The Great Silence

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Aleria leans her maul against the bar for a moment, lifting her pack back onto her shoulders. She frowns as a some of her hair drops in front of her eyes, and sighs, reaching up and pulling the leather thong at the base of her ponytail loose, her now loose black hair dropping free for a moment before she gathers it back up and reties it with an expression of minor irritation. She picks her maul back up and lifts it back across her shoulders, the haft of the hammer tugging at her hair as it settles and pulling a few strands free of the leather band. She moves to follow Alabaster out the inn, voicing a few suggestions as she finishes composing her thoughts.

"We could use some good food. Maybe a few tents if nobody has one? With a cart to carry it, they're not that unwieldy. And maybe a pot for cooking if we run across some deer or something? Handling supplies I don't have to carry isn't something I'm used to."
 
The “fish guy” took only the smallest of sips from his mug of ale before putting it down and smiling contentedly.

"I do not believe we have a smidgen of time to waste. It does sound like we will be required to 'shop' a bit before we leave."

He got up and moved towards the door, stopping just in front of it and pounding his staff on the floor as to make a point for those who hadn't gotten up yet to follow.

"Snap to it!" he said cheerfully, raising his voice a bit.
 
Gauthak looked at the small fish who just spoke to him like a dog with an "eyebrow" raised, but decided that it was not an offense worth getting too angry about. He rose to his full height, smashing his head against one of the ceiling beams and swearing loudly in giant. "Ow, I may have had more to drink than I thought, I should have remembered to duck." The Goliath slowly moves to the door, crouching to squeeze his way through, and once outside, he register's what the Dwarf girl is saying. "Yes, some food for the road would be a smart move." he mumbles, nearly slurring, but holding himself together. He stands to his full height and puts his hand above his eyes to block the sun, looking around for a marketplace.
 
Aerendyl chuckles not expecting a tortle to be so quick. He takes a defensive step back from the tortle after he snatches the satchel out of the air. He then turns his attention to fish boy as he looks him over from under his hood. “And who here made you leader of this little escapade? Last I checked we weren’t your subjects. And besides I don’t really do to well with following orders. As I see it we are all a team now and that means making team decisions not taking orders from what I’m assuming a formerly ‘privileged’ fish boy, because surpise surprise this isn’t your home bud this is the real world. Soo might want to keep yourself in check. Ok buddy?”

Aerendyl turns to Gauthak watching him hit his head and he shakes his own. He waits for everyone to exit the tavern and then follows behind them, as to keep everyone in his view. “Since y’all are going shopping and I don’t really need anything. I’m going to head on to the north gate and wait for everyone there. Try not to take forever.”

With that he turns and starts walking towards the gate before casually slipping into the shadows.
 
Gauthak makes his way to the marketplace, making sure the lizard with the big sword stayed nearby. He found a young woman who was helping people find what they needed and asked for her help. He politely asked for the food and cooking supplies that the team would need for their trip, and helped her load up the crate. In the end, he let her know that he was heading to help save someone, and was able to talk down the price of the supplies. He thanked her profucely and walked off carrying over 100 pounds of supplies under one arm. He headed north to the rendevous point, waving back at his new grocer friend as he strode through the street.
 
Alabaster didn't happen to hear the conversation inside, but as the half elf walked out and made it clear he was doing what he want he shook his head. "Boy, you're not going to make friends with that attitude. Best hope the dice roll in your favor" He said as the man walked away and 'slipped' into the shadows, shaking his head. "Kids these days, thinking brooding and mysterious makes you a man"

But he paid no more attention as he traveled with the Goliath, listening as the man talked a woman down from a significantly higher price to something more reasonable. He smirked and nodded in approval, not speaking until the exchange was over and the duo began to make their way back to the cart. "So, Gauthak is it? Tell me about yourself Mr. Mountain, what's like life for a man of your stature?"
 
As they head for the markets, a clothier's catches Aleria's eye. Glancing down at her light and road-battered clothes, she knocks on the side of Alabaster's shell.

"Toss me a handful of those, I'm thinking a hike and hunt back calls for pair of boots and something a little more hardy than what I left the temple with. I'll catch up with you at the cart."

Shortly thereafter, Aleria leaves the store in a far more solid outfit, a sturdy dark green linen shirt under a dark leather vest, and a pair of black wool pants over solid leather boots. The hood of a grey cloak pokes out of the top of her pack, for if it becomes needed. Her expression is not particularly pleased, and she sets off in the direction of the north gate, muttering to herself.

"How'd I fight in an ankle length skirt? Idiots, the lot of them. Might as well head out, I'll never find them over a crowd, even if they would stand out like a small hill."
 
Mara mentally inventories the items she brought with her. She cannot think of anything she needs at the market that the others won’t already be buying. Ahead of her, Aerendyl has already disappeared into the shadows. Well, he didn’t seem like the most friendly of her fellow travelers, anyway.

She tugs her hood a bit closer around her face before stepping out of the shadows. “I’ll meet the rest of you at the north gate."
 
Gauthak sits on the ground, leaning his back against a wall and stretching. "You can call me Truthcaller, if you like. It was the name my tribe gave me after I discovered my talents." Gauthak shifted his drum forward and pulled a pair of sticks from his pocket, and began to play a simple rhythm. The tone of the drum was so low that it could barely be heard, but the vibrations it gave off suddenly made anyone who felt them just a little happier. He looked up to the standing Alabaster and smiled, and this face would have looked intimidating, if it weren't for the positive vibrations being coaxed from the drum.
 
Aerendyl chuckles at the words of his tortle compatriot and continues on to the North Gate. Once he gets there and finds the mule and cart he will sit down with his back against the cart. He then pulls out a small picture that is charred around the edge that he had tucked inside his pocket and looks down at it and quietly mumbles to himself “If you’re still alive, I will find you. I promise.”
 
When Mara reaches the North Gate-- and the mule and the cart left for their party-- Aerendyl is already waiting. As she approaches, she sees him tuck an object inside his pocket.

She finds a spot a short distance from him and leans against the cart. “What was that you were looking at?"
 
When you all reach the cart, a stablehand comes up to you, he looks strangely similar to the odd benefactor you met in the Inn, however, this couldn't be him, after all, your compatriot in the inn had dirty blonde hair and this man has bright orange hair. "Hello, my name is Merrick, I've been assigned to assist you with whatever you need while you're stationed in the stables" he attempts to hide his obvious surprise in the odd party, although he cannot help but stare at some of you, specifically Alabaster and Gauthak "May I just ask, who exactly is in charge here?"
 
Aleria lets out a laugh at Merrick's question, almost doubling over as she leans on her hammer.

"Boy, that's a loaded question if I've ever heard one."

She straightens up, then looks around at the rest of the group, then with a grin, points at the front of the cart.

"I'm going with the mule. At least he's smart enough to not have volunteered for this. And probably has more sense than most of us, too."

She hooks her thumb at Alabaster, leaning against the wheel of the cart as she does so.

"If you're looking to be paid for something, the turtle has the money, but from what we were told, things here at least should have already been taken care of."
 
Aerendyl glances over at Mara as she sits down. He whispers/mumbles “It’s just a reminder of one of the reasons I’m here” He sighs inwardly and looks up as he sees the others approach. Glancing at the stable hand he lets out a scoffing laugh. “Ha! Kid look at us we’re a bunch of misfits. Ain’t no one in charge here, though one of us thinks he is.” He cuts his eyes to fish boy. “But really we don’t have a leader, the guy with the money is the turtle if that’s what you meant.”
 
Alabaster watched as a young man stared the group down, spending a bit of time staring at the shelled Paladin as he yawned and shrugged. He was wondering who would step up, taking command for who was or wasn't in charge and he laughed at the answers that he heard, shaking his head as he looked at Aleria. "You know, we're hoping these people put their faith in us, no need to make jokes at every turn my friend" He said with a gentle smile before stepping forward and pulling the note out of the bag.

"Hello young man, my name's Alabaster, I was sent to retrieve the cart, some feed, and an ass" He said as he handed over the note and grinned, looking back over the group again and shaking his head.

We're all gonna die if they can't even get along to get a mule He thought to himself as he waited for their gear
 
“I see, this would be...” Merric began to read over The note, his eyes taking a while to cross the page “I know what mule he wanted you all to have” he moved away from Alabaster, heading into the stables before returning with a brown mare, a large white patch over her left eye “This is Petunia, she will be taking care of you” he smiled obviously having cared greatly over all of these animals, he hesitantly passes over her reigns “take good care of her and she will take good care of you”
 
"Haven't you been paying attention the past few decades, Alabaster? We're here as self-determined 'lightseekers'. We are the joke as far as the people are concerned. Might as well embrace it"

Aleria smiles, then watches as Merrick and nods at the obvious concern and care for the mule, and nods gently, reaching out to take the reins, and trying to guide Petunia to the front of the cart. As they reach it, she frowns slightly.

"Um... Merrick. As pleased as I am to have this lovely lady joining our group. Well..."

She gestures to the harness and cart resting on the ground, waiting to be harnessed to the mule with a chagrined smile.

"Help, please? I've got no idea how to do this."

She looks around at the rest of the party.

"Unless anybody else really wants to, I'll be happy to guide our lovely leader here along our path. Y'all've longer legs than I do, so it makes no sense to drag her along any faster than I can keep up with."
 
“A-ah yes of course, h-how could I forget something as crucial as attatching her to the harness” Merrick laughed, taking Petunia and beginning to attatch the harness to her “I would suggest one of you come watch so you know how to do this” his voice had steadied, he was flustered, being caught in such an unprofessional act, to not ask the customer if they knew how to hook a mule up! What a rookie mistake “So, you’re really light seekers then? The real ones, not like the men at taverns who say they are so you donate half your wallet to the cause just to see them back there drinking a week later and then when you ask them what they’re doing they say, oh just taking a break. Yeah sure you just took a break now where’s my money at! I needed that, I gave it to you because I thought you were a hero!” He blinked a few times, counted under his breath for a little and then spoke, calm again “sorry about that little outburst”
 
Gauthak stands and slowly steps toward Petunia. He slips an apple from his pack and lowers it to her mouth. As she eats, Gauthak grabs the straps and harnesses and begins to hook her to the cart. "No worries, friend. I know my way around a cart, no matter what's pulling it." The goliath makes strangely quick work with the harness for someone with hands his size. "And we are the real deal, at least I hope we all are. I'm not looking to get halfway through this mission just to find that some of my compatriats were here for a gag, or to blow off the job." He is suddenly speaking louder, enough that all of his new friends can hear him clearly. "We all seem like an honest group of misfits, I'm sure that wont be an issue." And as if to puctuate his point, he lashes the reigns against the cart a couple times as he finishes speaking. I looks around to his traveling party, and to Merric, and smiles wide. It is hard to tell if this smile should be making you feel releaf, or more fear from the giant of a man.
 
Aerendyl, who is still sitting against the cart, let’s out a sigh “Glad everyone could finally show up. And big guy.” He turns his head towards the Goliath. “As the little dwarf said we are all just one big gag. And we all wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have a reason and try not to damage the cart with those reigns. I doubt we have the money to pay for repairs.” He then turns to look at Merric, still mostly obscured by his cloak and looking some what creepy sitting against the cart. “We’re not anyone you should fear even the big guy alright like they said were just a bunch of misfits though I can’t speak for everyone’s honesty.” Aerendyl looks over his new compatriots “Can we finally get going already, it’s boring just sitting here listening to people talk.”
 
Aleria lets out a little chuckle at Merrick's outburst.

"And that is why it's such a joke. Might as well get on with things, we're not getting any closer to where we're going just standing here."

She hefts her pack up into the cart, unstrapping the brace of javelins and lashing them across her back, before looking up at Gauthak, craning her neck with her hammer over her shoulder and free hand on her hip.

"You want to handle the lead, then?"
 
Gauthak smiles at the dwarf, and nods his head. He turns and begins counting the members of his party, but relises that he doesn't remember how many of them there were, so he just shrugs and begins walking out of the city. Without stopping, he shouts back to Merric, "Glad to have met you, we should talk when we return."
 
“Yes, I would love to speak to you again when you all return! Triumphantly of course!” Merric would re-enter the stable house without further word. Night was nearing and the city gates were not too far away. The night would be young and peaceful, a slight humidity in the air as would be expected by any good summer night there would be just enough room for maybe one or two small people to sit in the car, not without slowing down Petunia though.
 
Merrick's enthusiasm is almost catching. His good cheer is almost enough to make Mara believe that they will actually be returning.

“I don’t think there’s room for Gauthak in the cart, but someone else might ride,” she says. “And then we should probably be on our way."
 
Alabaster watches as the group redies themselves, now with a cart and all for their belongings. He smiles and looks over the group before starting to walk, "We've got quite a trip ahead of us my friends, let's get on it" he said.

He wasn't sure just how 'triumphant" they would actually return though. Hidden behind his smile he knew that as far as he knew, they were an impatient Triton, a Dwarf who didn't seem to take this seriously, a human who...he didn't have a good read on, a Goliath he hoped would suprise him, and a liar.
 
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