The Story

Session XII (RL: 7/27/02)

• August 18th, 183 2C. Sperin, Aliana, Kira and Morinskar spend the morning on the banks of the Great River, pondering the events of the night before. Celene Shadowwren heads west along the southern bank of the Great River, seeking out the ruins of the First Fort. There, she spots the two men in black studded-leather armor, who are stealthily following Creyton, Thurton and Anastasia as they make their way into the ruins. As the men attack, she tries to warn the group. It is too late as Thurton takes an arrow to the chest. One of the men engages in a sniper war with Creyton while the other, the one who killed Mikel Seawind, comes in from the flank. He nearly cuts off Ana's leg as she engages him. Thurton and Celene join the fight. Sperin hears the racket and rushes to investigate. Seeing what is going on, he sprints back to get the others. Celene is injured and Thurton's horse is cut out from under him as the battle rages on. Then, the cavalry arrives. Kira, Morinskar and Aliana return with Sperin. Kira and Aliana combine forces to drop the sword wielding attacker. Thurton finishes him with a dagger through the skull. Sperin comes around and attacks the remaining one, damaging him badly. The man, however, manages to disappear from plain sight in a swirl of red and black. Everyone asks if everyone is okay. Aliana performs great miracles, healing Thurton and Anastasia. Celene's weapons are taken away from her by Sperin. Kira searches the body of the fallen man. They decide to tie Celene up and head back to camp. Once at camp, questions are asked and answers are given. Creyton goes off to check the area and find fresh water as the Great River is brackish. After some debate, they decide to stay the night there. Creyton goes off for water. Introductions are made and Morin labels Anastasia a liar when she says her name. She later admits to others that Ana is not her birthname, but she has gone by it since that name was given to her by a friend. Aliana and Thurton seem exhausted and fall asleep. Kira, Sperin, "Morin", Ana and the prisoner (Celene) stay up and talk. They see a ghost like figure that Morin claims is one of his brothers. They communicate through Morin, then the ghost vanishes into the night. People sleep.
• August 19th. A quiet morning. Creyton finally returns with water and the decision is made to travel toward the Circle of Pines. They gather up horses and start on their way. The party consists of Creyton, Sperin, Anastasia, Thurton, Aliana, Kira, Morin and the closely guarded Celene. They leave the ruins of the First Fort and lead south by southwest through the Northern Woods. Evening comes and they camp in the forest. It is revealed that Celene is the niece of Senator Evan King. While Kira guards the prisoner the others debate what to do about her and Morin.
• August 20th. They make their way further through the forest, taunted by various insects as they go. A little after midday, Creyton determines that they are close, but he isn't exactly sure where it is. Morin states that he remembers this place and leads them to a wall of pine trees. They can't seem to get through the wall. Kira decides to try to climb the trees, but then the branches suddenly part for Thurton and everyone walks through. Inside the Circle of Pines, the place seems quiet. Thurton does some strange things with the tree in the middle. Finally, they are escorted out of the circle by Aslyn who seems distrustful at first. They are taken back to a small compound of five buildings. Morin and Aslyn talk in some language that no one else seems to know and Aslyn changes his tune, saying they can stay at the compound. Aliana still seems drained from her miracles and rests, staying with Creyton and Celene in the cabin. Thurton and Ana go off to explore the compound while Sperin and Kira decide to spar. Aliana begins to tell Celene a bit of her story. Sperin and Kira realize that Ali isn't always the most discreet member of the group so go back inside to make sure she doesn't tell Celene too much. Thurton and Ana spend some time talking with Cam, who lives at the compound with his wife. They learn that Aslyn runs the show and the others are sort of helpers who work with him. They also learn that one of the buildings is a library.
• August 21st. Aslyn agrees to teach Thurton for however long Thurton wishes. The group debates and decides to stay there for two weeks. The lessons begin for Thurton. At first, most of the others relax.
• August 22nd. Thurton's lessons continue. Celene and Aliana spend some time talking. They decide to go to Kira to spend the afternoon at the library. Creyton just relaxes. Sperin continues working on his elvin meditations and katas as well as physical training.
• August 23rd. Morin is often seen standing still as a statue. He eats and breaths, but never sleeps.
• August 24th. The field trips to the library continue as do Thurton's lessons. Sperin takes some time to work with those who would learn from him, a bit of time with each Aliana and Celene. Kira spars with him. Ana spends her evenings alone.
• August 25th. Aslyn and Thurton spend one of many days studying and meditating at the Circle of Pines.
• August 26th. A lazy, rainy, humid day in the library for Kira, Aliana and Celene.
• August 27th. Sperin coaches Aliana to be a bit more careful about sharing things with strangers.
• August 28th. Thurton continues to expand his knowledge at Aslyn's feet. Anastasia goes off every evening to spend time alone. What she is doing during that time is anyone's guess.
• August 29th. Sperin and Ana ponder Morinskar.
• August 30th. Celene realizes that this place, the Circle of Pines, indeed had appeared before her in a dream. She even has a painting of it.
• August 31st. Sperin spends some time apologizing to Celene for the way he and the others have treated her, but explains that they "had to".
• September 1st, 183 2C. A nasty hot day makes everyone lazy, but Thurton's lessons go on.
• September 2nd. Creyton and Sperin have a long talk about what to do. Sperin chides Creyton a bit for being a bit lazy about his skills lately.
• September 3rd. The last day in the library. Aliana, Kira and Celene spend more time chatting than researching, but their time there was well spent.
• September 4th. Another evening with no Anastasia to be found for an hour or so.
• September 5th. At dinner that night, Thurton appeals to the others to stay longer, but the rest voice their desires to get back on the road and continue with their tasks. It is decided that they'll leave in the morning, so Thurton, Sperin, Morinskar, Kira, Creyton, Celene, Anastasia and Aliana prepare for travel. They graciously thank their hosts for the hospitality and Thurton says he will return. Ana pokes at a wiggling lump under Thurton's shirt. Thurton introduces the group to Fuzz, his new field mouse friend.
• September 5th (late evening). Aslyn asks Thurton if he would try an experiment before he leaves. Thurton is happy to agree after all that Aslyn has done for him. Aslyn approaches Morinskar and asks if he too would participate. Morinskar agrees in his all to familiar neutral tone. The three of them procede to the Circle of Pines. Once there, they spread out around the Great Pine in the center. Aslyn performs a ritual lasting all through the night. Amazing things occur that leave Thurton changed for life. When morning comes, Aslyn collapses into exhaustion. Thurton carries him back to his house before telling the other villagers of Aslyn's condition. They agree to watch over him. Thurton too is exhausted, yet full of energy from amazement. Morinskar appears untouched both physically and emotionally. Thurton's staff has come away appearing as something new.
• September 6th. Travel east through the Great northern woods along a cart trail. As they near the road, they hear galloping horses. They take shelter in the woods and watch as a group of five rangers race northward along the ancient road. They then turn south, moving along the road the rest of the afternoon.
• September 7th. Thurton, Ana, Kira, Morinskar, Sperin, Celene, Aliana and Creyton travel south along the road. By midday, the leave the Northern Woods and enter some rolling hills. A few farmers are noted, traveling south along the road. A brief conversation with them reveals that an army resides near the city of Marengo and the general of the army, someone who is labelled the Bandit King, leads them. This causes no small amount of concern among the group.
• September 8th. In the late morning, Marengo is visible in the distance. Camped outside the city is an army estimated at several hundred men. Celene and Kira identify that they fly the black banners of Lord Elis of Bandit Keep. Farmers are selling food to them and they seem to be stocking up for travel. The group passes by the army and into the city, which is in quite an agitated state about things. Celene leads them back to her home and gets some gossip from her landlord, before she gathers a few things and they set out again, leaving the city by mid-afternoon and camping on the plains south of Marengo.
• September 9th. The day is spent traveling. In the distance, behind them on the road, Lord Elis' army can be seen marching in the same direction. A bit of angst builds up. What to do? Then, near evening, a thundering herd of about 50 plainsmen, Creyton believes to be of the Kapil'Mori clan, cross the trail, chanting and screaming. They ride around then, west of the road, begin to travel south, moving ahead of the group.
• September 10th. Another day of nervous travel. Lord Elis' army is behind them. The plainsmen are to the west. And, by late morning, an army flying the Imperial Banner of Threforfar is to the south. The group, under Ana's guidance, decides to move east and as out of the way as possible, but still close enough so that they can observe. Tensions are very high as they observe the heralds of the two armies speak. Off to the south, Picarn is visible in the sweeping valley. Arguments about what to do get a bit heated. Meanwhile, on September 10th, 183, Threforfar is plunged into civil war as the Imperial Army meets Lord Elis' forces just north of Picarn. The fighting goes on into the evening and, to be safe, the group flees further south and east, to a farm on the banks of the river that flows through the valley. A skyship is spotted and Thurton correctly observes its flying pattern to note that it is the Redwing. Things get heated, but finally Kira goes and somehow communicates with the ship. Sure enough, Captain Jen and Firstmate Dale land on the river. The horses are sent off by Thurton. Everyone gathers into the ship. They learn that Jen and Dale were sent to observe the battle. They take off and cruise over the Battle of Picarn. Lord Elis was victorious. The skyship turns and heads southwest toward Flagaton Pol.