CH 1: The Road Travels East

[JadedDM]

Otik the bartender is caught off guard by Goldmoon's request. "Err, well, I suppose you could use the kitchen right quick," he says.

Tas grins at the barbarian woman. "No, that's hobgoblin blood. They didn't touch me, I was too quick. By the way, my name is Tasslehoff Burrfoot. Nice to meet you." He holds out a hand to her politely.

[SightblinderX]

Tanis greets Sturm warmly, but with a perplexed look at Goldmoon and Riverwind. "Servants or companions?" he asked, and nodded in acceptance of Goldmoon's offer to tend his wounds. He had seen what could come of an untreated wound.

As he scanned the faces of his old friends, he smiled and nodded to them all. He paused twice. once when he saw Raistlin had changed, and then his throat nearly closed on itself when he saw Laurana, and he knew his eyes must be bugging.

[Breila]

"Let me repeat your name, so that I remember it well." Goldmoon says as she shakes the offered hand, with a friendly smile. "It's Tassle-hoff Burr-foot, right?"

With a slight frown, she turns to Otik. "The kitchen? No, here would be better. I had been told you offered accomodation, so I thought we could use a bedroom."

[Talyn]

Raistlin, still sitting in the shadows when Tanis comes in is about to speak when he notices where the Half-Elf's eyes are looking. His mouth closes and something seems to click behind his eyes.

He settles his hands back into robes and leans back further into the shadows, his eyes never leaning Tanis and Laurana, curious how this will play out.

[mltillis]

Loudly chewing his spiced potatoes and watching Tika's baskside while she takes customers orders, Caramon does not at first notice the new arrivals. Glancing at Raistlin, he turns to view what holds his brother's interest and spies the others. Jumping to his feet and causing ale to spill as the table nearly overturns, "Hey Flint! Tas! Tanis! What happened? Those seeker fellows rough you up? Let's go crack their melons!" Standing next to Sturm and Tanis, he sees Lauranna. "Oh yeah! Tanis this is Laren..uh Loreen...Well, she an elf from that elven place, you used to talk about. She looking for an elf from there with one of them long elf names, who lives here now. And I told her, that I bet you would know of any elf living here in Solace."

[JadedDM]

Flint scowls. "Not Seekers, hobgoblins," he says. "Can't believe it, but you look like you've actually gotten bigger, Caramon." Glancing at the wizard, he shudders slightly.

[Jenara]

Lara looks squarely at this 'Tanis', the beard was wrong, it looked scratchy and horrible, yet.. There in those brown eyes was the warm and wisdom she knew, the hair, the way her carried himself... She sat, her mouth agape... Somehow she had expected him to stay the same, years pass to Elves like seaons to humans, to her people she was just a child...

"Tanthalas." she mutters under her breath, summoning up the courage she says louder. "Tanthalas, it has been many years, your people miss you." She blushes red, actually rising in her seat, her Almond shaped eyes actually pleading at him. "Haven't you missed me?"

[Breila]

Turning back to the wounded men after talking to Otik, Goldmoon sees Tanis's face and hears "Lara"s pleading. "Oh dear" she mutters to herself in her own language.

"Lara, why don't you come with us and assist me when I take care of their wounds?" she asks in Common. Her goal is as much do give some privacy to Tanis and Lara as to get help.

[Jerrard]

Sturm lifts his head, averting his gaze, it was rude to stare, either this Elven Lady, who held herself with such dignity was mistaken, or.. Tanis's Business was his own, he never said much of his Homeland.

"That indeed would be a good idea," He tugged at his Mustaches, but defers to Tanis as always.

"Tanis my friend, your road has obviously been long, what do you think to Goldmoons idea? Lara could assist." There is no inference in his voice, only concern for his friend.

[SightblinderX]

Tanis still looked a bit stunned, but responded "Yes... yes, Goldmoon's suggestion is a good one. I... yes." he seemed to be at a loss for words. Not once had he ever expected his path to lead here. He kept staring at Laurana like he was trying to organize a pack of hyperactive squirrels in his head. He had hardly moved form where he first greeted Sturm, when Flint mentioned the hobgoblins, Tanis spoke up "Yes, the hobgoblins seemed to act as if they had authority over Solace. It is a dark day, and I intend to find out what has led to it. but for now, our wounds and dinner with old friends... and new ones." his gaze drifted over Riverwind, Goldmoon, and lingered for a breath longer on Laurana.

[Jenara]

"Hobgoblins? Evil things.." Laurana does smile, Tanis wanted her alone, this was good, finally..

"Come Tanis, we have much to discuss!" She grabs him with her small, perfectly formed hands and drags him off with Goldmoon before he could say anything, her heart was racing, she had dreamed of this for so long.

[ooc: Little Ad libing here, just getting this out of the way so they don't steal the show too long.]

As soon as they are alone she jumps on his, wrapping her legs about his waist regardless of his wounds, trapping him against the wall. Before he can recover his senses, she covers his face in kisses. "Ughh that Beard is horrible, it has to go, tell me you love me, tell me now and I'll kiss you and never stop."

[JadedDM]

Flint shakes his head as Laurana drags off Tanis. "Yeah, those hobgoblins said they were looking for some kind of weird blue crystal staff." He shrugs, but winces. "Ah, I think I'll take you up on your offer to patch me up, Miss Goldmoon."

Tas, who has not suffered any wounds, sits down at the table and looks around eagerly. "Hi, Sturm! Nice armor. Hi, Caramon! How are the potatoes? Is that Raistlin? Hi, Raistlin! Wow, you look different! Do you know any new magic? Can you teach me any?"

[SightblinderX]

Momentarily caught off-guard, Tanis accepted the kisses. But he did not return them. There was warmness in his eyes, but his words were a little icey "Lauarana. Do not forget who you are, or why i left. I am not the same boy you knew. The beard stays. Please, Let go of me." as he spoke he worked at undoing her grip on him. "I..." whatever he wanted to say, he finished with "I need my wounds tended."

[Breila]

"Lara - Laurara? - jumping at someone wounded isn't a very good idea. Help him get out of his armour and clothes so I can see what must be done." Goldmoon reprimands softly, like one would a beloved child.

She herself turns to Flint, helping him out of his things. When the hot water has arrived, she cleans wounds, makes sure nothing (like fibers from clothes) is stuck in them, applies ointments to bruises and prepares cuts for stitches where needed.

When she sees Tanis's shoulders, she draws in her breath sharply, in a kind of inverted whistle.

"That's going to need quite a few stiches" she tells him. "I could give you a potion that numbs the pain, but it would make you drowsy, so it would be difficult to enjoy the company of your friends later. If you prefer, we could call in Sturm and Caramon to help you hold still, so you can keep your head clear."

[Jenara]

"I can do that." She helps as suggested, rather taken back that Tanis, (that name would need some getting used to) had rejected her.

"Why should who I am matter?" Fluttering her long lashes her bites her lip. "Surely a Princess deserves to be happy too.." She would rather have done this privately, but alas.. "You left because of Gilthanas, of the things he said, when I told about us.. I never expected him to act that way." She says, gasping at his shoulder, resisting the urge to kiss it better.
"You may not be the same Boy, yet you wear my ring still.."

Looking to the kind Plainswoman, she smiles, "Tanis, are you not going to introduce me? Unless you are ashamed of me."