Greyston peals himself away from Sapphire as the fire is lit and he feels the heat hitting them, helps Sapphire to sit by the fire. Sitting next to her hoping to keep himself warm. "It was the least we could do, we're all in this together i don't want to see anyone freeze here." He then takes out a bit of bread and starts to toast it on the fire and hands it out to people.
The warrior nods and moves to retrieve his sword. As he sheaths it he says. "Very lucky. I've seen men die within minutes after falling in icy water. We have to camp. She needs rest and the furs need to dry. I need healing too. That thing kicked like a mule."
He rigs a frame out of slender branches and hangs the wet furs across it, using the heat of thefire to dry them overnight. satisfied he has collected enough wood to dry and keep
The blaze going he sits down in the makeshift shelter. It is getting dark and he is finished so he says. " who's cooking?"
After hearing where Greyston is from he says. "I was born to this." he indicates the shown with a wave of his hand. "I grew up in the Crown of the World. Snow and ice were constant. You learn to live with it." He shrugs.
"What about the rest of you? Nasrin I know, but you don't yet. I think if we are to bleed together, we should know more of each other. I k ow Nasrin will want to know more before she accepts you fully as part of her pack."
"Your skills were useful today. Between you you drove off those two other fey. If they had stayed around things could have been much worse. We were lucky. Where are you two from?"
Listening quietly as Greyston speaks Elleross looks at him again and wonders if he knew his family, or would greyston know of his family. Elleross hoped he did not. The group may not tolerate him if they knew his past, he had seen too many former convicts shunned everywhere they went. mentally filing away the questions in his mind he cycles through all the Elven families he was aware of in the city when he lived there.
he admits himself he is used to a better standard of living. I wonder how prominent his family were in the city. There were several families with too much money and too much influence. My own family was accepted in certain circles but they did not have the wealth to step into that world save for the occasional social function he thinks as he warms his hands and smokes quietly, he began smoking in prison and he found his pipe had always soothed him and during the bad times, it was his only outlet.
I also grew up in that city Greyston, many years ago in my youth I studied the law and became a prosecuter for the justices. I was good too, maybe too good but I was young and fearless in those days. he says with a slight smile i thought I was making a difference and so I went after them all, the organised crime families, the career criminals, the worst of humanity. If they thought they were untouchable I went after them. But soon it caught up with me and the city was becoming a dangerous place. I never feared for myself but my wi....my family were in the city too and they begged me to leave before it was too late. he says quietly staring into the fire, almost talking to himself.
so when a provincial judges post came up I was persuaded to move to the countryside and so I stepped up and become a Judge. The adjustment from city life was not as difficult as I first imagined but it took some getting used to. he says as he chews slightly on his pipe, small puffs of smoke framing his face as he speaks.
I have wondered many times what my life would have been like had I not left, If Only I had found the courage to stay despite the dangers. It....it is my biggest regret and one that in all my long years I haven't come to terms with he says and lowers his head as a look of pain and sadness furrows his brows as he glances at that place inside his mind, the dark rooms he keeps forever locked away from the light. The memories housed inside too painful and too terrifying for him to face.
Clearing his throat and drawing deeply on his pipe he looks up.
so after many years away I was making my way back to the city, I hoped to further my arcane studies there. The arcane has become something of a hobby for me in my retirement he lies as he taps out the embers from his pipe and re fills it and lights it again with a twig from the fire. I have a spare pipe and plenty of tobacco if anyone would like some? he asks changing the subject
Diplomacy not being his strong point, Corum lokks up from weaving the snow shoes and asksbluntly. "after many years. What did you do in between?"
Nasrin looks furious. Really? Trapped in a waist deep stream for while the rest of the pack fights? Restless while Corum cares for the others, she patrols the perimeter with Thorn. Mentally debating this task, We could still move further south. But how much has this unnatural winter already covered? How much more will it cover? Finally returning to the camp, she sits near Sapphire. At first her only reply to Sapphire's question is a grunt. At Sapphire's quizzical expression she answers properly, "It's a prayer to the spirits of winter and summer, to keep me warm, or cool if the sun is punishing the land. I could teach the words, but you have to learn to say them so the spirits hear."
The feral girl watches from the side as the rest of the pack talks, not really feeling like engaging in idle talk. When Corum asks for clarification, she adds in, "Corum knows. But know, if you are with us true, your past matters less. Every day brings new life." She frowns a little at the last part, Mother, you teach me even today.
Greyston listens on to their stories it again takes his mind of the numbing cold, but not all of it brings back good memories. "You were truly born to it then Corum, a child of snow and ice."
As Elleros mentions his time in Oppera Greyston shifts uncomfortably He's been away from the city he wouldn't know anything "That's an interesting life you've lived, my father was some higher up type i never really payed attention." He then focuses on the pipe offered to him, almost taking it but refusing it. "I don't smoke or drink it doesn't sit so well with me." He looks away memories flooding back in.
Sapphire hears Nasrin's response to her question, but now she's warm and in good company she finds it hard to keep her eyes open. The events of the last few days catch up to her fully, and she drifts on the edge of consciousness, listening to the ebb and flow of conversation. For the first time since she left her adopted father's cabin on the Katheer lake, she feels safe.
"Thsnks Nasrin." Corum says as yhe druid tends her wounds. He nods at Greysyon. "I am from the far north but have spent the last few years in the south. My homeland was taken from me many years ago. Since then I have seen much pain."
Listening to Nasrin talk of her woodland spirits he thinks to himself absently
the phrasing if the words and the intonation is important but not as important as the effect. She draws power from the land asks for the powers to be granted to her.
There is a more direct route. I can almost see it
don't worry Greyston it's a bad habit anyway. he says and when no one takes up his offer he tucks the pipe away noticing Greyston's fidgeting and wonders if the young man had a prior problem with tobacco or some other substance.
what did you do in between? Rot in a bleak cell and watch the years grind by, strange I never noticed the passing of time until I had too much of it on my hands. But I have put it to good use, I have learned much and contemplated my vengeance for decades and now I am just getting started.
he thinks sourly as his mind is cast back into the prison he has only recently left and for a second he can smell the place again it's peculiar sour damp stench and he shudders
not a lot Corum, not a lot. I feel as if I have just watched the years roll by.
, we are lucky you are with us I feel guilty that you and the others are taking all the punishment since we began this.
It is a long way to travel from the crown of the world to these normally warm lands he says what brought you south?
Noticing Sapphire start to drift off to sleep, Greyston puts another blanket over her laying the back of his hand on her head to check how she is doing.
He then turns back to the group sitting on a log. "I know what its like being cast from your home..." He look out at the fire. "I hope you will see your home again as i plan on seeing mine."
Smiling at Elleross. "Something my father always used to say... maybe thats the reason why i started. He always knew better than me." Taking out his formula book he starts to work on a potion. I think i'll be able to work on a curing potion - Someone might need it and if Sapphire isn't fully healed it will be smarter to have it available."
why did you leave the city Greyston? It seems like you miss it a lot. Elleross says as he watches the young elf busy himself with his potion.
I used to live near the lions gate , i had a small apartment. I remember the windows used to rattle so bad on oath day I feared the panes of glass would fall out. It will be good to see the city after so long away. I bet it has hardly changed at all, I wonder if Figo's is still there, I suppose his sons must have taken over the shop now. He had the best coffee in the city and the finest pastries. Elleross smiles at the memory we used to love it there in the evenings sitting outside as night settled on the city watching the world pass by he sighs and draws deeply on his pipe
City-men Nasrin is quiet, listening while the others chat. "Elleross. Did you have a big pack when you lived in your city?"
She listens closely to Greyston's words, I know what it means to be cast from hearth and home, too. That's why we will find what makes this winter here.
"Sapphire will be fine if she gets the chance to rest. Thorn is still hurt, and Corum, but he heals fine." The girl chews her lip a bit and then says, "We need to be better about chasing these winter-things. They may know we chase them, or maybe not. They leave bad traps, though."
The old man looks over at the wild girl as she joins in their conversation.
did I have a big pack? I knew a lot of people and my own family was quite extensive but I dont think we had the close ties that you would expect of pack mates. he says using her terms she is a strange one, I don't think I've ever met anyone like her. She is more like her wolf than I realised , she thinks like him. A brutal simplistic view of the world, but not necessarily a bad one. he muses
no Nasrin I think that those I would call true pack mates in that city were few in number. my pack mates in the prison though, they were true. I would not have survived the place were it not for them he thinks and in his mind he sees their familiar faces .
what about you Nasrin? Where Did you find your friend Thorn? You seem to belong together
"He found me. Maybe. Far north of here, almost to the domain of the winter witches." She leans over to Thorn and ruffles his fur. "How did you survive in such a place without trust? Every city I have seen has been ugly and violent. Worse than this, even." She motions, indicating the wintery woods around them.
Corum grimaces as Elleross asks what brought him south. "Slavers!" he spits, his words dripping with venom. "They didn't live to regret it."
"Bad decisions, and childish actions and the need to start over." He stops his work for a moment and smiles. "I don't know of Figo's, but there was a inn called the Oaken wheel. It was a low brow type of place but i've never had so much fun in all my life, you could learn a lot of the people who visited that inn. I would very much like to go back there someday."
Smiling to himself he trails off thinking of better times. "It is a shame you had to leave the city Elleross, maybe we can both head back there after this is all over. I can't say i've had anyone to travel with for a long time."
--
"I hope so Nasrin, when i thought of this i didn't expect it to be so deadly... or cold. I had hoped of a simple payday and saying goodbye to all of you as soon as i could. But out here i wouldn't survive a day, i glad to have each of you." Holding his hands out at the fire to warm himself.
Corum looks up from making the snowshoes. He studies Sapphire, noting the steely strength in her. That of a trained warrior.
"What about you? How did you end up a caravan guard Sapphire?"
Sapphire has been drifting on the edge of consciousness, letting the flow of conversation wash over her like another blanket. Corum's direct question causes her eyes to snap open fully, and she sits up slowly, already feeling much better.
The job was just that, a simple means to an end, earning a crust and traveling towards my destination at the same time.
she looks pensive for a moment, then shrugs, evidently deciding to trust those around the fire that have already saved her life several times over in the course of only a few days.
I grew up near Katheer, just me and my...father. He was an ex-mercenary, fought all over the world, trained me to protect myself. He died suddenly in his sleep a couple of months back, and in his possessions I found some things that revealed he hadn't told me the truth. My parents were from the far north, Irrisen in fact where the Jadwega hold dominion. For some reason they needed me away from the country, hence growing up in Taldor. More than that I don't know as yet, I'm making my way up there to see what I can find out. That's my grand plan, no more, no less.
she casts her eyes around and takes a leaf from Nasrin's phrasing
It's good when those who had no pack find themselves working well together. A good omen for the future.
@ nasrin / Greyston
you would be surprised how many people live without trust Nasrin. The city can be an ugly dangerous place I'm sure Greyston would agree. But it can also be a place of great kindness and warmth.
A city isn't so unlike a person, they both have the marks to show they have many stories to tell.
It is said a city can have a thousand faces and no man can see them all. But I will look on its face again one day and it would be good to have some company he says nodding to the young elf as he mixes his alchemical concoction.
@Corum
slavery is a disgusting practice, it still amazes me that civilisation allows it to continue. I would imagine they must have been pretty arrogant or foolish to imagine they could bind you to a life of servitude he says to the hulking barbarian. His head rises sharply as Sapphire answers Corum.
the jadwiga! So called children of the witch mother. If I had the power I would wipe their unclean seed from the world! Perhaps soon I may get my wish. he thinks , his thoughts as cold as the bleak landscape around them.
The warrior shrugs at Elleross' comment. "I was young. I grew strong in the mines. My strengj was valuable to them so they fed me well. I contained my anger and they forgot me. They forgot they had caged a tiger. I suffered the lash many times but when the time came I fed that whip to the overlord. Then I took his gear and killed his men. I wandered for a while, met Nasrin and we've travelled together since."
When Sapphire has told her tale he says "Well I have a feeling we will all be heading North. Ihope you find your answers. For now though I am honoured to call you sword ssister. "
Nasrin smiles at Sapphires talk of Omens. Maybe she will learn to talk to the spirits of the World? She remains silent, her eyes flitting across the others around the fire. So many hearts, so many with no direction. She stops and stares at Greyston. Eager for goodbyes. Sounds like me.
With the fire fed regularly, a warm blaze illuminates the clearing throughout the night and you sleep fitfully, despite the cold. Sapphire in particular is out like a light, finally feeling safe enough to close both eyes and let sleep take her.
The next morning you wake to find the shelter is half buried in snow after what was a particularly heavy downpour. If it weren't for the fire, you suspect you would have had to dig your way out this morning.
Nevertheless you pack up what gear you have and trudge once more into the snow.
After ploughing on through the woods that run parallel to the trail for most of the morning you find that blessedly the snow abates and for once you can see some distance ahead. It seems a real stroke of luck, for above the trees ahead you can just make out the pale smoke of a fire.
Greyston listens on to all the talking, happy to be distracted from from the cold and some old memories.
---
In the morning Greyston and goes about his routine, it now taking longer because of the cold but he gets everything done and then hands Sapphire the potion he worked on last night. "Here you go, i spent some time last night brewing a potion that will help with your wounds. Its the best i can do for now."
After the few days of plowing through the snow, Greyston can feel himself getting accustomed to it his muscles don't ache so much anymore and sharp coldness doesn't catch him out like it first did.
Spotting the smoke he ducks down and points up to show the others. "Could that be their camp? have we caught up with them?" He whispers.
Nasrin sees the smoke and knows that something is afoot. What, she doesn't know. Greyston speaks up, and she grunts back at him. "Maybe. Maybe not." She surveys the woods, looking for what may offer a better place to check out the column of smoke. Whatever. We need to keep to the woods."
Thorn raises his nose to the air and sniffs inquisitively for a few moments, probably catching scent of the smoke.
Nasrin shimmies up a tree to get a better view of where the smoke is coming from.
In a clearing among the trees, a large wooden lodge overlooks a ravine spanned by a long rope bridge. Smoke rises from the lodge's two snow-covered chimneys, and large wood pile is stacked against the outer wall.
A small outbuilding stands east of the lodge, and a stone well nearly blanketed by snow is barely recognizable to the north.
Several tracks lead southwest toward a detached stable.
From her new vantage point, Nasrin can also see the legs of a body, partially buried in snow some fifty yards further into the woods where the trees become extremely dense and impassable.
Nasrin climbs down from her perch and tells everyone the basic layout of the lodge. "The only easy way in is a rope bridge. That'll be trapped. or ambushed." She strides off towards the body she saw and says over her shoulder, "There may be something over here. I saw legs."
Trudging thru the snow, the feral girl and her wolf make it to the body. She looks around, wary of the traps her prey has proven so fond of. She lets Thorn loose, and listens to the woods around her.
|
The body is that of a human man past middle age. Despite his apparent frailty, he clearly knew something of wilderness travel. He wears old-style military winter clothing and carries both bow and handaxe, similar to how an army scout or hunter might be armed. He appears to have been badly beaten.
Rising early Elleross groans as his aching body refuses to warm up in the icy conditions.
With some effort he runs warmth into his legs forcing the circulation to wake up.
Not needing to refer to his Spell book, he still held the same spells ready in his mind from when they first set out on this quest, he hadn't yet needed to utilise his powers fully.
The trek through the deep snow seemed a little easier on him today, his leg wasn't painting him as much and it seemed a little warmer.
Soon they sight the smoke and he wonders if they have located the bandits. As Nasrin describes the lay of the land he frowns.
we will be exposed as we approach that lodge but I can see no other way to get there.
Nasrin is right that bridge must be trapped or they watch it for approaching strangers. What are we going to do?
As Nasrin drags the body back to the others Elleross recognises the man
he was in the inn the night we met, a local farmer I believe. his name was Dansby. I remember overhearing him complain that someone had been stealing his crops Elleross says as he locates the information he had stored away in his memory palace, even the trivial information was catalogued and could usually be recalled as and when he needed.
Greyston looks on as Nasrin scouts ahead. Spotting the body she brings it back to the group, bending down he starts to check over the body for any other signs of death. "It seems the bandits got to him."
In the morning the warrior banks the fire and prepares breakfast. Before they move off he offers the snowshoes to Elleross. "No offence but we can only mive as fast as our slowest member. I will make more for everyone when I have time."
They set off and stop at the sight of the smoke. Coeum loosens the sword in its scabbard as Nasrin scouts. When she brings the body he gestures at the weapons. "Anyone use a bow? Looks like a good weapon. It will come in handy."
He listens to Elleross. "What killed him do you think?"
"He was bludgeoned to death but all his gear is still here, The bandits would have left this stuff." He stands and looks around the area, feeling very unnerved.
Corum, that a mighty warrior such as yourself wishes to call me sister is an honour I gladly accept. I'm proud to fight by you.
With that, she drifts back off to sleep.
Sapphire considers the frozen corpse and listens to the description of his injuries.
It may just be that he fell afoul of the same ice monsters that attacked us, it looked like they used their thick, heavy arms as clubs. At any rate, we're all going to need to be paying attention from this point, if the building up ahead is where they're holed up, then being a permanent structure I have no doubt they will have ringed the area with their favorite traps. Let us watch our step as we approach.
She walks over the snow without breaking the crust as she moves forward towards the lodge.
As the pack discusses the whys and wherefores Nasrin begins stripping the dead farmer of his winter clothing. She hands them to Sapphire, "Better than the bad pieces you have on." The bow she suggests for Corum, trying to hide a grin. "Since your sling is broken."
The wolfling steps off with Sapphire, "Keeping me company this time?" She nods to the woods that stand due north of the Lodge and says, "We stay off the trail."
Corum gives the handaxe to Sapphire and slings the bow and quiver on his back. He nods when Nasrin moves off to skirt around the lodge and approach from the woods.
"Lets go see whats inside."
Nasrin does her best to sneak up to the treeline near the lodge.
Despite the air remaining chill and unwelcoming, Sapphire turns with a grin to Nasrin
I'll happily accompany you sister!
Even with her light feet, Sapphire finds it hard going keeping up with the wolfling as they make their way around to the side of the lodge. As they approach the treeline, Sapphire hangs back, not trusting to be able to stay as quiet as Nasrin, so instead she keeps watch.
Greyston keeps his head down as they travel all the way around to get at the lodge. In a less chatty mood than last night. Grumbling to himself as the others seem to have no problem moving through the snow.
Perception
Corum studies the tracks in the snow trying to determine the direction they lead and what made them.
"I wonder what else has been here. Perhaps it was our prey?"
Stealth
When they push on through the deep snow surrounding the trees. Every now and then Corum glimpses the lodge through the snow bound foliage. As they near he slows down, carefully placing his feet to minimise the noise he makes. He carries his sword and shield ready.
Fort
Fort
The party, with mixed success, sneaks up to the tree-line.
The lodge is of solid, wooden construction and though not built for this kind of wealth seems to be bearing it well. Smoke rises from the two chimneys though you can see no sentries or guards from your position.
There are obvious entrances on the east and west sides of the lodge.