The Beginning of the End

Hello adventurers. I write to you today to inform you of a decision to end this campaign in its current form. Whether because you are now too busy or have now lost interest, most of you have stopped posting on a regular basis, and it is becoming too difficult to keep this thing going.

I will be starting a google doc to finish the plot in a more narrative form, similar to how Beranhond acted out the activities of the "real world" while the rest of you were in the dream realm. I am also willing to finish out the current game day, if any of you have any interest in finishing it.

It has been a pleasure playing this game with all of you. Thank you very much for all of the time you've spent to make this fun for everyone involved. Thanks for sticking it out to the end.

A Fighting We Will Go

Darvin had hardly heard what Thjodolf had said to him. He was preoccupied with thinking about the fight. While, on the one hand, fighting without weapons mostly eliminated the chance he would perish, he was wondering how he was going to take down the large orc woman otherwise.

"Oh, I am sorry Thjodolf. You are very welcome, my friend. I know you would have done the same for me. And yes, I was thinking about the fight. I've never fought an orc in hand to hand combat before. Any advice?"

Darvin listend as Thjodolf explained some of the nuances of orcish combat. It sounded like they mostly tried to overpower the smaller and weaker opponents. Darvin decided then that it would be best to keep moving the entire time. After the lesson Darvin decided he was as ready as he would ever be and it was time to fight.

"Young Paz! Please lead the way to the combat arena."

Part 2

"No, don't say anything right now." She said putting her hand across the mouth. "I know you are really connected with your religion and I know that this mission means a lot to you. But that isn't the point."Beranhond held his mouth open for a moment. "What is the point then?"
"You can't always hide behind your obligations to hide your emotions."
"What? I don't do that."
"Yes you do. You found a place in the Tormish Paladins to try to avoid having to deal with the pains of life. You let some doubts about Torm get in the way of you and Ceilith."
"She wanted to stay with them rather than be with me." He said angrily.
"It sounds like she expressed her love to you on a hillside! Are you really that dense - do you think she just did that because she wanted to have one afternoon with you? I think she was willing to try to work something out."
"But that doesn't mean I fled it."
"No, but you did hide behind it." She turned and looked away from him.
"But I have obligat..."
"Yes, but don't use them to hide behind. I am not trying to pressure you or anything, but I care about you and I worry about you. I fear that rather than embracing life your religious inclination is more about avoiding the actual living of life."

"Perhaps that isn't the best example, but that is because I didn't really want to bring up how you are letting your faith get in the way of life now." She turned back to him. "Don't focus so much on the afterlife that you forget about life Eth. Just think about that."
Before he could respond she stood and walked out of the tent. Beranhond watched her leave, shook his head in confusion, and laid back on his sleeping pad.

Amo, Amavi, Amabo Semper! (part 1)

Beranhond let Paz lead them to their tent. Their passage caused many a snigger when they saw Beranhond stand a head taller than an orc. Naturally, most of the jokes were more on Beranhond than Paz.
"You must be from the Tantras region Beranhond."
"Impressive, how can you tell?"
"Ah, because when you should be using a bilabial plosives you instead use a labio-dental fricative. At least, when it arises in the initial syllable. I believe the only region where this is common is Tantras."
Beranhond was quite taken aback and reevaluated the orc.
"I see someone has taken steps to educate you in linguistics! Very impressive." Beranhond said restraining the urge to slap him on the back in camaraderie. "I was born and raised in the region and eventually spent much of my youth training with the paladins of Torm."
"Ah, a noble venture indeed. We are certainly lucky to have such well traveled visitors amongst us this eve."
They continued to talk and found that their companions had also found their way to the tent and had made themselves at home.
"I must bid you adieu for now, prepare as you are able and Beranhond do find me later as there is much I have to say that might interest you."
. When Paz left Beranhond noticed that Darvin looked ready to make his way over and give him a piece of his mind. Beranhond realized that the conversation with Paz had been interesting enough to distract him from the glares that Darvin had been sending his way and that he might have to make some ammends later. However, before Darvin could corner him Aelysin stepped out of the tent and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Beranhond, could I talk with you for a moment."
Absentmindedly Beranhond nodded glad of the distraction. She led him into the tent where he noticed that she had set up his sleeping roll for him.
"You didn't have to do that."
"It is my pleasure. Please sit." She said directing him towards his pallet. After setting his sword to the side his at on down.
"That wasn't really fair to Darvin." She said sitting cross legged on another pallet.
If Beranhond were more observant he would have noticed that she had very carefully set her own sleeping arrangements near his. In fact, if he had been more observant in the evening he would have noticed that she had been doing this for several weeks.
"No, but I knew he could handle it - he is quite scrappy. Besides, I knew these orcs would respond to direct action rather than subetly." He leaned back onto his elbows and looked at her. She had taken a corner of her red hair into her mouth and was absent mindedly chewing on the end.
"Yes, but at least you could have warned him."
"True. I will make up for it latter and I will assist him how I can during the fight. Besides, it will be a great opportunity for him to show off for Nym and it isn't as if he minds doing that."
"No, people can do funny things for people those they care for."
"Yes." Beranhond said unable to resist thinking back to the field where he and Ceilith had lunch such long ages ago. It was such an idylic moment in his life, but at the same time it was an action that ran completely counter to the very vows they had taken as initiaties.
"Feelings are such an odd thing. Did I ever tell you about Ceilith?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I think you mentioned her once or twice."
"She and I ignored our training and our vows for one another. Of course, it didn't work out because we had different feelings about Torm. The last time I saw her there was nothing there other than an old friendship... yet what could have been."
"What would you have wanted with her?"
"I used to imagine us just living."
"Living? That is what you do naturally!"
"No, I mean, being able to enjoy the true simplicity of life rather than being caught up in the world wind of conflict, of the duties demanded by Gods and Kings. To enjoy the pleasure of just being."
"You wouldn't be content with that Eth..." She said trailing off. "You have too much of a hero in you."
"Perhaps, and clearly that never would have worked with Ceilith either."
"Don't forget that you are still living - even when you are galavanting off across the world seeking aid to destroy a dark God. Don't forget that you can enjoy these moments and that there are those who would share it with you."
Beranhond looked up at this and saw the nervousness in her eyes. He bit his lip as he finally caught on to what she had been hinting at for weeks.
"Aelysin... I think..." He started to say.