With the distance gained between them and the guards, Kreemon decided more caution was now possible. He tapped the others on their backs and whispered, “Slow down, less noise. They won't be able to find us if we don't give ourselves away.” He continued down the passageway, sticking to the sides, straining his eyes to look for light.
Another minute, and it no longer mattered where in the tunnel they stood. The passage made a sharp downward turn, and Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kreemon both slipped and were totally immersed for a second. When they recovered, they were waist deep in the water. Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of, in the rear, managed to keep her balance and slid more gracefully down the slope. The greater amount of water diluted the filth somewhat, so the smell wasn't as bad as they expected. Either that, or they'd gotten used to it.
It was several seconds before Kreemon realized that, while he was under, he had seen the faintest glimmer of light in the distance. It could have just been his imagination, but then again, it could have been a way out.
Kreemon sheathed his weapons and belongings and made sure they were secure. He then whispered to the other two, “I think I saw a glimmer of light. Let's continue forward, carefully.” Slowly, taking their time and testing each step in front of them for any sudden drops, the three headed in the direction of the light. The floor dropped steadily, and soon they were chest deep, then shoulder deep, then neck deep. When the water reached their necks, they felt a slight tug pulling them forward – a current. They also noticed another change; the passage was getting narrower. But the light was unmistakable now. If they opened their eyes under the water, they saw a tiny circle of dim light, below and well beyond their current position.
Another speck of light appeared on the surface of the water, at the tip of a wave – a reflection. Their pursuers were getting closer.
Kreemon walked towards the light, using his arms to propel him forward. When the water was about to reach above his nose, he took a few deep breaths and dove down. The tunnel continued to narrow, and the circle of dim light continued to widen, and the current became continually stronger. When Kreemon was halfway there, the tunnel made another sudden drop and then rose slightly before continuing downward. By this point, there was only about two and a half feet in which to maneuver, so Kreemon's hands were on the floor. He felt all manner of small objects caught in the dip. It felt like a lot of little bits of metal or stone, immersed in a thick slime.
While he was down, Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of heard the guards approaching. “You keep going if you want to; we're turning back. There's no way they came this way. We took a wrong turn somewhere.”
The current was getting strong, and Kreemon was running out of air, so he got a good look at what was ahead and turned around, fighting the current the whole way. When he got back, he told Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of what he'd seen. The light looked natural – possibly moonlight, but the circle was narrow. It was hard to tell for sure, observing it with only its own light, but it looked like it was one and a half or two feet wide at most, perhaps just wide enough to squeeze through with the help of the current. The time for decision was at hand. The guards' light was getting close, and it would be only moments before they were seen.
Kreemon dropped the guard's sword, and unstrung his bow and strapped it to his back. “I will go first. Give me a little bit before the next, so we don't run into each other down there.” He took several deep breaths and filled his lungs with air, and then dove down. As he swam with the current, he ran his hands along the floor of the tunnel and stuffed whatever he grabbed into his pockets.
Once he got to the hole, he twisted his shoulders to the left and right to get his upper body through, and then shoved off the edges with his hands. Once on the other side, he kicked off the wall to give himself a boost towards the surface.
Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of unstrung her bow and put the string in her pouch. “If I have to, I'll push it through in front of me,” she told Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but. “This is too good a bow to lose. You go next.”
“I can do without this staff,” Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but said. “The other is better anyway.” Holding her crossbow in front of her, she took deep breaths until she almost felt dizzy, then plunged after Kreemon. With her narrower build, she was able to squeeze through more easily than Kreemon by pulling her shoulders in. Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of, much more skilled at swimming than either of the other two, shot through soon afterward with everything but her spear.
They were in a lake, probably Andan Huerten, and there was moonlight above. Shimmering shapes of four moons could be seen – Tiropplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Five Moons
Five moons rise and set in the sky of Aerv, never crossing paths. At the end of the world, they will all wane together, and diminish to nothing for the Zioth.
Quite a lot of mythology centers around the moons. Zahirans' theology revolves around the Moon Children. The Moon Wanderers in the Shirahjat Cohilition migrate with the rising and setting of the moons in ways that only they fully understand. was too dim to make out through the water. A hundred feet away and twenty or so up, shimmering black rectangles – probably docks – jutted out over the water. The tunnel emerged just a few feet above the lake floor, where it would be invisible from the surface.
The current continued to pull, trying to keep them down and bring them further from the shore. With a few good kicks, Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of managed to get some momentum and move upward, but below her, Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kreemon were struggling to stay in one place. With only one of her arms free, Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but could do little more than rotate slowly, and Kreemon seemed weighted down, probably by the iron-studded leather he wore under his shirt.
Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of swam back down to Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and took her crossbow, allowing Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but to kick and paddle. Kreemon kicked his feet as hard as his could while he pulled his shirt up over his head. Holding the shirt, he drew a dagger and cut the bindings on his armor. Seeing this, Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of decided Kreemon didn't need her help, and pushed as quickly as she could towards the distant surface with Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but. She couldn't paddle effectively with a crossbow in one hand and her bow in the other, but she did the best she could with her feet, and the wood gave her a little buoyancy.
Letting his armor fall free, Kreemon sheathed the dagger, stuffed his shirt partially into his pants and swam with all his strength.
It was a long way to swim after traversing the tunnel. Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of reached the top gasping for air, and then she realized the other two had fallen behind. Leaving the weapons to float, she dove back in. Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but had taken in water not ten feet from the surface, and was slowly sinking until Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of grabbed her around her chest and pulled her back up. Kreemon was still swimming, though he had a ways to go and not much air to take him there. Unable to carry two at once, Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of pulled the bows behind her and swam Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but to the docks.
“Ho! What do we have here!”
“You should know better than to swim in Horn's End at night!”
“Surprised the current didn't get them.”
“And look, swimming in their clothes, and with weapons!”
A man with arms as thick as his legs pulled the girls up and lay them on the docks. It was only then, when she was free of the Baron's soldiers and she and Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but were safely out of the water, that Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of realized how cold she was. The night air felt like it was going to crystallize her soaked clothes, and trap her in a shell of ice. Next to her, the strong-armed man turned Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but over and pushed hard on her back over and over until the water came rushing out of her mouth, and she could breathe again.
“Well you two must have an interesting story,” said his neighbor.
Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of, with teeth chattering, managed to stammer out an answer. “Our b-b-b-boat s-s-sank. We're f-f-f-freezing.”
A large net was lying nearby, tied up and full of fish. Behind it, a crowd was accumulating on the docks. “Why don't you take off those wet clothes?” someone called from the crowd. The fishermen laughed.
Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but choked, sputtered and coughed the remaining water out of her lungs, then sat up wheezing. “Can we build a fire anywhere? Don't want to <cough> burn down the dock.” Turning to Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of, “Where's Kreemon?”
“I don't know,” Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of answered, “but he made it to the surface OK.”
“Three of you, armed, on a boat at night?” said the man with the heavy limbs. “Not very smart. What are you running from?” It was difficult to tell whether his question was in jest.
“Here,” said the second fisherman, and hung his own coat around Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but's soaked one. “And here,” he said while running out to the crowd. He took the coat of the man who had jeered at Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of, and brought it back for her. “We have to drag in this catch before we can go anywhere, but we'll end up someplace warm. With a fire.”
“It <cough> can't be soon enough for me,” Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but responded. “We aren't from this city. It seemed like a nice thing, to <cough> take a boat ride on this beautiful lake in the light of the moons. We had no idea about the currents. By way of thanks, can we help bring in the catch? We aren't as strong as you seem to be, but we can help.” This question brought peals of laughter from some of the fishermen, the closest of whom got an off-hand slap to the shoulder by the heavy-armed man. He squinted at Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and called out, “All right. Let's get these girls someplace warm.”
Despite the energy of the fishermen, it took twenty minutes to heave the nets full of fish from ships and docks onto the nearby carts, and get moving. The girls weren't allowed to help at all, but they watched, and learned a few things about fish-handling that they hadn't known before. They also heard a few of the fishermen's names. The man with the heavy arms was Brunner.
While the men were busy, Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but took a moment to cast a spell. For a second, she thought one of them had noticed her, but he just smiled and got back to work. She focused the spell on Brunner, and soon could be certain that she had little to fear from him. He was a good man with good intentions, law-abiding and in control of himself. Of course no one was perfect – this spell never, to Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but's knowledge, painted a flawless picture, but it also was not powerful enough to give away specific details – only vague notions of good and bad.
Fewer men were required to handle the carts than to load them, so Brunner was able to break off and take Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of to “Sir F's,” a nearby tavern where most of the fishermen gathered nightly to wind down.
Right now, there was no one in the large common room of the tavern. Even the bartender wasn't around. After a couple seconds, he poked his head out of the kitchen door, saw that it was just Brunner, and went back into the kitchen. Once the door was closed, Brunner took them to a corner table but didn't sit down. He spoke quietly to Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of. “Maybe some of my friends can't tell a haddock from a horseshoe, but I know a sword wound when I see one. What have you two gotten yourselves involved in?”
“Oh, it's so good to be in a warm place. My teeth were chattering, Brunner. By the way, have we introduced ourselves? My name is Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but, and this beauty is my friend, Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of. We are new to your city, you know, and only came here yesterday.
“This is the largest city we have visited in a long time. And, your lake is so beautiful; we could not resist taking a boat ride on what seemed the calm waters in the light of the moons.
Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but chattered away, and signed to Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of to pick up if she ran out of steam. In the meantime she tried to discern more about Brunner's personality, and the reason of his interest in them.
He _seemed_ a fatherly type, his curiosity aroused by their somewhat mysterious appearance in the lake water, and the obvious scars of combat they both wore. 'No simple fisherman, he,' the priestess thought. 'Perhaps he had been a guard himself, so it would not do to tell him we had an altercation with the guards; or perhaps he had been a soldier when younger, in which case I still cannot know how much to say. At least, he is kind, and seems to care about Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of and me. It would be a lot simpler to just leave, but that would be both rude and suspicious. Better to make up a tale, close to the truth, perhaps buy him a mug of ale or two by way of thanks, then go… Gee, I wonder where that idiot Kreemon has gone off to. Though I hope he's all right, frankly I'd love to choke him for what he did in the keep. And his poor dog - where could he be?'
Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of picked up the chatter while Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but mused to herself. “Brunner, I didn't know how you hauled the nets from the boats to the dock so as not to bruise the fish. That was really clever. And that you had ice. Where did you get the ice? In my hometown we had fishermen also, but they had no ice and had to get their catch to market quickly. With ice, you could wait a day or two, couldn't you?”
“A good deal more than a day or two, with enough ice. That and salt will keep them through the winter. But I'm getting the feeling that you're avoiding my question. Pretty soon the others will be in here, and if you're already being evasive with me, I doubt you'll want to discuss this in public. What really happened out on the lake tonight?”
“All right, Brunner,” Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but sighed, signaling the innkeeper for a round of ale when he poked his head out of the kitchen again. “We told you an untruth on the dock, in order not to create a problem with bystanders or other of your fishermen.”
Brunner smiled and leaned against the wall. “I thought not,” he said.
“We had no boat.”
“I never believed that either.”
“We swam out of a drain in the Baron's cellars.” Brunner stood straight. At this point, she produced her Holy Symbol of Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism
Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).
Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of from under her coat. “This is mine. It is not stolen. It would not tolerate being taken, do you know that? So you may believe what I tell you.
“We came on a mission to bring a message to the Baron, but were betrayed; in what way I do not know. In the end, we were pursued by the guards and only escaped by swimming out of a drain. Then the current took us and only by the strength of my companion and friend, Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of, were we able to make it to the dock.
“Again, our mission was merely to bring a message to the Baron, not to do any harm or to alter anything in Huerton. Merely to bring a message. Yet, we were pursued by guards due to… things beyond our control.”
Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but fell silent, watching Brunner's reactions, to see if he seemed to be offended by the idea of their running from (or maybe fighting with) the guards, or perhaps sided with anyone siding against either the Baron or the guards.
Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of chimed in. “It was horrible, Brunner. We were pursued through tunnel after tunnel, then finally had to swim out of a drain into the river. Then there was the strong current. I thought I would lose my friend and my…” she whispered, “my priestess. I came from a far part of Rangplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigThe Kingdom of Rang
Overview
Rang is a huge kingdom, covering more than a million square miles, and extending from the Great Sea to the Ice Sea. It dominates the area politically, militarily and religiously. Rang is a monarchy, led by King Diure LXIV, but its immense size weakens the central government. Most feudal lords manage their lands independently, and only answer to the king in the loosest sense. The king does have several pockets of power, such as in Huerten, which allow him to maintai…, never thought much of Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism
Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).
Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of. I am now a worshiper of the goddess. Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but has shown me the way.”
Brunner hardly seemed to be listening to Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of, but it took the duration of her speech to get his wits about him. He managed a weak smile, and sat down heavily, making the chair creak. “I think I like your other story better. Two strangers, on a small boat, at night, on a lake as big as Horn's End, who fell into the water and were cut up by man-eating fish before swimming to shore. Not so far-fetched…” Brunner fell silent when the bartender came out of the kitchen holding three mugs, one in each hand and a third locked between them, and set them down on the table.
“Let's wait till the place fills up 'fore we order a second round, will we?” The bartender squinted at the gash on Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but's arm, then shrugged and went back to the kitchen.
“_Three_ strangers on a small boat, not two. You named a third at the docks – Ramone or something, was it? What part does he play in this, and why wasn't he with you?”
“Brunner,” Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but began, “The story you told is the best to tell your fishermen friends when and if they come here. Our real story is just too strange, and would arouse suspicions. ”
Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of added, “And maybe bring more guards to try to capture us.”
“But what about this third person?”
“Kreemon,” Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but said, nodding her head. “He was the one who was supposed to give the message to the Baron. Something went wrong. Also, he had a dog with him, named Bork. Don't know what happened to the pooch. He left long before we went down the drain.”
“Kreemon made it to the surface of the lake,” Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of added, “and swam toward the shore, not the docks. I lost sight of him when you helped us up. I hope to see him soon – I have a lot of questions to ask him!”
“I don't know what to believe,” Brunner said. “This is too much.” At that moment, the door burst open and a tall, full-bearded man hopped in, still reeking of fish. “Brunner! Getting a head start, are you?” he said, looking at Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of but still talking to Brunner. “Leave some for the rest of us!” He laughed and sat down at the table, and took a sip of Brunner's untouched drink. “Not bad. Still tastes like piss, but they stirred in some ale this time, just to be nice.” Another two fishermen walked in the door, and continued whatever conversation they were having at a table on the other side of the room. “When's Rilla and Drilla coming out? I'm dying of thirst, and whatever that is smells almost edible. So where've you been all my life?” he asked Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of.
“He's married,” Brunner said absently. “Three years, six months.”
“Aw, come on. That never stopped me before.” He laughed again.
“We'll talk later,” Brunner told Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but.
“I bet you will. Two at once? Isn't that a bit exciting for a widower like you?” He laughed.
Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of grinned at the banter between the fishermen. Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but covered her laughter and took a swig of the ale.
Sir F's became more and more crowded as the night wore on. When the room was about half full, the bartender and barmaids appeared, evoking cheers all around. Among the seven or so barmaids, Rilla and Drilla, two busty girls in their late teens with heavily freckled skin, were the universal favorites. Within an hour, there was hardly room to move. Every chair, table, window sill and corner was taken, along with the bar and the edges of a small stage where three mediocre musicians played some of the most popular songs. For a bunch who had been working since before dawn and had just come in from the lake, these people had a lot of energy.
Eventually, the crowd started to thin. Children sent out by their mothers came in to fetch their fathers, drunk men were dragged home by friends and some just said goodbye and left. Although he was pretty popular among the people here, Brunner didn't wait to be the last to leave. Well before the place cleared out, he signaled to Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of and brought them outside, followed by loud jeers about his luck with women, or about these two being too much for him (more than one had commented on the dry blood on Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of's clothing).
“Alright,” Brunner said when they were well away from the bar. “I won't say I believe you, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now. If you got in a ruff with the castle guards, news will get out by tomorrow morning and you'll be wanted women – your friend Kreemon too. I don't know anything about this message of yours, but if you were in the castle, you had to get there somehow, and you're too well-armed and well-dressed to be escaped prisoners.” He turned a corner, and made sure Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but and Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of were following. “I'll help you if I can. Maybe Andrithaplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigAndrithanism
Based on original ideas from Karl Schinke (Ardith). Symbols for aspects other than the Mother, along with the artwork, were contributed by Myron Wyles (Halaren).
Andrithanism and its variants are the dominant religion in Rang and the surrounding kingdoms. Within the boundaries of will overlook some of the other things I've done if I help a priestess.”
Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but is down a staff, Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of's down a spear, and Kreemon's down a suit of armor.
I'll try to send out the beginning of turn 59 soon, but I'll be really busy for the next couple weeks.
Hit Points:
Kayplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigKay Wanderwit
Kay is an attractive, eighteen year old girl. She has dark brown hair, tanned skin and hazel eyes. The bow she carries is of a very fine quality. Kay wears brown calfskin breeches, and a green wool vest. When traveling, she wears brown deerskin breeches and a red linen vest. Her old cloak is black, and made of fine but worn wool. She has become a close friend of: 9/16
Ardithplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigArdith
Ardith's long hair is tied in a bun with cords dyed with berry juice, two each of red, blue and black. She wears an unbleached linen shift and bodice, a deerskin jerkin, and low brown boots. Ardith always wears the Sign of Andritha on a chain around her neck. The Sign is a three inch circle of copper with a large onyx in the center, obviously quite heavy, but: 16/20, -8 subdual
Kreemon: 10/16, -4 subdual
(subdual heals overnight, along with your level worth of normal damage)