Salvation Outpost - Chapter 2

A natural forest dweller, Malak was curious about a beverage that steamed. The only steaming liquids he'd seen were caused by hot springs in the dead of winter. "What is it that you two are drinking SheK? Its aroma is pleasing and I should like to try some." He'd have waved down a server but did not know what to ask for. "Does it hurt your insides?" he asked in wonder. As an after though he added, "Perhaps we should go to the board and see if there is any suitable work for the group once we are all assembled."

Then the Owlin remembered the words he'd heard Garundah say over the din of the crowd, "bird" and "fly" and of his race's most likely rarity in these parts. Looking to the Goblin, "Were you wondering whether I was able to fly?" he asked, not at all embarrassed to be speaking about his personal abilities, "I assure you I most certainly can..." he continued, a slight smile to his beak, "Would be a waste of all these feather's if I couldn't, now wouldn't it?"

Armat's brow rose a little as Peldan rattled off his long, somewhat incoherent request while a polite and patient smile curled the edges of his mouth. He could understand the gist of what the halfling wished, even though he thought it dreamy, perhaps naive. It was a boy's outlook on the world, where a knight in armor was a hero who could conquer anything. Alas, if only that were true. And while he would normally dismiss the halfling's wish politely, Vera's last request was fresh in his memory. Perhaps he could teach Peldan something, even if it was not what the halfling might expect.
"Be at peace, Peldan." The red knight smiled. "I understand your request, though I wonder if you are asking the right man. Yes, a warrior am I, and of noble blood. I am one of few who has begun grasping the Divinity Within. But I am not much of a teacher, or maybe not even the person you wish to become. You see, I am who I am because of circumstance. I happen to have been born of nobility, which granted me access to training in the arts of combat as well as education. And once I grew up, my title led to me being given command over a unit, followed by decades of war. But I had no choice in these things. I never was allowed to make my own path until very, very recently, after the war was ended and I returned home. It was only then that I found freedom to make my own path. Until then duty had bound me more surely than chains of adamantine. I could never choose to become a scholar, or a seneschal, or even a cook which is a trade, mind, that sounds rather wholesome to me. Your inn must see all sorts of travelers and make for a lively place to grow old in. You will rarely go hungry, know the bite of cold, let alone the misery that campaigning brought me and my men."
Armat sighed, looking towards the distant walls of mist that circled the Mournland. Memories clearly came to the red knight's mind, but he continued on.
"It is only natural to see a man like me and to think my life better than yours. For some that is no doubt true. But if a boy looks up to me with bright eyes, I wish nothing more than to warn him away from a life of strife, be it as a soldier, mercenary or adventurer. They, in their innocence, see only the glory. They have no understanding of death, for that comes when you lose someone close. They do not understand that this path comes with suffering, because they likely have not grasped its bitter nature because they have not experienced it. And most of all, they do not understand that there is no shining reward at the end."

Ser Armat paused and looked down at Peldan. His eyes betrayed an inner sadness, a rare show of fragility in the knight.
"Here, now, after the war had ended, I find myself empty Peldan. Maybe I even feel robbed, in a way. Duty kept me going, but I think every man who went to war wants something more. When I came home, my family did not see me a hero. I had simply done what had been expected of me. And the people of my homeland had suffered so much that they surely do not care about the nobles in their castles. And I, no longer having a purpose as a warrior, felt only weariness and fatigue. With no enemy left to fight, I was adrift. That's why I came here, Peldan. Not for some glorious adventure.."
He looked back up towards the distant mist.
"I came to go in there... and to see what became of my enemy. Because in some twisted way, I miss him."

SheK replies back to Malak, "Coffee in the morning makes a fine drink. Much like tea. I like it as it settles me well. Go ahead and indulge yourself on a cup of it."

Looking over to board, "I rather wait for the others to return here before jumping on something. It shouldn't be long."

Malak waved down a server and ordered a coffee. When it arrived he was hesitant to take a sip as the steam was hot but eventually he stuck his beak in and took a sip instantly cringing back from it, "I don't think they made mine right... it tastes awful... bitter..." he tried rubbing his tongue on the roof of his beak in an effort to scrape the taste off. Hearing his displeasure a server arrived with a small pitcher of golden liquid, called it honey and poured some into his coffee and stirred it. They bayed he try it again. Reluctantly he tried once more. This time he smiled, "I knew they had prepared it wrong... they forgot the honey," and he drank happily and enjoyed it immensely.

At Garundah's query he simply responded, "Really!" Noting her curiosity and then her apprehension. In response to her request to 'see', Malak's cloak billowed suddenly as two massive wings thrust out from under it. As the wingspan neared 10 feet Malak stopped and retracted them but left them tucked into himself, out in the open so that Garundah could easily see them, "There isn't enough room in here for me to spread them out completely, but if we are to be friends and work together you will have many opportunities to see them in use soon enough... If you're lucky I might even take you flying with me," She seemed small enough that he should be able to fly while holding onto her without much trouble.

Then to SheK he said, "Fair enough, better to wait for the others so all get a say on what exploits we'll engage in next."

Even with such a long and verbose answer, Peldan still didn't know if the man's answer had been a yes or a no. The halfling decided to assume the answer was a no. If he was wrong, Armat would disprove his assumption by way of his actions.

He hadn't really expected the man to say yes...but had figured it was worth a shot. Regardless of the seriousness of his request, the man still saw him as nothing more than childlike. Words wouldn't change the man's mind...and it was likely not even his actions would.

It seems he was on this journey alone...and perhaps it was for the best...he'd only have himself to blame if he failed in his efforts.

With that he said:

"Fair enough ser Armat. I appreciate your having at least entertained my request. If you have need of me reading any further documents penned in languages that you are unable to read, let me know."

With that he parted ways with the knight and made his way to the Grey Beyond. With the response he'd been given, he felt a stiff drink might help ease his disappointment.

Peldan, seeing Shek at a table having coffee with two that he knew not of, made his way over. Once at the table he spoke to Shek:

"Well met, companion Shek. Please, introduce me to your friends!"

When opportunity presents he will request from one of the servers a pair of shots of their strongest.

SheK replies to Peldan as she points to Malak, "This is Malak. Mentions that he would like to join our merry group."

A big smile erupts from his face at the sight of Malik, which seems to, temporarily at least, dampen his thoughts regarding his conversation with Armat.

He addresses the Owlin:

Greetings my avian friend! Malak, is it! I am Peldan d'Ghallanda and am the Innkeeper and owner of the Little Hen Tavern and Inn, in Vathirond.

There's a keenness in your eye that reminds me of my dearest friend Fauntleroy, an Aarakocra, who is acting as caretaker of my inn while away."

He suddenly went silent, realizing he was now babbling....he didn't want to scare off the new guy by talking too much.

Before retracting his wings, however, someone approached addressing Shek. The Owlin turned most of his attention to the newcomer but did not miss the intention of Garundah to reach out and touch his feathers. Malak decided to meet him halfway and extended a wing towards her open hand. He'd been a focus of fascination on the train for a couple of youngsters and had noted the joy on their faces when they were allowed to indulge their curiosity. He recognized the same level of fascination in the Goblin.

To Shek's introduction his head turned towards the halfling, "Yes... Malak is me... I'm pleased to meet you Peldan." He was not sure what an Aarakocra was or where Vathirond is, "I am from the Eldeen Reaches where I was a protector of the forest," he responded, listing what he did there as that kind of thing seemed important to the Halfling.

"Glad to make your acquaintance Malak. I'm looking forward to getting to know more about you."

Peldan then turned back to Shek, "So, any idea what our current plan of action is?"

Vice is meandering through the town. He realizes that he still has Belaluurs note, and figures food would be a good idea. So he continues meandering toward the tavern.

SheK replies back to Peldan, "I haven't really looked over the board hard yet. Been savoring some coffee and breakfast. Waiting fairly much for rest of our band to gather."

It takes Vice a while to get to his friends, since he stops and chats with everyone that recognizes him, along with everyone he remembers from the celebration last night. When he finally sees Garundah he exclaims "Woah, look at your shoulder! I woke up with some aches and pains, but look at that!" it takes everything he has not to poke the scar. "I'd better buy Belaluur another drink. Are they with you?" he ask, pointing a thumb at the winged patron nearby.

In the meanwhile Ser Armat was off to the Salvation Times to see if it acted as a House Sivis message station..

Peldan's order finally arrives and he doesn't take long to toss it back. He doesn't even acknowledge its taste but rather waits for it to start having the desired effect. As a halfling, more than half the size of most humans, it really didn't take a whole lot of libation to start feeling the warmth of its presence.

He then made a silent prayer to Boldrei, asking for his blessing on this new path he has put himself on. Normally such blessings were sought after during civil ceremonies like weddings, coronation, and following the completion of the construction on a new building to ask for Boldrei's presence in the new beginnings lasting success..but somehow he felt such a prayer for his "New Life" was only fitting.