Ain: The Rising

[Wolfsister]

I am sorry My Queen. I should have advised you of the relations between Riada and your Father. Forgive me for being remiss in my purpose.

Lisika restrained the impulse to nod her head in acknowledgment, avoiding giving away the secret of their mind link, You would do well to remember it in future. I will have even greater need for you now that Father is not here. Her tone was mostly neutral but there was a hint of self satisfaction there. She could always count on Karesh, no matter what. It was one of the only things that Lisika was sure of.

Then she listened quietly to the information Karesh had gathered for her, marvelling at the accuracy and speed with which she had done it, Good. When you get the chance, have them meet me. All at once. I need to know what they are capable of.

Then she mused quietly as Rorik spoke with the Orcs, Karesh, tell me what you know of Rorik? Anything will do... there was an unmistakable glint of desire in her eyes as she eyed the lanky Huntsman up and down.

 

[rengadeirishman]

The riada made camp, but such was there woodcraft that they're camp was near invisible in the foliage. The few druids with them had used their songs to soothe the earth and ask it for help and shelter. Bushes grew together and formed hollows, great trees parted to allow occupants, branches came together for sleeping platforms, and soon camp was made. Cormac sent a cadre of his best hunters to find food. He had shelter inside a redwood as big around as a hut, he dropped his pack and unrolled his bed of furs. He stripped off his filthy kilt and tunic, and walked out to a bathing pool they had seen on their way in. He stepped into the chill water and bathed, his mind fighting the urge to go to the impudent child-queen and teach her how to properly address a riada warrior. He sighed and dipped in the pool to wash his hair, and rose from the water clean and refreshed.

When he returned to his shelter he dressed again, in his best doeskin boots, with a fresh buckskin kilt, held up by a broad belt of deer leather. On this belt he hung his warblade and his ceremonial knife. over his shoulders he placed a mantle of bear and wolf pelt, with the bears head on his right shoulder and the wolfs head on his left. He also put on his shining torc in the form of coiled dragons and brushed his long blood red hair, so he stayed between his horns properly. He topped it off with a gold ring around each horn and the halberd that was his staff of office he took it into his hand. He brushed his beard and mustache so they too were neat and proper and strode out. He saw one of his warriors polishing his shield to a mirror shine and he had him hold it up.

Cormac looked it into his reflection and saw that he looked proper. The bright blue of his tattoos on his pale skin was quite accented now that he had been able to properly wash, and he felt that he now looked the part of de facto warchief. He thanked the warrior and strode towards the village, deciding that he would meet with the queen now that he was more decent looking, and she would learn proper respect.

 

[Mantra]

Druz

OOC: ** Spoken in Orcish

IC:

"What they say?" asked Hobnob, leaning forward from his saddle.

Druz took a few moments to explain, leaving the humans to wait. Even though Druz was being brief, the harsh Orcish exchange grated in their ears for nearly five minutes.

Hobnob blinked, his scarred face scrunching up in thought. **What do they mean 'trade right'? Of course we would trade right! Why trade at all if we would make wrong trades?**

**Urk, And this Humie wants to join the Clan?" Urk asked, incredously, moitioning towards the huntsman with his lance. "Do you even want him Druz?**

Druz turned back to the humans, fighting to wipe the smile from his face.

"Me and da Orcs make talk, Druz ask dem if dey want to come and trade wid Humies. Druz has food and weapons that maybe Humies want, yes? Humie Chief has no lands to give, no rights ta offer da Boyz, Druz will ask, but trade need be for other trade, not words."

Druz offered a momentary 'dramatic pause' before his broad features split into a broad smile, yellow teeth and tusks showing. "But Druz is nice guy, Druz will help poor Humies if he can. If dis Humie speaks for Humie Chief, and Humie Chief will keep his words, then Druz will take him."

 

[Wolfsister]

Rorik waited patiently, folding his lanky form up against the base of a nearby tree in the shade. He knew that Orcs were rather deeper thinkers than most human's gave them credit for and these Orcs seemed to be from a different tribal section. Judging by their markings, they might just have been more important than the average Orc. He only hoped he was right. After all, he would have to have powerful allies to take down the newly formed Ain.

He unfolded himself, standing up and grinning at Druz. He didn't bother giving his hand, he knew that Druz wouldn't take it, no matter how 'nice' he was. "Druz, I am honoured that you should take me in so. Trade will be possible between our people. I believe my Queen was merely making promises for when we get her lands back. The invaders will not have these lands for long," he clenched his fist and banged against the tree that was behind him.

"But I believe we can make some other arrangements... there has to be something you want from us." He smiled, glancing over at the young queen, making her blush with his dark eyes. He smiled inwardly, Good, very good.

"Perhaps we can start with making a camp site for us to stay. I don't think we want to bunk down tonight in this clearing in the middle of a very busy village. I think we might get a bit more rest - and time to talk, a little further away."

Rorik made sure to make a low, sweeping, bow towards the smitten queen and turned to lead the Orcs away towards a more suitable place, where he could begin the next phase of his plans.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

The Hunter

The elf stood silently watching the group from the shadows of the tent’s entrance, where he could not be seen. He had no idea who or what the horned beings where, so he immediately didn’t trust them. The orcs…well, no one ever trusted orcs and he wasn’t an exception. Then a tall man walked right through the group of orcs and knelt before the queen. Something about the man told the elf that he was a hunter. Perhaps it was the unshaven face or the greasy black hair, or maybe even something that wasn’t immediately obvious, but there was something about the man that told the elf that this type of hunter was not to be trusted with even a stick, let alone a weapon.

The elf continued to watch and wait. The moment Karesh and/or the queen turned to enter the tent, he would disappear into the darkest corner and become one with the shadows.

 

[Qyron]

The old woman now walked with an amazing energy, has if she had somewhere to go and something to do, not just leave the forest, as she had said before.

Only a few steps - athalan steps - behind, Nayil followed the woman in silence, thinking; since he had arrived in this realm, he had had all sort of strange encounters: first it had been those horrid creatures, which he had been forced to dispatch, that he had found laying waste to a small settlement. To late, unfortunately, for the people of the place, already dead by the time he had arrived.

Then it had been that elf, with his annoying shadow games. Nayil reprimanded himself for a moment for his attack of bad temper on that occasion, but then shrugged his shoulders; somehow, he knew he was bound to cross paths again with that slippery fellow.
The brawl with the boar crossed his mind for a moment, and the giant smiled for a brief moment; it had been fun, although the episode by the creek hadn't had the best outcome. Again, Nayil felt he had a few things to discuss with elf about what had happened on that creek.

There was also the matter of the magic wielder he had sensed and, finally, this old bat, fallen out of some tree, for what he cared.

Stopping on his tracks, Nayil watched the old woman walk, humming endlessly, her bones creaking like rusted chain mail. Of all things strange, this creature, whatever it was, was the most disturbing of all. Deep inside him, Nayil knew that there was more about the woman than the eye met. A lot more. Nonetheless, he felt curious about what there was to come and deep inside him, he knew that there was a lot.

Walking, one foot after another, the giant started humming for himself an old athalan song as the old woman showed them the way out of the forest.

 

[Kalika84]

Eyeing her Queen as she gazed hungrily at Rorik, not even trying to disguise her intentions Karesh felt a shudder ripple down her spine.

Thorne looked to her curiously and his rumbling purr echoed through her mind, soothing her scattered focus.

Ah, I am sorry to inform you My Queen there is not much I know of Rorik. I know only that he is a Ranger, swift and deadly in his purpose and usually room for nought else.

Wondering what on earth the Queen would do when she realised Rorik would not bow and scrape to her wishes she felt pure dread that her Queen who she had such hopes for may become a Tyrant through no fault other than throwing tempter tantrums like a child.

Thorne pressed against her leg and rubbed her knee with his head. Fear not, Karesh...we will get through this.

Sighing, Karesh nodded.Mayhap I suggest we go into the War tent your Majesty and formulate a plan to take back your Kingdom?

 

[rengadeirishman]

Cormac approached the gathering and saw the the orc chief talking to lanky human who made his hackles rise. I shall have to keep an eye on that one. He said, making an immediate mental note.

He approached the queen and her sorceress, bowing slightly, looking quite resplendent in fresh, clean garments and with the filth of travel and combat off him.

"Your highness, If it please you, and it should, we should discuss practical matters of war."

 

[Wolfsister]

Nayil and The Crone

Humming her tuneless tune, the Crone creaked her way, never once looking back to make sure that Nayil was following. The giant at her back said not a word while they traveled, and indeed he seemed an adept traveler, hardly making a noise in the dense underbrush.

The Crone hummed to herself, the forest around them going quiet and then suddenly springing back to life as soon as they had passed. It was a strange day, and the sun over head seemed to last a little longer than usual as they finally made it out to what appeared to be a trail.

A very fresh, heavily used trail at that too.

The Crone sighed and sat on a nearby rock, looking around as she whistled low and harmonic. The silent forest around them seemed to come to life and the normal noises to be expected could be heard, the scents wafting through the breeze that now touched across their skins.

"I've walked so far... " the old crone whined, her stick like fingers absently smoothing down the cloak she wore, "Head North along the trail and you'll get to a group of people. Probably a village."

She looked at him, her eyes uncharacteristically bright, "Go, go, I'll catch up. I just need to regain my breath..." she trailed off and sat very still.

Upon closer inspection, it would be revealed that she had fallen asleep.

 

[Wolfsister]

Lisika/Karesh/Cormac

Lisika watched appreciatively as Rorik walked away, already speaking with the Orcs as if he were one of them. She watched his form hungrily and wondered just what it would be like to bed him. She was a Virgin, as law dictated... but she was the law now. Her father could no longer restrain her whims... and she was taking a fancy in Rorik.

Ah, I am sorry to inform you My Queen there is not much I know of Rorik. I know only that he is a Ranger, swift and deadly in his purpose and usually room for nought else.

She turned to smile at Karesh, We shall see about that, my dear Magical Advisor. We shall see....

Mayhap I suggest we go into the War tent your Majesty and formulate a plan to take back your Kingdom?

Lisika was about to reply when Cormac strode up. It was clear he had bathed and changed and almost didn't look the barbarian that he was.

"Your highness, If it please you, and it should, we should discuss practical matters of war."

She looked up haughtily at him and sneered, "I don't need people telling me what should and shouldn't please me."

Then she whirled around, ignoring him and any remark he made, "Come Karesh, it is time to plan this War."

 

[Mantra]

Druz

The three WolfRiders wandered into the thickets with the Humie ranger until they reached a small clearing away from everyone else to make camp. With a word from Druz, the three dismounted and began setting up a small campsite. Hobnob gathering scrap wood for a fire and Urk unrolled a wide, smoothed and streched bearskin to use as a tent.

**"Urk! I do not like this Humie girl." Urk grunted as he used a mallet to pound wooden stakes into the ground. "She whines like a mewling whelp when she should be singing war chants."

Druz did not reply. No self respecting orc would dare question a WolfRider Chieftain, let alone a WarSinger-WolfRider Chief. Druz knew that this was Urk's way of voicing his concern without actually questioning or challenging his leader.

**" Paitence warrior." He replied. "Things are only just begining. Let the girl think we are stupid, that we are puppets. Let her have the victory in the skirmish. It is we who have what they need, and they will know that soon enough.**

Druz finished settling FurFang's tack and saddle then turned to the Ranger who had accompanied them.

"Oi, Humie, we talkz now yes? We negotiate what Humie camp needs to fight Scalies."

 

[Kalika84]

Karesh smiled at her Queen and bowed slightly as she swept past. As Karesh turned to go into the tent she stopped, the sensation of being watched crawling over her skin. Turning her head her gaze locked with Rorik's. Her heart slowed....stopped...then started beating rapidly in nothing other than pure cold dread. Her gaze swam and suddenly it wasn't the here and now it was years ago and she was huddled in the drafty cupboard space under the stone stairs. Hearing a beating and savage cries at the tender age of six. Then laughter as Rorik and two of his buddies into her line of vision and back up the hall. He had turned his head then and seen her, tormenting her for the rest of her life as a 'useless magick user to afraid to help anyone' it didnt occur to the older Ranger in training that being only 8 she was forbidden to use magick without a learned teacher with her.

For years after that as she grew into the woman she was now he followed her, if any males showed an interest in her he beat them within an inch of their lives. See, he decided a powerful sorceress would be the perfect 'trophy' for him and if she would not have him she would have no one. Thorne of course wanted to eat him but she couldnt let that happen, Thorne would be taken from her and...and...she did not even want to think about what they would do to him.

Snapping out of it visibly she narrowed her gaze at him as he walked towards her. She flicked her fingers slightly, barely noticeable and tried not to laugh as he tripped on nothing. Shooting daggers at her he turned to talk to the orc that had called out to him.

Hearing her Queen call for her again she slipped into the tent Thorne following close behind.

 

[Wolfsister]

Druz and Rorik

Rorik settled down with the Orc Chieftain to discuss their truce and agreements. They talked mostly into the night thereafter, eating together a hearty meal, though the village could spare little enough as it was.

Whatever the Orc requested, if it was within reason and helped further his own cause, Rorik promised the Orcs would get. He was a slippery customer - a haunted, slick man with a silver tongue. Across the village, he kept glancing towards where he knew Karesh was, his self satisfied smirk playing across his lips as he reviewed just how well he tormented the girl. All of her magick tricks and she could not even protect herself from his attentions.

Bah! Weaklings, all of them!

In turn, he requested much of the Orcs. Their loyalty, their warriors, their unique crafting skills for war as well as profit. After all, his new kingdom would need tradesmen - and these Orcs were more gifted than most humans were able to admit.

He made a pretty good bargain, but mostly had his own aims in mind, rather than those of the current Queen. If he could bring a powerful magicker to her knees, surely he could do the same to a petulant child of a queen.

 

[Wolfsister]

Lisika and Co

Lisika entered the tent with the others. Of course, she was the first to enter and take her seat. The inside of the plush tent was split into two. The more recessed part were what served for her private chambers, a thick, heavy curtain falling in between, giving her privacy.

The antechamber that led into her private space served as a temporary war room. There were scrolls on which were written various statistics and information scattereda around on benches, chairs, tables and even fluttering on the ground.

She pushed aside a particularly large pile and sat at the head of the table that sat in the middle of the room. She looked around and noted the positions the rest of the delegation took according to hers. Of course, Karesh took the seat to her right.

The room was silent, waiting for her to begin. She stared ahead, at the table, at the walls... at anything that didn't resemble a man's face. Then she raised her eyes to those present. For a split second, she was uncertain and allowed that to show by biting her bottom lip.

Then the uncertainty was gone - replaced by a mask. "We shall hear what you have to say about this war, Riada." Her voice, thankfully, came out steady.

 

[Qyron]

The arrival to Ain

**translated speech

Crouching under the meager shadow of a rickety tree, Nayil went for his water skin; beads of sweat trickled down his face, forming dark spots on the dust of the ground that disappeared in an instant. The giant spit a thick glob of foamy saliva and took a long sip from the water skin, wiping his mouth to the back of his hand as he looked around.

«Too hot...»

As far as the eye could reach, a golden sea covered the land, baking under the mid afternoon sun, with the dirt road road snaking over the hills and disappearing in the distance. The breeze blowing over the crop fields did very little to ease the heat. Nayil took another sip from the water skin and leaned against the tree's trunk, head tilted back against the rough bark and eyes closed, letting out a sigh.

The giant pulled a few leafs from a branch just above his forehead and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly to savour the bitter and oily sap; it would help him keep his mouth moist and spare water. Corking the water skin he stood up and set out for another stretch.

A man-made stone basin collecting the water of a small natural spring that sprouted from a large rock formation on the top of a hill with a few trees around it was a blessing for travelers on such parts and the athalan stopped to refresh himself, refill the water skin and put some food on his stomach.
From that point beyond, the dirt path the athalan had been following turned into a well cared road, paved with rolled rocks, going down the hill and following straight forward, until it disappeared under the tree canopy of a forest that spread up to the horizon. Nayil could swear he could see something sparkle amidst the trees in the distance.


Dusk was coming as Nayil arrived at the edge of the forest and he immediately noticed a few recently felled trees lying on the side of the road that followed straight through the woods. Mostly made of young oak and pine trees, with the branches forming a canopy about thirty feet above the ground, through which the dimming sun light strained and with a fresh carpet of ankle high grass covering the ground. Nayil found beehives in small clearings on the side of the road as he followed into the forest and some pine trees also had recipients to collect resin attached to it.

«If there's a settlement in this forest, it must be around hear somewhere. And close by, I hope.»

A small hatchet laying against a tree caught the eye of the athalan and seeing no one around, picked it up. Shaft and head were a single piece of metal, folded several times in the forge to purify it judging by its weight, with a single piece of leather wrapped wet around the handle to provide a better grip as it shrunk when dried; already shiny, it meant the tool already had several years of use. It was an excellent piece of craftsmanship work and the giant could recognize one when he saw it. Although it was ridiculously small.

**<Can I help you, stranger?>

A woman all dressed in leather clothing and carrying a couple of freshly killed rabbits came out of the bush, still tying the animals together by the rear legs to her belt.

- I'm sorry, I couldn't understand you.
- Another traveler, I see. We´ve been having quite our share of foreigners lately. - The woman had changed to the trade language the giant had used. - I asked if I could help you. You seemed very interested in my axe, from back there.

Nayil returned the woman's smile, handing her back the hatchet.

- It's a fine tool. Haven't seen one like it that many times in my traveling.
- Thank you, stranger. - The woman took the hatched from the giant´s hand and hung it by the head in a leather loop on her belt. - And who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?
- I am Nayil.
- Shiona Fenley. - Nayil noticed the woman assessing carefully, but discreetly, until a wolf howl cracked the stillness of the forest in the distance, followed by several others. - Night is coming. And this isn't the safest of places to chat. Come along. My village is not far.
- I was hoping to find somewhere to spend the night. Is there an inn in town?
- Is that so? - The woman turned around and faced Nayil. - Well, aren't you lucky then?
- Why am I lucky?
- Because I'm the town's innkeeper, stranger.





They came in the darkest part of the night, bearing fire and steel, and howling and roaring like demons from the deepest of Hell, as they invaded our homes and killed who and whatever came into their path. Men fell trying to defend their homes; women were butchered with their children in their arms. Their sickening laugh filled the night, as the blades sang their dreaded song.

Some ran into the forest, despite the wolves that howled to the full-moon from the shadows. Some threw themselves and drowned in the dark waters of the river, too much taken with panic to remember how to swim. Many more failed to escape our murderers.
A handful ran for the inn. Perhaps they thought that walls of solid rock would stand better against the horde after them than pitchforks and rakes; or perhaps it was just the herd instinct taking over when the first one started running towards there.

Thunder cracked in the distance and it began to rain. Shiona ran outside, with a burning torch in her hand and her hatchet in the other, followed by a small group of travelers bearing arms. The smell of fear spoke louder and better than the screams, answering the questions in their minds.

**<Ahlwaz! Ring the bell!> The bell on the inn´s tower tolled, echoing through the valley, while heavy metal shutters covered the lower windows, banging against the stone walls. <Get inside, hurry!>

Shiona grunted in effort when she helped someone to their feet, ignoring the rain that filled her mouth with water at every scream she let out.

**<Get inside! Go to the basement, you´ll be safe there! You! Help that man!>

I saw them running towards me. The rain was heavy, and soaked everything; my clothes were heavy and wrapped around my legs as I tried to run and kept falling on the mud. The rain hitting my face filled my mouth with every breath I took, making me choke and cough.

- Shiona!

I tripped and fell to the ground, landing on a puddle of mud and I heard Shiona screaming. Then a strike of lightning scorched the sky and I saw the warrior standing over me, ready to swing his blade.

**<No!>

I felt something warm hit my face and I opened my eyes to see an axe buried deep in the barbarian's chest, before it threw him back like an empty sack. As I looked back, from where the axe had came, a giant came out of the shadows, his eyes sparkling from behind the hair covering his face, and I felt a hand close around my shoulder with the strength of a vice and lifting me from the ground as if I weighed nothing.

**<No! No! Let me go!>
- Go!

The word meant nothing to me, but I understood what it was I had to do when I saw the man pointing to the inn and I ran, despite the tiredness and the tears running down my face, despite the feeling of my lungs were about to explode.

*<Don´t look back, Lewlinn! Run!>

I heard Shiona calling for me but I could not stop myself from looking back. I saw another brawler come from the shadows, running towards the giant with a sword in his hand; the right hand of the man grabbed the sword arm of the barbarian by the wrist and a blade almost as large as a sword appeared in his left hand, driving through the throat of the savage, almost decapitating him, while another barbarian threw himself into the fight.

<Shiona! More are coming! Look!>

Alhwaz´s scream over the thunder broke the awe and I looked down into the valley where the village now burned despite the pouring rain and saw shapes running uphill, some bearing torches; by the corner of my eye I saw Nayil dispatch the last of his attackers with a brutal head butt and plunge his blade in the savage´s heart.

- Nayil! There are more coming! Come inside!

A barbarian coming out of nowhere charging towards me hit the ground dead before realizing what had happened, with the giant´s blade stuck in the side of his head. I ran back to the inn with Lewlinn under my arm; I could hear the giant roaring behind me as he battled another wave of foes.

**<Hurry, Shiona! Get in!>

The heavy door closed behind me and I sent a short prayer to the gods in behalf of the man I had just left behind, facing whatever monsters those were.

**<Barricade the doors and windows! Now!>
**<What about the man outside?>
**<Now!>

Tables, benches, foot lockers, closets, whatever was heavy enough was piled against the doors. Outside, the barbarians howled and screamed, ramming every door and window they could find.

**<Now what?>
**<We´re trapped!>
**<They can´t come through those doors. Relax.>
**<Shiona, we can't stay here. If they set the inn on fire, we'll be roasted alive.>

Everybody was starting to panic again. Even a couple of mercenaries that had spent the last few days drinking and telling tales about how many battles they had been and enemies they had killed were starting to get nervous.

**<The tunnel... Ahlwaz, go get more torches.>
**<What are you doing, Shiona?>

When the fireplace moved forward and to the side at the twist of a stone, no one dared to ask any questions and started passing along the torches Ahlwaz had brought.

**<Everybody follow me.>



A very large warrior, almost as big as the athalan tackled Nayil, while other barbarians emerged from the shadows running towards the inn. The savage hissed at Nayil, showing a blue forked tongue sprouting from a mouth filled with small serrated teeth, while trying to compress Nayil against its massive chest with its arms; a powerful head butt that stunned the warrior for a fraction of a second allowed the giant to get free. A kick to the knee made the joint bend in the wrong direction with the sound of a piece of wood breaking and the barbarian fell to the ground.

The rain poured down harder and harder by the minute, as thunder cracked in the sky, but the rest of the pack heard its comrade screams of agony and turned around, casting their fiery gaze upon the athalan, feeling confident of the easy kill when it noticed the foe was alone and bare handed.

 

[rengadeirishman]

Cormac swallowed his rage at her insolence and entered the tent, taking a seat.

"My queen, we must discuss how many warriors we have in total. I have only 40 here, but my reports suggest that more of my peoples warriors are dispersed throughout the realm. Each of my warriors i worth several talarines, but they outnumber us by more then "several". How many of your own fighters are available?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Lisika

"My queen, we must discuss how many warriors we have in total. I have only 40 here, but my reports suggest that more of my peoples warriors are dispersed throughout the realm. Each of my warriors i worth several talarines, but they outnumber us by more then "several". How many of your own fighters are available?"

Lisika turned to her advisor, ready to speak when one of her other councilors spoke up instead, knowing she did not have the answer herself. "We have 150 men. Fifty of those are not fit as of yet, mostly yearlings with little experience."

Lisika scowled at the man, to speak in her place! Of all the nerve!

Then she turned her scowl towards the Riada - "What make you of that?"

 

[rengadeirishman]

Cormac held his tongue about his opinion of those that were not yearlings.

"It is better then nothing, how are your warriors trained? In what manner of combat do your warriors excel?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Lisika glared at the Riada, the only impotent thing she could think of to do. She had no answer for him and she was becoming all to aware that she should. Her pampered life in her dainty slippers were all fading away - she had to step up to the plate, but she was too arrogant to ask for help. Wisely, though, she kept her mouth shut.

A few moments later, the same council man spoke up - "We have around twenty calvary men, with the rest being melee fighters. Knights mostly - some (around ten) are archers. The fifty striplings have sword ability, nothing more. Only ten of my men have proven command posts before as well."

 

[rengadeirishman]

Cormac nodded.

"Cavalry will be useless to us for the time being, chargers have no place in the wood. Archers however, will be most useful. My warriors will clearly have to train yours if they are to be successful, as i said before, we lack the numbers to meet them on the field traditionally, so we will need to strike from the trees, spill all the blood we can quickly, and then fade into the trees again. At least, until we can gather greater forces."

 

[Kalika84]

Karesh listened intently to the conversation flowing from the Queen to the Riada. Hmm so Guerrilla war tactics it was going to be it seemed.

Without showing a visible sign she spoke to Thorne again, We could use this to our advantage Thorne, you sneak better than anybody or any cat come to think of it that I know and I aswell can cause all sorts of damage.

Thorne snuffed a laugh. Karesh, you could obliterate whole walls of the keep if you so wished. At her scoffing tone in her mind he pressed on, If you would just concentrate and stop thinking about things certain....human males have said in the past you would be well beyond where you are now, instead of having locked it away.

Choosing to ignore the large cat Karesh waited for a lull in conversation as a sheer stroke of brilliance occured to her. "My Queen, please forgive my intteruption, but you also have Thorne and myself, we could create a catastrophic amount of damage or even simple havoc. If he would be amenable, I would also like the opportunity to find that elf I spoke to you of, he would be very valuable to our cause."

Watching for a reaction in her Queen she sent another thought to Thorne, Try to locate the elf Thorne, we may need to speak with him sooner rather than later. Also keep one ear on Rorik. I want to know where he is at all times. He must not be allowed to be alone with the Queen. Ever.

 

[Jedi_Khan]

The Elf

The elf tried to pay attention to the discussion that was taking place, but he was having a really hard time concentrating, especially with his head feeling as if someone was using it for a drum roll. The situation wasn’t helped much when the world started to spin, and spin fast it did. He took a short step forward to try to better balance himself, but that proved to be the wrong thing to do because the world went black the instant he moved.

Due to the elf’s internal distractions, he hadn’t noticed as Karesh unknowingly placed herself right in front of him. As the elf passed out, his short step forward had provided him with enough forward momentum that he ended up falling onto Karesh’s back, taking her to the ground with him.

Attempts to wake him would prove futile, but it was obvious that he was still alive; he was just out cold.

 

[Wolfsister]

"Cavalry will be useless to us for the time being, chargers have no place in the wood. Archers however, will be most useful. My warriors will clearly have to train yours if they are to be successful, as i said before, we lack the numbers to meet them on the field traditionally, so we will need to strike from the trees, spill all the blood we can quickly, and then fade into the trees again. At least, until we can gather greater forces."

Glancing at the Princess again, sorry - Queen, the coucilman (whose name was Ambrose) nodded eagerly, ready to talk tactics with the obviously superior fighting force. The Riada.

"From what we glean, however, Lord Cormac, is that the Talarines do not enter the trees, nor anywhere near the treeline. There is open field between the city and us - apart from tall grass there is not much to hide us there. I do not believe even those brutes could be goaded into following us into the forests."

Lisika tried to listen, but it was fast becoming boring. Then Karesh rescued her from falling asleep by interrupting. Though she would never admit it, Karesh had long ago gained Lisika's respect and the young girl often forced herself to listen to the woman - besides, Lisika was secretly afraid of magic.

"My Queen, please forgive my intteruption, but you also have Thorne and myself, we could create a catastrophic amount of damage or even simple havoc. If he would be amenable, I would also like the opportunity to find that elf I spoke to you of, he would be very valuable to our cause."

Ambrose nodded, his fingers tapping as he formulated a few plans in his head - then turned to the Riada warrior - "Have your warriors use of magic, my Lord? For I do believe that the Talarines do not. It could be a decided advantage."

Then Lisika did something uncommon, she screamed. It wasn't a scream that was womanly at all, rather a shriek that soon had the entire party's attention on the forms of Karesh and an unknown elf at floor near her. Her scream brought the attention of her body guards who immediately bound into the room, swords drawn.

When they saw her frantic pointing, they relieved Karesh of her burden and held the unconcsious elf hanging between them. They then looked about the room, trying to see what they had to do next - Lisika was too overwhelmed with shock to order the stranger imprisoned.

 

[rengadeirishman]

"They fear the trees? Hmm, i shall have to think on that. As for magic, we have magic, but i am not sure it is the same as yours. Our magic comes from the trees, the flowers and the grass."

When lisika screamed, Cormac drew his warblade in less then a blink. When the guards came and saw to the elf he put it away.

"Quiet your screaming young one, it does not befit a queen."

 

[Wolfsister]

Lisika quit her hysterics pretty soon after the verbal oust from Cormac. She was quiet, though she was still not breathing properly. She turned a questioning look to those around the tent. Stamping her little dainty foot, she demanded, "Well! Does anybody know of this elf!" Her face red and devoid of any dignity whatsoever.