The Wandering Ranger

[Colarian]

Having lost interest in watching the battle, Colarian left to wander the plains. He had found his horse, but would not take it. It was just one more mouth to feed, and every moment he spent riding was one moment he spent growing weaker. The elves had changed him, that much was for sure. He was running across the plains with inhuman grace, and had started to eat less meat, his favor slowly shifting towards plants. His stores of elven leaves was growing short, and he dreaded needing to turn to the leaves and grasses of the plains. The plants here where also much different from that of Elvandir, he had read an elven book on plants around the known world, and knew of these plains plants, but few of them where as useful as those of the elven woods. At least, there where enough substitute ingredients to make healing potions here.

He decided to camp for the night, he spent a moment to find a good spot, then set up a fire. He pulled out a flint, and after he had lit the fire he thought, I'm the Paladin of Fire, and I need a flint. Isn't that silly?Mixing a few of the ingredients he had picked up, Colarian set about brewing another healing potion to add to his reserves. Looking north, he could see the peaks of mountains in the distance. Laying back, hand behind his head, he watched the stars. Yes, he would go north next, see the mountains. The pinpricks of light seemed to dim, then all went black.

Colarian woke with the rising of the sun, he hid the remains of his fire, then walked to the top of a nearby hill. For miles, all he could see was flatlands, and more flatlands. "Paerai grant me speed, that I might run with the haste of a spreading forest fire, for the distances my legs must cross make it necessary." With those words, he ran north.

[Efren]

Efren walked in the forest, the light barely sinking through the trees. He had smelled another fire the night before, too close for his comfort. He woke an hour before first light had shown, and began walking back to the mountains. It wasn't long before he heard the sound of coming steps from something bigger than he was, and bigger was ever a good thing.

He began to walk faster, and stood next to a tree, which partially hid him from sight. He had two choices that he could think of. One, he could keep walking, as the mountains couldn't be more than a few miles north. Or he could wait and see what was coming his way. Of course he had made a quick decision. Seems curiosity had gotten the best of him.

A man on a horse came into view soon after. Efren sighed a bit in relief. "Well it could have been worse." He stepped forward a bit, and had his axe over his shoulder. He stood in the path of the horse, expecting the man to stop. It didn't semm the man was even slowing down.

Alright slow down there Mr. horse man... he thought to himself. He stood in the mans path, not moving and waited to see what the man would make of this.

[Colarian]

((Colarian isn't on a horse, he's running.))
Colarian stopped abruptly in front of the dwarf. He hadn't seen one before, but the elves had told him plenty about the race. Most of it had been with a slight scowl on the elves' faces, because of the near opposite nature of the two. Hopefully Colarian's human blood would help him here, and he wouldn't hate this race. Paerai will guide my thoughts, I'm sure..

"Greetings, Dwarf."

[Efren]

((My bad, dunno where the horse thing came from))

Efren looked at the human. He was much taller than he was, but he couldn't sense anything dangerous to be wary of. "Greetings, Dwarf." the man had said to him.

Efren looked at the man again. Did he just call me a dwarf, silly human doesn't know whom he speaks to. "Greetings human, I heard you a while back, may I ask where you are traveling to with such haste?"
He gave the human a look of interest. Luckily he learned to speak the language of the plains, otherwise this would have been very difficult.

[Colarian]

((Colarian saw his horse, though he did not take it, maybe you misread that.))

"I see no need to move slowly, for one day will come when haste is needed, and if I am not ready for it, then I have failed, and for me to fail is for balance to fail, this cannot happen." Colarian spoke in a very serious tone, the elves had changed him much. He no longer spoke lightly, every word must bear purpose, and he now carried the elven mentality of self improvement. "After all, if you live this long, why not train, so that the time that comes next is easier?"

[Efren]

Efren took note of the last sentence this human spoke. "After all, if you live this long, why not train, so that the time that comes next is easier?"

He looked at the human, and gave him another curious look. "You speak as if though you are an elf." Efren smiled to himself. He had spoken to elves before their little feud went on. He himself had nothing against them, all they wanted to do was adapt to the new world, and the dwarves want to keep their customs.
"Well human, my name is Efren, may I ask yours?" He stuck out his hand for a handshake.

[Colarian]

Colarian pulled out the Pendant of the Elves from under his shirt, and showed it to Efren. "My name is Colarian, and I was trained by the elves. The have accepted me as one of their own, even though I am of human blood. They have without doubt affected me, but that is not why I do not fear the wears of time." Pushing up his left sleeve, Colarian revealed the burnt in scars, the words 'Balance through destruction; as a forest fire burns down a grown forest so that more can grow in its place, so will the holy fire burn all that threatens balance: thus it must be.' "I am the Paladin of Fire, and Paerai will not let time deter is servant." Colarian's words faded and then he continued, uncertainly. "I do not know why I know this... Perhaps Paerai has granted me insight."

[Efren]

Efren looked at the scars. "Looks a bit painful." he smiled. "Well if you continue heading north, you will eventually land in the land of my people. Most do not care for the elves, but if you do, lets say get caught in one of our traps, give them this." He reached into his pocket with his free hand, and pulled out a small pendant made from mithril. "Tis a sign to show that you are considered a friend of the King. I hope your elven training doesn't allow you not to become allys with a dwarf."

He smiled again, and looked towards the mountains. The snow capped tops of the mountain looked wonderful with the light from the sun reflecting from it. He looked back towards Colarian. "If you would like, I can show you the quickest way around the mountains."

[Colarian]

Colarian smiled, "Thank you for your trust. Hopefully Paerai will never deem your existence a threat to balance." Colarian accepted the gift, and put it on beside his elven pendant. "Elves don't hate dwarves. While they would prefer if you where cleaner, they are still tolerant. Differences do not mean that you must seek to harm, elves are wise enough to realize that balance is not achieved without the aid of all. And yes, I would appreciate it, such knowledge would be beneficial."

((It seems nearly every race accepts me, a shame I may have to kill some of them at random. Oh well, hopefully people will realize that it's for the greater good. Being killed by Colarian should be an honor, because a god deemed you too powerful to exist. ... Or, you where being a cheap bastard...))

[Efren]

Efren nodded, "Very well then, shall we be on our way?"
He began to walk again towards the mountains. He had been gone for two days, and he was grim on returning home, with what might be waiting for his approval. The wind felt good on his face, for his armor was making him sweat.

They arrived at the base of the mountains, and Efren waited to hear the alarm go off any minute, but it never did. "Well tha's strange, usually there would at least be a watchmen here." He went up and blew the very well hidden horn that was used to summon the gate keeper. As soon as he blew it, the old dwarf peeked through the slit in the wall. "My apologies your highness, doors are opening as we speak."

Efren stepped back from the wall, and the doors opened up for him and Colarian. "Well there isn't too much to do around here yet. To our left is the tavern if you wish to stay for the evening. To our right is the pub, nearly always filled with my men drinking away their lives." Efren looked up, "And that is where I stay." He looked at the design of the palace, and he stared at it for a while, the beautiful designs that had been carefully carved into every piece of it was perfect.

He looked at Colarian. "Anything you need jus' ask, and it will be given if we have it." Efren pointed a finger into the hole that entered the mountain. "The quickest way through, and out of the mountains, remember left, right, right, left, right, left, right, middle. Do not forget this, for if you get it wrong, something bad could happen to you. If you want a guide, just ask."

[Colarian]

"I apologize, but I must leave now. Thank you for your acceptance. My lord calls, I am needed in the Plains." With a bow, Colarian left, running with trained grace, towards Quoa. I will run with the speed of a spreading fire, my lord.