"I am ready.  Let us find this mage, and where this dragon lairs, so that this place may be free from its tyranny," Ballast says.

Cumarinda knelt in the open rays of sunlight, her hands clasped in silent prayer. While moments passed the sun seemed to infuse her with its light and she grew brighter and brighter until she was blinding to look at. In an instant it was over and she stood up and smiled, her face seeming even cheerier.

"The Great Sun Father has seen fit to endow me with more of his grace. Now more than every before I know we will save this village and its people. It is our will, it is the will of the people and it is Pelor's will. Now we go forth!"

Bubbly and buoyant, almost laughing, she urged the party forward on to their next destination.

Brankx sniffed as he shouldered his pack, wrapping his cloak tighter. "Damn me girl...ye always goin' to be so cheerful when ye god talks to ye? We are in an ice storm, tryin' to find a magic user thats in hiding. At least try not to be too happy girl."

Despite his bluster, the dwarf had a smile on his face as he walked, his darkoak staff clicking on the ground as he went

The waitress brings you over some eggs and bread as well as some tea. She nods and goes into tbe backroom. When the group is about to eat, the door gets opened. The mayor looks up from his chair as he's about to eat. Standing there is Fenris. He walks in, with two squirrels over his shoulder.

"My friend. Why should I be unhappy? I have been blessed even more gifts from Sun Father Pelor. I know that he has gifted me such so I can save this village and its people. For now, I am in a good place surrounded by good people. I am warm with a roof over my head and food before me in the middle of that storm you speak of. I am filled with faith and hope." she replies to Brankx.

After taking a drink of her tea she looks up to see Fenris walking in. Looking to Brankx with a grin she adds, "See, my blessings grow and bring more hope for our success."

Standing she waves over Fenris with a broad warm smile. "Come over and sit with us Fenris, there's some food here if you want to save your catch for later! Or at least have a drink to warm yourself, our mage reminds me that it is cold outside. "

Brankx looks at fenris with a sniff. "where'd ye disappear to?" he shrugged and ate the eggs and bread and drank the tea.

He looks at the mayor with a smile. "I hope ye don't take offence, but we will eat and be on our way...we need ter find this mage and it aint getin' any warmer out there."

Ballast looks at the Fenris, the squirrels, and back to Brankx.  "He left to hunt, I presume. That activity seems to be more Fenris' forte than debate."  Ballast's tone is a bit humorous, as if including himself in the jest.

The barbarian stares at the cleric, eyes narrowed. He shakes his head as if aggrivated and goes to walk out, after getting a ale to go. The mayor looks like he wants to say something but stops and glances at the others "Thought you said you eat on the way but you just ate and dranke while sitting here. Nevermind then. Do you need anything else? I do bid you good tidings and I hope the mage will be willing to return."

The dwar looked at the mayor. "Mages tent to be smart.....stubborn at time, but given to reason. I'm sure we can talk to him."

He grabs his pack, staff and waits for the others.

If all are ready, Ballast will head out in the direction of the ruins where the mage is said to be, listening to any directions needed to track down this most crucial of magicians...
This message was last edited by the player at 20:12, Sun 22 Mar 2020.

Cumarinda examines her equipment. Satisfied, she gathers it together for the journey and begins heading forth on their next quest.

A sudden energy burst appears in the center of the village. Lars and the rest of the group comes out of it and it dissapears. The mayor and Kaja stand there, looking rather surprised. Several villagers jump away from it. Some of the kids watch wide-eyed.

Lars stands there, gripping his staff. He watches Kaja who rushes at him and he grabs her, holding her close "Hello." The mayor moves towards them "By Pelors grace I am glad you..." The mage slams his staff against the ground. His eyes narrow as Kaja grips into him. He then releases her "You do not own me. I am here for the crystals and to fix them. Get it."

The mayor nods his head "Of course." He runs back into the inn and returns with the broken shards. Lars moves to him, and holds the staff out. Kaja takes it and he takes the crystals. A bright glowing orb comes from Lars, forming as he focuses. The crystal glows brightly and it reforms. He holds the crystal and goes to drop it as it hovers above the ground.

Biting his lip, he reachs out for it and is able to take it "Bless you Lars. Bless you for aiding us." Lars watches the mayor and the crystal moves from the man and it goes to the center of the village. It then starts to move upwards a few yards as the entire village goes from being very cold into a warm weather. From a dim light with a thick fog to a bright brillant summer day forms. Ice and snow begin to thaw. The crystal them moves to the mage and he holds it with one hand.

Everyone in the village lets out a hooray! The kids smile and some of the villagers approach Lars. He watches this, expecting a cold reply but they thank him. A young girl walks up to the mage and pulls on his robe. He looks down at him and the girl smiles "Thank you. I got a a shell I found it. Yup an' you can have it." She holds out a shell, very simple. Lars doesn't know how to reach and he kneels down, watching the girl. He takes it, as it glows again and it becomes a huge shell covered in different colors. And the man....

He smiles.

Lars stands backup, whispering something to the mayor who nods. The little girl is barely able to grab the big shell and she looks surprised, shocked and happy.

The mage glances at the warforged, the elf, the human and the dwarf "I know where the other crystals are and will claim them. I need to spend time with Kaja. Come to her home when you have a moment." The mage and the woman head into a small home. The crystal remains with Lars and it drops down to him, no longer glowing.

The mayor just looks shocked.

Fenris watches what is going on, eyes narrowed. He grips the clerics hand tightly and realizes what he is doing, glances at her. The barbarian releases his grip, after all that has happened. His entire body is taught, seeing all that has happened. Of course he doesn't speak, his eyes dart from the mage to the mayor. He watches the young girl and Kaja and then relaxes after a few moments.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:10, Tue 29 Sept 2020.

The dwarf smiles as they appear in town again, the use of the teleporting spell one he had recognised. When the mayor and Lars began talking his smile faded to a serious look.

Then the townspeople came to him, thanking him. Even the girl, offering the shell and made him smile, brankx couldn't help but smile himself.

When Lars took his leave with Kaja, he nodded. Looking at the others he sighed. "Come....I need a drink." he looks at the mayor and points. "First round is yours."
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:17, Tue 29 Sept 2020.

Ballast shook his head at the strangeness of it all.  Imagine having such power that you could walk away from your fellows, your kin, and place such barriers that people had to risk their lives only to ask for help.  This Lars was a very, very strange bird, as his old captain used to say.

Powerful, obviously.  Being here one moment and back in the village the next was most convenient, if entirely odd.  Ballast would have to give that some thought during the small hours of the night.

Yet it seemed that Lars was not entirely without some care for his fellows.  At least the small girl had a fine trinket from the short-tempered man.  And he had restored the crystal.

Overall, though, Ballast was quite in agreement with Brankx, even if he did not need to drink.

"A rest would be very welcome," Ballast said, and followed Brankx.  As they walked, he said, "I am concerned that this mind flayer creature, whatever it might be, can control a dragon.  If we go to find and confront this flayer-thing, and whatever allies he has besides the dragon, how do we keep from falling prey to his control?  Can these mind flayers control many people at a time?  What are they?"

The young priestess was almost completely distracted by the array of arcane events displayed by Lars Hayden. She noted the reactions of the other members of her party and her smile widened at the village peoples' eager expressions of gratitude to the old grumpy wizard.

Cumarinda's eyes briefly met Fenris' when the barbarian elf looked her way and his grip tightened around her hand. After their eyes parted, she took note of his tension and when it seemed to release. Stepping forward, she shed her helmet and looked skyward, her arms outstretched in a full embrace of joy. "Ah it is so blessed to stand in the full unclouded radiance of the Sun Fathers' gaze! Fenris my friend, isn't this warmth so wonderful?" she beamed while briefly turning in place, her hair a golden-red shimmering cascade around her jubilant face. With Brankx and Ballast looking to get a drink and some rest, she grinned at them both. "A drink and some food sound good right about now, let's go."

She stepped up to Fenris and embraced his in a short, tight, hug. "Yes, you too. Sitting at a table with a mage or a cleric doesn't mean that either of them will casting spells while you're there. Besides, the Mayor is paying for the drinks and food." With a playful smile, she grasped his hand and used it to lead him to join herself and the others.

"But but....I..." The mayor seems very surprised as Lars appeared and he apparently has to pay for the adventures to eat and drink. Course he probably mentioned it and seems a bit off probably because the mage appeared in the square out of nowhere "Alright. Come." He moves to the inn and enters the door leaving it open for the adventurers. The man ordered anything the group wants within reason (its a small village after all!).

When the cleric hugged the barbarian his body goes suddenly ridged "Dwarf casts, I hit." Well its right to the point. He doesn't seem to like Brankx and looks at the cleric in his arms "You go. Me hunt." He stares at her and she seems like she wants him to go with her and attempts to drag him along. The man stops, still holding her hand and if trying to decide "No." Well then. Yet his hand stays in her own.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:35, Fri 02 Oct 2020.

Brankx smiles at the mayors confusion and discomfort. "Ye wanted Lars help...he's here to help. But gotta say he wasn't happy with th' town. He felt used but his sense allowed him to come back - even if it was his family."

The dwarf ordered a simple stew and bread for the meal and an ale.

The dwarf snorted at Fenris's comments but said nothing. He knew that he and the barbarian weren't friends, but they trusted each other to watch the others back and do what they needed to.

"Let 'im go Cumarinda...ye know he likes his time."

Fed up, the barbarian walks over to the seated dwarf as he heard the snorted and Brankx's response, and knock the chair out from under him! "Peaceful." His eyes narrow at the downed dwarf. One hand clinches the blade but he doesn't draw it. The other is clenched in a tight fist "Insult me and I will drop you." He goes to grab the dwarf's arm and pulls him up with such a small bit of strength but it feels like a lot to Brankx. The barbarian grunts, taking the dwarves's ale. He goes to drink it but stops and holds it to him.

Brankx drops to tbe ground like a sack of potatoes,  completely surprised by fenris and his 'attack'. Looking up he watched the elvish barbarian tower over him, hand on hilt.

And he laughed.

"Damn me boy....we get home and I gotta take you to meet me kin. you and me brother are so alike its not funny. He even does what you do to me."

He lets the barbarian pick him up and takes the ale. His dwarf blood pumping, if he was his brother, half the inn would be destroyed by now, but brankx was not like other dwarves. He was a man of reason.

And he knew that if fenris got his sword out, he would be dead.

"I don't hate ye fenris...ye more like me kin than I am. ye remind me of home." he takes a drink. "Dont get me confused though boy....we aren't friends, but I'm no enemy either. I trust ye to do your part and watch me back, because while ye don't try yo cut me head off, all mr powers I have ye back boy"

He picked up his seat and sat down. "Now if ye done, I want a meal, a drink and a rest without something on this damn island trying ter kill me fer a few damn hours"

"Shut your mouth." The words are spoken from Fenris and he's aggrivated as he is laughed at. So whats the barbarian going to do? The chair is thrown back and the dwarf is on the ground again. The blade is out, near the dwarf's neck "Do not call me 'boy'. My name is Fenris." This time he doesn't grab at the dwarf. The blade is sheathed. His is obviously rather aggrivated and it seems the dwarf wants him to be least in his eyes. The elf actually drinks the ale that the dwarf ordered. And he actually smiled once it was done.

The mayor sits there looking at the two adventures arguing, and when Fenris pulls out his sword he raises a hand "Stop it alright? Please stop." He glances at the cleric and fighter, almost pleading with them and when Lars was brought up he sighs "Come sit please. You think I am not upset? I'm doing my best. Having Lars leave, I felt helpless honestly. I am glad he has come back as he was needed, and no one will ask him for anything anymore. With Kaja now with him, I hope he decides to stay. Truly, I do. We have mending to contend with and he will probably agree. I feel without a pupil it made it worse. Just pushed him further along. And he has no respect for me. But with him returning, perhaps things will change. I truly hope so." He takes a deep breath "Now then you have rooms, drink and food. As for the ones that control anyting? This flayers? I don't know anything about them. Lars can help you. And I need a drink, it has been a long day."

A barmaid walks over with enough drinks for everyone minus Fenris and Ballast as well as food for everyone as well now-stew, bread, and some pastries.

Fenris can tell the cleric will probably go off on him. And perhaps the warforged. He watches the mayor and nods his head, crossing his arms over his chest. When he spots the pastries his head tilts and he look at Cumandria "What are those?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:12, Sat 03 Oct 2020.

Brankx, again on the floor, smiled at him. Brankx had enough of fenris's outbursts and wanted to prove he wasn't afraid.

"Ye want to kill me....do it! Ye nothing but a wild beast out fer blood, then ye will be alone ye whole life. Look at me....on th' ground fer complimenting ya and you snarl like a rabid dog!"

Look at ye cleric girl....LOOK! Ye threatening a team mate who has stood by ye and a friend."

His gaze hardened, but still had a half smile. "So its your move boy...kill me now or control that bloody temper of yours fer when we need it!"

The barbarian moves towards the dwarf. He throws a hard punch but stops nearly inches from crushing his skull "You aren't worth it. We aren't friends. You said it, not me. For a mage you are nothing but a damn fool. Always acting like your better then everyone else." His voice is serious and expecting the dwarf the come back at him and he's tired of it. The elf lowered his hand, slowly calming down "My temper kept me alive. You spit it out but have nothing to back it. You are nothing." He moves from the dwarf and walks by the cleric and goes to gently kiss her forehead. "Goodbye." For a moment, the barbarian looks like he wants to show emotion. He gently rests a hand on her shoulder, glancings back at the others and for a moment a tear is forming. And then he leaves without another word.

Silence fills the room. The barkeep just watches, hands on the bar. The waitress look at what is going on. And the mayor puts down his mug. Silence. The little girl seen before stands in the doorway, and she looks up at the barbarian. He looks down at her and she hugs him. He just stands there, looking stunned. And then she walks into the inn, glancing back at the now closed door.

"Well...I..." The mayor narrows his eyes "Yes. Well then, do you have any questions? I can try to help. Hopefully we will be getting trade back but it will take time. So the rooms are available." He seems to be unsure of what to even say "Sit and drink. Let's not talk of what happened alright? Just..." He leans back in the chair "Lars will probably be ready come morning. And I appreciate the well earned aid, truly I do. Anything I can help you out with let me know." He motions to the food, and tries to keep a decent face.

Brankx was expecting an attack....not from the sword, but a punch at the very least. When it stopped mere inches from his face his expression was one of surprise.

When he recorded, Brankx actually took a look of anger at the barbarian. "Ye think me a fool...I agree, but it takes a fool to recognise a fool. Ye think I act as I do because I think I'm better than the rest of ye, then its you who knows nothing elf!"

He pointed at the warrior. "Me whole life I've had to prove me worth both as a dwarf and a magic user! Dwarves don't use magic as i do, and mages aren't usually made if my kind"

He clenched his teeth as he spoke. "Everything i do, everything I strive fer is to be good enough....fer them an' you! I'm no warrior...I can't fight fer crap, but what I can do i strive fer."

He looked at the others. "If ye think I act as I do because I think I'm better than you - any of you, then keep ye ass walking boy. Because I know that I'm not. I'm not strong like you or ballast, nor can I heal like th' girl. All I have is me mind, and I hope every day that that's enough. You think that I think I'm better....I know that of us all, I'm the least!"

He slumps his shoulder as he walks yo the door. His voice is now void of anger and almost sounds defeated. "So keep jabbin' at me boy. Reminds me of th' family that thinks me a fool fer using magic."

As he walked out, the dwarf slumped in a seat, ordering another drink. He seemed tired.

"Lets meet Lars in th' morning and see what he says."

The barbarian tries to relax even after hearing Brankx's barrage towards him. He was tempted to go back, to beat the dwarf down but he decided against it. What he heard was unsure but it was enough. Fenris walked out of the village and soon he was gone.

Slowly, the mayor stands up. He walks up to Brankx, watching the dwarf "You both were wrong. Both of you and you fed into him, made him angry. That didn't do anything. I have seen children act like that. Not adults. You proved your worth but I didn't see it. Just your friends. I don't believe you are nothing, and maybe he didn't. But you are tired. Let the others in. You don't need to do this alone. I know I cannot. We need Lars. You need to relax. I can tell you may take this as I know everything, but I don't. The warforged can fight, the cleric can bind your wounds. But only you can heal yourself." He takes a deep breath "Strength doesn't mean how strong you are. Its what is inside that counts. Think before you speak. Not sure where all of this is coming from, but if I heeded my words perhaps things would be different with Lars." He goes to rest his hand upon Brankx "They needed you and so does this village." That said he sits back down "In my eyes your all equal." He takes his ale and slowly sips at it "Hopefully I helped. Its all I have, you know being the mayor. Try to solve things before they are well physical. Some people need to be on their own. Some like being around others. To each their own." Another sip "Now I should go see Lars. I hope your night goes better. He can aid you, keep that in mind but he will be hesitant probably because of the past. Actually because of the past. I cannot change it but I hopefully can improve. Good night." He stands up, nodding his head to the warforged, the dwarf and human before he departs.

The room is quiet. Some of the barmaids go about their business. They put up chairs and wait on the door leading out. The keep remains where he is putting up casks and wiping the bar down. One of the barmaids shows you to your rooms when the group decides to rest.

OOC
The mayor left. Its just the clerc, mage and fighter besides the barkeep and barmaids. So what is the group doing?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:40, Sat 03 Oct 2020.

Ballast had been taken utterly off-guard by Fenris' verbal (and physical) attack on Brankx.  After speaking few words during their time together in the catacombs and Lars' lair, he couldn't understand why Fenris had chosen this moment of relaxation to suddenly address his slights, when a shrug and a leave of absence would have done much the same with little ill feeling.  He'd nearly intervened when Brankx had attempted to turn the situation to a lighter note, only to have Fenris react with more fury.  Stunned, Ballast had not been certain how to react, though he hoped Fenris would not go through with his steel threat.  When Fenris had finished his tirade, and Brankx in return, and left, Ballast could finally react.  He reached down to help Brankx up.

"If there was an anger built up in Fenris, I wish he had spoke days before this. Surely much could have been resolved if he had said what bothered him before it drove him to fury," Ballast said.  It was so strange to him; for most of his existence, any around him who were annoyed at him had no reason not to voice their ire, immediately and without fear of reprisal.  He had been a thing, after all, just a mobile piece of ship's equipment.  Even after the Treaty of Thronehold had left him "free", he had had little idea what to do but to continue in his current employment. It had only been after the dragon attack that he'd been able to truly able to expand his horizons beyond the ship upon which he'd served.