It had been a long time, but some skills are just never forgotten. He had been tailing her for hours, now; and judging by the supplies being gathered, the 'outing' did not seem like it would be ending anytime soon. Out the northern gate, and onto the northward path, it did not seem like she was intending on keeping their appointment, that night. But then, considering the circumstances, it seemed unlikely that should would, anyway.
As if merely to confirm the speculation, however, the young girl in white managed to hitch a ride on an old worn-down cart, seemingly headed in the same direction. This would be a long walk, but the girl was just too important to lose track of.
It was not till the next day that they had apparently arrived at her destination, and a meeting with someone at the Alliance Arms Inn was a welcome chance for Xarkuss to take a breather, and wait for the next move. It was not too long before she reemerged; notably without her companion, which made it all the easier.
The Question was... what now?
Voyage to Waterdeep
Journal entry dated Tuesday the 23rd of Ches
The cold wastes of the inhospitable northern region of Mahn Tor finally convinced me to travel elsewhere, hence how I find myself sitting on the freezing deck of this cargo ship headed for Waterdeep. Thank god I don't get sea sickness or the pitching and rolling of this forsaken vessel would throw me into a fit of heaving. Two days in this boat sleeping in the cold wind is more than even I can bear. It will be only one more day and we shall make landfall in Waterdeep. From there I have no idea where i will go. Ill just let my feet be my guide and go where they take me.
Hellstrom Oldostin
The cold wastes of the inhospitable northern region of Mahn Tor finally convinced me to travel elsewhere, hence how I find myself sitting on the freezing deck of this cargo ship headed for Waterdeep. Thank god I don't get sea sickness or the pitching and rolling of this forsaken vessel would throw me into a fit of heaving. Two days in this boat sleeping in the cold wind is more than even I can bear. It will be only one more day and we shall make landfall in Waterdeep. From there I have no idea where i will go. Ill just let my feet be my guide and go where they take me.
Hellstrom Oldostin
Tinge of Doubt
Fate. It had to be, nothing short of it, really. Emalia had heard no voices this day, but as she got off of the horse-drawn cart in Port Llast, rubbing her back end no less, she ran into a lady she had spoken with many times before in Market Square of Westbridge. There really was no confusing her, the green eye and hazel looked over Emalia's shocked face, seeming to gather in an instant that Emalia was doing something she "shouldn't." A few brief apologies passed before Emalia was clued in to the fact that she had done the right thing: "Emalia, I've no idea why we have come to meet on this path, but I have been looking to speak with you."
Emalia and Dorian seated themselves at an oak table in the Alliance Arms Inn.
It hadn't changed since the first time she had been there to buy lemonade for Hellstrom, nor the more recent time before she had gone to Waterdeep. Now, however, she had company at the oaken table.
Emalia downed her two glasses of lemonade, and in short order, found out that Dorian was a member of the Sunites. "What magic fate! That's wonderful!" Emalia straightened, her face gleaming. "Then you can tell me where to find this, Keldon fellow."
"No. I cannot tell you."
"Isn't he Sunite as well?" Emalia asked, slumping in her seat.
"He surely is that and one most cherished."
"I just needed to ask him something."
"If you do not mind, what are you wanting to ask him?"
Emalia spent a few moments getting to what her desire was, directions. She was on a journey to the Temple of Light to find her path in life. She had been told Keldon knew how to get there. Once there, she assumed easily that the Priests would aid her in discovering herself. It was only when Dorian mentioned, "One of those..." that Emalia became confused. "Many," Dorian said, "seek Keldon and the place he resides, most for the wrong reason." And it was with this that Emalia sat wondering what the wrong reason could possibly be. She found herself wondering why, exactly, it had been suggested so easily for her to take this, as her journey to self discovery.
Looking over at Dorian, Emalia found herself wondering about Grobnak. Before she could delve into her own thoughts on the matter with any scrutiny, Dorian began scratching at the ground by her foot and looking rather pained.
Emalia saw the woman shiver and moved to help, but something in her own mind held her back. She was on the verge of an explanation from Dorian, but it would have to wait. "Suffice it to say, Keldon can be contacted," Dorian said through her pains. Emalia watched her, confused and worried.
"Keep safe, be sure to do that."
"I shall do my best."
Dorian parted from Emalia's company, barely able to recite her spell to vanish. Emalia stood in the middle of the inn for a long moment. The urge to continue was overwhelming and so she again headed out on the mountainous road with thoughts circling her. "One of those..." "Wrong reason..." She didn't know in the least what it could mean, but hearing it come from the mouth of someone like Dorian, who had helped her before, was unsettling. Almost as much so as the orcs that seemed to be growing in number the farther north she traveled.
Emalia and Dorian seated themselves at an oak table in the Alliance Arms Inn.
It hadn't changed since the first time she had been there to buy lemonade for Hellstrom, nor the more recent time before she had gone to Waterdeep. Now, however, she had company at the oaken table.
Emalia downed her two glasses of lemonade, and in short order, found out that Dorian was a member of the Sunites. "What magic fate! That's wonderful!" Emalia straightened, her face gleaming. "Then you can tell me where to find this, Keldon fellow."
"No. I cannot tell you."
"Isn't he Sunite as well?" Emalia asked, slumping in her seat.
"He surely is that and one most cherished."
"I just needed to ask him something."
"If you do not mind, what are you wanting to ask him?"
Emalia spent a few moments getting to what her desire was, directions. She was on a journey to the Temple of Light to find her path in life. She had been told Keldon knew how to get there. Once there, she assumed easily that the Priests would aid her in discovering herself. It was only when Dorian mentioned, "One of those..." that Emalia became confused. "Many," Dorian said, "seek Keldon and the place he resides, most for the wrong reason." And it was with this that Emalia sat wondering what the wrong reason could possibly be. She found herself wondering why, exactly, it had been suggested so easily for her to take this, as her journey to self discovery.
Looking over at Dorian, Emalia found herself wondering about Grobnak. Before she could delve into her own thoughts on the matter with any scrutiny, Dorian began scratching at the ground by her foot and looking rather pained.
Emalia saw the woman shiver and moved to help, but something in her own mind held her back. She was on the verge of an explanation from Dorian, but it would have to wait. "Suffice it to say, Keldon can be contacted," Dorian said through her pains. Emalia watched her, confused and worried.
"Keep safe, be sure to do that."
"I shall do my best."
Dorian parted from Emalia's company, barely able to recite her spell to vanish. Emalia stood in the middle of the inn for a long moment. The urge to continue was overwhelming and so she again headed out on the mountainous road with thoughts circling her. "One of those..." "Wrong reason..." She didn't know in the least what it could mean, but hearing it come from the mouth of someone like Dorian, who had helped her before, was unsettling. Almost as much so as the orcs that seemed to be growing in number the farther north she traveled.
Runaway
Emalia walked out of the House of the Moon with laden pockets of fruits and vegetables. She was actually in good spirits, having had a tune played for her by Koniev, though his flattery was a little awk-ward for her to handle. He was definitely nice enough - even lending her a little money when she couldn't find her bank ID. Most refreshing was her freedom from Nephesh, Colin, or anyone else for that matter.
As she parted ways with Koniev, she wondered if it wouldn't just be best to set out on her own. It would be so much easier for her to go out alone, no one to worry about or talk to... after all, this was her quest - she was seeking herself.
Emalia kept her eyes shifting around every corner, drawing more attention than she avoided, but bought what little supplies she thought she might need. Her heart raced as she flipped her white hood over her head and darted through the city. 'North to the mountains, north to the mountains,' she chanted as she shuffled amongst the crowds of the Northern Gate and onto the road ahead.
"Sir!" Emalia ran behind a groaning cart, the horse pulling it looking as unsteady as its load.
"Sir! Please... wait..."
"Hold," the older man called, pulling on the reigns and stopping his horse. He looked down at Emalia with chubby sun-reddened cheeks, waiting.
"Are you going far north?"
"Ayea."
"Might I ride along?"
"Well, goin' only as far as Port Llast. Might take a day ern two. Dunno ya eithern."
"I will give you the last coin I hold." Emalia pulled a platinum coin from the fold in her robe, passing it up to the interested man. He grunted as he looked it over.
"Climb in the back. Don't eat my food or drink my wine. Best to not drink my wine - that's the only damn thing tha sells in Blasted Llast."
"I won't touch a thing, I have all my own provisions."
"Mmm."
The wheels began complaining again and Emalia sat between a couple of barrels of wine while the slats that made up the wagon groaned against each other. She watched the city walls slowly - slowly - grow smaller as the cart miraculously headed up the mountain road. As day turned into night and into day again, Emalia wished for the sake of her back side she would have run away while she was already *in* Port Llast.
As she parted ways with Koniev, she wondered if it wouldn't just be best to set out on her own. It would be so much easier for her to go out alone, no one to worry about or talk to... after all, this was her quest - she was seeking herself.
Emalia kept her eyes shifting around every corner, drawing more attention than she avoided, but bought what little supplies she thought she might need. Her heart raced as she flipped her white hood over her head and darted through the city. 'North to the mountains, north to the mountains,' she chanted as she shuffled amongst the crowds of the Northern Gate and onto the road ahead.
"Sir!" Emalia ran behind a groaning cart, the horse pulling it looking as unsteady as its load.
"Sir! Please... wait..."
"Hold," the older man called, pulling on the reigns and stopping his horse. He looked down at Emalia with chubby sun-reddened cheeks, waiting.
"Are you going far north?"
"Ayea."
"Might I ride along?"
"Well, goin' only as far as Port Llast. Might take a day ern two. Dunno ya eithern."
"I will give you the last coin I hold." Emalia pulled a platinum coin from the fold in her robe, passing it up to the interested man. He grunted as he looked it over.
"Climb in the back. Don't eat my food or drink my wine. Best to not drink my wine - that's the only damn thing tha sells in Blasted Llast."
"I won't touch a thing, I have all my own provisions."
"Mmm."
The wheels began complaining again and Emalia sat between a couple of barrels of wine while the slats that made up the wagon groaned against each other. She watched the city walls slowly - slowly - grow smaller as the cart miraculously headed up the mountain road. As day turned into night and into day again, Emalia wished for the sake of her back side she would have run away while she was already *in* Port Llast.
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