The Coast Road
A half day's worth of travel behind them, the weary band trudged along the path, each bend in the road seeming the same as the last. Laisha fervently hoped that they were going the right direction. Kolssed had bid them go east until they reached a crossroads, but the sun was on it's downward path in the sky and still no crossroads appeared. It wasn't until Imoen crawled back to her from scouting out ahead that Laisha regained some hope that she hadn't somehow managed to get the group irrevocably lost.
"Lai! There's a HUGE stone sign up ahead. We must be getting close, I think, it says we're on the Lion's Way.
"We already knew that, stupid girl!" Xzar muttered irritably.
"Yes, but they wouldn't have a sign up for it unless there were other options nearby to go down other paths. I think we're headed in the right direction!" the young thief skipped with glee, then skidded to a halt!
"Oh! I almost forgot! There's an old man ahead up there."
"A man? That might be something you could have told us earlier!" The group grabbed their weapons in readiness.
"Yeah, he's an old guy. Just resting in the shade of the stone, I think. Didn't seem to be a threat, not to the likes of us, anyway! Ha!"
Laisha heard a skeptical sniff from her cat in her pack and the band moved on warily, conscience that they were in full view as they trudged along the road. Presently, they saw the towering stone sign Imoen had told them of. Indeed, resting at the foot of it was an elderly man garbed in robes and a pointed hat. On seeing the party he rose to his feet with a grunt and called out in welcome.
"Ho there wanderers, stay thy course a moment to indulge an old man. It's been nigh unto a tenday since I've seen a soul walking this road, and I've been without decent conversation since. Traveling nowadays appears to be the domain of either the desperate or the deranged; If thou woulds't pardon my intrusion, might I inquire which pertains to thee?"
Ever unable to resist a pert quip, and a little irritated at the nosy old man's assumptions, Laisha stepped forward and responded in kind.
"Not to imply anything, but how do you measure up to your own standards? Pestering strangers about their mental state doesn't seem all that well adjusted to me."
Behind her, she heard Imoen gasp at her impertinence. Montaron wielded his blade threateningly and Xzar mumbled to himself aggravatedly. Even Pan weasled his way up and stuck his head out of the pack to see the response to his wizard's words.
To everyone's astonishment the man threw back his head and laughed resoundingly.
"Point well taken, and thou hast answered my query most adequately," the man grinned.
"I shall think of thee as determined instead. I shall trouble thee no more, as thou art more than capable of the task at hand. North is the Friendly Arm Inn, where I am certain thou shalt find trustworthy friends awaiting. I have said too much and taken too much time from thee. Fare thee well."
Laisha nodded her goodbyes, feeling strangely relieved to be in the traveler's good graces. She too laughed when she felt the cuff of a cat's paw at her nape.
"Fool! Could you not feel the energy, the power, emanating from the man?! Your smart-mouthed quip could have turned us all into toadstools had he the inclination!" Pan bristled, as angry as Laisha had ever seen him.
Despite her feline companion's rage, she could not for the life of her quell her mirth.
"Ah, but he didn't, did he, Pan? We're still alive, and walking, and not in the least bit fungal! All those thee's and thou's might frighten YOU, but we "bipeds" are made of sterner stuff!"
Pan growled as fiercely as he could manage, leaped down and tortted off haughtily, muttering about foolish young wizards who didn't know what they were doing.
"I know dragons with feet like rabbits!" Xzar suddenly announced. "'Tis true, I swear!"
"Bah! The mad wizard is off on one of his 'spells' again," complained Montaron. "Ignore him, 'tis best for all concerned!"
"C'mon Montaron, lighten up. Must you be so moody all the time?" Xzar cackled as the halfling scowled and stomped off.
A half hour past the signpost, and Imoen came crawling back from scouting.
"There's some more weird little blue folks up ahead in the bushes," she announced cheerfully.
"More of those gibberling things?" Laisha asked anxiously.
"Uh-uh. Or at least I don't think so." Imoen frowned thoughtfully. "These guys are a bit taller, big heads, and hairless...still blue though. Quite excitable little fellas, screeching at eachother and waving their swords around all threatening like."
Montaron snorted. "Ah. Sounds like we've got ourselves a pack of xvarts, pesky little pests they are." He looked up at the girls. "Be careful, they can be deadly in packs...and those swords they carry will slice through yon robes and armor like butter if'n you ain't careful."
"Well why don't I see if I can even the odds a bit?" Imoen grinned and snuck back off. Montaron watched her go with a queer look in his eye..
"Hmmm. A wee bit of training and th' girl could be mighty fine." he muttered.
The three approached as stealthily as they could, Montaron leading the way, warning the wizards where to step and lift up their robes to avoid snags. From just ahead, they heard the muffled twang of Imoen's bow and a gurgled death rattle from her target.
"Got the scout!" Imoen whispered triumphantly. "One down, five to go!"
Her next arrow grazed the ear of the second scout and he late out a chilling warcry as he charged at the small group. A second arrow made him falter, but he slashed out viciously with his sword at Imoen before the enchanted dagger Fuller had gifted Laisha found its way to the xvarts heart and he dropped. His cry had alerted the rest of the warband however and they came charging, enraged at the sight of their dead pack members.
Imoen's arrows flew thick and fast, and Laisha frantically tossed weapons from her dwindling supply of throwing daggers, causing two more to fall.
"Ow!" she squealed as the blade of an xvart slashed at her arm, and Montaron was bleeding freely from a head wound as he thrust and parried angrily. Xzar stepped up behind one of the creatures and almost dreamily thrust his dagger into the thick neck of the xvart, severing the brainstem as his halfling companion gutted the last remaining enemy.
After regaining their breath and treating their wounds, the group scabvanged what gold and stolen jewels they could find on the bodies of the xvarts and continued on their way. Within the hour, the indeed reached the Coast Way crossroads. Another stone signpost awaited them, with intricate carvings pointing the way for lost and weary travelers.
Coast way: Friendly Arm Inn to the North; Beregost to the south; Lion's Way West to Candlekeep.
The Crossroads at last. Laisha beamed, exultant. She had passed her first self-imposed test, and lead her small band to the first point of reference. The Friendly Arm Inn lay to the north and they would be there within the day. Despite everything that had happened, her spirits were high.
"Onwards to the north, fine friends!" she called. Imoen glanced at her curiously as Xzar cackled furiously and Montaron scowled. An hour into their northward journey, with their hunger gnawing, Laisha called a halt at what seemed to be an opportune shady spot a ways off the path. The party rested their aching legs, feasting on cold meat and bread as Pan hunted for his dinner, enjoying the sounds and scents of the forest.
"Im?" Laisha began tentatively. "That letter that Gorion had on him...It was signed 'E', right?"
"Mmm-hmm," Imoen agreed, happily munching away on a chunk of cheese she's carved off with one of her unused daggers.
"Well...who do you think that could be? Someone obviously knows something about what's going on...Can you think of anyone? Someone Gorion might have known well with that initial?"
Imoen swallowed noisily and looked thoughtful.
"You mean someone who came to Candlekeep maybe?"
Laisha nodded.
"There's only one person I can think of who might be involved in something like this who came to Candlekeep...and he was there yesterday, when all this happened..."
"Elvenhair?" Imoen asked, eyes wide. "Old Firebeard? Golly, you're right, he WAS there wasn't he?
Laisha nodded guiltily.
"I was supposed to go back and see him...he asked me to fetch him a spell scroll he'd lent Tethtoril for him..."
"Oh? What happened?"
Pan looked up from his meal of pigeon long enough to smirk as Laisha flushed.
"I...I scribed it into my spellbook...and the writing disappeared.."
Imoen gaped, intrigued..."Is that what happens to magic scrolls?"
"Oh yes," beamed Xzar from across the clearing, "all the secrets of the realms can be held in our little books, and they disappear from everywhere else. We are the keepers of such secrets that would blow your mind, little one" he laughed hysterically.
"Aye," Montaron said, thumbing at Xzar, "and there's yer proof right there!"
Imoen ignored the bickering pair, turning her attentions back to Laisha.
"Well Lai, here we are, traveling the good road. Some grand adventure we're having, huh? Not exactly what we used to daydream about but still, kinda exciting, I guess. I'd rather be out here, going places and doing things, than be stuck in Candlekeep, cleaning out stables and turning down beds. We can do a lot of good, I think." the young thief beamed.
She lay back, stretching out under a large oak.
"Wonder if they'll make a tale of our adventures?" she said idly. "Just think, one day folks'll be in the common room of some inn, maybe even the Candlekeep Inn, and they'll ask a bard to tell 'em a tale of Imoen the Quick and her trusty sidekick Laisha!"
Laisha raised a brow.
"Imoen the Quick?" she said skeptically.
"Sure!" her friend grinned. "Quick with the bow and quicker with the wit!"
Both Laisha and Pan rolled their eyes in unison, causing Imoen to break out in peals of laughter.
Thumbing through his disturbingly skin-like spellbook, Xzar carped malevolently as he gazed up at the rays of sunlight streaking through the canopy of leaves overhead.
"I never liked the sun. 'Tis just too...bright."
"I much be prefer'n the cover o' night, o'er this blasted daylight!" Montaron agreed fervently.
Xzar shot his companion a sly glance.
"Tell us a story, Monty. Something with bears and gold."
"Shut it!" the halfling yelled. "Ye be living longer if ye don't annoy me!"
"If ye don't mind, please try to keep your voices down. There be beasties about with better hearing then we." a soft but insistent voice intruded.
Montaron whirled around as Imoen opened her eyes and moved to a sitting position, bow at the ready. Laisha eyed the man warily, sizing him up as a hunter as Imoen glared at him.
"Hey, ya grouch!" she said indignantly, "we weren't shoutin' at all. We are adventurers and understand such things, ya know. Tell him, Laisha!"
"Sorry to have disturbed you" she said placatingly. "We were but resting a short while and will be on our way."
The man's stern features softened somewhat.
"I did not intend for my words to scare you away. They were a simple warning of dangers true, and meant as nothing more. The occasional chat is certainly welcome, but perhaps today is just not the best day for it. My name is Aoln, and I hunt these woods for meat to feed my family."
Laisha nodded.
"What should I be wary of in this area?" she asked, mindful of the horrid gibbering beasts that had twice attacked her party.
"'Round here? I wouldn't worry yourself too much, unless you're brainless and charge everything you see." Aoln cast an eye over the group as he spoke. "Mostly gibberlings out here, but they aren't too much of a hassle. A fair bow and good sword-arm could handle one, maybe two. More with mage or cleric backup. Wolves have become a bit more predatory lately. I think it's because more people are hunting for their food, seein' as how the iron shortage took away their normal livelihoods. A hungry wolf is a nasty thing, and I wouldn't travel without a group if I were you."
"Thank you, that's sage advice." Laisha decided to flatter the man.
"You seem quite at home out here. What's the most dangerous thing you've seen?
"The most dangerous thing I intentionally went after?" The hunters face darkened.
"Stalked an ogre mage for a few days once. Had a party of me own back then. Killed the ogre, lost the party. Not really worth the trade, if you ask me. I've seen more dangerous beasties, but usually over my shoulder as I'm making tracks as fast as I can. No shame in running when your life is on the line. Off with you now, I've meat to catch."
"A lovely tale to tell a group of travelers on the road." Pan murmured to Laisha as he curled back up into her pack as Aoln disappeared back into the surrounding woods
"Ogre mage? Bah! Fairy tales to scare witless children! Any ogre I've ever met was too damn stupid to bother with magics. " Montaron scowled as the party gathered themselves up to resume their travels.
They continued north, choosing to stay along the road, as the calls and cries from the forest set their nerves on edge. Restless, Pan scouted ahead, using his swiftness and silence to venture where the group dared not. At one point he returned to the group.
"There is something worth investigating to the left." he announced, tail twitching with excitement.
"A most interesting ring half buried in the tall grass awaits your perusal. I believe it has some magical qualities that may come in useful if used correctly."
Carefully they followed the cat off the path, where he led them to the abandoned ring. Both Laisha and Xzar made a grab for the ring as they too, could sense it's unmistakable magical qualities.
Laisha got there first, but held it out in her palm for the older wizard to study.
"I can sense its power, Xzar, but do you know exactly what it does?" she asked tentatively. The wizard leant in, one mad eye whirling crazily...he sniffed it, listened to it, caressed it with his skeletal fingers, even crooned to it wordlessly...Laisha watched his divining process with bemusement, right up to the point where the mage bared his teeth and went to bite it, whereupon she snatched her hand away with a barely concealed shudder.
"Bah! How can I divine its intentions if you will not allow me to study it fully?" the winard complained.
A third stone cairn soon pointed their way upon the path.
"Friendly Arm Inn to the North" , it stated, giving Laisha confidence that she was leading the group the right way. North they continued, deep into the night, until at long last a towering castle lay in sight to their tired eyes.
Laisha looked at the spires far in the distance with mixed feelings. The Inn ostensibly promised safety, and companions...but she had the prickly feeling of being herded there, by Gorion's letter, the hermit in the woods, even the strange wandering mage who had seemed so concerned with her mind state, and that made her irritable. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wondered whether the Friendly Arm Inn may not be friendly to her at all...