Chapter 1: A Peaceable Kingdom

[Josh]

"Alas, this means nothing to me... I've not heard of such a place." He hands the scrap back to Pellorien.

To Dhaz, he says, "I'm not so sure. This would be easy enough to commit to memory. Plus, from the looks of my friends here, this book contains some complicated and advanced information- which is always of great value."

He pauses, and looks at the others. "He does have a point though... maybe we should have the scrap analyzed as well.

"Are we planning to do as was discussed last night? Taymra will procure something to shield the book, I will complete my errand, and the rest will remain at the station? I personally will only be a few minutes once we arrive." To Taymra, he adds, "And how much longer until we do?"

[Darren]

"fine, Grafth. Run your errand when we arrive. Personally, I intend to go with Taymra to see her people. I'll also need to stop at the Deneith enclave. You are all welcome to come with me if you'd like, but I think Taymra has a point about waiting at the station while she and I go to the Orien offices."

[Jeff]

"In truth," Taymra says to Kal. "My errand will be swifter if I go it alone. I am a member of the house. If they see I am bringing someone else—from another dragonmarked house, specifically—they will want to know more about my reasons and they will hinder me. You understand this, don't you?"

[Darren]

Kalarian scowls. "I understand that Orien will apparently not extend the courtesy due to an heir of House Deneith."

He pauses for a moment, then says, "You have so far proven yourself to be trustworthy, but you'll understand if I choose to not blindly follow a plan set yp by someone we just met a few hours ago."

[Jeff]

"I could say the same, Kalarian," Taymra says with a shake of her head. "I have known you no longer. This isn't about the 'courtesy' of my house. This is about simple pragmatism. Also, I can't speak freely for House Orien."

"And could you escort me"—she indicates the dragonmark on her face—"straight to a prominent wizard or leader of your house without delay or undue scrutiny? Do you really know so little about house rivalries?"

"Given time and a little finesse—and a thorough interview about your involvement in the rail attack—yes, I'm sure I could take you deeper within the enclave. I've heard you spout about not trusting me, or my house, before. I merely thought to secure us the means to hide that book of yours and do so as fast as possible."

[Darren]

"Fine, we'll do it your way for now." Kal moves off to the other room within sight of Goran.

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Casting Message, but I don't have time to write it now from my phone. Please delay until I can.

[Joe]

"I will remain here at the station as we previously discussed, and await your return."

[Jeremy]

"I will stay with the others at the station."

"I needn't remind you, I'm sure, to be as swift as possible please, both of you. We have need of quick action while whatever meager advantage we have remains an advantage."

Goran pauses, seeing the potential quagmire of debate his next comment could elicit.

"We should have a second plan...in case something happens. A fall-back place for us to meet. I do not know this town any better than Fairhaven. Any suggestions?"

[Darren]

Goran and Grafth both suddenly hear Kalarian's whispered voice in their ear, despite the fact that he is no longer in the room with them.

"Don't answer me directly, or everyone will hear you. Taymra has not given us a reason to mistrust her, and in fact, I believe I do trust her. But we've been led around a little bit too much lately, and it's not good for us. We need to stay unpredictable in order to keep our enemies off guard. I suggest an alternative to waiting around at the station, but I suggest we don't let Taymra know about it. I believe we should wait somewhere other than inside the station. Goran, I think you should track Taymra about half-way to the Orien offices, and then we should wait somewhere outside of the station but where we can watch for Taymra's return. If no one knows about this plan but us, it is less likely that anyone can be waiting in ambush. Goran, if you agree with this plan, lean forward casually. Grafth, if you agree, clear your throat. If this is to be our course of action, we'll inform the others when we get off the rail."

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At my level, I believe I should be able to Message two targets.

[Jeremy]

Goran leans forward, but glances at Kal with hard eyes, making sure the Deneith is well aware of what this could mean.

[Josh]

Grafth, if you agree, clear your throat. If this is to be our course of action, we'll inform the others when we get off the rail.

Grafth's ear twitches slightly as they continue their journey, but makes no movement and remains silent.

After a few moments, he speaks, "Goran is right. We arrive at highsun, correct? If we become separated at the station, perhaps we could meet at a nearby tavern? At thirteenth bell?"

As he looks around the cabin, his eyes rest on Taymra, "You undoubtedly see that we are all, truly, strangers, thrown together by fate. Whatever bond that joins those of us who survived the crash comes from a moment of violence and chaos. This is never a strong foundation.

"As tenuousness as this bond is, it persists. It also seems to have nurtured a seed of distrust among us." He looks to Kalarian, "Aside from the results of the crash, and the roadside attack, Taymra has experienced just as much violence as the rest of us. She is one person, asked to be trusting of six who cannot even muster simple trust of each other.

"Just as you asked us to trust Lady Korvine, something I was more than willing to do, I will ask you to trust her. She has given us no reason to feel otherwise. I would ask all of you to trust one another. We've been through too much too continue on with secrets."

[Lara]

Pellorien clears her throat. "Well said. The bickering has already driven away one of our group."

With a sigh, she stands and says, "This might help, if someone is watching us or looking for someone matching our descriptions, in addition to magically tracking the book. I can... rather effectively disguise myself. A girl like me got on this train with you lot, but she doesn't have to get off this train in Passage."

She shrugs and smiles slightly. "I'm good enough, most of the time. You might not even recognize me, unless you know what to look for."

[Darren]

Kalarian's voice continues in Grafth and Goran's ears.

"Do not misunderstand me. I DO trust Taymra. I simply think that a little unpredictability will help us stay alive."

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Sorry...can't do colors from my phone.

[Jeremy]

Goran sighs.

"Let's just do something for the god's sake. I am weary all of this talk and double-talk and debating about why we're debating, and bickering about bickering...enough already. Action, my friends. Enough proselytizing."

"I really don't care anymore if you trust me or if we trust her. I really don't. It doesn't matter. We've all tried to smooth things over, myself included, and yet these same topics keep coming up and paralyzing our action. I am weary of it."

---

I haven't the words or inclination to go into particular detail but Goran speaks further to make it clear that much more of this stagnant griping and debating about trust and who trusts who and why and why not then, well, he'll just bugger off. He more than hints that he's going to pull an 'Oss' and disappear rather than continue this. No offense meant, but, as he says, the constant undermining of each other under the guise of honest debate is getting tiresome and, well, boring.

[Joe]

Streko hears his own thoughts spoken aloud by Goran and understands the half-elf's frustration.

"Goran, my friend, right now, we are still on this llightning rail and will be for a short time longer. I do believe that plans have been made and thus, actions will be taken. Tymara will be bringing back a means of hiding the book from our pursuers, Grafth will be attending to his personal errand, while Pellorian, Kal, you and I will remain here in the station for them to return.

"While they are gone, we can plan our next move on the assumption that we will not be followed magically.

"Until then, I suggest we bring some of these lovely pasteries along with us, for later."

Streko places some of the bread, Aundarian pastries and other food items into his backpack for later consumption.
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Something tells me that a diplomacy check is in order here....ahem....

Also, Jeff, would a knowledge check of geography, nature or religion give Streko insight on the "Forest of Secrets" clue in the note?

[Josh]

At Pellorien's words, Grafth furrows his brow, unsure as to what exactly she has in mind.

The halfling's mention of pastries quickly distracts him, however. "Streko, that is the best idea I've heard all morning."

Grafth moves to look out the window, "Well, at least it will be pleasant when we arrive. Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to spend the next few hours?"

[Jeff]

Taymra looks at Pellorien with vague, but friendly, suspicion. "Not the same girl? Care to elaborate? If we have been marked by description, that would be a help. Just what are the limits of this magic? I assume it's a spell?"

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Joe: Knowledge checks won't help on the "forest of secrets," except to say that all forest names labelled on the map of Khorvaire are yours to know.

[Darren]

"I agree. I wish to act. Wisely, though. I still think we should draw our enemies out. THEN we'll see some action." The grin on Kalarian's face should be evident to Goran by the tone in his voice.

[Jeff]

Taymra waits for Pellorien's answer...

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I'm ready to begin Chapter 2, which will begin with arrival in Passage. If anyone has anything else to say or plan, do it now!

[Lara]

admin said:

Taymra waits for Pellorien's answer...

Pellorien replies, "It just occurred to me that it might be useful to employ a little bit of subterfuge in case anyone is watching for a group like us. I can try to disguise each of you," she pauses to look around the group, "Well, I can try, but some of you seem highly undisguiseable, so we might do just as well not to move about as a large group. I mean, a disguise doesn't work very well if you look too much like you're trying to disguise yourself, after all. So exit the rail in twos or threes. Then it might be more effective if I disguise myself and disembark in Passage apart from the groups of you. If someone is looking for Pellorien and doesn't know or have the ability to look for the book, and no one matching Pellorien's description steps off the rail, then that may throw whoever's chasing us off the trail for a little longer."

She reaches for another pastry. "Just a suggestion."

[Joe]

And an excellent one! To quote an old colleague of mine in the Brelish army..."Make it so!"

[Darren]

Stepping back into the compartment as Pellorien is speaking, Kalarian nods. "A good plan, Pellorien. A little caution is always a good thing. If the war hadn't taught me that, the last few days would have."

[Jeff]

If Pellorien wishes to effect a disguise, for herself or anyone else, let me know. Chapter 2 will start everyone off in the station at Passage and on the platform—so any actions still on board the rail should be handled here first.

[Lara]

Pellorien gathers her things and prepares to leave the room.

"I'll step out to the privy to work on my disguise before we arrive. I'll plan to linger in the station while Taymra gets the lead box for the book. Where shall I meet you?"

[Joe]

"If you don't mind, I would be honored to stand at your side, Pellorian. Besides, if we ARE still being followed bagically through this little book, it would be good to have someone close by, should you need the immediate assistance. This will allow Kal and Goran to remain nearby to scan the crows and do what they do best without worrying about you should someone unforseen get close. Grafth can leave, alone, to run his errand and Taymra can leave by herself to do her work."

Streko hands Grafth two more pastries before sinching up his backpack. "For the road, my friend. Don't eat them both on the way TO you errand...leave one for the return trip!"
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Streko will allow himself to be disguised as Pellorian sees fit. He is otherwise ready to go, having prayed, rested and, hopefully, mended his clothing already.

[Jeff]

Taymra stands up and peers out the window. "It's on the horizon now." Then she turns to address the rest of you.

"When we arrive, just stay near me for a while. We'll disembark and let everyone else go. Don't worry, we won't stand out much—it's a big station and there'll be plenty of people going this way and that. So we'll just stay in a group at first, and we can talk there about what the next steps are. All right?"

"Master Streko, I think we should trust Pellorien to go it alone." She looks to the other woman. "Provided she stays close by. If we have been marked by anyone, hopefully her ruse will help sniff them out. But she wouldn't be able to do that if one of our number—you, in this case—is with her. She'd stand out."

[Josh]

Grafth gladly takes the food from Streko, and assures him it will not be consumed hastily.

"Alright, I'm ready."

[Lara]

"Thank you, Streko. I like the idea of someone watching my back, but I think Taymra is correct. I can disappear into the crowd more easily on my own, I think."

As she leaves the room, Pellorien says, "Best of luck on your errands. I'll look for your return at the thirteenth bell."
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Pellorien heads to the privy where she will get on with the disguising.

[Jeff]

Hoimer Simpson (throwing scarf over shoulder): And that's the end of that chapter.