Heading Home, A Firesoul's Story

[Randall]

A tall woman with black hair and a strange taatoo on each side of her forehead walks toward the small group, with a serious and preocupied face expression. She wears something quite different than her usual spikey plate armor. Instead, she wears brown leathers covered by white fur on the right shoulder. Instead of a sword at her belt, there's a waterskin. No weapons at all can be seen on her with the exeption of a small knife, which seems more fitted to cut food than to fight at all.

A small backpack on her shoulders, she gets near the group and nods at everyone. Smiling at Nari, grining at Gareut, a serious nod at Valerius then she stares a moment at Jonas, trying to determinate if he's going to be aggresive or not.

"I said I'd be here, an' here I am."

The woman gets near Nari and speaks to her with a low tone.

"Hey, yer mom will be fine. She made ye, she's strong. An' with yer help, who could stay sick ?"

She taps Nari's on the shoulder, before looking back at Jonas.

"Don't mind to have the beast aroun', holy one ? I'd understand if ye don't want to bring the dogs with ye on yer trip, erh.."

Randall then rests her back on the wall of the temple, looking at everyone, taking a swig of whatever lies in her waterskin.

[rokranon]

Jonas returns Randy's stare with an intense gaze of his own. For a few moments he says nothing, before finally turning to Gareut and dipping his head in a respectful nod. He either did not hear the remark about trying to bribe the Fist, or else has decided there are more pressing matters at hand.

"Hello, Gareut. Thank you for coming along. I know Nari is very happy you can join us."

The paladin turns once again to Randy, and sighs heavily.

"No, to be quite honest, since I know no other way to be, I do not particularly want you to come. However, I will do what is necessary to help Nari. I can only assume you are here for the same, and therefore we will try to get along at least for the length of this trip."

Jonas looks around to meet the eyes of everyone present.

"Well, are we ready to get to Waterdeep? Valerius, is Auriel still coming with us as well?"

[Maecius]

[ Baldur's Gate: The Temple of Torm ]

"If you need anything to help you along, just let me know, heh. I hope they will all meet us here, I should probably send a message out just in case though."

The wizard nods, once, at the information. He smiles at her offer to assist, and the words shared between Nari and Jonas, but he does not answer either; for not long after the genasi speaks, the temple doors open up, drawing everyone's attention.

He recognizes Gareut, and greets the ranger when greeted. "Salutations, good Wolf-Friend." He lifts an eyebrow at the expression of love between Gareut and Nari, and simply makes a note of it. Again, the conversation is short, when the next of their party enters the temple.

Valerius recognizes Randallona, and offers her a polite smile and a soft "greetings," but does not open conversation with her. He takes measure of the hostility between the crude woman and his brother, and decides to ask one or both of them about it later. For now, his attention is drawn back to the aasimar.

"Well, are we ready to get to Waterdeep? Valerius, is Auriel still coming with us as well?"

Valerius smiles to his brother.

"She should be here momentarily, yes." He assures the paladin, before looking back to Nari. "Once our last guest arrives, we can be going. You are fairly certain this 'Cirkus' will not be showing up? Perhaps we could leave a message with the high priest, just in case?"

As he speaks, the doors to the temple open yet again, and a white-haired moon elf enters, looking around with a guarded expression. Valerius turns and smiles brightly at her; as, no doubt, Jonas does as well.

"Ah, Auriel, you're just on time. We're about ready to go." Once she draws near enough, the wizard takes her hand and holds it.

Turning back to the others, he grins, addressing the whole room. "I hope none of you get teleportation sickness. I'll be depositing us a half-mile or so outside the city, so as not to alarm the local authorities, and we'll approach on foot. Sound good, Miss Nari?"

Once the details are worked out, and any messages that need to be left are left, Valerius takes Jonas's hand as well, holding it. "If we're ready to go, I need you all to link hands. Everyone must be in contact with me; or in contact with someone who is in contact with me." He explains.

But then again, maybe he just wanted to hold Jonas's hand. So dreamy.

[Narijika]

"Once our last guest arrives, we can be going. You are fairly certain this 'Cirkus' will not be showing up? Perhaps we could leave a message with the high priest, just in case?"

The woman nods a few times.
"Yeah, I'm fairly certain..." She looks over in Randy's direction as if for confirmation. "...Though a note should be left as you suggested, but must of you know of my writing capabilities, heh."

The fiery-headed girl then lowers her head to Auriel as the Elf makes her way to Valerius' side. "The more the merrier, heh. I'm glad you could join us, Miss."

"I hope none of you get teleportation sickness. I'll be depositing us a half-mile or so outside the city, so as not to alarm the local authorities, and we'll approach on foot. Sound good, Miss Nari?"

"That would be perfect, we could go to the city for some supplies and news before heading back on the road east again, if 'tis not a problem of course. I know some of you have business in the city, heh, so I don't want to keep you from that." She nods in Randy's direction again.

She then moves to Jonas' other side pulling Gareut along all the same to keep the circle forming. She clenches both of their hands with a mental whimsical sigh.

Oh my Valerius was right. Dreamy indeed. Her love to her left, her mentor to her right.

[rokranon]

[BALDUR'S GATE: THE TEMPLE OF TORM]

Jonas does indeed smile brightly at Auriel as she warily enters the temple, then proceeds to listen to Valerius. At a nod from the aasimar, the priest on duty, Olwyn Celwig, jots down the note to Cirkus from Nari. Jonas quirks his brow as his oath-brother then takes his hand, hoping no one walks in at that exact moment. There are enough ridiculous rumors about him and Valerius to last a lifetime.

"If we're ready to go, I need you all to link hands. Everyone must be in contact with me; or in contact with someone who is in contact with me."

The paladin merely shrugs as Nari takes his other hand, completely clueless as to his own dreaminess, but very pleased that he doesn't have to hold hands with Randy. Creepy. He watches as the others all hold hands to form a circle.

"City of Splendors, here we come."

[Randall]

"Yeah, I'm fairly certain..." She looks over in Randy's direction as if for confirmation. "...Though a note should be left as you suggested, but must of you know of my writing capabilities, heh."

The tall woman frowns a bit as she wipes off some water on her chin with her forearm, then looks down a moment, lost in her thoughts, and awnsers.

"Erh.. The lil' guy seems to have some problems to solve. I think he dranks a bit too much lately, or it's thoses damned shrooms, who knows. I've sent someone to look after him, erh.. No worries for that hin."

The woman leaves the wall and walks near the group, glancing at the elven lass with a smile.

"We'll go right to see yer mom, Nari. Whatever buisness anyone got in Waterdeep can wait that we make sure she's fine. Right, everyone ?"

The rude woman looks at everyone with a serious face, expecting no objections. She then look at them forming a circle after Valerius's explanation, and then do the same. She then grins as she looks at Auriel from head to toe, and offer her hand to her and winks as soon as the elven blondie would look at her.

"I guess I understand the trick, magic comrade.

Hope we'll get there in one piece, eh ? Who knows, with magics."

The womans laughs slightly, as she looks at everyone, ready to be teleported.

[Gareut]

"We'll go right to see yer mom, Nari. Whatever buisness anyone got in Waterdeep can wait that we make sure she's fine. Right, everyone?"

"Aye, that sounds like a plan, comrade."

Wilders nods to Elf as he is pulled by Nari. Gareut takes grasp from Randalls hand. Panic reflects from his yellow eyes as he hears;

"I guess I understand the trick, magic comrade.
Hope we'll get there in one piece, eh? Who knows, with magics."

His grasp from Nari's and Randall's hand and gets bit tighter. He mutters almost unhearable prays. Wilders eyes are closed and body ready for sword dance. After moments of muttering he quietly says.

"Shall we go then?"

[Maecius]

[ Baldur's Gate: The Temple of Torm ]

The wizard waits patiently as the others link hands, forming a circle of six. At Randallona's once-over, Auriel arches her eyebrow. When the crude woman holds out her hand to the elf, Auriel looks up at the tall woman and speaks. "You realize I take your hand only out of necessity?" Letting the matter drop at that, she then puts her hand in Randallona's.

"Shall we go then?"

Valerius lets his red eyes move from face-to-face, ensuring that everyone is prepared for the jump; once assured, he nods.

"Everyone hold on tight. I'd hate to leave an arm or a leg behind." The wizard says in a disturbing monotone. Before the others can decide whether he is joking, Valerius pictures his destination and utters a short phrase in an unknowable language, triggering the teleportation magic.

Everyone's vision goes white.

...

...

[ South of Waterdeep: Zundbridge ]

...

And just like that, the scenery has changed entirely. Where before they had all been standing inside a temple, they now stood on a packed road, before a massive stone bridge, which spans a rushing river. Where before there was the muffled sound of a city, and the soft prayers of Torm's faithful (and one nervous ranger), there is now the sounds of birdsong and running water.

The air is cooler, almost cold, but the sun is still high in the sky. It seems that no time has passed: One second they were in Baldur's Gate, and the next second they were here. Wherever here is.

"Welcome to Zundbridge, everyone." Valerius breaks the silence, releasing Jonas's hand to motion towards the bridge, for those who have their backs to it. "Created approximately seventy years ago, by the wizard Zund, this bridge represents the southern boundary of Waterdeep's holdings."

He smiles. "In other words, we have arrived at our destination. Once you've all got your bearings, we will cross the Zundbridge and approach the city from the south, entering the Southern Ward. I can recommend several taverns, if any of you want hard drink or hot food; but those who would prefer to take tea or wine can join me on my visit to see an old friend off Anchoret's Court."

Recalling Nari's mentioning resupplying, he adds. "And, assuming we do not want to go deeper into the city proper, the best place for provisioning is likely Pelauvir's Counter. It's impossible to miss, and I can point it out on the way in."

The horned wizard looks about the companions, waiting for them to do as they pleased. He had, after all, done his part in simply getting them there.

[rokranon]

[South of Waterdeep: Zundbridge]

As soon as the group winks into existence near their destination, Jonas' gaze turns toward the south and east, toward the Ardeep Forest and distant Daggerford well beyond. A shadow passes over the paladin's face as memories take hold of him for several long moments. After Valerius makes his suggestions, Jonas turns back toward the group.

"Mmm, no; Nari's mother is my priority here. I would like to see her as soon as possible. We should have all come to the temple of Torm well supplied, and if not I have enough to get us by for the time being. As Nari is from Waterdeep, and I remember how to get around well enough from. . .from my time here last year, we should be alright if you want to see to your business here. Thank you, my brother. You've saved us days of travel time."

[Randall]

[South of Waterdeep: Zundbridge]

Randall blinks a few time, then looks at everyone and smiles. Once, in the thirty five years behind him, now her, he teleported like that. And it didn't end up that well, with Esteban. They had teleported in the sky, and luckily felt in a pond. It could have been worst.

The woman then looks at Auriel with a grin.

"Oh, I'm sad yer dress teleported with us, lass."

After that bad joke, Randall glances at Jonas and nods at what he says. She then kneels down to the ground, takes off one of her leather glove, and grabs a hand of grass and soil, and smells it. She grins after doing so.

"My homeland, erh.. Always good to be back."

She then drops the soil on the ground and wipes of the dirt from her hands by rubbing them togeter as she walks toward Nari.

"So, Nari. Is yer mom livin' on the other side of the river ? I know she ain't far from Waterdeep but ye havn't been specific yet. It would be better if we get there before the night falls, to make sure she'll be all right. Can ye lead the way from here ?"

The wilder nods at Randall then looks at Nari with his yellow eyes. "Aye, I can't wait to finaly meet your mother, Nari."

[Narijika]

Poof. Just outside of Waterdeep. The woman wobbles just for a moment right after the teleportation process, she clings on to the Ranger for stability.

"In other words, we have arrived at our destination. Once you've all got your bearings, we will cross the Zundbridge and approach the city from the south, entering the Southern Ward. I can recommend several taverns, if any of you want hard drink or hot food; but those who would prefer to take tea or wine can join me on my visit to see an old friend off Anchoret's Court."

She beams a smile as the Tiefling speaks. She was about to pipe up when Jonas retorts quickly.

"Mmm, no; Nari's mother is my priority here. I would like to see her as soon as possible. We should have all come to the temple of Torm well supplied, and if not I have enough to get us by for the time being. As Nari is from Waterdeep, and I remember how to get around well enough from. . .from my time here last year, we should be alright if you want to see to your business here. Thank you, my brother. You've saved us days of travel time."

Again, she about to speak when someone else does as well, this time her guardian.

"So, Nari. Is yer mom livin' on the other side of the river ? I know she ain't far from Waterdeep but ye havn't been specific yet. It would be better if we get there before the night falls, to make sure she'll be all right. Can ye lead the way from here ?"

Finally! A chance to speak.
"Sir Valerius, thank for you everything...truly, I don't know how much I can thank you. If it wasn't for this spell who knows how long it would've taken. I must say though, I agree with Jonas, I would very much like to see my mother first, but we'll need to go through the city anyway so any business you have could be done before we move on. We'd need to enter it and exit east from the Trade Wards toward the fort a few miles down the road." She bobs her head a few times and motions toward the gates to the Southern Ward.
"Shall we? Heh."

"Aye, I can't wait to finally meet your mother, Fire-Heart."
"I know, I can't wait to see her again..."

((You'll all have to forgive me, my knowledge of the area is really poor. =/ I did as much research as I could though.

[Gareut]

[WATERDEEP: South Gate]

Wilder watch as groups starts to determinedly walk towards the city. He takes his place at left side of Nari. While they walk Gareut quietly sings;

"For many years ago
He left his home behind.
No farewells or a note,
Like a thief he fled into the night.

Heart full of foolish pride,
He caused a death of his clans man
All prophesies he denied,
And now in exile he grieves.

Hear the call of the fallen ones
Wisdom of those whose time has gone
Live your life bravely my first born son,
On battlefields fight, don't run.

The wheel of time keeps turning
A boy becomes a man.
But still shame burns him.
At last he understands.

He heads back to his homeland.
He rides fast like a storm wind
But the flames in the horizon,
Tell there is only death to be found.

By the smoking ruins of his past life.
He raises his hand to the skies,
Oh god of thunder,
God of my fathers,
Strike me down for what I've done!"

Gareut looks around, seems like rest of group doesnt really enjoy his singing. He takes handfull of herbs from purse, mostly belladonna and a bit of wormwood. Wilder swallows them and pulls burned tricon hat to cover his yellow eyes bit better.

"Atleast we arent in great city of sail, eh? I am sure that mostly of tales about this..." He motions towards the Gate whichs leads inside, eight guardmans of Waterdeep watch travellers. "...Death trap. Are just wild rumours, right? Fire-Heart, comrade? "

[rokranon]

[Waterdeep]

Accustomed to leadership, Jonas leads the group, excluding any who break off along the way to do their own thing, through the South Ward and then the Trade Ward. It takes quite some time to traverse the metropolis, but finally they arrive on the road out of the city to the north and east. The paladin lets Nari lead them at this point, as he does not know the exact destination.

Ever since the teleportation was complete, Jonas has grown quiet and somber. He looks around warily, though calmly. Luckily for Gareut, the paladin does not notice his strange behavior or comments as Jonas is too busy lost in his own memories. For this reason Gareut also mistakes the aasimar's attitude toward his singing. In truth, Jonas didn't even really hear it as his last trip to Waterdeep weighed so heavily on his thoughts.

Before long the fort Nari mentioned comes into sight.

[Narijika]

While linked hands with Gareut, she takes over pointing out "places of significance"...occationally.

"And there is..."
"And here we have..."
"Oh look at that!"

She doesn't do it too often noting that the other companions are too keen on being in the city. She makes note of Jonas' and Gareut's reactions both.

As they finally make their way east out of the city, there is almost a sigh of relief ringing out in the air. She leads them down the road proper toward a small split off dirt path comes to their left, leading north to a small thicket.

"Okie dokie, we're almost there, we just take this path for a bit and we should be there. If I remember correctly, the house was before the fort off a dirt trail while the fort is in eyeshot. There was never too many dangers around these parts so we shouldn't have to worry that much about that either."

[Narijika]

The fiery woman leads the group along the beaten path. The grassy field along the walk provide at least a good source of scenic relaxation as they trod their way toward the thicket. The farther they continue down the path the more visibly anxious and nervous the Genasi becomes. She, however, doesn't voice anything. Nothing at all.

A clearing.

The rough patches of fields and random shrubs clear up as they come rather close to the treeline. The clearing looks to be some sort of crop fields, a nicely tended small farm with a building just at the treeline at the end of the path. However, there are no tenants working the lands or loads of animals being herded around. There are no sign of anyone from this far away from the building.

"Daaaaddy?! Mooomma!?" The young woman calls out as they continue on route toward the house.

Once closer, they can make out the building more clearly. (Obviously). Made of wood, the cabin doesn't seem to be large, more like a small cottage juuust big enough for a rather small family. It looks as though it has seen better days and has been around for some time now.

A middle aged human man, not so much older than Jonas, slowly rises from a chair stationed close to the entryway of the cabin. His facial expression weary, as though he's has some experiences that he wished had never happened. With a heavy sigh, he stands straight.
"Greetings folks, what can I d---" He cuts himself off, looking rather shocked and surprised as his eyes fall upon the Genasi.
"Nari? Is that you Nari?! Oh praise Sune! It is you!" He goes to hobble over toward the group of friends.
"It's me, Daddy...it's me..." The Genasi goes to meet him too, embracing him tightly.

The newly reacquainted father and daughter can't help but weep together as it has been quite some time since they've last seen each other.
"Look at you...all grown up doing well for yourself...you're even in armor." He looks over his daughter, with a tremendously relieved, loving smile. "I've missed you so much."

Like a little girl again, Nari clings tightly to her father. "I've missed you, Daddy, so much." The finally end their embrace. Her father takes a step back to survey the rest of the group.
"It seems you've made some new friends, lots of them." He lowers his head toward the remainder of the group. "I suppose introductions are in order. I'm Soujo Chizuru, Nari's father. I do thank you all for accompanying her."