Late this morning Farad suddenly appears in the camp.
The sky is clear, there is 8" of snow on the ground, and the temperature is a balmy 12F.
"Damn cold it has gotten.. Eh? Farad, did something go wrong?" asks Illyana.
Farad curses. "Well, that was an adventure. Ok, I can take whoever wants to go to Sandas now immediately. I bought some teleport scrolls from Ming."
He turns to McTavish. "There was a damn Wizard, and I mean the kind with a capital W, waiting when I left Sandas to return here. Needless to say I didn't stay around and steped back in to return and see if I can get back another way. Ming wasn't happy to hear about him, and wonders why he was watching Sandas.
"Also he didn't seem to know much about the weather or any activity this way. But Sandas in general is worried about the Borderlands and some evil temple that way. I think that might be around abouts where the other group we've met is operating, but I am not sure."
Farad turns to the group. "Unless anyone has any objections, when we go back to Sandas I'll use party funds to buy two more scrolls of teleportation for future use. Right now I have two on hand that can get us there and back."
Farad also takes 6000 gold from the party treasury to refund the cost of the teleport scrolls he purchased.
"How many people can you move with those? Very well, the scrolls would work, and we can use them afterwards to get back home quickly. Anybody have a clue why there is eight inches of snow on the ground during the summer?"
"Ming didn't know."
"Wizards," McTavish mutters. "What did I damn well tell ye?"
The dwarf continues.
"Yuri was visiting some friends of mine last summer who are building a stronghold in the far north. He says that if ye go far enough north ye come to a land where there's always snow on the ground...and if ye go even farther north then the lands are buried under an enormous sheet of ice...miles thick. He says that this ice is slowly creeping southwards...burying the lands an' driving out the creatures what lived there. He says that's why the orcs an' evil monsters are overrunnin' the southern lands...they's migratin' south."
Humphrey says, "Well Farad how soon do we leave?"
"Immediately, if you are ready."
Britan says: "So I take it we will not be coming back if that is true then we need to take all the gear off of the horses and set them free before we leave unless you know of a way to get all of our equipment back too??"
"You may not be coming back," snorts McTavish, "But I have a journey to finish off. If you want to drop out then go ahead...just tell me so I won't be wasting my time waiting around for you."
Aldarin: "Are you planning on heading back for an extended amount of time or just for a few days?
"How about you McTavish, how do you feel about a reprieve for a short period of time? I assume we will be returning to this spot after we finish our business since that is the mission we are currently undertaking."
"It would be faster for ye to all train back in Sandas," he says. "Me, I'm stayin' here. Come back when you're done."
"I've already started, I don't think I can just stop in the middle of training.. While I would like to go visit my friends, I don't know what Yuri would do."
"Those that are training themselves will likely finish up in two weeks. I will finish my own training then also, but I believe Kelar wished to train in two clases. So expect us back in a month."
"So we get to sit here for a whole month?!? Geez, talk about boring.."
Humphrey looks puzzled: "Farad, why use scrolls when you can do it yourself? Or did you have problems with the last attempt, that you care not repeat?"
The last Humphrey says smiling.
"Because I ran into a Wizard outside of Sandas. Now if you want to go back and fight him for control of that color pool, I'll gladly take you back that way."
"But remember, McTavish says they are immortal, and if slain, come back stronger than before. Thats not the sort of enemy I wish to make."
Farad teleports back to Sandas with Britan, Aldarin and Humphrey.
Pillar waves goodbye, and wipes a tear from his eye "They were good companions, for a while *sniff*" turning Pillar says "Hey Mctavish, you know of any vampire lords around here, like maybe in that graveyard ? We can have some fun while we wait ?"
"I'm sure we'll come across some along the way...probably when we reach Nolthen..." the dwarf replies darkly.
Illyana shakes her head. "That is something I am definitely NOT interested in seeing."
Sighing contendly Pillar sits down on a log "Thats good, I need to kill one, I have to kill one, slay it, destroy it, wipe it from the face of this planet. Ahh the joys of being a cleric, I mean whats with vampires anyway, they should cease to exist, I mean it goes against the natural order of life, and death".
Grumbling Pillar pokes the fire "Yes burn it, cut its head off, impale its heart with a stake. Consecrate its coffin"
Pillar settles down and seems absorbed by his own musings.
"Here's to death," says McTavish, hoisting a mug of ale to his lips.
Pillar grins and raises his mug in appreciation "Indeed to death".
"Why so melancholy? I don't really feel like dying any time soon.." says Illyana.