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normally would. 
“Lord,” he began, addressing the stand, “I understand that what you’re doing,
you’re doing with the best of intentions.  I concur with your logic, and I
agree that there is a need to send someone with the warrior group who can help
with the lore they’ll likely encounter in these… almost mythical places you’re
sending them,” he said, almost in exasperation.  “However, I believe that by
doing this, you’ve set a dangerous precedence.”  He raised one hand in a sweeping
gesture that encompassed many of the assembled warriors in the hall.  “My Lord,
this task you lay on this group is great.  I believe that too much is expected
of them.  I and my full contingent of troops, heavily armed and mounted on
wolves, would consider it quite the task to do this.  We are mighty warriors
all, most of us proven on the field of battle.  We are a mighty contingent that
fights as one.  This group you’ve formed will have much training to do before
it will fight effectively as a group.  To add to this group one who doesn’t
even know how to protect herself is not wise.  She will only get underfoot when
battle comes!  If one must go to fulfill this requirement, let it be a male who
has trained in the arts of war!”
    Lord Karthan considered the impact of Raoros’
words on the rest of the audience for several moments, but shaking his head
slowly, he finally spoke.  “There are no males who have the knowledge this
company needs.  Kiria shall go,” he said simply.  “Durik’s Company now stands
formed.” 
    Kiria came forward and took her place at the end
of the line of warriors.  Her slender, feminine form was a stark contrast to
the muscular shapes of the warriors next to her in the line. 
    Throughout the hall, some of the elite warriors
accepted the fact that a female was to go on the quest without hesitation. 
Some would eventually come to accept it.  Many of the assembled elite warriors,
however, saw that Lord Karthan had changed their world again, and for seemingly
no good reason.  The old resentment that they’d felt over his ‘improvements’ to
the gen began to rekindle in their hearts.  Through it all, though he kept a
shocked and outraged look on his face, Khee-lar Shadow Hand smiled within
himself.

 

     
Chapter 5
– Equipping the Company
    A fter
a few moments, Lord Karthan raised his hands to the assembled elite warriors
and council members.  “As is the custom with every year-group, we have laid a
heavy task on their shoulders, one that we must help them accomplish.  To that
end, let us give them the tools they will need to complete their task!”
    As if on queue, the Lore Master twitched to life
with a sudden start, grabbing his cane quickly, which was the last quick thing
he did that night.  With considerable effort, the venerable kobold slowly
stood.  “Young Lord Karthan, I have here the Journal of the Quest for Palacid,
as it is to be known from henceforth…”  He stopped to catch his breath before
continuing.  “…to be kept by Durik’s hand only and to be returned to me to be
archived in the annals of this gen upon completion of the quest.” 
    No one else would dare to address Lord Karthan as
‘young Lord Karthan,’ but the Lore Master was a relic of another age.  This was
the third generation of Lords of the Gen he had served, and he knew his days
were numbered.  All of this added up to a certain untouchability.
    The Lore Master paused, considering the young,
energetic group in front of him with one stern brow raised.  They were
twitching with pent up energy, so impatiently waiting for him to finish. 
    “In the front of the journal, I have included some
few things about the Kale Stone, the descriptions of our ancient home as well
as a treatise written by Kiria here about the Hall of the Mountain King.  I
think you’ll find it all useful.”  He paused again to catch his breath. 
“Though I must say that Kiria knows all of this,