Nights of Steel and Fire (D&D)

[SirNitram]

"They accept any book as the price of admission. Getting into the good spots and getting assistant takes something a bit more exotic." Malkamar drew out a journal and patted it. "Hence why we both came prepared. Alright, Torma. Keep your little plot. But nothing that'll damage Candlekeep's books. We need to be welcome there."

[LadyTevar]

"oh... don't worry," Torma said, smiling at him with all her teeth. "It won't harm the books, or Candlekeep."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris' patience was rapidly becoming strained as he continued to walk. "Listen, the both of you," he said, more to appease Torma than to admonish Malkamar. "We do not have time for this. The Abbot's life hangs in the balance, and any delay could kill him. Let's just go," he said as they cleared the citadel gates.

[SirNitram]

Once clear of the city, Malkamar busied himself with assembleing the portal to Candlekeep. "All the more reason to get a move on. Ah, Candlekeep next, and the comforting smell of old books..."

[LadyTevar]

Torma just waited quietly, seated on her haunches with only her tail twitching.

Once again, this was so out of character, it should be scary.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Astinius made his exit from the spellguard and began making his way toward a book-seller. Candlekeep, last he checked, most accepted books of local interest (as they were most likely to not already be in their stacks and shelves) and thus he would try for a local geneology, or some collected history of an outlying township.

[Rogue 9]

"Fine, keep your plots," Gaheris grumbled. "But they'd best not interfere. Is the gate ready?" He directed the question, of course, towards Malkamar, letting his attention on Torma lapse for a moment.

[SirNitram]

"One quick hop to Candlekeep." Malkamar nodded, and passed through the gateway, heading for the far end and hopefully, some enlightenment on their foe.

[LadyTevar]

"Fine, keep your plots," Gaheris grumbled. "But they'd best not interfere. Is the gate ready?" He directed the question, of course, towards Malkamar, letting his attention on Torma lapse for a moment.

Torma's eyes narrowed at the tone of Gar's voice. Interfere? INTERFERE? Why I oughta.... Gas did stream out of her nostrils as her anger at him peaked. Thus, when the circle-gate opened, Gaheris was 'helped' through the gate by a very hard wingslap.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris wasn't so inattentive as to not notice a dragon's nose starting to smoke. Fine-tuned senses caught the wind of the incoming blow and he almost instinctively started to roll away or at least with the oncoming wing as he sidestepped towards the gate.

[Uncanny Dodge for the win. Also, Torma is designated for Dodge until further notice. ]

[Cynical Cat]

Gaheris landed face first in the mud.

[LadyTevar]

Torma walked through the gate, deliberately stepping OVER Gaheris. The dragon tracks next to his head make it clear that she could have walked on him if she felt like it.

[SirNitram]

"Well, that's why I'm not belittling her." Malkamar commented as he picked up the gate and folded it up for future use.

[Rogue 9]

He lifted himself up onto one knee, his face turning a dangerous shade of red, and looked around, the fingers of his sword hand flexing as they did when he was contemplating going for a weapon. He forced his mind to calm itself before rising entirely. "Tormantineth," he said in a calm tone that was obviously forced as he started wiping mud off of his cloak, "is it out of your system now, or do I need to consider sending you home?" He managed to not say it through gritted teeth, but only just, as he held up a handful of mud and casually flung it to the ground near her feet.

[LadyTevar]

Seeing Gar with mud on his face was funny. When he threw the mud at her, she was very tempted to throw some back at him. Get the paladin involved in a mudfight, yes! Nah... too easy. Cow patties or horse manure would work better for that.

Instead, she chose to speak to him. "Send me home?" she sneered. "Do you really think you can?" With full draconic dignity she turned away from him and began walking towards Candlekeep's main gate. "I'm not one of your knights or pawns, Gaheris. I do not have to listen to your orders."

[SirNitram]

"Really." Malkamar shook his head slowly. "I realize it's hard to remember at times, but Torma is a full member of this little group. She's not our ward or child. She's got a lifetime of learning ahead and she should remember that... But she's not someone we 'send home'."

A deep sigh. "As much as watching a paladin get into a mudfight would cheer me up, it's gonna have to wait. We need to get to work."

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris held back a snarl as he produced a cloth from his cloak and began wiping off the rest of his splattered face as he began walking west along the Way of the Lion towards the towering bastion of Candlekeep. A thought struck him as he walked, and his right hand moved to check the pouch that carried the manuscript he intended to use to gain entry, to ensure that it was not damaged.

[LadyTevar]

Thus, Torma led the way up to the gates of Candlekeep, her head held proudly high, and the Knight of Tyr bedraggled and muddy behind her.

It was almost worth letting him off the hook ...
She'd think about it.

[Rogue 9]

Bedraggled and muddy wasn't a condition Gaheris was unused to. It was why he wore practical traveling clothes rather than going in for style. He allowed himself a slight smile as he contemplated all the different ways he could serve the arrogant youth in similar fashion as she walked along, seemingly oblivious to him. But no, the object lesson would be lost on her dense draconic skull.

That, and he needed a more serious test of loyalty; she had clearly broadcast her intention to interfere in his mission to rescue the Abbot when she responded to his warning with attack. It was only her loyalty thus far that kept him from considering her in betrayal of his trust. His expression turned to a scowl at the thought, and he trudged on toward Candlekeep, maintaining a casual watch on the other travelers on the road, for the Way of the Lion was never wanting for supplicants seeking entrance.

[Cynical Cat]

The approach to Candlekeep was deserted. A single guard stood outside at the gate in the wall surrounding the ancient keep.

[LadyTevar]

"Hello!" Torma said to the hapless guard. "I am called Torma, these are my companions." She was deliberately leaving off their names. "We would like to enter and seek knowledge."

[SirNitram]

And now to make the guard's day odd. Malkamar approached, waving a book. "The entrance fee is still only a book, yes, good sir?" He called as he approached, smiling.

[Rogue 9]

Gaheris resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands as Torma took charge. Instead, he reached for the leather messenger's pouch he was keeping the manuscript in, but merely placed his hand upon it, not withdrawing the entrance-gift yet.

[Cynical Cat]

The guard smiled. He was on the long side of thirty and had seen a lot in his day. You got two kind of people coming to Candlekeep, small traders and farmers selling the necessities of life and exotic folk. Books weren't cheap and the ones Candlekeep accepted were even rarer. "If the reader on duty will accept it, yes indeed."

[LadyTevar]

"May we speak to the reader, please?" Torma asked, on her best charming behavior.