On the Outside

[Dracos]

Dracos just gets in the wagons, focusing on fitting in.

Dracos

[Brian]

Phil: You're the only seven people headed south, aside from the drivers.  They probably wouldn't be surprised to see you all stick together.  Either way, Mirallia is sitting in the back of wagon number two with Bjorn (riding shotgun).

These wagons are basically truck-beds.  There's no enclosure or roof, just a bed, a wooden railing (the back is a kind of gate, actually), a wide, bench-like seat up front with room for two comfortably to sit side-by side, and the wagons are pretty much empty, except for the sacks of soldier's supplies in wagon one.

Liandral is sitting shotgun on wagon one, and Mirallia motions everyone else to climb into the back of wagon two (there's enough room).  The wagons are each drawn by two of what look like oxen.

Once you're all sitting in the back, Mirallia about half way between the gate and Bjorn, the wagons rumble off slowly, heading what you've figured is south.  Only an edge of the sun is above the horizon, a sliver of light being eaten at by the mountain range to the north you recently managed to fight through.

After you've set out, the quiet creaking and rattling of wooden axles accompanied by the wagoneer's communications (shrill whistles and cries like, "Yaa, royat heya!" -- it takes a moment's thought to turn this into, "Yo, right here!"), and the occasionall groan or snuffle from one of the beasts of burden.

Mirallia clears her throat and looks at the wagoneer meaningfully, then asks (in a very quiet voice), "Do you have any questions about where we are going?"

[Huitzil]

Paul accompanies the creaking of wooden wagon-parts with a few distracted strums on his lute, picking out notes rather than playing a song.

He leans toward Dracos and asks, conversationally, "So. You had a meeting?"

[Dracos]

Dracos eyes paul slightly and eyes the drivers and nods just a bit, "Hum?  We were just training, Paul.  You've seen it before."

Dracos

[Huitzil]

"Figured you'd talked about stuff. If you decided anything, I'd wanna know."

[Dracos]

Dracos whispers at paul, "Later.  More pertinent questions now."

Turning to Mirellia, he speaks softly, "What can you tell us about the storm riders?"

Dracos

[Huitzil]

Paul nods and goes back to concentrating on his instrument.

[Brian]

She raises an eyebrow.  "Master Liandral would know more," she says cautiously.  "But, the storm-riders are those who dwell in the eternal winter, stalking the forces of the Dreadmarch.  They follow their tribal high-king, who retains his kingship through the torc he wears on his neck.

"This torc was originally from the far south, the heart of the Archonae city, where the storm-riders are said to originate.  Their first king, Lord Liam, was said to have made a pact with the creatured that dwell in the north and fight the darkness.  When Lord Liam's wife bore him six daughters, and no sons, he said that whoever could first tame one of his daughters would inherit the throne after his passing.

"Of course, this is most likely merely a legend ... but it is said that his daughters took no man as husband, instead staying with the animals of the north.

"In time, of course, it was revealed that they were taking men to their beds, if not as husbands, because they each bore three sons, which in turn established the eighteen lines of heritage that the storm-riders revere.

"There were three children of each house, and six houses.  The houses were ... Wolf, Bear, Dear, Rabbit, Fox, and Hawk.  It is rumored that in the days of eld, Hab -- of the house of Wolf, was able to speak to wolves.  Then, too, legends say that Maren of the house of Bear was able to take the form of a bear himself....

"But these are only legends.  The storm-riders respect the creatures that dwell in these cold lands, for they have to be as strong as the storm-riders themselves to survive."

She nods.

Phil: When you studied the lineage on your blade, you're pretty sure that one of the names on the blade was Hab Bloom, and the first name on the blade was Liam.

[Dracos]

Dracos blinks pondering and continuing in a low tone of voice.  "I see.  Can you tell me more about the torc, how I apparently lost it?  As Bjorn said, we don't exactly remember.  And what reasons our past selves gave for going on this journey?"

Dracos

[Huitzil]

Paul looks at Dracos, pulls him a bit closer, and whispers harshly: "What the fuck are you doing, man? Didn't Bjorn just tell us NOT to ask this kind of shit, specifically?"

[Rezantis]

Rez shakes his head at Huitzil. "She knows. Ask later."

[Brian]

Raising her eyebrows, Mirallia says, "That, I'm not privy to all of the details on.  Either you were seduced, or it was stolen from you.  But a cousin called upon the court and demanded that you show you held Liam's torc.  When it was revealed you did not, you were cast down from your throne, and your holdings were largely removed.  You still retained what respect you had garnered from your crusades against the minions of dread ... but your kingship was lost.

"That, I assume, is what drove you to drinking.  That you do not now is probably for the best; I asked Lord Markam for retainers to aid in protecting the draughts of life before we left the temple at Winter-haven, and he called upon three of his warriors.

"Yourself, at the time too drunk to stand up unasisted, your younger cousin Gregory, who was volunteered because he stood to help you rise, and Nathaniel.

"I ... do not wish to cast asperities upon you, but at the same, I was given a child, a drunkard, and a madman to aid my quest.  I find it odd that Liandral complain when you demonstrate more competance now than you did then."  Turning to Nathan, she answers what she guesses to be his next question: "A madman only because he insisted on discarding the named blade of his forebearers and instead sought out the sword crafted long ago by the Archonae ... the king of swords, it was called.

"I apologize, but I do not know where it lies.  Master Durant and Liandral are learned of stories, and will perhaps have some knowledge of that which I lack.  Regardless, time for questing after a dream is hard-granted.  We've much more to worry about now."

[Huitzil]

Paul ignores the Lady's speech that indicates that yes, she does know, and talks to Rez. "Wait. She knows? Did she figure this out, or did we tell her?"

[Dracos]

Dracos nods.  "I see.  Thank you for the vote of confidence, though we're a bit outside our normal depth.  You were asked to come here as a representative of Hamar?  What about Liandril?  How did you two specifically get involved?"

Dracos

[Brian]

"I was chosen because the high priestess fell ill and died before it was time to leave.  Liandral chose to come because he is loyal to Hamar, and twice before he has already accepted this task."