An Impromptu Evacuation

[LeslieMS]

The red clad poet makes a rather hurried flight from Doron Amar to the Friendly Arm Inn. The next few days would be very busy. She didn’t stop for much conversation, her usual mischief set aside. This garnered odd looks from those who knew her best. Some regarded her with surprise when she spoke of plans to get as many who couldn’t fight from Beregost as possible.

She would ask amongst friends and well connected allies alike, for wagons and carriages, horses, coins, whatever resources she thought would help the endeavor. Many might regard her sudden care and generosity as uncharacteristic. When questioned, she simply states that she made a promise to help. This garners more odd looks as keeping promises aren’t known to be her strong suit. She merely rolls her eyes, accepting help where it is made available, and continuing on with her overall aim.

Once she finally makes it to the Friendly Arm, she catches her breath, buying her usual wine from Bentley Mirrorshade. After the customary banter passes with the innkeeper… she takes on a more serious note. Bentley is used to these back and forth moments, regarding her now business like demeanor the same as he usually does.

She explains that she means to pay for as many spare rooms as he will allow her to, and send folks along very soon. More detail is given, in what seems to be a half formed and rather impromptu evacuation of Beregost… as many as she can. Someone remarks that it is an insane endeavor for one person to undertake alone. She merely replies that any willing to help should. Protecting Beregost is going to be meaningless if everyone is dead. Those who can’t fight shouldn’t be there.

Fortunately Bentley likes the idea, and has some spare rooms. She quickly pays him, and seems to run through a mental budget… frowning at her meager coinpurse. She quickly negotiates the cheapest price she can manage for the rooms…

While there, she leaves a message for Julindra (the note is addressed to Lightning). Along with a large box of chocolate. ((PM Sent))

She then hastily exits the Inn, heading for the nearby stables. She begins to haggle with the stable master, and while her tactics are mostly successful, she makes a point to remind him that lives hang in the balance, and he can help save them if he helps her coins go as far as possible… for good measure. She promises to return later to pay for as many horses as she might need and can afford.

Later that day, she is seen talking to those she knows around the Friendly Arm about the scheme, continuing to pool resources as quickly as she is able. Time, after all… is of the essence.

//There will be some IG RP behind this, but it is mostly forum RP.

[LeslieMS]

After venturing to the campfire near by to look for Julindra again, she makes her way back to the inn, more plotting and planning commences... She spends much of the evening pacing the span between the inn and the fire, hoping to catch Juli before she has to head back to Doron Amar in the morning...

[Charraj]

Charraj spots the poet around the Inn. He approaches her and asks her if she would let him help somehow.

"Given my history, I'd understand if you don't want me working any magic. And I don't even have much gold these days, so I can't help with the funding. But if there's any other way I can help, I'd at least be an extra pair of hands."

[LeslieMS]

"Gnome... I am not in the business of holding grudges... and if you promise not to get me killed... I don't care what magic you use."

She pauses a moment and continues...

"I need horses and wagons and food... and tents... I think. Some folks gave me some gold for funding... not much, but it come to another 800 total in coin for resources... I can move a couple families in one wagon... we can get horses and such for some more I am sure... Bentley rented me as many rooms as we could get away with..."

She sighs and checks all her notes.

"... some dwarf says we should dig a hole... and hide them rather than move them... Juez said we could take some to the Ilmatari temple in the Gate... I am sure we could rent more rooms. Someone suggested a tent camp near the Friendly Arm... I'm making this up as I go... just do what you can."

[Charraj]

"Well... if you don't mind magic... How do you feel about teleportation? I could set up a Teleportation Circle and all the refugees could just run into it and we wouldn't have to bother with horses and carriages and all that!"

He tries to smile winningly.

[LeslieMS]

"We can do that? is it safe? Right, whoever I can't move with the wagons and horses..."

She sets off in another flurry of writing.

"What will you need?"

[Charraj]

"Um, you wouldn't happen to have amber dust, would you...? A gold bar's worth of amber dust...?
"Actually, don't worry about it, I'll cover that.
"Just leave it up to me! But where do you want the circle set up?"

[LeslieMS]

"Just outside the town? Northern end, I think. Can you safely move a lot of folks, near the Friendly Arm? I need to talk to some official sorts... make sure it is okay a ton of folks camp near the Friendly Arm Inn or something for a bit... unless you have a better idea?"

She spots Julindra, and holds up a finger.

"One second, Gnome... or maybe more... I'll be about in a bit. I need to talk to Lightning. And then Find Juez again... and write a letter to the Dukes..."

She wanders off muttering and jotting more notes.

After speaking with Julindra, she makes her way back to the inn. She stops to ask Bentley why Juli didn't get her chocolate... And arches a brow at his reply. She simply shakes her head and grins.

"I should have known she was trying for more chocolate..."

She allows herself a brief chuckle and orders a light snack but not a bottle of wine.

"If anyone else comes looking for me to help with this... send them up, I've got some letters to send out, and we don't have much time. Thank you Bentley, you're a real peach, you know that right?"

She winks and makes her way upstairs.

[Charraj]

Charraj finds Scarlett later, and continues elaborating on the details.
"If you're worried about safety, it'll be a circle about ten feet wide. People step into it, bam, they're at the destination. So unless there's a mad stampede, it should be safe enough. I mean, not like the teleportation itself could go wrong, right? Right?
"The circle will be up for a few hours, so it should be a nice escape route for people who can't otherwise escape the fighting.
"But um... What kind of 'officials' do you want to talk to? I thought this was a private endeavor. I don't want to get the attention of the Fist or anything, Scarlett." The wizard nervously pushes his spectacles up the bridge of his nose and rubs his forehead.

[LeslieMS]

"Hells Gnome... They will have better things to worry about than you. I need to at least get permission to camp people around here and buy up as many rooms as I can afford in the city. Besides you are only banished from the Gate. I'm not asking you to go prancing through the palace district.

It sounds like a plan though... and plenty are willing to help, so we should be able to keep it organized. Do what you need to do, and let me know if you need anything. I want to have this underway by the time the sun sets tomorrow... and hopefully we will have time before all hells break loose to get them out.

I'm leaving for Beregost in the morning. First I need to take care of this. I'll keep your name out of things, Gnome, and if you keep out of trouble, no one will care you are there. Just don't mess up this Teleportation thing or I'll kick your arse."

She heads off without another word as though Asmodeus himself were chasing her, a letter in hand, and little time to lose.

[Charraj]

As Scarlett runs off, Charraj fidgets uneasily.

"Okay, circle set up after the sun sets tomorrow. Should be easy enough.
"Ah hells, what should I mark it with? Teleportation circles are practically invisible. Oh, I'll think of something, I guess.
"Oh crap, wait!"

Charraj runs after Scarlett and tells her exactly where he plans to set up the circle. He describes a location north of Beregost, well away from the Fist encampment. The wizard clearly wants to avoid getting in the Fist's way.

[LeslieMS]

She nods, and makes her way off to deliver a letter as quickly as possible... she calls over her shoulder:

"Just tie some colored ribbon to a tree so people can find it easy... oh here, use this!"

She tosses him an expanse of about 4 yards of bright pink lace... and hurries off.

[Charraj]

Charraj looks at the girly lace and makes his way south, muttering to himself.

[LeslieMS]

She busies herself with preparations for the trip to Beregost, all the while hoping she hears back about where to put people soon. As various good sorts continue to offer aid, by way of manpower, supplies, coin, or space... she makes sure that those involved know that Julindra Meynolds, whom she affectionately calls "Lightning"... is in charge of coordinating things on the Friendly Arm Inn side of this Impromptu Evacuation.

She saddles up Thunder and later delivers two boxes of chocolate personally to Juli's lap.

"Lightning... if I wasn't offering enough chocolate, you could have said so."

She grins at Juli, and goes back to getting ready for an overnight ride to Beregost.

[LeslieMS]

As the sun settles low, it lends a foreboding red splash of color across the cloudy horizon. The equally crimson hued woman climbs atop a rather fine horse after giving a rather endearing hug.

"Lightning... Hopefully there isn't a need to worry about fighting this far north. Keep things organized from here... I'll ask Gnome where folks are to pop out from this teleportation thing. Hope it bloody works.

There isn't going to be any easy way to reach me. I'm afraid to stop too long would be putting folks to death. Look for Teo if supplies run short, he offered aid. Juez said some folks could hole up in the sanctuary. I've rented a half dozen rooms at the inn. Hopefully by the time we start running out of space the Dukes have given a nod of permission to set up tents.

Anyone who can't stand the battle lines to the south is welcome to help out. I'm sure it will be needed. Just be careful, dove. If I can stay a step ahead, you won't have to come fish me out of the bottom of the Nines."

She chuckles and regards her fellow bard with a typically wry smile, but there is a trace of worry running beneath the lighthearted mask. Before too many can catch on though, she hops on the horse and spurs him south. True to his namesake, Thunder carried her as though they both sought to catch the lightning in the storm that was threatening to break over the southern horizon...
~~

FRAGILE HOPE
At first a whisper
And then a murmur
Finally too loud to ignore
At first a hope
A desperate prayer
Now at last the drums of war
At first denial blinded
And then all could see
Blood would indeed pour
At first uncertain
And then things turned
May all that's right be forever more
~~

LAMENT TO WAR
On the left side is redemption...
Damnation to the right...
I stand on the blades edge...
In the darkness of the night...
I the humble seeker...
Reaching to the light...
Give my heart my soul...
My blood to end The Fearsome plight...
And should I fall, I did not fail
Because I did not stand alone...
A dance between death and life...
The Song has taken flight...
On the left side is redemption...
Damnation to the right...
I stand on the blades edge...
In the darkness of the night...
~~