As a voice speaks from the shadows, Vaki reflexively shifts into hybrid form. If he needed to run, better to fly. His extra keen senses pick up the strangeness from the merchant.
He steps further back into the shadows.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest –
The Merchant chases after her, his speed is inhuman Vaki and he is right on Rhun's heels.
"Oh but my little shapechanger, we're not done with our conversation yet. Don't make me chase you down..."
At the camp site, the guards continue to load the bandits into the wagon.
The rest of the guards settle in once more after the battle. Considering how little combat they've done, they seem tired and irritable.
Gerwyn, already nervous, notes that Marya came back without Rhun. He looks to the others.
"Do you think something happened?" he asks, quietly, then decides there's one way to find out.
He hesitantly approaches Marya. "Where's Rhun?" he asks nervously.
Rhun shifts directly into dire bat form, no longer worried about keeping her secret, as her 'boss' has obviously already sold her and the others out, and takes to the air, flying up. "She sold us out Vaki, don't pretend you can't hear me. She's working with the vamps or whatever they are. We've been betrayed." She says in ultrasonic tones that she knows Vaki can hear once she's in bat form.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest –
Marya stares hard at Gerwyn, "Out there with the Merchant, airing grievances I would imagine".
---
He responds in the same "language", "Betrayed? I wish to speak little shifter, though your continued fleeing is beginning to make me hunger... stop and parley or die. I am over 300 years old and more powerful than all of you combined!
Last chance."
"I can't imagine that will go well. He doesnt seem the sort who enjoys being disobeyed."
Gerwyn seems highly agitated. "Why did you leave her alone?" he asks Marya.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest –
"The Merchant asked to speak with her. I'm an employee, she a paid passenger, what right have I got to refuse a direct order?"
Marya comes closer to Gerwyn, "We're here not to make waves and she's not overtly affiliated with us. Besides, what harm can a little talk have?"
“Easy there,” Valaronex said softly, putting a hand on Gerwyn’s shoulder when the werewolf began to get rather agitated about how Marya had left Rhun alone, doubly so when it was with the Merchant. It wasn’t so much that Valaronex wasn’t upset about this fact as well, even if he did not believe the theory about the possibility of the Merchant being a Vampire. After all, Rhun was the Lycan who acknowledged the danger they themselves held towards normal people, and that some of them were very much worth the title of monster. Combined with the fact that she had kept a very level-head through most of the journey, and didn’t fall into paranoia, Valar had come to respect her and her opinions quite well...
But, making unnecessary trouble, especially with one of their own, was always a bad idea... “Let's not go shouting at each other, it doesn’t help any of us.”
This time Marya was in the wrong and he would be clear why even with a lowered voice.
"She is to volatile, reckless, and overestimates herself. You should not have left her alone. A lot of harm can come from untended talk."
He had warned of this, Marya had just gambled with their mission.
Rhun banks hard right, dips down under a log, and flashes into a fox that streaks along the ground, using overhead cover. She races into the clearing with the wagons, and races straight for Marya!
"You f*!+ing b$%&&, I'll expose you, you knew that bastard was a 300 year old vampire!" She says in fox/dog speak. "Well, he's on the warpath, so you f@##ing deal with him you traitorous b@~+&!" She speaks as loud as she can so the other shifters can hear her!
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest –
From out of the brush where Marya exited a few minutes prior a fox bursts out of the clearing howling and yipping it streaks right towards Marya.
A look of rage overtakes her face, she takes a combat position in case the "fox" attacks her drawing a dagger form her belt.
"Drop that damn thing, it must be rabid!"
From behind her in the forest, nothing emerges.
The guards at the camp do not even register the disturbance as it appears to be much less of a threat than the bandits were.
The fox suddenly turns into a rather attractive kitsune. "Not rabid at all, my dear. Simply being chased by a dire bat, and forgot nobody here could speak fox yips. My apologies for alarming everyone." She smiles sweetly at Marya. "It was amazing, someone pretending to be the Merchant tried to bite my neck while I was in the forest. You always hear stories of vampires, but you never believe them until you see the fangs for your own eyes. Isn't that right Marya? You'd never have believed there was a vampire in the woods, would you?" She asks, casting an eye on the rest of the caravan, trying to see who's going to go with Marya, the traitor, and the vampires, and who is going to have problems with that.
Vaki, as he usually does, makes his way to a tree branch, and watches from on high the confrontation between Rhun and Marya.
When Fenrarem hears Igdus telling Marya how reckless and volatile Rhun is he opens his mouth to suggest that someone check on her and the merchant, less she get any foolish ideas in her head. Before he can do that however an agitated fox bursts into the clearing and is yipping furiously apparently agitated with Marya.
What in the world? By Ehlonna, I've never seen a fox behave in such a way.
Before Fenrarem has much of a chance to ponder such strange behavior, it transforms revealing itself to be Rhun.
After hearing Rhun's claim that she has encountered a vampire in the woods, Fenrarem is a little unsure what to think. Rhun seems upset with Marya and looks like she's spoiling for a fight.
Unconsciously his hand clasps the pommel of his sword but he does not draw it yet, not sure if it will be needed. He has no issue with either woman and isn't sure who he will side with if it comes to blows.
His eyes drift over to the volatile dwarf, his only real companion within this band and decides he will wait and see how Griswold reacts, though he can imagine it won't be quiet or subtle one way or another.
Gerwyn goes a bit pale at Rhun's words. While they'd had their suspicions, for them to actually turn out to be right!? What were they supposed to do with a vampire?
Frantically he starts looking around, his terrified mind thinking of escape routes, of vampires lurking in the dark.
Griswold was about to say something to Gerwyn when he was distracted by the sudden appearance of a fox and its transformation.
"What in the name of bloody f&@@ing Obad-Hai is going on here?! I took my vows years ago to protect the forest and its freefolk, but this is now getting out of hand here, I'm getting to my sodding boiling point Fen!" He grips his axe as if his life depended on it, his breathing became erratic."Vampires, do ye f*@&ing believe it Fen?! It's no wonder now what drained those gnolls. Looks like they were right Fen, evil is sure afoot in these woods."
Tobar makes his way over to Gris and Fen, placing himself such that they are a threat to any who would rush to attack him.
Gotta think. What was she thinking??
Fenrarem gingerly places a hand upon Griswold's shoulder in an attempt to calm him. He lowers his head a little and speaks quietly, but does not make a huge effort to avoid being overheard, nodding his head to Tobar in greeting when he notices the human standing near them.
''Peace Griswold. It appears more than likely that there is at least one vampire in the forest, but what are we to do? Even if we all attacked it at once it is very likely that most of us would die, and it is not at all certain that the vampire would follow us into death. even if the merchant is a vampire our best chance of killing him is to work with him for the moment anyway.''
His mouth twists upwards in a grimace and his hand is clenched so tightly around the pommel of his sword that it is hurting him slightly. He is clearly not happy to be considering what he is suggesting.
... Well. S~$&.
There really was a vampire?
That wasn’t good, not in the slightest. And the clear way that Rhun was snapping at Marya very much indicated that it not only was the Merchant a vampire, but Marya had actually known about this fact beforehand. A fact that did not sit well with Valaronex in the slightest... but at the same time, he didn’t know the entire story. As much as he appreciated Rhun and her judgement... it was very clear now that she was acting in a rash and erratic fashion at the moment.
Hasty decisions wouldn’t just doom their mission. It would also see them slain in seconds.
Squeezing Grewyn’s shoulder, Valar would say lowly to him. “Stay calm. Running will just end up making the situation worse.” Before he would follow and speak out loud, hoping that Rhun would pick up on what he was trying to do.
“It could have been a trick you know. Fey love to hide within forests like this, and tricks like that are the exact type of trick the more malicious ones would love to pull. For all, we know you were never under any threat at all.” There was a pause before Valar would glance at Marya, saying. “Still. There’s nothing wrong with taking extra precautions in case you did actually end up facing a vampire. I have doubts about our capability of fighting off such a vampire, even with all of us combined. But there’s no reason why we can’t take precautions now, is there?”
The kitsune smiles sweetly at Marya. "Yes Marya, there's no reason we shouldn't take every possible precaution, is there?" Her tail dances merrily. "After all, what if it had decided to attack the caravan instead of just trying to drink little old me? I think going forward, we should make sure we travel in no less than trios, don't you think, Marya? To ensure there's no treachery?"
Griswold makes no real effort to hush his tone," aye, I don't like this one sodding bit. It's making me really angry, and ye don't want to see me when I'm pissed the f!&* off."
Still clutching his axe, he nods at Tobar when he decides to stand near himself and Fen.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip -
The men in the camp scramble to their feet, fear in their eyes as they clutch their weapons. Some head near where Rhun and Marya are standing. Others take a back to back stance staring out into the woods as if something will jump out at any moment.
The other passengers step out of their wagons with the man asking, "Vampires? In these woods!? I thought the bandits and gnolls we're bad enough. I think we should head back", he states emphatically to his two female companions.
Kate pushes through the soldiers and approaches Rhun, "By the Gods are you ok?"
The bodyguards bang on the door to the main wagon.
Marya scowls at Rhun, "I don't even know what the f!+# you are talking about. If there's a damned Vampire chasing you, where'd it go?! I don't like your tone with me either. You are a passenger, don't forget it. Why the hell are you out in the woods anyway?"
Vaki is still in the woods, none see him, save perhaps Igdus who watches the events unfold from atop one of the wagons.
Before Marya can respond, the wagon opens and the Merchant steps out.
"What is this racket all about!? Another bandit attack?"
Marya turns to him and then back to Rhun, "It seems your passenger here is no mere passenger. What exactly are you Rhun? A druid?"
One of the soldiers, Kravis, peers into the woods, "Did you see where the thing went Miss Rhun? If what you saw is real we're in real danger here with no cleric".
The female passenger who has yet to name herself steps forward, "I am a cleric of Istus though I've little experience in facing such a creature".
The Merchant approaches flanked by his two bodyguards, "What thing man? Spit it out!"
Marya gestures to Rhun, "She'll tell you".
Vaki continues to watch, silently, from above, concealed among the branches.
Rhun bows. "Apologies all, I am what is known as a Kitsune. My mother was from the far lands. Kitsune may take on the form of a fox, or a human. Some people do not like things such as that, so I usually don't advertise it." She takes on the form she'd been wearing, the human form. "While talking with Marya in the forest, a creature that looked like you..." She gives the Merchant a hand wave. "...appeared. It did not smell like you however. I don't think it knew I could smell better than a human. When I ran from it, it turned into a bat and chased me, keeping up with my fox, which means it is very fast. It apparently didn't want to enter the clearing with everyone, and veered off when I entered the clearing. I am currently fine, but I suggest that everyone travel in at least 3's from now on, as it can take on anyone's appearance. Quite obviously it can even fool such an expert as our fine guard captain, who believed it was our good Merchant."
Rhun is mostly speaking the truth, but seems to be hiding something about the encounter. She obviously also doesn't believe Marya to have been fooled for an instant, as that last statement is an obvious lie.
Druids by and large, are not the most socially skilled people in the world and Fenrarem is no exception to this rule.
The tone of Marya's voice passes right over his head.
Looking at Rhun for a moment, despite himself Fenrarem laughs aloud when Marya suggests Rhun is a druid.
''That one is no more a druid then he'' He points to Griswold, ''Is a bearded elf.''
This is confirmed a moment later when Rhun reveals herself as a kitsune. When she does Fenrarem's eyes light up with excitement.
Never seen a kitsune before. I have many questions, might help with the theory behind wildshaping as well.
Hmm, she still seems suspicious of Marya? Interesting.
Griswold remains enraged, he pays no attention to Marya, he doesn't even respond to Fenrarem's quip. He remains silent, concentrating on regulating his breathing.
He focuses in on Rhun, looking for subtle changes in her tone and body language.
Aye, clever girl.
Tobar remains silent, wanting to see how this plays out. All was not according to plan, but that is how plans usually work.
... Hmmm, at the very least it seemed that Rhun was calming down, and no longer acting in such a dramatic and emotional manner. That was good, emotions were important for life yes. But following nothing but your emotions made you no better than a beast out in the wilds. They were gifted with intelligence and rational thinking for a reason after all, and Valar felt it was foolish not to use these gifts... foolish, and dangerous.
Still, at the very least it seemed that the Merchant, Vampire or not, had stepped out in order to draw himself into the conversation... and that Rhun was a Kitsune, Valar had not known that. Hoping to help the situation be resolved in a much more... smooth manner, Valar spoke up himself. “As a guard, I have to agree with Rhun’s suggestions moving forwards. This journey so far has been highly unusual, and stepping up our guard strikes me as the best means of surviving the rest of the journey.”
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest –
The Merchant appears genuinely concerned, "Could it be some sort of evil fey that has taken my identity!
I agree Rhun, we should step up our watches. I say we all wait until dawn and see if the creature reappears. Then we move swiftly away as day breaks, we may not get much sleep but at least we will be away from this area where multiple threats are present".
Marya nods in agreement, "Wise strategy".
She motions to Rhun and the rest of the party, "Let's search the immediate vicinity of the woods for this thing, torches in hand. Agreed?"
Griswold groans,"aye it's gonna be a long sodding night". He rummages through his pack, searching for a torch.
With a lit torch and his trusted axe in hand, Griswold was ready to venture off into the dark woods.
Rhun steps over and smiles at Kate. "Let's leave Ms. Marya and her guards to their patrol patterns. Kate, perhaps we and Mr. Griswold and Mr. Sherendyl should form a civilian party." She looks at the Dwarf and Elf speculatively. "You should get your pack and your knife, just in case." She waves Kate toward where her things are sitting next to the fire.
Once Kate leaves to get her stuff, she starts to walk toward the two newcomers , and under her breath, begins whispering softly in Sylvan, knowing that nobody outside of two feet from her will hear it, other than Igdus that is. And there is nobody within 2 feet currently.
"Marlya knew about the leach, and led me to it. She was not surprised it showed up. She did not inform the council of this. I suspect she's working a side angle on her own. Tell Vaki. We need to get word back to the council that she's doing this. We may not be able to fight a vampire, but we should not allow her to continue to run her side missions without the council's knowledge. Keep an eye on the newcomers.. and Kate... as we walk and talk, you are better at sensing deception than I am. I am trusting that you are not part of her side job. Because if you are, we're all screwed anyway."
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest –
As the group heads into the woods Marya stops out of ear shot of the camp and turns to Rhun, "You fool! You could have blown up our cover in its entirety! What are you blabbing about a Vampire is here, I am not sure what the hell is going on but you have foisted yourself upon us despite not voting to go with the group originally. Explain yourself".
Raze raises an eyebrow, "We can't get to the bottom of this yelling at one another".
Marya turns and glares at him.
He adds, "Boss".
Grabbing a torch from his robes, Fenrarem places the head of it against Griswold's lit torch until his own one lights. Grabbing his sword in his free hand he stays nearby Griswold and starts heading into the forest.
As they venture into the woods Fenrarem can't help but overhear Marya as she tears into Rhun. His interest is peaked when he hears them talking about 'covers' and he can contain his curiosity no longer.
Stepping closer to the two women he looks them both in the eye as he tries to get to the bottom of things.
''Pray tell, what exactly do you mean by 'cover' Marya, what covers do you have and what did Rhun threaten to ruin?''
"Are we sure charging off into the night is a good idea?" Gerwyn asks no one in particular. "Maybe we should stay in larger groups?"
Once out of ear shot the of the camp, Griswold explodes into a fit of rage. "What in the fresh sodding hell is going on here?! There are people turning into animals and back into humans! I've lived most of mah sodding life with a druid, so I don't want to hear any bull s%%&e of magic or potions. I know what lingers in these woods, now what I don't know about is this talk of "cover". So I want some damned answers, because I ain't even being paid to shut mah c#@% mouth and follow orders."
Griswold says nothing after his outburst, he scowls taking in deep breaths through his nostrils.
Rhun turns to Marya, and there's cold death in her eyes. "Yes, Marya, what the hell are you talking about with this talk of 'cover'? And don't try to pretend you didn't know about that thing that chased me in the forest, we both left the camp together, in front of witnesses, and you chose the path and clearing, where the fake merchant just happened to show up. He talked to you in a manner that was familiar, and you cowed to him as if he had your child's heart in his hand. I've never seen you cow to anyone... on this trip..." She adds, trying to at least keep a lid on the whole thing being out of the bag now with Marya being an idiotic fool.
To the dwarf, she shrugs. "I told you, I can take on the form of a fox, I am a kitsune. Have you never heard of the Kitsune? There were a hundred or so back in the city, there is even an embassy in the Government Quarter."
Stressed, Griswold glares at Rhun."I said people, yer not the first to change before mah very eyes. Maybe ye missed the part where I said I was a foundling taking in by a Gray Render until I was picked up by a druid. I've never been to no forsaken city."
Rhun turns to Griswold, and then laughs. "Oh, I did miss that, my apologies. Kitsune are a species who are native to a land far to the east. We can take a form of a fox, or a fox featured human, or a human. Do not be concerned, it is not contagious like your vampires. If my fox form bites you, you'll just have a nasty bite mark." She says brightly, and then continues. "My condolences on your foundling, and I hope your life has at least been enjoyable. I too grew up without any parents and was raised by a wise one who took good care of me."
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest –
Marya scoffs at Fen and Gris, "Come off of it. You two are not what you appear to be either.
What I mean by "cover" is only your business if you both agree to join us. An offer I'll need to make now if there really is a Vampire out here.
I don't know what the f&&# you're implying Rhun. What fake Merchant? The man has a bit of magic that much is clear, what was in the clearing must have been a shapeshifter as it was not the Merchant, that I will agree with. Lest you forget, you forced your way onto this caravan through guile, you were not selected to be here.
I'm just not really sure what the hell you are accusing me of! But I'll tell you, if you do keep accusing me we'll settle this claw to claw". She issues a low menacing growl in addition to the verbal threat.
Raze frowns, "I don't think infighting is a good idea right now".
Rhun shrugs. "Incorrect Marya, the council sent me. I wasn't sure why, but I now suspect they didn't think they could trust you to get the job done. And stop raising your hackles at me, it's not good for your blood pressure." She growls right back. "And I think you knew whatever that was. And I think you knew what is in the wagon, draining blood from prisoners. And I know for a fact you didn't inform the council of it. I'm beginning to think the best solution may be to return and inform the council of exactly what has been going on. What do you think Marya? If you're not lying through your tail fur, you should welcome that, right?"
Rhun huffs, and begins to play with one of her guns, to take the pressure off.
Fenrarem regards Marya for a moment and cocks his head to the side.
''Whatever do you mean Marya? We are what we have always claimed to be. Im a druid and he's an uncouth uncivilized ranger.''
He suspects that she is on to his and Griswold's true nature but given how non-forthcoming everyone has been so far he doesn't feel like acknowledging his true nature just yet.
''As for the matter of your cover, you say you will explain if we join you and she.'' he nods at Rhun,''speaks about councils. Im not sure who you mean by ''we'' but provided you don't seek to harm the Gnarley, I am with you. A point I have made clear from the moment we all met.''
He looks questioningly at Griswold for a moment, as though asking if he is going to contradict his statement.