[DragonMage]

Originally posted by DragonMage: Breanna whispers back to Neb, "Don't worry. I don't trust ANYONE but the dwarf. He and I have quite a history and I'll tell you about it when we have more time. For now, we must be heading off soon, time's wasting." The party of travelers then return to the grove to make camp and rest. ~Three have now become five. And while many mysteries still surround the two newest members, all will be revealed in time. There is a reason these lives have been intertwined. More await the journey on the near horizon. An arduous journey wrought with danger and hardship looms ahead. Not all may see the end of the journey, not all may be what they seem. But, for now, they are together come what may....~

Awakening refreshed to a bright, crisp morning, Seph and Encard bring some wood for the fire. Hiram then prepares some breakfast while the rest pack the gear and ready the horses. Birds are singing and rustlings of squirrels and such going about their morning rituals can be heard. Breanna, dressed this day in a purple robe with irridescent lining, conjurs a temporary fountain of water for coffee, tea and washing of faces. She then takes some mint leaves out of one of her pouches and begins to chew on the mint.

Neb offers some dried fruit to Hiram, who is cooking up a couple of rabbits. Hiram looks up in surprise at this. "I wouldn't have thought ye'd do that, but I thank ye as the Lady needs to keep her strength up, as do we all. Tis a hard journey that's ahead of us." "You're welcome, dwarf. Just trying to help out," responds the sorcerer. Hiram puts the fruit in a small pot with a small amount of water and adds some spices kept in folded paper in his saddlebags. The fruit thus reconstituted, the entire group partakes of probably the last good meal they will have for a while.

Thus fortified of body and purpose, the group heads out towards the forest.

~In the far distance, looms the mountainous range known by most as The Sleeping Giant, for it's appearance from a distance and from the right angle makes the mountains look as though a giant laid down for a rest. In the right light, it even appears to be looking at you through two dark, hollow eyes.

In the foothills of this mountain range is the Forest of Burrdak. At first the trees are sparse, but the closer to the mountains, the denser the trees become. Eventually, it is rumored, the oldest trees have such immense canopies as to block all sunlight from the forest floor. It is within this forest, at the very base of the Sleeping Giant that this company must travel.~

Polite chatter ensues as the group try to get to know one another. After about three hours on the road...

"So. What's your favorite spell, Neb," asks Seph.

"Shhh! I thought I heard something," hisses Encard....

[This message has been edited by DragonMage (edited 10-25-2001).]