The Windhovers' Call

Ozum begins to hurriedly grab his gear and get ready to leave but slows a bit as he hears Arissa. He peaks his head out of his room and sees the bard holding the parchment. "Not for four days? Did they send anymore information?"

“I see “ says Frandal who has come back to the inn as soon as he noticed the movement in such a hour. “ We must depart inmediatly. And, friends, in this circumstances I think that we will need as much help as we can, we should use the items we recovered in the island, and we will make arrangements later. “ He looks at Xellos too, as telling him without words that he’s incluiding the items they spoke of. 

He goes upstairs and puts on the studded leather that he recovered from the armory, then pack his things and go back down to the kitchen to take that tea from Pike. 

As soon as the others are ready he collects his things and start walking.

Xellos walks downstairs with all of his gear ready. After listening to the others, as well as Frandal's comment, he nods in understanding.

Taking out the needle, he shows it to everyone, "The needle indeed does point Northwest, so Bharash changed course at some point during the night. I noticed it changed just before going to sleep. I thought it meant he was getting closer and wanted to enter the town from the north, but this is a bit worrying. We should probably seek out the wizard as soon as we can."

He takes a sip of tea with a couple biscuits and is ready to leave at a moments notice.

"I agree with you all. This threat seems to be growing and I do not want past Windhovers to pay the price if we are late."

"So are you suggesting that we seek out the Windhovers ourselves? Perhaps it would be better to remain here..."

Frandal, with his ger already at his shoulder smiles kindly to Arissa. It seems that she is still sleepy. 

“But that’s exaclty what they are asking us to do, go out and look for the old Windhover’s and prevent them from this cowardly attacks. We must hurry.” 

He then returns to Pike and ask him.

”You have been helpful and I want to thank you for that. But I am afraid I must ask you one last favor. Do you know of someone that could rent us horses? We are in a real hurry. Lifes are at stake.” 

Everyone: One by one you appear in the inn's kitchen, where Pike has tea and a simple meal waiting for you. He moves about quickly, sensing that all of you need to depart as soon as possible. In response to Frandal's question, Pike says, "The man who brought that message" (he points to the parchment that Arissa holds) "is handling the matter of finding horses for you. He assured me that in thirty minutes' time he would have horses waiting outside the inn."

A few minutes later, you hear the sound of horses' hooves gently clomping along the dirt street behind the inn. Pike ushers you through the rear exit, and you immediately encounter two teen-aged humans whose similar looks assure you that they are brother and sister. Each of them leads a pair of horses, all of which are saddled and ready for travel. The young lady speaks. "We have four horses to aid the the friends of Bharash." She then pauses and looks at her brother, who in turn looks at Ozum and continues, "Master gnome, you'll be content, we hope, with riding with one of the others? Four animals is all we had for sale this morning."

Pike thanks the two youths. "Vanya and Wes, thank you for your haste this morning. You have been paid for these horses?" Both nod their heads. Pike then turns to all of you. "I assume you know your destination and how best to arrive there? It may be best if that remains a secret to all but you, I suppose. Is there anything else that can be done for you before you depart?"

"Pike before I go is there anyway you would be willing to purchase a few item from me to sell for some profit?"

Kurt accepts Pike first offer. He is in a hurry and is completely happy to get rid of the few items in his haste.

“Thank you we appreciate this “ Frandal says to the to young sibilings and he mounts oneof the horses. “We will remember your help and kindness Pike” 

Kurt: 

Ozum looks up at the girl with a smile and a chuckle, "I don't know I take up a good deal of space, I may need two horses to myself." He then clicks his heels and quickly flies to mount one of the unoccupied horses. "Who's riding with me then?"

Xellos says, "Here Pike, buy yourself a good stiff drink on me, maybe one day after this all gets sorted—I'll join you. Thank you." He slips him 5g

Xellos seeing that Ozum needs to ride with someone else says to him, "Ozum you and I can ride. I'm pretty light and I don't have heavy armor." He hops on. "Besides, we can make it the fun, magical horse." Using Minor Illusion he puts a unicorn horn on its head.

Arissa laughs a little, and jumps onto a horse, which transforms into a horse-sized ki-rin.

"That's a nice unicorn you got there, Xellos."

Everyone: Nearly one hour before sunrise, the five of you--astride two horses, a unicorn, and a ki-rin--leave Findric through the town's eastern gate and begin the long journey to Ansora, the most eastern city on the main island of Syndaris. The road is well-worn, but it is empty of travelers for the first few hours. You pass several farmhouses during the first half of the day, but eventually the land becomes less inhabited and more rugged. The Nilling Hills lie a short distance before you; they are rocky, steep, and wind-swept. By the time you break for your midday meal, you are near the base of the tallest and steepest hill you've seen in this region. It lies just to the north of the road. Based on the map of Syndaris provided to you by Sariel, you surmise that you have reached the place known as Kubrithani's Lament. You estimate that you will arrive in Ansora sometime shortly after sunset. 

Xellos says, "Don't strain yourself Arissa," with a smile and wink.

He pats his horse on the rump, "I like you better."

As they gallop away he uses Prestidigitation to create sparkles in back of the horse, as well as a rainbow trail while they ride.

Frandal smiles at the ideas of his companions and is grateful for their attempts to loosen the mood. 

He let’s Celebquesse fly and hunt for her. 

When the reach the hill he ask himself if that was the hill wich saw the fall of the paladin.

Frandal:

 Everyone: You complete your midday meal and prepare for the final leg of the journey. Within a few hours you have left the Nilling Hills behind you, and at approximately six o'clock you enter the village of Ansora. A cold, bitter wind is blowing on shore, and the people have gone indoors for the night. Smoke rises from the chimney of nearly every home, and through the windows you can see the pulsing light emitted by the fires that are bringing warmth to the people inside. Outside you see no one, other than a cat that scurries away at the sight of your horses. At first glance, Ansora seems completely quiet, peaceful, and free from danger.

Frandal taps the horse’s neck and speaks to him in elvish

”You have done well my friend. Soon you will have a well deserved rest. I would need of your strength just a little bit more.” 

He turns to the others. 

“I hate to break this peaceful night in this city. But we should go directly to speak to the Mayor. The sooner he is warned the better.” He looks at the eagle, wich is perched nearby and she raises in the air. 

Frandal:

“Let’s ride to the Mayors house just to make sure he is alright. Who knows maybe he will have extra rooms that stay in”