Dream a Little Dream (chapter 3 - A Gathering of Misfits and Heros)

[Flann]

Terryl is traveling the mystical pathways between spires when he feels a tingle from his belt pouch. Someone calling him on his private communication crystal! What an inopportune time for that! The crystal sends out a spiderweb of faint purple lines, interfering with the magical, swirling cocoon carrying him to his destination.

Concentrating with all his considerable discipline, Terryl envisions the Antonica spire and tries to force the spell back into shape. He thinks he is successful...

Uh oh...

KERTHUNK!

Terryl lands on his tailbone atop the southernmost bridge tower near North Qeynos gate. Groaning, the wind knocked out of him, he rolls around a little. The guard walking post shouts out in alarm, and after a loud thudding of feet on stairs and shouts and general mayhem, he finds himself on his back with no less than four spearpoints at his throat. Captain Eltoa, the last to arrive...

"Terryl?" a tiny voice comes from his crystal. "This is Flann, we need ya fella"

... says "I recognize this one. He ran some errands for me a while back. Now *searches her memory for his name and comes up blank* Master Elf, why are you on top of my tower? And how did you get here? This one *points at a shaking guard, who is still occasionally babbling* says you popped in out of nowhere. Let me just say that is entirely unacceptable"

Terryl, with spearpoints to think of, tries to aim "Shut up! I'm in a bit of trouble" at his belt pouch. All he is rewarded with is meeting Captain Eltoa's eyes and a spearpoint pricking his throat. 

Captain Eltoa raises an eyebrow. "That you are, bucko. Bring him to my office, boys." Spinning around in a precise about-face, she marches back down the stairs.

"No, I wasn't talking to you, Captain! I was talking to.. "

"Shaddup elf. Ya earned a spot on the Carpet. Lesee ya get outta this one." Rough hands grab him and unceremoniusly he is carried down the stairs, and he hears guards wagering on the outcome. 

Standing with arms wrenched painfully behind his back on a bit of badly frayed red carpet in front of Captain Eltoa's desk, Terryl calmly tries to explain. After several minutes of this, and an assurance that no wizard in Norrath could "pop in" on her tower without a magical spell going completely awry (he refrains from saying "not yet, anyway") Captain Eltoa rises to her feet. She has spent the entire interview with her green eyed unblinking gaze boring into this elf, and marvels a bit at his ability to withstand it. None of her guards could remain so unruffled on the Carpet. 

"That's enough. Let him go. I don't care for magic much, Elf. See to it this never happens again."

Terryl walks out and approaches the gate, hearing the groans of the guards who lost their wagers behind him. Concentrating on his private crystal, he says, "Flann, this better be good."

[Flann]

Flann puts away his crystal and nods to Vannis. They stand outside the Chapel waiting for Solerei to finish getting ready. "Terryl be on his way. Now as soon as Sol decides on which pair o' shoes she's gonna wear today.. "

Solerei bursts from the Chapel, slamming the door. Glaring at Flann, glaring at Vannis, glaring at anyone within glaring range, she growls.

Terryl arrives at that point (luckily for Flann). Flann says, "Terryl! We gotta go ta New Tunaria 'cause Vannis says there's this elf girl that needs rescuin, or something. Hey, how'd she tell ya that? That's a long way. She got a fancy crystal like this one?" *rummages around in his pouch* Vannis says "''eard t'gull in m'ead. Tur'ble tr'ble t'gull be in! Vampars!" "Huh? In yer head? How in heck can... "

Terryl claps his hands, loudly. "We are pressed for time, then. Flann, hush. Vannis, we have some travel to do while in the Faydark. Tell the rest as we go. Now gather 'round."

Incanting a spell, and noting Solerei shooting angry glances at Flann and Vannis, Terryl wonders if they may have to overcome trouble in the ranks before tackling this larger mission.

[Flann]

Vannis drops to his knees and sees his breakfast again. Flann is looking a bit green as well. Solerei is chuckling. Terryl tells them the travel sickness will pass.

"I'm just glad no one tried to call one of us on.. " Stops. Decides that will not help their confidence now.

On they go, this strange group of companions. Their travel through the Faydark is fairly uneventful, save one small incident when Flann tries to walk a ledge near the river and bangs his shoulder into a rock wall, causing a tumble, yell and splash. No one is seriously hurt, and on they go. Vannis tells what little he can, how he can hear the girl in his head at times. They ponder whether they will be able to track her using this ability, and whether he can speak back to her. He tries, to no avail. Maybe she needs to be trying at the same time? Or when they get closer? No one can say.

As they approach the pass to New Tunaria, Solerei calls a halt.

"Flann... *her eyes twinkle* if we are sneakin in, ye will need to leave the armor here. Strap it to Melody, she can take care of it. I thought ahead, and brought along some leathers I saw in your wardrobe." She holds out a bright pink tunic with matching trousers." "What ye wear these for, I don't wanna to know. But they won't clank. Clankin will be bad. Leave the metal boots too. Those nice socks will protect yer feet, and keep ye silent."

Flann protests that it is an old uniform of his Goddess, he doesnt wear it anymore, it doesnt even fit! These socks wont keep him from gettin stickers, you know. The rest try to hide their mirth and say that his armor will be too loud, boots too, does he plan to go into danger in his scivvies? In the end he puts on the leathers. They fit rather well.