So as it goes the items are being picked up I believe in the order that Dragonmistress posted from what he has watched be taken it looks like only the gold and ruby ring was taken by Logan before my pick comes around I think as well as the ring of evasion, by Brianna, so as far as I can tell the Amulet of Natural Armor +2 is still out as well as the Brass Mug set with Dark Green Jade so if they make it to me I will take them.

Cerric accepts the ioun stones and thanks Brianna for the gifts. He places them around his head and watches them spin. Looking to Vatta he smiles, and then laughs, placing his hands on his hips and striking a superman pose. "What do you think, yonder lady... ist thou impressed by my swirling stones?"

“Anybody have any objections to Vatta's choice of items,” hearing none, Brianna turns to her “They are all yours. Vatta use them well." Brianna gives a quick laughs at that.
“Thank you I will try.“ Vatta said and with the approval of the group takes the items offered her: Cloak of Arachnida, Hand Crossbow +2 (seeking, speed), Masterwork Thieves’ tools, Masterwork Climber’s kit and finally the Heyward Handy Haversack.

With these items she is content as she feels her contribution to the mission thus far was not as great as it could have been. She was not a warrior and though her bow could wreck some serious damage upon an adversary from a distance, her other skills were where she differed from the rest of the group. So far, her help was limited to being another combatant, something in which she was far from excelling. She would not say anything aloud but inside she felt she had not lived up to anyone’s expectations thus far.

Cerric accepts the ioun stones and thanks Brianna for the gifts. He places them around his head and watches them spin. Looking to Vatta he smiles, and then laughs, placing his hands on his hips and striking a superman pose. "What do you think, yonder lady... ist thou impressed by my swirling stones?"
Eyeing Cerric in the slightly ludicrous pose she laughs aloud, the laughter drifting on the air like musical notes, “Aye good sir, one could hardly be anything else but impressed by your visage.”

Highnar halfway up the stairs headed to his room, his mind elsewhere, realized the companions had yet to rent any. Turning once again to move down the stairs, his embarrassment now even worse, he made his way towards the bar where he ordered his first stout beer.
Her laughter dies as she spots Highnar come back down and heads directly to the bar where he begins drinking.

“Please excuse me Cerric,” she says turning back to the Priest, “I need to apologize to someone.”

Rising she leaves the table and heads over to the bar and slips onto a stool next to the dwarf, “Mind if I buy this round?” she asks looking at him a faint smile upon her lips.

(OOC: Response if any)

“I fear I need apologize for my laughter earlier,” she says to him softly, “it was wrong of me to find mirth in the appearance of you with the stone horse. What I did was wrong and the hurt I have apparently caused you was unpardonable and unconscionable and I beg your forgiveness.” She bowed her head to him waiting for his response, her sorrow at the pain she has caused him written upon her entire countenance.

The Aftermath of Eventide

(I will leave the choosing of loot to Q&A as I do not want to take up more time waiting for choices.)

Ashbenford is still in flux as residence of Eventide return home to stay and rebuild and others to gather their belongings and migrate to more settled areas. They saidthat since the Elven Court was deserted, that the Cormanthor Forest had become more dangerous.

By the afternoon the Innkeeper came to Cerric and told him rooms would be available tonight.

Now the adventurers were faced with the decision of what to do next. Other that Brianna’s search for a fable sword, that no one seem to know of, what they would do next was as yet undecided.

As Highnar sat drinking his ale he was slightly surprised when the lady Vatta asked.
“Mind if I buy this round?” she asks looking at him a faint smile upon her lips.

“Ahhh lass that be kind of ye as I be on my last swallow.”

“I fear I need apologize for my laughter earlier, it was wrong of me to find mirth in the appearance of you with the stone horse. What I did was wrong and the hurt I have apparently caused you was unpardonable and unconscionable and I beg your forgiveness.”

“Nay lass it’s okay I deserved the humor of the others and I hold no ill will to any, after all laughter some say is good for the soul. It’s just my lack of knowledge where magic is concerned that embarrasses me.
I should have known that Stone Horse was too big but I did not. Never fear lass I’ll be me same ole grumpy self when we be leav’in here, but I thanks ya for your concern.”

With a genuine smile of warmth Highnar returned to his mug of ale.

Brianna gathers up the things she had procured for Highnar but not sure they were all what he wanted. She walks over to where he sat Drinking. She had seen Vatta go over there a while ago so did not disturb them at this time. Moving over to the bar she leans over and whispers "Bartender two glasses of you best brandy or whatever you have that is hard and Make sure that there more if needed."

When the bartender returns it is with two stout full glasses of som thing like clear dark amber. "This is the stuff, but I warning you it is potent.

"I have some dwarven distillation that is pricy but one of the best I have had around her for a bit. Brianna waits until the bartender returns with two glasses of a dark amber hue but very clear other than the color.

Striding back through the tables her long legs carries swiftly through the maze of tables and patrons, back over to where Highnar sits nursing his ale she draws out and chair and sit. She holds out one of the stout glasses filled with the heady liquor.

"Best to do drinking with friends, Highnar, my good friend. So I have come to join you. The bartender says this is some of the best dwarven hard liquor he has had in a while. I think we need to check that out. What do you say, want to give it a try?"

And to give action to her words she takes a sip of the clear dark amber liquor (like Scotch Whiskey, well aged about 25+ years and mellow but very potent.)

Brianna was actually a more that ready to join Highnar in drinking bout It had be awhile since she had gotten drunk. Not since the Forbidden Isles. And right now she could use a night without the bad dreams. Amaterrana would know she did and forgive her. The Wanton would not care and the Warrioress would understand. And so she drank with Highnar matching him glass for glass and adding a couple more to catch up on what he had already consumed

(Happy 1000 to me)

Lorae leaves the others to drink and gathers up what has yet to be selected and stows it in her bag. She goes outside and finds Moon Dancer standing there.

"The liveryman is not going to be happyto find you out of your stall and gone."

The big silver-white stallion lowered his fine face into her hands, his forelock falling passed his nose. His nostril flared wide as he whuffled into her hands. One hands moved up to scratch him behind his ears. Soon the stallion was flapping his lips and wiggling his ears in comical look created by his intense pleasure.

"Seems to me that there is a sand wallow and bit up this side of the river. How about a good roll about?"

Soon both were striding down the road on the west side of the river to the place Lorae remembered from her first time at Ashbenford. Moon Dancer suddenly broke into a trot and
seemed to literally dive down into the sand beach created at the bend in the river.

He rolled and rolled in sheer delight and when he had burrowed his back into the sand he lay there, feet folded above his belly, waiting. Lorae pounced on him, holding her hands like claws she began to rub him all over his belly. When she had scratch every inch of his underside Moon Dancer slowly rolled down on his side and Lorae sat to rest on his shoulders. She rembered the last time before coming to this world, when she had allowed Moon Dancer a good roll, with her attendent massage. That was before she had meet, Jeril and Brianna and Dirk, and had gone to the Tower of a Wizard who turned out to be Brianna's father. Then that had been sent out to rescue a capture Elven Lord, who turned out to be the Elf that rescued Lorae for the life of a homeless orphan in a large human city. That same lord turned out to be the King of the Elves.

Taran. King Taran, who had, when they had last been together, spoke of his love for Lorae, loved her/him despite the curse that cause Lorae to change sexes. Her heart tightened and a tear was squeezed from an eye. Would he be still waiting, if, when she ever returned.

The tear dropped onto Moon Dancer's neck and the big stallion rolled up her head an eyed her with one big violet eye.

The sun was lowering in the west when Lorae brought Moon Dancer back to the livery stable.

The Half Drow came out as they returned. "I saw him let himself out. It is not often one finds a horse who can use a Knock spell."

"Moon Dancer has many talents," replied Lorae reaching into her pouch for some coins. "He has had a fine roll in the sand, here is for a extra good grooming."

She stroked the stallion long arched neck, and pointed at him to go with half Drow.

She then returned to the White Hart Inn and the others, no longer wanting to deal with old memories.

“Nay lass it’s okay I deserved the humor of the others and I hold no ill will to any, after all laughter some say is good for the soul. It’s just my lack of knowledge where magic is concerned that embarrasses me.
I should have known that Stone Horse was too big but I did not. Never fear lass I’ll be me same ole grumpy self when we be leav’in here, but I thanks ya for your concern.”
Vatta stood there a moment looking at the dwarf as he turned back to his mug, she merely nodded and turned and walked slowly out of the inn.

Outside she walked along the street looking at the people gathered here. She felt so out of place out here, part of a band of adventurers who strove to help these people and save them from an apparent invasion. She sighed and continued to walk till she reached the end of town where she could be alone. Normally, in a city when she felt a little out of sorts with people all around her, she would go down to the sewers and while alone she would deal with her thoughts. But Asbenford was only a town and didn’t have sewers like she was use to, so she contended herself with out here on the edge away from people.

She considered if this was the place for her, in this group. She seemed and felt so out of place around these relative strangers. Sure she had fought with them once but the battle had been brief and now that it was over, for now, she felt like she wasn’t part of the group. The others had been together for awhile it seemed and she felt like an outsider, something she was use to, and it made her wonder if she should continue with this party when they went on to their next mission.

She just stood there, outside of town and watched as the sun slowly approached the horizon. It would be dark soon, a time in which she felt safe and comfortable. She had much to think about, and while she didn’t know what she would decide, but she knew the future would tell.

After he makes his choice of items Xour will migrate towards the bar area where Highnar and Brianna are now drinking. Grabbing a stool near the two he grabs the bar tenders attention and at once orders a round for the three of them. Hey bar man could I get some drinks down here I need a pint of your best dwarven brew for myself and bring these two whatever it is they have been downing.
Then waiting for his brew to arrive he will raise his glass in a toast to his two friends. While we are here and have a moment of peace, which I must say Brianna seems to come few and far between since I joined with you, I would like to propose a toast of sorts, “To two new friends who have slightly corrupted this ranger by showing him there is more out there than hiding out in the woods, and that there can be some enlightenment to be found in the confusion and insanity that one calls city life.” He then puts the pint to his lips and in one fluid motion downs the contents of his pint. Putting down his glass he wipes his mouth with his left sleeve, and quickly orders up another round.

Xuor had joined them and she had a ready welcome for him a s he joined Highnar and herself. Highnar was a capital dwarf and totally lived up to Brinna's idea of the hard drinking tough as nails race she knew from her homelands--fully capable of holding his liquor regardless of how much he drank,. She match him tankard for tankard glass for glass until finally she knew she was done for the night.

She remember standing up and heading for upstairs " Good night all and one or two of you left. I am off for bed she got out not to slurred. We are moving on in the morning adn I hope you will join Lorae and I on our hunt for the possible trail of the Dark One. Just let us know tomorrow if you are planning on continuing with us. Highnar it has been a honor and a priv_lege, ori--vi-lege to fight along side you. Xuor you are very good with that bow of yours. You made those Orcs look like porcupines . Good fellows, both of you. Now I am......off to bed....by myself, thank you." and Brianna left the table fairly steadily and made her way to her room

In the morning Brianna found herself in her bed still dressed and could not remember how she got there exactly. Nor much about the last part of the evening. She knew she had gotten drunk, somethign she had not done in a long time a very long time. She hadn't had the time or the privilege of betting drunk. Brianna got up slowly her head pounded a bit was she rose to vertical supporting herself by the bed post.

There was a pitcher of water set in a basin on a small table in the room. Brianna poured it over her head. It was cool and helped her to clear her thoughts.

Brianna stripped out of her clothes form the day before and used the water now in the basin to freshen herself up. Dressing in a fresh set she tuck away all her things into her pack and went downstairs. Now knowing who or what she would find down there.

“Do you find the sunset more appealing than that of it’s rise?” Cerric Khalidran placed a comforting hand upon the shoulder of Vatta, hoping that he had not startled her, and assuming, that though she had not looked back to see his approach, that her keen ears would have sniffed him out from the mere sounds of a gurgling stream, and the chirp of birds that heralded the nightfall. “It is a paradox to me. Knowledge, is best seen in the light of day. It represents truth, in that the vision of my dull human eyes is obscured by the coming darkness. Therefore one would assume that a priest of Oghma would prefer the sunrise. I don’t.”

He let his voice settle into the wind, watching as the embers of the sun turned to coal, smouldering the horizon red and purple, long after the flaming sphere had been doused by the dividing line between land and sky. “There is no such beauty in the morning’s light. Those that say it is but a mirror image hold no merit in the pages of my past.”

Turning to face Vatta, he locked her into a gaze, his dark chestnut eyes attempting to discern the truth behind the almond features of her own stunning eyes. “Interesting people, these adventurers be, eh? I, myself, do not find much intrigue in the slaying of monsters, defending values that are variables of unrealistic paragon. Civility is only as tried and true as the current power instated. Even the gods are interchangeable… a fact that disheartens me in my search for understanding. I fear that one day even Oghma may turn his back on the science of his portfolio. Perhaps he may treasure his knowledge so dearly that he will no longer wish to share it. Then he will be no better than Cyric.” Cerric contemplated his words for a moment more, then gave off a boyish smirk, “That, of course… is quite the stretch, and I doubt I will live to see the day. Yet even knowing that one day this may come to fruition, against the very life I lead, making it dust as mouldy as the tombs of keeps long forgotten and crumbled to ruin…”

His voice trailed, and his eyes darkened, which would be quite noticeably different than the sky darkening to Vatta, seeing as her eyes were opportunistically unaffected by the lower level of light. “Such terrible thoughts… Perhaps I am a bit of an overbearing pragmatist.” Cerric chuckled, turning away from the elven ‘mercenary’, as his first conversation had decidedly made her in his mind, regardless of whether he knew the truth of the matter or not. Mercenary, after all, was not far from the truth anyhow. Really, just a branch off the limb, and the limb and branch were a part of the same tree. It was wholly in comparison.

“The sunset was truly beautiful. I am blessed by beauty these days.” His periphery shifted from the darkening sky, back to the elven maid, though he would not turn his head to affront the contact of her eyes. “It is as fortuitous as the pages I have written within my book of arcane.” By this, of course, he had meant his spell book, though the phrase had always struck him as odd. In fact, he was none to fond of the word spell. It sounded far too similar to mere text, as though it were a naughty little nuance, something he used to practice his accuracy. Though more often than not he used it to practice in the accuracy of others, and else-wises, pooling his soul into the cants of the divine, channelling the omniscient energies of the gods to determine the reality from the illusion. He hated gnomes… tricksters that often befouled the vision of the truth.

One minute Vatta had been watching as the sun approached the horizon, the next her keen hearing detected the approach of footsteps behind her. She did not turn but her ears listened and her mind accessed; the length of the stride, the heaviness of the step, even the rhythm of the gait. She smiled slightly as she recognized the Priest of Oghma’s steps behind her and her left hand slipped the dagger back into it’s hidden sheath, unseen by the person behind her.

“Do you find the sunset more appealing than that of it’s rise?” Cerric Khalidran said placing a comforting hand upon her shoulder.
“I do,” Vatta replied, “the night holds so much solace for one like me.” She didn’t elaborate upon what she meant by that simple statement. “The sunset and the coming night is like a rest after a long day’s work… very soothing.”

She turned to watch him and listened intently to what he said and although she didn’t understand some of the more eloquent words he used she was able to discern his meaning and nodded.

“Interesting people, these adventurers be, eh? I, myself, do not find much intrigue in the slaying of monsters, defending values that are variables of unrealistic paragon. Civility is only as tried and true as the current power instated. Even the gods are interchangeable…
“Yes.. I seldom work with others,” she said softly and he could see her shrug her shoulder slightly in the dimming light, “and I have little use for the gods.” She turned to look once more as the sun was disappearing beyond the horizon.

“Gods have so much power,” she continued in a tone that almost sounded as if she was talking to herself and not to a Priest, “yet they allow so many bad things to happen in the world. All these people dying, men, women children even, and the gods do nothing to stop it. So I hope you will forgive me Priest if I do not hold much faith in these -gods-” Her last word holding a hint of disdain in her tone.

“The sunset was truly beautiful. I am blessed by beauty these days.” His periphery shifted from the darkening sky, back to the elven maid, though he would not turn his head to affront the contact of her eyes. “It is as fortuitous as the pages I have written within my book of arcane.”
Vatta made a faint snorting sound as she shook her head, “All I have seen lately is death and suffering,” she said a hint of anguish in her voice, “I have seen all to much of it in my lifetime.”

She turned to look at him and then sighed, “Forgive me, I find myself at a crossroads. I must decide whether my services here will be of use to help anyone or whether it would be best if I left the group and journeyed alone.”

“I found my -assistance- in the battle was not very helpful,” she said sounding embarrassed, “the group would fair better with more warriors and less -mercenary- types like me.” She finished with a faint smirk which held a hint of pain in her fine elvin features.

"I am nothing but a thief and a killer," she said her voice barely audible as her chin sank almost to her chest.

OOC: A slight back post here
BIC:
When it was brought to their attention that afternoon that rooms would be avaiable that evening Xour would search out the correct person an obtain a small single just to have a place to splash down when he needed to.

Drinking himself into a partial stupor trying to keep up with Highnar when he finally feels like he can take no more he bids his friend a good night with a slap on the back that he almost misses with and sends Xour slightly staggering so with a large smile on his face he slurs a good night to any still left. Then taking stock of himself he striaghtens up and with a deep breath strolls at least without staggering to the room he had got for himself. Once inside he flops down onto the bed and without any fuss drops off to sleep.

Waking in the morning with only a slight pounding in his temples he rolls over and pours the contents of his water oitcher over his head to help wake himself up. Then standing and shaking the water from his hair like a canine would he sits down on the edge of his bed.Digging into his pack he produces a bone comb with it it carfully combs out his locks
Once he feels ready he goes down to the dining area to fetch himself some breakfast and see if anyone else is around.

Looking around it seems that only Brianna was down and looking for some breakfast. So he strolls over to her and asks if she would like company. Well it's good to see you have also survived a night of drinking with our bottemless friend. I don't know how well you feel but I am looking for just a light breakfast of some strong coffee and some bread and cheese. Maybe we could grab a table together and talk a moment about what comes next in this quest.
Xour leaves it at that as he grabs a couple of chairs and he holds one out for Brianna to sit, and if she does he will swing the other one around so the back faces the table and he will sit with his arms crossed across the top of the chair back and his chin resting on his arms. Waiting for a waitress so they can order and he and Brianna can talk.

Brianna smiled as Xuor joined her at the table. Sitting down with her long legs stretched out.

She sighs deeply, "It is not a simple tale even though I could sum it up in a few words."

"Quite simply Lorae and I are the last of a group searching for the fabled Sword of Truth that is the only weapon that can be used against the Dark One. Only I bet that does not help you much." she says with a slight smile and then her face quiets and becomes more serious.

"For ages the Sword of Truth has be sought in my world all the while the Dark One's power grew. He was once a man but through arcane arts and deals with the evil of all sorts, he became less and less a man. Powerful beyond motal man, twisted beyond belief, consorting with demons and devils and dragons of evil intent, and whomever else he could trick, cheat or deal with to gain more powers and abilities."

"Yes, indeed that is another thing. Lorae and I are not from this world we were in a fight with the Dark One for control of the Orb of all Dragon Kind. Had he gotten his hands on that he could command all dragons. By chance It came into our hands before he could get it. However before we could get away with it he found us and tried to take it from us. The battle rage, but he had all the advantage superior numbers, great magical power. We were but six against all he could summond to wrest the Orb form us. We fought with desperation, but were losing. Several of us were down, and very shortly he would have taken it from us." Brianna paused the scenes of the furious battle between their small number and the Dark One and his forces were forever etched in her mind.

"I then did the only thing I could think off to deny him the Orb. I destroyed it. From that destruction a great vortex arose. We were all swept up into it. I think the Dark One was too, but we have no way of knowing for sure. When we came to ourselves again we were here, in this world which is not ours in a great old forest. It actually was not far form this place to be exact. About a day or so from Ashebenford. Three of my companions died before we could help them. They may have been dead already before we got swept up. Three lived. Lorae, My friend Jerrel and myself, oh, and Flame too, my dragonette and Shadowbane my horse I stole from the Death Knight the the Dark One had summons to fight us."

"Since then we set out to look for signs of the Dark One. If he is here he well make himself known by his acts. We also are looking for the Sword of Truth as well. It is prophesied in my world that a group will find the Sword of Truth and free our world of the Dark One.."

"Only we are here and he may be too and we are still dedicated to trying to find the Sword, then find the Dark One though it might be necessary to find a way home to do that."

"Not a simple tale at all" Brianna concludes, falling silent.

After the two are seated and comfortable Xour will order himself some strong coffee and whatever Brianna wants then the ranger settles in to listen to the fantastic tale that this warrior woman had to tell.
He listens intently as she talks about an evil so great as to be almost unconceivable. He listens as she tells him that she is not from his world and about a great battle fought against this evil and the destruction of what must have been a great artifact of magic and how it's destruction had brought her and her friend into his world and possibly even the great evil she had been battling at the time.

Xour had often heard that there where other worlds besides his own and had often wondered what these worlds might be like, and now he meets someone from one of these worlds and finds out it doesn't seem to different than his own. The same battle of the good against those of evil seems to be a constant.

He can see in this woman an obvious sadness for the friends she has lost in this battle against this dark one but he can also see a quite determination to make sure this evil is stamped out no matter which world it now resides in. As he listens to her talk he can almost feel the great sacrifices she has made in order to try and stop this evil from spreading and to Xour there could be no greater quest one could set themselves on. So even before her tale is complete he has made up his mind as to what he would do next, and when Brianna is finished with her tale Xour will speak his mind to her and let her know how he feels.

I must first tell you my lady that the sacrifices you have had to make in order to pursue this quest has almost left me speechless, I do not believe I have ever met one whose convictions where so strong and whose willingness to do what must be done in order to do what is right could not be shaken. There are many who start out strong but when the time comes for real sacrifice falter in their convictions. Then looking across at her he reaches out and taking her hand in his he looks her in the eyes
So here and now I Xour make this vow to you, as long as there is life in these limbs, breath in this body, and strength in these arms I will stand at your side, I will watch your back, I shall accompany you to the ends of this world or any other to help put this evil to rest Then while still looking at her he says in a more subdued manner That is if you will have me.
Xour then lets go of her hand and feeling just slightly uncomfortable at his release of emotion grabs his cup and finishes his coffee as he waits for a response from Brianna.