Pathwalker - RP

[Ben]

Abell,  mounted on her beast-steed, whom she had apperantly named Moopo rode slowly on her steed so as to stay within earshot of the group

"You must all forgive my bad....words. My study of your language is from book. When we meet Gromland cheif, he will tell you, in better tounge, the details of this land."

The march went on into the night skies that seemed to merge with the horizon

"This land...the west....and people...."Abell seemed again to be searching for words "Upright beings dont walk the daylight here. Most stay in Underdarks. On account of the Flying Demons...And the Illithyd"

And uncomfortable silence fell on the group and the young sprite choked slightly over the beginning of the question
"Abell, what are....Illithyd? If you dont mind"

"Illithyd are to many a legend here. But some have seen them. They called 'mindflayers' in other tounges. In legend, they Humanid beast. walk upright.....But here.....they not. They walk with body like a bear, but as big as house of Man. And their heads inside of body.....Where neck is, there many tentacles....And they get inside of preys minds....and eat souls. they lick you with mental tounges, and they slowly take over your being, or they make you near dead, and eat you living."


Abell could tell that this conversation was bringing unease to the group, so she decided only to divulge information when asked.


Still weary to speak, Abell informed the group that Gromland was in the mountain looming to the groups 12'o'clock, and that it was an hours trek away.





OOC: Abell. Sorry, I was writing a letter to my sister, whos name is Adelle....cognitive mix-up. Also, When we get to Gromland, If its allright, Id like to Play the Gnome leaders character....nothing pivotal, but its essential to the development of abelles character, if its allright.

[Kinslayer]

Mindflayers...?

Anyan soon became interested in the Illithyds.

He soon remembered an old paper, from Delliah's writings and studies from the Temple of the Gods.

"The Illithyds..." would Delliah say to Anyan, while they were looking at those books: "... are horrible beings whom are told to read and control minds, with psychic abilities. They are really ancient creatures, really wise, and they are supossedly extint..."

Anyan then understood something that had been troubling him all along...

The dark sprite's dead-like eyes... those men they had to fight along with the winged creatures... could they be under some mind control...?

The group had walked a long road, and they were reaching the mountain.

Abell was ahead, riding that strange creature which accompanied her. Beside her was Ragnar, perhaps asking stuff about the terrain, always cheerful.

Behid them, Liara, walking slowly and calm, with Alziel beside her. Saine was at the right of them, watching them over. Anyan was on the back, but he would walk to the front and to the back again, searching for hostile signs.

Also, he was thinking about the connection between the Illithyds and the warriors. He would ask Abell later on about that, he wanted to settle down a little bit.

Too many things had happened suddenly.

[Moosetroop11]

Liara was still thinking of how to speak to Abell. The sprite's confidence arose from her beauty- it sounded shallow to her even as she thought it- but she found it more difficult to interact with women who didn't find her attractive.

Liara lifted her small, sprite crafted boot out of the dirt again and felt her ankle burn. She wasn't accustomed to walking great distances either, although this was something she would never complain about. she knew Alziel had held doubts about her suitability for the contest. She had been enough of a hindrance already.

Eventually, Liara quickened her pace and leveled with Abell's creature. She had to get on friendly terms with the woman if she was going to travel for any period of time with her.

"Are there more people like you here?" she asked, "or just gnomes?"

[Ben]

 "In this land, there few like me. There Elves....And there Demonic Races....but two rarely mix"


Liara felt akward at the response

"I outcast, but not on bad terms with many here" Abell continued "I am....Trader? Many fear overworld travel here. I run letters and spices and jewels here, twice a year, between Gromland, and 3 other town, All bordering Underdark Caves. It good Pay. Lucrative. But Abell misses having friend with her"

[Moosetroop11]

Liara felt even more awkward at that last remark, but felt that the woman was expecting her to respond. She was confident that she already knew the answer.
"...what happened to your friend?"

[Ben]

"My friend was my Master. A human Man Raised me, and taught me the ways of the land. He was what you call hermit. But also he very powerful Psionic Mage"

Abell turned to meet eyes with Liara

"Illithyds Kill him 3 years ago. His Name Huxley. Huxley was good man."

[Kinslayer]

The mountain was in front of the group now, as they had reached their destination while speaking.

Anyan stared to the enormous mountain over and over, and wondered about what Abell had told them before...

"I can show you a town...it hidden, but not far. It small town. A hamlet. But there you can buy maps, and provisons...it town of gnomes....but one there, he speak your tounge fluent..." had Abell said before...

There, Anyan could buy a map. He hadn't forgotten about the task...

How could he pay for a map...? He had no money. Selling the Leddwick's Viper was totally out of discussion for him...

He remembered his little hunting dagger, which he had saved with him.

It was a bit expensive, since it was given to him by his former Master, Broadsword, when Anyan became a Knight...

"It's small but useful. Even though it may not be a really strong weapon, it's metal is really precious, and can be of use sometimes..." said Broadsword at those past days...

Anyan would exchange the dagger for a map...  But still he needed to be sure of how rare that metal was.

Suddenly, Anyan heard Liara's and Abell's talk. Abell had lost her Master as well. Anyan soon remembered the fight against the almost invincible Broadsword...

How Anyan was almost beaten, but yet could manage to hurt his former Master, who died posoned by the Viper.

Though Broadsword had become blind of power, and had sold his soul to the King, Anyan still felt sorry for him. And also sad, for having to kill him...

He didn't agree with Broadswrod, but still, respected him as his Master, as a wiseman and as a genious on the battlefield.

He didn't want to enter that conversation, he only stood still and asked Abell...

"So... now which path are we taking? I don't see a cavern right here..."

[Ben]

"Before I tell you, There thing you should know.


Your Daggers....Cloaks...even forks and spoons... All made of foreign metal. Let not the Gnomes undersell you. You have treasures to them.

And gnome ruthless barterers.

I will bring you to door, and introduce you to the gate keepers. Then I must tend to beast. I will join with you later, before you decide your path, and then I will leave you. Cheif of Gromland very friendly, but very eccentric."

Abell shuffled in a fold of her cloak, and dropped three glowing throwing daggers, and a handfull of Cutlery from the east. And a wet, matted piece of parchment. All of Montys Provisons that Abell could fit in her cloak.

"Abell find this on another like you. Abell see him travel with you. Abell was going to sell it, but feels bad. You take this, and buy provisons. Medicine."



OOC: I swear, Im nopt trying to dominate the RP. Abell just has alot going on right now.

[Moosetroop11]

Liara felt a sharp pang of sadness strike her as she realised who's items these had been. Aside form her outburst shortly after his disappearance, she had tried to forget Monty as soon as possible and move away from the battlefield and that terrible fort. But he had been a good man, and had spoken with kindness- on the boat and in the fort battle he had fought to protect her.

Her mind wandered back to a chilly morning aboard a boat, where a drowned rat of a man had been clinging to the side. Then she had laughed a little and helped him up. His eyes... had been so full of untold secrets. Secrets that would now never be told.

"So he really is dead..." she sat down on the ground and stared back at the horizon mournfully. Alziel crouched beside her.

"Could we have saved him?"

[Ben]

"He could not live. They Clawed him....He lay in suffer. He killed the Kh'ala-ad that wounded him. And  I found him waiting to die. I hastened hisdeparture...

there is more. But Abell dont burden you with it until after you meet gromland cheif.

Abell use psionic on him. Abell see his eyes, and mind. This why Abell help you. Abell explain later"

[Kinslayer]

"There was nothing we could do..." said Anyan. He understood Liara's pain and sadness... as he had lost too much in his life. Though, he had learned how to struggle against those losses.


Or so Anyan thought...

"Monty died as a warrior, with honor... truly a pity, it is." he said. Nor he didn't want to speak much.

Though Monty had an unfinished fight with his old friend Ragnar, Anyan had learned to consider Montclair as a friend, and partner in arms.

"He left all of him at that fortress and made it possible for us to survive. I'll remember him with pride." said Anyan.

He caught the eye of Ragnar. Anyan knew that the old man wanted to repair the loss of Monty's horse, but it was not possible...

"If we don't move on, we won't be able to keep going. Monty was a good companion, and I know he wouldn't want us to be like this. Let's go into that town..." said Anyan finally.

He had mourned too many people, yet another one had fallen.

"If I was there... perhaps the Soul Exchange would have worked.. no, it only works under a special circumstance... I would have received 'The Call'..." thought Anyan.

[Emerates]

Saine evaluated the circumstances as they walked.

The word 'gnomes' rolled over in his mind.  Generally speaking, the gnomes and dwarves he had encountered in his travels had been short.  If these people lived underground... it could be a bit uncomfortable for humans and taller people.  Accomodations may be there, but would there be room for the whole group?  How often did different races interact with each other?  If they corresponded and mingled regularly, there would surely be at least one place for them to stay comfortably.  If they were isolated, their stay may become much more crowded.

Saine watched as Abell handed the late Monty's items to Anyan and said something about selling them.  Saine walked toward Anyan slowly and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me Anyan, but I was wondering if I may have one of Monty's daggers?  As a momento."  Anyan considered for a moment, then handed Saine one of the daggers.

"If it helps you remember, I suppose," he said.  Saine nodded his thanks and examined the dagger, before sliding it into his belt.

Abell dismounted her beast-steed and the group continued again on the path up the mountain.  About ten minutes later, they arrived at the crest of a small valley leading down to a massive iron door.  Gromland, Saine thought to himself.

[Ben]

"Gromlands gate sealed to those who not on business. But I said before, I trade with Gromland. You are Guest with me. I will introduce you to guards, and they will bring you to Gromland." Abell informed

Anyan gave a confused look Abell's way and couldnt help but ask
"Arent we at Gromland?"

"Gromland name of Village. Gromland name of Cheif. Gnome customs......unorthodox"

Abell dismounted and approached the gates. She Gave a loud knock with a fist bearing a large bulky silver ring, that sounded like an arropw deflected from a fortified steel door.

A tiny slot slid open in the door and a pair of Beaty eyes peered out, glistening black in the moonlight.

"Braca burgo brikabrack! Po pappa mikki Brac?"
The voice sounded frustrated and suspicious, not to mention it sounded like those little eyes could not properly see.

"Grompa Lanland. Sikah Brac" Abell calmly retorted. the voice on the other end gave an assessing grunt.

Turning around abell rolled her eyes to the group and let out a sigh.

"Gate keeper here is old. His memory not good. He ask Gromland for entry...we all wait for permisson to enter. Tunnel system here many twists. Maze like. We will wait for a while"

The group seemed anxious. Gnomes in a land as far off as this could be liike nothing they had ever encountered. The society was sure to be different....And quarters out of the ordinary. Abell began to tighten the Saddlery on her Lizard-esque steed.

After a few moments of silence Abell pointed upward to a pillar of white smoke rising up into the air from an unseen crevass. The smokes spire Was freshly lit, as the initial waft still hung low in the air, dispersing.

"They burn Wormwood here. This so that Kh'ala-ad no come near when doors open. We will be granted acess. I will speak to guard again, and run errand. I will return to you Within Hour. By then gromland will have spoke to you."

The group looked uneasy and all seemed to nearly jump when the door gave a loud clank. The bolt unlatched and peered open only a few inches. A voice barked from inside "GRUMPA KRAMP! GRUMPA KRAMP!"

Abell shooed the others inside And gave some switft orders to the doorman in his native tounge. He then, with a quick hand that could only be seen in the fleeting moonlight motioned for them to follow. A dim light shone from within the tunnels which seemed about Five feet in Height. As he Rushed down the tunnerls, His shape could be seen, And he appeared Bald,Shiny and roughly 3 feet tall. The tunnels were warm, and smelled of sweet smoke, and cured meats.
It was not what the group was used to, but it was shelter.

As the group entered, Abell Shouted after the group "Follow him with haste." And with that the door clanked shut, as a releif doorman rushed up the tunnel to take post, rubbing into all of the group as he passed.

[Kinslayer]

"So, here we are..." thought Anyan, as he and the rest started to follow the gnomish guard.

The tunnels, with the smoke-like odor were getting bigger and bigger, as some home-like holes could be seen, with lights inside of them.

Soon, they reached a huge estructure...

A 3 meter aproximetly door was before the group, which stood still, as the little gnome guard stood beside it and screamed something in an unknown language that the group didn't understand at all...

Suddenly, the door started to open, and three more guards appeared, weaponed with spears (they looked almost too long for the wearers).

One of the guards gave Alziel and the others the sign of following in, and so they did...

Anyan felt uneasy, and kept staring to his sides, as expecting a trap.

After walking a bit, they reached a large hall, with candles on the wall, as they lit the room, gicing a beautiful sight to the ones witnessing the majestuosity of the room.

One of the guards gave the group another sign with the fingers, telling them to stay put, and so the group did.

"So, we're finally here..." whispered Anyan. "What will this gnome leader want from us...?" Meanwhile, the group had some guards acompanying them.

[Ben]

OOC: J_master...  Please dont interject on the RP if you arent a member already.