Elsewhere in the world part 1

Mashy sighed and continued to scrub the counter.
"What's wrong lassie?" The bartender said.
"Oh, its nothing. Just worried." She said pushing her glass toward him.
"Worried? Is it about the sundering, the Lathenderian forces, or something else?" He said as he filled up the pint with beer and sending it back to her.
She smiled weakly and took a sip.
"Well, kind both. There was this guy I used to be really close to." She said taking another sip and looking wisftul.
"Oh, I see." The bartender said knowingly. "He broke your halfling heart didn't he?"
"Yes." She said sighing. "To run off with some young innocent wizard or something." She drank some more. "I mean, I guess I can forgive him for that, but it doesn't make it hurt less or make me worry less. Last thing I heard he was going to go out and right some wrongs or something."
"Lots of wrong's to be righted. Was he heading anywhere near Waterdeep?"
"I think he was heading right for Waterdeep."
"I hope he got out of there, last I heard that land is mostly cracks, lava, and hostile armies."
"The fool." She said. "I am also worried about my family in Secomber. I haven't heard from them in ages and I am worried that the city was taken over."
The bartender held his tongue. He had just heard from some refugees that the only thing left unspoiled in the entire region around Waterdeep were the druids who had escaped into the High Forest.
"I... am sure it will be alright sweetie." He refilled her pint. "On the house."
She put her head down on the bar.
"Darvin, you stupid fool..." she whispered. "I miss you..." The bartender softly patted her arm.

"The new report is in Grand-Warden." A frumpy looking red wizard said behind her.
Ceilith turned away from the view of drab Thay and smiled at him graciously. "Thank you magistrate. Come, walk me down to my office." He nodded and the two of them moved to walk down the stairs away from the battlements.
"How are the repatriations coming along?"
"Quite well. We have arranged travel and a small stipend for all the former slaves who wished to return home to their native lands. Those who decided to remain here have been given either land or start up capital for their home businesses." He paused under her raised eyebrow. "Honestly, nothing can undo the damage wrought by the previous regime, but at least it is a sign that the Republic of Thay is interested in doing what it can."
"Well spoken Halfarg." She said. "I will make note of that in my next report to the Citadel. I will say that we have been quite pleased that our expeditionary force to Thay has had to do little peace-keeping duty. You and your fellows do seem to have turned the corner." Thay had changed dramatically in such a short amount of time. She thought. The revolution had sprung up overnight and the wizards were really not prepared for the damage that a repressed people can do.
"You are lucky that the revolution didn't just slaughter all of you."
"There were many of us who always had qualms about the path that our most recent ruler had. It was a convenient time for us to throw our lot with the opressed masses." He saw the look on her face. "I know that we had been cowards before then, but I hope that the world will give us the chance to show that we will never let that happen again."
"I do not know if the world is as forgiving as I am." She said as she opened the door to her office and ushered him in. Although the new government of the Republic had offered her the former chambers of the ruling wizard she decided that simple chamber would do. She took a seat.
"How about the mobilization?"
"We are trying to push our training ahead of schedule to replace those wizards lost in the revolution. I am hoping that we will soon have enough combat forces to stem the tide. Our new Republic Guard is ahead of schedule - your Paladin's have been instrumental in their training. I daresay that our next army will not know what to make of a Thayvian army trained by Tormish Paladins."
"Let's just hope it is enough." She looked down at the stack of papers. "Any other news?"
"We lost contact with our scout patrol that was sent to Shaar."
"Oh? Any idea what happened?" They had been hoping that the orcs would be helpful allies and stop any disasters in the south.
"Our last report came frofrom Zalkar who said the unit had been destroyed and that he was bringing several warriors back with him. He said he was going to use the gates to travel back, but we haven't heard anything since." The man looked down at a sheet of paper.
"One said he knew you, a cleric named Ethelred Beranhond."
Ceilith felt a leap of her heart as she remembered all of the times she had spent with him and she felt a slight flush creeping to her face.
"Eth?"
Halfrag looked confused. "Do you know him?"
"Long story... very long story... we used to be good friends." She stopped. "Well, still are good friends, our paths just cross in odd and dangerous places. Maybe he can shed some light on the situation."

Illuvaen crepty quietly through the woods and looked out into the open glade. Seeing nothing he waved his hands back to to his followers. His six companions approached with bows drawn.
"Any sign of danger?"
"No, I think we avoided my mother's trackers."
"She is getting better at tracking than the shadowcasters were." One said quietly.
"She is far too clever." Illuvaen responded in a hushed tone. "At least she hasn't fully learned how to use the gem, otherwise we would be in series trouble."
"Next time some visitors from another world show up Illuvaen don't be so nice to them OK?"
Illuvaen winced. It was true that he had helped Nym escape the world and that their efforts had unwittingly put his mother in charge. I hope she is doing well. He thought. I wouldn't mind seeing her again, even if she is running with that foolish Darvin.
"Alright, time to move, lets get into the safety of the village!" Illuvaen shouted. Then moving as one, he and his companions darted across the field and dived into a nearly invisible hole in the ground.

Awkward is our Trademark

 Darvin: "It's a rather long story actually. A lot has happened since then, a lot has changed..."

Mashy: "Want to go somewhere and talk about it?" Mashy said, leaning back far enough to give Darvin a wink.

 Darvin: "Mashy, I don't think that would be a good idea. It would probably defeat the whole purpose of me coming here."

 Mashy:  "What do you mean? Didn't you come here looking for me?" Mashy asked. She looked thoroughly perplexed.

 Talathel: "Haha," Talathel chuckled, not quite just to himself.

"Not really."

 Darvin:  "Um, as a matter of fact, we had no idea you were here. A pleasant coincidence though." Darvin looked at Talathel for assisstance

 Mashy:  Mashy turned and glared at Talathel. "Oh. Aren't you the boring elf that came along to help 'rescue' me? Why don't you just piss off?"

 Talathel "I came to do nothing of the sort. Unless you can use your magic to conjure up some rum, I have little concern about what you do."

 Mashy:  "Then why are you here? I saw you and thought you had come for me. I can do some very bits of magic, if you know what I mean..." Mashy said, tickling Darvin under the chin.

 Sent at 9:49 PM on Sunday

 Talathel:  "We came here to find our friend Nym. She used to go to school here."

 Mashy:  Mashy simply ignored Talathel's remark, focusing on Darvin.

"The dead girl from the statue? How is she a friend of yours?" Mashy asked.

 Darvin:  "I don't think I'm the best candidate for that anymore, Mashy"

 Darvin:  "It's part of the long story. But basically we found her in a closet in a sewer and she's been with us ever since. Well, until she ran off to Silverymoon and we came looking for her."

 Mashy:  "You found her in a sewer? And what kind of friend is she?" Mashy was starting to look a bit hurt and suspicious, now.

 Darvin:  "Um...she's a good friend, but one that shouldn't run off without protection."

Darvin was realizing this wasn't going to end well

  Mashy:  Mashy climbed off of Darvin to stand in front of him with her hands on her hips. "I'm a bit disappointed in you, Darvin."

 Talathel:  "Isn't everyone these days..." Talathel said under his breath

 Mashy:  She continued standing there, staring at him, daring him with her eyes to say something that would prove he wasn't as much of an asshole as she thought he was at that moment.

 Darvin:  "I...er, I don't know what to say? A lot has changed since I left Secomber, for the first time in my life I realized that there are some things out there that are bigger than me, and I followed one of them here..."

 Mashy:  "What are you saying? What does that mean?"

 Darvin:

"It means it's not just about me anymore."

 Talathel:  "So you're with this dead Nym girl?"

 Darvin:  "Well, she's not dead. She's very much alive."

 Mashy:  "You're avoiding the question." Mashadara said.

 Darvin:  "I don't think I avoided it at all. You asked if she was dead, she is not. And no I am not with her."

 Darvin:  "Also, have you met our friend Thjodolf?"

 Talathel:  "Not even I completely buy that. If you're telling me you pulled me away from Lailsan for a three day ride and you don't have any feelings for Nym..."

 Thjodolf:  "Leave me out this!" Thjodolf said. "You in enough trouble for both us."

 Darvin:  "Oh Talathel, bugger off! I was answering the question truthfully. We aren't together, feelings aside."

 Mashy:  "Thank you, Talathel." Mashy said. "Darvin, at least you could be man enough to tell me the truth."

 Darvin:  "I did tell you the truth! You asked if we were together, we are not. Do I have feelings for her? Yes. Does she for me? Well, that remains to be seen."

 Mashy:  "I see."

"Well then. I suppose that's that." She said, turning and walking off in a bit of a huff.

 Darvin:  "I'm sorry Mashy. I wish you luck." Darvin called after her

 Talathel:  "Well, that was delightfully awkward. Lets go fill some flasks."

 Darvin:  "No thanks to you!" Darvin shot back

 Talathel:  Talathel rolls his eyes

"because it was going so smoothly with your half truths and vague answers"

he turns toward the school gate and begins to leave the courtyard

 Darvin:  "I never lied once in that whole ordeal."

 Talathel:  "you may not have lied, but you were not honest either. I've seen the way you look at Nym, the way you two danced, your reaction to when she left.

those looks, those feelings, that is the reason why we're here, so don't try to water it down in an attempt to save face"

 Darvin:  "She's a wizard and I was trying to be careful. It does us no good if she turns me into a newt!"

 Talathel:  "So instead of telling her the complete truth, you decided to be vague and confuse the young girl"

 Thjodolf:  "I had a cousin who was turned into an emu once." Thjodolf added.

 Talathel:  "an interesting tale, Thjodolf. How about you tell it over some ales?"

 Thjodolf:  When both Darvin and Talathel turned to look at him, he added, "He got better."

 Darvin:  "See, Thjodolf's cousin was turned into an Emu. What good am I as an emu?"

 Thjodolf:  "We done yet?" Thjodolf added. "The pub not sound bad."

 Darvin:  "Well, lets go get some food and ale then and wait for this rock to talk to us."

 The Ring:  The ring said, "What a bunch of ninnies ye are. Waitin' for a talkin' rock. Eh. Suppose it's as daft as talkin' to a ring, now?"