The Curse of Calamus

[Quiet_Cool]

Leaving Boule's Den...

"Good," he said, "Then it's all settled. We must reach the house by nightfall, if we can. If not, I fear we will be in great danger."
He looked around, seeing the people looking at them, some angrily but most fearfully. He looked at Nathan.
"Perhaps they do blame us. Indeed, the attack last night was more harsh than most have been of late. And I do believe the wonder if we were the cause..." He pondered this, then shook his head. Perhaps the witch had sent them, sensing the danger she was about to face. The attacks had been common regardless of who was present in each town, but last night's did have a bit more aggression to it. The nighthounds generally only killed those who they saw as food or competition for such. Last night, they stalked outside the house, watching in as if they were spying on them. Curious, he thought.
"Come, everyone," he announced. "We'll talk on the way."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

The journey begins...

They traveled quickly, having packed only light. Pennindar kept a close eye on the dwarf as they went, watching to ensure the safety of his bag and dear friend Talbot, who he guessed was both frightened and furious.
The town quickly grew smaller behind them as they traveled, moving on foot along the path at first, then traveling off into the woods as the path turned and went toward a small group of stone houses along the mountain. As they rode Pennindar explained to the elf and the dwarf and Richard the thief what lay ahead, at least in what detail he had given the others, again, careful of what he said. Some things they would have to understand as they came to, and he well realized that. It seemed they would be coming upon some of those things far too early for comfort.
As they reached a small clearing near midday, they stopped to rest, and Kyleen killed a rabbit for a brief snack. When the rabbit was finished, they pushed on again and traveled until nearly evening before resting and eating again.
Just as the sun began to set, they saw the house come into view ahead, an old stone cottage, once a farmhouse but now unused. The land around it had grown up in long useless weed and high grass.
He stopped there, looking at the grass surrounding the house.
Where the grass should have been high and waving in the slight breeze, it was beaten down by what seemed like hundreds of feet. THe door, which should have been barred, was broken in, only a few peices of wood remaining on the hinges.
"Stop." He said. "SOmething isn't right. Quickly, we must check inside..."

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard

As he'd walked, he'd listened. But how anyone could tell was unknown. He was a bloack pillar. A living shadow. The very essence of a thief. When they reached the house though, his attention peaked.

Really, what was it to him if the world went to hell? He was a thief, he could adjust. Adapt to the new world and side withe the darker evils. Not that he exactly wanted that, but he saw no true reason to go on a quest like this, how could his skills be of use?

And lo and behold, the answer came. "Stay here. I will scout the place."

Almost as soon as the statement was made, he was walking towards the old stone cottage. He carefully avoided the door, disappearing in the shadows the house cast. As easilly as one would walk into a room, he had disappeared, blending into the shadows as if he belonged there. Minutes later, with a better understanding of what lay ahead, he moved to the door. His Fang held at the ready, he looked inside from his position flatened against the outside wall of the house.

Not seeing anything in the immediate enterance, he stole inside, disappearing into the shadows as he peered around the inside of old building.

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

At the house, Richard disappears into the shadows. All the members of the party watch him as he sneaks into the shadows, save the wizard. His eyes are constantly trained on me as if the satchel is important. Turning my back on the group, I walk a little way to the edge of the clearing. There, I peek into the bag, only to find an angry Brownie peeking back at me. I stick my hand into the satchel to feel for any valuables while the Brownie yells at me and attacks my rough fingers.

A book? That's the important thing in here? I am amazed at the sheer lack of interesting items. Being a learned man, I could honestly say that I can read--a very few letters at a time. I pull my hand back out of the satchel and close the top again. Walking back to the wizard, I toss the satchel at him, saying, "Arrr, now ya ohw me. Eef yer appy that Iy gave eet bacg, yal cut me een on anee loot. Now, then, Iym gonna go pys."

With that, I walk into the woods to disappear also. Finding a nice tree, I manage to relieve myself of some of the ale from the night before. Then, I hear a noise in the distance. It sounds as though somebody or something is wounded just over the hill.

 

[poohlive]

Sebulba actually moved quite stealthily for his size. Don't confused this with stealth, he was still a giant, after all, but when the occasion called for it, he could surprise a few people, even himself. He took the time to do that now, carefully placing his knuckles and feet to the ground as he walked the perimeter of the house. Just as he suspected, only one door.
That would make things easier. He stood up tall, retreiving the axe from behind. It would make a great weapon for anyone who decided to come out ofthe house and attack the posse. Something was wrong here, very wrong.
If Sebulba had anything to do about it, it wouldn't get any worse.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Inside the house

The building was abandoned, neither human nor animal inside, at least in terms of the living. On the floor of the kitchen, a human body lay amid a multitude of dead Orcs, all slain, some missing limbs. Blood was still drying on the floor. Richard's feet were planted in a pool of it.
Ahead lay the opening leading into the den. There, more orcs and humans lay slain. The house was literally clustered with the dead, mostly orcs. Of the group that had gathered there the night before and fought the evil creatures, four bodies lay dead among their enemy, a good number given the fallen orcs neared twenty or more.
All the human bodies were young, clearly soldiers.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

And outside

The sky grew darker, the sun creeping toward the horizon, sending bright orange splashes across the sky behind it. He grew impatient, watching Richard enter the building and Sebulba wander around the premises at an admirable speed for a giant.
The dwarf wandered over, holding the bag out infront of him, and, said something in his odd dwarven dialect (he still couldn't place the accent, or the name of the place he'd told them of) that sounded as though he were asking for a cut of the loot, then added something that he would have sworn meant he intended to urinate. He was off then, heading towards the trees.
Pennindar wondered if that was the best of ideas, to wander in the woods alone, but decided not to press him.
He watched as the dwarf disappeared, then opened the bag and peered inside. Talbot looked up, his fists balled as if he intended to box the old wizard.
His eyes lit up when he saw the old man, and his hands fell to his sides.
"Pennindar," he spat. "Some dwarf..."
Frustration stole his words. His fists balled again as he groaned.
"Sshhh," the old man shushed. "Calm down Talbot. All is well."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

And the dwarf in the woods...

As Uwef...relieves himself, the sound carries a short distance. The old man hears it from where he lay, wounded badly, and in fact, probably dying. He groans loudly, wanting to shout but finding himself unable. He reached up with one shaking hand and pushed some of the weeds away, attempting to spy the dwarf. He can see nothing.
"Who...whoev...whoever you are..." His voice is little more than a whisper, and it hurts to speak, but he had to try. The orcs would probably return at nightfall.

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard

He slowly pulled a corpse from the piles of orcish death. Carefully carrying the young human soldier outside, he carefully lay him down before standing up, and looking around the small party. He turned back to the doorway.

"There are three more inside. Someone should dig some graves. These poor boys deserve a proper funeral." He turned to the giant, looking up at his eyes, then to the rest of the small party. Then, he walked back into the house, and got the next body. Kicking orc corpses out of his way as he carried the soldiers outside.

 

[poohlive]

Giving a low deep growl, he got to work. Far away enough so that the bodies would not be disturbing anything, but close enough so they could be seen by the road. Perhaps a person or two would stop and remember the dead.
More important, they would remember the living.
He needed no tool. His hands cut easily enough into the cool soil. In no time there was a large hole big and wide enough for the ever growing numbering corpses that were being dragged out.
Once finished, he moved back to the others, making sure they had seen the huge grave. Being a giant, there was no desire in him for seperate graves or fancy tombstones. Giants remembered the dead in their hearts, not in shrines. Yet, he respected the culture of the humans and their ending of lives.
It was soon brought to his attention that orc's were a part of the slaughter. The poor brave men had fought to their last.
One question remained in his mind though, What were they risking their lives for?
Orcs weren't very common in this area, and did not just attack unprecedented. They only attacked human for food or possible to raid caravans. This wasn't normal though, so many orcs dying. There must have been a purpose.
His eyes searched for the wizard. He had brought them here for a reason, why was that?
Questions needed to be answered.

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

The noise is gone as quickly as it had come. Then, as I tie my pants up, I hear a whisper of sorts. Pulling the axe from behind me, I trod off toward the quiet beacon. Holding my axe at the ready and moving quietly through the tall weeds, I look around the horizon for any movement. That's when I nearly trip over an old man.

The sudden jolt scares me enough that I raise my axe high and nearly plunge it into him. "Hoo arrr ya? Arrr ya frenn or arrr ya foe? Iy trafle wit a wisard, a powerfle wisard." I do not really know if Pennindar is a powerful wizard; but, hopefully, this man will not try anything funny.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

A friend in need

The old man indeed intended no harm, nor could he manage any if that were his intent. He looked up at the dwarf, not afraid, but uncertain.
"Friend," he muttered. "I pray you...help an old man."
Copplen lowered his arm, exhausted. He looked up at the dwarf, wondering whether or not he intended to attack anyway.
He had been told to pass the box on to the right people, and he knew the old wizard's name. Could it have been the same man this dwarf spoke of? He wasn't certain, but it appeared he had little choice but to trust the short creature.
"I was...I was...in...the house, last night." He muttered, then stopped to catch his breath again. "Attacked...by orcs...they killed...killed most...Barriste...was...taken."
Again he stopped to catch his breath, then he finished, hoping against hope he was making the right decision.
"Beneath the...loose brick...in the fire...place."
He wasn't sure if the creature understood or not, but he'd made the attempt. That was all he could do. He lay his head back and closed his eyes, intending to sleep, and hoping he would wake again.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

At the house

He watched as the giant dug the graves, his eyes constantly returning to the sky above. It was growing dark, but they had time. At least to finish the burial. The bodies piled up outside, he glanced them over just once, noticing their garb and knowing for certain they were sent by the Wizard's Council. They had been sent to protect the items in question.
Of course, orcs had done this, and they might return. He had no doubt what they were after, which was bad news. The question was, did they retrieve it?
If so, the battle was already lost.
If not, the group was in great danger, and would be in just as much jeopardy tonight as they were the last, and given the bodies of the orcs inside the building, probably much more danger.
"Take the orcs from the house if you can. I want them outside. We'll have to fasten a makeshift door to the hinges and hope it holds strong," he said, hoping the others were listening and thinking along the same lines he was.
Pennindar the wise he'd never been called, and that occurred to him just then. Perhaps his plan wasn't the best one. They could hold up inside, but it seemed, making the appearance of a stronghold for the orcs to discover, giving them time to escape in the dark, amid the nighthounds he remembered, if that was possible. Of course, that would only be if the thieves in their company could locate the items.

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard

He looked up at the sky, then at the wizard. Pulling the bodies into the graves with the help of the giant, he arranged them to look half-decent, and offered their souls to Baldour, God of Warriors, so they could rest peacefully in the Hall of the Valiant Dead. He nodded the the giant. "Thank you. Would you please cover them up, I am afraid I am not strong enough to fill your hole before nightfall, strong friend."

He walked up to the old man, noticing what was in his possession, and what was not in the party's. He stood next to him, looking in an opposite direction. "Where is the tunnel-dweller?"

"He went off-in the woods. But I-"

Richard interrupted whatever he was to say. "I see. Pile the dead orcs up just inside the door, then replace it. We should move on, let them hack through their own corpses only to find us gone. They would waste most the night while we press on."

He disappeared into the woods after the dwarf. Dwarves were quite possibly the biggest packrats on the planet. He didn't trust one that traveled light. Besides, it was a rude little bastard. He came across the small man over the body of an old man. The dwarf had his axe up.

"Think he's going to get you? I doubt he has the life left to threaten you. Come. If he still lives, we should get him back to the others. If he lives not, we should get him back before the soldier's graves are filled."

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

The old man speaks and calls himself friend. After some garbled message, the man falls asleep. I think to myself, what a strange man. I try to understand what the old man had told me, Eyes in the house last night attacked. Orcs they killed most borist. Taken beneath the loose. Bring in the fireplace. It just does not make any sense. And what, praytell is a borist?

Suddenly, I see that thief, Richard appear out of the shadows. "Well, elp me carry im."

With that, the two of us carry the dying man toward the camp. If I knew about the grave they had dug, I would assume this man will join the others.

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard

He stepped forth, and picked up the man, putting him over his shoulder as he turned, moving back through the trees to the others. He stopped, and looked over his other shoulder to the dwarf.

"Well, hurry up. It grows dark, and orcs may be about soon. This is the time for safety of numbers."

He carried the man back out the other others, and stopped in front of the old wizard. Carefully, he set the mans feet on the ground, turning him to face th wizard. On arm around the man's waist to hold him up, he held the head back to the wizard could see his face.

"Just a wild guess, but by how you acted when you saw this place, and this man nearby would suggest that he's someone who you were supposed to meet. I could tell you were expecting someone here when you saw it, the soldiers tipped me off they didn't live there. And the fact that he's not dead would suggest he's someone of importance, and the orcs couldn't get to him 'till the soldiers were dead. Feel free to point out any problems, here."

 

[Jazzi]

Chroi

Chroi remained outside, her face pale as she watched the others bury the dead soldiers. Her eyes were full of loathing and hatred at the lifeless bodies of the orcs. Elves and orcs were natural enemies, their hatred going back for centuries.

She had been reluctant to travel with this strange group but the story the wizard spoke of intrigued her. However, the sight of the orcs was beginning to make her think twice on her impulsive decision.

The elf watched the tall wizard. She had spoken not a single word to any of her companions since leaving the village behind. The mage was studying the building intently, she hoped he wasn’t thinking of telling the group to spend the night there. If so, she was going to sleep in one of the trees instead.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Two old men

He studied the man for a few moments, thinking that he did indeed look familiar.
"Perhaps yes, perhaps no," he replied. "I was to meet a man here by the name of Barriste, and his fellow soldiers. But this man is familiar."
After a little more thought, in vain, he shook his head and said, "Perhaps later I will remember him. For now, place him on the ground and help make him more comfortable. He appears to be badly beaten."
He looked around, then studied the sky again.
"Perhaps we should stay here afterall...," he muttered. "Group, we must make a choice. We can stay here and hold up in the house for the night, or we can try to use the house to distract the orcs should they return and brave the night on foot. What do you feel of this?"

 

[poohlive]

Orcs were a formidable foe, but they were also far better than what else travelled in the forest at night. Since there was no other place that seemed worthy of a night's sleep, they didn't have much of a choice.
He didn't like the fact that the orc's knew of this place though. By himself, Sebulba was content in going to the forest and braving, but now the lives of others were at stake.
"I add my axe to whatever decision is made," he gave a gruff. There was no other way to put it. He wasn't the greatest of thinkers, let the smart ones figure it out, he would simply stay back and wait until trouble arrived.
Orcs, why did it have to be orcs?

 

[Angelus]

Nathan

He walked over to the edge of the woods and looked around. There had been a battle here..... they all knew it but he knew that the orcs that had attacked the people in that house would be back. He turned to the others and said, "I know that you want to get to our destination as quickly as possible but it would be going to our death if we go out there. Those nighthounds will still be out there and they will attack us if we set foot in those woods at night."

 

[Angelus]

damn double post!

 

[bobo_daclown]

Uwef:

"Arrr," I say to the group, "hounds arr not th'sort ta be messin wit, eef ya catch my driff." With that, I remember the nighthounds that attacked me last night in town.

All of a sudden it hits me. The old man had not said borist: he had said Barriste, as in a name. That still doesn't make much sense. Maybe it was something like, I was in the house last night attacked. Orcs they killed most. Barriste was taken beneath the loose. Bring in the fireplace.

"Arrr, wisard!" realizing the implication, "Barriste was taked by da Orks. Dis old men toll me befur ee pas tout." I look down at the man, "Or, aleast befur ee dide!"

 

[The GrandMage]

Richard

Two fingers went to the old man's neck, pressing against the vein there for a few minutes. Finally, he looked up, and bent down, pulling the old man over his shoulder again. He looked into the wizard's eyes.

"We have it, then. The man you want was taken. I've never heard of orcs doing that before, but I suppose it could be. The other soldiers are dead, you saw so. Obviously this man was with them to know the name, or at least saw what happened. Let's retire to the house. Fix the door, put the orcs bodies behind it. By the time the orcs work their way through the corpses, they'll be tired, and add to the pile."

He turned, and walked to the door of the house before looking over. "Chroi? You can heal. Please, come with me. The man is dying. The rest of you can do as you please, but like it or no, there is no safe place but here. Nighthounds can trace our scents, and orcs can climb trees."

He stepped into thehouse, carrying the old man into the den. He lay him out on the floor, and began piling the orcs in the opposite corner in case the others would listen to him.

 

[Guest]

Nathan

As he stood beside the door Nathan listened to everything that was being said in the house and wondered why one man had been taken by the orcs. What was so important about that one man?

Was this something to do with Calamus and that witch? He walked into the house and saw that the man that was still dressed in black was trying to help the only person that was still alive. He hoped that the old man would live so they could find out what had happened. What exactly was happening around here?!

 

[Angelus]

Okay.... what just happened there..... that was me.