Louis picks up his club and watches Timerious.
Louis drops the 35' length of rope still attached to Timerious' bound hands and takes a few steps to retrieve his club from the ground. He returns armed to see that Timerious is still asleep.
In frustration Markas tosses his mace several feet away and hurries to his pack to retrieve the war hammer that was within. Angry at his futility he grabs a hold of the weapon's handle and violently pulls it out of the pack throwing its contents across the ground. He rushes to take the several steps up to the head dress and he brings the hammer down upon it.
The hammer connects with the brass circlet on the ground and for the third time Markas can see no signs of his weapon strikes on the object. The item flips into the air, spraying a few water droplets about from the dark maroon cloth that hung off the back, before landing on the ground a couple of feet away.
Gertie and Adrianna move around the corner of the ruined home away from the three men. The sorceress calls out, "Time is running out you two fools! The mad man could awaken shortly and make good on his promise to kill all of us!"
Louis guards Timerious making sure the warior continues to sleep and stays tied up.
[ooc]Louis will wait for Markis to guard Timerious before putting on his armor. As sick as Louis is I can see him not wearing his armor when trying to rest [/occ]
Timerious' eyes open and he finds himself on his back with the mid day sky above and just at the top of his vision he could see Louis staring down at him while clutching a wooden club.
Timerious inhales deeply and luxuriates in a beautiful morning sky above after a glorious and restful sleep. Another deep breath and feeling his body waking makes him realize his aches and pains have lessened. There is still some exhaustion but what a bright day and with that and a bright attitude this is sure to be a great day!
Timerious yawns up at Louis. "Hiiiaaooowwwaaawwww Loooooiiiissss. I was soooooooooo tiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrreddd. I'm glad you feel better. You could've woken me if you'd needed more water or anything. I'll get up and help you now...HEY! What?! Why am I tied up here!!"
Markas sees that Timerious is awake and has calmed down from his rage. "Timerious it was necessary to tie you up before you hurt someone or someone hurt you. I think you have been being effected by this cursed headdress as you were trying to destroy it. I followed your lead and tried to destroy it as well but it seems to have stronger protection then my current strength. Our friends here have asked us to leave as they grow afraid of what you may do. So it looks like the three of us will be off for Hawk's Hill. Until we get away from the others your hands will have to be bound."
"I wish you well in your journeys fair maidens and hope to see you again under better circumstances. Latovious will you be joining us to Hawk's Hill? If not then I hope to see you back in Melinor. Be well friends and may Petra guide you."
After awakening and speaking to Louis Timerious quickly discovers that his hands are currently bound with rope while the rest of his body is unrestrained. He finds his feet easily enough though his ribs ache as if he had been pummeled in a fight. Louis graciously gives him about 7' or so of slack in the long coil of rope that was used to tie his hands. Timerious pauses and watches silently as Markas uses a war hammer to push the headdress of Perrin into a pack.
Louis watches Timerious carefully as the crazed man gets up and stares at Markas as the cleric puts away the headdress he had been trying to strike. Louis's grip on the club tightens as parts of Timerious' body shake while he observes Markas. Louis risks a look to his equipment, armor, and warm clothing that lie somewhat scattered about the immediate area. The ill fighter simply wanted to rest his aching and shivering bones and not deal with Timerious and his antics.
Markas finishes with bagging the headdress, rises, and turns around. Timerious stares directly into Markas' eyes, the fighter's right eye twitches while his muscles tense and twitch. Markas feels a bit uncomfortable by the twitchy fighter but since the man's hands are bound and the rope held by the sick and swaying Louis he addresses the ladies without being able to see them. Gertie and Adrianna are nervously keeping watch on the three of you from the other side of the ruined house and make no moves to get any closer. Markas then speaks similarly to Latovius as he cannot currently see the man. He gets no answer from the rogue who is still nowhere to be seen after Markas speaks.
"Which was Louis?"
Calling over his shoulder. "Goodbye Gertie. I'll miss your wisdom and understanding ways."
Timerious turns to go.
"Louis I hope you are well enough to lead us to Hawk's Hill. How far away is your home? Are there any other settlements along the way where we could rest?"
Louis attempts to respond to Markas' questions but he is interrupted by a coughing fit which ends in him spitting up a bit of blood along with the phlegm that was choking him. Several moments pass before Louis is able to catch his breath, the ill-stricken fighter manages to indicate the direction they should head. "My families' home is that way, maybe an hours walk. Hawk's Hill is off that way a bit, probably about the same distance." Louis pauses and allows his fevered mind to think for a few moments."It may be a bit quicker to head for Hawk's Hill." Louis looks to ground at his pack, armor, warm clothing and blankets strewn about, then down to the rope in his one hand and the club in his other. His body aches and shakes with the chills of the fever that he has been suffering from for the last several days. Looking to Markas with beads of sweat rising from his brow Louis tried his best to smile and appear strong when he felt anything but.
In Markas' weakened state the cleric finds himself taking on the role of a beast of burden. His equipment, Timerious' equipment, and much of Louis' equipment makes its way onto the overburdened cleric as the group leaves the ruins of Gertie's house abruptly after Timerious' last outburst. With a quick prayer to Petra and a mighty grunt the cleric is off to lead the three to Louis' family farm.
Timerious walks ahead of the slowly moving Louis, hands bound and the rope trailing behind him to the ill man holding onto it. Timerious looks about the rolling and lightly wooded plains and sees no dwellings or signs of farming. His ribs ache and as he looks down on his armor he sees dents where his aches and pains are. Timerious realizes that if he wanted to he could likely bolt away from Louis if he wanted to.
A half hour into the trek the trio is still unable to see any signs of a farm or livestock. Louis has fallen several times and has added a few new cuts and scratches to his growing list of ailments. Markas is sweating profusely under his burden and is fatigued, each step comes with a groan but yet the cleric muscles on while his massive strength will bear him. It is Timerious that catches first sight of the approaching white carriage or wagon, though he tells no one of its approach.
A white painted wagon pulled by two horses alters its course and as quickly as the terrain allows makes its way to the group. A middle aged woman with greying black hair pulled back into a pony tail drives the rig with skill while familiar black leather clad rogue holds tight to the seat. The wagon barely comes to a stop before the woman leaps from it and races to the side of Louis.
"Latovius tells me you are ill Louis? What's the matter? What hurts? What do you need? MY GOD!" Your mother exclaims when she first catches sight of the gruesome scar parting the side of your scalp, down your cheek, and part of your neck. Tears run down her cheeks, the first ones you have seen in years. "By the gods, what have you gotten into! What have they done to you? What, what is this illness you have?"
The tone of the woman's voice goes from concerned and caring to shock and scared, tears begin rolling down her face towards the end of when she stops speaking. Latovius gets down out of the wagon a bit gingerly and begins to relieve Markas of some of his burden placing the equipment in the back of the five foot wagon bed. "I see you got your boy tied up now. Gave you some trouble did he?" Latovius asks of Markas while gathering up the coils of rope Louis had dropped when he started being accosted by the strange woman. He leans in close to Timerious and whispers, "You'll walk the way back to the farm looney. So you don't wander away and get lost again I'll just tie this rope they got on you to the wagon. Saves us all a lot of searching and worrying about you this way." The rogue speaks up so that Louis might also hear some of what he had to say between the woman's wiping his head and neck with a wetted cloth. "Louis' mom sent his oldest sister to call on the other families of the hamlet, probably be a big meeting tonight or the next. You both left an awful lot of bad feelings behind after whatever you said at the last one, you'll have your work cut out for you at this next one. That's for sure."
Timerious' eyes clear and he looks down upon the petite thief. "You are a little man and you like to talk. You make my ears hurt."
Louis tells his mom how glad he is to see her, and tells her not to worry he's not that sick.
"Latovius never have I been so glad to see a man! Praise Petra. Thank you for finding us. Poor Louis and I could use some rest. Yes Timerious gave us some troubles enough so that Adrianna was going to put him down so we set off alone. I think the root of the problem is my cross to bare. Back in the Black Knight's keep old Timonious found a cursed headdress and I had been carrying it in my sack with the intent of destroying it ever sense. I fear the headdress is what has been causing Timerious' rage and Louis maladies. Before we set off from the others I tried to destroy the evil item but in my weakened state could not." Markas put Timerious and Louis equipment in the wagon but retained his own sack for fear of corrupting the other goods.
The tone of the middle aged woman tending to Louis' voice changes quickly after Louis speaks with her. The familiar tone of a mother scolding a child is heard by all within earshot.
"Louis <middle name?> Mon roi de Denis! Don't you dare lie to your mother! I've raised four children, toiled hard my entire life, and cared for more ill friends and family then I can count. Look at your hands! God's, look at yourself son! I've seen dead that have more color and vigor to them then you. March yourself into the back of my wagon and lay down this instant!" Louis' mother pushes the water skin and cloth she had been using to clean and treat him into his hands. Louis notices that around the bases of several of his finger nails there was some sickly small yellow black bruising. The skin on the back of both of his hands and forearms had very small grey discolorations scattered here and there.
Pulling the warm blankets that reeked of sweat closer to him, Louis shakily walked over and sat down on the wagon's bed. He took a sip of the water skin the woman had given him and by the god's did it taste amazing! Cool and clean with no musty earthy taste at all, the fighter tilted his head back and drank deeply.
Timerious' eyes must not have cleared much for upon refocusing them he found himself looking at the neckline of the exquisite black leather armor Latovius wore instead of what he had assumed would have been the man's face. Looking upward from the neckline of the armor he realized for the first time that Latovius was nearly as tall as he was and not much slimmer of build. Timerious' eyes were drawn back down to the leather armor Latovius wore, whoever's hand had produced it was a master craftsman or the set was enchanted. It was near mid day with few shadows about, however Latovius was standing in some cast by the bed of the wagon. Maybe it was a trick that his newly cleared eyes were playing on him but those scant shadows seemed to be darker around where the rogue stood.
Latovius tied off the rope from Timerious to the back of the wagon, leaving the bound man about eight or nine feet of slack. The rogue stood between the maddened fighter and the wagon after finishing his task. Looking up from where he stood Latovius smiled at Markas and said, "Louis shared with me how upon finding and releasing your slave from his cell that he thought the bear was a mule or a dog for quite sometime. I'd wager five gold that it was either the jailing or his family tree is just full of crazies. Not sure how we could find out for sure who is right, can't take that maniac at his word afterall."
"Thank you for coming for us Mum. I'll gladly sit next to you if there is room." Timerious says to the woman.
Despite feeling as though he deserves to be punished Markas has pushed himself to exhaustion and needs to lay down in the back of the wagon.
Louis tells his mother she is right about his condition. He is glad to be in the back of the wagon, and now is realizing what bad condition he currently is in. He hopes feeling better soon.
Ma, it iz so good too see you!
Both exhausted men stretched out in the back of the wagon, their feet hanging off the back while they began to fall asleep. Words spoken in the tongue of Hawk's Hill lingered in their thoughts as they were drifting off to sleep. Neither man paid them any mind.
Neither Markas nor Louis appeared to have an issue with Timeirous riding up front next to the woman who spoke funny. So he flipped the eight foot section of tied off rope over the head of Latovius and took a few strides towards her. The woman's eyes went wide as she flinched at his approach; she raised the riding crop threateningly as if to lash out at him. She spoke more nonsense words as Timerious took another step forward to prove he was not afraid and would ride at the head of this wagon as the leader of this group should! Timerious halted as the narrow tip of a dagger slid through the bands of his armor protecting his back on a level that would surely pierce his lungs. The blade did not go much deeper than the surface of his skin while a left arm wrapped around his chest and pressed him backward. Latovius whispered in Timerious' ear, "She don't like you slave and neither do I. You run behind the wagon or get dragged to your death, I care not which it is." Timerious was guided back behind the wagon with the dagger still firmly pressed into his back. The dagger was removed and Timerious spun around instantly to see Latovuis deftly hop into the back of the wagon barely jostling those sleeping there. The woman sets the horses and wagon in motion, guiding them across the prairie following the route that had been taken to cross paths with Louis, Markas, and Timerious. Latovius moves into the seat alongside of the woman with grace and then urges the lady to hurry for the sake of Louis, whose condition is rapidly becoming worse. As the wagon picks up speed the thief looks back at the trailing Timerious being pulled along now at a three quarters run or faster at times. Timerious strains and struggles to keep up the pace in his banded armor, aching ribs, and a laundry list of maladies that he did not recall where they came from. Latovius chuckles and enjoys watching the man labor to avoid being dragged behind the wagon.
A well-kept and rather busy farm eventually comes into view, the woman stops the wagon near one of the outbuildings that had an overhanging roof. A teenage boy and younger girl with similar appearances to Louis hurry out of the livestock barn as the wagon comes to a stop. Timerious collapses to his knees spent and weary from what he had just been put through. From a different outbuilding that was likely a chicken coop a middle aged man emerged and quickly closed the door behind him. He set down a basket half full of eggs; the woman atop the wagon saw him and barked orders at the three who had started to hurry towards the wagon. The young boy and the man changed their courses and hurried into the main house, leaving the building's front door open behind them. The woman quickly got out of the wagon and opened the door to the building they were stopped next to. Various pieces of farm and daily living equipment were parked within or sat on crowded workbenches and shelves.
Markas did a quick scan to see where Timerious is and then said to Louis "where are we and are you feeling any better?"
Timerious remains kneeling in the dirt behind the wagon trying to catch his breath after being forced to run behind the wagon for close to a half hour. Sweat pours from the fighter as he wheezes with sore ribs during his recovery. The funny talking people seemed quite busy, the two that had rushed into the main house had yet to return. The young girl went to work moving things and clearing room in the equipment shed while the older woman who had driven the wagon did the same. Latovius had gotten out of the wagon and the thief spent a few moments looking at the top of the building. A timber with a pulley and rope system extended from beneath the roof, likely to aid in loading and unloading wagons and the equipment used around the farm. Timerious felt uneasy at what might be going through the man's mind.
Markas sat up in the wagon and saw Timerious kneeling several feet behind the wagon, still tied to it and sweating profusely. The wagon was partially parked under an overhanging roof attached to a 10' x 20' farm equipment shed near to a larger barn and a pair of ranch style houses that have obviously been added onto over the years. The doors to the equipment shed as well as the main house were wide open, a young girl and the woman who had driven the wagon were busy moving things with the equipment shed. Louis was unable to answer Markas, the man's teeth chattered involuntarily while he shook violently under the warm clothes the man owned. Dark grey black rings hung heavy under the ill man's hazy eyes and a trickle of blood flowed from his left nostril. Markas looked around again and saw Latovius standing on the ground near the wagon, the man was looking upward at the roof of the building the wagon was parked underneath.
Louis awoke when he heard Markas speak and noticed that the wagon had stopped moving. Above him he saw a wooden roof and over the sides of the wagon he could see the sky and that was it from where he laid. The chills and shakes had not subsided during his all too brief rest, and what sounds he was able to make were unintelligible. Louis closed his eyes and prayed to return to sleep as he pulled his clothes closer to him.
Having caught his breath after several minutes Timerious stands up and walks to the wagon, unties the rope and turns to Latovius.
"I've been a prisoner and the only choices I accept are freedom or death. I'll walk like a man along your path or I'll walk alone on my own. I won't be tied again."
Timerious walks up to the wagon's rail that the tied off eight foot section of rope between his hands and the wagon is lashed to. There is a strange set of knots in the length of rope keeping it attached to the rail that Timerious has never seen the likes of before giving him pause while trying to undo them with both of his hands firmly tied together. While Timerious begins to work on the knots to release the rope from the wagon railing using just two or three finger tips he can feel his anger rising as he makes solid progress. Latovius walks to the side of the wagon and grabs the other tail of the rope. Apparently ignoring what Timerious was doing and what he had to say the rogue walks with his section of the rope to a block and tackle that he has lowered from the beam at the top of the building. He threads the rope through the equipment and hoists it upwards taking up the slack between the far end of the rope and the wagon rail. "Ma'am, could you come here and do me a quick favor?" The funny talking lady sets down the armload of empty burlap sacks and steps to Latovius. The rogue bowed his head downward and whispered something to her, the woman nodded her understanding as to what had been said.
Markas watches silently from his seated position in the back of the wagon as Timerious gets up from the ground. He walks over to the wagon's side rail where the rope that is attached to his hands is still knotted behind the prone form of Louis. Timerious seemed to be having a difficult time using just a couple finger tips, since his hands were still tightly lashed together, to try and undo a rather odd looking knot. Given the temperment of Timerious Markas assumed it would be just a short while before the man's anger boiled over and he would fly off the handle. Timerious spoke up about his current state in the world and Latovius appeared to ignore him as the rogue took out the slack from the other end of the rope and the equipment suspended from the barn's overhanging beam. Damage seemed likely to something or someone...
Louis seems to still be sick, He will try to get out of the wagon and move away from Timeroius and warn his family to stay away from the crazed warrior... for now
Hearing Timerious curse and feeling the man jostle the wagon right behind him Louis worries about his safety and that of his family. The sick man pushes himself out of the back of the wagon and falls to a knee on the ground. Speaking loudly in his native tongue he warned his family members to stay clear of the prisoner.
A man and a pre-teen boy emerge out of the main farm house carrying a bed sideways. Louis recognizes the pair as one of his families two farm hands and his youngest sibling.
"Hey Rogue! Release me. I'm leaving this place. I'm not welcome here or with any of you and no longer want to be here."
Timerious flexes against the knotted rope as he demands his rightful freedom from those around him. The work that he had just done to untie the knot on the wagon's rail was apparently good enough. The rope comes free from the railing leaving a small amount of slack in the rope between his bound hands and the pulley above. The middle aged woman had started to take a few steps towards Timerious but at Louis' warning and seeing the sudden slack in the rope she changes direction and quick steps into the barn away from the bound man.
Markas summoned what strength he had left, exited the wagon and said with a forceful tone, "Timerious is my charge and I say he will no longer be bound. We didn't rescue the man from chains only to replace them with ropes. If anyone has issue with this I understand but you will have to go through me to hurt the man."
Latovius ignores what Markas has to say and hauls on the rope. Timerious is pulled forward when the slack is drawn and his arms are pulled upward. The fighter is flat footed on the ground with his arms held above his head by his bindings. The young girl brings her mother a bailing hook and wears a frightened look upon her face. The woman takes the hook from the girl and puts herself between Timerious and her daughter. Latovious pulls again with a grunt on the rope, lifting Timerious up onto his tip-toes. The rogue throws the rope around a heavy duty cleat affixed to the outside of the building, he should be able to tie it off rather quickly.
Louise head spins with a little fatigue as he gathers up the strength to try to Settel down this situation. He was concerned at first about Timerious being a danger, but now it looks like the tied up man was now the one in danger! Louis calls to his mother and sister Mother! sister! Come to me now! then to Latovious Latovious! Take it easy with Timerouis, no? Louis headache pounds from the effort. [occ] Louis will have to see what happens, to see how he'll proceed [/ooc]
The man and boy who had just exited the farm house carrying a bed frame between them cover another twenty feet of ground towards the barn where the action is currently taking place. The bulkiness of the bed appears to be causing the boy difficulties carrying the item, he fidgets and sets his end down on the ground after covering that much distance. The young girl in the barn looks to Louis and then cowers behind her mother.
I'm tired of that little thief pushing me around! What is his problem anyway?
Timerious glares from where he was now unbound from the wagon to the pulley and on down the rope to the thief. "No", Timerious grunts.
Timerious bunches the powerful shoulders he built pounding a hammer against an anvil, hunched the back that had pumped bellows for hours on end and spread the mighty legs he used to carry pig iron, and pigs, from the barges to Shar's smithy. Timerious strains his muscles and set his strength to the rope and pulley. He remembers lifting a horse into the air with a pulley to shoe all four hooves at once.
You are no horse thief. Actually you probably are a horse thief but you are not as big as a horse. You can't move me runt.
"No."
This reminds me of the time I was locked out of the smithy and had to force the door.
"Arrrrrrrggghhhh" Timerious strains.
Timerious attempts to lower his center of gravity to get more onto his feet from his tip toes and bring down his arms. The physics of the situation are stacked against him and he accomplishes nothing. Remaining suspended by his tip toes with his hands strongly tied above his heads at the top of his reach, the rope through the pully and taught around the tie off bracket one time.
This situation is getting out of hand. Too many people have acted out of character around the cursed headdress. No time to think only act and so tired... thought Markas.
With seemingly two actions to make, save Timerious and destroy the headdress the cleric took the quickest path to each grabbing the cursed item out of his sack ignoring the need to be careful not to touch the item, and threw it away from the group hoping that it might break the hold it had on the actions of the group. Then moved to Latovius as quickly as possible to attempt to stop him from tying the rope.
Standing near the wagon bed he had been resting on Markas turns and reaches into his backpack, the container is still very damp to the touch. Reaching inside he quickly finds the only thing remaining in there and pulls it free. The burlap sack that had been used to pick the headdress up previously falls from around the item and lands upon the ground. With a great heave he flings the headdress far away from the group, it lands on a bare patch of the road that leads to the main farm house and rolls for a bit. Markas takes several steps towards Latovius intent on stopping the thief from tieing off the rope that held Timerious at attention.
The man who had been carrying the bed along with the boy stretches out his back as the bed rests on the ground. The young girl retreats into the shed.
Markas will collect his and Timerious' items putting the headdress (without touching it) back in his slimy bag and putting Timerious' items and Markas' items including the war hammer in Timerious' bag. Markas will carry both bags.
Louis worried for his family, rushes to the side of his mother. As he passes Timerious he receives a back kick from the suspended and restrained man. Louis is unsure if it was intentional or not.
"Mother are you ok? What is going on?" Louis asks with concern on his face.
"As soon as the mad man is restrained I shall feel better. I was told that he's attacked all of you on several occasions. Why have you allowed one such as him to come here Louis? Your youngest brother and sister could be in danger from one such as him." His mother explained while keeping a white knuckled grip on the bailing hook. Louis knew well that his mother would do whatever it took to protect her children. He hoped for Timerious' sake that he didn't so much as spit towards one of them or Timerious would soon be able to see what his insides looked like.
Latovius hurriedly ties off the rope on the bracket, a quarter of an inch of slack is returned to Timerious and he is no longer standing just on the tips of his toes but it will still be quite uncomfortable in short order.
Please add this to your character sheet.
Quirk: • Evasive = Your character has a faster then average set of reflexes and receives a -2 modifier on all DEX checks.
The rope was tied but at least Timerious could stand. Perhaps this wasn't a lynching and the headdress had nothing to do with things or it did and throwing the cursed thing changed the outcome thought Markas.
Unsure of intentions Markas continued towards Timerious and said, "what is the meaning of these ropes Latovius?"
Markas gets no immediate response to his question as he walks within five feet of Timerious and stops there to look at the man hanging before him from the rope and pulley attached to the beam extending from the front of the equipment shed.
"I wish you animals had left me in the Black Knight's dungeon!"
"What the f%!$ do you think they are meant for Markas? Your mad dog has tried to kill everyone he's run across since you let him out of his hole! He can bark on the end of his leash until the business here is done." Latovius snapped out at Markas, shocked at the continued stupidity he's had to witness. The thief walked over to Markas' side and pointed at a young boy that had to be Louis' brother. The lad was struggling to pick up the corner of a bed frame that rested on the ground twenty five feet away. "That boy, that young girl. That crazy f%@~er right there would snap their necks like it was nothing. It's noble that you think you can save that twisted f~~* Markas, but it ain't what's reality right now. You've had your head in your ass for two or three days now, I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever come out. What the f+!#'s wrong with you?" Latovius stood directly in front of Markas and waited for an answer from the cleric.
Timerious could do little beyond turning himself around to avoid watching and listening to this little altercation unfold between Markas and Latovius.
Louis remained alongside his frightened mother and watched the exchange between Latovius and Markas unfold. Now that the immediate threat of Timerious had been dealt with he could hear her sigh with relief. The bailing hook in her hand fell to the floor of the barn.
"What have you brought back here with you? This illness you have. This madman you travel alongside. None of it is any good. You should give thought to staying put now that you have returned to us. There's worse out there for you if you leave again!" The woman quietly pleaded with her ill stricken son, tears started to well up in the corners of her eyes and she raised a shaky hand to wipe away the tears.
"Keep him tied for safety but give him a little more slack so he can at least stand flat footed. You have been a good companion Latovius so I apologize for questioning your wisdom however the man has been through enough and we are not torturers like the Black Knight."