Fellowship of the Dice

Torias sits down in a corner and uses the time to update his notebook. He notes down details of the Forge Spurned, the kobolds and their pets as well as how they seem to be organised, what he has found out about Droskar and the dwarf monks here as well as other stuff he thinks important.

Morning has come, and the weather is cold, very cold. You wake to the sound of a loud *CR-RACK*, it sounds like lightning hitting almost.

You are up and about, moving to search out the noise. It takes you a few minutes but you realize that one of the nearby tree branches, still covered in leaves, and now covered in a thick layer of snow has broken from the weight.

Snow has fallen over night, and the clouds in the sky suggest its snowing further south even. It is only a few weeks into September but already winter is here. Cold and eager to get away from here you ready yourselves for the trip back to Falcon's Hollow.

The first thing Celevan does upon dawn breaking is to resummon Suli. Having the eidolon taken from him is like part of his heart missing. He won't feel right until he knows that Suli is okay.

After that, he consults with the other spellcasters. "We'll want to protect the kids from the cold," he says. I can do that for some. Can any of you help?"

Torias blesses the children against cold.

Torias moves about the children, his blessings are able to cover four of the children, which means that one of them is left without the magical protection. It is Nessa that refuses the blessing, making sure her siblings are safe. You don't argue with the young girl, but you do give her some extra clothing and blankets to wrap up in.

Edgrin, come morning, provides some healing in place of Torias' spells. The little bard's sing-songy voice is reassuring and coupled with a few channel energies from the dwarven cleric the group is healed and ready to set out.

So you leave Droskar's Crucible, the ruins and the mountain behind. The snow begins and the cold winds blow down off the mountain like some monster attacking you the moment you set foot out in the Darkmoon Woods. You travel all day through the bitter cold and the falling snow. You know this route well enough that you make good progress through the forest and you are thankful for the branches that keep much of the snow at bay under the canopy. Several more times throughout the day you hear the *CRACK* of branches breaking under the weight of the snow.

The day passes as you force your way closer and closer to Falcon's Hollow. Suli provides a mount for the smaller kids to ride, and that keeps you moving at a decent pace. Stopping to eat and rest a few times through out the day you eventually are forced to camp for the night along the shores of the Droskmere. During the night the snow stop but the cold remains, much of the Droskmere is now frozen over, in fact you realize now you might cross the frozen river or lake in future travels and safe some travel time.

Morning arrives one the second day after saving the kids and you continue onward to Falcon's Hollow. After much travel throughout the day you reach an old lumber road and are close to being home. So pressing on you arrive at the gates of Falcon's Hollow as the sun has set and the lights of the town are glowing out of various windows.

You've made it safely home at last.

September 16th, Late Evening, Falcon's Hollow

Celevan takes care of protecting Nessa from the cold. And when he summons Suli, he's not a lizard like he was before, but rather a large white and black striped snow tiger, easily the size of a horse. Several of the children will be able to ride, if necessary.

When they get near to town, however, Celevan reluctantly sends Suli back to the celestial realm. If a man-sized wolf bothered the townsfolk, a horse-sized tiger definitely would.

Dreams is attentive to the children, offering words of comfort to them if they seem to need it and just walking near them as they travel. No matter what they endured growing up in the Pit, it cannot be easy for them to have lost Vren. At one point, Dreams steps out of earshot of the children to speak to Celevan. Speaking in Elohim, to make sure the children can't understand if they somehow manage to hear them, she says to her fellow elf, "We will need to find a good family in Falcon's Hollow to foster them to. The treasure we took from the kobolds should be enough compensation for anyone taking on that task, but some who are unfit will be tempted by the money alone. Do you know a family of good moral character who could take the children in? Perhaps a childless couple or someone like that, who wish for heirs and need extra hands around to help out with the farm or shop?"

Syrronas arrives back in town, he has spent time trying to comfort the children they have brought back. His own odd appearance easily overcome by well chosen words and sincerity. He is new to Falcon's Hollow and does not yet feel at home here.
"You would know best where to place the Children without homes Celevan."

Torrak nods, "You are in fact the only one of us with any prior knowledge of this township. Perhaps however Laurel might know of someone? She seems a kind hearted soul. Regardless we should get them back to the house for now, and in out of the cold."

The group strides through the north gate of the town and no towns folk are out, not in the cold at this hour. The lights of the Sitting Duck, the local tavern are shinning out of the shuttered windows and the shouts and music of a lumber town tavern fills the air around the building. Celevan takes a moment to consider the question and options as he leads you silently back to his place where the kids were staying. With so many of you, you'll have to find some place to crash for the night, not everyone can stay in Celevan's rented room.

Turning west the moment you are in town you are quickly at the boarding house rented room of Celevan. The hour is late and the walk is long, so Dreams is carry Griet, while Torias has Jak in his arms. Gunner and Nessa press on along with Jurin as well. You spend a good twenty minutes getting the kids into the house and settled, they are all quickly dozing and falling a sleep -- all but Jurin Kreed. For him, its time to take him to his father.

Once the kids are bundled up in the bed, and a fire is set in the fireplace to warm the room up. Celevan walks over to the door. "Time for us to take you home, Jurin," he says. "No doubt your father is worried about you."