Day: 3rd day of Hammer (Jan 3rd)
Time: 4 bells after Highsun (4pm)
Place: Gondalim's, just off the High Road

The sun was starting to set on a cold day in Waterdeep and you all find yourselves at the Inn called Gondalim's or more specifically on its 3rd floor. You are all seated in a room around a round table after being brought by note or invited face to face by someone on behalf of a man called Larias of the Font of Knowledge who seeks adventurers.

Food and drink are provided in accordance with the beings present respective tastes. Larias has not arrived yet but you were informed that he would be there shortly.

(Feel free to introduce yourselves and if you have any questions, shoot me either an OOC or PM)

Mimi was the first one to arrive, and had held her form, as a chair, the entire time. It was unlikely, anyone was aware of her, unless they had abilities that granted them such an ability.

She rested, ready, and willing to speak if needed. However, as a mimic her natural inclination for patience, and silence stood strong. With her in her current capacity, prepared for nothing, but everything. She didn't know why she was called there, but it was a chance for adventure, and that's all she cared about. Who knew, what meats she'd eat? What things she'd do? What new experiences, she'd explore? That was what made her excited for this mission. No matter what it was.

Ponder sauntered in. He had a small pack on his back and a case with a lute next to it. He smiled his confident smile and wandered in, wondering where Larias was. He ambled over and found a chair to sit in while he waited. He looked around, there might be opportunity here even if this Larias turned out to be less than a 'font of knowledge'.

One of the tavern wenches opens the door and sets a cast iron pot with a flat lid on the table. "There ye be mi' lord." She says as she settles the pot on a trivet. With an appreciative growl Scriostus hops down from her shoulder onto the pot and walks three circuits of the lid before curling up on the warm iron. Appearing to be very content with the situation and making something something between a growl and a purr, he sends a wave of gratitude towards the girl who smiles and gives him little scratch behind one horn in a sign of familiarity. "See you again soon." She says to him before shutting the door behind her.
When the door shuts his head comes up and he gives the room and the sole human inhabitant a more thorough visual inspection. He settled back on his warm pot and flipped his tail over his snout. One eye slit open, then slowly closed as the heat soothed his muscles. Surely, no one would dare disturb the ferocious sleeping Dragon. Even so, the one eye cracked open and seemed to be watching Ponder.

Shandri slipped quietly into the room, carefully scanning the area for exit routes as befit a seasoned adventurer. Once she had done that, she took note of the one human - a bard by the looks of it - and...oh, a little dragon. She wondered when encounters like this had become just another normal part of her day.

Of course, a little red dragon might be inherently driven to plunder and destroy, but from what Shandri could see, right now the only thing it was stealing was all the heat in the room.

She smiled in amusement, nodded briefly to each of the inhabitants, and took an unknowing seat on Mimi.

The last of them to arrived was practically a boy despite his size.

It seemed like he was not yet able to grow facial hair and his downy blond hair was tied back behind a face that still bore the softness of youth. Indeed, his blue eyes were still bright, but unsure and wary and he took in the other occupants of the room.

He was dressed in a coat of well oiled chain that fell to his knees, calf length riding boots and a thick leather belt that held a plain and unadorned arming sword in its scabbard. The belt held a few pouches in it as well as a pair of gloves folded over.

He smiled a little shyly as he gave a very slight bow and nodded. His cheeks were actually a little rosy against his fair complexion from the chill outside.

"Good evening" he almost muttered and made his way to a chair at the table where he carefully took his seat.

Ponder smiled at the newcomers. He said, "Ponder Kresh, wanderer and sometime teller of tales."

The well-groomed man leaned back in his chair and sipped his ale. He wore dark gray trousers and matching vest over a white silk shirt closed at the wrist by leather bracers. A dagger graced his hip while the hilt of sword peeked over his shoulder next to his lute.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Wed 18 Oct 2023.

Mimi, the mimic, slowly shifted her chair-like form, seeking to make herself, as comfortable as she could be relying on the subtle instinctive reactions of Shandri. Mimi was happy, seeking to perfect chair-form. It was quite interesting, to change the structure of a chair-like form, to optimize for a person's comfort. Everyone was different, in what they found comfortable.

Ponder stared. "I'd like to say that was the weirdest thing I've seen this week but, alas..."

Shandri listened to the others and nodded to Ponder. "Shandri," she said with nothing more. The chair grew a little firmer beneath and behind her, the back straightening a bit...and her finely-honed kinesthetic sense told her that the chair was shifting beneath her. "Huh?" she asked, standing and turning to look at Mimi.

"I've seen stranger, but I do wonder what's going on."

It seemed, even Mimi, with her remarkable mimicry skills, wasn't entirely imperceptible. Shandri, perceptive as ever, noticed the slight shifting. Upon, hearing Shandri noticed her shifting, she decided to pipe up. Her Voice, despite the teeth, and purplish tongue it spoke from, coming from the back of the Chair itself, was friendly and melodious, which contrasted with her fearsome nature.

"Hi there, I'm Mimi the Mimic!" she chimed in, she sounded playful and excited. "I must apologize for my unannounced presence.  You see, I was just attempting to perfect my chair abilities. After all, a comfy seat is a friendly seat. At least that's what the Bandit Droug used to say." She paused as if reminiscing about past encounters. "Well, until he made the mistake of striking me. At that point, I couldn't resist, and, well, he became my meal." Her tone remained oddly jovial, given the context.

A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes as she continued, her fanged mouth parting in a grin that showcased her impressive dentition. "You can scream now... I don't mind. I promise I won't be offended!" Her words, despite her monstrous nature, and her clearly inhuman mentality, sought to carry an underlying sense of reassurance. Trying to make people more comfortable with her presence.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:13, Wed 18 Oct 2023.

Ponder merely sipped his drink. "I'm damn sure glad I chose this chair," he said waving his mug at the mimic. "No offense, Mimi." He did not scream nor seem overly concerned about the chair/mimic/bandit eating carnivore in their midst.

Ponder had seen worse. Much worse.

It seemed that the younger man had not.

General confusion at where the voice was coming from led rapidly to concern over the span of a few seconds. Full blown alarm overtook him a moment later when he caught a glimpse of the teeth, and the tongue and some sort of realization hit home.

The young man lept up backwards and upset his own chair with a clatter in the process. A wide eyed look overtook him, his mouth slightly open as he groped behind him for the door,  through which he clearly planned to continue his retreat.

Shandri listened to Mimi's explanation. "...oh," she said after a moment. She wasn't quite as blase as Ponder, nor as scared as Aldred, but still rather surprised. "It's nice to meet you, Mimi. But you should have given us a little warning so we knew who you were. Some people can be a little surprised by friendly chairs." She stepped over to gently pat the top of the back of the chair, showing she wasn't offended. Besides, they also had a red dragon in the room and nobody was paying much attention to that, so it probably had something to do with why everyone had been called here.

"While I'm not volunteering to be your meal, I can sit in you again if you like. Especially if you can be an armchair." It was only polite to let a friendly mimic be her furniture if she wanted to!

Seeing someone freaking out, she turned to them. "Calm Down, I'm Friendly I swear! If I wanted to eat any of you, I'd have eaten the person sitting on me first! " Mimi tried to console Aldrud.

Turning back to Shandri she said. "Sorry, Bad Habits, But...I'll see what I can do about the armchair! armchairs consume more mass, than I have.... but I think I have a workaround... first she got rid of three of her chair legs, making the bottom of the chair one leg. Due to her immense strength and constitution comparable to others like her, she could carry a lot of weight. This  mass transformed into the arms of the chair, then relying on her internal strength, she shifted the material of the chair to be softer and more plush, though, it took about the same space. It was simply a modification in terms of material consistency, adding a thin layer of fur, to make the chair more comfortable to top it all off. So in the end, the chair wasn't bigger, it was just In a different form. Mimi couldn't really become bigger, when she was already at her max after all. "Will that do?" Mimi piped up, seeking for input in her new design.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:57, Wed 18 Oct 2023.

As the shock subsided a little the young man seemed to grow more confused or suspicious and less prone to leaving outright.

"What is this?" He asked in confusion, and looked mostly to Ponder and Shandri, both of whom seemed to have taken the event more or less in stride.

He still stood at the very edge of the room near the door, his back to the wall, his eyes darting this way and that.

His eyes popped open as the chair started talking and his tongue flicked out a couple times. That's what was causing the itch between his spines. A mimic, even if it claimed to be friendly, which was odd, was not something to take for granted.
As Ponder made his comment the little dragon smirked and sent a telepathic reply. You're assuming that the chair you are in isn't simply more patient.

Stretching his back muscles he sits up and projects his telepathic voice to all in the room. 'This' I imagine is the results of a somewhat cryptic summons. I expect our potential employer is about the come up behind you. He declares as his wings stretch and settle back in place.

Ponder stood suddenly and checked his chair. "Good point," he said in reply to the dragon's obsvervations. "You're here about the job, too? Interesting bunch." To answer 'what is this?' since the man wasn't clear about the object of his query, Ponder, now poking the chair then gently prodding Mimi to see if it felt the same, answered, "Another job, or at least I hope so. In my profession, one keeps moving or one gets stabbed by a jealous husband or outraged father."

Shandri looked at Ponder. "Hey, be nice to Mimi," she said teasingly before sitting in the armchair. "Hm, feels quite comfortable and nice, thank you."

She looked around. "Yes, I'm here to hear about the job, probably like the rest of you."

The air in the room was suddenly filled with the kind of static that presaged the coming of a storm: a feeling of clouds on the horizon, filled with lightning and thunder ready to rain on the ground below. The feeling dissipated as soft steps could be heard outside, stopping when they reached the door.

The door opened, the woman who stood before them was the kind who tended to draw all eyes towards herself. She gazed upon the occupants with black eyes that contained an infinity of stars before walking in.

She was tall and walked with grace and an economy of motion that was breathtaking but somehow...primordial. Predatory, even. She wore a robe of the deepest black that seemed covered with the celestial bodies of the night sky. Her eyes were pointed and her hair black so deep it seemed blue. She shut the door softly behind her before once again turning her gaze on this around her.

"I apologise if I interrupted your conversation but, I believe we are here for the same purpose. We all received the same invitation to come here, yes?" She asked in a voice that twisted like snakes yet seemed filled with music.

Minutes passed & soon after a young man came in.

He was dressed in a long dark blue long coat with a high collar, his arms holding a book and a few scrolls. He wore spectacles that had smaller lenses attached to the sides that would allow the wearer to bring them down to get a magnified look at anything the wearer scrutinized.

He had a Rucksack slung to his side which hit the table as he placed the book on it, the scrolls rolling onto it soon after. He wore a holy symbol of Denier, the God of Knowledge and Scolars.

"Well Met everyone! I am Larias of the Font of Knowledge - i hope everyone has met and gotten their fill of food and drink. Ive sent and hired you all for an expedition funded by me to expand the knowledge of the Font and bring light to a past i will need your help in uncovering."

He began opening the book and grabbing the scrolls placing them in an order only he knew.

"Any questions before i continue?", he said as he was setting up for whatever he was doing.

Mimi, pondered long and hard about the question she was going to ask. She didn't know the man, but the adventure sounded exciting! So, of course there was one question she had. "What meals await us on this journey?" she piped up satisfies, she was curious what creatures she'd be eating soon.

The boy seemed to have partially recovered from the shock, but he remained standing with his arms crossed and seemed unsure of the entire enterprise. Although he greeted Larias with a nod, he simply shook his head with the time came for questions. It was almost as if he was not entirely sure he was going to stay.

Not looking up from his setting up his book & scrolls Larias said, "Whatever you bring with you or hunt for i suppose - anything else?"

Mimi, the ever-adaptable mimic, observed her surroundings with a sense of curiosity and excitement. She detected through her thermal energy checking up on one person to another in the room. She found herself amidst a diverse group of meat snacks, each with its own unique characteristics and motivations. The man's words hung in the air, and Mimi, being the opportunistic and adventurous mimic that she was, took them quite literally.

A mischievous grin curled across her fanged mouth as she looked at the others, a playful tongue twist, happened soon afterward. She didn't see a room of potential threats; she saw companions for the journey ahead. "Eat the meat that you bring with you," she mused, interpreting the statement in her own whimsical way. Her voice dripping with the playfulness she felt the words merited. "Well, if that's the rule, then I'm in for a feast!"

With a quick shift of her form, She shifted, into a Teddy Bear, giving, Shandri a comfortable place to get, up as her excitable nature, was prepared to leave. She might have appeared as a chair-like entity moments ago, but now she was a plush Teddy Bear, soft, and comfortable to the eye. She stretched her limbs, testing her newfound mobility, and let out a chuckling sound, which seemed to echo around the room.

"Let's get to it before the road walks away!" Mimi chimed, her tone oddly cheerful for someone about to embark on a potentially perilous journey. She wobbled for a moment, still getting used to her transformed state, but then steadied herself with a newfound confidence. After all, she was Mimi the Mimic, and adaptability was her forte. With a playful twirl, it was clear, she was prepared to go on the journey, as she twirled around, with almost child-like glee.

Larias looked up to the speaker as he was now done laying out his materials on the table. He scrutinized the newly formed Teddy Bear and its enthusiasm for the open road. He adjusted one of the lenses on his spectacles to get a better close up look at Mimi.

"Ah, you must be the Intelligent Mimic known as Mimi - you will definitely find the expedition of import...If you can all look at the scroll I've laid out on the table please."

You see the map on the table Larias has unfurled and shows the Ardeep Forest to the South of the city and an "X" marked on it in red to its Southwest interior - Larias pointed to the red X.

"This is the location of the Nandar Lodge - it was owned by the now long dead House Nandar of Waterdeep over 140 years ago. The local Moon Elves took umbrage with the Nandar's hunting in the area and attacked the lodge only for the Nobles to come back and reuse it - sadly this dispute is lost to time but the Lodge was eventually abandoned by the family. During my research into the area, i believe that the Guild of Naturalists, a guild of Myth Drannor studying magical creatures, had an outpost near or on the grounds where the lodge was located. I have recruited you to enter the forest, help me find the entrance to this outpost and explore it to further the cause of Denier and add knowledge to the Font's library of its existence - my claim of what we may find is scholarly, so any Scrolls or Tomes we may find i would like to take as my share plus 20 percent of any treasure found...Any questions?"

Shandri spoke. "I'd like to request that if there are any works related to psionic knowledge, I receive either the book, or if nonmagical a copy of it," she said. "I don't mind if the knowledge reaches Candlekeep, but my compatriots in Riatavan are making a detailed study of the Invisible Art. Would that be alright?" There probably wouldn't be, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Aldred slowly moved forward after Larias had outlined his plan and inquired once more as to any questions the group might have. His eyes soaked in the map as he stared on silently, his interest apparently piqued.

"Does the Guild of Naturalists still exist?" he asked quietly, and although he looked to Shandri's request, he merely nodded. It was highly likely that the boy did not even know what "psionic" meant.

Black starfields were eclipsed as twin stars of purple bloomed in the newcomer's eyes. "Oh my," she said in a voice that rang like bells as it twisted through the air. "I have been here for many centuries, and never once have I encountered a being like you," she said as she walked over to the capering Mimi. "It is a rare thing for me to be surprised."

She leaned over and looked Mimi over as the purple gave way to warm gold. For just a moment the Mimic could feel the regard of something vast and ancient then the feeling gave way as the tall woman extended a hand. "We are well met, Mimi. I am Annastarria but please, call me Star."

You want an equal share of any treasure plus any scrolls or tomes? That seems to weigh heavily in your favour, little one. He projects while sitting up on the warm cauldron. His tail wraps around his front feet as he yawns widely revealing many sharp teeth.
What happens if we find nothing but historical records? He asks while raising his eyebrows.

Larias looked up at Shandri.

"I see no problem with that - provided the scribes at the Font can transcribe them."



Larias regards the Peudodragon for a moment.

"Im giving up 80 percent of any treasure - to me, knowledge is its own treasure and reward - but the Font is nearly complete in its construction and any additional income brought by Priests like myself is welcome and crucial to its full completion."



"Sadly its main halls lie in ruin and its members long dead in the Devil infested city of Myth Drannor although i have heard of a similarly called guild operating in Cormyr founded a year ago but they have no relation to each other', he answered Aldred.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:37, Fri 03 Nov 2023.

On the contrary, you are giving up eighty percent of nothing if we don't go. You say that knowledge is it's own reward but still want fifth of the treasure, plus the knowledge. He slowly walks forward and wraps himself around the pot once before walking to the edge of the table where he stares directly into Larias's eyes. The effect would be very intimidating if he were actually a dragon but at his size it looks more like a cat playing with a mouse.
A more equitable arrangement would be to include the cost of the scrolls and tomes in the total treasure and then you get first rights to them. As you said, any additional income is welcome.

Aldred nodded to Larias, a hint of appreciation in his expression, but the back and forth about the hypothetical spoils seemed to encourage him to retreat a step.

He looked more inclined to stay than he did before, but not completely "sold", although if he had any other prospects it was difficult to say.

"I was under the impression that groups like this just split everything equally?" He posited to Larias quietly.

Shandri nodded to Aldred. "I'm pretty sure that's the usual arrangement, unless it's one boss hiring the rest of us at a flat rate. I don't mind Deneir getting as much knowledge as possible out of this, but we do need to be sure we get our fair share if it comes to that. I'm not especially driven by avarice, but lore about my own interests is rare and expensive."

Aldred nodded to show that he understood and appreciated Shandri's explanation, but it seemed he had little to add.

He leaned back out and paced just a bit at the outskirts of the room as the discussion continued, where he looked over the stranger occupants of the room with covert glances.

Larias returns Scriostus gaze but it was a more neutral one and not one of challenge.

"My offer stands...All expeditions have a modicum of risk and reward - tis the life of an adventurer or researcher."

Larias looked at all in the room.

"I would like us to begin the journey tomorrow morning. We should reach the Ardeep forest by Highsunfeast and after a short rest, proceed into the forest till we find what is left of the lodge - before sundown by my estimate."

"Tomorrow morning?" the young man seemed surprised, or perhaps it was just that the expedition had suddenly become very real to him. Given his tender age it was likely that he had only been on a few if any at all.

It was already four bells after all, maybe five now. The merchants would be closing up for the day and there was still so much to do, so many preparations to make.

"Where should we meet you? And at what time?" he asked, his mind obviously racing, as if he was trying to calculate just how long he had left before they set out.

Larias looked to Aldred and noted the surprise in his voice.

"We wont be leaving very early - i thought to have Morningfeast here in Gondalim's. I convinced the High Priests at the Font to provide rooms for you all here for one night but if you wish lodgings elsewhere at your own expense, there are a few nearby - the Inn of the Dripping Dagger i believe caters to Adventurers and is further up the High Road."

Shandri nodded. "I'll see you all in the morning, then?"

Aldred nodded a few times to Shandri and Larias, the youth still in mild shock at the prospect of leaving the next day. "That's my plan, there is still so much to do..." he said aloud as he gravitated towards the door, one arm tucked protectively against his chest while the other covered his mouth.

"If there are no other questions please enjoy the hospitality of the food and drink before you - i shall arrive tomorrow morning for Morningfeast in Gondalim's ground floor common room."

Larias began rolling up his papers and collecting his things he had laid on the table.

With a roll of his head and a slow blink that might be mistaken for a cat smile he snaps his wings out and flaps them a few times to take flight and drifts over to Shandri's shoulder. May I? He projects politely before alighting on her shoulder. (Unless she refuses in which case he hovers nearby) Perhaps an ale in the common room? He suggests It wouldn't hurt to know a little more about each other before we head out.

Shandri smiled and nodded to the dragon. "You may," she said. "I don't mind the idea, certainly. What about the rest of you?"

The young man seemed to have the presence of mind to follow the conversation next to him. When Shandri and Scriostus suggested that they take some time to get to know each other before they set off in the morning, he hesitated but eventually nodded. "That's a good idea, I should eat something too...it's been a long day." he sighed, his mind still burdened with all the thing he should be doing ot prepare for their departure but for the moment he seemed inclined to stay and join them.

Day: 4th day of Hammer (Jan 4th)
Time: 7 bells (7am)
Place: Gondalim's; Common Room

You are all awoken by a servant at the door to your room in the employ of Gondalim's, made aware of the time and that Morningfeast is served downstairs in the commmon room. As you all eventually make your way downstairs, you are greeted by Larias who has already gotten his plate of food.

"Well Again", he says in greeting. "Please, eat your fill and we can discuss our journey."

Aldred came down the stairs with his downy hair still mussed and his eyes still glossy as he stifled a large yawn with one fist in front of his mouth for the sake of politeness.

He was dressed much as the evening before and his chain hauberk jingled with each step towards the common room. The only addition was a thick black cloak with gold trim, the cowl of which had been gathered up to one side and pinned with a handsome brass clasp in the shape of a shield with the reflected moon sigil of Waterdeep set in lapis lazuli within.



"Good morning sir" Aldred greeted Larias sleepily and took a plate at  the mans urging and began to pile up food upon it.

As he joined Larias at the table he glanced up at their organizer as he took a spoon full of porridge. "I was not quite sure that yesterday was not a dream when I woke up this morning. It's an interesting group that you've put together."

Star had been awake for some time now, sitting by the window to watch the sun rise which was something she always took joy in. She followed the servant down and smiled at Aldred and Larias. She was dressed as she had been the previous night-in a gown of deepest black in which seemed to swirl galaxies and other heavenly bodies which matched the unearthly gaze she turned on each of them before making a plate and taking a seat at the table.

"Indeed, but I can assure you that you are quite awake, Aldred Thurun," she told him, giving him a smile before she tucked into the meal before her.

Shandri had also been awake for a while, but her time was spent meditating and practicing her psychic focus. She hadn't yet managed to sustain herself solely on psychic energy, however, so when the servant came, she ambled down to the common room and took her plate.

"It's not my usual sort of dream, if so." She glanced over at the patterns on Anna's dress. "Aside from that dress, which seems like it might be made of dreamstuff of some kind."

"Not dreamstuff. This dress was made from the void between stars and the blackness in which they dwell. It bestows no special abilities save to open conversation and it is remarkably comfortable," she said with a smile. "I would be happy to form some for you, should you be interested."

Shandri shook her head and smiled. "Thank you, but I'm used to much more ordinary clothes myself. I merely admire interesting and beautiful fashions on others." She turned her attention to her food, wanting to make sure she was well-fed before they discussed the specifics of the venture.

"It will take less than a day to reach sight of the forest but the snows we've had of late will slow us down once we leave the Trade Way and make for the tree line of Ardeep. The ruins of the lodge should be to its farthest south", Larias said. "Once we reach the Ardeep River, we will leave the road & use the river as our guide, following it east into the forest and we should find the ruins of the Nandar Lodge from there."

Aldred quietly eyed the dress as he dished up a generous portion and took his seat. After he had tucked away a few cold cuts he looked to Larias.

"Do you intend to be mounted? Or are we carrying anything within away by hand?" He asked, clearly wondering how much they could reasonably carry between them.

"I intend for us to find the outpost first - its entrance is somewhere on the grounds, either in the ruined lodge itself the surrounding area. We will set up camp near what's left of the lodge and search the grounds using magic", Larias answered Aldred.

"If we do find more than what we can carry, we will make arrangements by sending one of us back to Waterdeep for appropriate storage and transport."

With no more questions put forth, the group eats and with equipment packed set forth from the city, out of the South Gate and the road beyond. Cloud give was to sunny skies by mid morning and into the afternoon. After a quick stop for Highsunfeast, you all press on and by mid afternoon, the trees of Ardeep Forest can be seen in the distance.

"Once we reach the river Ardeep, we will leave the road and follow it into the wood - the ruins of the Nandar Lodge should be off the riverbank not too far away."

Following the river is slow going, as the snow by the river is deeper - shin to knee deep - and by the time they reach the wood, the sun is starting to set. It is Dusk by the time the ruins to the lodge are found. Half of the structure is exposed as one side of it has collapsed in on itself, showing the two-floored structure within. there is a wall surrounding the lodge, but it also has long since collapsed in places with only an iron gate and its frame standing. The snow is less here as the trees did not allow much accumulation within the area.

Larias casts a Light spell so that a camp can be made, using the ruins as a wind break.

"Perhaps we should begin to search in the morning? I am not sure it would be wise to search by just magical illumination but i leave the decision up to you all."

For all his uncertainty and youthful ignorance, Aldred managed to set a brisk pace on foot despite his armor and pack.

His features pale in the brisk air he wrapped up and layered down as the day warmed, adjusting himself as the sun broke through the cloud cover then cooled again beneath the snow laden boughs of the forest. He paused for a quick meal of white bread, butter, cheese and an apple before facing the shin deep snows of the deeper wood. His tall boots kept the majority of the snow out, but the prominent heel and smooth sole, ostensibly for riding, did him few favors on slick rocks or snow pack.

When the light did fail them and they slowed on the outskirts of the Lodge, Aldred sipped at his water in the shelter of the ruin and nodded as he put away the skin. "I"d say wait till morning. We've come this far, and it would be a shame to miss something in the dark." he agreed, his volume dropping to nearly a whisper as the darkness gathered about them.

He had been keeping his own counsel for most of the day and didn't break his silence now. If one didn't know better you'd think that he was pouting about the exchange that he and Larias had had the night before.

While on the road he had happily rested on Shandri's shoulder, as soon as they hit the wilderness he would fly from tree to tree just ahead of the group. Never leaving sight but also doing his best to stay out of the snow. There was one instance when he took flight and dislodged a branchful of snow that nearly dumped onto Larias's head but instead missed him by a few inches. Surely that wasn't intentional though. Surely.

Shandri had allowed Scriostus to take her shoulder without much comment; he was no doubt warmer there than on wing. She seemed somewhat impervious to the cold as she moved barefoot through the snowdrifts; perhaps that was an artifact of her monastic training, or her psychic powers.

Once she reached the camp, she turned to Larias. "I agree that we should camp now, and search tomorrow. We could all use some rest." She still hadn't mastered the art of sustaining herself without food or sleep, though she hoped to attain such mastery in the future. "I'm willing to take the first watch, if no one objects."

Star pulled up her hood as they moved out which left her features shrouded in darkness, only the stars in her eyes visible beneath the hood that was made as the same nighttime sky as the rest of her gown. The cold didn't seem to bother her, and she moved with deft steps over the snow.

"I'll join you one first watch. I have little need for sleep and prefer to stay awake under the stars. I can watch all night if you wish me too. It really is no trouble at all."

"We are in agreement", Larias says, pleased. "I will leave the decision of first watch between you - until morning."

He goes to where his small tent & bedding is and pulls out a tome, using the fire of the camp as light to read by.

The night is quiet - only the light wind blowing through the ruins of the Nandar lodge can be heard.

Shandri nodded. "I don't sleep much either," she said. "I will share the first watch with you, and the rest of us can sleep," she offered.

Scriostus stretches out on the rocks that ring the fire. As he drifts into something resembling sleep he starts to resemble a liquid more and more as his body relaxes into the contours of the rocks.
As he breathes on the fire it makes the coals glow and then burn brightly. The visual is almost that the tiny creature is breathing flames. If someone were to be playing a game of miniatures he would be ideal as a dragon using his breath weapon.

The night goes by uneventfully and as dawn arrives, Larias awakes and begins to unpack a bag of foodstuffs - sausage links, eggs packed in a box of feathered down, a loaf of bread and a bladder of milk. He sets up a metal grate over the dying fire as he begins to rekindle it.

"You might think me to have Halfling blood with all this bounty but this might be the last cooked meal we have should we find the Naturalists lost halls and explore them - then its travel rations soon after...I brought plenty and all are welcome to share."

Once the fire is going once more, he begins to bring forth an iron pan and sets it on the grate and places the links in it to cook.

Shandri smiled. "Oh, don't worry," she said. "Halflings make some of the best traveling companions, and I'm looking forward to a good meal before we delve."

Star had remained awake throughout the night, the starfields in her eyes reflecting the one that wheeled above them and hadn't moved. At all. Once the others were bedded down, she had assumed a preternatural stillness which made her almost vanish into the darkness. She tasted the air, scented the wind, and heard every noise as she watched the little dragon settle into sleep, entranced by the change in her new companion. Once he had drifted off she cast her gaze beyond the fire and watched the night march on.

With the meal concluded, Larias begins preparations to search for the lost guildhall. He gathers the group by the fire and gives each an ordinary round stone.

"I have enspelled these stones with a spell to seek out hidden passages and portals - each of you will take one and take a compass point, using the Nandar Lodge as a center. I will use my own stone to search the grounds about the lodge. It is my hope the halls are not too far away from the grounds."

Larias hands each an ordinary rounded stone no different from a stone one would find in a stream or river. He has each one stand in a strategic spot around the lodge and for them to walk forward while still keeping the lodge in sight and no further.

The little dragon swoops in and grabs a stone with both hands before flying off to the west. He wasn't going to wait in the snow for direction. Everyone else can take a compass point after him.

Shandri stepped up to take a stone, and then started heading around the southern direction.

The group moves from the ruined manor each taking a compass point and walk till they walk some distance but still have the ruins in view.

Shandril comes to an area that looks like any other patch of snow covered woodland but notices the one tree is different from the others in her vicinity - it is dead, missing bark and only holding a handful of branches with a trunk thick as an Ogre but it is only 15 feet in height.

Seeing the tree, Shandri carefully moved up to it and looked around the debarked, de-branched tree, first making sure no creature was hiding in ambush, then looking around the roots.

As Shandril approached the tree trudging through the knee-deep snow, she spotted nothing out the ordinary that would indicate ambush by someone or something. Once she was up close to the tree however something burst forth from the tree from its top, shooting straight up into the air and covering her in wood splinters & broken bark. It circled for a moment and Shandril could see its bat wings, lionlike body and a long tail with spikes at its tip.

From a distance, Scriostus could see the creature as well, circling in the air.

The creature looked down and saw Shandril and dove down toward her letting out a roar as it did so, its claws extending from its paws.

Scriostus makes his best speed toward Shandril. He may be small but he's still got a rock in his grip that might hurt the creature!

Shandri saw the manticore charging at her and promptly dove sideways. She'd be happy to mix it up with the creature, but not before she was prepared.

She came up sideways and focused her energy through a mudra, giving her fists vampiric power, to tear life away from her opponent and strengthen herself. Then she charged at the beast like it might do at her, legs launching her into a forward pounce and each fist punching at its large, leonine side. She was a warrior and knew she could probably win this if she fought effectively.

Shandril dove sideways but the Manticore was a second faster in its dive, its one claw slicing into her thigh. It was not a deep wound thanks to her reflexes but still stung. With momentum on her side, she launched herself at the beast, delivering two fists into its flank and dove away as the Manticore tried to take a bite out of her. He thigh was already on the mend after her attack, its bleeding stopped.

The Manticore turned to face her, its wings tucked and its body poised for a pounce but as it focused on her, it was totally oblivious to Scriostus approaching in the air behind it.