'So here and now did Xour make this vow to join with Brinna and Lorae to SDeek the Dark One, in his own words for "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 Brianna's 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.

Maybe it was the tingling that caused the sudden withdrawl of his hand, and as he lifts his hand to drink from his cup, he notices a green glow eminated from both his hand and suffuse up his arm and throughout his body, and even though he could not see the green glow that flushed from his skin under his clothing, he felt a warm comforting presence sweep through him.

A voice fills his being.

CHILD OF NATURE, FOR YOU THE GIFT OF THE SENSES AND AGILITES OF ANIMAL KIND TO AID YOU. (+10 TO Spot, Listen, Smell, Taste and Touch, and + 10 to jump, climb, and balance; also +6 to DEX.)

Cerric had delved deeper than he would have preferred. It was not his intentions to make Vatta uncomfortable. She seemed genuinly distressed by her purpose. For him it was so clear, he knew that knowledge was his path in life. However, this was an aggravation to any that could not see that far into their future. Perhaps it helped that he was a bit of a diviner then.

Gently, as Vatta pushed her chin down towards her chest, he placed two fingers underneath it, and pulled her gaze from the ground back into his warm brown eyes. "Our lives are never defined in such meagre ways. Even if you were but a killer and a thief, which I cannot believe to be true, what you feel you are, what you pray to be, it cannot be revoked by the weakness of mortality. If we were gods we may do all that we want, be what we believe in at all times, because we are not bound by life, and in intricacies. We worry, we fear, and contradict ourselves, we lie, and then we say we are true, but we lie more still."

Moving his hand fron her chin, so that his fingers could rest gently upon the back of her neck, he continued, "Perhaps we are here in this moment for a reason. You made me a promise, to protect me, something completely unselfish, and it was no lie. Not only that, you gave to me, which discredits you as a thief, who gives nothing for free. We are all killers now, but strike yourself breathless at the realization that we are also saviours. We saved lives, and ended a war that could have been bloodier by far. Only those living can become righteous, so those that die in our wake are the stones upon the road to our salvation."

Gently, as Vatta pushed her chin down towards her chest, he placed two fingers underneath it, and pulled her gaze from the ground back into his warm brown eyes. "Our lives are never defined in such meagre ways. Even if you were but a killer and a thief, which I cannot believe to be true, what you feel you are, what you pray to be, it cannot be revoked by the weakness of mortality. If we were gods we may do all that we want, be what we believe in at all times, because we are not bound by life, and in intricacies. We worry, we fear, and contradict ourselves, we lie, and then we say we are true, but we lie more still."

Moving his hand fron her chin, so that his fingers could rest gently upon the back of her neck, he continued, "Perhaps we are here in this moment for a reason. You made me a promise, to protect me, something completely unselfish, and it was no lie. Not only that, you gave to me, which discredits you as a thief, who gives nothing for free. We are all killers now, but strike yourself breathless at the realization that we are also saviours. We saved lives, and ended a war that could have been bloodier by far. Only those living can become righteous, so those that die in our wake are the stones upon the road to our salvation."
As Cerric’s fingertips raised her chin up to look at him, Vatta’s amber colored orbs locked with his brown ones. He could see moisture gathered at the corners as they filled with strong emotions. She blinked more rapidly trying to hold back the tears that threatened to flow freely as he talked to her of worries, fears, and promises. As he continued talking about her unselfish feelings in promises she made to protect him, then a complete stranger; he could see much doubt buried in her almond shaped stare.

As he finished his oration he saw something he had said made a change come over her visage; yet as his fingers gently rested upon the back of her slim neck it was not a look of understanding and acceptance that he would have thought. No, it was a look of anger and with a sharp slap her hand came up and batted his arm away from her and she took a single step back. A fierce rage came upon her even though her eyes still filled with the threat of tears.

“Saviors?” she asked incredulously, “there is nothing about me that remotely resembles a savior.” Leaning slightly forward she kept her gaze locked on his; much like a lion staring down it’s prey.

“You think I am not a killer?,” she asked shaking her head slowly, “you know nothing about me. I who have killed people for gold. I who would have killed you if someone had paid me enough. It is easy for you to say these things when you have only seen a side of me that I wish to present for your appraisal. I don’t need your flowery words to tell me what I am.” Behind all the blind rage she seemed to be presenting, he could see the struggle within her to hold back a flood of tears that threatened to overwhelm her.

“You don’t know anything about the world, Priest,” she says, her voice cracking a bit as she tried to pull back her rage, “except what you have read in books.”

“There is a dark side to all of us,” she says whirling away from him, “I pray one day you will not have to confront your inner demons… and then have to live with the choices you had to make.”

She quickens her pace and heads off away from him, off into the rapidly growing darkness of the coming night.

As Xour removed his hand from Briannas and reached for his cup of coffee he could not help but notice that his skin seemed to start to take on a green sheen that was glowing at first he was concerned what the heck he started to think then suddenly he heard words being spoken and he felt a very warm comfortable presence overtake him. It seemed as he looked around that only he could hear the words being spoken to him

A voice fills his being.

CHILD OF NATURE, FOR YOU THE GIFT OF THE SENSES AND AGILITES OF ANIMAL KIND TO AID YOU. (+10 TO Spot, Listen, Smell, Taste and Touch, and + 10 to jump, climb, and balance; also +6 to DEX.)

At first he is slightly stunned at what had just happened, but the one thing he could not deny was that all of a sudden he felt different, it was like the world had suddenly come alive around him. He looks over at Brianna to see if she was aware of anything that had just transpired. He also wondered if his oath to aide Brianna had been accepted for this is what he thought, but he had not heard Brianna say anything. He makes up his mind at that moment however that is how he was going to proceed for he could think of no other reason for what had transpired. So he looks up at Brianna and speaks,
Well then what do you think our next move should be, do you or your friend have any idea where we should be looking for this sword ?

Lorae goes about to inform the members of the group of a meeting in the afternoon, so that a decision could be made as to their next direction and plans prepared for leaving Ashbenford.

Lorae finds a table and orders a pitcher of the best ale in the house and enough mugs for all of them. She waits with the High Councilor Haresk Malorn of Ashbenford for each to appear.

Brinna turns to Xuor, "I am glad you are coming with us." WE will keep searching for signs of his presence. He disrupts and creates confusion and disaster around him. He desires power and more the more power he has he uses to turn himself in something than and more on the level of a demi-god. He is the big evil behind other littler evils."

"I hope the others also decide to come along with us. We all worked well together. But if they can't, they can't." She says simply.

"I need to got out and check on the new shine here to Amaterrana. The first in this land. It has been awhile since I had a chance to be in one of her shrines."

"Amaterrana has guided my footsteps so far, whether I liked the direction she choose for me or not. I owe her my worship and a tithe. If you see Lorae or any of the others tell them I will return by lunch, though after worship you will find me outside practicing most likely until then.

Brianna rises and strides out as if everything was normal.

Outside she nods to Cerric standing on the inn porch gazing out, though at what she could not see.

"Fine day to you Master Cerric, A good day to give thanks for life and a chance to live it. I am going to the shrine of Amaterrana to give thanks." Brianna's smile is bright and genuine. There is little artifice in the young woman. You would know if she was happy or sad, angry or serene. There were no hidden emotions in her.

Brianna then sprang off the porch without recourse to using the steps and continue her stride without a misstep. Her long legs carry quickly out of the court yard of the inn into the town itself. A bright red flash joined her quickly settling on her shoulder. The diminutive dragonette called Flame.

From across the yard you could see Brianna tipped her head to listen to Flames chatter and laughed. before she turn out of the gate and disappears from sight.

With Brianna's reply to him Xour is now sure his offer of help has been accepted.Brianna say's she is going to go check on a new shrine to be found here. She calls it Amaterrana. She then leaves Xour with these words ""Amaterrana has guided my footsteps so far, whether I liked the direction she choose for me or not. I owe her my worship and a tithe. If you see Lorae or any of the others tell them I will return by lunch." Though after worship you will find me outside practicing most likely until then."
So it seems she wants them all to gather back here at lunch to hopefully determine their next move.So while Brianna is out visiting the shrine Xour will take the morning time to stroll the city streets and ask around he is looking for anyone who might know where he might find a fletcher who might be skilled in the making of arrows also any weapons shops that might specilize in exotic and or magical weapons, or maybe even someone who might be able to enchant some of the finely crafted arrows he already has.Mainly he is looking for new and different types of arrows to use with his beloved bow Beauty.He will also if available purchase a second belt pouch to wear it also seems from his carried items that he is carrying 1 dagger if he can he would like to purchase a second one while out. One more thing it seems no matter how hard I look it seems Xour has been traveling without any water skins so may I please but 2 of them.

If he can get any leads to such he will seek out these places and hopefully barter with the owners. ( If any such things are avaiable here please let me know what they are where they are and how much they are and I will see if I can afford such things and play out there purchases.)

When he is finished in the city he returns to the inn and back to the room he had rented where he assembles all of his stuff, reorganizes his backpack and his belt pouches.
In his backpack he will pack winter blanket, climbers kit, healing kit, whetstone, componet bag, 1 weeks rations, canvas 1 sq.yard, 20 extra arrow heads, and 4 cure light wounds potions. In the belt pouch he wears on his right side he packs 1 cure light wounds potion, 3 fish hooks, 20 ft fishing line, signal whistle, sling. In belt pouch on his left side he carries 1 cure light wounds potion, sewing needle, spool silk thread, flint & steel, 20 sling stones. he would like to strap the two daggers one one the inside of each boot.He will wear one water skin on his hip and put the second in his pack. The rest of his stuff is pretty self expanitory as to where he would be carrying it.Any questions please don't hesitate to ask him.

Once he feels he is prepared to travel and won't be needing the room any more he exits and heads down to the dinning area of the inn to wait for Brianna's return. While he waits he will order himself up a pint of dwarven ale and once it arrives he will pour it into his nice new bronze cup with the large emrald, his new drinking cup. With ale in hand he will sit and wait for the others to arrive.

Xuor finds most of the things he needs. Given the recent battle the half-elf fletcher is low on armor piercing arrows. She has a half dozen signal arrows(whistlers), and 2 dozen razor sharp hunting arrows one for birds and one for large game.

It seem Xuor's wolf cause little trouble, as if the people are used to seeing such in their town. There is a certain amoung to hustle a bustle and small groups of townspeople pausing to speak with friend and acquaintances. The subject of their conversations was the growing concern about what was happening in the Cormanthor Forest which was threatining the Dale Lands.

As Xour sits in the inn nursing his drink the morning and then part of the afternoon passes by. It seems that for the moment things in this city they found themselves in where passing by on a rather easy pace as those around them went on about their daily business. As he sat and watched the world slowly passing by he realized he was getting hungry so he flags down the passing bar maid and asks her about lunch.
My dear lady could you be so kind as to tell me what is smelling so wonderfull comming from your kitchen and making this ones stomach growl.
He listens as the bar maid tells him what the chef is preparing for the noon meal and when she is finished Xour will make an order for whatever the bar maid says is the best meal on tap for that afternoon.He also orders up another dwarven ale to go with his food and once all has arrived will eat his food with the gusto of a starving man not realizing how or why he was so hungry.

After his meal now with his third ale in hand and no sign of any of his fellow travelers he peers around the inn to see if it was possable for him to recognize any of the few faces that sat around the inn now from the previous night.What he was looking for would be a regular someone from the city who comes in and spends time here, he was hoping to maybe strike up a conversation with such a person if for no other reason than for conversation but maybe also to see if he could find out about anything that might be happening or has happened recently that seemed out of the ordinary, outside of course the recent Orc attacks, or even maybe someones elses input on why they think the Orcs have been attacking.

Using his keen powers of observation he spies a slightly older gentalman sitting alone at a table that looked like it was out of place or had been moved to accomodate the mans want to be near a window.This made Xour believe that this man came here often enough to have his own table.So flagging down the barmaid once again he inquires to what the man is drinking and then orders one up.Then with his ale and a drink for the man he ambles over to the table and makes his pitch to get himself a seat.

Excuse me good sir, my name is Xour and having been abandoned by my traveling companions for the day I am just looking for some good conversation about this fine city and you my good sir look like a man who is a storehouse of information about his city.I took the liberty of ordering you a drink in the hopes I might sit a spell with you.
he sets the mans drink down near him so he can see what it is and with a slight bow towards the gentalman waits for an answer.

Xuor finds the availability of arrows limited, as the recent battle used up the stores of arrows. But he is able to fing some different hunting arrows and some sisgnal arrows. Back at the inn the bar maid is quite willing to come serve him, Xuor's handsome looks is more than enought to catch her attenetion.

Using his keen powers of observation he spies a slightly older gentalman sitting alone at a table that looked like it was out of place or had been moved to accomodate the man's wanting to be near a window. This made Xour believe that this man came here often enough to have his own table.So flagging down the barmaid once again he inquires to what the man is drinking and then orders one up. Then with his ale and a drink for the man he ambles over to the table and makes his pitch to get himself a seat.

"Excuse me good sir, my name is Xour and having been abandoned by my traveling companions for the day I am just looking for some good conversation about this fine city and you my good sir look like a man who is a storehouse of information about his city. I took the liberty of ordering you a drink in the hopes I might sit a spell with you."

He sets the man's drink down near him so he can see what it is and with a slight bow towards the gentleman waits for an answer.

"Well, sit yourself down, Ranger, my name is Jadar" says the man in a pleasant voice. "I've lived here a bit, I came here when I retired, but I know a few stories and some hitory. Just what sort of information are you looking for?" There is a keen look from the man, his gray eyes leveled at Xuor, sizing him up.

What Xuor sees, now closer to him and not having the glare from the window affect his view, was a man of later years hair almost silver from age, He had a well kept body, of someone who kept fit despite his age. By dress he could be any of the townfolk, except that at his side was an exceptionally fine looking lonsword.

Brianna nods to Xuor after she explained to him about what quest she and Lorae wer on. His request to join them on it made her feel good. It sort of made up for losing Highnar. The good fighting dwarf explained, last night that he had another obligation to fulfill before her was free to pursue another Highnar.

Just to let you know Highnar has already left Ashbenford. He told me last night he had a task to fulfill before he was free to pursue his own interest. We are planning to take one more day more off before we hit the road. I will find out whether the Cerric or Vatta will continue on with us or not.

Brinna goes outside in the direction Cerric had gone out.

Cerric stood on the inn steps he was looking out.

"Good Morning Cerric." Brianna's cheerful voice fills the porch where Cerric is standing staring after the departing figure of Vatta. "I have just come to you to find out id you want to continue on with our group, that is Lorae and I. Unfortunately, we've lost Highnar. He said he had something to finish up first before he was free. Xuor though is planning to continue on just wondered what you are planning on. No rush though we are not leaving until tomorrow. I daresay we can all use a day off. You can let me know or Lorae."

"Now have you seen Vatta about. if not I need to find with her and explain things to her as well."

Logan finds it a easy walk the the Riders' Barracks, where they hada taken the goblin he had captured. Inside he finds a group that had just come in of a patrol. It took about 10 minutes to give their report and then the man at the desk, turns to him.

"Can I halp you?"

Logan makes himself known and the reason he is here.

"Sorry," said the man with a shake of his head, "it was a good thought in taking him, but the little bugger did not know anything except that they were gathered together to attack the village."

"I do want to personally thank you for what you and your friends did. I had relatives in Evenside. and they are alive because of your warning."

"Say I'm off in an hour, why don't I treat you to a drink at the White Hart Inn."

Brianna returns to the inn after having the horse prepared. Cerric was out on the porch of the inn but Vatta was nowhere in sight. He seemed to be deep in thought and did not reply to her when she spoke to him. Brianna shrugs and moves on to the stables to see that the horses for herself, Xuor, and Lorae are readied.

Brianna saddles and bridles Shadowbane and Autumn Sky and leads them out o f hte stable and ties them at the front of the inn. She gave the inkeeper a nice tip for his services.

"Thank ye, my Lady," the stableman pockets his tip with a quick flick of his wrist..

"Brinna gives the man a quick smile "My name is Brianna and I am not a Lady. I am an Amazon."

Returning into the inn she spots Xuor sitting down with another man.

"May I join you?" she asks out of courtesy as she strides up. Though she really expects to be invited to join in she slicks out a chair to sit down on.

Hello My name is Brianna Stormrider. Xuor and I are traveling together with some others."

Before he even gets a chance to speak to the man at the table Xour see's Brianna return to the inn so he quickly gets up and waves her over, turning back to the man well well it seems that one of my traveling companions has returned
As she reaches the table Brianna introduces herself before Xour could so he sits himself back down as she takes a chair at the table with them. I was just about to speak with this gentleman here about this here city and it's surroundings, seems he has settled here a short time ago after some traveling of his own.
Then turning his gaze back to the man Well sir I was at first wondering if you had heard anything about who or what might be behind these recent Orc and goblin attacks on the fair cities in this regeion. before he goes on with any more questions he first looks to Brianna to see if she seems to have any problems with his questioning for at this point he doesn't know how secretive she has been or wants to be about what it is she is seeking here, and he doesn't want to cause any conflict in her plans. If she does not seem to give him any kind of frown or other disapproving look he will continue with his questions.

Vatta had stormed off from Cerric leaving him standing there his mouth agape at what to say to her. He had not followed or called after her and she had walked off until she was alone. After about half an hour she had composed herself and returned to the Inn, walking in she went to the bar and ordered a glass of Elvin spring wine and downed half the glass in a gulp.

Looking about the inn she spots Brianna and Xuor sitting at a table talking to a unfamiliar man, she stays at the bar not wishing to interrupt their conversation. She is glad that Cerric is not present in the room, she was through trying to explain things to him. He seemed to have a compulsion to try and ‘save’ her, from what she didn’t know.

She knew who she was and she wasn’t proud of the things she had done in the past, but she was not wholly evil. She often did things to help people, but she had killed and for money. Life was something that was fleeting and often she had helped to speed some peoples lives along to their end. She liked to think that the ones she had killed had all been evil men and deserved to die, but in the end she figured she would find out the truth of it if there was an afterlife as so many others believed.

She sat drinking her wine, trying to forget her earlier confrontation with the Priest. She was who she was and if the party could accept that then she would probably continue to travel with them, if not then she would part company if that was their desire.

(Was waiting on Philo to post but apparently his absence is of a considerable duration, so I have bypassed his response and moved on.)