The Curse of Calamus

[poohlive]

Sebulba shook his head fiercely.
"After," he grumbld to the elf. His wounds would be treated once the threat was over, and no sooner. As long as he had a breath left to fight, he would. When the orcs were defeated, then would he allow himself to relax and be healed. No sooner.
This new found way of fighting was good though. The orcs would jump, and his axe would be there. More than a few of the flying fireballs were chopped in half before ever touching the ground. Their torso's flying to one side, while their legs each rolled back into the fire.
That all changed though. The wind began to pick up.
No, that wasn't the wind. It was a voice, many voices all talking. He could not hear anything above a whisper, but finally, he could see them.
"Friends," his eyes wandered to the spectacle above him. They were saved, he didn't know how or why, but they were saved.

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

Cowering in the center of the group, Uwef waits for the battle to end. He eggs on his companions while staying safely surrounded by elves. Better them than me, he thinks to himself.

The bright insects swarm in the air above sending Uwef into utter frenzy. He ducks down and tries to make himself as inconspicuous as possible. Uwef keeps thinking that they are doomed.

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard

He gritted his teeth. Rolloing the sleeves of his cloak up, he removed his gloves. With a resolove of steel, he began grapping the firey mail the orcs were dressed in, and heaving them back through the flames to join their companions. He began grabbing them as soon as they lunged in, turning around in a circle to add force as he flung them back out. The flaming orcs were weapons against their comrades, and they weren't able to jump back through the flames a second time, causing damage to those outside the box.

Richard was too busy with his work to notice any damn voices, of the glittering magic whosawhatsis. Unable to hold back the pain of burning his own hands in such a manner, he began yelling at the orcs as he heaved them back at their friends.

"Welcome to Hell, now get the fuck out!"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Friends above

The glittering specks of whatever it was fell around them like a light snow, but had no affect. The orcs, however, seemed to be at least mesmerized, as their assault was slowing down, then ceased entirely. After a moment, there was total silence outside the firebox.
The old man turned to Briomen, who shrugged.
As they watched above, the faeries continued overhead, but one separated from the rest and floated down, its little wings moving quickly like those of a humming bird, by the looks of it.
It reached them in only a few seconds, buzzing around them as though it were sizing them up. Pennindar lowered his weapon, wanting to appear peaceful.
The faerie didn't seem to notice, but merely fly around those among them, stopping for a moment before each of them, then dancing on the air to the next.
At last, it stopped in the center of the group, looking down at the cowering Uwef, then flew upward until it hovered just above them, and announced, in a voice that seemed too small to hear, though it was very clear, "I am Wynd. I am a friend. Come, follow us through the trees. We'll see you through the forrest."
Pennindar watched as the small figure flew high into the air to join the other faeries then.
"What has happened?" He asked Briomen.
"I believe they've cast some sort of sleeping spell on our enemies, but it won't last for long. We must put out the flames and follow them," the elf replied.
Pennindar turned to his companions. "Is this wise do you think?"

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard

Richard, who was just noticing what was going on, was distracted by a numb feeling. Looking at his leg, where this feeling started, he noticed he was standing in a small puddle of his own blood. The stinging burn pain in his hands brought his eyes to their burnt, scarred fingers. With tears of pain running from his clenched eyes, he falls to the ground, unable to hold himself upright as he releases the scream that's been boiling beneath the surface.

After a line of curses that covers just about everything except elves, rocks, and faeries, he collapsed. Muscles relaxing, he simply drifted off, far beyond the rest of the group. Drifted off to a deep, calming sleep that treatened to consume all.

 

[Firesprite]

Kyleen

Turning to Richard just as he began to collapse, Kyleen catches his head before he hits the hard ground. Hoisting him up to the back of her sturdy horse, she follows the wizard and the faeries closely.

Speaking to the giant, she says "perhaps you would hold him steady, stop him falling off" knowing that the giant would probably need to lean on something himself before long if his wounds were as bad as they looked. Her horse was sturdy, used to heavy weights and the smell of blood. She was confident it would bear up well.

Sheathing her bloody sword as she walked tiredly through the trees, she barely noticed the mesmerised Orcs.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Traveling through a falling forrest of orcs

As soon as Richard fell, the elves, hurried over, not bothering to help as Kyleen hoisted him onto her horse. They had other things to do, like move some of the burning bodies aside to make a way out of the firebox. They moved wearily out into the open, watching as the orcs stood there, seemingly hypnotized but something that wasn't even there. Their eyes were focused off in distant places, each having its own focal point. As they moved past, the orcs began to fall, not landing hard on their sides or faces or backs, but their legs softly buckling, letting their weight sort of roll onto the ground instead, knees hitting first, then hips, then shoulders, hardly making much sound individually, but making a roucus together.
"We must hurry," DaSanda said. "Richard is in great need of healing."
"As soon as possible," Pennindar ensured.
They followed the faeries down through the valley, leading them toward the end, where a stream broke the path. They waded it, moving as quickly as they could. As they reached the other side, they could hear the distant, angered cries of the orcs as they began to awaken, realizing their prey were gone.
"They're up ahead," Briomen said, speaking low as if the orcs would hear.
"Hurry," DaSanda said, sounding very worried.
The ground to either side, which had been enbankments, was now almost flat, and the trees began to spread out from there, moving across their path. They trod between them, moving toward where the faeries had stopped above.
When they reached them, Wynd flew back down to them, stopping in front of Briomen and saying. "Not he may be healed, as best you may. The orcs won't find you here, not for a while at least. Soon, we will move further on."
Pennindar turned to DaSanda and nodded. DaSanda looked to Briomen, who nodded as well.
She hurried over to Richard, followed by two of the other elves, who helped to take the man down from the horse's back and lay him flat on the ground. She placed her hands together over the wound in his leg and pressed them down tightly, then closed her eyes and tilted her head to face the sky above, looking oddly like she was praying.
SHe began to hum softly, barely audible, and continued this for what must have been five minutes, her humming forming a tune as she went. When she finished, she sat in silence for a few seconds longer, then closed her eyes, looking as though she'd just come out of a trance. She looked down at his leg, pulling her hands back, then sighed with relief.
"It won't save him if he's been infected, but I can try something else later. For now, the bleeding's stopped, and the wound itself should be semi-healed, if not fully healed."
She looked to the giant.
"Is now a better time, god sir?"

 

[poohlive]

Sebulba growled as he passed the sleeping orcs. A few times he let his axe show his anger. Slicing the unconscious bodies in half cleanly. He was too proud a warrior to let their hatred go unnoticed.
He wasn't, however, too proud to accept help. He tried walking as best he could, but the dagger still deep within his side would not let up.
As they reached their final destination the horse was doing most of the work. He used it more like a cane, moving along until the end. Now, he collapsed on the ground, breathing harshly.
When the elf finally came over to him, he simply waved her off. He wanted to sleep, that dust had made him awfully tired.
The elf was persitant though. He leaned to his side, letting his mind already wander to dreams.
"Hurry up," he grumbled, although not meaning too. In truth by the time she started he was fully asleep.
The blade was stuck deep.

 

[Firesprite]

Kyleen

watching closely as her two wounded companions were being tended, Kyleen cleaned her sword. The arrows had quickly run out and hand to hand fighting had left Sharp stained from tip to hilt in Orc blood. Seeing that the knife in Sebulba's side was stuck fast, she moved up beside the elf that was examining him.
touching the elven arm to draw its attention she quickly explained how she might help with such a grevious wound.
"the knife is buried deep, stuck in a bone. My sword, Sharp, if placed in the wound can eliminate infection, and start the body's healing. This can be painful, and doesn't complete the job, but I think that his blood is already being poisoned. I am strong, and he is unconcious. I can pull the knife and cleanse the wound for you to heal."

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

Uwef, following behind, overhears Kyleen discussing the cleansing. "Arr. Damn gruesome, if you ask me!" With that, I start searching through the group for someone will a full bottle of ale.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

The cleansing

The elf, DaSanda, waited as the woman did as she said, then, went about humming and singing again, hands held tightly over the wound. As her song trailed off, she released and examined the wound.
It had truly been deep, but the healing had gone quite well.
"It will be sore, and possibly ache for a few days but he will most likely be fine," she announced.
"Let's move on," Briomen said, "The faeries await us."
Overhead, they were floating on small light wings, watching the scene below.
"Can we wake the giant?" Boguras asked. "He can rest when we reach the end of the forrest."
Briomen reached down and carefully shook the large creature.

 

[Firesprite]

Kyleen

Seeing the giant was not going to rouse quite yet, Kyleen quickly cut two long thin saplings, trimmed off their branches, lashed her blankets to the ends then attached the free ends to her saddle, forming a travois.

With the help of the elfs, she loaded the unconsious giant onto it.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

And so on...

And so they moved on, the giant still deep in slumber as they went. They reached the edge of the wood near nightfall, and there, the faeries bid them goodnight, and went off into the trees, flying high above, then vanishing between the leaves there.
Wynd stayed near, promising them, "We'll see you through the night. Rest well, for we'll let no harm come to you in the night."
They settled in to rest, Pennindar hoping that the night would bring less trouble than those that had recently passed...

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

Finally away from all of the orcs and from those weird fay, the dwarf finds shelter leeward of a large leaning boulder. For the first time in the trek, Uwef is comfortable: sleeping soundly on the dirt and rocks that shape his bones.

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard the Unconscious

It was a while before Richard awoke again. Slowly, he sat up, bringing his hands to his face. He had a pounding headache, and a dull throb that seemed to come from everywhere. As he lowered his hands, his eyes opened. His hands still stung of heat, but no more than putting them in a pot of boiling water. He grimmanced, slowly testing his fingers.

Suddenly, a realization hit him, he looked up, glancing around. He was still weak, having lost a lot of blood for his thin frame. He was not a warrior, bulging with muscles and able to dismiss the wound he had gotten. He was a theif. It was his job not to be seen. And for the first time, that ability had hindered him. As the others had seen about the giant, he had seemingly slipped from their minds, left behind as he was.

"Dammit. This would happen after I've gotten lost, wouldn't it? Couldn't forget about me on the road, nooo. All this 'Richard the Brave' crap. Then, as soon as I show I'm just the weak son of a scribe, pow, sitting alone in a clearing. If my mother hadn't been raised in the woods, I'd probably be too lost to do anything. Not that I know enough to find anything out here, anyway. Maybe I'll run across an orc raiding party I can follow to a town."

Slowly, he got to his unsteady feet. He walked to a nearby tree, leaning against it. He looked around, and groaned. "I'm dead. Dead dead dead dead dead. In the name of all things holy, why didn't I just become a blacksmith? Everyone needs swords, and armor and such, especially now. Why oh why did I think I could do better as a theif?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

The dragon cave

She crawled through the caves, her mind still thinking of those she'd seen slaughtered, and entered the large lair. The dragons were there, of every almost every type, sitting around, heads bowed low in fear and grief.
She moved slowly into their midst, the little ones following her. EIght of them, all she could save, all winged. All were exhausted.
They huddled around her, frightened of every shadow or movement.
"How many have made it?" She asked.
"Very few," Melthar the ancient responded, shaking his head. "Most have perrished. And those the haven't won't make it this far to escape."
She sighed and slumped down, needing to rest.
"Take heed, Constance," Melthar warned. "This will mean a war. Slaughters like this cannot go unanswered. We've sent word to the elementals, who have already begun to attack them to the south of here, and the water dragons, who will attempt to slow their crossings of the rivers. It is only a matter of time before this land is a battlefield, everywhere you may look."
SHe sighed deeply. "Then I must take the young further north," she said.
Melthar said nothing.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

The morning comes...

Pennindar awoke to the sound of the faeries singing softly above, all in chorus as though they'd practiced the sound for decades.
He opened his eyes and looked up. Their small forms were everywhere above, save for one, Wynd, who hovered above Briomen's head, humming the same tune and waiting for him to arise.
The old wizard sat up and looked around. Night had passed without disturbance, as promised, and now, the day lie ahead of them.
"My dear Wynd," he began, standing, "You have indeed proven yourself a friend. And I thank you greatly for that."
Wynd stopped humming and flew over to him, replying in that tiny voice. "We are honored to help, but now we must return to our village. Good luck to you and your company. Bring peace to the land once again."
He nodded. "We shall try with every once of our hearts."
Wynd joined the others above them then, and they flew of, looking like a humongous swarm of bees floating gently across the breeze toward the trees behind them.
He stretched, not wanting to give i to the responsibility ahead of them. The singing had been far too peaceful to let go of casually, but things had to be done.
HE clapped his hands loudly.
"Come, everyone, awake!" he shouted. "Time to get moving!"

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard the Lost

Choosing a direction at random, he began to stagger along. Walking through bushes and stopping frequently to lean against trees, he left a trail a blind man could follow. Blood loss left him dizzy and confused.

Wandering lost through the woods, he took him awhile to realize that everything was blurred. Stopping he turned around. Suddenly, the world started spinning. He fell backwards, into unconsciousness, sprawled across the trail he'd made and was now wandering across for the third time.

 

[Firesprite]

Kyleen

with a groan Klyeen squinted at the sky, sure she had only just lain down moments before. pushing her hair away from her face, she slowly gained her feet. Her muscles ached in protest, the fighting of the previous day having strained them.

Looking bleerily around she saw her companions just rising, and the almost indecent look of alertness on the old wizards face.
Frowning to herself she again surveyed her companions, feeling there was something not quite right, but her muzzy brain didn't want to work. Finally she realized what, or rather who was missing.

"Pennindar!" she called, "Where is Richard?"

 

[Firesprite]

"Pennindar!..... Pennidar?" Kyleen called

He must have slipped off to take a leak or something she thought.

Spying a rabbit hidden in the bushes, Kyleen readied her sling. With a practiced throw she killed the unsuspecting rabbit. As she skinned and gutted it Kyleen looked across at her empty quiver. I'm not going to be able to replace my arrows she thought I don't have time to straighten any shafts, and where would I get heads? Wish I had thought to pull some out of the Orcs when we left, they were good arrows. Where IS Richard? For that matter, Pennidar is taking an awful long time. Maybe is bowels aren't moving as easily as they should. Age and stress can do that to such old people. I should keep an eye out for some fruit trees for him, an all protein diet isn't good.

As she waited, Kyleen busied herself with making a fire to cook herself the fresh rabbit.

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

Waking with a start, Uwef slams his head into the boulder. From that distance, the dwarf watches as Kyleen kills the large rabbit. As she skins the furry mammal, Uwef inspects his clothes and notices that he does not need any patches today. Looking up again, he notices that Kyleen is just finishing lighting a fire. Grabbing a branch, Uwef walks over to Kyleen and offers the smooth stick as a spit, "I suppose you might need one of these to properly char that meat. Umm. Umm. I don't suppose there's enough to share? I just realized how hungry I am." With that , the short man smiles at Kyleen--who, while sitting is the same height as him.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Morning...

The old wizard wandered back to the campsite, greeted by the smell of cooking rabbit. Not enough for everyone, but it would help some of them. He stopped near them and looked around...was everyone else still sleeping?
Oh well, he thought. Wasn't lik eit hadn't taken him his time to do his morning business. And that situation was getting worse as he grew older. He'd had to walk what seemed to be half a mile to find a stream...the sound of running water usually took care of his "evacuation" difficulty.
He settled down next to Kyleen and Uwef, who were tending the cooking this morning.
"I'm not certain what the future brings us," he said, "but as we move North, things will become more and more dangerous, and our freinds may very well become scarce. We have been lucky so far..."
He looked at the two.
"I have faith in us as individuals, and as a group. When the others arise, we will move on..."

 

[Firesprite]

Kyleen

Glancing up from her task as Uwef approached she saw the sturdy stick he was holding. Gratefully taking it from his small hand she said "Certainly, there is plenty to feed us on this rabbit. Do you think you could find two more sticks with a fork on the end? if we push the straight ends into the ground on either side of the fire, we can rest this one in the forks. It will save us having to hold it over the fire, and we only need to turn the spit occasionally."

Looking up as Pennindar approached and eased himself down, Kyleen smiled to him, indicating he could share the meal of rabbit.

She listened attentivly as he spoke about the journey to come and thought to herself that life for everyone was rapidly getting more and more dangerous, let alone just their northward journey.

Interrupting him as he began to lay out todays plan she asked "Pennindar, where is Richard? I don't see him here."

 

[poohlive]

With little more than a huffed grunt, Sebulba leaned up against his small bed. Well, what was a bed to him; nothing more than a blanket draped over the grass and another over himself. He winced in pain as his side screamed out at such a fast movement.
There was a huge bandage over the right side of his chest. Whatever they had done, had taken a lot out of him. He wasn't conscious for any of it, just remember them wanting to move off.
He must have slept through the night's journey.
The morning was now clear and bright. Birds far off could be heard chirping for their morning breakfest. Speaking of which, a slow wavering aroma of fresh simmering meat met him. He looked over to see a rabbit being cooked.
Ahhh, breakfast. He leaned over, revealing his knapsack. Dried venison would do for him today. That rabbit could satisfy a couple of humans, and maybe even a dwarf, but it wouldn't even phase a giant's hunger. After gnawing off a piece of meat, he rached back to grab a leather canteen of water.
He winced, swallowing it. Warm. Must have been with him all night. He didn't care though, water was water, taking another swig he finally got to his feet.
His body was sore, but besides the dull ache that came from his side, he was otherwise fine. A couple of new scars were now present on his arms, some still trailing blood, but that was expected. Anyone who didn't leave a battlfield with at least one scare was either a fool or a coward.
Sebulba was neither.
Rubbing a crick out of his neck, he prepared himself for another long journey, which he didn't doubt they would partake today.

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

Walking through the underbrush, Uwef carries a sturdy stick with a divergent end. Finally, after what seems like an eternity of searching, he finds a sister to the lonely stick and brings the pair back to Kyleen. "Do these match the description?" he asks her as he hands the two forked sticks to her.

Then, Uwef turns to the mighty wizard. Remembering the words that the mage said before he started looking for the sticks, Uwef nods at the leader of the group. Faith, indeed is what we all need, now! The threat of the northern lands is not far ahead. Uwef's entire body screams, You can trust me, save his mouth. The silent pleading goes unnoticed and Uwef saves his pride for now.

"Sir Giant. Are you awake?!"