Zell held on to Rivka while visiting his Aunt and cousin again, but he was a bit more angry than sad. After the good byes and returning to the group, Zell sighed when he heard that they will be traveling by boat and wondered if he would ever get over being sea sick?

Looking over at the princess, Zell politely walked over to her and gave her a bow and took in her features. He wondered if she even knew that he was related to her? He knew now why his mother left this place. To Zell, this place reminded him of a funeral and he really wanted to leave.

After walking back to the party with Rivka, Zell looked at Zarmatan and whispered to Rivka,

"I don't like him and I don't trust him."

As the group gathers on the ship, Nino notices a howl in the distance, causing his lip to waver as he steps aboard. the rest climb aboard (Zell both not too happy and nervous about water voyage) without issue.

The elves spring into action, the sails unfurling and the ship cutting its way through the water. Unlike sea voyages, the travel on the star lake is smooth, so as Zell is only mildly nauseous, while the others watch as the sun shimmers off the water.

Its several hours when the ship makes for land, and by early afternoon, the ship was moored and unpacked. As the group set about their packs, the elves, with nods of respect, set off again, leaving the group on the northern shore of the star lake.

From this area, the map given to you shows that hillsfar was over the other side, south west of you, and zhentil keep west. North west, you could see the mountains that broched the edge of the lands of Zhentil  keep, with a small grove of trees.

the decision of which way you would go  to get to the Anauroch desert was left to you....risk skirting zhentil keep where potential evil and agentws of the red queebn could live, face the mountains or even go north above the mountainsand then west to the border forest.


then the desert.

<OOC: I leave to you the decision of the path you wish to take to get to the desert>

Sonori, like Zell, was hesitant to board because of her experience with sea-sickness. By the end of the voyage, though, she felt pleasantly surprised. Perhaps it was just that a first experience being so different from what was expected had been the problem.

When the discussion came up regarding which way to go, she would vote for the way that the predominate wind was blowing - or, if none were predominate or the day was still, she would suggest the most direct path as time was of the essence. Still a follower of Shaundakul - though with her recent visions she was perhaps contemplating more how everything really fit in - the wind was still, in her mind, the surest sign of the god and the best basis for making a decision like this.

OoC: I have no idea which way that is...

When they were (relatively) alone, Rivka spoke to Zell about his misgivings
"You don't trust Zarmatan.  Why is that?"
She wasn't confrontational about it.    She trusted Zell's judgment after all,  but she was definitely curious


When the group disembarked,  she gathered supplies and spoke to her friends.
"I'm not expert in the local terrain,  but I'm thinkingwe go north, avoiding the Keep, as well as whatever dangers the mountains have to offer."

 "None are truly good options, but the fastest option is our best bet. Which means skirting Zhentil Keep unless I'm wrong. Going around is less dangerous but gives them more time to interfere. Something we can't exactly afford. The next best option is through the mountains. It gives us a little of both. That would be my second choice. Whatever we decide we need to move quick as possible. And Sonori I would speak with you a moment. It won't take long, but it will hopefully help you understand things a little bit more." he says as the rest debate and gather the supplies. He walks a few dozen paces away from them to speak to Sonori.

Sonori, having provided her vote, steps away with Yacob, letting the others have their vote and make the determination.

Sonori nodded to Yacob,

"Just a feeling. I have them from time to time. That's why I take in my surroundings and can spot things most people miss. Just little details like locations, but he didn't go to them to find the stones himself? Why was the original stone we found not taken? I just feel a betrayal coming."

Rivka nodded to the handsome jeweler,  biting her lip in thought
"As if we're being used as pawns somehow?  Getting these stones for him, perhaps?  I'll definitely keep on my guard "

Kell says "Mountains are the best option. We don't want to risk Zhent patrols. And if they have the means to Detect power, they might bring in the Mulmaster Beholder Corps."

**shudder**

Neliwen frowned as Sonori and Yacob voted then left, apparently not interested in any arguments that might change their opinion. She felt that was quite rude.

Still, the others were present and obviously willing to actually discuss a plan. "On the one hand side I agree that taking a longer route will be safer, than dealing with Zhent patrols. On the other hand side the dragon's forces cannot follow us unless they are willing to clash with these patrols. While we are fewer in number and may be able to avoid detection, the large number of soldiers will be noted, and I cannot imagine the Zhentarim will take invading forces lightly. Hopefully that will result in battles that reduce the number of the dragon's army and or slow them down." the pale sun elf elaborated her reasoning. "If they took the longer route we would be getting something of a head start."

In reply to Neliwen Nenuial (msg # 18):

"I go where you lead."

Nym voices his agreement with Neliwen's.

I agree with Neliwen's line of reasoning.  She is correct in that our smaller group is less likely to be noticed than her army if they follow us.  If they don't follow us and take a longer route that will help us keep our lead if not extend it.  We are going to be chased across the world regardless of this decision.  However, I believe it is in our best interest to take the shortest route possible.  If the Zhenti decide her army is a threat to them, so much the better for us and the world.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:45, Fri 04 June 2021.

  The dwarf turned dragonman pulls something out of his shirt.

Rivka sighed, frowning
Rivka shrugged at the dragon-dwarf
"The mountains will still be safer.  The possibility of denizens living there compared to the absolute certainty of Zhent patrols"

"I think it's an unnecessary risk, to skirt Zhent lands, but i can definitely see your logic.   The old Halfling proverb "The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend"."

Then she smiled
"Or the old Orcish proverb: 'The Enemy of My Enemy is Still My Enemy and Hopefully They'll Kill Each Other'. "
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Fri 04 June 2021.

Kell says "pity we can't spend some gold to spread rumors that we ARE skirting Zhentil Keep around taverns in the area. I'd love to see the Red Queen slowed down by a conflict with Zhentil."

Zell whispered back,

"Just think about it. What are we supposed to do with the stones after we've found them? "She" has pawns. We were running from them. You think they were just waiting all these years for something to happen? And what about "Him"? He waited all this time for something to happen and we're the ones doing the dirty work? And for what? Two bags of holding? This just seems very strange to me and I honestly think we don't know the whole story."

After hearing the possible ways the party can go, Zell spoke up,

"I'm not familiar with this place, but my Aunt was held captive by Drow in the Mountains near Zhentil Keep. If we travel through the mountains, there's a good chance we'll encounter them and if my memory serves me right, there was a Drow in the enemy forces we escaped from. Something tells me they're connected."

Rivka nodded at Zell's conspiratorial ideas regarding their supposed benefactor.   She had no information to confirm or deny anything,  so she had just resolved to keep her wits about her and not take the elven man as a given.


During the discussion,  she blinked in surprise at the revelation of not just dark elves in the mountains,  but a connection to their Enemies.   She nodded, clearly unhappy.
"Blast it....so skirting the Zhents might actually BE the safer option after all??  It's a strange thing when that happens "

Sonori looked at it briefly and nodded.

Placing it back inside the shirt.

Sonori nodded again.

Rivka was very curious about the side conversation,  but presumed it was some kind of magic thing

Neliwen was positively surprised her logic did not fall on deaf ears and that some others were willing to follow through with it. She noticed with a side glance, that Yacob and Sonori were having a private discussion, but decided to respect their privacy and not attempt to figure out what it was about.

Turning to Rivka she asked "Have you heard of a prayer named 'Lay of the Land'?"

In reply to Neliwen Nenuial (msg # 30):

Rivka frowned in confusion for just a moment,  then nodded with realization
"Ah, yes, i remember that incantation.  I heard about it from a mentor years ago, when i was learning the craft.   I've never tried it, though.   You're right, that would be damned useful here."

In reply to Sonori (msg # 28):
This message was last edited by the player at 22:47, Sat 05 June 2021.

Nym looks at Neliwen with a confused look as she and Rivka talk about a prayer named "Lay of the Land".

Neliwen, would you please refresh my memory on that one?  It has been a good number of decades since I've heard anything about it, let alone tried to grasp it.