"Luck is for fools. Occurances are influenced by our actions or inactions. Good luck/bad luck/susperstitions; all are but excuses." Cor was about to add more when he noticed the owl. He watched it land on Hailia's chair and saw her expression chnage to one of concern. As she read the messgae delivered she became more distraught. Seeing another in need caused Cor to forget his own troubles for the moment; "What is it lass?"

The young lady remained silent for a long while until she noticed Cor watching her and then asking her a question. The owl lingered for a reply, and she for once in her life, couldn't find the words to reply. Shaking her head some, she fought back the urge to just run and hide from the world. After a silence she replied "It is my Father. A few nights past, I had received a letter saying he wasn't doing well. This night I have learned of his death." she was short on words. Tears swelled in her eyes, and finally she allowed them to fall. The word Death hurt on paper, but was worse spoken. Years ago she had lost her mother to a plight and now, she lost her father. The messenger would be awaiting her reply to know when to expect her reply, and ask what is to be done with her father's body.

Haila handed the letter to Cor first, and didn't care who read it. Shaking her head some she buried her face in her arms and bit her lip until it bled. Her sobs inaudible as she cried ever so softly, yet the tears flowed so easily. Haila was indeed distraught, she had lost her mother years ago, and now her father was to be buried alongside her mother. The woman had decided she wouldn't reply until morning. She turned to the owl and muttered some words, the owl took flight and nested upon a tree nearby awaiting the reply.

Rayne was a good listenr. She always had been. It was ony way she learned much of what she knew. She listened with not only her ears but her dins and heart.

THe conversation at their table continued well into the night. Each of them speaking when drawn into what was being said and needing to make a comment. SHe heard Cor's statement about being mentally and physically drained, but when he mentioned being spiritually drained she took extra notice of his words. However she did not ask him further about his words, It would be better one to one. She too had faced question of faith during her long life she had lived so far. Rayne was not a young woman, though not old either in the figuring of her race. She was most likely she was the oldest of their group. Cynil was elf but young in years, or she knew was at least middle age in the reckoning of Dwarfs. The knight-cleric had that maturity about him, maturity for his own race he was perhaps the most mature of their group.

Rayne filed away his words to discuss with him later. THe conversation they keep up was simple rather that serious. THey still were all recovering from the most recent trials and tribulations to get into serious debate or coversation. And so the night passed companionably.

Rayne had ordered a hot mulled wine later in the evening and was sipping it contentedly leaned back in her chair when an owl arrived. At first she thought it might be Arwen who had finally left to go hunting, since th enight was his venue. But it was not him this ws a smaller owl with much diffeerent markings. haile seemed to know the bird and when it came to her she removed a message from the carier on its leg.

Haila read the message she received. Rayne noted her doing it but was not over curious. That was until Haila's demeanor shifted slightly. Cor too had noticed the change in Haila and finally asked her "What is it , lass?" Haila related the contents of her message and passed it over t Cor. Rayne leaned over to read it with him.

Finishing reading Rayne moved over to Haila and put her hand on Haila's shoulder but said nothing, letting Haila grieve in her own way. Rayne just wanted to let Haila know that she was here for her.

Looking at the messenger owl she sent a telepatic thought to Arwen. **Bring food.**

Haila remained silent for a long while and she felt a woman's hand upon her shoulder. Lifting her head she smiled ever so faintly to her companion. The woman found no words to speak, she was too hurt. When her mother passed away, it simply meant more responsibility, but her father had always been the one she was closest to. The woman had strange ways to deal with her pain. The woman was crying, and decided she would go for a walk "I'm going for a walk, anyone can join me if they wish" she said more out of ritual than anything else.

She rose shakily from her chair, yet walked out of the room with the grace of a warrior. The woman wasn't the least bit ashamed of her tears. Haila was always raised to be proud of who you were, and that tears were yet another means to express oneself. As a warrior she was taught never to bottle up your anger and attack out of anger. You make the biggest mistakes when attacking in anger. However, to make your enemy attack out of rage, was a great tactic in battle. The young woman left the inn and walked slowly with no real destination.

Cor read the letter and then looked again at the grieving young woman before him. She had faced death before; they all had. This was differant for it was not some stranger or even a companion but a member of her family. True it was a parent who was sickly by all accounts and as such could not be counted as unexpected but he knew that such was of little comfort at the moment. Cor searched for words to comfort her but having never known his own parents he found he had no reference point. Out of habit he offered a prayer to Odin to grant him words to comfort his friend. Once more the void filled him for there was no reply; no words formed in his head. It was that feeling that gave him some measure of what his friend might be feeling. "Lean on me if you need lass. There is naught I can do to make the pain go away or to fill the emptiness you must be feeling. Just know that if you need to talk I have ears and if you wish a silent vigil there is none better for the task than a dwarven knight." Cor reached out and took her hand in his and offered what comfort he could.

The woman smiled to each in turn before leaving and she gave their hands each a gentle squeeze. Turning she took off with no real destination. The woman smiled to both, but she knew that her companions would want to be alone, she read the signals all night. Soundlessly she moved out of the inn and towards no real destination. Her vision blurred by the steady falling tears. The woman walked a lonely trek along the surroundings of the inn, with no real destination, just aimlessly walking to rid herself of her pain. The owl followed her and landed upon her shoulder once again.

Rayne rose with Haila as she stood shakily at first then gain her feet Haila steadied herself and made hand contact with both Cor and herself before turning and walking out.

Yes, Rayne could have gone with her but she had something to ask Cor about and so she waited for now sitting down after Haila departed the inn.

Rayne put a hand on Cor's shoulder, "How are you doing Cor? I mean that truly. Something is troubling you. You do not look well recovered from you efforts this morning and something you said just did not sound right to me. I am a good listener. If you want someone to listen to you. I, too, am a cleric and have faced many situations that have tried my soul as well. You may be more mature by your race reckoning than I by mine but I have lived many more years than you have. I am your friend and if anything I can do by word or action will help you I will do it." and she meant everything she said without reservation." Rayne's tone of voice conveyed it as well.

Cor settled back into his chair and thought for a moment. "You are too kind to mark me as young. Must be my good looks. Which of us is senior I do not know for I am smart enough never to ask a lady her age; even the elves find that going a bit too far. I however will tell you mine; I am 150. Not old for a dwarf, but not a young'in either. As for my state of being, you are correct that I am not well."

Cor took a sip of ale to bolster his courge. "What I say to you know must remain between us for the moment and must never under any circumstances be relayed to Connel before the lad is well; and by none other than myself. I am sure that you have been suspicious that the spell cast was not an ordinary spell. Odin himself granted the spell to me at my request as a reward for years of faithful service. Connel will be well again soon for the power of a god is at work healing him. In any dealing with a god, there is a price." Cor once more took a sip and he was sure that his trembling hands gave notice to his anxiety.

"In exchange for the ability to cast this one spell upon a man I consider a brother I offered my own abilities in exchange. Odin accepted my bid price. As of the moment Connel opened his eyes and I fell to the floor I was no longer a knight-cleric of Odin but simply a knight of Odin. I cannot cast any clerical spells and my prayers go unanswered. There is a void in my soul I have never felt before. I do remember that Odin said he had future plans of his own design and that my price would be tempered to meet his ends. What that means exactly I do not know. All I know for sure is that as of now you are the sole cleric in the party. I know I cannot keep this from the others forever but I ask that you say nothing and let me give them the news when the time is right. Connel would be most distraught to know the price I paid for his life."

Rayne sat back in her chair for a moment looking Cor in the eye. She knew this had been difficult for him to relate to her but he also knew she was a cleric and could best understand what Conall’s healing had cost. Rayne remains quiet for a bit as the enormity of what he offered and what he has lost percolates. Her face mirrors her many emotions she had no reason to hide them from Cor and therefore did not. How would she have felt if this had happened to her, what would she have done if she had been faced with he same choice?

Finally she spoke, her eyes soft with the deep sympathy she had for the faithful and stalwart Knight-Cleric. A man who had literally cut himself off from half of what he had been “That is a high price you paid, but I know you paid it willingly. That Odin said your offer would be tempered is a positive note you can hang on to during this trying time. Conall shall learn nothing of your sacrifice from me, I swear by Corellon and neither shall the others.

Rayne takes out the wand of cure light wounds they had purchased. “You keep this for now. It may help you keep the others from being the wiser for a bit and if we keep ourselves from pitched battles for awhile. I will try to take only healing and bless spells and perhaps Sanctuary spells each day.”

Another thought struck Rayne as she contemplated the traumatic situation Cor was faced with, “Cor keep making your prayers. It is not that Odin does not hear them but just that you don’t know he does. All those who are not clerics worship without that knowledge that clerics have granted to them. We clerics know our prayers are heard. The others worships based on faith. You still have your faith in Odin that is not been taken from you. So pray and do all that you normally do. Do it for your faith in Odin because he is still you Deity. Keep your faith.”

Haila walked aimlessly until she came upon a tree a decent distance from the Inn, with only the moonlight to guild her. Distraught and lost in thought, she reflected upon the many memories of her father. The man had always been the one who would get her out of her room when she threw a tantrum as a child. The same man who taught her to fight. The very same who taught her everything she knew to this day. Haila had always been a daddy's girl, for he had always been there to provide for her. To answer her never-ending questions, and concerns through her adolescence.

The woman sat in solitude beneath a large oak tree. Her tears fell easily and she cried as she gazed off into the distance. The young lady was heartbroken, she loved her father, and she missed him dearly during her journeys, but this time she should have trusted her gut, and stayed at home. Shaking her head free of regrets, she leaned her back against the sturdy tree and bit her quivering lip hard enough to draw blood. Teardrops staining her cheeks and falling upon her clothes. Shaking her head some she was lost in thought as tears flowed rapidly down her soft face.

Cor took the offered wand. "My thanks, I believe I have a staff of cureing in my pack but this will certainly aid as well. I do not intend to cease my prayers and you are correct, I believe, that Odin still hears them. It is just so strange." Cor thought a bit. "On another subject, do you think the death of the one who sent us on this quest will cause anyone to consider abandoning it or make them more resolved to see it to its end?"

Rayne thinks over Cor's question fr a moment considering his words and what she felt about others reactions. "I have not been with this group as long as some of the rest of you have but I think I can say without exception that the will fcontinue this quest regarless of who originally sent them be he living or dead. Now, I have a question for you since I am such a late comer. Who sent you on this quest, what was the quest, and when did you hear that he or she had died?"

Cor thought a moment and replied. "Though I am on this journey for some time my reasons are not those of the majority. Connel is my reason for the trip as my position in the hirachy of the Temple of Odin is that of judge for paladins seeking advancement in their order. As such I report on whether the candidate is of good character, keeps the faith and is in all ways prepared to take on greater challenges in the name of Odin. Why Connel is here is best asked of him; but he may no longer even know for sure. I believed it was the young lass's father who origionally set the group in motion to take Althena to find an item of great power and to destroy it. Perhaps I am mistaken and one of the others could clear things for us both."

OOC: DM please feel free to 'remind' this forgetful player of the details of the quest and who sent us.


(DM OOC: Ok first off it was the King of Shann'tara that first sent you on this Quest with his Adopted daughter and he is very much still alive. Not sure where anyone got the idea he was dead.

Ahh I thought it was Halia's dad that sent us. -Keeper

2nd: In truth there was really no way Haila could have been notified of her father's death but as there had been a number of posts on it before I had a chance to read them and as it had made for some good interaction I decided to let it remain.
3rd: The goal is to find the sword and reclaim it before the Dark King does. Only Althena can carry it without being corrupted and turned to evil and only she has a vague idea of where it is hidden but not what if anything guards it.)

Cynil sang softly to Conall and burned a small bundle of sweetsmelling herbs in the flame of a candle, easing him into a deep healing sleep.

Once he is asleep, she heads back to the inn, her belly button was close enough to whisper to her backbone. Food and sleep were foremost in her mind as she crossed the town in the dark. As she did she wondered if she could charm an animal into being her companion, one to protect her, so that the fighters did not have to worry about her being unprotected, and maybe some animal that could be useful in other ways.

Walking into the Inn she spies Rayne and Cor at the foot of the stairs, and moves to them.

Once their converstation seems at a lull, as Rayne asked about the purpose of their mission and Cor seemed not to answer.

"Rayne, if my may interrrupt." Cynil begins as Cor is not forthcoming with the details of their quest.

"Cor, I wish to thank you for what you did." Cynil looked to the Dwarf with the light of graditude in her eyes. "Conall sleeps and will do so for sometime, so I returned to eat and get some sleep before returning to him."

"Rayne, She looks to the Ranger/Cleric, (To quote the DM)
"The King of Shann'tara first sent us on this Quest with his Adopted daughter, Lady Althena Our goal is to find a specfic sword and reclaim it before the Dark King does. Only Althena can carry it without being corrupted and turned to evil and only she has a vague idea of where it is hidden."

THE TOWN OF MAIN
With the healing of Conall done and the Paladin once again on the mend, his leg yet but a stump but with new toes visible, it was for the rest a time to relax and prepare for the journey yet ahead. However, for one having received a magical message, they being oh so very rare, it was also a time to grieve. The days slowly turned to a week and then the week became 10 days until finally on the 11th day Conall’s leg was fully-grown and once again usable. With supplies topped off and a third, canoe added the party left the town of Main behind them and once more to the North did paddle.

THE TRIP UP RIVER CONTINUES
Unlike the trip before the party made good time and within a short two weeks on the eve of the 12th day after leaving Main they found themselves at the end of the river portion of their journey and in the shadow of a large mountain.

“That my friends” Althena spoke, pointing to the overlooking mountain “is where the sword lies, somewhere inside that place known only as Drow Mountain is hidden what we seek”

The canoes placed on shore and hidden to be used upon their return the party took to their beds to rest for the long walk ahead.With the raising sun just appearing on the horizon it found the party packed and already on the move towards the sword’s hiding place having woken early. The next four days were uneventful, as the area appeared to be so full of life, trees healthy, wild life running free, fresh water and plants in abundance. Yet for all that, it still had an empty feel as if something watched and waited for the party, something not at all friendly, yet no enemies or any form of danger appeared.

With the end of the fourth day, the party found themselves at the mountains base the choice before them now to choose which face they would climb to reach its top as no path was in sight. With a campsite created out of the brush, it was time for the party to decide what next to do.

(OOC: Ok great posting this past week I mean good lord between all of you Guys & Ladies you posted an unbelievable 48 times!!! In only 7 days!! WOW!!! I so do hope it continues....

OK I went ahead and moved the game forward as you can see roughly 4 weeks in game time as there was nothing really for me to add or comment on in the Role Play interaction between the Characters.
As in the post you are now at the South base of the mountain known as Drow Mountain and from where you are at presently there seems to be no path up its sides. Feel free to back post any character interaction during the last 12 days but please if unsure of something you want to post just ask.

Good luck and because of your great posting, I will let you know that from this point on things get harder for you, the enemies stronger with more numbers, and if you’re not careful, a characters death could very well be permenant.)