Siréne sighed as she felt the last wave of Goddess granted healing flow through her body and into Allanan. Around her the flame haired woman's companions watched intently, some on edge and some at ease.

At the front of the group a grizzled dwarf in polished armor stepped forward moving closer to she and Allanan, "Perhaps introductions are in order all around," the dwarf began. "I am Cor, knight-cleric of Odin and herder of this bunch of cats."

He paused and then added, "If you wish to travel with us you are more than welcome. Of course if you do you have to swear an oath on all that is sacred that you will obey my directives; unless you don't agree with them. Than should put you on even ground with the others here."

Siréne looked up at Cor with a cool, unreadable expression but beneath that façade her elven blood boiled. An oath! Not only an oath, but he wanted them all to swear it to him on the spot. Letting out a sigh the enchantress locked her gaze with his. She had sworn to serve the will of the Goddess and she would swear no oaths to any other.

"Cor," she began cooly, "I am Siréne Talá Melete, sworn priestess of the Queen of Heaven. I think it imprudent to swear to any oath in ignorance. If you would, perhaps, enlighten us..."

"Sirene, I am sorry but that oath request was a bit of a jest; perhaps you noticed it included a 'unless you don't agree' provision." Cor smiled. "What I really need to know is if you wish to travel with us or continue on on your own. Tis a motley crew at best it is."

While Cor waited for a reply he noticed Kenji looking a bit confused. "Well lad, seems you are not sure how to take this 'reunion'. Although I do not know the others, Alasdair is a former companion. His return is most unexpected but I have no doubt that it is truely him. An imposter might have fooled some of us but Althena and he were 'linked' psyonically and i surely doubt anyone could fake that connection. If she says it is Alasdair then it is."

And so Althena's love had been rekindled. One who had been lost was now back. And as Conall saw this back, he felt Cynil's embrace on his arm. He took his arm out of the embrace, and instead placed it around her, holding her close.

However, with Aldasair's return was not a solo one. He had brought some companions with him. One of them introduced themselves as Sirene, Queen of Heaven. He had not seen the other one before, and it seemed to be silent.

Conall however, was not one to remain silent. "Welcome friends. I am Conall Glendower of House Glendower, and I am pleased to make your acquaintance. What brings you to this troubled cave?"

Conall though, had detected evil before, or so he thought. He kept his detection up, looking for where he had seen that faint glimmer.

Back Post ‘The Banquet Hall’

Maggot, with a low bow and a great smile on his face he receives the bundle of clothing and places them in his pack, “Thank you greatly Allanan the Wanderer. As time permits I will try them on and we will see how I look in fine new clothes.” He then leans in close and whispers, “And then perhaps I might not offend so much,” Maggot adds as he crinkles his nose.

Back Post ‘Only a door between the two’

As Allanan fallowed Maggot could hear the creaking of armor, He then stopped and put his hand on his chin, “No this will not do,” He spoke out loud. He then looked over his shoulder as Allanan the Wanderer moved passed him and easily pushed the door open as if it was the door to his very own home.

Back Post ‘Oh he did not just pass out like a girly man!’

Maggot now leaning heavy on his staff fallows Allanan into the next room. A voice soft and sweet breaks the silence, “Alasdair…”

“Althena…” came the name that slipped from Allanan’s lips. As they did Allanan seemed to sway and then loose his ability to stand. Maggot moved swiftly to catch Allanan so he would not fall crashing to the floor. The old man quickly placed a light hand on Allanan’s face and felt breathing, He still took breath.

Maggot then looked toward the Lady called out as Althena, “Come to him, I know it would bring him much joy to see a face as beautiful as a winter day under a sun. And not one such as mine that only a mother would look at much less love.” Maggot then eased Allanan to the floor and once more leaning heavy on his staff he managed to get to his feet.

The Lady moved forward and took Allanan and cradled him. She then called out to another in her party to check Allanan.

It was then the Lady Siréne pushed past Maggot and took a place next to the unconscious Allanan, “Oh this is a fine seen.” Maggot let slip from his lips as he took a few steps back with the help of his staff.

Now Post ‘Introductions…’

As things began to slow down and introductions were made Maggot just stood there leaning on his staff. He watched, he listened, and he smelt the air around him. He then heard something and looked over his shoulder, “Yes I am going to say hi… It is the right thing to do… If it were up to you we would have let Allanan and the Lady Sirene fight what is my battle at the mouth of this cave… No, I did not heed you then and I am not going to heed you now.”

The old man then turned his attention to all in the room. He then looked at Conall and the Lady at his side. He smelt the air toward them, a puzzled look came over him and then his eyes fell to Allanan and he smelt again. A smile fell upon his face and he looked back toward the two, “Conall…” he sniffed again and thought, “You smell of nobility but you fallow the path of a church. He smelt again. “Sirrr Conall Glendower it should be,” and Maggot then bowed low. He sniffed once more and his eyes shifted slightly to the Lady to Conall's side, “You are a She Elf and one of the Holly people of the Forest and I see the love you have so you are also nobility” He then bowed low to her also.

The old man then looked at the Lady Haila and sniffed the air, “You smell of herbs and other things used by one that knows the ways of the arcane but you do not stand like one. You stand like a warrior.” With that the old man lifted his staff slightly off the ground and showed it in a form of salute and respect that warriors some times do when two meet.

He then looked at the one dressed from far away lands, “You are an eater of the White Grain.” He pausd and thought for a moment, and then said slightly over his shoulder, “Yes with the right herbs and drink a very filling meal.” He then looked back a the strange dressed man and gave a bow as if from the far way land, bent only at the waist, feet kept together, hands at his side, but the most respect Maggot gave was when he actualy took his eyes from the strange dressed man and looked down. Showing trust.

The old man’s eyes then fell upon one of those called the little people by some but by their own choosing they liked to be called Halflings. He sniffed the air, “You are a master of the shadows, what little I have will have no worth to one such as yourself.” And with that he gave a smile and a nod of the head.

The old man then looked at another She Elf, this one had an arrow notched to her bow. He sniffed, “You Lady Elf know the ways and paths of the woods but I also see you have a Holly air to you.” He gave slight bow and salute to her.

The old man’s attention then fall upon a Dwarf, “You look normal enough but yet very unmoral.” The old man sniffs, “You walk the path of a priest or cleric but yet different,” He sniffs the air again then speaks quickly over his shoulder, “No I am not going to let this go, I can do this now let me think.” The old man then looked back toward the one called Cor, Knight-Cleric of Odin and rolls his eyes, “For give the interruption, now where was I… Oh yes,” He sniffs the air once more, “I see some nobility to you, but I have but one question. Are you growing up to be a Paladin, or are you what becomes of Paladins when they grow up?” With that the old man gave a wink and a smile. “I am Maggot, a humble Ranger of the woods and a story teller.” And with that he gave a very royal bow.

Rayne lifter her bow as the door opened and drew back her arrow sighting down the shaft ready to loose it at any enemy. A big man with golden hair turned to looks their way. She then heard Althena's gasp and shocked cry, "Alasdair!" She looked quickly at the man and recognized Alasdair for sure. He stood for a moment gasped Althena's name and collapse. Althena reacted almost instantly and race to the fallen Alasdair calling for Cor. Cor moved as did Kenji, even as Rayne did but not to Alasdair side as not only Althena, Cor and an strange elven woman were at the fallen man's side.

Rayne moved up to Kenji who stood guard to the side. She thought she might explained what just happened.

"Kenji, I will try to explain why Althena reacted this way." Rayne says softly. "Alasdair is one of our group before you came. We thought him lost when demons took him. Althena and Alasdair are bonded soulmates. By all that is holy I don't not know how he has come here to this time and place."

When Cor mentions about introducing themselves, she says simple. "I am Rayne Fireheart, Ranger/Cleric and Pegasus rider for the King and member of this company."

Cynil watched the old man as he sniffed and spoke of each one of them. His ability to scent must bee the most unusual ability, and he seemed to be able to identify each of their life paths with a sniff.

"Hello, she said looking to the new Priestess and the old ranger. "I am Cynil, a druidess.

Cor watched as Maggot sniffed and then deduced what each meber of the party did. A most interesting talent. When he got to Cor, he was a bit taken back for a bit. After much sniffing he asked a simple question "Are you growing up to be a paladin or are you what paladins grow up to be?". It seemed that at least one of the group remained a bit of a mystery to the man. Cor chuckled a moment and then answered. "Me a paladin? I hope Odin never curses me with such a title." Motioning towards Connel he added, "Heck they will let anyone be a paladin these days" adding a wink so the man would know it a jest. "No, there would be no 'growth' in me becoming a paladin and as for paladins growing into one such as I; I doubt very much that would ever happen. Ya see lad, there are none other such as me. For years I was a war cleric of Odin; and a darn good one if I say so myself. As a result I was given the task of evaluating paladins who swore fealty to Odin to ensure they were both physically and spiritually fit for advancement in their order. None are advanced without my endorsement. As for what I myself am now; I am the sole Knight-Cleric of Odin." Cor showed no sign of bragging and his voice was matter of fact. After a moment Cor added, "Talk to your father much or tis it your grandfather? They both did the same ya know."

DROW MOUNTAIN
The return of Alasdair thought long dead in the bowels of Hell had for all those old friends and new different reactions, but none ever so much as his lady in love.

Althena having asked Cor to help her love, had at first been surprised at the arrival of not the Dwarf Knight Cleric but of the Elvin women Alasdair traveled with. Her way of acting, as if daring Cor to touch him almost possessive in nature, for a moment gave the Lady Valar a surge of jealousy, that Althena quickly hid away after seeing the lady elf only meant to check him for harm.

Siréne having readied a spell of Cure Light saw that there was no need of it as the one known to her as Allanan had simply passed out from shock and had no physical injury to heal. Mental injury perhaps was yet another thing but she had no cure for that at present.

Not so the lady Althena seeing no harm to her soul mates body she feared for his mind, with her and he once again mentally linked she did enter it to find strangeness. Though her link with him was yet strong his with her was not, as if the former psionic connection on his side had faded and been forgotten. However this had come to be she did not know but she called to him anyway, in the hope she could reach it.

~Alasdair my love come to me, push back the darkness that clouds your conscious mind. Rise to join me once again for I need you now more then ever before, I love you.~
As if indeed hearing the voice in his head Alasdair did follow it and within a few moments opened his eyes to find his head cradled in the lap of his love.

With the man of two parties once more aware of his surroundings and introductions of all present by Cor verbally, though in the case of Maggot somehow by smell, the time had come to talk of what would these parties of 8 and 3 do next. Clear to all Alasdair, his memory returned of his true self, would indeed rejoin his former friends and lover, but would Maggot and the Lady Siréne do likewise. For that matter would they even be welcomed to do so as the two, though introduced by name, were as yet strangers to the rest.

For the moment the two parties were separate and not aligned their paths seemingly the same yet perhaps not.


(DM OOC: Ok real quick to clarify I think a misunderstanding, the door Alasdair opened was from the trap room into the hallway, not another room. Members of this reformed party are either still in the trap room or outside in the hallway with the door open between them. There is no second room only hallway beyond the door opened by Aryn.

To Kyle a little confusion on my part as to a couple of things
1st What is this ability of smell you have all of the sudden, please explain as I see nothing on your character sheet to indicate such an ability. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed reading it and for now I did use it in my post, but you need to discus such ABILITIES with the DM first.
(Also if you will note I did not “call” you on this issue) 2nd If I, after your explanation, allow you such an ability who are you referring to in this above statement:
He sniffed once more and his eyes shifted slightly to the Lady at his side, “You are a She Elf and one of the Holly people of the Forest and I see the love you have so you are also nobility” He then bowed low to her also. Also by HOLLY due you mean HOLY??

Ok to Dragon Mistress, Brianna and Merideth as I did not get any spells from you before this post I went ahead and rolled those spells needed by each of you randomly and what you got is what you have till your next sleep period.

Ok Next Post Next Sunday)

While Cor waited for a reply he noticed Kenji looking a bit confused. "Well lad, seems you are not sure how to take this 'reunion'. Although I do not know the others, Alasdair is a former companion. His return is most unexpected but I have no doubt that it is truely him. An imposter might have fooled some of us but Althena and he were 'linked' psyonically and i surely doubt anyone could fake that connection. If she says it is Alasdair then it is."

Rayne moved up to Kenji who stood guard to the side. She thought she might explained what just happened.

"Kenji, I will try to explain why Althena reacted this way." Rayne says softly. "Alasdair is one of our group before you came. We thought him lost when demons took him. Althena and Alasdair are bonded soulmates. By all that is holy I don't not know how he has come here to this time and place."
Kenji didn’t take his eyes off of the others as he listened intently to Cor and the Lady Rayne explain that they too knew this ‘Alasdair’. He was silent for a moment and then addressed them both not caring if the ‘strangers’ over heard him.

“As you say, this may indeed be this Alasdair you know,” the samurai said in an even tone with a hint of distrust, “but since entering this place we have had our very minds invaded by some evil force. Do you not think it capable of reading our thoughts and desires and even showing them to us no matter how impossible it might seem?”

He pauses a moment and then continued.

“My family is dead, I know this,” he said with a faint tremor in his tone, “but if I was to see them suddenly returned to me here in this place, I would question their existence until proven to be real.”

He had heard Cor mention a psyonic connection between the Lady Althena and this Alasdair and he wondered if even that could be faked in order to fool Althena and the others. This sudden appearance of strangers who were apparently being asked to join them without question was not to Kenji’s liking.

The samurai stood his ground next to the Lady Althena as she attended to the man who appeared to have awoken. His eyes still watching the strangers with suspicion, ready to leap into action if there were any sign of danger.

He then looked at the one dressed from far away lands, “You are an eater of the White Grain.” He paused and thought for a moment, and then said slightly over his shoulder, “Yes with the right herbs and drink a very filling meal.” He then looked back a the strange dressed man and gave a bow as if from the far way land, bent only at the waist, feet kept together, hands at his side, but the most respect Maggot gave was when he actualy took his eyes from the strange dressed man and looked down. Showing trust.
Kenji turned his gaze to the man who sniffed the air and spoke of them; he raised an eyebrow looking at the man and when he bowed Kenji could do no less than to return the bow though his own eyes did not leave the man or his companions. The samurai didn’t speak to the man but only nodded at the show of respect and trust, though he was not yet in a trusting mood himself.

When talk began amongst the others, Kenji took a couple steps back against the wall and leaned back against it waiting. He had already had his say about the appearance of these strangers and the possible dangers of yet another trap in this danger filled mountain. The decision was not his to make and he would follow whatever their leader Cor decided though these strangers, even this Alasdair, bared some close scrutiny.

Rayne could easily understand and personally she agree in part with him. When one was way one was rarely surprised. He was here among mostly strangers that he had known or such a short time. He had not memories to help him accept what had happened as easily as the rest of him. But at least they had ways to tell. Conall is a Paladin, he can sense evil if it was present.. He would have mentioned that. Of course Alasdair could have been changed by what happened to him amongst the demons, but apparently he is free of their taint."

"You are wise to be wary, perhaps we should be moreso, but he was one of us."

To the other Rayne speaks up clearly so all can hear. The nest test awaits us. I suggestt when all are ready we move on."

Once all had been given time for reunions and introductions Cor gave a poliecough, "Well hate to break up the chat fest but we do have work to do. Unless you have other plans the lot of ya are free to tag along with us. Ulthok if you would be so kind as to lead? No offense but for now I'd prefer the two of you new folks be in the middle though ya ken stay together if ya want. Alasdair I presume ya will want to walk with your las eh lad?"

Cor made ready to move out and placed himself just behind the "air sniffer". Letting go of a bit of last hislast meal in a vapor form he looked a Maggot. "Can ya identify me last meal lad?"

“My father?” Maggot thought for a moment, “Yes I remember my father. Brave man, he died in battle in the service of some King. I also served that King for many years and would still serve him today but he died. As for my grandfather I do not remember him that was to long ago.” Maggot paused for a second, “I do remember my son. He had a lovely wife and two fine children by the time I had returned to them. A cold winter took her. My son did what he could for the children. The girl joined a convent and served for a long time until a cold winter took her also. The boy drifted for some years until he took to the sea.” Maggot paused again deep in thought, “A merchant ship I think. As for my son, I worked for him for some years. Keeping the creatures of the wilds at a distance as us rangers do. His village did very well for a long time. He grew up to be an Elder you know.” Then Maggot thought again, “He never took another wife and I never told him who I was. I think I regret that at times.”

As things calmed and slowed the one called Rayne approaches the one from a far away land and the two of them had words in quiet tones, then the word to move out was suggested.

“I suppose my road and the road these people take are the same.” Maggot says to some one that is not there. “Look, I can’t go back the other way and I feel I must do what I can to help these people get out of this mountain.”… “What of the pledge?”… “Look, I do not see what good it would be to give another pledge when I have already given that pledge.” … “Enough!” Maggot says, very irritated by now, “Sir Conall and,” Maggot paused and sniffed the air, “Allanan, I am sure of it now are Paladins and uncapable of my distrust. Cor is one of those Knight Cleric things and above Paladins so he says.”… Maggot shakes his head, “Yes, I know I have never heard of one of those before but neither have you.” Maggot then realizing he is now talking in more than just hushed tones.

As Cor also gave word that it was time to move along he also gave permit for the Lady Sirene and Maggot to tag along and informed them that they might find room in the middle of the pack. “Maggot smiles at the Lady Sirene, “It seems we must walk close, I will do my best to stay down wind though I fear there will be little wind to be found here.”

As the two took their place in line Cor asked a question of Maggot and with a sniff, “It was not roses.” He then looks at the Lady Sirene, “Perhaps I will not offend your senses as much as other things.” Maggot took his place among the other Kittens of this litter as Cor fell in behind Maggot. “So tell me Cor, do you think Allanan will remember what happen to him before he met the Lady Althena?”

Cynil tried to keep from crying, but the tears came anyway. See Althena and Aldasair together was a gift of the gods and goddesses. She did not know who but she sent out her heart filled thanks to every good and neutral deity she could think of and then added all the other she could not name in one last thank you.

She clung closer to Conall and ducked her head into his side to hide the fact she was crying, even if they were tears of joy.

"Welcome back, Aldasair."

She then grabbed up the hem of Conall's tunic to wipe her eyes.

Cynil then took the time to watch the other two newcomers without trying to seem rude by staring at them. The Sniffer was the oddest of the last two.

With Cor's orders issued to move on, and Conall, not wanting to upset him more than he already did, decided he would follow suit. "Well, I am prepared to move on, I long to smell the freshness of the air again. Let us move onward, and combat the evils which may await us."

Standing next to Cynil as they line up, Conall remains quiet about her tears. He could hell her sobs, but he doesn't wish for them to be made public knowledge.

Standing up from beside her golden haired companion Siréne regarded the monastic dwarf, "Wait..."

"We three have wandered into this mountain trusting in fate and the will of the Lady. Before we go further I would know why we sojourn into this forsaken place."