New beginnings ((open))

[Carpenduh]

“The coins in the bottom of this purse are getting far too noisy”, Shaking the light leather purse tied to his waist "That's what happens when they have too much room to move about" speaking aloud to the trees and the stones surrounding him Dalaric took a break from his walking.
"Sailing the coast with you fools has really put a damper on my rainy day fund". Turning back and looking down the rough dirt road, he can just make out the coast and the sea he had just climbed out of.

The trees along the road were tall and the lower portions of them were bereft of limbs, this created a nearly unobstructed view all the way back to the coast. It made it easy to see that no one pursued him, but it also gave anyone for some distance a perfect view of him.
“No way to hide even if the dogs were back there” He said again to no one.

Staring into the sky he notes the steadily growing dark mass of clouds moving toward him ”And now it’s going to rain, haven't you punished me enough for that little misunderstanding" Looking to the sky he just shakes his head and wanders off down the road. “It’s not like they were actually using that barn anyway, At least not as well as I was…”

Smiling in spite of the coming rain he remembers the events that led up to the lamp being kicked over in the hay loft of the barn, and the look on the farmers daughters face when he had thanked her for the fun, headed away from the rapidly increasing glow, and back to the ship that was tied just offshore.

His fellow crew members had seen the smoke rising above the tree line and had correctly gauged the situation. They had decided that this was as good a time as any to move on to greener pastures. As he emerged from the tree line running for the shore the ship had just begun to turn toward the mouth of the secluded cove and open sea.

Running for all he was worth he had dived off a low cliff into the waiting sea never faltering in his forward momentum. The crew having had expected such a hasty retreat had readied a rope net, and had lowered it down the side of the ship. Swimming to the boat Dalaric had reached the side and the waiting net just as the ships sails filled with wind. There was a loud crack as the sails bellowed out and the ship surged ahead nearly pulling him from the net he had just grabbed a hold of.

That was another time he had been forced to make his exit by way of swimming, he thought coming back from his thoughts of the past. Pouring the remaining water from his left boot he replaced it on his foot then turned away from the coast, looking ahead down the road. For a man that hated the water a crewing as a sailor was probably not the wisest of choices.

A loud rumble like growling noise reached his ears and he looked around searching for the source. Not seeing any ferocious woodland creatures waiting to pounce on him he realized the sound was coming from his midsection. He decided that his stomach must be nearly as empty as his purse. That would need to be addressed soon. The dried fish and hard tack he carried in his rucksack was very wet and really not all that appetizing at the moment.

There was a town somewhere in this mess of trees and rocks this road was leading him through. “Scara Brae I think was the name on the map, pretty tough place too if the old timers on the ship were not full of shit as usual”. “That’s ok though,” he thinks aloud “I’m pretty tough myself”he says aloud to reassure himself more then to tell anyone else. He begins walking off down the road with a confidence that shows in his strutting gate.

Tripping over the sword that hung from his hip his confidence disappeared along with the strut. Once again debates tossing the damned thing into the woods. “Most likely would cut my pecker of trying to get the damn thing off this belt”. It was true that without that old rusty blade he would not be here right now, but that was no excuse for it to try and take his legs off at the knee. This had to beat least the tenth time this morning he had tripped and nearly eviscerated himself. “i had better at least try to figure out how to wear it before it kills me”. He pushes it back to the side of his belt and starts off on his walk once more. Not feeling nearly as formidable as he had just a moment before.

The sounds of the sea fading away with every step, the smell of the salt water nearly gone. The coast and its cold water were falling away behind him with every squishy step. The water that still dripped from his clothes and caused his trousers to rub in the absolute wrong way, did nothing whatsoever to help him forget his swim. Looking down at his feet he watches as water squirts from his right boot seam as it touches the ground. “At least I don’t have to worry about getting wet” he jokes. As the rain started to fall slowly on his long reddish brown hair

Climbing a small hill he smells a familiar scent. Raising his head from the road and the rocks that were trying to bring him constantly to his knees he see's what looks to be smoke rising from the area on the other side of the hill. Quickening his pace thoughts of a hearth fire with a haunch of venison roasting away, or perhaps a pot of potato stew. Maybe even a fresh baked pie or two. His stomach, sounding like an entire pack of hungry wolves growling around him assured him that moving quickly would be in both their best interests. He had no doubt that whoever was responsible for the smoke could already hear him coming.

Creating the top of the hill Dal stopped short his face blank for a second, Only a second however then he broke out into a huge grin. Laughing out loud he shook his head toward the sky. “So you do have a sense of humor after all “
Crossing over the crown of the hill he started down toward the town below and the burning barn that was sending the smoke into the sky

[Elthas_Belthasar]

Nearby, Elthas was working the fields of the Peaceful Promenade.

He oft did freelance work as the leader of The Trading Company. He had always been a hard worker, his mind sharp and full of ideas. The recent events in his life, with taking over The Trading Company, had left him with more responsibility than he would have liked. However, he had promised his long time friend, Invetisto, that he would take care of The Trading Company. As he worked the fields alongside several other workers, Elthas smelled something in the air. He wasn't the first to notice it either, but he was one of the firs to SMELL it. It was something BIG and massive set on fire nearby. Elthas sharply turned towards the direction of the smoke, and looked as one of the barns was burning. The fire had been set by an unknown source. Elthas narrowed his sharp Elven eyes and wondered who in the HELL would set a barn like that on fire. No time to waste, I have to get the workers out of there. Elthas saw the alarm on his fellow field worker's faces and nodded to them. "Gather round me." Elthas said. "We'll handle the problem together!" He quickly took the leadership spot, and ran FORWARD towards the burning barn. Elthas immediately noticed something odd about the fire, there were several other workers attempting to put it out. Nothing worked. It's an arcane flame...this is going to be more complicated than I thought. Elthas thought to himself. Then he looked at the nearest of the field workers. They were all native Scara Braeans except for Elthas. Elthas heralded from Concordia Forest, and was a Forest Elf.

Elthas immediately ran into the building where there were the shouts of alarm. Horses and other live stock were present in the barn that was burning, and the precious yew lumber was being quickly demolished. Elthas frowned as the scent of the smoke, it was not natural smoke other. Someone who knows what they are doing has done this...but for now I cannot worry about it. I have to rescue the workers. Elthas though to himself as he ran towards the building at best speed, which was quite impressive land speed. He dove through the smoke being careful not to touch the flames. And as his eyes spotted it, the burning fire had an intense magical glow about it. His eyes narrowed and he'd previously ripped sleeve from his shirt, and used it like a scarf/mask around his face. So he wouldn't inhale too much smoke. There were screams and shouts, and panicking animals. Elthas moved to the best of his capacity, the first on the scene, and he would be certain to be the last to leave. A leader always stayed to the end. Elthas quickly undid the animal stables and made sure that the horses and other locked up critters got out safely. They did. There were screams from further inside the burning structure.

He made his way to the source of the sound.

"Sir Elthas!" Came the shout from Susan. It was Susan and a few other workers who were cleaning animals previously, or tending to other matters of the barn. Elthas ran towards the girl, the fire burned more intensely INSIDE the structure than it had outside. Elthas did not like that, it was a very poor sign.

"Susan!' Elthas yelled back. "There's a lot of smoke, how long have you guys been here!?" Elthas called out to them.

"Since the fire started. I had to gather everybody in one place." Susan explained. "I didn't want to just run off on my own." Heroism, made Althanians who they were at their very core.

Elthas nodded. He adjusted his trademarked fedora. "Okay." Elthas quickly grabbed two of the smaller kids that were working, and he nodded towards Susan. "Stay close everyone, I'll be certain you all get out of here alive."

Heroism.

Elthas selflessly would sacrifice himself for anybody who deserved it, or who paid well. This time, he simply happened to be on the scene at the same time as the event. Without the Hero, there could be no event. Elthas began to make his way towards the exit of the barn, knowing there was only one way out. As he moved through the smoke, he noticed that the heat was unbearable. Still, he syphoned every ounce of courage he could muster, and made his way through the increasingly dangerous amounts of smoke and carbon monoxide. Elthas heard his companions coughing as they moved. "Susan, everybody, stay close to me so I can better protect you." It's arcane fire. This is a disturbing matter, because it is the mark of a Wizard that is starting this trouble. Elthas thought to himself. He knew there were plenty of rogues and dastardly types all over the place who were angry with Radasanth and Scara Brae's government. He knew the time was ripe for war. Finally, Elthas emerged from the smoke filled barn, and helped everybody make their ways out. Elthas used his sharp eyes to be certain there was nobody else trapped inside of the building. Susan and the gathered lot made their way safely out, coughing and hacking the whole time. Elthas felt soot and heat across his body, but he had not been burnt. An effect of the arcane fire likely. "Everyone!" Elthas yelled calmly. "Move away from this structure. The fire cannot be put out by any normal craft."

"How do you know that!?" One of the farmers asked who was still attempting to douse the flames.

"I can see it." Elthas tapped the side of his face. "It is a gift of my people."

"Trust him, Luther, don't worry. Just move away from the barn!" That was Susan who'd spoken. And they all moved away from the barn and could only watch helplessly as it burned down.

Strangely enough, the fire was not spreading...at least not yet.

Elthas was trying to discern any facts about the flames that his eyes could discern.

[Carpenduh]

From his vantage point at the top of the small hill, Dal had an unobstructed view of the fields and the burning barn that was causing the smoke to waft skyward. The breeze that blew over his shoulder and down the hill had picked up a bit and was beginning to ruffle his shirt. Still he could smell the smoke as strong as before. The smoke itself was rising effortlessly skyward, the wind seemingly having no effect on it.

Dal noted this as he looked around the cleared are near the barn. Having no magical abilities and more so no trust for those that did, he quickly dismissed the strange phenomenon and looked to the figures moving about the area. There were a few people on the ground off to the side of the structure; from this distance it was difficult to discern the seriousness of any injuries. Fire was a cruel advisory however and if they had tangled with it there was a good likelihood that they were in bad shape.

A somewhat larger group was closer to the barn and seemed to be taking stock of the event. There were five or six and they all seemed to be workers. None of them were making any attempts to deal with the fire. There were buckets strewn about the ground and the area was wet as they had been previously engaged in fighting the fire, now however they seemed content to just watch it burn. From his position he could not see the looks on their faces nor could he hear anything of the conversation.

One of the figures in the group turned a bit to survey the area and he got a good look at him. Male and in his 30s he was very attentive to the scene around him looking this way and that as if searching for someone. The man turned in the direction of the road and looked off to the right side of the barn in doing so he gave Dal a better view and Dal was able to get a better look at him. “He’s an Elf… you seem to be full of surprises today” Dal muttered and continued to search the area.

An elf in the middle of the situation could not mean good things for Dal. His history with the elven races was touchy at best. Having had more than a few run-ins with the less then upstanding members of the race he was somewhat less then tolerant of them. From the few he had met he seemed to remember however they had a kind of innate ability to detect magic. “That would explain why they are all just standing around and not dousing that fire” “Would also explain that creepy smoke”

Looking back to the burning barn with its smoke still drifting eerily straight into the sky. The wind blew across his back and he shivered a bit. Telling himself it was just the wind he started down the hill toward the scene below. The inn he was headed for was in that direction and it would not fill his stomach standing here watching smoke drift away. A sound to his left caught his attention and he immediately stepped into the sparse brush on the side of the trial.

There was little here in terms of concealment but Dal was able to make use of the smallest amount of cover. Stepping form the road he almost immediately disappeared from view. The sound getting louder he turned toward it as a figure in a dark cloak emerged from the woods in front of him and on the opposite side of the road. Not looking at him or at the scene below the figure turned and quickly headed off down the road. Unable to make out any features of the mysterious figure Dal watched and the figure disappeared around a turn in of the road in the direction from which he had come.

Not having seen any civilization in that direction Dal though it odd and was still pondering it as he looked back to the clearing and the fire. The fire itself was smaller now it seemed to be dying out on its own accord. The people in the crowd seeing this had started to toss buckets of water on it and the steam from the cold water hitting the flames was quickly overpowering the smoke. The smoke now mixed with steam was taken by the prevailing wind across the tree line, no longer drifting up into the sky. His gaze moved back over the crowd and the Elf that was still standing where the group had been. He was staring right at Dal. “There’s no way he can see me” he whispered. “But ill be damned if he dosent seem to be looking me right in the eyes."

The elf was staring intently at the spot that the mysterious figure had just emerged from the wood. The figure all but forgotten now by Dal his thoughts were for self-preservation alone and he slowly backed away from the scene deciding to skirt the area and make his way through the wood to the inn. “Damn Elves. What’s he doing here anyway” “nothing good is going to come from this.” Drifting off into the woods he forgot about the scene as his stomach reminded him that he should have been eating by now.

[Elthas_Belthasar]

"Hold the fort here." Elthas told Susan as he looked Dal in the eyes. He saw something, he wasn't certain, but it was like a rippling of faint power. Elthas's own senses were still developing greatly, but he had a chance to see some hidden things as he worked with them. All it would require was effort on his behalf, and effort he put in. The heightened state of alert from the fire made Elthas immediately think that he was looking at the culprit of the fire itself. He never saw the other fellow that Dal had seen. Instead, Elthas assumed that Dal was who he was looking for. "I'll be right back I got a matter to take care of." Elthas would not let Dal go. Instead, he took off at his best land speed, which was pretty impressive at fifty miles per hour. He moved off into the direction he last saw Dal in. With his eyes narrowed, Elthas carefully made his way through Brokenthorn Forest. "Where do you think you're going?" Elthas spotted the stranger before him, a few paces up ahead, and had caught up to him with relative ease. "Times are rough. You'd better have a good explanation for setting that fire to the barn. The nature of the flames were particularly advanced, who hired you to do it?" Elthas was going on his gut, he wasn't entirely certain that the man before him was responsible for the arson.

However, he couldn't take chances because the fire had put lives on the line both livestock and workers. Elthas noticed that the fellow did not smell of fire, or sorcery of any sort. Instead, he seemed to smell of the local Scara Brae port. Elthas smelled the sea-faring scent on the boy. His eyes narrowed at that realization. Elthas's gut told him that the boy before him might not have been responsible for the barn fire. However, the people would want a name to pin the crime on at the very least. Elthas knew from personal experiences that the Humes were an excitable lot. He knew they had mob mentality as well. He wanted his chance to prove guilt or innocence of the fellow before him, before things got terribly out of hand. Elthas adjusted his trademarked fedora. It was pretty windy and the smell of smoke was thick in the wind. Elthas reacted by coughing a few times. His nostrils flared, he looked at the boy who was taking a long time to answer. He also noticed that the boy seemed terribly eager to leave. As Elthas realized that, something else happened.

"Over there!" One of the field workers yelled. A small group of armed farmers approached Elthas and the fellow before him. "That's the guy, Elthas?"

"I don't know Paul." Elthas responded to the fellow. "I'm asking him questions but he seems a little distracted by something."

"Yeah, probably taking in all the damage he's caused!" Paul yelled. And at that point, one of the gathered members of the mob tossed a small rock past Elthas and right towards Dal's general direction.

"W-wait!" Elthas yelled in response, he was making his distress felt. He wanted the TRUTH from the stranger, not an assumption, but the mob had already made up it's mind.

(Note: Please don't kill farmers, they just angry, but otherwise proceed. Figured a nice battle would spruce things up for us!)

[Carpenduh]

Just as he was starting away from the road a voice called out from just behind him. "Where do you think you're going?" That’s not possible there was no one for at least 200 yards. The closest person to him had been the Elf and even if he had seen him he was far too distant to hear him from there. Turning back toward the barn he is shocked to find the Elf standing on the road not more than a few feet from him. Startled by the speed at which he must have moved Dal quickly decided that outrunning him was not an option. It seemed his luck with the Elven race was not improving.

He quickly tried to gauge his chances of overpowering the fellow but before he could draw his sword; and most likely cut of one of his legs in the process the; Elf started asking him questions. "Times are rough. You'd better have a good explanation for setting that fire to the barn." He asked, staring intently at Dal. "The nature of the flames were particularly advanced, who hired you to do it?" continued the Elf his voice changing a bit and hinting at confusion.

He was staring at Dal and had evidently decided that he was responsible for setting the fire in the barn. Dal assumed this fellow must be some type of authority figure and was used to being listened to and answered when he asked a question. The problem was, Dal had no idea what he was talking about, advanced flames, the nature of fire? Not to mention who would hire him of all people to burn down a barn. On second thought maybe that was not the correct direction to take this conversation. Glancing back over his shoulder he expected to see the owner of the barn he had recently visited marching up the road behind him.

Shifting back to the issue at hand Dal decided to talk his way out of this situation as after all Elf or not he could either convince or confuse anyone this side of the great sea. Seeing a movement over the elf’s shoulder his attention is drawn away before he can begin to explain himself. The other people from the area were rapidly climbing the hill and were not looking very conversational. If fact they seemed to have the same opinion of Dal and were less than inclined to listen to any thing he was about to say.

"Over there!" yelled one of the workers "That's the guy, Elthas?" The Elf turned at the voice and answered "I don't know Paul." "I'm asking him questions but he seems a little distracted by something." The worker yelled back "Yeah, probably taking in all the damage he's caused!"

Dal opened his mouth to explain the misunderstanding and got out only a few words before the rock caught him in the shoulder and spun him into the brush. “You have the wrong guy he ran off tha…” Down he went, tangled in the sword that he wore on his hip he was unable to get his legs under him. "W-wait!" yelled the Elf but the mob pushed past him and drove into the brush looking for the target of their rage.

He got to his feet just as the first of the angry mob got to him. There was no time to pull his sword luckily when he had fallen he had landed on several good sized rocks. When he stood he picked up one in each hand and let them go in succession. Dropping the first two of the workers, one he hit in the gut and the other the left leg sending them both sprawling to the ground in front of the remaining attackers.

Having a second to catch his breath Dal got a good look at his would be assassins and realized they were not but plain farm folk. Relief that he had not drawn his weapon shown on his face and he readied himself for the remainder of them to manage to get untangled from the now rising recipients of his well placed missiles.

[Elthas_Belthasar]

"Stop!" Elthas panicked.

For a moment, he saw a time, long ago, when he first met Seth Terrentius being hounded by brigands. Seth Terrentius was an older man, who was associated with a group called The Syndicate as it existed back in those days. Elthas quickly intervened to ASSIST Dal despite having known the Peaceful Promenade folks longer. He knew the way that Dal fought, Dal was a man who was NOT attempting to harm his assailants. It was a sign of innocence, that was not the mark of a cold blooded fiend. Elthas could see that right away as his friends were trounced, granted, it was their fault to begin with. Elthas ran in between the bodies of the fallen farmers, only then beginning to rise from their non-lethal injuries, and stood physically between Dal and the farmers. Elthas spread his arms and legs wide as if to barricade Dal from any further harm. The entire time, he saw the images of Seth Terrentius flying through his tormented head. At his age it was difficult to discern reality from memory. But he knew that Seth had BEEN real at least a life time ago. Elthas stood in between Dal and the farmers until people calmed down and began to listen to reason. They soon realized what Elthas had realized: the guy was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Elthas did not move from his spot in between everybody until the farmers were all calm and willing to rationally speak about the situation at hand.

Elthas sighed. "I wish you guys wouldn't be so quick to jump the bow." Elthas said. He shook his head and then walked towards Dal, offering Dal his hand. "I can tell you didn't set the fire on the barn. You're not a cold blooded monster, I was wrong in my initial assessment, but now I know the truth. This crime was not your doing, there was something else going on here." Elthas said calmly. Rationally, there was one thing that Dal would see in Elthas's eyes that was unusual in that day and age. A sort of kindness and understanding that lurked in the eyes of someone who was old and wise. "I will help you if you want, to get you situated I mean." Elthas said. "My name is Elthas Belthasar. I am the leader of The Trading Company." Elthas explained. "We were working the fields when the fire started, everybody was on edge. So that's why this attack happened. I meant no ill will towards YOU." Elthas explained. He was a fast talker, and had a good habit of diffusing bad situations. Also, Elthas was a natural born leader. He'd been through hell to become leader of The Trading Company.

The wind picked up and the scent of smoke was still strong on it. Especially to Elthas who had sensitive nostrils. He sighed as he looked at Dal. "You just come from the port did you not?" Elthas said. "As a form of apology for today's events, I can offer you lodging in my place."

"Elthas, are you sure that's wise?" One of the workers asked.

"I have a feeling." He explained, and they ALL knew once Elthas had a hunch, there was no changing the course of actions that would happen. "Besides I am honoring the old alliances." Like I did with HIM, like I did with Seth Terrentius centuries ago. Elthas thought to himself as he looked at Dal calmly. Once everybody was relaxed and not thinking with hot heads, the situation was clear. "We have to find who set this fire. I don't like this omen and what it portends." Elthas said. "Paul." Elthas called out to his fellow worker. "Get the doctor to treat everyone's injuries, we have a guest. It seems The Thayne have blessed with a kindness in the midst of would be tragedy." Elthas said confidently. He knew the working of The Thayne, but was not an expert in the Codex. Though he had SOME basic knowledge of them and their machinations. Elthas never took his eyes off the weary traveler. It seemed Fate, did indeed have a sense of irony.