Vailin, who took the role of keeping watch seriously, still found his attention drawn to the process.  Both out of curiosity and concern.  Years of military discipline was the only thing that kept him quiet, letting the work continue undisturbed.

Valik nodded his agreement to Vailin, "It will slow them, buy us time to recover, and for Goldmoon to share her version of the staff's tale. We'll be gone from here before they ever arrive to search the cave."

The story of Riverwind was a sad tale, certainly, but it was one that brought feelings that Valik was unsure how to describe. He still felt the strong bond, an urge to protect her, but there was also a feeling of...distance. It wasn't the right word, but he could think of no other to describe it better. The words she had sang held deeper meaning, he was certain, and he felt a shiver run through him as he thought of what deeper, darker omens they might portent.

"People being the embodiment of gods, it is the same among the ogrekin. In our recent history, at least. Some still hold to older beliefs." Valik said no more on the matter, as he felt it would reflect negatively on Goldmoon's stance. His people were quite different from hers, after all.

When Aelina set to work on the staff, and others grew quiet, Valik settled in next to Vailin. He knew there was no chance the Seekers would catch up to them so soon, so he took some time to study the sky and search for the missing constellations Arryon had spoken of. He tried not to pay close attention to Aelina's work. He trusted her, and he knew her to be good, but all of his experience with the arcane prior to her had been with some of the cruelest and most heinous of ogre magi. The power they could tap into was too great, too destructive, for mortals to possess.

The question of where to take the staff to next was one that weighed heavily on his mind. It was a question he did not have a solid answer to.

The bard cautiously took the staff and concentrated on it, singing in a low volume wordless tune all the while. This was always a difficult endeavor even in the best of circumstances and the staff felt... recalcitrant. Beads of sweat started to form on her brow as she intensified her magical probe, until she reached a point where she visibly whitened and stopped singing. At a lost for words for what had happened, she looked at the staff on her lap, wide eyed.

Finally she got a few swallows from her waterbag before being able to speak. "I am astonished, the staff is actually resisting me, I've never felt that before. It seems to have a powerful mind of its own, but I could glean some information from it. " She paused instinctively for dramatic effects, a result of her years training in the bardic arts. "Like we saw in the inn, it does heal, and create light, we might be able to use those abilities. That would need to be tested. But the most curious thing is that it seems to be dormant, waiting for the right person to wield it. I have no idea who that might be, but the staff seems to want to go east." After another pause, on  a whim, she tried to command the staff to create light.

Uttering the command word "Adinadiin," Aelina watched as the staff turned blue, revealing its crystalline form, azure light radiating from the tip and filling the cave they found themselves in.

Vailin watched with a look of concern on his face.  "I have only heard of sentient magic items in tales.  None of those ever had a good outcome.  We should take the staff to a group who can manage such a dangerous item.  I for one am not expert in these areas."

It hurt him to not suggest they immediately take it to the Seekers.  But his instincts told him this staff needed to be in responsible hands.  Despite their authority in the region, he worried what they might do with such an implement.

Ayrron watched with curiosity as Aelina used her magic to try determining the properties of the staff. He himself had some 'hands on' with magical items, but most of his skills were in regard to imitate magical abilities with items of 'magical' nature.

When she spoke of the staff resisting her, he smiled. "Astounding" he muttered, almost excitedly.

The kender then looked at Vailin at his comments. "You would give up this opertunity? He we stand, on the brink of an adventure, like the tales tell, and you would hand it over like a meal you don't want?" He crossed his arms. "No - i believe that Goldmoon and the staff found us. For the last 5 years we searched for a sign of clerics and healing magic, and when we returned with no hope, This woman finds us and needs help. She holds a item that holds magic - healing magic and that gifted by the gods of old and you would turn your back."

He looked at the other two, then Goldmoon. "You have a path now - the staff indicated to Aelina we should go east - and given it's magic is stronger with you, i believe you are the chosen to carry it" He then looks at Vailin.

"You speak of honor and truth, and when this lady needs help, you would turn and walk away? I will not - This is the stuff of legends, and even for a small part, i ould see where it leads.....This may be the key to bringing back the gods!"

He looked at Goldmoon. "I know i am small, and my race are usually portrayed poorly - but while this burden is yours to bare, i will help you." He crossed his arms and looked at the others. "What about you.....You wanna run and hide, or see what adventure this leads to?"

Vailin held his anger in check, purely through years of discipline.  "Do not speak to me of duty or honour.  I have served my. . .entire. . .life.  Who or what have you served other than your own thirst for adventure?"

"I propose we bring it to masters of magic, who understand the danger of such items and can manage it with years of wisdom and practice.  Servants of good.  You consider yourself mightier than them, more worthy to take on this task?  You are arrogant beyond measure sorcerer."

The kender looked at Vailin and couldn't help but smile a cheeky smile. "What's the matter Vail....Showing some cracks in your armor."

He placed his hands on his hips and tilted his head. "....You assume much there. Yes, i seek adventure but that is not all." Now his tone went serious. "Despite the fact our beliefs are different, what i believe is you underestimate yourself and your friends. I believe that things happen for a reason, that we forge our own path and no matter what we need to strive to better ourselves."

He reached into his pack and pulled out a journal. "Since i've known you, i have searched for a way to prove that i am more than the label of kender - that we all are. On my journey, i found my path or more it found me."

He dropped his arms and looked at Vailin. "I know you believe us running was wrong - i do not fault that. On the contrary, i admire your steadfast morale code - as stuffy as it can be at times, but you are a man of focus and duty. Yes, what i said was of frustration, and i apologies..." He shrugged. "...despite wanting to prove i am more than kender, i still do kender things like speaking before thinking."

He crossed his arms. "I do not consider myself mightier than anyone - i'm just a tinkerer, nor more worthy. But what i do know is that the staff found her for a reason, as did she find us. To want to abandon her to more strangers, a woman who is scared and alone. She does not know who to trust, yet she trusts US. I am not saying we should not seek help.....reckless, yes; stupid, no. But i believe that we are part of this, and we have to be careful."

The kender stepped closer to the man. "She may be the key to returning the gods to this land, and while i'm not a person of faith, i believe that everyone has a choice."  He sighed and turned around, replacing the journal, then turned back. "This is her staff, and i think she has a say on what to do. We can advise her but i think while it's hers, we can either protect an innocent woman, or walk away - and i'm not comfortable with the second option."

"Vailin speaks with wisdom and practicality, as always. I do not doubt your sense of duty and honor, Vailin. We are fortunate to have you as a friend. He said nothing of walking away, Arryon."

"It would be wise to have someone who knows more about such things have a look at the staff. Is it right? And is there even such a person? Those are harder questions to answer. Forces seek to claim it, but why? And at what cost? We did spend two years searching for signs of the gods, of true healing. We've found it now, in this woman and in her staff. Why we found it here, where our journey began, and not while we wandered the world, I do not know. But we have found it at last. If this is the sign that the gods are still here, that we are not alone, then good and evil may both come looking."

"But east? That is troubling. Back to Solace? To the tribal lands? Further, to the eastern peaks? All that lies beyond those is fetid swampland, and the waters of New Bay. Continue east long enough, across those waters and others, and you'll arrive in the ogre lands. Across the ports that I sailed in my search for divine, north and east were the source of endless rumors of armies and wars, people and ships going missing."

"If east in our way, we will have to choose first, north or south. South through mountains and forests, nearer to Haven, where Seekers hold their power, and where they prepare to wage war on elves and dwarvenkind. Or north, to open plains where we'll have no hope of avoiding those who come searching for the staff."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Mon 08 May 2023.

Vailin had paid little heed to Arryan's words as it was more of the same.  Did he even realise he was continuing to insult the warrior?  Probably not.

He nodded in appreciation to Valik at his more balanced and pragmatic words.

"Open plains would allow us to see our enemy coming.  It also reduces the risk of becoming entangled in other affairs.  These risks are ours to take, not innocent victims.  I would also prefer to avoid battle with the Seekers in their lands."

"But if we take the northern route we'd need mounts.  Being so exposed, we'd need to move quickly."

"But before that."  He looked to Aelina.  "Have you heard any tales of one who might guide us.  A powerful but goodly wizard or someone who might know of items like this.  Simply following the will of a sentient staff seems a little fool hardy."

Ayrron looked at Valik, then Vailin, and shrugged. Both he and Vailin had always been at odds in a way - his discipline and order had always been opposite to the sheer nature of kender, and though Ayrron was more levelheaded than his kin, he was still kender.

He sighed and shrugged. If we want to seek information on the staff, then we need to contact the tower of high sorcery....that would be the best bet. Scholars, wizards and experts are all there. Finding it will be difficult without them allowing us to come."

She looked at Aelina. "...luckily both myself and Aelina have been there, so we may have a little sway for audience."

Still in awe of the discoveries she had made with the staff, the half-elf was only half listening to the arguments on the way to go. Only when the tower she considered like her true home was mentioned that she lifted her head and took part. "I think Ayrron is right, if we want to seek advice, the Tower of high sorcery is the place to go. I know a white wizard I would trust with this, Merril Stonebrow. The problem is to find the tower, as she moves regularly.

OOC: I'm not giving you this information to influence which way you go one bit, but here's what you all know regarding the options which have been floated so far:

I've posted a map of region on Discord.  Refer to that map.

You're currently on the northwestern shore of Crystalmir Lake.

North

North lies the road to Haven, which loops around the Sentinel Peak mountains, then doubles back down south to Haven.  If you go past the road and keep going north, you enter the northern portion of the plains of Abanasinia.  This is also the direction in which Valik, Ayrron, and Goldmoon encountered the goblin party.

East

East is back towards Solace (initially) -- if you go past that, you're heading towards the Eastern Plains of Abanasinia, specifically to the Que-Kiri people and the Que-shu.  Beyond that is the Eastwall Mountain range, and a narrow strip of forest before you hit the coastline of the New Sea.

South

South lies the road to Gateway, and then on to New Ports.  If you head Southwest between Gateway and New Ports, you hit the Elven lands of Qualinesti.  Keep going southwest past Qualinesti, and you enter the Forest of Wayreth, where the Tower of High Sorcery is said to reside.

West

West and Southwest of your position lies Darken Wood.  It's rumoured to be cursed, and stories abound of people who have entered the Wood, never to exit again.  A straight line from Solace to Haven would pass right through the middle of Darken Wood.

"Are you able to determine where she might be with any degree of certainty?"  Vailin enquired.  "It sounds like the ideal place to go but not if we have no idea where to go.  If it's too hard I would say we head north like we were previously discussing."

Ayrron scratched his head and shrugged. "It isn't a issue of knowing, but more being welcome. People who look for it tend to go missing, or never find it - a defence of the mages and the tower put in place years ago....very interesting actually."

He looked at Aelina. The kender, though not one to have been here as long as the half elf, he had spent time at the tower.

He crossed his arms and sighed. "If I was to guess, I'd say the tower would most likely be west of here - its surrounded by a wodded area so a forest of some sort is my best guess."

The bard gave the staff back to Goldmoon, it was hers after all. She then looked outside quizzically. "The latest rumors I heard for the present tower location was that she was in Wayleth, pass Qualinestri. A very long walk indeed. But that information is old, they might have moved it again. They do like forests, and the closest is Darken... but its a shot in the dark, we might have as much chance finding it there than those archers of touching us on the lake in the middle of the night. And like Ayrron says, it depends on the defenses of the tower. I almost got killed by her the first time I chanced on her." Inside, she would be glad to go back to the place that gave her that first chance in life, but she didn't let it show.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Fri 12 May 2023.

Ayrron put the piece of metal, and removed a vial of what looked like black ink with a shimmering dust in it, as well as a book. "Well, whichever we way is a guess at this stage, but our main problem is people comiing for us. It's a good guess people will be sent out, but most people won't find us in the dark. In saying that, i don't want to be trapped in the morning, so i'd say lets move as far as we can tonight and make for a forest....we may lose them in there. then we can rest."

Vailin looked at Ayrron curiously.  "Plan has already been made to wait out the storm here and leave before first light.  Trying to navigate in darkness and a storm will only get us lost, injured or both.  I've seen many an officer lose good men to such a practice."

"Rest while you can, we're leaving early and we'll be moving fast."

Ayrron sighed and nodded....a part of him happy to rest the storm out, but part also eagre to be gone. "I guess your right - they'd be mad to try find us in this." He placed the ink, bag and book beside his pack and lay down. "Not the most comfortable of sleeping places, but i have to say - i've had worse."

He then lay down and with the small light cube, flicked through his book. "If anyones hungry, i have a few spare rations. Else, lets rest.."

The storm continued to rage outside the cave, wing and rain lashing across the surface of the lake.  Only a fool would be out on the water in this weather, or so the common wisdom held.

Vailin took the first watch, while the rest of you set up for another night away from your warm beds.  Ayrron shared his rations with Goldmoon, including several of the squashed sausages and flatbreads taken from The Inn of the Last Home, and a quiet meal was had, filled with contemplation.

What did it all mean?  Was the staff, which had performed the first sign of true healing they had ever seen, truly an artifact of the gods?  Where could they take it to find answers?  What did the missing constellations mean?

The night passed without issue or challenge.  The storm, which raged through the night until the early hours of the morning, probably had as much to do with that as anything else.

---

OOC: With this, you all take a long rest, and wake refreshed with the sunrise the following morning.  If there's anything you'd like to cover as part of the downtime during the rest, please feel free to post it here (in-character or out-of-character, as you prefer), and we'll handle any dice rolls which may be needed.  I'll start a new thread for in the morning.

With this long rest, you've all reached level 2.  I'll reach out to each of you independently to handle level progression matters.

Aelina spent her part of the watch alone with her thoughts. Knowing sounds ported far over water, she stayed silent, thinking of the implication of having found true healing in that staff. As a trained bard, she was not prone to think in terms of miracles or divine interventions, especially since it had been ages since the gods presence on the lands had been felt.

But that staff did throw a branch in the spokes of her logic. The sentience she brushed during her probe of the staff was unsettling, like that object knew what it was looking for. Ayrron was wrong, Goldmoon was not the intended recipient of that magic, the item would not want to move east otherwise. It was tempting to just follow the whim of the moment and the staff, but she was certain that Merril could help them. All she needed was to find the tower.

Only that.

With a sigh, she woke up the next person for the watch and settled in to rest as much as she could, wrapped in her cloak.

Morning came too fast and as she ate and brushed her hairs, she asked "Did the night bring counsel? We obviously can't stay here, the Seekers know we crossed the lake and will be sending their hounds after us, if they are not already doing that. The staff wants to go east, but I still think we should seek advice from the tower. The appearance of this staff is a watershed moment in history, and it needs to be treated as such. Either way, I'm not leaving it, there will be a lot to record for posterity on this event."

Ayrron spent a little time sleeping, but was up during the night, reading the book and muttering silently to himself as he worked with the strange shimmering ink and the small sack. He used a piece of char hole and paper almost like he was practicing, then used the ink and sack, slowly, methodically….you’d never seen him so focused or careful.

Dawn came and he sat there, his hair a mess of blonde, dried ink on his hand, but a huge smile on his face. He looked at Aelina and nodded. “I agree that we don’t leave it - long has this world be devoid of the gods….this may be the first step of their return. And with Goldmoon having the staff choosing her, I feel whatever the path, we need to follow.”

He tied the sack to his belt. “Council will help, but finding it will be hard. If we can get word, it might be easier, but until then, maybe your path is the wisest.”

Vailin was up before the first rays of sun had hit the horizon and he had the others up too.  As agreed they would leave before the sun crested the horizon.  They needed to be moving before first light.

When the discussion came up Vailin shrugged.  "Seeking counsel remains my course.  We should seek out this tower if you feel you are able.  If not, then we should head north and then east."

He ate a quick breakfast while packing his gear.  He had cleaned his armour and weapons before going to bed the night before as was his ritual.  "We must leave before the Seekers can come.  This is a logical place for them to look.  We must be on our way before the dawn touches the water."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Wed 17 May 2023.

Ayrron had his book and gear into the bag at his side Z(Which strangely looked the same despite the items). "Mage tower it is then." He put some of teh items from his near-overflowing pack into the bag, and shouldered his pack. "Lets go then."

He looked around to see if he dropped anything in the cave before leaving. As he walked towards the cave entrance, he reached into a pouch and pulled out a piece of jerky. "Huh....i thought i ate all that last week." He shrugged and tore a piece off as he walked.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:15, Wed 17 May 2023.

Decisions were always easier in the morning.  The cold light of dawn was just cresting over the eastern sky when the companions found themselves back in the boats, heading for the northwestern shore of Crystalmir Lake.

Upon reaching the shore, they quintet left the boats where they could be found by their owner eventually, and headed for the North Road.

OOC: I'll close this thread and start a new one for where we pick up.