Turn 97A -- Off to See the Wizard Turn 97A -- Off to See the Wizard 8th day of Alturiak. Noon. Baron of Mutton.
Kersath and Talimar, feeling a deep need and desire to be out of the town and in the wilderness once again, decide to escort Dain to Thurmaster to visit with the wizard Tauster. Just before leaving on the journey, Kersath draws Garth aside, "I have a question for you, friend. Would it be possible for you to enchant a small rock so it will emanate light that will not fade after a while? I mean, some sort of permanent enchantment? If that is so, I would beg you to do so," with a sly smile on his face, he adds," Just a small trick I learned in the underdark."
"Aye, I can do that. Any rock in particular you had yer heart set on?" Garth inquires.
Shaking his head, Kersath goes outside and a few minutes later returns to the Baron of Mutton with a small, smooth rock about one inch by two inches in diameter. "Will this do?"
With a twinkle in his eye, Garth says, "It'll do." Reaching inside his clothes, Garth pulls forth his holy symbol to Selune. Clutching it in his stubby right hand, the stone rests in his open left palm. Closing his eyes, he murmurs a silent prayer to Selune. Closing the stone in his fist, he opens his eyes and finishes with, "For the glory of Selune." Opening his hand, a plain stone has been transformed to a brillient silvery moonlit color, but seems to shed no light. Garth hands the stone to a puzzled Kersath who looks disappointed. Sensing this, Garth clarifies the situation for him, "Kersath, Selune is the goddess of the moon. While you can see the moon during the day, much as you can see this stone, it shan't shine while you can see the sun. In the dark or at night, it will blaze with an abundance of moonlight. Moreso than the moon for it is blessed by Selune herself." Folding Kersath's fingers over the stone, Garth says, "Take care of it, for now you carry a gift from Selune."
Nodding his head solemnly, Kersath responds, "I will, my friend. I thank you for this gift." He places the rock in a pouch within his cloak.
"Yer welcome," replies Garth with a nod of his head. "I'll be going now ta check up on the lady Marlay, the one we rescued from the Keep," he adds as he sees the blank expressions of his companions. "Have a good trip and we'll see ye when ye get back."
The others nod and say their farewells to their friend as he leaves the inn.
"Well, are we ready?" asks Talimar of Dain and Kersath.
"More than ready," responds Kersath as Dain gives a silent nod, feeling much better having secured a few fresh pouches of tabac that morning for the journey ahead.
The three companions then pay up their tab with Barthelew and mount up, heading east from town toward Thurmaster. Clear skies welcome the three on to the road as the sun beats down on their backs. Kersath and Talimar are relieved to be free of the confines of the inn and the town in general and away from all the people. Dain is relaxed and secure with his logbook open before him as he reads from it and attempts to make some notations as he bounces along on his horse. After an hour or so of futilely trying to write, he places the book back in its waterproof container in his backpack and takes out his pipe. Smoke rings waft along on the currents behind the companions as they talk and enjoy the ride.
Shortly before dusk, the companions pull up on the road at the turn-off to Kuiper's farm.
"Why don't we head to Kuiper's farm for the evening and update him on the recent happenings," asks Talimar of the others.
"I'm for that," responds Dain as he thinks of the soft bed that will await him at Kuiper's farm instead of the hard bedroll otherwise.
"Lead the way," replies Kersath as he looks longingly at the treeline before them.
An hour or so later, the three companions rein in at the edge of Kuiper's farm. Kuiper moves out of his wooden house to greet the three.
"Ho! Red Feather Company! What brings ye to my humble abode? Where are the rest of your companions?"