Rise of an Empire

[SpectralDragoon]

Turning his head as he secures his pack on his horse, he watches River doing the same. Finishing, he gives his horse a pat on the flanks and makes sure the girth strap is snug. He turns again and walks toward his "companion".

"River," he says, as he places a firm grasp upon her shoulder so she'll turn. He lets his arm slip back down to his hip, resting there.

"As Logan said, today will be a rough ride so... stay alert. Wouldn't want anything bad to happen to that pretty face of yours, and I need you in good health for payment."

Thats what that was just about right? Payment?

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

Vixen noted the awaking camp.

She watched as each member of the group did their own thing. Had their own way of waking in fact.

Vixen herself was generally grumpy in the mornings and in fact when she was tired in general. By waking before light and spending time with herself she had saved her fellow travellers the discomfort of dealing with her in that mood.

She nodded curtly to the dwarf who was so at odds with his drunken mate. Listened curiously to the elf's song before striding over to Logan's form still lying on the ground. She nudged him unceremoniously with her booted foot.

"Hey... I smell something... it' won't be an easy crossing... we'd better get a move on." Her eyes sparkled though with humour as she spoke. She suddenly remembered something from their past but kept the memory to herself as she got down to the business of saddling her horse. She stretched once more shaking off the last of sleep and fully alert started to lead her horse into the woods.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Eyes springing open in an instant at the touch of Vixen's boot, he stopped himself from bolting from the bed roll dagger in hand. Looking into her laughing eyes but also paying attention to what she said made up his mind. Getting up he packed few belongings onto his horse which was hobbled nearby. Turing he walked to the fire and watched as everyone came around it eventually.

Looking at all of them he could only wonder if many would make it, but he decided to hold his toungue and fears for now. Grunting he spoke...

"We will be entering the wood, one of the more dangerous parts of our travels. Leaf here has offered to ask the wood for their help in getting us through there. I will warn you though that if you feel something wrong or unbsettling, let the rest of us know. Thats usually the only warning we'll get before the Wood makes a move. HUrry up and get settled and we'll ride while there's still lots of light left."

And putting word to action he led his horse to the river to drink again and seeing it was done set about saddling it and when he was done, turned to watch the group form up behind him.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Eyes springing open in an instant at the touch of Vixen's boot, he stopped himself from bolting from the bed roll dagger in hand. Looking into her laughing eyes but also paying attention to what she said made up his mind. Getting up he packed few belongings onto his horse which was hobbled nearby. Turing he walked to the fire and watched as everyone came around it eventually.

Looking at all of them he could only wonder if many would make it, but he decided to hold his toungue and fears for now. Grunting he spoke...

"We will be entering the wood, one of the more dangerous parts of our travels. Leaf here has offered to ask the wood for their help in getting us through there. I will warn you though that if you feel something wrong or unbsettling, let the rest of us know. Thats usually the only warning we'll get before the Wood makes a move. HUrry up and get settled and we'll ride while there's still lots of light left."

And putting word to action he led his horse to the river to drink again and seeing it was done set about saddling it and when he was done, turned to watch the group forming up behind him.

 

[Gaston_McBain]

Angus

"We will be entering the wood, one of the more dangerous parts of our travels. Leaf here has offered to ask the wood for their help in getting us through there. I will warn you though that if you feel something wrong or unbsettling, let the rest of us know. Thats usually the only warning we'll get before the Wood makes a move. HUrry up and get settled and we'll ride while there's still lots of light left."

"What the hell he is talking about?" Angus thought "Wood making a move? It must be vile magic!".

Obviously, Logan had not told all about this "wood". He had said it was full of wild beasts, no problem there, but magic? Man and beast were one thing but magic was another, a thing to be feared. Angus resolved himself not to advance until he had heard the entire story behind this "wood".

"What are you talking about Logan?" Angus challenged "What is the true nature of this wood? What you have kept hidden from us!"

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc accepts the fruit and berries with a nod. He sees that the others are getting ready to break camp . He listens to Logan talk about the upcoming travel through the woods. Sounds dangerous, but then, so much in life is. Rhuarc finishes packing up his stuff and attaches it to his pony. He climbs up into the saddle and is getting ready to leave when Angus started to ask some pointed questions. Rhuarc waits to see what Logan has to say in response to Angus' question.

 

[crysede]

River:
She was in a somber mood this morning, still troubled about her unpleasant circumstances. Devin came over just as she had finished getting her horse ready to depart, and his show of concern initially softened her feelings regarding him, until he brought up his 'reward'. Highly annoyed with herself for thinking of this gold-digging scum of a bounty hunter in anything but unfriendly terms, she gave Devin one of her best glares.

"And just what good will 'staying alert' do me, prey tell? You've deprived me of both my bow and my blades: what do you suggest I do upon being attacked by some foul beast, play him to death with my lute?" She retorted, with just the right amount of self-righteous anger.

Then, warming to the role of 'elfin lass about to be tragically martyred in her vile captor's lust for gold,' River added: "And as for your reward: I can only hope that, should I be killed, my attackers will maul my corpse so thoroughly beyond recognition, that you shall not be able to get one cent from that foul pig who set you upon me!"

Feeling quite pleased with this performance, she mounted her horse.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

Vixen left her horse at the edge of the woods and walked back to the now dwindling camp fire where Logan was confronted by Angus.

Unable to stop herself she stepped forward with a smile. Her palms open to show she was telling him nought but the truth.

"Angus... fellow traveller... I myself have more than once passed through this very wood unscathed... do not acuse our leader of treachery... if he holds some truths to himself he does it to protect the group. In truth there are strange beasts in this wood that warrant our extra care. If he does not tell you more it is so as not to uneccesarily cause alarm. We may yet pass through without incident. Let me assure you though that a group such as ours should have no fear, we can more than deal with anything the woods contain."

She looked to Logan for confirmation of her speech.

 

[SpectralDragoon]

The longer she talked, the more flushed his face became. Flushed with a good deal of humiliation, his face became red in the cool air of morning. He could feel it burning on his cheeks and the fact that it would be so apparent wasn’t helping it at all.

It was pretty senseless, leaving the woman with no way to defend herself when they were heading toward dangerous places. She’d not really given him any trouble so far along their journey. Certainly less trouble than he himself would’ve given a captor.

And if she wasn’t so damned good at playing her lute, he would agree that it would, in fact, be possible to play any of their adversaries to death.

He sighed, glancing toward the ground.

”And as for your reward: I can only hope that, should I be killed, my attackers will maul my corpse so thoroughly beyond recognition, that you shall not be able to get one cent from that foul pig who set you upon me!”

His jaw dropped at her statement. The flush of embarrassment on his face just receding was brought back full force again, but this time by anger and frustration. He had only been trying to jest with her, how could he show true concern for her with the role that he had to play: “The Tough Captor” , “Slave Driver.” He could see the looks the others gave them from time to time. They seemed almost to take her side, without voicing anything at all.

His eyes squinted together involuntarily with his anger and with a movement quick as hers he mounted his horse. It only took a moment to unfasten her bow from its place against his saddle. Reigning his horse over next to hers he tossed her bow, and then her quiver with her blades and arrows inside it to her.

 

[Darklord]

Logan

Looking at Angus, then at Vixen he sighed and said..

"It's okay Vix, yes Angus, she is correct there are many things dwelling in these woods that are more than just beasts. And yes, I was not going to tell the group what they were since most are not about during the daylight, except in the deepest recesses of the trees. I have hopes to pass through before many of them awake since that would be a very risky proposition on our part to remain in there when they come out of their dens. As for what lives in there, let us say that many of us would prefer to avoid them." and as he finished, he cocked his head to one side to hear Angus's answer.

 

[Gaston_McBain]

Angus

Logan's answer confirmed some of Angus misgivings about the wood but he also realized that there wasn't much he could do about it. There probably wasn't any time to backtrack and if Logan was correct, the wood would be moderately safe during the day.

"If these... creatures do not come out in the day, then I think it would be best to move as quickly as possible."

Angus reluctantly got in his saddle and prepared to move out.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc was suprised when Vixen jumped in and tried to talk Angus down. He knew that Logan and her were friends, but he was the leader of the group. Though, she did do a good job. She was a woman of many talents. Logan did his best to add his reassurance to what Vixen had said, so Angus seemed to have calmed down. Rhuarc did not understand. There was danger in life anywhere you were. What difference if you find it in a dark forest or around your forge. Shaking his head, Rhuarc started his pony on the move again.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

Vixen was getting edgy. She now recalled why she tended to stay away from groups. It was always so much harder to get them to move. Alone, she could up and leave camp in a matter of moments. These people were almost dawdling.

In truth, she respected them all individually, but she was not the most patient of women at the best of times.

"Come on... are we moving or not?" She snapped as she mounted her horse.

"Logan... I'm going ahead to scout the track." She noticed Rhuarc and beckoned him. "Keep me company Rhuarc... two sets of eyes are better than one." She managed a smile but she remained distracted and eager to be on the move.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc looks over at Vixen and smiles. "Of course I will go with you. Its very boring scouting on your own. " He notices her distraction and wonders if she wants to talk to him away from the others. Rhuarc chucks his pony's reins and follows Vixen.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Dust

I awake that morning feeling distant from the group, as though I were returning to them from a long absense. I brushed the feeling off. Must be my imagination.
I gathereed my things, feeling bettwe this morning than I had the previous morning, but still a little upset at my stomach. The spirits had been more subtle than i had at first expected, caught up to me before I realized they were chasing...
I gathered my things and packed them onto the pony, then listened as Logan and Vixen and ANgus shared a few words, only half paying atention to the content after hearing Logan's initial statement: We will be entering the wood, one of the more dangerous parts of our travels. Leaf here has offered to ask the wood for their help in getting us through there. I will warn you though that if you feel something wrong or unbsettling, let the rest of us know. Thats usually the only warning we'll get before the Wood makes a move.
I wondered if I should warn them about the unsettling feeling I was experiencing, then decided it best to keep quite. Hang-overs were temporary. I just needed some water and a little of the root.
I grabbed my wineskin and felt the contents inside...enough to tie one more on.
I shook my head, realizing that what was in the skin was the first few steps down an unpromising road, then wandered to the edge of camp and emptied it onto the ground. No more druniken nonsense, no more unnecessary distractions. If the original builders of Rockholm had indulged as I have, the city would never have been built, for chrissakes!
I ticked the skin with my other items, planning to fill it with water when I crossed another stream, until then, the water in my waterskin would be more than enough. I mounted as waited for Logan's signal to move, watching Rhuarc and Vixen head off ahead of us.

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

Vixen rode alongside Rhuarc in companiable silence for a while. She was happy to be riding away from the group for now. Her mind free to be alert to the wilderness around her. The creaking sound of the great trees as they sway against the buffeting winds high above them.

The scent she had noted was becomed noticably prominent. She scouted with her eyes too, looked across the road before them, her ears attuned to the dense forest along their sides.

"Rhuarc," she spoke finally breaking the silence, "what do you know of these relics we are bound to fetch for our employers? Being of the dwarven race, you must have heard tales of them?"

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc tilts his head up at Vixen. "Logan has not gone into details as far as what artifacts we are looking for. I know that the Dwarven King had many useful and powerful artifacts at his disposal. If not for treachery in his own household, I doubt the elves would have been able to defeat him without that. Not many people know about that, it is a closely guarded secret. But if Logan was to name what we are looking for, I am sure I could give you information about it. You see, my father was the chief smith for the king. "

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

Vixen digested this information from Rhuarc.

"If your father was chief smith... you practically come from royalty!" She smiled down at him.

"What has brought you to this life of adventurer?" She asked now.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc pauses for a second to gather his thoughts and then turns to Vixen. "I lost my father to the cause. He stayed until the end , and died trying to defend his king. My mother moved my older brothers and I away from the stronghold to protect us from the invaders. I vowed that I would never kowtow to a ruler again like my father had done. No matter how just of a ruler the king had been, my father was honorbound to give his life in a conflict that had little to do with him.

When I was younger I used to adventure with many people. Have you ever heard of Dervim the Redhead and the Giantess Shelman? I can see by your eyes that you do. I was a good friend of the two and we had many great times together. As I got older, I decided that I wanted to settle down and raise a family. I moved my family a lot over the years, never satisfied with the people in charge of the towns. I have lived in this current town for 10 years now and found it to be a nice place to raise my family.

I overheard Logan talking about the quest for the Dwarven treasure. The call to restore my races honor made my blood boil. People think that dwarves were weak rulers and some would like to eliminate us from the face of this world. Showing the world the craftsmanship and power inherit in these Relics would make many people change the way they think. It might earn my race a place of honor once again. I have no allegiance to a king or ruler, but my heart has an allegiance to my race. "

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

"Ah Rhuarc, hearing you speak, reminds me of me many years ago." She smiles to show this is not necessarily a bad thing. "I wish I still had blood that boiled, it seems so long since anything touched me in such a way. 'Tis hard not having a people of my own or a family to speak of." She chuckles shaking off the melancholy that threatens her usual perky nature.

"Still, I have no complaints, 'tis the life I chose in the end. It's a life that lead me to people like yourself. I have much respect for you in the short time I've known you Rhuarc. I only hope we both finish this adventure in one piece, I would love to see this home of yours and your family one day."

*************

Just temporarily stepping in for Darklord until he returns to us...

Logan...

Logan leads the group into the forest. He notes the hoofprints left by Vixen and Rharc's mounts. He whistles once and hears Vixen's shrill reply.

So far, so good. All clear.

He rides at the front of the group with Angus not far behind. Leaf, Devin and River follow and at the rear, Dust.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc smiles over at Vixen. "Thank you milady, you are right. Maybe someday I will be able to show you my shop. I have some beautiful things that I have created. So when are we going to be through this forrest. It is awfully dark in here and I am concerned that we will be stranded in here for the night. "

 

[Moneytalks]

Vixen...

"Distance... here... has not quite the same meaning as it does outside the forest. Things are not altogether natural in this place. I have passed through it myself only twice before. Each experience was wildly different from the other. Afterwards, I was at a loss to explain how long it had taken. In truth it felt like an eternity, but to speak to those outside, I was gone less than half a day. If we are lucky, we won't need to camp in this place..."

The lack of sound was becoming eerie. The forest was dank and dark. Much like any other forest, but it seemed that the trees did not sway to the wind here... nor did birds twitter or chirp. Occassionally a rustle, but nothing so far crossed their path.

Vixen heard Logan's whistle and whistled back in response.

So far, so good.

 

[Khadgar]

Jokod

Hearing the whistling and the sounds of the group passing through the forres Jokod had followed them. they passed through the foiliage the tall ferns and trees were undisturbed. he didn't know why he did it, but the sudden waking, and finding himself so close to others, his blood flowed with rage, flying from the trees and tackling one of the mounted riders to the ground he stood, whirling and ripping a branch from a tree he faced the others, their outnumbering him not registering yet in his clouded mind.

 

[chewbacca71]

Rhuarc

Rhuarc heard the noise before he saw what happened. One minute they were minding their own business and the next minute, a large pile of homocidal rage attacked the party. Rhuarc heard the battlecry and turned in time to see a large creature vault out of the trees and drag Angus out of the saddle . Rhuarc could tell that Angus was hurt bad, just listening to the impact with the ground. The creature grabbed a treelimb to defend itself. Rhuarc tried to turn his pony and get to the creature , but others were in his way. Rhuarc rode off a little to the left to flank the creature and drew his axe from the holder on his back. Yelling a battlecry of his own, Rhuarc rode towards the monster. Coming closer to this creature, Rhuarc was able to see that it was an ogre and with it standing tall, was taller than Rhuarc on his pony. Rhuarc quickly stopped his attack and stood warily , barring the creature from a return to the woods, but declining to attack yet.

 

[Khadgar]

Jokod

Jokod opened his mouth and roared, strands of saliva streaming out. he swung his cub and smashed it aganst a tree breaking the club and tearing a chunk out of the tree. with each breath he could feel his rage decrease slowly, his vision settling into a normal colour.