"Try it."
He says plainly and stares at her dead on, waiting. The Gnarley was no place for jokes and he didn't care about Maya or the merchant if this one was fool enough to provoke him. She just spoke of the "monster" that lycan's were and now makes light of it seeking to test him. Perhaps this one was mad or broken. Words counted little, actions spoke volumes.
557 CY - 7th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 6th Night of the Trip
Before Rhun can "try it" Igdus spots something moving through the canopy of the trees towards the patrolling human... who is of course on the other side of the camp at this point.
Igdus suddenly gets up and turns towards the source of what he spotted.
"You let your guard down, something is moving towards Rufus. Better move if you expect to save him."
He had suggested pairs for a reason, now the reason had found them. He draws his dagger as he moves towards Rufus, he just needed a clear line of sight on what it was.
Gerwyn focuses for a moment, and his eyes subtly change, enhancing his night vision.
Then he draws his axe and follows Igdus, whispering, "Where is it?"
"No, you forced my attention away from what I would normally be doing." Rhun corrects him, pulling her pistol. She eyes a spot in the back of Igdus's skull, imagining a silver ball plunging through it, and then follows along, a very disturbing smile on her face.
"Man, birdbrain is sure quick to blame anybody and everybody, isn't he?" Vaki quips, and draws his rapier, as his form blurs and takes on a slightly indistinct appearance.
"Reminds me of Harlina, don't you think Vaki? And were you dating that werebear or not?" Rhun responds, her odd smile turning into a vicious grin.
"No, that was my cousin, Vanik who dated the werebear. I've been dating a sexy little werepanther on and off for a few years now." He replies flashing a grin.
Petty excuses and amateur mistakes. As if the forest would be considerate or forgiving of their short comings. Ego was self sabotaging, even now they stroked it. Without thought to what was important, still there was hope for some. It was becoming clear which would find themselves in better positions then others. Maya had started early but at the least she was making headway, on her own and with her people. The same could not be said of others, he wondered if they would last considering. Then their were the outliers, the positions were settling in his view.
He pushed the thoughts aside, he would not fall victim to the same sloth. He focused on his surroundings and the target, he needed that line of sight. As well as to make sure this was not just one of others, his guard was not going to falter.
"No, you forced my attention away from what I would normally be doing." Rhun corrects him, pulling her pistol. She eyes a spot in the back of Igdus's skull, imagining a silver ball plunging through it, and then follows along, a very disturbing smile on her face.
"The fly blames the web for its own predicament." Tobar quips, drawing his dagger.
557 CY - 7th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 6th Night of the Trip
The Six and Rhun rush right through camp to reach Rufus. Some of those still awake complain but none follow.
As the group reaches the spot where Rufus was walking he is simply gone! He never even made a sound.
Igdus points with his dagger at the huge spider in the tree's above.
"It has Rufus."
It was both an immense relief, and greatly satisfying to hear a different Lycan willing admit to the fact they were monsters. Valaronex had been fearing ever since he stumbled onto the meeting that if the truth about his curse... or hs lack of it, ever came out. Then they would turn on him in an instance. If other Lycan’s thought the same way he did, however...
Maybe his dream of eliminating the curse for good, might actually be possible then.
As it was through, Valar needed to shove his thoughts aside though, as the meeting had lead Rufus vulnerable. Sighing as he followed, Valar made a quick remark under his breath. “And this is what happens if there’s no trust between us...” It was only when he spotted the giant spider, however - or had it pointed out to him - that Valar prepared for battle, however.
A faint, translucent sheen of silver began to cover him, starting from his heart and rapidly growing outwards to cover his entire body. Focusing carefully, the ex-werewolf drew the light together over his hands. Compressing it, and merging it with his psionic power in order to form two wolf-like claws, made out of lunar light and ready to fight. “Let’s get him down then.”
Rhun, when the spider is pointed out, grins. "Along came a spider, and splatted down beside 'er." She quips, and raises her pistol and fires!
Trying not to hit Rufus, her shot goes high over the spider's back. But the sound rocks through the encampment.
Igdus studies the spider as he recalls what he knows of the breed and kind.
He puts some distance between himself and the spider, as well as the others. He makes no move or gesture, only his eyes faintly glow.
Tobar, standing back, takes a good look at the spider and beckons to it.
"Hey now, he's a friend of ours. There's plenty of other food out there. Won't you let him go, friend?"
557 CY - 7th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 6th Night of the Trip
Both Igdus' and Rhun's attacks miss the creature though Igdus' attack is closer to the mark.
Rhun's shot is a loud CRACK. From the camp behind you all you hear voices calling out in confusion.
From Tobar's lips emanate an odd set of sounds, the sounds are... disturbing.
Raze turns to Tobar and gives him an odd look but says nothing further. He seems to be considering climbing the tree but holds on the ground for the moment.
"I am here to save you. Leave us and find easier prey, and in time the warm meals will be more plentiful."
Vaki, intrigued by what he guesses is communication between Tobar and the spider, waits, ready to see what transpires.
Gerwyn looks nervously at Tobar, then the spider, and then pulls out his axe. He doesn't attack yet, but he's ready.
557 CY - 7th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 6th Night of the Trip
The spider holds position, the body of the guard dangling from the spider's abdomen still encased in webbing. Again the creature responds in the eerie sounds that Tobar alone seems to understand.
In the camp voices call out in alarm questioning if the caravan is under attack.
Tobar continues chittering to the creature, and holds his hands up (after putting his dagger away) to indicate that all is currently well.
557 CY - 7th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 6th Night of the Trip
The Merchant is roused now, "Guards what have you discovered!?" he shouts.
The spider in the meantime makes a sound with it's mandibles that makes all but Tobar wince.
The huge spider releases Rufus and scuttles farther up into the trees.
Rhun reloads her pistol while watching.
557 CY - 7th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 6th Night of the Trip
Tobar manages to catch the guard but not without a bit of pain. Damage . Tobar felt the strain in both biceps as he catches the man from a nearly 30' fall!
Before he can even place Rufus down the Merchant and his two personally bodyguards burst through the brush torches and weapons at the ready. "By Wee Jas what in the Hells is going on out here!?"
Marya approaches from out of nowhere as well, "My men have the situation well in hand, are you going to march out at every little disturbance we see upon the road!?"
He responds clearly irritated at being questioned by Marya, "No but..."
"No buts, the situation is in hand..." Marya pauses as if grasping for a word she cannot find. "Ah yes I have no name to call you as you still have yet to give one. I'll continue to call you Merchant. Go back to the warmth of the fire and allow the guards you are paying to do what you are paying them to do".
The Merchant and his two guards step away, the Merchant mumbling the other two silent as ever.
She looks at the group, "Well done. I'll not ask for the details. I trust you saved the guard and diffused the hostility with what appears to have been a giant spider of some sort". She then gives a curt nod to Rhun, "Cooperation is much better is it not?" Marya does not wait for a reply as she too returns to the "safety" of the wagon train.
Meanwhile, Tobar feels the rise and fall of Rufus' chest. He is alive but in a poison induced sleep.
Rhun shrugs. "Of course, if that's your mission. When it's not, it isn't." She reloads the pistol and walks back toward camp.
With the Merchant and his bodyguards gone, Tobar turns to the others.
"The man lives, but has, understandably, been poisoned. We could tell them we found him like this and that the spider must have left, saving this man for a meal later. That would explain the lack of a spider body. Meanwhile, is someone able to deal with the poison?"
"I could shoot him in the head, then the poison would be no problem. Other than that, it's beyond my knowledge." Rhun quips as she walks away.
"Foolish posturing from one so keen on the un-blooded."
Gerwyn shakes his head. "Afraid not. And couldn't we just say the spider ran? They heard Rhun's gunshot, after all. That'd maybe scare a smaller spider."
"Also acceptable."
"Welp. That was boring." Vaki says as he walks away.
Igdus started to leave as soon as the spider was out of sight and their guard returned. He paused long enough to give his suggestion before departing back to camp.
"The merchant or other guards should have some form of antitoxin for the road. If not then someone in camp should know some basic first aid to help him. If they lack ether then he will simply have to fight it off himself with rest."
Frankly if the merchant and other guards didn't have any of these skills or items on hand. Then they were true fools with no business in the forest. He knew how to tap into the forest for healing and could escape anything that would threaten him with poison. Anything that could catch him, wouldn't need poison to end him.
"Yes, let's take him back." Tobar says, starting toward the fire.
557 CY - 7th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 6th Night of the Trip
Upon your return to camp, the other travelers appear on edge due to Rufus' conditions. No one even asks about the spider's body. The same woman who displayed healing aptitude displays so yet again with a vial of antitoxin this despite the man journeying with her frowning at her offer of help. The name Molly escapes his lips but she, her male, and female companion have yet to introduce themselves to anyone formally.
Soon enough Rufus wakes and regales the camp with his take of the fearsome spider he fought off before succumbing to its cowardly companions' attack.
Kate seeks out Rhun for her next training session.
Meanwhile the Six continue to watch the woods for predators or whatever else may come. The rest of the night passes by uneventfully.
When not otherwise occupied, Rhun will use Craft(Woodworking) untrained on dry limbs she finds to carve a couple of wooden knives. Once she has two passable ones, she'll begin doing training with Kate including bruises, as bruises teach!
The first attempt was not very good, but the next one was good, and the third one a near perfect training knife. She will give the best one to Kate and use the next best one herself.
557 CY - 8th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest
557 CY - 8th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 7th Day of the Trip
As night gives way to day, the Six see Kate holding a wooden knife and sporting several bruises. With her is Rhun, the two women seem to have hit if off quite well.
Fasting is broken with a quick morning meal and the wagons set back out on the road to the north. Nearly a week in and no one has died with only one injured. Thus far the Six are doing their job quite well it seems!
Griswold snaps his eye open, having overslept or underslept. He noticed that his fey companion has yet to awake. Groggy and hungry the dwarfs take his frustrations out on the woodland creature.
"Oi! get up ya prancing fairy boy f!**! By Obad-Hai's green grassy arse, I thought your kin didn't sleep or woke with the blighted sun. Did you hear something? Come on with yer knife ears you better have."
Griswold proceeds to scratch himself profusely, kicking dirt onto the remains of the campfire. Settling to eat some cold dried beef.
Fenrarem wakes to an ungodly shouting. He opens his eyes to once again find his dirty companion looming over him, going on about this or that.
By the gods does he ever stop his accursed mouth?!? By Ehlonna if he doesnt stop soon, im going to be forced to do something unpleasant.
Seeing that his companion is gesturing at nothing and yapping about asses, he decides it is not important and takes a cursory scan of the horizon, his ears twitching to and fro.
Seeing the caravans that the dirty dwarf missed quiets Fenrarem's angry thoughts about the Dwarf.
Caravans in this part of the forest? That is unusual.
He turns to his companion, pointing out the caravans as he does.
''Would you cease your inane prattling for a moment please? Now that we are awake and done with this charming debate, have you heard of caravans travelling in this part of the woods recently? Maybe we should go see what their business is? They may need a guard or three?''
Seeing he has his companion's attention Fenrarem starts towards the caravans, gesturing for Groot and Griswold to follow.
"Caravan in these parts, only the some foolish merchants or rebels out of their sodding mind would be up here." Griswold laughs at the notion, bits of cheese and dried beef come flying out of his mouth, nearly choking.
Griswold watches as his companion starts making his way to the road.
"Sodding hell."
Griswold gets off the tree stump he was sitting on, cashing after his companion with his stubby legs.
AYE! wait for me, I'm telling you isolation and whatever mix of reindeer piss and fly amanita mushrooms those druids are feeding ye are getting to yer brain. What are ye a mercenary now?!
''Trim the hair in your ears, it's causing you to hear things. I never said I wanted to be paid, merely that they may need protection you fool. If they are desperate or foolish enough to take three caravans through the woods right now they may not have adequate guards.''
Though if they offer a reward of some kind Ill not say no.
Griswold grumbles to himself.
'Sodding faerie boy, I ought to turn him into some kiddling.'
"Yeah yeah, whatever elf boyo. Not what you said to me when them orcs were coming to skin ye."
Griswold will brush himself off, plucking any twigs out off his beard.
"Let's try to not look like cutthroats, I could use a wagon to sleep in.
Blighted ticks and black flies won't stop biting my hairy arse."
As usual Igdus keeps alert and on guard. He would not relax until their task was done, even then he may not. That's how nature weeded out the weak after all. Predator or prey were no exception.
557 CY - 8th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest - 7th Day of the Trip
The caravan comes to a halt as two figures and a tree(?) step out onto the road.
The Caravan stops and the lead guard on horseback rides near, but not too near the Dwarf and Fey creature.
"State your business travelers".
Griswold walks 5 feet closer to the guard, his weapon sheathed holding up his displayed hand.
"Aye lad, are you the caravan master? It's dangerous to be on these parts. The name is Griswold Òrachbeithi, Junior knight captain, Ranger of the Forest. Last night we were attacked by a band of orcs and goblinoids. Which is worrying that they're up this way. By any chance you'd be able to take us on to guard your caravan? A ranger and druid could be useful for your travels."
Griswold gestures to his companion to come closer.
"Now don't mind him, that treant of his may of broken a branch up his arse, but the Elves and Arch-druid seem to agree that's he's capable. We can scavenge for food, help you survey the land if you need to go off the road and I'll chop all yer firewood."