Legends part 1: The Quest

[sfliegel]

"Then I guess all that is left, is for us to meet this Xan Jeriko. And then we should be on our way." The alchemist made Bane nervous, and the sooner they could be on their way the better. Bane had known some monks from his youth but they had been Wolfen. He had heard rumor that other races had simular people and he was anxious about getting to meet one.

[Game Master]

"As you wish." Gardrax began an incantation and suddenly all of Sunny's henchmen, his pegasus and Meylon's horse were in the room with them. "Now that we're all here all you need do is step through one of the windows. After that you will be in the Ophid's grasslands. I must inform you that Xan is the only one who can cast the invocation to return you to here so if something should happen to him you will have to find your own way back by normal means. Any last words before you leave?"

[homeskillet]

Barbarius just grunts and marches through the one of the windows. He marches determined to face whatever is out there. Once he's out, he turns and faces the group with a smile and a wave.

[Game Master]

Sunny mummers under his breath to Bane. "Maybe we should take the long route and meet him out there in a few months eh?" The Paladin winks and heads through a window with a smile on his face. All of his henchmen follow with his squire Sir Carrius holding the reigns of his pegasus. Meylon grabs the reigns of her horse shuriken and walks through as well. "Better hurry up shaggy. You don't want to be left alone in a human city." she calls back merrily.

Bane troted through happy to finally leave the human domain.

The weather outside was decidingly cooler then the opressive humidity of Timiro. The wind was strong and biting. The sparse clouds moved overhead with great speed as if fleeing the mountain range to the west. The group soon realized that the tower they now stood on was well over a hundred feet tall and could probably be seen for miles in every direction. Bane thought it would be a welcoming land mark of reference in an otherwise unfamilier land.

"There is a group or herd of somekind over there to the North." Meylon pointed.

"I don't see anything. They must be miles away." Sunny comented.

"I see them as well." confirmed the elven wizard Selinorr. "We elves have keener eye sight then the lesser races. he commented offhandedly.

"Well I for one want to get the hell off this parapet. This wind is freezing my tits off!" cried Lady Marrissa the bard .

"There is a stairway over here." called Miguel the halfling.

[sfliegel]

Bane squinted in the direction that Meylon pointed but could see nothing. He knew well the power of the elves' vision so he immediately trusted Meylon's report. Taking a long slow breath, Bane smelled the air hoping to catch the scent of what might be approaching. "Can you tell what they are or which way they are moving?"

[homeskillet]

As Miguel pointed at the stairway everyone can see Barbarius barreling down. His ax is in hand as turns back to the group. " Seems to be a group of centaurs and they don't look too happy! Better move quick, some of them have bows!" With this Barbarius almost gets a pep in his step as he smiles wide and charges forward.

[sfliegel]

Stunned by what Barbarius said Bane missed a step and could only watch him scurry toward the stairs, "How did he...?"

It must have something to do with that new eye of his, Bane thought. So, centaurs huh? Well knew that they were famous for their marksmenship but if they planned to fight from a distance then he would make use of his bow too.

Not to be out done by a dwarf, Bane hurried after him and repeated his warning, "Down the stairs, hurry."

[Game Master]

The steps spiraled down the outside of the tower with the winds buffeting everyone. Most of the group followed down the steps in good order except Meylon. The Assassin was having the most trouble as she had to navigate them while escorting her horse. Shuriken seemed skittish about the unusual obstacle and they soon fell behind. Sunny took a more direct approach and simply galloped off the side of the tower. His mounts wings spread wide and he took to the air heading North.

It took five minutes to reach the bottom floor of the tower. Looking North even Barbarius could see nothing except Sunny because the vast plain of wild grass was five feet high in all directions making visibility next to nothing at ground level. The grass within a hundred feet of the towers base in all directions had been cut or burnt back though giving a good area to maneuver if the centaurs did indeed come this way. While the party (minus Meylon & Sunny) fanned out at the base of the steps looking North, Miguel piped up yet again.

"Seems to be a door of some kind back this way behind the steps."

"Can you see anything Barbarius?" Lady Marrissa called out as she drew her sword.

[sfliegel]

Bane stood well over the grass but could still see nothing and jestered to Sunny for what he saw. "Anyone else see anything? What about that glass peeper of yours Barbarius, anything? I guess I could always hoist you onto my shoulders for a better view." Bane chuckled at the idea. He didn't want to touch Barb let alone have him standing on his shoulders and he bet that Barb felt the same way.

[homeskillet]

"Yeah! Grass!" Barbarius barked. Stupid elf. hearing Bane's suggestion," Yeah! Good idea pup. Pick me up!" Barbarius moves over to the Wolfen.

[sfliegel]

Bane's eyes got wide, ah crap, he thought to himself. "alright, come on. Get on my shoulders." Bane grabbed Barbarius around the waist and raised him onto his shoulders, "if you stand might get an even better view." Please stand, please stand, Bane kept repeating over and over in his mind. "how about now? do you see anything?"

[homeskillet]

"Gimme yer paws then and stop yabberin' and I will stand up," Barbarius puts his hands out so the Wolfen can brace him. All the while he looks about as far as he could.

[Game Master]

Once steady on Bane's shoulders Barbarius peers out to the North. Sure enough he can make out the group of centaurs galloping toward the tower. He can see facial expressions at this point and they look grim. For the most part. There were a couple females that seemed more worried then anything.

"How far away Master dwarf?" Sunny's squire asked in his gruff voice.

Barbarius thought about it and well. He wasn't sure. It was very hard to judge distance. Everything just seemed so close.

Bane still couldn't even see movement out on the plain. Or was that smudge...maybe.

"Maybe we should find this Xan fellow?" Miguel inquired nervously.

"He'd probably just get his arse killed." Meylon barked back as she finally made it to the bottom of the stairs. She mounted up and drew her short bow and knocked an arrow. "Do they look hostile, Slayer?" she asked Barbarius.

[homeskillet]

"They look Grim and their women look worried! I can't tell how far they are. One hundred x m a g, whatever that means!" Barbarius hollers to answer everyone's questions," Hey, maybe Miguel is right Melons! Least maybe this Xan guy knows the locals!" Barbarius balances, digging his feet in.

[Game Master]

Sunny lands in the clearing.

"Twelve centaurs with bows and spears just as Barbarius foretold. We have maybe three minutes till they get here in a rush. Form a crescent. Maybe we can surround them as they charge. Do NOT fire unless fired upon. We don't know what these folks want."

The Paladin looked at Barbarius balancing on Banes shoulders.
"By the Lord of Light you two look like some demonic creature of the under-dark. Form up."

Marrissa explained to Sunny what Barbarius and Miguel had suggested.

"Excellent idea." Sunny chose the two least helpful members in a fight. "Marrissa, take Miguel and see if you can find him. And be quick about it."

The elfen wizard began to chant softly.