Episode 28
"Dancing with Wolves"
(c) Matt Grossman and J. Sage Schreiner
 
Norel Bolderdash, hulking woodsman of the Adri forest -- Tom Morin
Nigil Palom, noble from a far-distant land -- Kevin Osborn
Keht, an outcast monk -- AJ Drexel
Tron, a crafty scout -- Matt Grossman
Sapphire nee Tika, a courageous gnome -- Corey Paganucci
Rhahid, a mysterious spell-crafter -- Eric Kruller
All others -- Sage Schreiner
 
The party spends the next day at Jhaveks' winter house, resting and
exploring.
 
Tron: Hey, there's a snake in this bed! [chop chop]
Rhahid: Hmm, that must have been Jhavek's familiar.
Hooter: Hoo.
Tron: And that's it, there doesn't seem to be any other treasure.
Just these arrows.
Nigil: I call dibs on that bow, it's pretty nice.
Norel: What are we going to do with Aran?
Skanda: Heironeous returned his soul once.  I do not believe that he
will do it again. Valor means little without noble death.
Nigil: I'll start building a funeral pyre then.  Hey, you women, build
a funeral pyre.
 
The women of the castle mourn over Aran's body.
 
Woman: It's such a shame he died, so young and handsome.  What will
become of us now?
Younger Woman: Soooo... 
Woman: ... handsome.
Thorwolf: Well, I have some ideas, but let's wait until after the funeral.  Heh heh.
Woman: Oh, ok.
 
The women start building a pyre.
 
Tron: Where's the other elf boy?  This letter talks about two.
Woman: Oh, he's out back with dogs.
 
Tron looks and finds the boy's frozen, mutilated corpse being gnawed
by several dogs.
 
Tron: I wish I'd been around when they killed that guy.
 
Later that day they burn the bodies of Aran and the elf boys.  Aran is
burned in his armor with his second-best sword. Flames begin to lick
around his armor.
 
Rhahid: I'm not sure what would happen if we tried to burn
Frostbringer, but I think it would be bad.
Sapphire: Let's keep it.  Perhaps we will meet another someday worthy
of wielding it.
Skanda: As the smoke rises from the fire, so does the soul of this
noble knight rise from his earthly prison to join the hosts of
Hieroneous.  With them he will fight in the final battle against the
forces of evil.  Aran, on that day we will fight by your side.  Until
then, farewell!
Norel: mutterbrothermuttermutterpeoplemuttermutter... halls of Valhalla.
 
For a while the only sound is the crackling of the flames. Flesh pulls
away from bone, blood spits in the coals, the skull cracks, and thick
black smoke writhes upwards. Aran is no more.
 
Skanda: We do not know the names of these two elves, or their
families.  We know that they died in misery far from their native land.
Their ghosts may be angry.  Rest in peace and do not trouble the
living!  You have been avenged.
 
Later, the party tries to find out some information:
 
Tron: So have any people visited this house recently?
Woman: Let's see, there was this old creepy guy, and this really ugly
woman who Jhaveks wouldn't let in the house.
Nigil: That would be the wizard and his "mistress".
Woman: Then there was a small guy, who kept his face hidden, and a
foreigner, with brown hair and a mustache.  He had this really ugly
baby with him.
Tron: Like a half-orc baby?
Woman: Coulda been.  It was about a year old.  Really sweet... but a little
too eager to please. Didn't seem quite right. Oh, and he had the presents
with him.
Norel: Presents?
Woman: You know, the little fae boys.
Tron: Explain to me again why we bother saving these people.
Rhahid: Come on, it is not like they could do anything.
Tron: They could be a bit more grateful that he's dead.
Thorwolf: Some of them are, if you know what I mean. [wink wink]
 
Skanda seems strangely bothered by the mention of the child.
 
Norel: The horses aren't riding horses.  We'll have to walk.
Nigil: We'll leave tomorrow morning.  Let's start packing.
 
They divide up Aran's stuff.  Tron gets the ring of mind shielding.
 
Tron: Now nobody will be able to know my philosophy of life!
Sapphire: Not gonna say it...
Norel: Aran was carrying soap. No wonder he was always so clean!
Rhahid: Hey, I have soap. And mine doesn't have a hole in it.
Party: ...
Rhahid: Barbarians.
 
The next morning, they leave to walk back to Niborg.  Morogh and Idne
accompany them.  Idne seems completely ignorant of who Morogh is and
why he rescued her.
 
Morogh: She's so pretty.  I'm afraid to talk to her.
 
Nigil is carrying Jhaveks head in a bag.  Rhahid has his signet ring.
 
Nigil: We wouldn't want people to think that we were just idly
boasting.  We must have proof that we killed that evil lord!
 
Thorwolf is staying behind to "protect" the women.
 
Thorwolf: Kord will provide.  Heh heh.
 
After walking for about half an hour...
 
Hooter: Hoo.
Rhahid: What's that, Hooter?  The giant?  Coming this way?
 
The party takes shelter in the trees and waits as the frost giant
lumbers towards them.
 
Giant: Boo-hoo, my doggies are dead! (drinks from a giant-sized flask)
Wahh!
Rhahid: No!  Wait!
Tron: Gotcha! [twang twang]
Giant: Arrgh!  You killed my doggies! (prepares to charge)
Rhahid: Bah.  Just watch this guys.
 
Two giant sized wolves run out of the woods and run past the giant. The
illusion is perfect -- powdery snow is tossed into the air, and the
wolves yap playfully.
 
Tron: Huh?  I thought we killed... Oh.
Giant: Whaaa... Fenris!  Tibor!  Wait for me!
Wolves: (run past giant and into the woods on the far side of the river)
Giant: Fenris!  Tibor!  Come back!
Rhahid: That should keep him busy for a while.  Now let's get out of
here.
 
The party head south.  About half an hour later:
 
Hooter: Hoo.
Rhahid: What?  That giant is following us again?  That wasn't part of
my plan!
Tron: Hah hah, told you we'd have to fight it.
Norel: We've got find a defensible position.  Move!
 
They run through the woods parallel to the river.  They can now hear
the giant behind them.
 
Giant: I kill you!
 
Suddenly, the party bursts into a clearing.  Seated in the clearing is
a burly humanoid wearing a robe.  A staff and a backpack are placed
nearby, and the figure appears to be cooking breakfast.
 
Rhahid: Giant!  Run!
Figure: Huh?
 
As it stands up its hood falls back, revealing the unmistakable face
of a half-orc.
 
Norel: Those rocks would make good cover... huh?  A half orc?
Tron: Let's kill it!
Keht: I would like to see you try, pansy elf.
Tron: (punches Keht)
Rhahid: Guys!  There is no time for this!  The giant is almost here!
Keht: I'll be glad to finish this fight... after we defeat the giant.
 
The party takes up positions as the giant crashes through the brush.
Keht ends up next to Norel.
 
Norel: Something smells. (moves away)
 
Norel: [twang twang]
Nigil: [twang twang]
Sapphire: [twang] Hoody-hoo!
Rhahid: [zort zort zort]
Tron: [twang twang]
Giant: Urrooogh! [crash]
 
Norel: Well, that was anticlimactic.
Sapphire: Loot the body!
 
Skanda faces Keht, her scimitar still drawn.
 
Skanda: Who are you and what are you doing here?
Keht: My name is Keht.  I am but a humble student of the way of the fist.
 I walk the earth, seeking adventure.
Norel: We hate orcs.
Keht: I do not like orcs either.  But I am not an orc.
 
Tron moves behind Keht.
 
Keht: Morogh, who are these guys?
Morogh: Uhh, they're the guys who killed the Ripper.
Keht: So who's boss now?
Morogh: Ummm... Helge.
Keht: I guess we're on the same team then.  If that elf behind me
sheathes his sword, that is.  I'm looking for some company on the road
to Nyborg, would you care to join me?
Nigil: You sound like our kind of man.  We'll be glad to have you with
us.
Rhahid: I agree, he seems ok.
Sapphire: I don't have any problems.
Tron: Humph.
Norel: Humph.
Skanda: (silently sheathes her scimitar)
Rhahid: Well, then, guys, we are all friends so let's get going right?
 
They loot the giant's body but find only a 40-gallon barrel of bad
mead.
 
Sapphire: Bah.  I need to train.
 
After a few hours traveling they reach Nyborg.
 
Nigil: The guards will still be looking for us.
Keht: Just do what I do.  Pull your hood over your face and bribe
them.
Rhahid: I have a better idea. (turns Norel and Nigil invisible)
 
The party enters the city, paying a small fee to the guards.  Then
they split up.  Rhahid and Skanda go to brief Gef on the situation.
Tron, Morogh, and Idne go to Jan the shipwright's house, and the rest
of the party goes to the thieves guild headquarters.
 
At Gef's house:
 
Gef: [yawn] Good afternoon.  Want something to drink?
Rhahid: Sure, coffee would be good.
Gef: Kawfee?  What's that?  I was thinking brandy.
Rhahid: Ok, brandy is fine.
Gef: I have some news for you.  I found out who that wizard is.  He's
Vodius the Ahlissan.
Rhahid: (thinks) Oh, so he's Ahlissan.
Gef: Apparently.  And somebody killed the king's children in Marner.
All of them.  Nobody knows who did it.
Rhahid: Well, I have news too.  We killed Jhaveks!  Here is his signet
ring for proof.
Gef: You... ahh... you don't say?
Rhahid: Now, we are planning to burn down the shipyard and leave
tonight.
Gef: Hmmm, I think I might want to leave with you.  This town is
going to get pretty hot now Jhaveks is dead.
Rhahid: Good, we will pick you up tonight when the moon is a handspan
high.
 
Rhahid and Skanda leave.
 
Skanda: You know, Rhahid, I'm surprised you told him all that stuff
with Sigrid right there in the next room.  I don't trust her.
Rhahid: [gulp] You are right.  Go and get Tron and bring him here.  I
will follow Sigrid if she leaves.
Skanda: Are you going to kill her?
Rhahid: Err... no...
 
Skanda leaves.
 
Rhahid: I will let Tron do that.
 
Meanwhile, at the shipwright's:
 
Tron: Hey, we brought your daughter back!
Jan: (opens door) Idne!
Idne: Daddy!
 
They embrace.
 
Morogh: Ahem.  Ummm... Mr. Jan sir, I would like to ask for your
daughter's hand in marriage.
Jan: (stares at him blankly)
Idne: (stares at him blankly)
Morogh: She's really pretty. So I want to marry her.
Jan: Who are you?
Morogh: Muh... my name is Morogh.
Jan: Well, we will have to think about it.
Morogh: Uhhh... ok. (wanders off)
Jan: Who was that guy?
Idne: I have no idea. He seems kind of... slow.
Tron: Anyway, we're going to bust you out of here tonight.  We're
going to burn down the shipyard, steal a fishing boat, and head to
Thorfinn's isles.  He's heard of your skill and is willing to offer
you employment.
Idne: They rescued me and killed Jhaveks! We can trust them.
Jan: I agree. We'll have to leave now.  I think I'll take Thorfinn
up on that offer.
 
Tron goes back to the thieve's guild.
 
Meanwhile, back in Helge's office:
 
Keht: So the Ripper is dead?
Helge: Yup.  I'm in charge now.  Here's 20 silver.
Keht: I don't care who the boss is. I'll stay with these people I met.
(He also hopes that "the blonde one" may have some interest in him)
Nigil: So now we want your help to carry out the second phase of our
plan.  Can you put the shipyard guards to sleep again?
Helge: No, they've reinforced them and they're more suspicious now.
You might be able to sneak by them.
 
He describes the guards' schedule.  The party spends most of their time in
their hut.  Tron arrives and they discuss the situation a bit more.
 
Helge: So how did your overland expedition go?
Norel: Well, we killed Jhaveks and... Oops.
Helge: You killed Jhaveks?!
Nigil: [sigh] Sure, here's his head. (roll)
Helge: Yup, that's Jhaveks all right.
Random Thief: What was that, boss?  They killed Jhaveks?
Helge: That's a secret, boys.
Random Thief: Sure thing, boss.
Tron: (closes the door)
Helge: I hope that's not a threat.
Nigil: No, not at all. It was more of an inevitability?
Tron: Yeah, one of those.
 
Meanwhile, Rhahid has been watching Gef's house.
 
Rhahid: Nobody will notice me loitering in this alleyway.
 
He sees Sigrid leave with a basket, evidently heading for the market.
He follows her.
 
Rhahid: Sigrid!  Hi there. (he runs after her, but looks very threatening)
Sigrid: Ayeee! (takes off at a run)
Rhahid: (Forces good humor) Ha ha ha.  You wacky girl. (follows at a jog)
Sigrid: I don't trust you!
Bystanders: (stare)
 
Sigrid is evidently heading for the Wooden Nipple, where she plans to
blab everything to her friends and coworkers.
 
Rhahid: Hooter, go flap around her and slow her down!
 
As Sigrid is approaching the pub, the owl swoops down and flaps around
her.
 
Sigrid: (cowers) Aaaah!  Wicked Owl!
Rhahid: (catches up) Why don't you come in and have a beer? (grabs her
arm)
 
He leads her into the pub.  There are a number of people there.
 
Sigrid: (trembling with fear) Ass... ass... assas... assassin!
Rhahid: Yes, that was terrifying but it's over now. (catches the eye
of the bartender) Could you get us a private room?  She's had a nasty
scare.
Petav: Right back here.
 
They maneuver the terrified woman into a private room in the back of
the inn.  The bartender brings some beer.
 
Rhahid: Why don't you just have a drink?
Sigrid: But... but... [glug glug glug] (starts coughing) He...
They...
Petav: Here, drink some of this brandy. It will help you calm down.
Rhahid: She was attacked by an owl.  It must have been rabid.  You can
go back to the bar now, it's all right.
Petav: (leaves)
Rhahid: Now listen to me, Sigrid.  We are not going to kill you.
We're leaving tonight.  Just don't tell anyone until we leave, and
we'll pay you one hundred silver.
Sigrid: I want... two hundred silver!
Rhahid: That can be arranged.
Sigrid: (her eyes glaze at the thought of so much money)
Rhahid: Just stay here and don't tell anyone. (gives her some money
and leaves)
 
As he leaves the pub, Hooter swoops down and lands on his shoulder.
 
Rhahid: Good job, Hooter.
Hooter: Hoo.
 
Rhahid and Skanda both return to the thieves guild.  Helge sends some
of his men to "keep an eye" on Sigrid, and they discuss the situation.
 
Helge: Obviously Jhaveks' death is going to create a power vacuum.
I'm not sure who is going to step into it.  But it's unlikely that
whoever it is will feel positively towards me.
Rhahid: Might we suggest an alliance with Thorfinn?
Helge: Hmmm, I will send him a letter.  Keht, you can carry it for me.
Keht: Ok.
Helge: Tell him I am as trustworthy as he is. Remember that and tell him,
okay?
Keht: Okay.
 
The party waits around in the thieves guild until the appointed time.
They figure out a plan, which involves fly spells, oil barrels, fire
arrows, a stolen fishing boat, and a bit of luck.
 
Nigil: This is one of our simpler plans.  I think it might actually
work.
Rhahid: And the best part is, we don't have to pay Sigrid 200 silver.
 
At the appointed time they set forth.  They go to Jan's house, but
find it empty and dark.  Geff's house is also empty and dark.  And
there are a surprising number of guardsmen loitering around, casually
watching the party.
 
Tron: It's a trap!
Nigil: Somebody must have talked.
Norel: Let's get out of here and head for Rognvald's camp.  Even if
they all got killed by Wendol, the "Osprim's Will" should still be
there.
Keht: I know the ways of the sea.
 
They go to the halfling quarter and climb over the wall, with the aid
of Tron's climbing skills.  They they start hiking through the forest
along the coast.  Although it is somewhat warmer than before, it is
still a grueling hike and many party members are soon exhausted.
 
Rhahid: Hooter says Wendol are following us.  But only a few.
Tron: Let's just keep going.  Hopefully they won't attack.
 
Then they hear the howls of wolves.  The party jogs steadily through
the moonlit forest.  Soon they are surrounded on all sides by lean
grey shapes darting at the edge of vision.  Behind them they hear the
sound of Wendol fighting with wolves.
 
Tron: This feels familiar.
 
Suddenly four wolves break from the woods and charge the party.
 
Rhahid: (casts Fly on himself and swoops above the action) Hang in
there, guys!
Nigil: Sit! [chop]
Keht: Boot to the head! [crunch]
Wolf: (drops with a crushed skull)
Sapphire: Eat steel!
Wolf: Yipe. [thud]
Tron: [stab stab]
Wolf: Urp. [thud]
Nigil: Keep running!
 
They burst out of the forest and into the site of Rognvalds camp.
Frozen blood, bits of mail, broken axe-hafts and other detritus of
battle are scatterd on the snowy beach. There is no sign of the ship.
 
Tron: Ok, we're in trouble now.
Keht: We must build a fire.
Norel: That is good. It will hold the wovles at bay.
 
The wolves ring the beach just out of arrow shot.  By now there must
be scores of them.  The party builds a bonfire and stands with their
backs to the water.  Rhahid hovers overhead.
 
Tron: It looks like they're forming up into a line.  There's a huge
black wolf that seems to be the leader.  I'll take that one. (draws
his bow)
Norel: Wait!  I have an idea.  (he begins to walk slowly towards the
wolves)
Keht: He faces great danger.
Tron: Duh.
Nigil: Norel is a master at dealing with animals.
 
The ranger walks into the darkness.  Only Tron and Rhahid, with their
night vision, can clearly see what is happening.
 
Tron: They're attacking him! (takes aim)
Rhahid: Stop!  It's a test.
Tron: Yeah, they've stopped now... (keeps his bow aimed at the wolf leader)
 
The party hears barking and growling noises.  After a few minutes
Norel walks back into the firelight.
 
Norel: They're hungary andcannot eat the Wendol. I told them where they
could find the giant's corpse.  Their leader sent two wolves out to check.
I think that she is a dire wolf.  We'll have to hope that they'd rather eat
the giant than fight to eat us.  I told them that we would stay here. She
agreed as we have no way to run from them.
 
The party waits for a while.  More and more wolves are gathering at
the edge of the firelight, but they do not attack yet.
 
Rhahid: What's that, Hooter?  A ship?
 
The main sail of a ship glows in the moonlight as it rounds the point.
 
The mage flies off to investigate, and finds that the "Osprim's Will",
with Rognvald and about half of his crew, is heading towards shore,
rowing slowly through the ice floes.
 
Rognvald: (in Fruztii) It is the girly-man foreigners!  You were right
about that fire, Hans!  Keep rowing, men!
Rhahid: Be careful, there are hundreds of wolves on the shore.
Rognvald: (in Fruztii) What does the flugmensche say?
Crewman: He says there are wolves on the shore.
Rognvald: (in Fruztii) If that's all then there's no problem.  Row!
Rhahid: What we have here... is a failure to communicate.
 
He flies back and reports the situation.
 
Nigil: Ok, when the ship comes in close everyone run for it.
Sapphire, you'd better move closer to the water since you can't run as
fast as us.
Sapphire: Grr...
Norel: The wind is blowing from the shore, so the wolves won't smell
the ship coming.  If they think that we are breaking faith with
them...
 
After a tense wait of a few minutes, the ship comes into shallow
water.  The party makes a run for it and everyone manages to get on
board.  At the last minute the wolves rush the beach, but it is too
late.
 
Tron: Ha ha! Stupid dogs! Howdya like dem apples!
 
The next morning the party is at Thorfinn's isle.
 
Nigil: Thorfinn, let's go someplace private and we'll report.
 
They report.
 
Thorfinn: So... You didn't destroy the boats or kill the
shipwright... but you did kill an important nobleman.  This puts me in
an awkward position.  I thought you said you weren't assassins?
Tron: Aran said that.  He's dead.
Thorfinn: Oh, the handsome one? I am now forced to consider you assassins,
publicly at least.
Nigil: Anyway, we only kill bad people.
Thorfinn: Anyway, you must not say a word of this to anyone.  As long
as I can be "ignorant" of your crimes, I won't have to kill you.
Keht: I bring you a letter from the head of the thieves guild in
Nyborg.
 
Thorfinn reads the letter and tosses it aside.
 
Thorfinn: You can't trust someone like that.  Anyway, you can stay
here until I "hear" of your crime.  That will probably be when the
next ship comes in from Marner, in about six weeks.  I may have
further duties for you.  The death of Jhaveks does change things...
By the way, a ship arrived from Marner yesterday. There was a man on it
who says he knows you.  Now leave me, I must think.
 
They find that the man is... Gabriel, Jola's brother! He stills has
the long blond hair, and flowing yellow beard. Twinkling blue eyes
grin at the world.
 
Norel: We heard you were dead!
Tron: Or at least we thought so.  In fact we saw you get run through
with a spear.
Gabriel: Truly, I do not know how I survived.  I was badly wounded and
wandered for weeks in the Adri forest.  When I recovered I headed
north, hoping that Jola would have found her way here.  I had almost
lost hope when I heard some sailors talking about heroes who had
killed a wyvern.  I recognized some of the descriptions, and headed
here as fast as I could.
Nigil: Well, we're glad that you made it.
Gabriel: Thank you for looking after my sister.
Jola: We named the baby Gabriel after you!
Gabriel the younger: Bleahp.
Rhahid: So... would you mind introducing us?
Norel: Gabriel fought wiht us at the defense of the keep on the borderlands.
Shortly before its fall, he went for help. But not in time...
Skanda: Gabriel worships Pholtus, like I do. I'm sure we will have
much to discuss.
 
Sapphire trains and gains in skill as a fighter.  The gnome's stumpy
figure can often be seen running around dragging wagon wheels behind
her.
 
Nigil: Faster!  Now give me fifty push-ups!  Heh. I'm glad I'm not in
the army anymore. Lunge! Harder!
 
Skanda and Gabriel the elder start spending a lot of time together.
While it's clear they haven't formed any kind of understanding, Skanda has
something the party memebers have never seen before: a dawning hope
in her eyes. Having one of her god to discuss philosophy with seems to
put her at spiritual ease.
 
Keht: Humph.  Women don't understand my inner beauty. (goes off to
meditate)
 
After a couple weeks, Thorfinn invites the party (minus Skanda) to go
hunting with him.  That night, around the campfire, Thorfinn speaks:
 
Thorfinn: One must hold both sides of the road to have peace. It is a burden
I do not wish, but I most hold Nyborg.  You have brought me a lot of
information on the town's defences and the troops there.  I plan to make
a sudden attack and take the castle.  No more raids or scouting parties.
I could do with warriors of your skill.  If you help me, I will give you 
a ship and you may go where you will.
Nigil: Of course.
 
The rest of the party agrees.
 
Keht: I'd rather be fighting with you guys than against you.
Rhahid: We are glad to have you with us.
Tron: Humph.
Rhahid: Some of us, anyway.
Thorfinn: Excellent.  We will attack in a week.  And understand, not a
word of this to anybody.
Sapphire: Great!  I can finish training!
 
They go back to Thorfinn's hall the next day.
 
Groa: Say, we haven't seen Gabriel or Jola or Skanda around for a
while.  Since you guys went out on that trip.
Nigil: Oh no, not again...
 
The party hurries to Skanda's house, a low stone building a little way
back in the hills.  It is dark, and nobody answers the knocks.
 
Norel: There are tracks leading into the interior of the island.  A
man and a woman.
Nigil: Follow them!  Tron, open the door!
Tron: Wait, let me check for traps... Clear!
 
The elf throws the door open.  In the dimly lit room they see Skanda,
sitting crosslegged in front of the embers of the fire.  There is some
stuff on the floor: A piece of fleece and some glittering dust.
 
Rhahid: Guys, don't move!  Those are components for a powerful spell!
 
The glittering dust rises up in a cloud, taking the form of Gabriel
(the elder).
 
Gabriel: Greetings my little fools...
Nigil: It's you!
Gabriel: By the time you hear my voice, I will be long gone. Know this:
Both of the children are mine:  Gabriel is my son, my blood.  Know this:
Jola is mine, MINE. Skanda will be mine forever just as Devereaux and Sir
Robin were mine.  Father Abercrombie would have been mine, if it wasn't
for your meddling. I betrayed the keep to the orcs. Soon, the throne of
Ratik will be mine to do with as I will. Be assured that if you try to
stop me you will never see Myra again.
 
The image fades.  The party stares for a while in shocked silence.
 
Tron: Skanda, what's going on?  Skanda?
 
The elf approaches the cleric.  Skanda does not move. Her eyes are blank,
dark circles.
 
Tron:  She's been... stuffed.  With straw.  Skinned and stuffed.
Nigil: NOOOOOOOO!!!!
 
He runs outside, screaming in rage.
 
Sapphire: So, what was that all about?  Who were those people he spoke
about?
Keht: That goes for me too.
Tron: Let's search the place.  I'll explain later.
 
They find nothing else in the hut and set out on the trail after
Norel. After several hours hiking across the island, they meet Norel
and Nigil coming the other way.
 
Norel: No luck.  They crossed the island and took a ship on the other
side.  They could be anywhere by now.
Keht: So, let me get this straight.  Gabriel was this Jola chick's
brother...
Norel: I hope not, because my rangerly skill detected that they had
sex a few hundred yards that way.  I guess they weren't in a hurry.
Sapphire: I thought the baby was Nigil's.
Nigil: Little Gabriel is my son!
Norel: I've been doing some of that "math" stuff Rhahid is always
talking about.  Gabriel was born about seven moons after Nigil started
going with Jola.
Tron: That seems about right.  It takes fourteen moons for elves, and
I know that it's less for humans.
Sapphire: I don't know about humans, but that would be too short for a
gnome...
Norel: You'd think Skanda would have noticed if that was wrong.  I
mean, she had had a baby... But then... Skanda's concerns were often
not of this world. It is why she spoke so little.
Keht: My mother told me that the stork brings half-orc babies faster
than human babies...
Rhahid: (listens with astonishment) Why, it takes a woman nine moons
to give birth to a baby.  Don't you guys know that?
Nigil: Nine... Moons...
Norel: Wow. That's a lot longer than wolves, birds and deer.
Tron: (counting on his fingers)  Wow, Nigil, looks like...
Nigil: AAAARGH! (runs off into the night hacking down trees with his
sword)
Norel: They are on the list!  They on the fucking list!
Tron: Hey, that's my line...
 
Eventually, Nigil calms down enough to join the rest of the party in a
farmhouse, where they continue to discuss the situation:
 
Norel: This explains a lot.  Now we know who the spy at Thorfinn's
court was, and who the "J" was in that letter we found at the keep,
and why Father Abercrombie got sick like that -- remember, Gabriel
was 'helping' him. Remember how the orcs shifted their bombardment to
the weakest place of the keep just after Gabriel left? And the stuff
that kept disappearing on the ship... They were setting us up the whole time.
Tron: And it's all Hastern's fault! He must be Hastern's agent, or one of them.
Rhahid: And we also know who killed the king's children. Or at least that
seems likely.
Sapphire: Do you have any idea who that guy is really?
Norel: He's not a paladin.  He might be a priest of an evil god, and a
powerful wizard.  He must have been the brown-mustached guy who
visited Jhaveks' castle with Myra.  I guess he's a master of disguise.
Tron: But that dopey paladin said that he was ok.  And Aran could
detect evil...
Sapphire: All this Gabriel guy would need is a ring like the one
you've got, and he'd be fine.
Norel: Whoever he is, we all have reasons to want him dead.
Rhahid: He knows everything.  I'm sure Skanda told him about killing
Jhaveks.  Before he skinned her.
Tron: The only thing he doesn't know is that Thorfinn is planning an
attack.  Thorfinn only just started mobilizing today, and he only told
us yesterday.  I think we should go with him, make that attack, then
go to Marner and get some revenge.
Norel: I don't want Myra to die.  After all that we went through,
she's the only part of Skanda left.
Nigil: I agree. It wouldn't be honorable.
Rhahid: Knowing how these people work, I think we might be finding
"parts of Skanda" again.  We didn't find her body, just her skin...
He promised that she was his forever... that might have been more
than an empty threat.
Keht: I believe that it is time that this "Gabriel" left his current
body and assumed one more fitting to his karma. Like slug in a saltmine.
And I'm willing to help.
 
They compose themselves for sleep.
 
Tron: You know, in his favor, the guy did kill Sir Robin.
Nigil: AAAAARGH! If I catch him...
Rhahid: Hey, I'm trying to sleep over here!
 
TO BE CONTINUED...