Day Two: Unlikely Lunch Time Chat

Without her eyesight, Rekka stayed in the room. When Breakfast time came around, she and Jessica headed down to the dining hall. Once Rekka is seated , Jessica heads off to do her things.  Rekka sat there listening to the coming and going of the people at the inn. Even though she is given water or orders it, she does not drink it. She does go until just after noon around lunch time that Ajara arrives back at the inn for lunch. Spotting Rekka sitting at one of the tables she walks over saying, “You're in town still!? Well before you and Isaac leave, you really need to go check out the blacksmith shop! Something really amazing is there and you'll probably thank me later or hate me for wasting your time."
Rekka recognized the voice as Ajara but since she couldn’t see and they had set up the passwords, she asked Ajara’s password pharses. “What's your thoughts on Simon?  What about Peter? How's your sister?

Ajara is taken aback, “ Simon? Peter...?” she repeats back to Rekka and the realizes, “Oh. Hate the guy, hate him too, and dead.”

Answering correctly, Rekka gestures to where she thinks there are chairs, and said, “Already been. So what did he tell you?”

“Oh... then you know...” Ajara said, a little disappioned, then confused, “well. That's weird. If he already saw you, then why did he tell me to say Hello to you...Well, I'm glad you know he's... alive a guess. They informed me more on the mark. It's still quite a bit to take in. I have some questions I plan on asking tomorrow morning when I go back for Raaein's barding.”

“Yeah *something in halfing* doesn't it? the *halfing again* mark don't mean much.” Rekka said, not harshly though.

Rekka reaches for a glass that is sitting in front of her. She's having a little trouble finding it. Almost knocking it over it she grabs it.

Ajara watches Rekka do thing, and comes little more confused “Um, yeah... It was bad enough to think Hei- er, Simon was playing favorites and just being unjust, but... why would he have let us kill so many people, especially those who were innocent? It's sick to think about. If it was known to the God's how mislead we were, why didn't He intervine? Also, you okay? Your bandages look... dirty.”

“Do they?” she asked, since they’re new, “I can't see them. Let alone anything else. As to Simon or was it Peter? Anyway, it just might be that there was nothing he could do about it. You know that those things you call gods, they can't come down all willy-nilly and solve everyone's problems. That's why they have chosen right? Besides they have rules, even if they themselves made them, that they can't or won't break. Or at least that's what Bard's stories always say don't they?” Rekka said all this with a little sarcasm. She doesn’t have faith in any of the deities, but she knows they’re around.

In a more hushed voice since Ajara says "Certain rules they have to keep? Tsk. Why would Simon come down to comfort me when I k- ...when my sister died? Why did he break his rule for that other girl who was marked like my sister? Either way. The Simon I thought I knew obviously isn't who I thought he was. I guess if anything, I would like to hear what he has to say. But like that'll happen. I can only hope in the morning the black smith might be able to answer some more of my questions..." she trails off then looks at Rekka with eye that would suggest that she is tired of all the event that have been happening and yet with some pity toward Rekka.

"I say that's what they bards say but that's just story. Maybe Simon is a "Halfing words". If you want to see Simon again we could just go back to mountains. You'll be able to find him in no time. You just walk right up to him."

Ajara shifts uncomfortable, this doesn’t escape Rekka’s notice although it might not be Ajara.

Ajara eyes looking defeated or worried mixed with pity toward Rekka, "Rekka, I'm sorry if I've made you feel like a lost cause when you got marked. To be honest, I really was beginning to think this mark wasn't what I thought it to be when I got my answer today... I feel stupid for having been so judgmental,"

“Well I didn't feel doomed if that's what you mean.” Rekka lied. She felt that Ajara was finally acting like a human being, and was actually felt a little bit of pity for her, “I was more worried about being easier to be found. Turns that was founded, though not the way I thought it was. Father was able to point that out to me.”

Ajara takes a moment before going on, "So, you can't see anything you say? Do you know why that is?"

To Ajara’s question, Rekka motions her closer, lifting up the blind fold on the side that Ajara is sitting next to her on. The first thing Ajara could see is the burn marks around Rekka’s eye. Rekka then opens her eye and it's a whole lot of nothingness, like before.
"It's the same as always, a whole lot of nothing.” Rekka brought the blindfold down, “But won't worry, father helping me out. He's got a plan, at least that's what I hope."

"Father? And you've been found?” Ajara said out of Amazement and not Confusion, “Like, found by your Father? Or... is it the blacksmith?"

“I don't have a clue about...” Rekka started and then thought better of it, “oh... Father said it was easier to be scry with the last attempt to fix my eyes. Don't have a clue if anything came of it.” She then added, “My father and the Blacksmith are two different people, they have nothing to do with each other. Are you feeling alright? Maybe this is too much for you?” Rekka was beginning to think that all this double speaks was a bit too much. And that she was losing Ajara in the process.

“I'm fine. Just a lot of information to process today. Does this mean that scrying you will be more difficult now? Must say, it's no fun feeling like people are keeping an eye on you... not to be rude... or deities for that matter.”

“No idea.” Rekka said, wanting to change the subject she went on, “So other than all this Enlightenment and newly founded insight, what else have you been doing? Get that Chicken?

"haha, yes," Ajara gives off a slight chuckle, surprising herself a little, "Um, she followed me all the way back. I think she liked me. I only caught a glance of her. I could have sworn that thing would turn me to stone from looking at it, but I guess Burne was being truthful about her being tamed. He told me he'd be ready for my business I might have tomorrow. So I still don't know what magic items he has, but he'll be ready tomorrow from the sounds of it. You could come with me if you'd like."

"I might glance over his wears..." she lets out a little chuckled herself, although short "Well at least get a feel for what he has. but that is tomorrow, and things are always happening."

Ajara smiles and decides to stay with Rekka while eating her meal, "Are you and Isaac gonna be leaving for Sardik still then?"

“I actually don't know. I haven't...” She stop herself from saying Seen, “heard from him since this morning. He might have already left.”

“Okay. I suppose if we hang down here long enough we'll eventually I'll see him or you'll hear him if he's in town, otherwise he's out of town or in trouble. I would bet on the first since that was what I assumed the plan would be for you two."

Rekka and Ajara continued talking but it was idle chit chat at this point. Both of them waited for Isaac with no idea how long it would before he shows up.

What the Blacksmith Said.

The planning meeting lasted until midnight when the group decided to get some sleep.  After about 2 hours of sleep Rekka arose, and making sure she was dressed for the day. She left to go find Isaac. It wasn’t hard, he was coming back into the inn as she reached the ground floor. See him she said, “Well, either we can scout out the evil temple. or we can travel to the horde, not the dwarf place, gather need money supplies and then head to town, using the cover of darkness to get inside. Well find some place to stay and wait for the shops to open. maybe even talk of plan of attack. or how we are going to split up the shopping list."

“I was beginning to think you'd never wake up, Rekka. Before we leave you need to stop by the blacksmith's forge. You might not need to return to Sardik's city after all.” He said.

“Truly? Then shall we or shall I leave and check it out?”  she said, tilting her head to the right. Unsure of his meaning.

“Truly. I've just returned from there. You had best go by yourself for now. You'd probably ask me to wait outside even if I did.”

       Rekka eyes Isaac suspiciously but he missed it since the blindfold is in the way.  Still a little foggy she couldn’t think of what he could possilbly mean.  Deciding it best just to go and figure it out then. Rekka left the inn and head for the Blacksmiths.

Stepping inside, Rekka sees an older man, powerfully built, working the forge, and beside him is his assistant, a young boy in his teens. Both are covered in soot and sweat from their labors. They're both concentrating hard on whatever it is that they're making. From her angle, all she can see is a layer of steam and smoke hovering just over their hands. This was strange, since her new eyes have not been hampered by such mundane things before. As the door shuts, the old man looks up and smiles at her. "There you are, Sangrail, come on over, we're just about done." At the sound of his voice, his form changes ever so slightly, as well as that of his assistant. Rekka now recognize them as the Blacksmith from Podunk...and Billy.

“WHAT THE *halfing word*?” Rekka exclaims, shocked beyond belief at what she was seeing.  

Billy looked as he did in life. Even when he had the hat of disguise, he never looked quite right. But now Billy looks healthy and truly alive.

"Well now I know why Isaac said what he said." she said as she moves forward, and waited for them to finish their work.

The blacksmith motions towards a chair at his side. "My son has told me of your friendship with him, how you were the only one who could still see him as a person after his undeath. The only one who still thought redemption was possible for him...I do not blame your companions for their mistrust of Billy, or for the manner in which Billy's undeath was ended. Billy's state was a frightful one, even the gods fear the Soultrapped, for they cannot kill them, but a powerful enough Soultrapped could slay a god or devil just as easily as they could a mortal. Regardless, I thank you for giving my son your faith and friendship. In return, we have fashioned this for you." He and Billy lift a suit of armor out of the forge. The metal is strange, almost transparent, shifting between metallic and misty every moment. "You are from a noble bloodline, Sangrail, and it is of the utmost importance that you, above all others, sees this quest through to the end. For if you fall, this world and all else may very well fall with you. You are the last Sangrail, the only one with the power to set right all the errors the pantheon has made. Your friends may help you, but in the end it will rest on you to save us all."

"And so," Billy chimes in, "We decided that it would be a good idea if we made it a bit more difficult for you to be killed. Kind of silly letting the last hope of the universe run around in nothing but cloth."

"Right," the blacksmith agrees, "So we have fashioned you a set of Fog Armor. Completely unbreakable, light as mist, and flexible as your own skin, this is truly the armor of the gods."

"If ever you need us," the blacksmith continued, "use this to summon us to your location." He hands Rekka a card, "Just throw it on the ground and within a days time we will appear somewhere in your vicinity."

Dumbfrounded, she accepts the armor. She points to the blacksmith "You’re his…" points to Billy "…father? Then something hit her more, “If you knew that I was this Sangrail.” she tries to repeat it the same way as blacksmith, “why not tell me then when we first met?”

“I did, you just didn't hear it.” He said, “There are probably other things I've said that you still haven't heard. It's all part of who and what you are. Don't worry, though, it'll all make sense, eventually. And yes, I am Billy's father."

"Well then I am to thank you for not only this,” she said, lifting the armor and card, “but the cloak as well. I should thank you for the others as well. they might be a...well they would thank you too.” A thought came to Rekka’s mind and she asked, “Could I bother you for a few more items? I have three weapons I need to be made or found.”

"Of course, anything you want and we will do what we can for you." Billy’s Father said.

Rekka told them the weapons that she would like to be made. She as Don the Armor. It fit very well, she wouldn’t even knew it was there if she hadn’t just put it on. When that was done she said, "Thank you again. One last question," She removed her blindfold, and opens her eyes, "This mark, as I've been told that it has been used before, although not in this form. Will this allow certain people to "watch me" and hence find me?”
"The mark is nothing more than a symbol. It has no special properties in and of itself, but those eyes...those eyes need to be removed. In here they won't work right for Highnulfia, but elsewhere, they will allow for scrying on everything you do...I need to remove them."

Find that her fear were founded although not in the way she thought it was, she nods her head. Softly she says "Highnulfia, Highnulfia, Highnulfia, Highnulfia" wanting to remember the name.

The blacksmith grabs a pair of red hot tongs from the furnace. "Hold still. This will be excruciating." He moves to remove your eyes.

Rekka stayed as still as she could, but the pain was worse than when she first lost her eyes. A scream pass over her lips without being able to stop it. The pain continued even after the crystals had been removed.

"I'll have Billy escort you back. We'll see about getting you a more proper replacement for your eyes, but for now you'll need to rest the empty sockets."

Still in pain and feeling a little weak she was just able to nod her head. Shakely she replaces the blindfold and allows Billy to escort her out. Under breath Rekka repeated the same sentence over and over. It was in halfing but roughly translates as “Darn that hurt like a Giraffe Kneed Bilge Sponge.”

If anyone was watching the streets at this time at night, the would see Rekka returning to the inn with a stranger. She has billy help her to Isaac's room, where she knocks on the door and then called for Jessica. Isaac came out and a look of shock overcame his calm face.

“Wha?! What in the 9 hells happened to you?” he asked

Unsure if it was really Isaac, Rekka asked Isaac’s password, "what the weather for today?”

“Absolutely miserable, but it doesn't look like you'd agree.” Isaac said, not skipping a beat.

Rekka turned to Billy and say "Thank you, I'll see...I'll met both of you tonight." She then turns to where Isaac voice is, "I'll need a little help, blind as a bat you know."

 Billy gave her over to Isaac and left. Rekka directed Isaac to her room. Jessica was awake by this time and was just as shocked as Isaac at the sight of Rekka. “Isaac, do you know who that was?”

“Yes Rekka, I am aware of who that was. You said you'd be seeing them again tonight?” he asked, helping Rekka sit on the bed.

“Yes to get other things but Allow me explain from the beginning.   I went in and the blacksmith and his assistant knew who I was. No kidding since he was the same on in Poldunk. the one that disappeared. Jess the very one that told you stories. Anyway Issac you were right, Soultrapping that's what it called. the thing that happened to Billy. anyway It's very dangerous, even the gods fear them, since they cannot kill them but the soultrapped can kill gods easily as killing a mortal." she allows this to sink in, before going on.
"The blacksmith told me that I must, I must, set right all the errors of the patheon had made. That I must see the quest to its end and not fall before that otherwise the whole world and...all else. would, or was it could, fall with me."
"Anyway they gave me this," pulling at the armor she is now wearing (sorry I forgot to say she put it on in the PM/IM).
The metal is strange, almost transparent, shifting between metallic and misty every moment.
"I asked for some things to be made and before I left i asked about the marks in my eyes. the blacksmith told me that they had no power or special properties in and of itself but the crystals eyeballs did... in a bad way." Rekka removed the Blindfold, the burn marks around her eyes are evident. she opens her eye lips and there once again is nothing. "So he removed him." she close her eyes and replaced the blindfold. "I'm afraid that anyone that might be scrying on us, it would have been easy to do so through me with those eyes." she half frowns on that. "Take that into account for what we do now."
"Isaac, or you jess have you...never mind, I'll ask another time. it's not really important right now."

“Eech, that's quite the monumental decision you made there.” He said about her eyes, “Any idea what you want to do about seeing now? There is a cleric of Saint Cuthburt in town if you want to look,” he chokes a little, “into attempting a restoration spell. And the armor... suits you well.”

“I wouldn't have allowed him to take the crystals eyes if I didn't believe he would be able to do something. and thanks.”

Side Adventure: Hommlet part two "Day one"

Map of the Town:  http://adventuresofthealmostheroes.blogspot.com/2013/09/welcome-to-hommlet-evil-free-for-13535.html
The Dungeon Master Intro into the city:

  The growing community at the crossroads is a strange collection of growing farms, fallen and broken down buildings (relics of its old glory). What is there to be found? Who will be encountered? Where should you go? There's little to guide your first explorations and encounters, so chance may dictate as much as intelligence. Will outsiders be shunned? Are the reports true about the ancient evil practices being ancient history? Does a curse lay upon those who dare to venture into the lands which were once the Temple's? All of these questions will soon be answered. The dusty, rutted road is lined with closely-grown hedges of brambles and shrubs. Here and there it cuts through a copse or crosses a rivulet. To either hand, forest and meadow have given way to field and orchard. A small herd of kine graze nearby, and a distant hill is dotted with the wand stone chimneys with thin plumes of blue smoke rising from them. A road angles west into the hill country, and to either side of the road ahead are barns and buildings—Hommlet at last!

Most of the homes you pass have a simple fir branch hung over the lintle, a common sign of the Old Faith (druidical). Others, mostly the newer buildings, have symbols like those on Gideon's vestments, signifying their worship of Saint Cuthbert.

Having consulted with the map beforehand, the party decided to first make their way to the Inn of the Welcoming Wench (#7). Before actually reaching the Inn, however, Isaac takes a detour to a building he sees bearing a sign of 3 golden balls (#15). Within he is greeted by a burly man in chain armor and wielding a sword and crossbow. Two large dogs sit at his feet, attentive and intelligent. Further in, standing behind a high counter is woman reaching the end of her middle age. If she ever were pretty, those days were gone. A spinster through and through.

“Don't mind Melubb,” the woman says as Isaac stares the large man down. “He's just here to kill those who would try and take what's not theirs...and he's very good at it.”

The man, Melubb, grins.

“Now then, where are my manners? I'm Nira, the moneychanger. My signatory notes for wealth are good from here, all the way to the City of Calik. I'm working on building relations in the City of Lupik, but things are a bit more difficult there. But never mind that, what can I do for you?”

The rest of the party continues on to the Inn of the Welcoming Wench where they are greeted by a man, drunk by the looks of his stagger, who calls out merrily to them as they approach.

“Welcome!” He cries, “To the besht playsh fer a good jrink and a good wensh and a good many other things a man could want! Alo-me ter introdush mishelf. Am Elmo, am the brother of the guy wiv dark hair who's nevuh been around sinsh lasht yer whan he went ter work fer that won guy over thar-ish.” He waves his hand vaguely towards the distant mountains, over which the City of Lupik lies. “And am the son of the old folksh who are my ma an pa who yoush shuld calllllllllllllllllllllllllll....”

His voice fades away as his face turns a vibrant shade of green. The next few moments are spent with his head in a bush with rather loud splashing and retching sounds coming from within. Then, suddenly, he straitens up and marches over to the nearest one of the party (Rekka, I rolled for it), and he plants a 'wet' slobbery kiss on her cheek and invites the whole party to his house, giving surprisingly good detailed directions (area #2).

“Plesh come an I'll givesh you a jrink uv the shtrong shtuff an my pa will be happy fer me ter havesh frendsh that aren't clay bottlesh an mead...an my ma might naht cry hershelf ter shleep over Otish an hish leaving hommmmmmmmmmmmme....

More retching in the bushes, and then he's off, stumbling and talking to trees.

Without further ado, the party pushes open the doors and enters the Inn of the Welcoming Wench. The first floor is a large dining room, with a few doors leading into, presumably, the kitchens and perhaps some assembly rooms. A staircase in the corner leads up the rooms as stated by the signage. A number of pretty young women scuttle about the busy dining room, serving the many guests. A man and woman stand behind the counter overseeing it all with observant but gentle eyes. Upon seeing the party enter, they nod to a young man standing on the side of bar nearest you and he hurries over. His appearance would be unextraordinary were it not for the oversized gloves and goggles he was wearing.

“Welcome to The Welcoming Wench!” he proclaims with a bow. “By the looks of you all, you're quite the adventurers. We're very happy to serve all kinds and to cater to every need. We have a number of comfortable rooms available, and a few very comfortable rooms, whatever your preference, and coin purse, could want. Menu's are available on request during regular serving hours, the rule of thumb is if myself or any other server is in the dining room then a meal may be requested. If you're in one of our extra comfy rooms, then you will have a server assigned to you and meals will be available whenever you might want them. All of our wenches are talented in song, dance, and telling tales, and their services may be requested at any time they are present in the dining area. Many of them are quite expert at retelling the daring deeds of heroes past who have graced these tables...and if you have a tale to share with them they just might reward you by sharing your fame to the next adventuring party who passes through here.”

Rekka then wanders off, growing bored with the conversation, and makes her way to the weaver. Inside the store are bolts of cloth, sewing needles, thread, and a collection of pre-made clothing ranging from simple workers clothes to a few sets of fine clothing.

Rekka looked around and found some clothes that would suit her, A fine dress made of green, A blue corset with yellow and red embellishment, A simple top and skirt, plus a ribbon, and a 1/4 yard of White cloth, and then 1 yard of gray cloth. She pays for the items (cost 2 gp 8 sp 2 cp.) and leaves the shop.

    Heading for the outskirts of town, back along the way they group came from.  She made sure to pass by the wagon, so she could removes a shove and places in her bag. Traveling to where the last of the cottages were, she looks for a Tree.  Finding a tree she likes, Rekka pulls out her shove, and digs a shallow grave at the base of a tree. Then tying her hair up with the ribbon tightly, Rekka removes her dagger from it's sheath and cuts off  her hair in the pony tail. She then wrapped the hair with the cloth, and places it into the hole. Replacing the dirt, she set her dagger to the tree bark and craved: "Billy" and "Resolved "  Once she was done with this she returns with her newly acquired items to her place of lodging, where she will make for accommodations for herself and the wagon/horses (5 sp a day per person, 3 sp per horse for stabling), have a bath and waited for the others to return from there doings. After the bath, Rekka puts on the simple clothes and decides that she might as well hang out in the dinning area and listen to stories or whatever conversation is going on.
Finding that Jessica is no longer in the bar area, rekka sits and waits. Ajara arrives shortly there after and talked about having to find a chicken that turns people to stone, in order to buy anything from the magical shop. Also she tells Rekka that she will be changing her form consently. Rekka finding this almost beyond silly. Why is it everyone want-ta be sneak thinks that they just walk into an alleyway and change forms that no one will catch on? Rekka tried to bring this to Ajara attention in the only way she knew how. which was pointing out the flaws in her plan and ways of getting around them. Ajara of course took in the tone in which it was presented and took offense to it. She made some excuse about eating and left.
Soon the group arrives one by one and Rekka follows them up the stairs and into Cortanna's room. The information everyone gather was extensive, long and drawn out. Cortanna, after talking to the local hideman, is going to go back to the dwarf mansion and retrive the dragon skin with the hidesman.  Ajara is going to go after the chicken, and thinks that there is something off about the town. Issac, agrees with Ajara on the the strangeness of the town, and talks in too much length about the church and a meeting between himself and the head cleric. Gigeon also was there and talked the the head cleric. Turns out that Jessica was there as well and saw the end of head cleric. Plus that the evil temple that everyone was so worried about is already open and the main cleric lady might have turned evil. So now the group must decide on whether to combat the evil within the temple which Gigeon wants to, or go about what they had planned to do.
Rekka knowing the group too well prepares herself for another dungeon filled with who knows what and the very people the group had help save in the last dungeon. She was really starting to hate towns and their problems.

A side adventure: Hommlet part one "Traveling to Hommlet"

Shortly after making her decision Rekka starts planning her steps. she asked Isaac about the abilities of wishes, and what it can and can't do. it was very informative. But she dare not go any further on about it since the others were listening in.  Someone in the group had pick up a stone book describing what happened to the Great evil, elves and dwarfs.

 "It's obvious that the carvings were meant to be painted (the earliest ones were), but the carver never seemed to get around to painting the later carvings. In fact, the carver seemed to be acting under a great rush as the last carvings look to be nothing more than rough attempts as opposed to the detailed images at the first. Sadly, the carver was busy depicting the history around him/her, and couldn't give account of his/her own happenings
      The pictograms tell the tale of a time when dwarves and elves ruled the land and humans were little more civilized than orcs. A great evil was devouring the land. The dwarves and elves united against it, trying to fight it back to the abyss from which it came, but the best they could achieve was a stalemate. Their warring became so fierce that the safety of the entire world came into question. Rather than destroy their world, an agreement was made in which each side would sacrifice their leader and then withdraw from the land (something about the land in particular made it desirable though this is not explained clearly in the images, only wavy glowy pool-like things with occasional depictions of wavy glowy humans. It's unclear whether the humans thus depicted are suffering or not but their expressions are wide eyed and open mouthed), ending their conflict and saving the world. The Great Lord of the Dwarves (and his sons who refused to let their father bare such a burden alone), the High Matriarch of the Elves (whose children had no qualms with letting her die alone), and the Commander of the great evil were offered up as sacrifices and then all three factions left the land. The dwarves, to the West. The elves, to the South. The great evil is not depicted as going in any particular direction, but it is clear that it too left the land, perhaps disbanding and going in all directions, or else to whatever dark realm first spawned it in the first place.

     Although the act of the sacrifice depicted in the images seems to have been done before a gathering of Other Beings, who or what they are, or what their role in the rest of the conflict was, is unclear in the images. It's as though the carver of the images assumed the reader would understand and therefore didn't elaborate or explain their presence. Either way, the Other Beings and their associated insignia have no resemblance to any beings or creatures or insignia that you're familiar with today. Your guess, at this point, is as good as any.

   Following the sacrifices and subsequent mass exodus, humans rose to prominence and spread across the land, finally becoming the dominant race on this continent and the continent to the North (Thrall, Threll, Thrill). Strange that this carving would contain a history of this land that continued even after the dwarven inhabitants had left and sealed their old holds. Who then has been carving this history? And why, at the very end of the carving, are there nine lone figures: two with wings, one with horns, one with half its body depicted as an elf and the other half as a human, one with a wolfs head, one with the same wavy glowy design as the source of the ancient conflict (though the eyes are obscured, could be lack of craftsmanship, could be intentional), and two of equestrian design (one dark and other light). The final figure stands a bit apart from the rest, it's shape is unrefined, more like a reference to head, arms, torso, and legs of a person instead of an actual carving of one. No discernible features are present on its face. The stone surrounding this final carving is cracked and chipped as though struck by a heavy blow. Perhaps there was once a proper carving here and it was removed. Perhaps the chips and cracks were deliberate, as many of them seem to feed directly into the shape and form of the carving, though that could be coincidence."

  Rekka though it was a good bed time story, through the pictures could have been better. She didn't really didn't care for the last one. It was all a little too convenient, wavy silvery hair, first her hair is brown with bits of gold and red in it. second her hair isn't wavy. Not that this matters, she had decide it was time to cut her hair. As a means to seal the deal with herself about her newly formed plan. Also as a way of burying Billy. Since there was nothing of his that she could bury instead. She wonder if the last figure was Billy. But she didn't really think it would be.  If this was an attempt of prophecy then she would love to met the person so craved these, so she could beat them senseless. She never believes in prophecy, otherwise what's the point in life. If things are already decided upon then what's the point of doing anything. it's going to happen either way.


     As the group followed the Rogue, he talked about the history of Hommlet. It was a once great city that was brought to a ruin due to an evil cult . Cleric and Paladins came to the city's aid and defeated the cult and sealed up their temple. Marked with association with this evil, the city declined for years bring the city to it's knees. Now a hundred years later and the city is still only a shadow of it's former glory, but is on the mends.  The Rogue talked about going to the sealed Temple and exploring it. Rekka became suspicious of him at that suggestion. Too bad she was thinking of like him like a friend, but he is a Rogue after all. To the highest bidder goes the evil secrets and items, she guessed. Although, he might be usable to further her newly found ambitions. Anyway, he could easy be killed if he steps one foot out of line. But he did give the group a very useful item.
      A map that can locate a person, place, item and show pathways to wanted areas. Opening the map he showed the group how it worked. There on the map where little dots with names next to them, some of the names had symbols, Cortanna figured out what the symbols were. Araja Eloirakn of Celestia (cast-out) the symbol of Highroneous; Raaein of the Forgotten Lands; Cortanna Elvenshrine (a.k.a. Cortanna Paddockson); Neigh-huh-hehe-hrumph (a.k.a. Fire-That-Kills, Briar) the Mark; Rekka Sangrail, the Mark; Bar Wench Jessica;            (a.k.a. First-High-Priest-Of-Highnulfia, Enslaver-Of-Nations, Isaac) the symbol of Nerull.
It came as a shock to Rekka, there on the map was her full name. In all her years she never actually knew her last name. It was surreal for a moment as she looked at the name; Sangrail.  Looking at it she couldn't even figure how it was suppose to be said. she actually said it out different ways, trying to sound it out, to hear if anything clicked. even Isaac took a try at it. But it didn't seem to matter to her, but yet last names are suppose to be important...
   A thought came to Rekka's mind, why would this map be able to name everyone? Did it always show their names? It was explained to her that their names showed up on the map as soon as they came within it's range. Though this caused some worry for her, since the rouge didn't show up on the map.  But not wanting to alert the Rogue to this, Isaac had us wait until we were away from the large group to discus it.
   Once away, Isaac begins: "Now that we're alone, off in the wilderness, and reasonably confident that no one is nearby, lets continue. Soap does't register as magical. At all. This includes when he had the map on his person. Hubert also doesn't recognize him as evil, which is unlikely considering his lack of... respect for other's property rights. This leads me to believe he has some sort of powerful non-detection spell in effect, which would prevent any of those three spells from working on him. Seeing as we've been traveling with him for a while and we're all still alive, I'm not too worried about it. Just another reminder that this map, and other magics, are not infallible and can be fooled. It is also a reminder that while he is helpful at the moment, we shouldn't trust him any farther than Jessica can throw him."
   Ajara believes that he as a concealment spell going or possibly a third eye, (whatever that is). She also wishes to find a Concealment item or spell as well since she doesn't want to be found. Rekka looks at her oddly, why is she now of all times wanting to hide? Sure she has caused quite a few of the troubles in our wakes but to this extreme.  She is trying to hide from her mistakes? If anyone needs to be hidden it should be Rekka, they baddies are looking for her specifically. 
    Isaac suggest to the group that we set up passwords and a meeting place. Isaac password would be that he would talk of the weather, if he talk's pleasantly about the weather then there is trouble, if he talks despairingly about the weather than all is well. Rekka would knock on a nearby door never the right one and yell for one of the group, different person each day. If she knocks on the right door and yells for Billy then there is trouble. Ajara would have set of three question and when asked she will answer the same way: question one: Hate that guy; question two: Hate him too; question three: Dead. 
Cortanna:*at the time of this post this hasn't been resolved yet.*
Jessica:*at the time of this post this hasn't been resolved yet.*
   Rekka speaks up about wanted to go back to the dukedom to get some things place some orders. Since Isaac has boot of Teleportation he was willing to allow this but he insisted on going along, as well as Ajara, although she wanted to go back to the sinkhole horde we found to get some more money. they all agreed it was best to do this on the second day. She then asked Ajara, since she mentioned that she was going to look around for magical items, if she would just keep note of what is available since Rekka has a full day's plan for the first day. this being agree upon. Ajara continues on with her shopping list,and mentsions once again that she needs to go to the sink hole horde to pick up more money. Isaac corrects her an say that they can travel to the dragon horde instead. Ajara said "the horde is gone. I only got a couple dozen gems. Then suddenly it vanished. Rekka mentioned that the hodse must hate rogues. It could be a magic triggered by the death of the dragon. But yeah... the horde is gone." Rekka reminding Isaac that she said a much when they left the drawf mansion.
Isaac gives Araja and Rekka an incredulous look, as he doesn't believe them, "Magic triggered by the death of the dragon? Did you check to see if you still have the gems and whatnot you had already picked up, to see if those 'vanished' as well?"

Rekka had looked into her bag and found that everything that she had place into it before the dwarven adventure was still in side. including her money. She would have told this to Isaac but it was around then that Ajara took off into the wood for piece of mind, or so Rekka guess, since after awhile Isaac went after her. Once they came back, the group set off again.