[Paradise Lost] A brave new world...

[Kane]

So it begins...


It was too good to be true. After weeks of favorable weather the sky grew dark as night. The wind picked up to a gale, and lighting flashed among the clouds. Sailors braved the treacherous rigging as they secured the sails. An unseen coral reef tore open the hull, and the ship began to sink quickly.


You had only a few short moments to gather your belongings and make it to one of the ship’s lifeboats. You watched as the lighting briefly illuminated the wrecked ship as it turned over onto its side, slowly sinking beneath the waves. Somewhere you thought you might have seen the magically sealed box containing the Staff of Law floating off like a cork…


You awoke the next morning on an unknown beach, soaked to the skin with seawater. Your lifeboat has a cracked keel from a collision with a rock, making it unusable. You managed to secure only a few morsels of salted beef and hard sea biscuits, perhaps enough for two days on meager rations for all of you. You have skins, but no fresh water.

[JKahrs]

The waves rocked the lifeboat so gently that Thimas woke tempted to believe that the storm of the previous night had been but a dream caused by the anxiety of moving to a new land. One look at the great rent in the boat's side dispelled him of that notion. He put a hand on the gunwale and hopped into the cold clear water. The boat, relieved of his weight bobbed up like a cork that had a strike. The little bit he had managed to learn about boat building while working on the fishing raft s told him the boat would not last long, so he began to tug it gently towards shore so as to not wake his four fellow castaways.

[Verrain]

Sensitive to a boat's moods, Hob snapped immediately awake at the sudden movement of the boat. His head whipped around wildly clearly confused. Then it all came back to him and he sagged back in the boat.

"I can't believe she's gone." Hob moaned softly to himself with a sniff. He blinked away the tears swiftly and hopped out of the boat. "Let me give you a hand there, friend." Hob greeted Thimas and waded out to help tow the boat to shore.

[DaGreatJL]

Phillip starts to toss and turn as the boat is pulled to shore. "no, won't do it, not again,NOT AGAIN!" He sits up with a start, looking this way and that. "Dream, just a dream..." he mumbles to himself.

[Tom B]

Jherak enjoyed storms. Not so much while at sea, he discovered. He lay listening to the wind and waves when he heard a more disturbing sound...cracking timbers and shouts of alarm. Quickly gathering his things, Jherak made his way to the deck, where he helped people into the lifeboats until he was ordered to board one himself.

Holding onto the side of the lifeboat he tried to make sense of the nightmare scene around him until everything became a blur.

Slowly pulling himself to his feet, Jherak scanned his surroundings, taking stock of what had made it with him and who else was nearby.

"Well. That's one way to make it to the New World."


Tom
(I'll be back Sunday evening.)

[Ubby]

Galanthas felt calm in his reverie. He felt the warmth of the sun on his face, the breeze on his skin, and the gentle sway of the boat. The calm was soothing. Peace.

"NOT AGAIN!" He heard a cry in what seemed like the distance, and just like that the calm was shattered, and the horror of the night before came flooding in. He slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the light, to see the thin, drawn, human that he recognized as a fellow passenger looking around furtively. Galanthas quickly grasped his own fears, lest they took control, and pushed them to a far corner of his mind. Unwinding his body, Galanthas stood up in the lifeboat, never disturbing it in the least, to view his new surroundings. They were not good.

Briefly he took in his new company, his eyes pausing briefly on the largest human he'd ever seen. 4 humans, and nothing else but a lonely beach. Galanthas had never felt so alone. Well... almost never.

Galanthas jumped out of the boat nodding at the giant and another man he felt sure was a part of his late transport's crew and headed a few yards up the beach to take stock of his possessions. His bow and strings would have to be quickly tended to, before they fell afoul of the seawater that now soaked him to the bone. As he tended to his equipment, Galanthas cleared his parched throat and decided that there was no point avoiding the inevitable... "Is everyone well?"

[JKahrs]

"I think so" the giant replied. "We'll need food, but I can handle that." He patted the sack of fishing gear in the boat. "I have no idea how to find water thoough."

He nodded at Hob as they beached the wrecked boat. "We should save this wood. Should be good for something."

[Verrain]

"The wood failed us once." Hob replied shaking his head. "Still it might be fit for burning later on."

Hob takes a moment to scan the surrounding area looking for any landmarks or sign of civilization on the horizon.

[DaGreatJL]

Now fully awake, the sandy-haired man leaps out of the boat, and then reaches in to pull out his sack of possesions. "Do you think anyone else... made it ashore?" he asks in a wavery voice as he begins to skuttles ashore past the tide line, looking for a dry place to sit.

[Kane]

The wreck of the small lifeboat is in poor shape. It would take quite a bit of work to make it seaworthy again, as well as tools you don't have. The wooden planks are still throughly soaked, but if they were dried and cut to an appropriate size, they would make decent firewood.

Hob> You would estimate the time to be early morning. The sun is rising over a nearby cliff, carved out by hundred of years of erosion from the ocean. It looks too steep to climb, but you think that you can see a pass a short distance north along the beach.

A warm sea breeze begins to pick up. The sky overhead is hazy, but clearing.

[Verrain]

"Ours wasn't the only boat launched." Hob answered shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand while he searched the cliffs and beach. "So who knows?" Hob sighs.

"Well nothing but beach to either side but I think there's a pass leading into those cliffs over there." Hob pointed off towards the north. "If we can get to higher ground maybe we can see something."

[JKahrs]

Thimas is impressed with the sailor's willingness to take charge. He grabs his sack of things out of the boat and looks where Hob is pointing. "Let's go."

[Ubby]

Galanthas savored the warm breeze and then looked off in the direction the human indicated. It was a sound idea, and if nothing else perhaps the trek would help him regain his land-legs as he could not help but feel like his world was still swaying like the boat.

Galanthas gaze drifted from the pass down to the terrain surrounding the beach. ((Kane: could we get a brief description: is it rocky? Does the beach end at the cliff? What kind of vegetation, tropical or deciduous?)) It seemed so unlike the deep forest home that he knew. Quickly suppressing a wave of home-sickness, he turned to his companions who were gathering their belongings. Simply addressing them as "humans" would not do.

Galanthas approached the party and then with sudden formalness stood rigidly straight. Bringing his hands close to his chest, pressing his palms together finger-tip to wrist, with the flat of his hands parallel with the ground, he bowed his head. "I am Galanthas te'Allvior of Mith Galailin. May the sun caress your face, joy touch your heart, and peace bless your soul," he said in formal tones. He relaxed his hands and raised his head with a more friendly smile. "Though I must confess I would have preferred to have made your acquaintances in more relaxed circumstances."

[DaGreatJL]

The sandy-haired man takes a small case out of his bag, and begins checking the contents to make sure they're dry and safe. As he works, he looks up at the group. "I am Phillip, humble follower of the Lord of Light. It is nice to meet you all."

[Kane]

The short strip of barren beach ends at the cliff face. The side of the cliff is steep, about a 60-degree angle. It's a high cliff, certainly at least 50 feet, high enough that you don't want to think about falling off. Above the cliff face you can see little vegetation; only some hard scrub grasses and a few short trees. It's spring, and the trees here have yet to burst into full bloom.

[Verrain]

Hob watched the elf's ceremony with an amused look upon his face. "Name's Hob." He introduced himself simply. "With luck one of many survivors of the Reliant." Hob blinks and turns away. "Unless one of you is carrying an axe, there's nothing more to be gained from the boat." He says heavily. "We might as well get going."

[JKahrs]

"I'm Thimas, a fisherman and farmer by trade," the big man replies. "I look forward to spending my time in such august company. "Any body know how to find water. I mean unless it rains, we will have to find some source." He scanned the sky with his experienced eye to see if any rain might be in the offing.

[Ubby]

"Quite right Thimas," replied Galanthas having been reminded how parched he felt. "Hopefully climbing to higher ground will help us find the basic necessities," and with a nod towards Hob he added, "as well as locate the other survivors."

Casting a curious eye towards the swordsman standing on the beach looking at his surroundings, Galanthas gathered his possessions and waited for the party to begin heading for the pass.

[DaGreatJL]

Phillip finishes checking his writing tools, and stores them away again. He stands up straight, and shrugs his bag over his shoulder, ready to depart.

[Kane]

Gathering the damp equipment together, you begin to walk north down the beach. In the distance, you spot movement in the surf. It looks like another lifeboat is being pulled ashore not too far away from you. If you continue north, you will reach the unknown boat before you reach the pass in the cliff.

[JKahrs]

"Ho! Fellow Survivors!" Thimas shouts across the sands.

[Ubby]

Galanthas raises his hand to shield his eyes from the glare of the overcast sky, and carefully studies the boat and its surroundings with his keen Elven sight, searching for signs of movement.

[Verrain]

Hob immediately perked up at the sight of the boat and started walking eagerly towards. He kept a weather eye open hoping to spot a familar face.

[Tom B]

Finished scanning his surroundings, the swordsman returns to the group in time to catch the last of the introductions.

With a rueful smile, he nods. "I'm Jherak. Pleased to make your acquaintance, albeit better circumstances would have been desirable."

Glancing again at the wreckage in the surf, "Well, not exactly how I planned to arrive."

As the group started moving towards higher ground, Jherak tended to travel ahead and to the side of the group, keeping a close eye on the undergrowth and surrounding terrain.

Seeing the boat being dragged ashore in the distance, Jherak glanced toward Galanthas, "What do you think? Are they from our ship?" Peering ahead, he loosens his sword in its sheath...


------
Tom B.

[Kane]

As you draw closer to the boat you can see two men struggling to drag it up onto the beach. They appear to be dressed as common sailors. One of them looks on your direction and waves his hands above his head.

[Ubby]

"They seem to be survivors from The Reliant, Jherak," replied Galanthas. "And they may be in need of aid."

Galanthas dismissed his idea of stringing his bow, and began to jog in the direction of the boat, to see if he could render any assistance.

[Tom B]

Nodding, Jherak secures his sword and moves toward the boat as well. Stilll, he keeps his eyes on the surrounding terrain.


------
Tom B.

[Verrain]

Hob also quicked his pace straining to see who had survived.

[Kane]

The two sailors, for that is who they are, leave their lifeboat on the beach and run towards you.

Hob> You recognize them as Tristran and Dunstan, two of your friends from the Reliant.

"Oh, Master Hob!" shots Tristran. "Thank the gods that you survived! Did you recover the Staff?"[/i]

[Ubby]

Encouraged to see the survivors appeared to be okay, Galanthas quietly side-stepped the reunion of Hob and his friends. He glanced at the survivors' boat to see if it was in better condition than their own, but mainly he concentrated on the pass that lay up ahead.

Galanthas caught Jherak's eye and with a small but obvious gesture, hinted at whether he would like to continue ahead with Galanthas to scout the pass while the others spoke with the newly found crewman.

[Tom B]

After a quick greeting of the two survivors, and a glance into their boat to see what they may have in the way of supplies, Jherak notices Galanthas's glance towards the pass ahead and nods. They move on ahead.

[JKahrs]

Thimas watches the pair move off towarrds the pass, and is torn as to whether to follow but his natural curiousity about the other survivors wins out in the end. "Did anyone else make it off the ship with you?"

[DaGreatJL]

Phillip ran up with the others to meet the sailors, and stopped up at mention of the Staff. That's right, it had been on the ship! If it fell into the wrong hands... Phillip strains to remember the properties of the Staff, if he can...

[Kane]

Tristran and Dunstan's ship seems to have fared little better. One of the boards along the hull is cracked, and the boat is leaking water. "There were few survivors," replied Tristran. "Many went down with the ship. But where is the Staff?"

Jherak and Galanthas> The pass is a narrow cleft in the face of the cliff. A path can be seen leading up through the cut in the rock face and up to the land above. It's a steep climb, but it certainly looks easier that going straight up the cliff.

[Ubby]

Feeling the need to be cautious, Galanthas quickly stings his bow, test pulling it a time or two before returning it to his back.

Galanthas turned his attention to the gathered party. With a nod towards Tristran and Dunstan, "I am happy that you have survived the ordeal and are well," and then to the group as a whole, "Jherak and I will scout the path ahead and try to gain our bearings, as well as attempt to spot other survivors." To himself he added, And perhaps we can spot The Staff of Law. Tristran and Dunstan seem very much concerned about that. Strange that they'd be concerned about that seemingly more than locating any of their fellow crew members. Galanthas reflected on the rumors he heard about the Staff while aboard ship. What concerned him the most was it's supposed power to control nature. Surely such an abhorrent thing was untrue. But if it was true...

Pulling the hood of his cloak over his head, Galanthas quickly turned toward the path leading up. "Let us begin my friend," Galanthas said to Jherak, "let us see what we can find."

::Kane: Galanthas will ascend the path as quietly as possible without actually "creeping". When he nears the top however, say 3/4 of the way there, he will proceed with Stealth and use the Threne of Chameleon, working carefully, and approach with caution.::

[Tom B]

[Kane, was there much in the way of supplies in their boat?]

"We'll be back shortly. Keep an eye out...we don't know much about this area or who might be here."

Jherak will move quietly as well, also shifting to stealth as they near the top.

As he moved, he tried to remember what he could about the Staff of Law...not much. Sounded more like a badge of office. Well, it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye out for it. Couldn't hurt to develop some high-placed contacts if they should happen across it. Hm. The presence of the Staff could certainly explain his ease in obtaining a berth. It made sense that they would want as many soldiers as possible aboard in case of trouble. As they ascended, he shifted his attention back to their surroundings.

[Verrain]

"They have the right of it. We barely found ourselves nevermind the Staff." Hob sighed to his shipmates. "Last I saw it its box was floating off. If it hit the same currents we did it must have washed up on shore along here somewhere. Let's get a crow's eye view eh? We can figure things out from there."

[Kane]

Deep alarm shows in Tristran's face. "Gone??" he shouts. "This... this is terrible! We have to tell the governor immediately!"

"Agreed," Dunstan says as he turns the empty boat onto his side, studying the hole in the hull. He reaches into his tunic and pulls out a small scroll case, which he opens and withdraws a piece of paper from. "If we can find out where we are."


Galanthas> You draw close to the top of the cliff, and begin your song. The rocks and sand seem to blur around you as you fade into the surroundings. At the top of the cliff, you can see that it stretches for easily half a mile in either direction. You see neither ship nor marker anywhere in the ocean. To the east is a sparse forest of trees, their growth stunted by poor soil. No sign of a trail here.


Jherak> Galanthas climbs up ahead of you. For a moment you hear whispers of a haunting Elvish melody, and you lose sight of him in the pass. You can't hear his footsteps either. Where did he go?



Hob> The two sailors seem to have no equipment, aside from the case that dunstan just took out.

[DaGreatJL]

Phillip turned from the others to look at the ocean. The Staff, gone? What damage could it do in the wrong hands?
The suddeness of the storm last night, I wonder, could it be, after all these years?...
Not willing to consider such thoughts, Phillip turns around to face his companions.

"Surely the Staff of Law will be found, for not only are all of you skilled and knowledgable people, but also served by the force of good. For as the sybil at Warsters spoke, 'the sun's light touchs all things that are good and pure, in its time, and serves to guide the path of the just."

((Okay, trying to make a Soothing Platitudes roll for everybody, with a die forked from both Falsehood (he's altogether unsure of the words he's saying) and Doctorine (from trying to quote verse to support his statement). ))

[JKahrs]

Thimas smiles at the comforting words. "Well, it seems we all washed up on this rock. It would be most likely that the staff did also. I say we establish our bearings and go looking for it."

[Ubby]

Galanthas took a moment to take in the panoramic view. He grimaced slightly, a tad disappointed that the new vantage point did not immediately yield anything interesting. He looked at the trees to his west and then to his left and right as the cliff ran off some distance to the north and south. Perhaps it would be best for Jherak and he to split up? Though eager to examine what kind of trees would grow here, Galanthas decided he would head north.

Waiting for Jherak to reach the top, Galanthas was amused to see the swordsman trying to spot him, wrapped in the magic of his people. "I will look to the north for signs of a trail or any hint at the fate of The Reliant. Look to the south and I will meet you back here. Shout if you discover anything, and I will do the same."

Galanthas, still whispering the Threne of Chameleon, silently headed off northwards along the cliff, looking to the distance for anything of note, and searching for any kind of track or trail at his feet.

(EDITED 8/11 to fix my incorrect bearings.)

[Tom B]

"Not too far. Right now we just need to secure the area and see what we can see. I don't think we should go too far alone without knowing the area better."

Jherak heads south along the ridge, striking a balance between stealth and speed. He peered out across the forest towards the ocean, scanning the beach and out in the ocean. Primarily looking for wreckage along the shore that might indicate the ship itself or supplies that may have washed up, but also looking for signs of habitation or potential predators. He also keeps an eye open for good potential campsites, defensible but with a view of the surrounding area.

If practical, Jherak would also look to see what's through the pass on the other side of the mountains. This isn't his main priority, though. Not on this trip.

[Verrain]

"Where in blazes did you grab a map Dunstan?" Hob asks moving over to look over the man's shoulder. "I hope you didn't go to any trouble for it. That bit o'paper instead of food seems a poor bargain to me."

[Kane]

"I made a copy from the ship's navigator the day before the storm struck," replied Dunstan. "Now, let's see... We should have arrived at the capitol city of Kingsport, which is here." He points at a small spot on the map. "I think it's safe to assume that we've been blown off course. I believe we have gone to the north. I just don't know how far." He looks up at the sky. "I don't suppose any of you has a sextant or a compass, do you?"

Jherak> Along the ridge you can see no signs of trails, neither along the cliff or through the woods. Out in the ocean you see several large rocks a couple of miles out from land. Someone really should have put up a lighthouse here.

Galanthas> You spot a very narrow and irregular trail leading into the trees. It must be a game trail. Half-buried in the sand you spot a small piece of metal. It's iron, very dark in color. It appears to be an arrowhead, with a hooked barb in the orcish style. There is some rust on it.

[Ubby]

Galanthas held the vile arrowhead in his hand. Subconsciously he took his bow in hand as he scanned the tree line for any sort of movement. Feeling his hatred for orcs rekindle, he scowled. To say this journey's start was inauspicious was a great understatement. First the shipwreck leaving him and his companions lost in a strange land with no bearings, and now a sign that they have come upon an orcan hunting ground. At least at one time. The Great Seers of Mith Galailin would probably say that these events portended ill tidings. Luckily for Galanthas, he did not believe in such things. He knew that things don't happen for a reason... they just happen.

Slipping the arrowhead into his pocket, Galanthas quickly headed back for the pass where he looked to meet up with Jherak. He wondered how Jherak, and indeed the rest of the party, would react to his news as he made himself conspicuous again.

[Tom B]

Jherak scowled. Something wasn't right. He's seen shipwrecks before, and there was usually debris washed ashore as far as the eye could see. He looked out at the pristine beaches holding nothing but two broken lifeboats, letting his gaze drift out to the rocks...

Keeping an eye open for signs of animals, he finally turned back toward the pass. Maybe Galanthas had seen more than he...Elves are like that.

[DaGreatJL]

Phillip gazes at the map in wonder. Looking up, he says, "I don't have such tools; however, perhaps if those who scouted ahead found a vantage point, we might better judge where we are."

[Kane]

Dunstan looked back at his map again. "Well, in the absence of that, I think the best way to go would be south. It seems most likely that we would find help that way."

"Master Hob," pleaded Tristran, "Would you take us with you? We have no food and would surely starve without your help."

Jherak and Galanthas> You reunite near the top of the pass.

[Tom B]

"Ah, Galanthus. How was your stroll? Southward I saw some scenic countryside, but no signs of trails or habitations. Also no signs of wreckage at all, which strikes me as decidedly odd for a shipwreck...

Did you see anything of interest to the north?"

[Kane, are we able to see into the pass? I'm not clear as to what we may have seen deeper in the mountains, or how far we might have to travel to pass through them.]

[Ubby]

Galanthas returned Jherak's friendly greeting with a nod of his head and a serious expression. "Indeed that does seem strange Master Jherak. One would expect to see more debris upon the beach. I wonder what it signifies?" He paused for a moment before continuing. "I found a small trail to the north leading towards the tree line." As he reached into his pocket he continued, "And it would appear that this area has not been entirely deserted."

Galanthas solemnly revealed the arrowhead to Jherak. "I would say that it is an orcish hunting arrowhead. There is no telling for sure how old it is, but if orcs are or have been hunting these grounds, then it stands to reason that they may have settled near by." Galanthas looked back down towards the beach where they left the other survivors, giving Jherak an opportunity to examne the arrowhead for himself. "We should not linger here for long." Galanthas gripped his bow tight, and readied himself for the return trip to the beach.

[Tom B]

Jherak examined the arrowhead before handing it back to Galanthas.

"At least it doesn't look too recent, and I've seen no signs of any type of recent trails or habitation. Still, it's a good idea to remain alert."

Together, they began the trek back down to the beach.

[Verrain]

Dunstan looked back at his map again. "Well, in the absence of that, I think the best way to go would be south. It seems most likely that we would find help that way."

"Master Hob," pleaded Tristran, "Would you take us with you? We have no food and would surely starve without your help."



Hob nodded. "We've always stuck together inthe past. Now is no different. Let's see if the two that wandered off have found anything and then pick our next move."

[Kane]

Jherak and Galanthas> The pass leads up to the top of the cliff. Beyond the cliff's edge, the land is flat. To be clear, the cliff his been created from erosion from the ocean.

Dunstan packs away his map. In the time it takes for Jerak and Galanthas to return, everyone has cleaned and dried their equipment to the best of their ability.

[Tom B]

As Jherak and Galanthas return, Jherak will look for a place to set up camp for the night. He's uneasy about camping in the open along the beach. Someplace adjacent to the beach, but sheltered, would be good.

"Well, there's little enough to see from the cliffs above. No sign of civilization as far as I could see. Oddly enough, no sign of wreckage along the beach, either...which seems very peculiar to me, although I'm certainly not a sailor..." Jherak looks quizzically at the two sailors..."Is that normal?"

"Galanthas found something however," Jherak says, nodding towards the Elf.

[Ubby]

Galanthas noted the sun's position in the sky in an attempt to discern how much sun light was remaining. Perhaps there would be time to decide on a direction of travel and make some headway in the (hopeful) direction of civilization before it became necessary to stop and make camp. Galanthas began a mental inventory of his supplies when Jherak's mentioning of his name snapped him out of his thoughts.

Prompted by Jherak, Galanthas leveled a serious look on the party and held the arrowhead up for all to see.

"An orcish arrowhead. Most likely a hunting party. As you can see, there is rust and I did not discover any tracks of the party itself, so some time has passed since it was discarded." Galanthas continued matter-of-factly, "Still we must be on our guard."

[DaGreatJL]

Phillip's face took on a worried look as Galanthas spook of the orcish arrowhead. "We must be wary if children of Darkness abound in this area. In my travels, I have heard of much of what these beasts can do- it is said they draw on shadow for strength, and some can even strike a man dumb with their gaze. Yes, we must be wary, for as it was said by Aristides, 'Stray not far from thy hearthfire when the sun sets, for when it is high, high creatures are strong, but when it sinks, those creatures who are low and slink on their bellies may get the better of you.'" He nodded gravely, as if to lend weight to his words.

[Kane]

Tristran's eyes widened in shock. "Orcs? Here!? B-B-But there aren't any orcs on this continent! No scouts have ever found any signs!"

"Perhaps the scouts were wrong," replied Dunstan. "Or perhaps we are much further off the map than I thought. Either way, we should moving as soon as possible. It's still morning, we can cover a lot of ground."

[Ubby]

Galanthas looked at Tristran and replied, "Steel yourself man. Orcs are a dark pestilence that fester in every dark corner of the world regardless of what your scouts might say." Pausing for a breath, he took the sting out of his voice and continued, "Vigilance is due, but we have not discovered any recent sign of their foulness."

"As for your tales," Galanthas said to Phillip, "I do not deny that they call on the Darkness for power, but do not trouble yourself with worry over it." He smiled, "Ninety-nine of one hundred you face will just charge and try to rend the flesh from your bones with their bare hands." Galanthas began to laugh heartily as if a joke was made that everyone should recognize.

Realizing that no one else saw the humor of it, and indeed that poor Tristran might now soil himself, Galanthas let his merry laugh trickle off awkwardly. "Humans..." he muttered regretfully with a deep sigh and a shake of his head.

"Anyway, he is quite correct", with a nod towards Dunstan, "we should begin our journey while the sun burns bright. Since our destination was a port city, I believe we should follow the coast. The question is, which direction does the city lie in?"

[Verrain]

"To the south if Dunstan can find his ass with two hands and a map." Hob chuckles and claps his mate on the shoulder. "His guess is good enough for me, so let's be off."

[DaGreatJL]

Phillip turns his head and looks up at the sky. "Yes, let us go. If the minions of the Dark are here, we shall face them whether we are moving or standing still." He turns his head back to face the group, and for a moment, the weary smile is gone from his face, and it seems as if he is not seeing what is before him, but instead gazing into some level of Hell. He quickly snaps back to his old self, and you wonder if you really saw him change at all.

[Kane]

Dunstan shot an annoyed look at Hob. "South is this way," he said, starting to walk down the beach. "And let's hope that we meet no orcs at all. I'm not a knight."