Subject: Gully's or Bust

Kasen sits up suddenly. It is still fairly dark, and he can hear Sa'id snoring noisily nearby. But he feels too rested for it to still be night. It was four in the morning at least before they bedded down. He feels like he's had a full night's sleep. That would make it almost-

Noon. He looks up, and through the thick canopy of clouds, he can see a faintly illuminated spot directly overhead. It is noon. This is as bright as it was going to get. With his eyes adjusted, it is about as bright as a room with the curtains pulled on a bright day. He would be able to ride Storm without breaking her leg, but he hopes he won't have to try and see more than twenty or thirty feet in any direction.

He gets up, and puts on his armor. When even that loud clanking doesn't wake the wizard, he pushes him gently with his foot. "Wake up, we've slept half the day away."

Sa'id is awake immediately, and hurries to check on Farron. The stricken wizard is still breathing steadily, though his face looks drawn.

Subject: Re: Gully's or Bust

Farron will heroically wait for someone to pick him up and throw him on the back of a horse. (Gently, please. Throw gently.)

Subject: Re: Gully's or Bust

What Melani wouldn't give to have a horse to ride. Or a pony. :)

I am guessing that her ride will not be as gentle.

Mark

Subject: Re: Gully's or Bust

That's OK, you'd just eat the horse anyway once you're all wereboarized.

Subject: Re: Gully's or Bust

"Wake up, we've slept half the day away."

Sa'id's eyes snap open, the afterimage of firelight glowing eerily in his vision. He certainly doesn't -feel- like he's slept half the day -- or even half the night. But Farron was still breathing. Elise's death had not caught up with him while they slept.

And... dreamt? Half-formed thoughts dance at the edges of his mind and memory, darkling thoughts that scuttle from the light of his consciousness. Sa'id, who not so very long ago thought he could grasp even the most elusive, subtle concepts with his towering intellect, is deeply unsettled to find himself so unaware of what is going on within the confines of his own mind.

What is happening to me?

The necromancer helps Kasen maneuver Farron's limp form onto the warrior's warhorse, then mounts up himself. It isn't until they are well underway that he realizes he has forgotten his morning prayers.

Subject: Game hiatus

I remember last summer it was really hard to get the game moving forward. People just have so many other interesting things to do during the summer.

I'd like to put the game on hiatus until Sept 1st.

Would anyone still be around to play if I restarted then?

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I will weep bitter tears between now and then, but I'll still be able to play.

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I would be around but bemoaning the indeterminate status of Melani.

I ain't going nowhere.

Mark

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I'm still with you and will appreciate the hiatus as well. (Lots o stuff going on here right now.)

Karl

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I'd love to start back up then, but I make no guarantees. I'm starting a new job on 9/1 in a new school district, so I have no idea what my schedule will be like then.

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

Oh, no.

Now I'll have to concentrate on making stuff up. . .on. . .my. . .own. . .

I'll be here.

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I'll still be around and willing and able to play.

Subject: Re: Game hiatus

I'll be here.

Subject: Pensive and Garyth

OOC: This is something that I should have done a while ago. Mike, are you up for a little RP?

Pensive bites the inside of his lip as he approaches Garyth. There's no mistaking it-- the captain does not want to be bothered this evening. The scent of grief and bitterness and guilt scuttles around Garyth like rats.

When Garyth sees him, Pensive lifts a roll of bandages, a wad of lint, and small jar of ointment in explanation. "Osred will kill me if I don't see to you," Pensive says. "And then he'll probably kill you for refusing my help. Let us save both our lives, and Osred's eternal soul, hmm?"

There is needle and thread aplenty-- appropriated, as Osred would say, from a stunned tailor's backpack. Pensive didn't approve of Osred's methods, but now was not the time to gripe over them. Pensive sews the flesh on Garyth's side closed, then the wounds on his back.

"You. . . travelled with Mission, then?" Pensive asks finally. "I taught him when he was a child in Bannock's Ire, you know. He was a quick study. Impulsive, a bit. He was apprenticed to an older member of our order, I believe. Penance was her name." Pensive's eyes flick up to find Garyth's for a moment. Was there a flash of recognition at the name, there? How much had Mission told these men, Garyth and Rennick, and the wizards, of the Path of Blood and Stone, and Mission's fall from it?

"Can you tell me of Mission?" Pensive's voice cracks. "And the Kaishin? How did he come to be? How was he born? What--"

But there the elf stops, and ducks his head. He waits for Garyth's reply.

Subject: Re: Pensive and Garyth

Right ON! :D

That was great. :)

Subject: Re: Pensive and Garyth

And really, it was about time Pensive asked about Mission and the Kaishin.

It'd be like . . . I dunno, a Christian finding out about Christ's return second hand and waiting for an 'opportune moment' to go inquiring about it. :)

Subject: restarting the game

I am caught up at work. Is anyone interested in restarting the game on august 1st rather than sept 1st?

Subject: Re: restarting the game

I'm ready when you are.

Subject: Re: restarting the game

I won't be around on August 1st, but August 2nd would be quite agreeable. :P

Subject: Re: restarting the game

Well that just blows the whole month now, doesn't it? We might as well wait until September.

always one in the bunch. . . .

;-)

Subject: Re: restarting the game

I'm going to be out of touch from Aug 13-21; otherwise, I'd be fine to start the game up on 8/1.

Subject: Re: restarting the game

It's pretty likely that I'm going to be working 12+ hours shifts every day from now until 8/7, so I can't guarantee I'd be very reliable about turns until after that.

Subject: Re: restarting the game

Aug. 1-3 I am going to be out at Cub scout camp with my youngest. I am also going to be in the office working since the lady I work with will be out on vacation that week so I will be doing my job and hers in only 6 hours a day and then heading back out to the camp. After Wednesday would be good for me.

Of course a lot has to happen before we get caught up with Melani.

Mark

Subject: Re: Pensive and Garyth

Garyth stares out into the woods, brooding over the day's events. The battle with the halfling archers keeps replaying in his mind. What if he had done this instead? Or this? What could he have done differently to ensure a better outcome? Was there anything?

Pensive's approach breaks his reverie. Garyth nearly snarls a rebuke--can't the elf see that he wants to be alone?--but restrains himself when he sees the bandages in Pensive's hands and the apprehension on his face. It's not his fault, and Garyth shouldn't take it out on him. Wordlessly, he acquiesces to the elf's ministrations.

Pensive works quickly and efficiently. It's clear he knows what he's doing. Garyth says nothing, but can't help wincing from time to time as the needle tugs at his wounds. Such weakness. Do you think you're a soldier, Garyth? When you can't even bear a tiny pinprick? He pushes the invading thoughts from his head, concentrating on the small pain that comes with every stroke of Pensive's needle. It helps, somewhat--the pain a small penance, a tiny fire into which he can feed his anger, his guilt, his shame. It's not enough--not nearly enough--but Garyth finds at least a little calm by the time Pensive speaks.

"You. . . travelled with Mission, then?" the elf asks. "I taught him when he was a child in Bannock's Ire, you know. He was a quick study. Impulsive, a bit. He was apprenticed to an older member of our order, I believe. Penance was her name." Penance. Is it merely a coincidence that brought the word to the elf's lips in the midst of Garyth contemplating his own sins? He closes his eyes briefly, remembering the terror that filled him when he saw the lich that had been Mission's lover. He shudders involuntarily, jerking the thread in Pensive's hands.

"Can you tell me of Mission?" Pensive's voice cracks. "And the Kaishin? How did he come to be? How was he born? What--" He breaks off. The anticipation in his voice is obvious, and why not? Such a thing happens once in an age; who wouldn't be eager to hear of it?

Garyth looks up at Pensive. "Mission was . . ." What to say? What did the elf even want to know? "He was a good comrade. Strong in will, quick to smile or tell a joke. And his son?" Garyth pauses, remembering. "There has never been a child like that one" Softly, he recounts the events of Promise's birth to Pensive. So strange to have felt the hands of the gods upon himself and his companions, and how lost he felt now. He lets out a heavy breath. "That boy . . . He was truly a wonder," he finishes.

Subject: Re: restarting the game

I'd be up for that.

Subject: Re: Pensive and Garyth

Pensive realizes that he has paused, needle in mid-air, thread stretching out of the bloody wound in Garyth's side. Listening to Garyth's tale of the Kaishin's birth. Pensive shuts his mouth, blinks, comes back to himself.

"I was going to kill him," Pensive whispers. He looks at Garyth, and his eyes fill with tears. "Him and his child. I didn't know. . . I feared he had been corrupted."

He takes a breath. "The Kaishin. Blood and Stone, there is hope in that, don't you feel it? And you say he is named Promise? Yes." Pensive gives a little laugh. "That fits, I see that it fits. It is a good name."

He picks up stitching where he had left off. Several times, the elf opens his mouth to say something, then thinks better of it, and is silent.