Back to Basics Chapter 1: Where are we ?

[ewancummins]

Dalorna says nothing, keeping her thoughts to herself for now.



So, the old man picked her first. I wonder why? Maybe he's....ewwwwwwwww! Gross!!!

[VAN]

"Very well, thank you" Says Sara and follows the woman to Ping's house. Once there knocks gently on the door and says:

"I'm Sara, you asked to see me first."

[Lord Skybolt]

On coming to the Pings house Sara notice that it is way larger and in a style that Sara has never seen before . You are let in by one of the children you rescued . After letting you in the little girl leaves the same way you came in by . You see Ping seating at a large table in the center room that looks like it is used for town hall type meetings rather than a place to live in for one person . Pings motions you over to sit at the same table across from him .

[steveflam]

"All that god stuff is so bo-o-ring. I'll let you guys worry about that. Fishing and fighting is my department."

Arnulf belches loudly and without excusing himself, he continues fishing. When the child asks for Sara, Arnulf only speaks after
she is gone. "Hey, why do you think he wanted to see her first?" He raises an eyebrow with a mischievous smile, grinning like a
boy in a candy store. It looks like he is going to laugh or at least giggle.

[ewancummins]

Dalorna supresses a smile. She sits up straight and tries to look grown-up and mature.

[VAN]

Sara feels a bit nervous now. The larger house, the meeting table make her thing that Ping isn't a common villager. Maybe is something like the village mayor. Sara in any case doesn't like interrogations especially if she feels she did the right thing helping the missing children. Looking around just to make sure that they are alone at the room she gets a seat across from Ping and waits.

[kintire]

Alia smiles very slightly and sits crosslegged near Dalorna, watching the fishing

[ewancummins]

Speaking quietly (so as not to spook the fish) Dalorna asks Alia-

''Alia, cheese?''

She breaks of a small hunk of green cheese and offers it to the Calishite woman.

''So, what were you doing before we were...transported...here?"

[Roofdrak]

Isidar frowns and says to the others in a lowered voice, "I do not remember Ping saying he would question us alone or at this time. I am sure he said that he would question us at the party tonight. I find this change very disconcerting. I do not think that any more of us should go to him alone. He is certainly not from this area and is most likely the cause for the uniqueness of this village. He may not mean us harm, but yet again, we know next to nothing about him." She turns to Alia, "As for discussing Gond, my intention is not to offend Bane's followers. I see nothing incompatable about serving both Bane and Gond. Bane is called Lawgiver by these viillagers and Gond is the Holy Maker of All Things. They are not enemies. But, I will tread warily since we are in unknown lands and the customs may be different."

[ewancummins]

Dalorna adds-

''Right. This Ping fellow is acting a bit suspicious. I agree: we should all go together when the next one of us is called away. "

[kintire]

My gratitude, generous Magi

She takes the cheese, producing a small knife and begins to cut it into slices

Your humble servant has been honoured by being given the task of entertaining the patrons of the finest cafe in the city with the dances of Calimshan. My worthy and compassionate master was extending his famous and munificent hospitality to an old friend, Master Humbert, a merchant who carries only the finest goods, including the fragrant and ambrosia-like coffee of far off Amn. It was this that brought them together in the beginning; it is Master Humbert that allows our cafe to serve the finest coffee in the city at very reasonable prices. Alas! to every greeting there must be a farewell. The joy of meeting is balanced by the sadness of parting. The hour had struck, and I was despatched to fetch Master Humbert's mule from the livery stable while the two dear friends made their fond farewells. But what disaster! Engulfed by these wierd mists during my return journey I find myself here, with Master Humbert's mule and all of his personal possessions!

She pauses slightly, looking thoughtful

Which may cause me some - embarassment - on my return

[ewancummins]

"'Return, right! We need to figure out how to get back home. At this point, we don't really know where we are in relation to Marsember. We need a proper map, the bigger in scale the better. "

[steveflam]

Arnulf pipes up from his fishing. "Hey, maybe Ping has a map. He looks smart enough to actually have one compared to the
rest of the villagers. Well not smarter but more educated at any rate."

[ewancummins]

''Oh, he claims to have a map that describes the local area to about fifty miles distant. It's just that I fear we are much more than fifty miles from Marsember, or even Cormyr. We might be hundreds of miles away. We might even....''

Dalorna stops, watching her brother's face.

Better not worry him too much.


The girl forces a laugh.

''Well, there's no sense in worrying about that stuff just now. Let's just try to rest and relax a little- it will do us all some good, I'm sure."

[Lord Skybolt]

Ping's Interview With Sara .


"I just need you to tell me about yourself like where you are from and how you happened to come to the village in it's time of need ."Ping's says to Sara by way of starting the questions that he has for her .