"Twenty pounds of adamantine, must be a story behind that. Last I heard even Cannith can't refine that much, not reliable enough any want to try . . . "

Greddark peeled some red potatoes while he looked up at Turnip and smiled before returning to Antony

" . . . care to be tonight's first story? You've put it to some use, but how'd you come by it?"

In reply to Antony (msg # 471):

Cassia tilted her head, "That is true, adamantine is dificult to work with, also, if you don't mind me asking which military? Surely not Brelish? Karnathy maybe? Or perhaps Aundarian..."

Antony shrugs and looks to Greddark, "And yet ... we are chasing down hundreds of pounds of it. It's obviously not as hard to refine as you think. And I made this breastplate myself. I was a blacksmith before I was drafted." He turns to Cassia, "Which military hardly matters. They generally weren't all that different."

In reply to Antony (msg # 474):

"He was drafted. He's Karrn then."

Greddark continued peeling potatoes

Antony shrugs, "Oh, they all draft, whether they admit it or not."

"Alright, perhaps loyal voluntary service is a kind of drafting in your eyes, I understand. You're hardly the only person to make things up when I ask questions, I should likely stop asking . . . days of tall tales even Mrorish bards couldn't match"

Greddark motioned to Sebastien and Lyndra to punctuate his point, and turned back to Turnip

"I've a little beer and some dried greens and these potatoes. Could make a Karrn blood stew for tonight. Do not worry though, there's no blood, it's named for the potatoes."

While the rest talk about making armor, Sebastian finds a place to sit and takes out his lute and starts playing a soft, slow song.

In reply to Sebastian (msg # 478):

After finishing setting up the tents, Turnip sat beside Sebastian and listened to his playing, "You know, your music its what inspired me to get out there. Well that and the sufferin." The orc leaned back and looked up at the stars her face glowed, illuminated by the fire. "I sewed my first star chart when I was four. My mother taught me to read the stars.  Its an art her mother taught her. It has helped my people for many generations. I want to help more." The orcish woman smiled at the elf.

Cassia looked up at Anthony flabbergasted, "I was just asking what country you were from" She abruptly turned from him and looked at Jaxus, "So you're from Cyre right? Am I correct to believe that you are a spellcaster as well?"

In reply to Cassia (msg # 480):

Antony looks puzzled, "Then why didn't you ask that?"

Jaxus had been sitting, barely listening to the conversation at this point.  As the campfire flares to begin burning brightly, he starts to stare into the flames, losing himself in the flickering flames.  Until someone asks about his home country.
He shakes his head back into the moment.  Yes, I was born in Cyre, though he calls it Kie-rah.  But, I was raised mainly in Flamekeep after my parents died in a Thranish refugee camp.  Why do you ask?.

In reply to Jaxus Dastero (msg # 482):

Cassia beamed, "Call it a Zil need to document everything. I'm taking a break from my internship at the Korranberg Chronicle to write my book. It's why I'm here. Also gives me a little time to get used to this" Cassia pointed to the dragon mark of scribing on her face, "Apparently I'm a late bloomer. It's weird I got my mark and suddenly a whole lot of people wanted to be my friend. I mean they already did. Father's quite well known and wealthy but still... it's a little lonely." the young gnome shook her head, "But enough about that! It's my job to ask the questions here!" Cassia giggled.

Looking at Cassia, Sebastian says, "It doesn't hurt that you are a lovely lady."

I can understand that, Jaxus responds to Cassia.  My own version of a Dragonmark puts me in a position of unwanted attention from others all the time, even if it provides me with a lot more magical power.  As he speaks, a shimmer of copper can be seen along his jawline and cheeks with each movement.  A closer look will reveal the same shimmer around his eyes and brow, and the bridge of his nose.
He shrugs.  The make-up wears off after a few hours, and the spell only lasts an hour, so I use it for emergencies.  Be glad your Dragonmark does not generally place you in danger of kidnapping.  Right now, I am taking a big risk by not using either.  I am putting a lot of faith in people I hardly know.
He nods his head towards Turnip.  I have travelled enough with Turnip to know I can trust her.

"She's a great deal too young for you Sebastian. As you so often point out, you were alive before King Kason of Breland was born!"

Greddark looked up from his cooking to give Sebastian a long look before returning to Turnip

"The stars huh, that's a lofty place to be readin'! Was a Londurak who first charted them stars in Mror, to better grow her wine. The Lanaraks, of course, got jealous and stole the charts in order to have the better wine. Was no good though, the Lanarak wine has always been inferior!"

When Jaxus revealed his dragonmark, Greddark startled a bit

"That's . . . certainly something you'd be keeping hidden in some parts. Be hard to get along in some parts, my sympathies there lad!"

Sebastian takes a second glance at Gregdark, "My good man, it was only a statement of reality, no other meaning intended."

At the the comments between the dwarf and the elf, Jaxus shakes his head with a small smile and a chuckle.  And to think we Cyrans are supposed to be the decadent and hedonistic ones.
In response to Gredatk's comment about his "Dragonmark", Jaxus nods his head sadly.  There were no less than four attempts to kidnap me as a child, from three different refugee camps, and the Keep itself.  Of course, the Keeper of the Flame had asked me if I would help find why a number of people with Aberrant Dragonmarks or draconic features had been found dead outside of Flamekeep.  Six bodies, four were children.  It turned out that a cabal of clerics and paladins, mages and lore keepers, headed by one of the low-ranking bishops, had been conducting experiments in the study of The Prophesies.  Horrible experiments.

Cassia smiled at Greddark, "Thank you for looking out for me Papa." she nodded at Sebastian, thanking him for the compliment. Her eyes went wide when he showed her the abberant mark. She'd never seen one before.
"May I?" she traced her finger along the mark. The curious gnome taking in the sight with fascination before remembering that the object she was studying is in fact a person.
Cassia wrapped her small arms around Jaxus' neck in a hug. "I'm so sorry, that's awful!"
The gnomes eyes widened more hearing about the conspiracy that he was investigating. She quickly started jotting things down but stopped looking up at him, "I could forget to mention your mark in my book if you prefer that."

He smiles as she traces a finger along the scales of his cheekbone.  He holds up a hand to show there are more an the back of it, along the bones and the knuckles.  When he opens his hand, his fingernails appear to end in points, though they are not long enough to be claws.
Well, it is not really a "Dragonmark", he says to both the dwarf and the halfling with a shrug.  Not in the traditional sense.  There is a dragon in my family history somewhere, and I am the one lucky enough to express that heritage.
He sits back, leaning on his hands.  It is not all bad.  I can cast spells without studying them.  And I have a built-in suit of light armor.  Expectations for me are different than for you, but they are just as compelling.
 I am used to it, as you are getting used to yours.

Antony, once finished modifying his armor, moves to the center of the group, or as close as he can come without getting in the way, "Ok, folks, give me a few minutes and I'll set a ward up for the night." He then start a ritual spell, at least from the looks of it.

Sebastion was her hero, little Turnip had looked up to him, to be ignored... she breathed in deeply. Looking at Greddark she smiled softly. "That's a mighty fine thread you spin. I can't wait to hear more stories you have."

In reply to Jaxus Dastero (msg # 490):

Cassia nodded "So that is interesting indeed" she turned around, "sleep well Anthony"
"I've heard tales of people gaining power by making some sort of pact or through a bloodline. I can only imagine being able to utilize such power."

Mine is by accident of birth, Jaxus responds to the halfling, not through a pact.  Apparently, there is one or more dragons in my family tree some several generations back.
He gives a bit of a shrug.  I have long forgotten what my parents once looked like.  In my dreams, they appear as a Silver and a Copper dragon.

Cassia nodded listening to the others talking, putting down her book she took out her fiddle and looked at Seb a moment, "Are you ready to do this?" She struck her strings with her bow then pointed at the elf, smirking and challenging grin "See if you can keep up old man." The gnome teased the elf before she launched into a Zil river song. The raucous melody causing her to get up and dance.

Jastero stands and strikes a pose with his hands upon his hips and laughs.  If there is to be music, then there should be dancing, he says.  Every Cyran knows how to dance The Tago.  It is our birthright, though some of us dance better than others.
He looks at Turnip, who is conversing with Greddark, and Lyndra, who is apparently not involved in anything at the moment.  He extends a hand to the former, not expecting her to accept.  Care to dance with someone who is barely an amateur?
This message was last updated by the player at 00:56, Thu 31 Mar 2022.