Turn 63 -- Farewell and Onward

After recovering from the shock of Forseti's avatar, Kersath moves forward to face the mighty paladin, "Well, I suppose that a call from your god is not something you are able to dispute. I could only wish for a sign from Mielikki. You should be proud, but I will miss you sorely. Our swords have a way of working together, don't you think?"

"Aye, that they do, friend."

"Well, I'm not so good at saying long goodbye's," continues the ranger, "so I will just do it. But if you ever happen to get to the area of the woods, anywhere in Faerun, try to find me. I will not, of course, be there but you can trust the ranger's web of links. You will find me, sooner or later and I will be of great debt and service to you."

That said, Kersath moves to the side trying not to show his sorrow. He quickly tries to busy himself looking over the young lady and tending to the wounds she has.

"I was never any good at goodbyes," says Dain as he moves forward to say farewell to Beleg, "so let me just say this: Listen to your heart and allow your soul to tell you what is right. We all fight for what is true and just, perhaps out fates will cross again. Until then, fare thee well and may the Light illumine you."

"Wise words," answers Beleg with a nod. "I pray that our paths will cross again, friend."

Randor then moves forward to bid farewell to his friend. Reaching out, he and Beleg grasp forearms in the time honored tradition of warriors, "I am glad that I have been given the chance to know you friend Beleg. May Forseti and Tyr give you strength in all your travels."

"Thank you, my friend, and you as well. I hope we can one day continue our theological discussions."

"Aye, me too," responds Randor with a smile.

Looking over from the edge of the camp, Gnore gives a quick nod of acknowledgement to the Paladin, "Everyone must follow their own path to Valhal, Paladin. Your skill is valuable to us although I could have done without your nagging. You take care of yourself, great Beleg, and may your battles reap victory." Gnore finishes with a second nod and moves off to take up guard.

"I am saddened that you must leave us Beleg," begins Talimar, "but each must follow his own path. Mayhap if we can finish this business up here quickly we may be able to travel north and aid you."

"Perhaps," replies Beleg, "but I think this task before you is far from complete, my friend. Until thin, keep your wits about you and lead this company well."

The rest of the companions offer quiet acknowledgements of Belegs leaving with hand shakes and nods, as he is preparing to leave Ras comes forward, "Well, before you go at least take your share of the money."

"Nay, friend Ras, I have enough to carry me to my homeland and then I will have no need for the possessions. My people need my sword arm now not the gold. My part can go back to the party."

"Ok," replies Ras as he puts the gold back in his pouch. "Always remember the Red Feather Company."

"Never fear, my friend, I will not forget thee."

Beleg finishes washing himself of the soot and ash of the fire and double checks his possessions and makes sure that Asfalof is ready for the journey. Securing everything, he mounts his faithfull steed and heads off to the north. At the edge of the forest he turns once again to gaze at the company one last time, Asfalof reering high. With a final wave he turns and heads off into the forest.

Turning back to the others, Talimar speaks, "Ortho, why don't you and Kersath keep an eye on the lady Beleg pulled from the fire. She may have been a prisoner but she could have also been one of them. Ras, why don't you take a look at the chest, when you get it open, Dain or I will cast a detect magic spell on it and our headless friend here."

"Ok," replies Ras, "Perhaps we can find out who the girl is, I am assuming she might be Jelenneth. If that is true we need to get back and cash in our awards. Did any of you magicians find any magical items?"

Dain, Talimar and all the others shakes their heads no as most everyone was busy getting out of the keep before the fire got them.

"I don't believe the girl is Jelenneth," answers Talimar. "At least she doesn't fit the description of her. When she wakes, we will interrogate her further."

"Seems fitting that Ranchefus go that way," says Garth as he nods toward the smoldering blaze of the keep. "Full of hot air and all as he was." Looking more somber, he adds, "I'll be seeing to burying the bodies of the dead." He then moves over to start the graves for the men taken out of the upper part of the keep. The bodies of the zombies and any others in the lower part having burned with the keep.

In the center of the makeshift camp Ras, Druckner and Kre sort through the bounty taken from the keep. Taken from the keep they find a total of 250 gold crowns, a small diamond from the boot of one of the thieves, pair of ivory dice with bloodstone 'pips', a gold earring, gold bracelet with nicely engraved inlaid ivory skulls, a longsword of fine quality as well as a bastard sword, a scroll and three potions. There is also a short bow and short sword of exceptional quality, a set of bracers and a very nice ring. There is also Ranchefus' chain mail and footmans flail which are of excellent quality also. Ranchefus also had a strange amulet that had several different types of small skulls on it. He also had three keys on him as well. Having gathered all of this loot they then turn their attention to the chest.

After a few moments of careful study, they quickly find that the chest is indeed trapped as expected. Knowing that one of the keys that Ranchefus carries opens the chest but not wanting to take a chance on springing the trap with the wrong key, Ras decides to try and remove the trap himself. As he takes out the set of tools given him by Druckner, he looks over and over the chest again trying to find a way around the magical trap placed on the chest. Dain and Talimar offered no help as they were unable to identify or dispel the enchantment placed on the chest. Finally, with tiny beads of sweat forming on his small forehead, Ras decides he's ready to work around the trap. The others stand back as the young halfing gets ready to open the chest.

He inserts a small metal piece into the lock, hoping to work around the lock and spring it. Nothing happens as the metal is inserted into the lock and Ras gives his friends a confident smile. As he goes to trip the lock and open the chest though, disaster strikes! A sudden blast of cold air comes from the front of the chest and strike Ras full in his chest. The small halfling goes flying twenty feet backwards through the air and falls heavily on his back. As the others rush to their companion, they see that his face is pale and the hair at front is frosted now. His clothes are also cold and have frost on them as well. Most disturbing of all is that the young halfing is not breathing!

"HELP HIM!" screams Kre as he grabs both Ortho and Randor, pulling them down over Ras. Both the priests look at each other with solemn looks on their faces before they begin praying for their comrade. At the noise from the blast, Garth comes over from his work preparing the graves to look upon the still body of Ras. Randor and Ortho continue to pray for several more minutes, trying their hardest to gather as much magical energy into themselves as possible to try and heal their friend. Finally, both place their hands on the cold forehead of Ras and finish their prayers, releasing the magical energy bestowed upon them from their respective deities into the body of their friend. After the transferance, Randor and Ortho both fall back to the ground, exhausted.

"He's breathing," says Kre as he examines Ras once again, "But very shallow."

"He'll live," says Ortho as he rubs his head. "But he needs to rest now. Move him closer to the fire and keep him warm." Randor has already succombed to the strain of the casting and is asleep. Kersath and Kre pick up the bodies of Ras and Randor and move them closer into the campfire, wrapping them in their blankets as they leave them to rest. Ortho comes over shortly after to fall asleep as well.

Kre leaves the chest to move over to his friend Ras and watch over him as he recovers. Druckner on the other hand goes back to investigate. Seeing that the trap has been sprung, he takes the keys from Ranchefus and tries them until he finds the right one. Inside the chest he finds 665 gold crowns, 150 platinum pieces and a bracelet set with chrysoberls, two emerals and a fine sapphire. He quickly estimates the value of the bracelet at 4,000 gold crowns. There is also another gilded key with an ivory handle that was wrapped in silk. There are also two flasks in the chest that contain a viscuous fluid smelling faintly of fish. The flask bears the same design that was on the goblin ring. There was nothing else of value within the chest.

"It seems that all these items here are magical," says Dain as he finishes his spell over the weapons and armor. "Although I cannot tell of what nature they are."

"We'll mess with that in the morning," says Talimar to the group. "For now, why don't we get some rest. Gnore and I will handle the first watch. Kersath, you and Dain can handle the second followed by Garth and Kre. Kuiper and Druckner can take the last watch while we let the others rest. In the morning we will interrogate our prisoner and decide on our next course of action."