The Four Treasures

taking her hand a smile of releif and happiness found its way upon my face.

~Thaden Ma'lar~

As I watched Driznarden's face light up, I smiled.
Well, only a matter of time before they leave us on our merry way. I frowned as I noticed Croak poking around nervously. That wasn't like him at all.

I was taken aback by Diz's warmness and recioled slightly. Then i heard a howl, i looked across the river to see Morrgana stranded on the other side. I retreived my hand, diz looked slightly disipionted. "can someone please get morrgana? she'll be good i promice."

"uh, ill get her" reaching out wiht my mind to lift her off the ground and over the river; getting morganna across the river, and saving lireal was taking its toll, i had to lie down.

Alex was bored he saw the two drow happy together, and realized nobody had loved him except his father and Mother he sighed and slipped of his platemail on his right shoulder something was happening the cut had healed, but it looked bigger than it had been,he looked at the writing on the weapon on it was something talking about how this weapon was cursed if it touched skin it would be the same effect as were animal biting the victim. He slipped his armour back not telling anyone hoping no one saw him.

I smiled at croak while i waited for Diz to bring Morgan over. He seemed like a nice litle guy. Now that i no longer needed revenge i was happy with the world and cuold be sincerly nice again for the first time in years. It was extreemly refreshing. Morrgana was with me too. I thanked Diz the petted her head and told her how i felt.

OOC: You got Seraph down pat, Grif--nice one.

I looked into the fierce eye of Ma'Lar Thaden.

"I wonder how long it will take her to discover that I lifted the ward?" I said to him, allowing a small smile to play its way onto my lips.

I looked over to the drow. "I think they may truly be different. That does not change their chaotic nature...but at least they're on the right side, for now." I rolled up my sleeve, showing Ma'Lar the toll my healing powers had taken on me. More coal black, winding tatoos of chaos has made their way onto my arm.

"If I keep healing servants of chaos, I'm going to die, Ma'Lar. The sooner we get to the Temple of the Sun, the better. Once there, I can be cleansed by Helm. Untl then..."

I pulled the collar of my tunic lower on my neck. The tatoos were nearly up to my collar bone.

"These markings have the same effect on me as my own Ward had on the drow...only in reverse. I need to balance out the Law and Chaos, Good and Evil within me, or I risk losing touch with Helm. If either one gains too much power in my body, I lose my only chance at following in my father's footsteps. That would allow Myrkul's Chosen to take the title of Avatar...and the Throne of the Blood Moon. Chaos would rule. I will not let that happen. I am as much a Servant of Chaos as Law. 'Tis my own choice where my path will lead me. But only AFTER I have attained the Throne will I be able to truly choose a side and use my power to enforce that side."

I looked behind me. Everyone was present. While the wagon was stopped, I decided to address the party. Stepping on top of the wagon bed, I stood tall, and said,

"Everyone gather over here." The party turned to face me, each individual intent on hearing what I had to say. I was not used to being looked to for leadership, but I was willing to take the challenge. Looking to the drow, who were unusually close to each other, I said,

"Lireal, Driznarden; you are welcome to travel with us, for as long as you please. I pray to Helm that my judgements of you are not founded on the basis of lies. Your sorceries are more than welcome, and will only strengthen our force."

I turned to Valin.

"We are companions, Valin. I would even venture to call us friends, though I have not known you long. Trust me in my decision, I beg of you. Do not make this harder for these two than life on the surface is likely to be for them. Outcasts can always use more friends. Do not blame them for the strocities of their ancestors."

Alex was walking up just as I turned to look for him.

"Driz, Lireal, meet Alexanta, Paladin of Lathander." Alex nodded curtly and smiled, though I could tell by the nervousness in his eyes that something was amiss. He was not his usual aloof self.

I laid a hand on Ma'Lar's feathered shoulder.

"This is Ma'Lar Thaden. His fierceness in battle has been proven many times over by his sheer number of slain enemies. He is our aerial scout, as well as our contact with the creatures of the air. Learn to trust him, for he will cover your back as faithfully and fearlessly as any knight."

I smiled at Croak.

"You've already met Gregory. I will not waste more words introducing someone who needs no introduction."

"We travel to the Temple of the Sun. We are roughly four days' journey away. Between then and now, we will need to stop for supplies in the nearest town. Pick a partner, everyone--no one travels alone. Driz, I want you studying that Spellbook--Lireal, I think your talents could come in handy with that as well. You two are to stay with the wagon; I beg of you not to do anything rash. Ma'Lar, you're in charge of getting more supplies. Take Alexanta with you, perhaps his status will grant us a lower price. Valin, I'd like you and Croak to investigate the local Thieves' Guild, or any organizations that might be able to give us information for a price. Until we reach town, everyone try to rest up. I'll take first watch. It is an honor to know you all."

I sat back down in the wagon, and nodded, content with my little speech.

Croak blushed when he saw Lireal smiling at him, and grinned his wide-mouthed grin as Seraph addressed the group. He finally felt like he was accepted into this little band, although he still had his doubts about the high elf. As they all regrouped, checking the wagon to make sure that it hadn't suffered any real damage as they crossed the bridge, Croak stepped lighter, even hopping high every now and then. He knew this would be a good time to get some rest, but he had been sitting in that wagon all morning, and felt like getting out and feeling the sunshine for a while.

~Thaden Ma'lar~

It was getting dark as we rolled into the first town. On the edge of the forest, it was barricaded well. Signs of past fighting had yet to be erased, but it was still intact. It would easily keep the Drow out. We got out of the wagon.
"I'm afraid this is where our paths must depart," the Old Man said.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"I have errands to run in other places, which would impede your own. So, I'm leaving you here in safety. Goodbye and good luck with your errand."
"But the thieves-" Seraph started.
"You don't think thieves will harm a poor Old Man and his rundown cart do you? Now I must be off." The Old Man turned his cart around and left through the gates.
"I don't think we've seen the last of that Old Man," I said. Seraph nodded.
"It seems we'll have to change our plans. Driz, Lireal, find the inn and book us in. The rest of you, meet at the inn as soon as you finished," Seraph said.
"Come on Alex," I called. We started for the merchant district.
"Now listen, these merchants are very slippery. They will use any weakness we possess to raise their profits. So, whatever you do, don't say anything! I'll do the talking, you just make sure that no one tries to start any trouble while I'm dealing. Alex?" I turned around, to see Alex was still with Driz. I walked back towards him.

Alex waited till almost everyone had left then grabbed Driz by the shoulder, and showed him the weapon and asked what it was doing to him.
"Driz what is this doing to me", *he shows driz the mark on his right shoulder*.

while looking at the mark my eyes grew in shock "you were struck by a cursed blade, this blade is infused with the curse of the were-bear, its like a werewolf, but with a bear." i looked at alex noticing the curse had begun to take more effect on his body, he seemed to be just larger, more muscular than before. "i can explain but now is not the time, i will talk to you later tonight when we find our lodging."

Croak sighed as he headed off to find the local thieves' guild. Even though he had been in what could have been termed a thieves' quild before, he wasn't sure that he would be able to find or talk to the thieves in this town. He and Valin had split up, not quite ready to be friends yet, so Croak was wary as he walked through the streets. Where the heck am I supposed to find a thieves' guild?

Valin Norovir:

Croak departed from me before I could even speak to him. I wanted to apologize for my rash actions, and make things right. It seemed however, he wasn't really ready to accept me as what I am, a dethroned Elven prince turned sellsword. Obviously, I am aloof, but apparently he couldn't accept that.

He hoped on his way towards what he thought was the direction of the theives' guild, but little did he know he was going the wrong way. I had been here once before, and there were two competing guilds, both running pubs. One, the Dancing Goat and the other, the Copper Dragon. This could work to our advantage I thought, as I walked off toward the Copper Dragon.

~Thaden Ma'lar~

I entered the shop. Alex immediately started looking around, hopefully keeping an eye out for any items that might come in handy.
"I need four days provisions for six, no make that eight people." A little extra wouldn't hurt.
"Are you planning on going through the Myriad Forest?" the shopkeeper asked.
"Any reason I shouldn't?"
"Sure, there are thieves and robbers all in that forest. Every now and then some towns have wars and they head through the forest too." That explained the battle scars on the fortifications.
"Are their any safe routes?"
"No. One town did try a system of lamps to lead the right way, but the thieves kept on changing them, or setting up their own. They are masters of the forest."
"What would be the safest way to get through then? Are there any groups we can buy protection from?"
"There are some, but I wouldn't trust them. They are all mercenaries, the thieves can buy them out easily. The ones with honor got killed long ago."
"Any thieves guilds?"
"There is one, but you'd just as well higher mercenaries. They will turn on you if your rich enough. It be cheaper to be robbed by one of the better ones, they let you keep some."
"Which is the best thief?" The shopkeeper snorted at that.
"There are no good thieves, but if you wanted to get robbed, I'd get robbed by Randolph. He is one of the more honorable ones. He's charming and cunning at the same time. There are other thieves with groups larger than his, but his has been the most successful. Every now and then, a new group forms after breaking off a big one. This has never happened with Randolph's thieves. They are loyal to him and he treats them well."
"Where can we find him?"
"He will find you, assuming your rich enough to trouble with."
"Thank you. I'll also want two quivers of arrows, a compass, a map of the forest, and are there a few packs we can have them packed into?"
"That will cost 10 extra gold coins, in addition to the 40 gold coins the other stuff costs."
"How about this?" I opened up my satchel and pulled out three silver plates. The shopkeeper gasped.
"Very valuable, solid silver. You can have it, if you throw in some ponies."
"I see, you didn't steal this I suppose."
"That's no concern of yours." In truth, I had no idea how they had shown up in my satchel. There was a golden plate, but that one was mine. The silvers were heavier.
"It is a deal, I'll send the horses with the provisions immediately."
"There is no hurry. I'll come here and pick them up in the morning. I'll be checking them before I leave," I left the plates for the shopkeeper. Alex came with me and we headed towards the inn.

OOC: Dan, Croak knows next to nothing about Valin. He wouldn't know enough about the elf's past to be able to not accept him because of what he was.

Croak looked back, seeing Valin hesitate for a bit before heading off in his own direction. Was he going to say something to me? Croak wondered. Shrugging, he turned around and headed off into the town. As far as he knew, thieves tended to hang out in pubs or inns, having hideouts in the back or somewhere nearby, putting on a front of being a legitimate business while really being less than legitimate. Croak wandered toward the first pub he saw--the Wailing Jack. Then, he suddenly remembered what Seraph had said, that no one travels alone. He seemed to be making himself the exception, but Croak could deal with that. Sighing to himself, and hoping that Valin wouldn't turn him away or anything like he had before, Croak turned back to where they had split up, following the road that Valin had left on. As he glanced around, he tried to find what would be a good hideout for theives.

Instead, the thieves found him.