Interlude 2

[Ken]

Belarin looks out the windows, smiling gently at the rapidly passing countryside. "It'll be interesting to spend some time in Breland," he says. "As I mentioned during our first night in Fairhaven, my parents were from Breland, yet my formative years were spent in a much less civilized place. I'm considering the idea of looking up possible relatives once we arrive...

"Speaking of which, Streko, tell us a bit about your sister, please. Having heard about her only in gloomy context up till now, I'd like to hear some happier tales before the reunion."

[Jeff's backup]

Condign sits opposite Belarin and stares incredulously out the window. He has never traveled so fast, and before now he would have avowed it was impossible! For the last few hours, he had marveled at the constantly changing landscape outside his window.

When he hears Belarin's question to Streko, Condign pulls his attention from the fluid vista and looks at the halfling.

[Darren]

Kalarian sat quietly for the first part of the journey. Some could have even said he was nervous. His last lightning rail experience was too eventful for him to be completely comfortable.

After a while, though, Kalarian became more at ease, and eventually he came to take full advantage of the services offered to him. He could be found stretching luxuriously across the seats, his feet propped up or his leg thrown over the arm of a chair. At meals, Kal would order more than he could possibly eat, making sure Tangat remained well-fed. Gradually, his spirits became buoyed and his old charm came back out. In the dining car, he would often flirt with the pretty girls, sometimes regaling them with stories of the war, sometimes with his exploits against Malov and the Dark Echelon, sometimes just singing a verse or two of some song he had picked up on the Talenta Plains. He often rolled up the sleeves of his coat, revealing the stark blue dragonmark on his forearm. Kalarian seemed determined to enjoy himself.

Sipping on a goblet of wine, Kalarian put his feet up and draped an arm over the sleeping Tangat on the bench next to him as he listened to Streko speak of his family.

[Joe]

Feb 1, 2010 13:58:36 GMT -4 Ken said:

Belarin looks out the windows, smiling gently at the rapidly passing countryside. "It'll be interesting to spend some time in Breland," he says. "As I mentioned during our first night in Fairhaven, my parents were from Breland, yet my formative years were spent in a much less civilized place. I'm considering the idea of looking up possible relatives once we arrive...

"Speaking of which, Streko, tell us a bit about your sister, please. Having heard about her only in gloomy context up till now, I'd like to hear some happier tales before the reunion."

Streko's smile falters slightly. "If happier tales are what you wish to hear, then I must tell you that you'll be disappointed, I fear."

Streko blinks a few times and suddenly the smile explodes like a burst of Olladra's radiant energy across his face. "I made a rhyme! Was it a good one?"

He notices both Condign and Kal looking at him blankly and clears his throat.

"It was close to a twenty years between the time I saw Varna as she stormed off from my parent's home in a fit on anger and once again before the adventure that brought us all together. Twenty years is a lifetime for a young halfling such as myself to endure the loss of a sister he idolized. To see her again, to know that she was not only alive, but apparently well off and of some importance was a gift from Olladra I cannot truly ever repay.

"And yet, as will all aspects of my Goddess, fortune was to take us elsewhere, she and I. Where that is, I cannot yet say, as that chapter of the story has yet to be written. Yet how can it not be glorious with friends such as you by my side?"

"Varna somehow became part of Malov's plan. To this very day, I am unsure as to what role she played and plays still. What I remember of her as a child is a person who was stubborn, rebellious, opinionated and bull-headed, not unlike most halflings I have encountered in my travels. Varna epitomized those traits and I wished to be just like her in many ways.

"Again, Olladra had other plans for me, as did, apparently, House Jorasco. Which brings me to this. I am convinced that Malov is still "alive" if you will and that he still wishes to set his plans into motion somehow. I also am convinced that he still has need of Dragonmarked heirs and, until I find Varna and know for sure she is safe, I believe that Malov will continue to use her to get to me.

"I fear for my family's safety, for if Malov has discovered a way to get to me through my sister, then he may bery well attempt to do so by attacking my entire family, either singly or together."

He clears his throat again and takes a deep drink of some of Kal's Aundarian wine.

"Olladra has provided me..." Streko looks around at his friends and again, that warm inviting smile appears, if just for an instant. "She has provided US with a gift, an opportunity. You see, my family currently lives in Sharn and it would be rude not to visit and introduce my dear friends to them. Don't you think?"

He takes another deep drink of wine, softly belches and blushes. "Perhaps that should be all for me right now."

[Darren]

Kalarian smiled warmly at Streko. "You allow your head to fill with too many worries, good Halfling," Kal said. "We will allow ourselves to blown like a wind across the Plains," he added in Halfling. "Who know what fortune will bring us in Sharn? Yes, Malov is still out there, but we are not alone in our knowledge of his plans anymore, and the burden of his deeds is no longer ours to bear alone." Kalarian leaned in close to Streko, pointing out the window. "Our fortune lies out there. We are destined for great things, and they will find us." Kal grinned from ear to ear as he turned back to everyone. "You can be sure of it."

[Jeff's backup]

"My lord Streko," Condign says with a smile, "I can not tell you how pleased I am to see you reunited with your sister. And I would be honored to meet your family, if you feel my appearance would not be too upsetting to them."

However, you see the tiefling's smile fade, only to be replaced with a somber expression. His eyes remain locked on Streko's.

"I apologize if what I am about to say offends you, my friend. And maybe it is just the recent experiences with the Inquisitive which have me on edge." You see him pause; he is clearly reluctant to proceed. "I am sure your sister is fine. The Prince's men have assured us so. But you have just said you are unsure of what role she may currently play in Malov's plans, and he may still need a Dragonmarked heir, preferably you. I agree he would stop at nothing -- including harming your entire family -- to accomplish his ends.

"We do not know what misfortunes she suffered while she was held captive by him. He may still have found a way to get to you by using her. And it would be harder to detect if she were aiding him willingly."

Condign turns his head and looks out the window, one hand absently carressing the lock of hair he has rewoven around his leather belt.

[Ken]

Belarin frowns. "This conversation has not gone in the direction I had hoped," he says. "Good Streko, regardless of Varna's part in Malov's schemes or her motives, rest assured that we'll do our best to help you make your reunion the happy occasion that it should be. I promise not to judge her based merely on the rash actions of youth. I, um, made a few rash decisions myself a few years ago! Condign does raise a valid point, though. My advice, such as it is, is that you not make quick judgments about her past actions, either, and simply display the love and concern that has fueled your quest to find her."

[Joe]

The smile returns slowly, withy some effort, to Streko's face. He nods his head, as if coming to some internal agreement.

"I shall take your advice, my friends. And with you by my side, I have no doubt that there is nothing we cannot achieve once we've set our minds to the task. Let's toast to friendship, loyalty, and the adventures ahead. May Olladra grant us favor and fortune in all our endeavors!"

[Ken]

"I'll drink to that," says Belarin happily. He grabs his goblet of wine and drinks deeply.

"I must say... when I first entered Fairhaven to follow the Emerald Claw's activities, I certainly didn't expect that this is where I'd be a few weeks later! And I especially didn't think that it would lead to new friendships. To your health, my friends." After another gulp, he adds to Kal, "And I'd still like some tips on knife-fighting from you." He looks at Condign. "You as well, if you don't mind. I've been getting odd glimpses of my target-slash-hunter while using my talents lately. I have the feeling that sorcerous talent alone may not help me when the time comes to deal with him...her...it."

[Darren]

"My dagger is best used for a channel for my arcane power," Kal said, "but if you wished to learn about a fine Halfling weapon..." He ran a finger along the edge of his sharrash as he spoke. "When I first saw the Plains Halflings using these, I knew that this was a weapon without equal, a weapon that I had to learn how to use."

Kalarian suddenly produced a dagger from somewhere within the straps surrounding his right leg. The only indication was a small creak of leather and then the blade was in his hands. "Still, these do come in handy in tight quarters." He grinned as he tossed the dagger to Belarin. "Let's see if we can find some space to work in. Condign's assistance would be greatly appreciated. After all, you'll need someone to spar against." Kalarian looked seriously at Condign, his gaze travelling up the horns on top of the tiefling's head and then over (and down) to Belarin. Kal couldn't help laughing out loud.

[Jeff]

During the lightning rail trip, word kept filtering among the House Orien staff and a few of the other passengers that there was some sort of strange stowaway aboard. It didn't seem to worry them; it was more a matter of curiosity than anything else and spread like any mysterious rumor: Some sort of animal, though the types of sounds it made seemed to vary with each telling.

Kal even heard two House Orien maids whisper to one another just after flirting with one of them. "Have you seen it? I heard him say it was a dragon."

"Fibber. They said it was just a cat. With, err, wings."

"And can cats just vanish at will?"

Kal later confirmed it when chatting with one of the House Deneith guards hired to guard the carts. "Seen it with my own eyes, my lord," he'd said. "A red dragon...staring at me from outside a window. But...quite small. Then it just disappeared. Thought I heard some sort of bird call, and then that was it."

When you talked about it amongst yourselves, it was pretty obvious who might be following you, perhaps for more 'observation.'

[Jeff's backup]

Condign looks excitedly at Belarin when he mentions learning knife-fighting techniques. He sits forward as he draws his dagger from the sheath at his right hip.

"The one mistake most people make when fighting with a knife or dagger is that they hold it as if it were a sword." Condign demonstrates, holding his dagger with the blade pointing forward from his clenched fist. "This lends itself to a thrust attack, and the most common result I have seen a simple parry response, similar to crossed swords. It is very limiting. A more effective technique is to hold the knife with your knuckles forward and the blade angled behind." He regrips his dagger. "This way, you can punch, drag the blade across your enemies exposed throat, block an attack, or arc your arm backward and stab at someone sneaking up on you."

Condign rises and gestures Belarin to stand. "Let us see if we can not make enough room here to practice a little."

[Ken]

Belarin feigns a worried look at Condign's eagerness. "As a wise man once said, 'I think I'm going to regret this.'" He stands up, smiling, testing the grip on Kal's dagger.

"Good Streko, I know that you are a skilled fighter, too, but I believe your skills might be better used in healing the multiple injuries that I'm about to suffer."

He looks at Kal and Condign. "All right, gentlemen! Let's get started. I promise not to rhyme, despite the sheer volume of words that rhyme with 'pain.'"

[Darren]

As they moved off to find space, Kal could be heard thinking out loud. "Rain. Mane.....Crane?"

[Jeff's backup]

Following behind Kal, Condign says: "Complain. . .vain." And then chuckles with good-natured humor at his friend.

[Jeff's backup]

Condign accompanies Kal and Belarin into a partially empty storage car which Kal has found. He watches as Kal uses his amazingly effective charm to get past the guard posted at the car's door.

The tiefling emerges several hours later, with Kal and Belarin close behind. Condign turns to his friends.

"My lord Kalarian, you are very good with a dagger. I am honored to have learned some of your . . . what did you call them? Tricks? Thank you." He turns to Belarin. "And you, my friend, are a fast learner!" He points to a small cut on his left bicep where Belarin got past his guard. "Please do not hesitate to ask if you wish more training. I quite enjoyed it. For now, I am going to go clean up. We should be arriving soon, right?"

[Ken]

"Thank you," says Belarin honestly, wiping away some sweat from his forehead. "Both of you." He shakes his hand, feeling the sting of the sweat in the many small cuts along his knuckles and the back of his hand. "That was very interesting." He hands Kal's dagger back to him. "If nothing else, I've certainly learned how to duck better!

"Yes, I'll clean up, also," he continues to Condign. "I'd welcome the opportunity to pass out as well, but as you say, we should be arriving soon."