Day 19 (continued)
Theren and Lavender turn in early due to their early start with the convoy the next morning. Gage is left to tell Temerity about their plan. Gage gets a drink from Azuul at the bar - Azuul hands him some mead. Gage drinks by himself, waiting for Temerity to appear but it still hasn’t happened by the time he finishes his drink. He heads upstairs to bed and knocks on Temerity’s door.
Temerity is alone – the drow has already left – and his room and he are both shiny and spotless. Temerity looks haggard and wrung out. Gage tells him about the mission and being up early. He says that it was Lavender’s idea.
Temerity is extremely suspicious. He asks about the casino. Temerity agrees reluctantly and closes the door. Temerity eats some travel rations and then sleeps.
Day 20
Theren, Lavender, Anaphel and Gage all rise early. Temerity is unaccountably up before everyone else. He heads down and leaves the tavern before the rest of them. Heading to the south-east gate, he spots some mead barrels nearby and sits on them to observe the goings-on. The wagons and horses are around, but there is no sign of a caravan forming yet.
The rest meet at the bar – Runcible refuses to fetch the absent Temerity. Lavender heads up to get him but he’s not there. Lavender returns, pre-emptively grumpy. No-one has seen him this morning. Lavender spots that he has returned his key. She divines that he has already gone to the caravan.
They all head to the gate to meet the caravan. They do not spot Temerity as they pass him – it is too early for them all. Temerity sees them, however. Horses are being hooked to carts, unlabelled boxes are being loaded and nothing seems suspicious.
Lavender heads for an elf who is beautiful and pale with long black hair and high cheekbones. She’s shouting orders and checking a clipboard. The elf is brusque with Lavender. Lavender introduces herself as the protection detail. The elf demands that they are ready in 23 minutes.
Runcible is sent up to find Temerity. He spots him and immediately dive-bombs him, biting him. Temerity locks eyes with Runcible and threatens to burn him if Runcible bites him again. Runcible retreats and perches on Theren’s shoulder, hissing periodically.
Lavender heads over to Temerity – she is not best pleased. She berates him for his self-centredness. Temerity asks whose caravan it is. Pausing, she eventually says that it belongs to Zadhir. She begins to justify her decision to him.
Temerity does not comment on it but simply walks south out of town. She calls after him but he does not return. She asks the rest what they think. None of them follow him – Anaphel warns that Temerity will not survive alone.
Anaphel decides that they must fetch Temerity if no-one else will. Temerity leaves the path and wanders across fields towards the river. Anaphel thuds down in front of him and attempts to persuade him to return to the party. They warn him that his path now leads to danger. Anaphel is vexed with him. Temerity simply argues with them.
He says that Theren hates him, Gage is only there out of duty and that there is no future with Lavender. Anaphel calls him by his true name – Morthos – and implies that he has issues with commitment. Anaphel tells him some truths – that he is insufferable, frustrating and stubborn, yet people care about him.
Anaphel offers Lavender’s compromise: travel with them to the next town and then make a decision to leave once the convoy is safe. Temerity says no and walks off. Anaphel says that they will be passing through Avalon in 3 days’ time, if he wants to meet up. Temerity gives no sign that he heard this. Anaphel flies back with only a minute to spare before the convoy leaves.
The party reluctantly admit that he’s made his choice. The convoy moves off – the party are split along the line: Anaphel is above, flying; Gage is sitting atop a wagon; Theren is discomfited about the whole situation and sits on a wagon keeping alert; Runcible is reconning in the air; Lavender is being a model guard.
Gage wants to see what they are transporting but there doesn’t seem to be a way to. Theren is very apprehensive and trying not to get noticed.
Temerity has walked back towards the path and crossed over the road, heading into the forest. He makes camp during the day and waits for nightfall to travel. He meditates in the camp on the menagerie and what an amazing decision maker he is.