Silvanost - Downtime
22nd Gildember 348 AC
The pair follows Cedron to the Tree and sits quietly while he prays. Agnes simply watches and listens to his words, fascinated by his piousness - something unheard of since the Cataclysm. When he is done, she asks, "Your god, this Malazzarr, does not answer your prayers. How do you know that hasn't turned from you as our gods have turned from us?"
"Agnes, because I have faith, and I know that the gods are not as omnipotent, as some teachings may suggest. Our gods need us as much as we need them. So, I know the same way a bee knows a flower will bloom, or the way a rooster calls the sun to rise, Malazzarr needs my prayers as much as I need to pray. I know because we walk the same path, and there is a bit of the gods in each of us," Cedron says with great resolve.
Ra’ziir spends his time in the library, pouring over scrolls and tomes about dragonkind, trying to find information about the creatures the party fought in the Silvanesti woods. Unsurprisingly, there is nothing in any of the Silvanesti records about hybrid dragons, humanoid dragons, or dragonkin. He does, however, find a reference to a particularly vicious red wyrm known as Death-Maw, called Rafeevsebj in the draconic tongue. During the Third Dragon War, Rafeevesbj is confirmed to have slain fourteen metallic dragons of roughly equal age, mostly golds and silvers. Rumors claim that he also annihilated a full company of Solamnic Knights but, as there were no survivors of the attack, this cannot be proven.
Grotto spends some time in town taking in a good meal and getting to know the townsfolk. None of the elves seem particularly interested in speaking with the scarred dwarf but he is often accompanied by Alara, Lorraine, and several of the healers. While the scribe has little to contribute, the physicians are eager to trade knowledge of herbcraft with the warrior-priest.
Grotto tells the fellow healers about the many herbs he has found that are both medicinal and recreational. "Some heal both the body and sooth the mind" explains Grotto. "I learned to be a great alchemist in my younger days in while cloistered in my monastery. With this knowledge, I figured out how to separate the herbs down to their most basic forms to concentrate their properties. These basic properties can then be ingredients for more powerful concoction." Grotto continues to share his findings over the days. He feels a bit of kinship with the fellow healers. He enjoys the company of those that truely take an interest in what he has to say
Kysek; with a concerned look plain upon his face speaks, “Four days' time for two members of the Council? If this is what I believe it to be, there’s no telling how much strength the enemy can gain in four days. If we know where they are, we may be able to hasten their journey?” The elf looks to the other spellcasters.
The guard captain shakes his head slowly. "I understand your concern but we can use the time to prepare our report. Individually, the dragonmen were not that formidable - they die messy but if we attack at range or with longer spears, our forces should escape any harm their death throes can deal."
After making the rounds with Ornforithalas to visit the families of the two fallen scouts, Raven practices with his ability to summon food. Creating hard candies out of thin air comes easily after the first day and he soon learns that he can do it three times in a twenty-four hour period. He is also to create a sweet, pink gooey gruel that is vaguely "fruit" flavored along with clear drinking water. It takes much longer but as far as he can tell, it can be done whenever he wishes. This ability quickly endears him to the children living near Lorraine's. Their parents, however, are less enamored of the sugary substance or the ensuing hyperactivity it bestows.
Cassidy gets into some trouble before the first afternoon has even passed with several elves accusing him of stealing personal belongings - coins, five sets of toenail clipers and a pair of scissors, rings, a dagger, assorted toys, suture needles, a roll of bandages, a single checker, some shiny rocks, and so on. When confronted, he claims innocence and is genuinely shocked that turning out his pockets reveals the items in question.
Shadow is shocked and tries to “help” Cassidy out of the problems he has caused while Shadow was with the other mages. Once he can get him alone he tries to give him a proper dressing down. “I gave you a magic $#%@ing crossbow. I figured you might take an interest in learning to use it or at least feign some interest in the poisons I gave you too. My people are very good with bad things. I can teach you a great many things that no other Kender will ever know. Or I can leave you to the mercy of these Elves that would just as soon cut your fingers off for thievery than to listen to your story.” He stares in Drow at him. “You should be cautious, allies are not always friends. And if you keep taking their things we will both get ran out of town. At least I will get to keep my fingers.” He wiggles them at him and says “Now let’s find a place for a drink and something to eat. Then we can talk about some training for you with that crossbow and maybe some other weapons too.”
"I am interested in the crossbow. I didn't take anything on purpose. I was just looking and forgot to put some things back," Cassidy replies, looking dejected.
Romulus takes Macula into the woods get away from the constant bustle of the city. He sits by the riverbank and watches a pair of giant turtles, each double the size of a merchant wagon, ferry elves back and forth across the Thon-Thalas for most of the afternoon. Eventually, he rises and saddles the leopard and the two head south in search of a safe location where the halfling will be able to summon χρόνος with the help of the party's other mages.
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