CH 1: This Place Sucks

[HorizonsDream]

"So then why did you decide to become a Paladin?" Echo asks. "And what were you sneaking out to do?"

[JadedDM]

"Drinking, carousing, gambling and such," Hollidan says. "You know...fun?" He glances to her quickly. "Hmm, maybe you don't. In any case, the reason I became a paladin...uh...well, I wanted to help people," he says, hesitating. "Let's leave it at that."

[HorizonsDream]

"You do realize that doesn't sound very convincing, right?" Echo points out. "Besides, there are other ways to help people other than becoming a Paladin," she adds thoughtfully.

[JadedDM]

Hollidan pauses several moments, a faraway look in his eye, before he responds. "Not as effectively, at least as far as I'm concerned," he finally answers, suddenly quite somber.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo studies the man for a few moments, debating on if she should ask more on the matter or not. "Something happened," she said. "But I won't pry, at least for the moment."

[JadedDM]

Hollidan smiles slowly. "Well, then--how about yourself? Why did you become a sorceress?" he asks.

[HorizonsDream]

"Other than to scare the kids I grew up with?" Echo asks in slight amusement even though she did become a mage partly because of that reason. "My mother is one. She would do little magic tricks when I was little to cheer me up. When I got a little older, I wanted to know how the magic was done so she taught me. It was challenging, and continues to challenge me today."

[JadedDM]

Hollidan nods. "So magic runs in your veins then? I've sometimes heard that the children of wizards are more powerful in the art, but I have no idea if there's any truth to that."

[HorizonsDream]

"On both of sides of the family," Echo says with a nod. "My father is suppose to be a mage as well, according to what I've been told. I don't know if I'm more powerful because it runs in my family though. Compared to my mother, I'm just a novice."

[JadedDM]

"You don't know your father then?" Hollidan surmises. "What happened to him?"

[HorizonsDream]

"I don't know," Echo says. "Mother never really told me much about him other than his name and that he was a well known mage when she knew him," she explains. "For many years now, I've wanted to get out of this town to search for him mostly to see if he really is my father or not. Though, if he is as great of a mage as my mother says he is, then I hope to learn from him as well even if he really isn't my father."

[JadedDM]

"Well, you're finally out of the town, although I'm not sure we'll run into him, whoever he is, out here," Hollidan says. "Nevertheless, I wish you luck in finding him."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, we probably won't run into him, but this little expedition here has given me some hope when it comes to him. Apparently, there is an artifact called the Soulstaff that is connected to the shield that everyone here is looking for," she explains. "It makes me wonder how my father ended up with the name Soulsftaff."

[JadedDM]

"That's right," Hollidan says. "I remember when we first met, I recognized that name. I wondered at the time if it was some kind of coincidence, but it is ultimately what convinced me to introduce you to the Pharise. It was almost like Gonto wanted you on this expedition, for whatever reason."

[HorizonsDream]

"How nice of Gonto to include me," Echo says. "Though, it makes me wonder why Gonto would take an interest in someone that doesn't follow His teachings," she adds thoughtfully. "Though, I do have..respect for some of his teachings."