To Return A Blade

Brief Recap: Last turn, One-armed Fyona (Aside: did you know there is a Lyle Lovett song called "One Eyed Fiona"??) and Blade saw a caravan of wagons and several mounted men in the distance. They decided to approach.

Friend or Foe?

Fyona guides the horse with Blade sitting behind her. As they near the caravan, a lone rider breaks off from the group and heads out to meet them. He arrives while the two are still several hundred yards from the caravan.

"Hail, well met."

The rider is a very large man, possibly a Rasheman from the style of his dress. He looks the two of them over, noting their weapons and the state of their mount. [Fyona's arm is not yet obvious, she wears a cloak.] "This is the caravan of Fingood the Trader. If you wish to travel with us, it will cost you ten gold. We travel to Heklamar by the Ol' Bugbear Trail. I am Ulfdegn, second in command. Helmgar leads us. Who are you and where do you travel?"

The sight of the Rasheman is comforting to Fyona. Even someone who looks a little like a friend seems like an improvement. Fyona smiles at him "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Ulfdegn, I am Phyllis and this Myron. Now is that ten gold for both of us?"

'Myron?' thinks Blade. what a dreadful name to stuck with.

Ulfdegn nods his head in acknowledgement, saying, "Ten gold is for the both of you, but it only means you may travel with us. The road ahead is not fully tame, and there is safety in numbers. But you must provide your own food and water or buy it from those in the caravan who will sell it. We have plenty, and if your rations are short I am sure your gold will find willing purses. Now, Phyllis and Myron, where is it you travel on so sorry a steed. And what happened to your saddle?"

"We were robbed in the night. Our horses were taken and we found this one wondering about, probably left by the thief. I hope that your group isn't as dishonest because we have little else to steal."

"We do, however have the 10 gold you require. We are headed to Heklamar as well. " he produces the money and hands it to Ulfdegn.

The warriors accepts the money and turns his steed, again looking both Fyona and Blade up and down. If he notices anything strange he does not show it. He gallops away, saying, "I will tell our guard you will be joining the caravan. You may ride freely wherever you like excepting beside the wagons."

[I assume you go join the caravan. Please describe where you ride relative to the caravan. There are three wagons, wooden and covered with canvas (not uncommon looking) and ten mounted fighters total, most of whom surround the wagons as they roll. Each of the wagons has a driver and someone riding shotgun. There is more to this turn, so please describe your positioning relative to the rest of the caravan. I will assume you typically travel at that spot in the days/weeks ahead.]

[We will being up the rear so as not to slow the caravan, due to us riding double. Plus it will allow me a chance to keep an eye out for any pursuers]

As they take their place in the caravan, Blade whispers to Fyona. "Surely you could have thought of something a bit more suitable than Myron. That is an awful sounding name. No style whatsoever. From now on I will be in charge of introductions."

"Isn't that what you told me your real name is?" asks Fyona.

"Don't be ridiculous. My father was an ass, but he had sense enough not to name me something as horrid as Myron." Blade catches a slight glimpse of Fyona's tattoo on her neck. "How are you doing on that magic ointment? Maybe we can kill two birds with one stone when we get your arm healed and perhaps get this tatoo removed or dispelled. You could put a new one there that says 'Blade was here.'"

"Why did you have to bring that up." Fyona sighs. "I still have enough for at least six months Bardock gave me what he had left." Treating the tattoo had been a constant frustration to Fyona but now it seemed inconsequential to her.

"Thats good. I was just curious. Trying to make a joke and it backfired on me. Things will work out. It will just take time. I guess I am not much good at consoling you. I can only offer you bad jokes, a shoulder to cry on, and my word that I will do everthing in my power to help you find a remedy to your plight. I seldom make pledges, but I do pledge that now. I've beaten death more than once in the past, surely this can be overcome. I care about you deeply and I do not want to see you give into despair. You are stronger than that. A true warrior, and warriors do not give up as long as there is blood still pumping in their veins."

Blade's pep talk only further agitates Fyona but due to their present company she says nothing.

Fyona's silence leaves the swordsman in an uncharacteristic loss for words. He desperatey wants to ease her suffering, but is unsure how. Pangs of guilt once again come over him and he bows his head in shame. He wraps his arms a bit tighter around Fyona and says a silent prayer to his goddess. Praying for good fortune to come her way.

Feel Blade's embrace Fyona realizes the gilt he must be feeling. So, she decides to try to change the subject. "What do you think they have in the wagons?"

[How can you misspell something that is in the paragraph right above your response? I am retiring as your editor.]

Fyona's words bring Blade out of his meditation to his goddess. "I'm not sure. The southern states are mostly known for their fine wines, olive oil and magnificent oil paintings." Blade cringes at his response. He had just quoted his father from one of the many lectures he had been forced to endure while growing up as the son of a merchant. "I'm sure Ulfdegn or one of the others could tell you." [I'm just making this up. I thought the South was supposed to be similar to Renaissance Italy]

_______

[If I get a chance, I will add something for Humphrey's storyline too.]

[And here it is:]

The Crown of Acererak

Brief Recap: Last turn, Humphrey and Nepal journeyed back westward toward Humphrey's abode. On the journey, Humphrey scried upon his servant and found the man to be in seemingly poor mental health.

Unpleasant Homecoming

Humphrey can tell something is wrong when he first steps through the door. The place is spotless, but there is a faint smell of body odor. Soon he sees the source of the odor--his servant enters, Rainer [from Turn 60]. Rainer is obviously ill. He has pulled out most of his hair, and has seemingly not bathed in weeks. He looks half starved, and his eyes are sunken but bright as he looks at Humphrey for the first time since he left. "MAAAAASTER!" he balls, falling at Humphrey's feet. Without raising his head, he says, "All is as you left it, Master, Rainer has served you well." This last statement is almost a plea. The man is truly pitiable. His body shakes as he kisses the hem of Humphrey's robe. The man's smell is overpowering. His personal state is in stark contrast to the house, which has been immaculately kept, as though the man neglected himself in favor of the manor.

"Mitra, is that your servant Humphrey? The one who served us tea?"

"By Aries, it is! Rainer, what has become of you? You look very ill. What has happened here? Why do you act so? Go and clean yourself up and then come back to talk to me after you have eaten a meal of quail and wine from my private stock. And Rainer, you have done very well. I am very pleased."

After the man leaves, Humphrey turns to Nepal and says "It is this damned crown. I cannot have this happening, that is for sure. Let us consult the library to see if we can figure out what in the demon's name it is." He pauses for a moment and looks squarely at Nepal and says "we must destroy it. I know it to be so. How is the question."

Posting Instructions: Please add as you like, and feel free to revise any actions I have portrayed you as taking.

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