew that their time in the underdark was far from over, but she also knew that if she never went back underground, it would be too soon.
Still, the ranger dutifully guarded the expedition back to Yacob's uncle and their settlement, not truly relaxing until they were surrounded by friendly dwarven guards and friends.

The first thing she did was get a hot meal, a cold drink, and a hotter bath.  It embarrassed Rivka, as an outdoorsperson, how much she hated being dirty.  She had learned to tolerate it, but being clean after a long expedition was a magnificent thing.  Dressed in clean clothes, her hair brushed out and free from tangles for the first time in weeks, she enjoyed the hospitality of the dwarves.

Being fluent in the dwarven language she intermingled with all the natives, telling stories of their exploits (though she checked with Yacob to make sure she didn't tell anything that was meant to be kept secret for now).   She spent a fair amount of time in her room, playing with her new quiver.
She also checked on Zell, hoping to congratulate the man for his performance.  Though he'd had trouble with the undead (which was not, she would assure him, unusual for any normal person), he'd performed above and beyond the call of duty and had been a valuable member of the team.

Alstadin simply nodded at his nephew's logic, smiling as Nino summoned various weapons with his gauntlet....he had seemingly figured out how to use the gauntlet.

The dwarf looked at Yacob. "Keep the journal, but allow Johnathan to copy it for next time we meet. Perhaps on th' ship and it can be returned t' me. You know I want to keep abreast of thins, and it painbs me that this falls to ye nephews, and ye friends, but i see no one else suited fer it."

the older dwarf looked at each, addressing each in turn. "Kell, i understand ye have a greathammer suited to ye size....use it well. I also understand ye have taken some smithin books. Learn what ye can from them, but try bring them back fer us. Sonori, Katala sends her love and wishes ye o and keep an eye on me nephews. I hold no oath to ye to force ye.....your choice. But if what she says is true, your healing arts mat help them all. Turbalio.....You and breslin know much of th' keep, the job of th' keep falls to him now. Fer you, i'd ask ye find what ye can about these stones.."

He looks at the two dwarves. "Me nephews...Yacob and Nino...watch each other. Nino, you protect ye cousin....ye watch bub bub. YAcob, i ask much of ye, and it seems ye already have taken it on, even knowin more than any o' us. You be careful boy"

He then looks at Zell. "Your task is not yet done jeweler....your oath still stands, and despite what has been said, i hold you in good reguards. Don't lose heart boy."

"Nym, yer skills with swordplay may yet be tested, as well as ye sage advice. Rivka....keep yer bow ready and eyes sharp...if the danger ahead is true, then you will need them. And Johnathan, it seems th' stone has chosen you unless we are wron.  you are it's guardian.  Use ye wisdom and will; to help them all"

He looks at them with a smile. "An old friend will be joinin' ye...Th' druid Oler has finished his personal task and will meet ye tomorrow when ye leave."

Kell, lost in thought, nods absently to Alstadin. At the mention of the books, he focuses and says "I suspect the books hold secrets of natural enchantments. I will return this knowledge once I have absorbed it." He enjoys the food and drink as best he can, despite their unfamiliarity.

Quinn stood back and listened to all of the speeches.

Alstadin looks at Quinn with narrowed eyes. "I don't remember ye boy, but if Yacob trusts ye, so do i.  I be Alstadin....i sent him on the mission, and be his uncle."

He nods towards the paladin. "A fighter by th' look....good, if ye staying with me boys, they need a good sword by their side."

"I am Quinn, Paladin of Kelemvor. I was rescued by the group from the giant spiders."

Sonori smiled and nodded, "Thank you. Yes, I've had a little time to catch up with Katala.

I have no where else to be, so I am happy to remain with the team and add what benefit I may.

I know that Jonathan wrote a summary of all the magical items we found including who took what to help us on this quest. I am not sure if he included all of the books and everyone that took one. I found and brought along a book, written partly in Aquan and partly in Terran, I think - I don't read that language, but I think that's the lettering system. And a scroll - non-magical - in Aquan. I hoped to read them on the way back here, but I haven't finished them. Is it alright if I keep those for now as reading material during our journey, returning them when done?"

Alstadin looks at the gnome and smiles. "It's good ye saw ye old friend....she was conserned as much fer you as her husband. As fer teh book and scroll, ye can take them and return them when done."

He then looked at the paladin. "Quinn, chosen chanpion of Kelemvor, we welcome ye. May he watch you in life and protect ye in death."

Quinn nods his thanks.

Yes Sonori I did indeed make a list of all the books and scrolls taken from the library, after all I am Alstadin's historian. while the others talked Jonathan moved over by Sonori. I have given much thought and prayer to our discussion about the nature of the God we both serve and it is as you said your God and mine are one in the same. When we have the time I would learn more of the aspect of our God. My name is Jonathan Tucker my friends all call me Tracks, I would be honored if you did as well.


18:32, Tue 11 Feb: Jonathan rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  knowledge religion.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:06, Sat 15 Feb 2020.

Sonori first simply thanked Alstadin, "Thank you."

When he came to sit beside her, she smiled at Jonathan, "I wasn't sure - there were so many books to catalog. You are very quick, Tracks, in addition to being very good." She paused for a moment when he gave his full name, not really sure why he was giving it now. Over the past few days of travel, she had known him by either Tracks or Jonathan. "I don't really have a nickname," she said a bit uncertainly. If she did, she certainly wouldn't mind Jonathan using it. But she just didn't have one.

After a moment of though, she decided to continue, "I'm also happy to talk about Shaundakul, although I try not to bore those not so interested. You noted that in the aspect of Fharlanghn, he displays dominion over travel and luck. In the aspect of Shaundakul, he displays dominion over travel, the wind, and freedom. I've never really felt the call to catalog, as you do so well, but absolutely to explore."

Zell silently put the leather band on his wrist again to cover up his "brand". Then he put the ring away in his vest pocket and put on his Elven Chain, embarrassed the whole time. He didn't have anything to say to anyone and really didn't want to be in the room, so he figured this would be a good time to go take a warm bath. He cursed himself because he had to take off his armor again, but at least he would be alone.

Zell leaves and goes to the bathing area.

The fact the Jonathan is barely more then a teenage boy, is evident in his all most infectious excitement as he sits talking to Sonori Wow shaundakul has domain over freedom and the wind as well. Hearing you say that makes one of Fharlanghn's blessings make alot more sense. I've been saying may the wind be always at your back as blessing as I was taught by father Marcus and never knew why until now. Any one who actually knew Jonathan would notice the blushing and nervousness in Jonathan as spoke to the exotic mysterious woman sitting beside him as a clear sign that the young man was smitten with the gnome cleric.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:02, Sat 15 Feb 2020.

Sonori was enjoying the conversation. Some people, like Yacob, didn't really want to talk about religion. And she had no problem with that - there were plenty of other things to talk about. But she was raised by two clerics, and so grew up discussing religious topics and enjoyed such discussions and seemed excited to be discussing it with someone like-minded. She had recently spent some time with gnomes and dwarves, neither of whom usually followed Shaundakul.

"Is it one of Fharlanghn's tenants to record everything? Or is that a special calling? Kind of like how Shaundakul gave me the ability to breath water to save my life even though water's not normally something he has dominion over?

Does Fharlanghn also celebrate the Windride? Or is there another main holiday for him?"

She was barely more than an adolescent herself, but seemed to think that Jonathan's interest was in the conversation rather than anything else.

  Yacob settles into his chair after speaking with his Uncle and merely watches the interplay among his companions. Like the old man he basically was he merely enjoyed sitting for the little bit of time he had left before the journey. "The kids are full of energy today Uncle." he says as he chuckles. "If they only knew the half of the danger as I know it maybe they would be more festive or perhaps less. Would be interesting to see the effect."

  He notices the jeweler leave and the ranger watch him go. The gnome had caught the attention of his young friend Tracks which should prove interesting. Nino had found the mead and was drinking contentedly. That left the goliath, Nym, and the bard at loose ends. He couldn't have that. So he gets up and walks over to the goliath "What is the purpose of armor young master smith?" he asks quite jovially.

Kell rumbles "you're joking, right? Armor's primary purpose is to shield the wearer from harm. The materials that the armor is made from determines the effectiveness of that shielding, and sometimes the flexibity of the item. Through craft and enchantment, armor can aid one in performing physical tasks. For instance, shadowed steel can aid in visual stealth, avoiding the gaze of others. The downside is that heavier armors tend to be noisy, unless they are specially crafted to minimize sound. A favorite trick of mine is to cut long strips of cloth and interweave them in the links of a set of chainmail. The links no longer clatter with each other. The impact is cushioned by the cloth and it reduces clanking to a dull rustle. Armor can also be used to display pageantry like coats-of-arms, holy symbols, or fearsome beasts. Such art can free the hands of a cleric, or intimidate the frightened. Why do you ask?"

In reply to Zell (msg # 32):

As Zell approached the bathing area, Rivka waved him down, smiling
"Hello, my friend!  Can i buy you a drink?"

Nym retires to his room and begins to read the book that Yacob had pointed out to him in the library.  He was glad that Oler would be rejoining the group in the morning as the druid was his friend.  He knew that most people really didn't care for Half Orcs regardless of what profession they took up.  He also knew that Oler would watch his back as well as fight by his side if the need arose, just as he would do the same for Oler.

As the night goes along Nym finds himself thinking about what he had said about Lloth.  In the morning he'd have to find a Dwarven cleric to ask a few questions about Dwarven gods and who the dark dwarves worshipped and why.  He knew the "normal" dwarves and elves had been friendly to each other throughout time even whey they disagreed about things.  The dark dwarves and dark elves were something different and he needed some more information on dark dwarves and their gods as well the drow and Lloth to get a better understanding of what is happening now and what could happen in the near future.

  "The purpose of armor is an old joke. See everyone knows why you wear it. Clearly you don't want to get hurt. So as armor became better so to did the weapons involved. But what good is metal armor when I can hit you with a bolt of electricity? The joke is the purpose of armor to a mage is to call out targets. I plan on using illusions to confuse the enemy eventually. Well if I can anyway. I would like your help in the making of the materials I plan to enchant if we every have the time." he says with hope in his eye.

Zell stopped and closed his eyes and held his breath for a second before turning around to smile at Rivka. He didn't care that he was in the middle of Alstadin's complex with his workers and clansmen walking around. Being in public didn't scare him like that.

He walked up to Rivka and kissed her....and the world fell away. It was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. His hand rested below her ear, his thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. He then ran his fingers down her spine, pulling her closer until there was no space left between them and she could feel the beating of his heart against her chest.

This message was deleted by the player at 19:55, Sat 15 Feb 2020.

In reply to Quinn (msg # 41):

Oler entered into the hall where the others were, he had heard they were back. Fineli was at his side happily panting. "It is good to see you all again my friends. Fineli had worried a bit you would not return as it had been a while." he told them as he sat down. "Tell me of what happened after we parted ways at the camp. I'm interested in hearing your tales."

In reply to Yacob Stoneveins (msg # 42):

Time Warp for Nym's posts between this one and #38.

Before Oler can sit down Nym greets his friend heartily.

It is good to see you again my friend.  I've got something for you.