<font color=silver>ooc: <font color=turquoise>DMs Note</font> - I'm making a quick continuity adjustment to handle an absentee character. Let's assume that at some point during the battle, while the party's attention was oocuppied by the grimlocks, Rhianneth apparently wandered off -- presumably as a result of whatever strange experience she had immediately before the fighting broke out. Brendon can follow her trail a short ways down the passage from whcih the party came, but then it simply ends -- possibly as a result of her casting spell. Be that as it may, there is no sign of her nor is there any indication of where she gone or whether she will return.

Rhianneth has not been killed off, but I am removing her to a safe place pending Mistral's possible return to the game once her schedule lightens up.</font>

Dantes- 76/76

Dantes thought about it for several moments, he did want to study the rune that was here and try and learn the secrets of its magic. It may not have been helpful against the creatures that actually killed the glorious dragon, but who knows what kind of creatures one would meet in the underdark. The Party could all use a rest, and the gnome settlement, a more secure placce was a long way off, though there was still one rune stone still active. Dantes considered the options for a moment and then addressed the party.
"I vote we escort the gnomes back to their settlement. It is not from here if I recall, and we should make sure they make it back, they have no weapons, and are injured. There we can rest and regain our strength. There is but another thing I ask as well. Is that we carry this active runestone back so that I may examine its magic's more closely. I have already spoken with Dankorona and he will help me carry it carefully back there so that I may study it."
With that said Dantes looked at Morgeraut for any objection. Seeing him lost in thought, Dantes began prepatations for moving the rune, with the help of his gnomish friend.

"syrathic," ruby says in alow voice close to him, "i noticed you took the ruby....being a ruby myself i would really like that, as the only treasure i would take from the lot. i haven't much to trade you. but if i come across anything you want, i'll be happy to part with it just to have it."

<font color="99ff00">Morguerat {85/105}

"My vote is to track the grimlocks back to their base of operations, I would rather not face more and larger patrols when they notice these missing, currently none of us are overly injured, slightly tender in places, yes, but badly hurt, no. We currently attack with the element of surprise working for us, and destroying them would help me personally in avenging the death of this Dragon."</font>

Dantes 76/76

"I understand your want of vengence and your need for quick action, but we would be better able to handle any threat that may be there with us all rested, and with me replenishing my spells. I am afraid, I have very few spells of power left, so if we encounter anything greater than a grimlock there, we could be in some serious trouble. Whatever killed this dragon, did so with ease, and if we happen to encounter it at the present time, it Will destroy us with ease. Also, I would feel better making sure these poor gnomes get home free of any other malicious actions. We can always backtrack and then follow the grimlock's trail once we are recuperated and sure they are safe."
Dantes looked to Morgeraut to see how his words weighed on him. Dantes was well aware of how powerful this dragon had been, and how powerful the creature that defeated it must have been. A Dragon is a fierce and powerful enemy to being with, but when you add the fact that this had been a cornered mother protecting her young, and she had still be defeated, without visible casualty, and then made to watch her own eggs being destroyed, for that was the only explinantion Dantes could think of for the tears. When you consider the evidence before them, the party would not stand a good chance against whatever was out there fully healed, and armed to the teeth. They had came down here to look for clues about how to stop the hunger. Maybe they shouldn't ask questions they were scared to find the answer to.

1. It seems that the area of the dragon's lair can be secured and defended as a temporary place to rest and plan -- although if a large number of attackers arrives the party will be backed into a corner.
<font color=steelblue>Votes= 0 </font>

2. It might be possible, although not without danger, to try and backtrack the grimlocks to their lair. Pressing forward means that the grimlocks remain behind you.
<font color=steelblue> Votes= 1 (from Morgie...Party Leader)</font>

3. At least one of the passageways ahead is large enough to accomodate giant-sized beings and you could risk its exploration.
<font color=steelblue> Votes= 0
</font>
4. The gnomes will need to get back to their village and the party is welcome either to accompany them or follow along later -- they will leave a simple map with Dantes. Once there, the group will have an opportunity to rest comfortably and resupply itself.

<font color=steelblue> Votes= 3 (Dantes, Dankorona, and Brendon)</font>

<font color=white> Those that have not chosen= 2</font>

<font color=silver>ooc: Just taking advantage of events on the board to have a bit of fun.</font>

<font color=white>Of omens and portents .....</font>

<font color=thistle>Since the dawning of awareness within the mind, eyes have sought signs that might hold clues to decisive points within the movement of time. The heavens, of course, have been one such place that eyes have turned and sudden changes in the position and brightness of stars have long been regarded as heralds of portentous moments. But when one is below the earth and there is no sky other than a field of dark and oppressive stone to meet his eyes, other senses must be brought to bear in the seeking after clues to what is to come.

There is a perceptible shifting within the boards, a slight but definite movement. The turning of posts has reached and passed a moment of no small magnitude for in a strangely named thread an out of character post was made. Hundreds of such posts have been made within the threads of these boards, but this post and no other marked the reaching of 25,000 posts within the roleplay forums. That such a total has been reached is a great thing. But the lack of an in character element to the post adds an element of shadow to the moment.

There has been a turning in the movement of the boards and all further posts will be made under the shadow of this strange 25,000th post.</font>

<font color=silver>Earlier tonight, Death Killer made post #25,000 over in the Flying Fish of the Multiverse thread. 25,000 posts is a lot of roleplaying in a lot of threads by a lot of players so it seems appropriate to acknowledge something like that in this thread which is about the fate of the boards themselves.</font>

[ 01-28-2003, 12:06 AM: Message edited by: Cyril Darkcloud ]

OOC>>>Thanks for the heads-up, Cyril! Wow! My dominion groweth, yeah ever the more grand.

For the decision as to which path to take...notice that three characters have voted to go to the settlement of teh gnomes, and the party leader wants to track the remaining Grimlocks down. Two players have not responded to the question, and so I will wait to let everybody do so...another day. Still, I await in anguish...wanting to get moving!

ooc: Sorry about taking so long. With the Super Bowl yesterday, I didn't get the chance to post at night like I usually do. You couldn't expect me to actually miss a chance to have fun, would you? ;) :D

<font color=lightgreen>Syrathic HP:43/74

Having chosen his pick of the jewels, he pulled out something that he had found in the hoard room: a dark purse with a number of coins in it. He smiled when he shook the purse and there was no sound of jingling coins within. The perfect bag for a thief such as himself. He slipped his new gems into the purse, and slipped that into the folds of his cloak.

Having heard Morguerat request for the hide of the shadow mastiff, the Elf went back and located the beast. He had a little bit of experience skinning creatures, and he managed to do a good job for the tall man. "Here you go," the Elf said as he laid the hide next to Morguerat.

As he stood near the jewels again, marveling at what was left, Syrathic heard the voice of Ruby speaking to him. "Hmm... my choice of something you come across in exchange for the ruby in my possession?" He thought about it for a moment. He really loved rubies as well, but the thought of something powerful coming into his hands because of the deal was just too much. He pulled out the ruby and handed it Ruby. "Sounds good to me. A pretty stone for a pretty lady."

He looked around at everyone. "Well, I vote for heading back to the gnome town as well. I helped rescue the little guys, and I wouldn't want all my work to go to waste. Besides, I could really use the rest. My wounds may not be serious yet, but if we come across anything formidable, I may not leave that battle alive."

Having said his piece, he looked at the remaining jewels. There were still a good number of them left. If the group decided not to take any more of them before they left, Syrathic would take them for himself. "No sense in letting good treasure go to waste," he thought. "I am a thief after all."</font>

<font color=indianred>Brendon 59/70

When he heard Syrathic's vote for what the party should do, Brendon began packing up whatever belongings he had taken out of his bag. His make-shift torch had gone out and they were back to low-light vision. He walked up to everyone else that were huddled around the gnomes and said, "Ready and waiting."</font>

OOC>>>Whoever wants to begin the march can do so, unless we are waiting for Cyril to speak for the gnomes and instruct us on travel.