View source for The Flayed Man, part 27

With Lanier leading the way, you at least have proper guidance. They're sad to see you go from the inn, and ask Seldan to return someday to tell stories. 

The crisp morning air is cooler here than it is in more temperate Alexandria and you've a long ride ahead of you.

It has been some time since Seldan was a-horseback, but he doesn't seem to mind, any more than he minds the crispness of the morning air. Indeed, the chill does not seem to bother him in the slightest, although he does look around at the others to see how they are faring. For the most part, though, he seems relaxed, and even seems to be enjoying himself.

 GAME: Seldan rolls ride: (20)+6: 26
 GAME: Malik rolls Ride: (19)+8: 27
 GAME: Lanier rolls Ride: (7)+6: 13

There are some things even nerdy wizards learn to do, with time. Like how to make a horse do what you want it to do without falling off, while looking cool in the process. Malik seems to have that part down, at least, a small smile on his face for probably the first time in weeks as they just ride out in the open air, away from the cities. "Smells like home," he says to Seldan, riding to their destination.

The advent of Lanier on a horse did seem to leave the ranger taken aback for a little bit, as he's not accustomed to horseback as some are. He mounts up never-the-less, picking his way through leading the horse out of the stables of the inn to set off towards the border. Every so often, he'll pull out his map and compass to orient them, readjusting as neccesary.

Iskandar rides along to the rear of the party. At the beginning of the trip he looked around with great interest, but soon seemed to grow accustomed to the sights. Now he only looks if they come to a particularly spectacular view. He does however make conversation as they travel. Mostly small-talk, questions about the area and locals.

"In truth have I not been this far so very often," Seldan tells Iskandar. "My home is well south from here." He produces another one of those easy grins for Malik. "Your home is warmer, is it not?" He seems content to let Lanier do the navigating, although does occasionally glance at the map and compass.

The landscape is ... 

....well, Perenath is perhaps one of the smaller Myrrish kingdoms. It's not considered among the greater ones, such as Isobar or Rosalia, but it is still none the less *a* kingdom among the many such lordships that compose the Myrrish kingdoms all together. It's landscape is a blend between Myrrish greenery and Stormgardian harshness, a fitting description for something that straddles the border of both. 

Marks of the Stormgardian occupation that preceded the war in Sendor are everywhere, an the kingdom's final status has never been as resolved as both nations want to pretend. 

You bypass an old tower, half-crumbled and rotting, a defensive structure damaged by war and never repaired once it was no longer needed.

"It only -smells- like home," Malik laughs, agreeing with Seldan in his own way. He, too, seems content to let the ranger do the ranging, looking around at the sights on the way. "What -happened- here?" the Vast-native asks, clearly having been too young or too occupied to know the history of this place, or the cause of its ruin.

 GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/history +1: (2)+9+1: 12
 GAME: Lanier rolls Knowledge/History: (8)+4: 12

"War," Iskandar guesses. "Such a waste. I'm all for a small battle here and there, a heroic quest into the lair of a monster. But for entire lands and kingdoms to throw themselves against each other..." he shakes his head.

Lanier continues to ride along, practicing guiding his very patient horse by his knees. Spud is not too far away, trotting along close enough to be seen but with a minimal chance of stressing the horses. The ranger takes a sidelong look at the tower, narrowing his eyes and commenting, "I've heard about this. When a wizard needs a bigger tower, they abandon their current one for another smaller wizard to come and pick up."

"I was but a boy when Father rode to defend Sendor," Seldan answers, his smile fading as his eyes rove up and down the ruin. "Stormgard destroyed Myrddion's defenses that Myrddion might waste resources rebuilding, that we could ill-afford to lose." His tone is that of one parroting the words of another, but almost absently as he studied the ruin. "Stormgard occupied this place, for some years."

Malik sighs. "I'm not sure if that's better or worse than what I had come to expect," he notes. "There are plenty of ruins where I come from. Just for very different reasons. Reasons beyond the control of men. Probably." That's still not entirely assured, but beyond their current -skill-, at the least. "To see destruction for something far more human is -- both heartening and sad."

Good news, everyone! 

After having spent most of the day on horseback, minus the obvious and understandable occasional need to relieve one's self, eat, or stretch the legs, you've made considerable progress towards your destination. 

In fact, there it is, in the distance, a keep atop a hilltop, a smaller village seated around it, with industry, it seems, primarily geared towards forrestry. The ground is growing steadily more rugged over the course of the day, less tame, and the weather cooler. Thankfully, it's summer. 

Arriving at the village proper gets you met with casual greetings. No one seems to be in a hurry here.

Iskandar slips off of his horse and gives it a grateful pat. Then he looks around at the village, one hand still rubbing the horse's neck. After that cursory inspection he focuses on the villagers. "Is this where the Frostmantles are stationed?" he asks the nearest one, with a nod towards the keep.

The ground doesn't seem much of a hindrance to Lanier Vaylan, who guides the horse as patiently as the horse deigns to be guided by the ranger. As time has gone on, the ranger has figured out a way to spark a friendship with the beast, as rangers are wont to do. He tilts his head from side to side, looking this way and that before he shakes his head to Iskander, "I didn't know where the Frostmantles were garrisoned, but here's where we would find out. Let's go ask at the tavern. There's likely to be someone there who knows." He pulls his horse to a halt, kicking a leg over and sliding off the saddle and to the ground.

Seldan takes his cue from the greetings of the locals, and returns them with equal casualness. He dismounts at the edge of the village, tying off the reins and leading his horse by the bridle rather than riding in. He takes a deep breath of the cool air, but then looks around him. "Perhaps we should seek the local tavern," he suggests politely.

Indeed, the tavern is a useful place to start. A few questions asked about mercs and Frostmantles leads you to the idea that the Keep is actually a better place to start asking questions. There are a goodly number of mercenaries that are hired and based there, and they help to patrol the border with Stormgard to keep the peace. Indeed, that the Frostmantles have been hired here by Myrddion isn't surprising, as mercs are mercs and go where the coin is and the border needs patrolling either way. 

It's too late in the day to really get in on that this evening, though, so you retire to inn rooms and begin anew the next day with the keep. 

With a Sunblade in your group, getting help isn't even very hard. Seldan's able to navigate you into the keep talk to the quartermasters and sergeant at arms, who are able to identify the man in question, indicating that he's unfortunately on long patrol on the other side of the border, amongst a large group of Mantles. Seems they're chasing some kind of monster to strike it down. 

Questions about the man in question are uniformly met with positive marks. A fierce warrior and dangerous combatant, they say. Saw him kill a frost giant, at one point. 

...which is interesting, because it doesn't really sound like the kind of thing that a low-ranked Frostmantle work-a-day merc usually does.

Whatever Seldan's thoughts on the words of the locals are, he keeps them to himself as he asks around and gathers information. He does a lot more listening than talking, but does observe, "A dangerous foe it is that they seek, to send so many, and ones so mighty, to pursue it. Think you that they may find themselves in need of aid?"

"I think they will," Iskandar nods in agreement. "But lets go find him, regardless. Our leads have a habit of being torched just before we arrive. After traveling so far I don't want the same to happen here."

Lanier does his own bit to help put together the pieces to the puzzle at hand, at one point agreeing with Seldan and mentioning, "I'm a Green Warden. If the hunt is just and honorable, I would be happy to lend my assistance as well." He nods his head to Iskandar and then sends his eyes a wandering in the area of the keep they are in.

 GAME: Malik rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (4)+20: 24
 GAME: Lanier rolls Knowledge/Arcana: (4)+4: 8
 GAME: Seldan rolls knowledge/arcana: (11)+16: 27

Once their questions are answered and their bellies filled, Seldan seeks out the others in the group, away from the ears of the locals and most likely in the privacy of an inn room. "It is in my mind that they seek an ice worm, although it is strange indeed to see one so far south at this time of the year. Still, lore holds that it is not impossible, were one to be sufficiently hungry, and the tales fit such a beast. We should rest and prepare."

Iskandar's eyes shine. "An ice worm..." he murmurs to himself. Then he grins savagely. "I can hardly wait." He looks at the others and then shrugs. "I'm always prepared for slaying monsters. But if we need to rest first, so be it."

Lanier listens to Seldan with a curious expression on his face, and then nods his head, "I can prepare some magic to help endure some of the cold weather, but I have a limited amount of favor I can ask from the gods. We may actually have to bring a warm clothing as well if we don't want to get stuck moving slowly as we stop to keep warm." He then considers, "I'll look into options for cold weather that might be here. Maybe there's someone from the Union around here who can spare scrolls." He then adds, "I'll make preparations."

Malik just stays quiet, the maybe-archer-maybe-wizard-maybe-something-entirely-different not seeming too eager to jump into this little mix -- but also not backing out, look pensive. "I think I've got a few things," he says.