Rise of an Empire

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc watches the conversation between Logan and the wounded man. He has never heard of this Captain, but Rhuarc agrees these are not common robbers. Robbers would never have gone after this large and well armed group. He watches as Vixen slits the throat of the wounded man, she reminds Rhuarc of an old companion of his , a human named Trixie that was quite a warrior. He wonders if the two are related since their temperments seem so similar.

 

[Paendragon]

Leaf bowed his head in sorrow at watching Vixen take the life of the man. It pained him that people could be so callous.

What did I expect? This journey will be filled with death.

At some point, he knew, it would be too much for him to bear, even for the opportinities this journey afforded him.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Pursing his lips as everyone mounted their horses, he beckoned Vixen up by him. Turning his one eye to her he said..

"Vix, you know I plan to take us through the Lurking Woods, and you and I both know what that might mean to some of people. The Ogres in there can be pretty territorial and some like to eat flesh as well. Should I let the group know now, or when we reach the edge of the woods?"

As they rode he kept looking off the side of the road for a trail.... there it was. A small beaten path leading of on a winding course to the North West. Holding his hand up he gestured the group around and said.

"We'll be taking this path for the rest of the day, if we hurry we'll hit a campsite I know in a off the beaten path type of place where we should have some privacy for the night then we'll make some more plans."

 

[SpectralDragoon]

"Logan, Vixen..., " Devin said to them as he rode up between them and matched their pace. "What is all this about if we hurry, "lost time" and such. Are we on some type of schedule or something? I thought we just had to find these artifacts. What is the difference if it takes 2 weeks or 2 months as long as we get what we were sent for?"

 

[Gaston_McBain]

Angus

"How could anyone form an ambush so quickly?" Angus thought when we heard the speculation of his companions. However, bandits would have let them pass as several armed and mounted travelers were not a wise target. Yet no one had known about the group or the mission before yesterday. This was a dangerous topic indeed.

As he pondered this dilemna, the adventurer woman slit the prisoner's throat without warning. The man deserved no better as he was brigand scum but the swiftness and calmness of the act unnerved him, especially coming from a woman. This woman was no one to be trifled with, so Angus made a mental note not to reveal his opinion of her.

The mystery of the ambush still remained however. Either Logan was overhead by a scoundral in the Wastrel or one the companions is a traitor. The traitor could not be Logan as it would make no sense to sabotage one's own mission. Nor could it be either of the two dwarfs. One was an idiot and the other was a simple smith. Although he would have suspected the Vixen woman, she did not know of the adventure until this morning and could not have organized an ambush in time.

That left the two elves and the bounty hunter. The male elf was mysterous and silent and of course elves possessed enough cunning to plan fiendish plots such as this. On the other hand, elves were noted by their finesse and style, this ambush definetly lacked those elvish traits. Of course, the elf could have planned it so it appeared non-elvish.

The bounty hunter looked to be the prime suspect. Angus knew that bounty hunters possessed no honor and dealt with low lifes all of the time. In addition, the bounty hunter had not engaged in battle, perhaps unwilling to fight his associates. The elf-woman could be in the plot as well but there would be no way to make sure.

Angus considered confronting the bounty hunter with his speculations but he quickly realized that the others would likely be reaching the same conclusions. In fact, by concealing his background, Angus knew that it was quite possible that his companions would suspect him. Making the first accusation could possibly backfire so Angus decided to simply keep a closer eye on the bounty hunter to watch for trickery.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen

"Vix, you know I plan to take us through the Lurking Woods, and you and I both know what that might mean to some of people. The Ogres in there can be pretty territorial and some like to eat flesh as well. Should I let the group know now, or when we reach the edge of the woods?"

Vixen shrugged, "you know your companions better than I, but having them worry needlessly about it would probably be futile. Still, fore warned, is fore armed so they say..." She seemed distracted as she gave her answer.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

He grunted at hearing her reply and decided to not bother the others with his knowledge about what may happen later that week. Urging his horse forward he rode into the woods and eventually led the group through the woods to the campsite.

They set up camp and after a nice dinner of stew that they made from their supplies and fresh water from a nearby stream they settled down to sleep with everyone taking a turn as sentry.

The Next Morning
Getting up Logan chivvied the group into moving and after a quick breakfast they were ahorse again and on the path towards their destination, which only Vixen and Logan knew of right then. As they rode, Logan informed them that the ride would end that night at the edge of the woods, then they would cross the river Lendel that broke the woods in two. What he didn't tell them was that the second part of the journey would be through the Lurking Wood.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc wakes a little earlier than the others, he always likes to see the sunrise, plus it gives his some time to think. Maybe someone in this group is a traitor, since they were ambushed so nicely. Rhuarc hopes that is not the case, since they are all getting along so well, but it may be reality. After they mount , Logan talks to them as they are riding. Rhuarc hears the name "Lurking Wood", it sounds so familiar to him. He has lived a long time and has heard that name before, but cant remember.
"Dammit", says Rhuarc.
"What is it? " says Dust, riding close to Rhuarc.
"I know that name from somewhere, this Lurking Wood, but I can no longer remember. "
"Well here, take this , it always helps to log my memory", Dust hands over a jug of dwarven spirits.
"No thanks my young friend, I will make do without it. Maybe as I get closer it will come to me. "

 

[Darklord]

Logan

As they went through the woods, he considered their options...

Someone or Something, knew they were on their way to Rockholm, but who? He cudgeled his brain for ideas, but couldn't pull any up right ta the moment. Afterall, he had a history of leaving dead enemies behind him, never any live ones. Shrugging into the armor a bit more comfortably, he kept riding and kept his eyes peeled for trouble. And thus he passed the day...

That Evening

Later that day, they came to a nice open spot in the woods, just shy of the river Lendel, motioning to the others, he indicated that this is where they would camp that night. Getting from his horse, he called them all over to give them the plans for the night.

"Okay, here's the deal right as of now, we'll set up a camp here, water the horses, get a good solid meal in, and go to bed early, we've got a long and hard ride ahead of us tomorrow to get us through the next bit of "Rough Terrain" and we'll be good for a leisurely trip after that. You got questions ask me now, or go get your stuff done." he said.

 

[Paendragon]

Leaf was troubled. He knew the direction they were heading wouls take them to the Lurking Wood. True, the was the chance that they would skirt it at the last minute, but doing so made no sense.
If they were going to go around, they could have taken an easier path than this, and not lost any time. The only reason to come this deep into the forest was to pass through the Lurking Wood.

His eyes scanned the group. He hoped they knew what they were doing. He was, after all, only a passenger on this journey, not in the lead.

 

[Gaston_McBain]

Angus

Angus had spent the last two days alone in his thoughts. He had no desire to socialize with his companions nor did he make the effort. However, he had tried to keep a sharp lookout on the bounty hunter and the elf but had not spotted any suspicious behavior yet.

One thing that kept popping in his head was Logan's attire. He had first noticed it when they first embarked from the Wastrel but he hadn't yet put a finger on it. Somehow, the clothing was familiar although he couldn't yet remember why.

They had just made camp near a river when Logan addressed the entire party. He announced that the going ahead would be "rough". This did not make any sense. They were a full day's ride into a forest and Angus doubted that any person lived out here. Still, there could be a hostile settlement or something like that across the river. Or it could just be a swampy path. He decided to probe for infomation.

"Logan, what do you mean by 'Rough Terrain'? Will it be difficult for the horses or are there some kind of foes across the river?"

 

[Guest]

Vixen...

Vixen was quiet as she got her small bed-roll from the saddle bags on her horse. Once she had removed the bags themselves and the saddle she left her horse to do what he would.

With a practised flick of her hands she had unrolled her bed and was ready for sleep. Sleep would not come easily though. She munched on the apples she had gathered from a tree they had passed earlier in the day. She had already offered one to her horse who had happily accepted.

She was troubled by her thoughts. It had been a long time since she'd last rode with Logan and much had occurred in that time apart. She forgot how friendly he was and holding back secrets from him was harder than she would have imagined. She stealed herself against these imposing thoughts and shook her head as if to clear it. Finishing the last apple she rolled over and forced herself to sleep.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Thinking a brief moment before replying, Logan spoke to Angusand the group.

"It'll be tough in the wood there since it's not usually populated heavily, so it'll be tough in the sense of very few trails, but it will get us into the foothills of the Deathwatch Mts. a whole lot faster than the trade road. And there might be some animals who not born with a healthy respect for man might bother us, but with as large a group as we have, I don't think wolves will bother us."

And seeing no one else had any questions, he finished unpacking his horse, and leading it to the river let it drink while he rubbed it down with some brushes he brought along..

 

[Paendragon]

Leaf ws puzzled.

From the conversation, the group, at least most of them, had no idea where they were heading. He followed Logan.

"Your pardon," he said, bowing his head to the party leader. "But does the group not know where we are heading? There are horrors that were unleashed by my people in the Lurking Wood, that still live. The danger is great."

 

[crysede]

River:
As she finished eating, she noticed that Devin seemed preoccupied with other matters and paying little attention to her at the moment. She set her blankets out in preparation for sleep, but her thoughts were too unsettled to rest just yet: this detour of theirs would mean that the group would reach Bristle in just a few days, leaving her little time to escape Devin's custody.

Even if she did manage to escape, by the sounds of it this shortcut meant that the only town they would be coming anywhere near, before entering the foothills, was Bristle itself - hardly a place she would be safe in with that cursed noble's toadies everywhere. It seemed she was stuck between either facing the vengeance of Lord Cobrane or finding some way to stay with this ragtag group of adventurers as they pursued their fool's errand. Neither rotting in Cobrane's dungeon, nor dying with her companions in the bleak passes of the Deathwatch mountains, appealed to her in the least.

Frowning as she considered her situation, she undid the lacings of the hard leather case protecting her most precious possession: her lute. She took advantage of Devin's inattention to move off to the very edge of the camp, so she could play without disturbing those trying to sleep - as long as she was quiet, she doubted anyone would be bothered by her.

She sat down on a convenient rock and ran her long fingers lightly across the strings a few times, tuning the instrument to her satisfaction, before beginning to play. The song was a bittersweet ballad about an old warrior forced to go on one last adventure to save his grandson, and River closed her eyes as she sang, letting the melody fill her. Her voice blended softly with the tune's simple harmonies and, as always, she could feel herself relax as the music flowed through her.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc gets down off his pony with more dignity than the last time. He was starting to get used to riding again, which suprised him. He had not thought that he would ever see an adventure again , unless he read of it in a book. He unrolled his bed roll and looked around for Dust. He saw that Dust was getting himself settled too, putting down his bedroll. Then Rhuarc noticed a lump under Dust's bedroll. Rhuarc reached out and uncovered a wineskin. "Dust, you know what Master Logan said about this. Give this to me to keep safe, safe from you at least." Dust protests weakly, but sees that Rhuarc is not going to change his mind. Rhuarc goes to the edge of camp and hides the wineskin in the underbrush. Wiping his hands off, Rhuarc goes back to the camp to get a nights rest.

 

[SpectralDragoon]

A walk around the clearing yielded what Devin was looking for. After grooming his horse and tethering it where it could graze a bit, he gathered a few knives from his saddlebags and walked from the clearing. He sat upon the flat rock and pulled his feet in to sit indian style and laid his weapons at his sides. Closing his eyes, he began to concentrate on his breathing. Arms raised, pulling fresh energy toward himself, pushing away the negative energy of stress and frustration, worry and doubt. Breath was expelled from his lungs with this movement, pushing it through his teeth.

What was that? He quieted his breathing exercise but continued moving his arms, now moving through some basic forms; blocks, knife hand attacks, feignts, palm strikes. Slow and deliberate. Singing, someone was singing so beautifully. The sounds floated through the trees to his ears and he drank it in. Curiousity made him want to look, to get up and find the source, a faery perhaps? But he kept his concentration up and rose fluidly, silently with his knives. Using the music, he danced with it. Blades arcing and slashing, thrusting, pushing everything from his mind but the dance and the song, that voice. Perspiring, breathing heavily, he resumed his former position on the rock and meditated once more.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Eying the elf over the back of his horse for a moment, Logan thought on what to say, then resting his arms across the back of the horse he looked Leaf in the eye and in reply said.

"Yes, most of the group does not know the dangers of Lurking Wood. Most would not want to know if they found out. It was also not just your magic users that created the monsters known to populate the wood, to those of us with that knowledge. The dwarves to are at fault for that Gentle Healer. As to what we shall encounter? Well, the last time I went through here the Undead were certainly in an uproar over something. I later found out that a new necromancer had come to power in Black Pool, the Blackmarch mage's school of magic and he had been summoning the undead from the wood. But that was almost a decade ago, and I and the Rangers of Easthaven dealt with that. The Ogres, and Trolls are still very much in evidence there in the wood. But that is all I know at this time. As for the safety of the group, rarely does a group as big and as well armed as ours get molested, but I will warn them tomorrow at breakfast to be alert. I will NOT tell them about the wood though, otherwise, we might get caught by either the group who attacked us, or not reach the moutains before the first leaf fall. But if you have objections to my plan, please, feel free to voice them to me now, but I cannot promise I will follow your advice." and as he finished he stroked the horse a few more times, with an quizzical tilt to his eye brows inviting Leaf to speak more.

 

[Paendragon]

Leaf eyed Logan thoughtfully, his head tilted slightly to the side. Leaf was afforded a certain amount of protection from some of the creatures in the Wood as were all of his people, but others would view his pointed ears as the grandest trophy to be found. Still, there were things he could do. Not much, unfortunately, but some.

"The group is yours to command, of course," he spoke softly, bowing his head.

"As for the the Wood," he gestured gracefully toward the trees, "nature has always been a friend to my people, and us to her. There are... things... I can do to hide us from most of what lives in the dark places. As for the stronger evils..." he shrugged slightly. "Anything I do to protect us, will only draw more attention to us than we would care to have. As you most likely are aware, in the Lurking Wood, attention can mean death."

He studied the other man a moment before speaking. "I believe there is more to you than meets the eye, Logan. I will trust you to lead us safely through."

The sound of song drifted toward him, giving him pause. He turned his head slightly toward the camp. "If you will excuse me, there are things I must prepare before morning." He turned back toward Logan, and bowed his head. "I will trust your judgement in the Lurking Wood, friend Logan, and will give whatever aid I can."

He waited for Logan's reply, before bowing again, and heading toward camp.

When he arrived at camp, he sat cross-legged across from River, with his hands on his knees, and closed his eyes. He could feel the music caress him as intimately as any lover could. He swayed slowly in time with River's voice, humming softly, his voice lost in hers. He was sure no one would even notice he sang at all. Music had always had a profound affect on him, bringing him peace from chaos, and love from hate.

Right now, he needed such peace for the trials to come.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc is having a wonderful dream. His former love, Strumpett Rakenclaw has found him at last . She runs to him and gives him a sloppy kiss. Rhuarc holds her lithe body in his strong arms as he prepares to.......wait.....lithe body. This is a lumpy smelly body in my arms. Rhuarc opens his eyes fast and sees the Dust was able to find the jar of dwarven spirits. He must have finished the whole jar, to be this drunk. I wonder who he thinks I am.

Rhuarc roughly pushes Dust off of him, getting to his feet fast. He prepared to yell at the drunken Dwarf, but knew that Logan would have no tolerance for it. He did not want to be the reason for Dust being kicked out of the party. So instead, Rhuarc fetched Dust a hard kick in the ribs, waking him up. "Go back to your own bedroll, you drunken sot. "Rhuarc whispers to Dust. "I know I am a sexy bastard, but not for the likes of you. " So saying, Rhuarc rolls back up in his blankets and goes back to sleep.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

Vixen woke, as was her wont, only few hours after she forced herself to rest. Her eyes immediately alert, she studied her surroundings before moving. Her nose sniffed out a scent that did not agree with her, but she kept her council about this for now.

Rolling up her bed roll with practised efficiency she packed her belongs and attached them to the saddle. She allowed her horse his freedom for now.

She walked away from the camp some distance and looked up at the still dark sky. She sensed that dawn was soon approaching but for now darkness carressed her and the feeling of being alone was a comfort.

Her cheek no longer throbbed so badly. An attestment to her speed in recovering from wounds. She smiled wryly at this thought. She had almost been accused of witchcraft once. Suggestions were made to have her burned. She had silenced that particular person rather aggressively, even for her, she acknowledged.

She thought about the group at large. The strange woman and her captor. The elf who travelled with them despite the association with dwarves. The two dwarves themselves, so different in spirit. The two males, good fighters from what she could gather... and then Logan. She frowned. Shaking her head she dismissed the troublesome thoughts that plagued her. A neat trick that served her well in times over past.

The ride through the lurking wood would be fun. She decided. Something to take her mind off things for a while. She'd been through them before. Her survival making her quite rare among women. It was never easy, always challenging, and one never really knew what to expect from it. Oh yes, this would be just the thing to keep her melancholy thoughts at bay. Stretching cat-like she yawned and arched feeling and hearing her bones crack as she stretched them into place. Shaking her limbs and tossing her head, she headed back to camp.

 

[crysede]

River:
When the song ended she had opened her eyes to see Leaf sitting nearby. She smiled at him, he obviously shared her feeling for music, and she would have like to talk with him a while. However, seeing Devin reappear in the camp and begin looking around (no doubt for her), she thought better of it, and swiftly returned to her bed roll for the night before the bounty hunter became suspicious.

 

[Paendragon]

Leaf climbed again to his feet, feeling refreshed, and walked deeper into the forest. He collected herbs and and leaves, and the bark of an old giant oak, and placed them into his belt pouch.

He would use them as a ward for the group, just as he had said he would. The old forests had immeasurable power to one who knew how to use it. A power only tempered by the tenets of his faith; restrictions that he was bound to adhere to, as were all elves in the Order.

After gathering what he needed, he found a bed of soft grass, and sank to the ground to sleep, wrapped only in his cloak.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

With the rising of the sun, Rhuarc wakes up fully. He looks around the camp and sees that everyone is still asleep. He opens up his pack, taking out some hard tack to eat. He stirs up the fire, adding new wood to get it blazing. He waits for his companions to wake up and greet the new day.

 

[Paendragon]

Leaf woke at sunrise, but didn't rise from his cloak. Instead he listened to the sounds of the forest waking. It's amazing how much so much noise could be so peaceful. Of course, as an elf, the forests were his element. He felt as at home here, as the humans in there cities, and the dwarves in there mines.

Eventually he rose, and set about his tasks. He removed a small mortar and pestle from his pack, and crushed the leaves and herbs he had gathered the previous night. The mixture went into a small leather pouch, which in turn went on a cord. He squeezed the pouch in his hands, and looked to the trees.

He started singing softly in an ancient Elvin dialect not heard to most in years. In the song he asked the forests for protection from the evils that infest it, he offered his apologies for what part his people played in it, and he reswore his oath to protect it, and all of it's brethren.

The wind blew through the trees on answer, rustling the leaves in acknowledgement, offering the answer to his song. He smiled, and knotted the cord. This would protect them from all but the worst evils of the forests. The power to do more, was forbidden.

He turned, gathered his cloak and pack, and walked back into camp. Nodding and smiling at the dwarf, he sat cross-legged by the fire, and pulled some dried fruits and berries from his pack. He offered some to the dwarf, and would do the same for each as they rose, before breaking his own fast.