The Journey of Routunious

Along his journey, Routunious is also charged with stopping at major temples of Gond in areas through which he passes. He must communicate with the local priests, exchange messages and gifts, and then resume his travels. These are the major dates and events which bring him to Bug Tussle.

15th, Ches, 1368: Routunious departs from Lantan by galley to Baldur's Gate.

28th, Ches, 1368: Routunious arrives in Baldur's Gate and lodges at the Temple to Gond.

2nd, Tarsakh, 1368: Routunious and Tick-a-Tick gated to the Temple of Gond in Tantras.

4th, Tarsakh, 1368: Routunious and Tick-a-Tick depart Tantras for Mulmaster by caravan on the Cross Road.

19th, Tarsakh, 1368: Routunious and Tick-a-Tick arrive in Mulmaster.

23rd, Tarsakh, 1368: Routunious and Tick-a-Tick depart Mulmaster by sailing ship for Melvaunt.

26th, Tarsakh, 1368: Routunious and Tick-a-Tick depart Melvaunt by sailing ship for Hillsfar.

30th, Tarsakh, 1368: Routunious and Tick-a-Tick depart Hillsfar by caravan along the Moonsea Ride, and then Aruthauvyr's Road to Essembra.

4th, Mirtul, 1368: As Routunious and his caravan pass through the Elven Court, they are noticed by Elessaria, a moon elf ranger. She is intrigued by the mechanical companion and decides to follow them to determine their purpose.

9th, Mirtul, 1368: Routnuious arrives in Essembra and lodges with the priests there.

10th, Mirtul, 1368: Routnuious departs Essembra and leaves for Tilverton.

5th, Kythorn, 1368: Routunious departs Tilverton for Bug Tussle via Shadowdale.

1st Flammerule, 1368: Routunious arrives in Bug Tussle and seeks a room at the Fighter's Own tavern.

(OOC: Many, many thanks to the good sages at The Forgotten Realms Cartography Yahoo Group for helping to determine both distances and travel times by various craft. Without their assistance this would have been impossible to compute.)

Routunious of Gond

Routunious is a priest of Gond who has been charged with an important mission by the High Priest of his home temple in Lantan.

Many years ago, before Routunious began his clerical studies, a gome wizard named Vimvender Whimsicalamity came to Lantan to give up his wizardly ways and pursue an understanding of Gond worship. He was taken in by the priests and was a close friend of the High Priest. Recently the old gnome passed away, and his dying wish was for the church to deliver his spellbook and the rest of his estate to his family living in the Dagger Hills just north of the Shallain Freehhold.

The task was given to Routunious, who dislikes and resents having to go so far inland. He is very quick to tell anyone who asks him (and a few who don’t) how much more beautiful it is to live on an island, and the island of Lantan in particular.
To accompany him on his journey, Routunious was given a gift of a Warforged Fighter as a companion.

(In these Realms Gond did not give the gift of smoke powder to his priests after the Time of Troubles, he gave the gift of Warforged Knowledge, the ability to create truly intelligent and self aware automatons. Each of these automatons have their own individual personality, though they can be given instructions and choose to serve with complete loyalty the creator of the individual Warforged creature.)

Routunious knows the name of his companion, but has taken to calling him Tick-a-tick after the constant clockwork sound coming from its torso.

Tickatick has a finite number of hit points, which can not be repaired except by a 12th level cleric of Gond or higher. Tick-a-tick has only low level intelligence and does not speak, although in the months of travel from Lantan, not speaking back has not stopped Routunious from telling the clockwork warrior how supremely unhappy he has been. It may be that while Tick-a-tick can speak, he chooses not to in an effort to avoid encouraging the priest's dissertations.