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Coral

"Hi Aendell!" Coral replied with a genuine smile. It was such a long time ago since they had been in the orphanage.

She looked at Selaim, with puzzlement. And then, after a few moments, the light dawned. Her face returned to its previous broad smile as she ran over to embrace Selaim in a warm hug.
"So good to see you again, Selaim. "

Zak, choosing not to interrupt, looks over to the Paladin.

“Hello.”

He thinks for a moment.

“‘My strength is not in my sword, but in my heart. If I lose my sword, I have lost a tool. If I betray my heart, I have died.’ . There is always room in those of the lucky one to raise a tankard in honor of the heart of Iomedae.”

He tilts his head to one side and grins.

“I’m see you appear to have taken on a handful. A good, stout heart, but a handful.”

Aendell

While he had been at the Orphanage for a very short time, perhaps a day or two before he was sent to the Church, it made a big impression on him and he went back to visit often. That is where he made friends with Coral. He is a bit embarrassed that once he started his studies in the Paladinate his time was consumed and he had not visited as much as he felt he should.

"To you as well", he replies to the Gnome's initial greeting, a soft smile crosses his lips at the saying and he nods. "May you have a safe and happy Ascension Day as I believe it is not far off? I am Aendell Shieldguard. As you noted, a devotee of Iomedae." He introduces himself. He doesn't introduce Selaim as from her comments he assumes she knows the Gnome.

Turning to include Coral in the conversation, he replies to her, "How have you been and what brings you on this trip?"

Selaim

Selaim smiles that the girl remembered her. Returning the hug. Whispering to Coral, "I'm sorry I left. I couldn't stay where it was obvious what I said didn't matter."

Snatching the tent out of Zak's hands, "Now let's get you set up."

Selaim grudgingly admits that Zak was already doing a fine job of setting up Coral's tent. But the thought that Coral would be beholden to Zak was too much. Coral was one of the few girls from the orphanage Selaim liked. Respected even. And one of the few she thought about at nights when she was squatting with the thieves guild in whatever hovel they'd acquired.

Pausing as she was putting one of the tent poles up. "Ohhhh... princeling. There is another tent on Kenny. If you are insisting on staying with the creeper then you two can use that one."

Aendell

He chuckles and moves over to the donkey, unpacking the tent. He'd never stayed in it, as up until now it was just he and Selaim, and it was unseemly for him to share a tent with her so he had found a spot to throw his blanket under a nearby wagon.

Turning to the Gnome he asks. "I am happy to share if you are willing? I do not snore."

Zak:

“I never do. Well, at least not usually. Don’t take up much room. Might feel tempted to stories and jokes, but only until you tell me to shut up.”

He winks.

“One sided merriment is not all too merry.”

Coral

"Thank you all, for helping with the tent. It would have taken me ten times longer and still be wrong somehow."

"But what a reunion! It is so many years since my master took me from the orphanage, and now that he has passed on, what happens but that I meet you all!"

"It must be fate."

Aendell

"I would call it the guiding hand of providence."

Zak:

“Fate is just another word for opportunity. When my friend declared me ready to face the world on my own, I merely chose to go to Sandpoint to see the glassworks and look for new opportunity. And see what I find on the way? World works in interesting ways indeed.”

Coral

"Well, one of those things." she replied.

Aendell

He notes Coral did not answer his question, and so he wonders if it is a private matter she does not wish to share in front of others, or even perhaps with him, so he doesn't press.

Between he and the Gnome (as far as I can see Zak never introduced himself. While Selaim told Aendell Zak's name, it seems impolite to assume) the tent is setup in a jiffy and he says to Selaim, "I will take care of Brighteyes and Kenny", indicating the horse and the donkey, if you can get started on dinner?

Selaim

(OOC: Playing her as if she does not have any weapons. Who in their right mind would trust Selaim with anything more than a knife? But she does have her weapons hidden in her bedroll. And Backpack for now.)

Rolled her eyes as she was getting her bed roll off of Kenny. Typical both of them were hounding the poor girl. She groaned inwardly at realizing that Aendall and Zak were planning on setting up right next to them.

Placing the bedroll inside Coral's tent, she turns to the rest of them. "I'm going to get some wood for the fire. Is that alright with you princeling? I promise I am not running off. Coral do you want to help?"

The gnome turns to 5 Paladin

“Zachergillan, by the by, call me Zak. Most don’t like getting their mouth around the longer name.”

Aendell

He tips his head. "Zak then. Always a pleasure to meet a follower of Cayden Cailean. May your mug never empty."

Zak:

“A mug which never empties fails to serve its purpose.”

He grins.

Aendell

He chuckles. "I suppose you're right." He replies with a grin. He then moves to the picket line and brushes and feeds the horse and mule, then checks their hooves and shoes for rocks before heading back to the small group.

Coral

She looked puzzled as the men started talking in riddles. Men aways talked in riddles, but these were particularly opaque.

"Sure," she replied to Selaim and hurried after her.


"So, what have you been up to since I saw you last?" she asked

Selaim

Selaim smiled when Coral caught up with her. "No good actually. I left and went to work for the thieves guild. I was falsely accused of trying to steal Aedall's coin purse. I swear It was all just a big misunderstanding. But nobody believed me."

"What did they mean by "your master". The last I saw of you was in the orphanage. What happened? Those jerks sell you off?" Selaim asked as she bent over to pick up more wood for the fire that night.

Zak:

“You know, I really worry about her. She needs to learn to let go of those things which hold her back. The only one in her way is her.”

He pulls out a bit of jerky from his pouch and chews on it.

Aendell

"Who? Selaim?" He glances over to where she and Coral are huddled together. "What is she holding onto?"

Coral

"Yes, I got sold off to a man when I was about 10 or 11," Coral replied.

"'Andraxor the wise' he called himself. His real name was 'Arthur' but he didn' think that name had enough gravitas."

"Anyway, I became his 'apprentice'. For a long time I thought he really just wanted a servant, because that was all that I seemed to do. But I realise now he was probably just waiting for me to mature. And once I did, he started to guide me in my thoughts and ways of doing things."

She shrugged.

"But I am off travelling on my own now."

Selaim

"They sold you?!? I always knew they were running a scam. He didn't hurt you did he? I mean anyone who buys someone has got to be up to no good."

Selaim wouldn't be shocked if Andraxor did hurt the little girl that she remembered. Coral was always so meek and innocent if she remembered right. Well as she imagined her to be.

"But you are fine now. Free right?"

Zak:

“From what I can see, she holds on to her suspicions. Always has a focus for her to blame. As she is traveling with you, and I can see the hostility, I would wager she has focused some of that energy on you. Different people have different ways of defending their pride. I’m familiar with hers, as I have been it’s focus.”

Coral

"Oh, I am sure that the orphanage would deny 'selling' children. But if someone wanted to take a child off their hands and is willing to make a suitable sized 'donation', then I am sure that the orphanage would entrust that adult with the care of the child."


"All in all, he wasn't a bad man," she continued. "He helped me know what I know: how to look after myself."

Selaim

Likely story Selaim thought as she handed Coral some more wood for the fire.

"Sounds like you found a decent one," selaim said. " "I bet they were trying to sell me off to a brothel."

She leads Coral back where Aendall and Zac are watching them.

"See I didn't run off." She sniped at Aendall as she started building a fire for their meal.