Ilona breaks out into full heartfelt laughter, the sound uplifting, warming to the heart and strangely filled with a sense of hope."What's so funny, woman?" asks Eyvindr tersely. "You should be more quiet -- that laugh could carry on the wind to others with dark intent, alerting them of our presence..."
Ilona stops in her tracks and turns slowly to face the big Dorn. For the first time her eyes hold no mirth, only a burning fury that threatens to consume everything before her, daring the mman to speak.
"I laugh, because I can. I laugh because when I stop laughing, they win. When nobody can find humor in anything, they win.
When the only thing standing against the shadow shuffles around like it's already dead, they win."
She holds the gaze for another moment, then her grin returns.
"Until then, I'll laugh," she finishes with a smile.
Solvistania eagerly grabs the blanket, and buries herself deeply in it with only her red eyes peeking from the folds of cloth, and gives the Dorn a heartfelt , if kind of weak, smile.
Ragnar's eyes are nearly lost in the folds of his cowl, but he does pause at Solvistania's display of thanks. As thier eyes meet he seems genuinely surprised, and for a moment his hardened mask wavers. A raging storm of emotions, fiercely alive, sneaks into his pale eyes, making him look very young. He drops his gaze and his stoic mask returns.
"You speak of Hearthstones, and yes they would prove quite handy, but I was not deemed...valuable enough to waste such a treasure on.
"I know of the stones you speak of". "My family possessed some to use when visitors not of the Erunsil visited, or when blizzards came". "I do not mind the cold, so I have never tried to find these stones".
"Then we do it the hard way. Keep gathering the wood." he says to Chops and Sky while pulling a stone bowl and some stones from his pack. "There will be flame by the time you finish."
He sits and begins sharpening a short, straight branch at both ends. "Gather round children, I am going to show you how to light a fire in the cold..." he says quietly to no one in particular.
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The dense fog seems to weigh on Zafina's mood, quickly dispelling the brief jubilant feeling brought on by the transportation.
When Chops starts gathering firewood, she begins to quietly help, keeping a wary eye towards the fog outside the circle of stones.
Perception 1d20+3
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Ilona's slow grin carries a hint of salaciousness. "Bears are so overdone."Ragnar drops another blanket unceremoniously on Ilona's head as he passes by on his way towards his brother. "Are you alright, Eyvindr? he says, digging a few more blankets out of his brother's pack, handing the smallest one to Gillian.Eyvindr seems confused as he looks around at the towering mountains, trying to get a hold of his bearings. For a moment, his stare is distant, his eyes vacant, yet his body no longer trembles as it did during his last few moments in the underground chamber. As his brother questions him and rummages through his pack, he is able to focus once again.
"Hmmm?... I was... Yes... of course... I am fine, brother."
After a moment of hesitation following Sky's remark concerning worg tracks, he lowers his sword and sheathes it. His bear hides seem to make him oblivious to the cold.
"Where are we?"
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Solvistania pays little attention to the bantering around her companions, instead just trying to stay warm. It seems even the heavy cloak she is wearing, does little to block out the piercing cold.
Her ears perk up when they mention the Shadow forces possible coming through the gate.
"Let me examine the gate before we do anything else.", she murmers ina drowsy voice.
After finishing examining the gate, she murmers, "Although the gate is one way, thus meaning the Shadow could send their forces through it, I do sense the same thing Ilona does, this is a sacred place. I advise we keep watch on the gate to be safe, but we should be all right here. And I cannot travel any further."
After that speech, she remembers something she wanted to ask. Hearing Ilona's laughter filled her with a sense of undescribable loss, as she cannot ever remember laughing like that.
Ilona, how are you able to laugh?"
Pete will slip off into the mist and look for a cave or other convenient defensible shelter in which to rest.
Stealth:
Survival:
Perception:
Perception
Ilona stops in her tracks and turns slowly to face the big Dorn. For the first time her eyes hold no mirth, only a burning fury that threatens to consume everything before her, daring the mman to speak.
"I laugh, because I can. I laugh because when I stop laughing, they win. When nobody can find humor in anything, they win.
When the only thing standing against the shadow shuffles around like it's already dead, they win."
She holds the gaze for another moment, then her grin returns.
"Until then, I'll laugh," she finishes with a smile.
Eyvindr seems dumbstruck by Ilona's well-considered reply.
After a long pause where he searches in vain for a rebuttal, he drops her gaze and starts helping Chops and Sky gather firewood. "Get some rest," he mumbles to her over his shoulder, "you laugh because you are tired and your nerves are fraying..."
Evidently, the fatigue issue does not apply to Eyvindr? But I would imagine that how much wood he would gather would depend on the ease with which he could gather the wood in the mist?
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Ilona stops in her tracks and turns slowly to face the big Dorn. For the first time her eyes hold no mirth, only a burning fury that threatens to consume everything before her, daring the mman to speak.
"I laugh, because I can. I laugh because when I stop laughing, they win. When nobody can find humor in anything, they win.
When the only thing standing against the shadow shuffles around like it's already dead, they win."
She holds the gaze for another moment, then her grin returns.
"Until then, I'll laugh," she finishes with a smile.
Eyvindr seems dumbstruck by Ilona's well-considered reply.
After a long pause where he searches in vain for a rebuttal, he drops her gaze and starts helping Chops and Sky gather firewood. "Get some rest," he mumbles to her over his shoulder, "you laugh because you are tired and your nerves are fraying..."
** spoiler omitted **
After finishing examining the gate, she murmers, "Although the gate is one way, thus meaning the Shadow could send their forces through it, I do sense the same thing Ilona does, this is a sacred place. I advise we keep watch on the gate to be safe, but we should be all right here. And I cannot travel any further."
After that speech, she remembers something she wanted to ask. Hearing Ilona's laughter filled her with a sense of undescribable loss, as she cannot ever remember laughing like that.
Ilona, how are you able to laugh?"
Turning towards Solvistania, Ilona's expression becomes softer.
"I find the things that are worth laughing about. The fact that we're here right now having this conversation means that even in the midst of their "great victory" thwe Shadow still loses. Try as they might the can't stamp us out."
Stepping forward she places a hand on Solvistania's shoulder, gentle and supportive as she locks eyes with the elvish woman and speaks softly.
"All the pain, all the loss, all the suffering, it's all for a reason. They fear us, and one of these days...." her eyes flash a shift of the light turning hazel to a vivid amber..."...we'll show the bastards why they're afraid...and imagining the looks on their faces...how can you not laugh."
She winks and breaks out in a warm smile.
"All the pain, all the loss, all the suffering, it's all for a reason.
Ragnar's voice, explaining to empty air the process of making fire from damp wood, trails off. He looks at Ilona for a moment, then to his brother, then to the small bowl of fire in his hands. The ghostly lights around him dim a bit and begin to drift off. He pulls his hood deeper over his head and sits unmoving on the edge of the Elthedar stone staring into the fire. The raven on his shoulder fluffs it's feathers for a moment "Now you've done it. Wonderful..." the bird says sarcastically to Ilona and flaps to Evyindr's shoulder as the other Dorn drags in more wood.
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** spoiler omitted **
Stealth: 1d20+12
Survival: 1d20+8
Perception: 1d20+10
Perception
Turning towards Solvistania, Ilona's expression becomes softer.
"I find the things that are worth laughing about. The fact that we're here right now having this conversation means that even in the midst of their "great victory" thwe Shadow still loses. Try as they might the can't stamp us out."
Stepping forward she places a hand on Solvistania's shoulder, gentle and supportive as she locks eyes with the elvish woman and speaks softly.
"All the pain, all the loss, all the suffering, it's all for a reason. They fear us, and one of these days...." her eyes flash a shift of the light turning hazel to a vivid amber..."...we'll show the bastards why they're afraid...and imagining the looks on their faces...how can you not laugh."
She winks and breaks out in a warm smile.
Solvistania sighs, and looks back at Ilona, with a tear trying to form in the corner of her eye. "What if you were forbidden to laugh? Or you never felt the urge to laugh?"
Gilian comes back from gathering wood.
"Well people, if we settle here for today, we need some kind of organisation. As we are nine I suggest four of us can rest till nightfall while five of us work to gather wood or supplies. Then we can altern. My suggestion would be to let those who can see in the dark or in low light to rest first so that they can guard us during the night."
There are enough woods now to last you till dawn. It's getting colder now and darker. You do not know how much time have you spent traveling through stones, but it was not instantly. There are couple of hours of daylight left.
While Sky saw the little man slip away, he assumed he wanted to be alone for reasons of his own. Sky warned the party there were worgs about, and they appeared to avoid the ring...so if he wishes to wander off and get killed, Sky will feel no guilt.
"Gil. That's a brilliant f~@@ing idea. I'm so used to working till I drop that I sometimes forget that there are better ways of doing things." Chops strips his sweaty clothes clothes and padded armor off and sets them by the fire to dry. He then walks to his backpack wearing nothing but his scars and tattoos and pulls out a fresh set. After he dons his clean skivvies, he pulls out his bedroll, brings his axe inside with him, and puts his head on his pillow. "Wake me if there is any signs of trouble." In one second flat, he is fast asleep.
Sky waits till the rest of the late watch beds down, then positions himself between the fire, and one of the other sleepers, then attempts to sleep.
Solvistania sighs, and looks back at Ilona, with a tear trying to form in the corner of her eye. "What if you were forbidden to laugh? Or you never felt the urge to laugh?"Turning towards Solvistania, Ilona's expression becomes softer.
"I find the things that are worth laughing about. The fact that we're here right now having this conversation means that even in the midst of their "great victory" thwe Shadow still loses. Try as they might the can't stamp us out."
Stepping forward she places a hand on Solvistania's shoulder, gentle and supportive as she locks eyes with the elvish woman and speaks softly.
"All the pain, all the loss, all the suffering, it's all for a reason. They fear us, and one of these days...." her eyes flash a shift of the light turning hazel to a vivid amber..."...we'll show the bastards why they're afraid...and imagining the looks on their faces...how can you not laugh."
She winks and breaks out in a warm smile.
Ilona gently lays a hand on Solvistania's cheek.
"Nobody,..nobody can forbid you to laugh, if they think they can they need to be taught different; and as far as the urge goes....well we'll just have to awaken that one won't we?"
Stealth:
Survival:
Perception:
Ilona gently lays a hand on Solvistania's cheek.
"Nobody,..nobody can forbid you to laugh, if they think they can they need to be taught different; and as far as the urge goes....well we'll just have to awaken that one won't we?"
"Yes, that would...be....good..." as she drops off into slumber.
** spoiler omitted **
:
Survival: 4 + 6 = 10.
Gilian comes back from gathering wood.
"Well people, if we settle here for today, we need some kind of organisation. As we are nine I suggest four of us can rest till nightfall while five of us work to gather wood or supplies. Then we can altern. My suggestion would be to let those who can see in the dark or in low light to rest first so that they can guard us during the night."
"Others are far more tired than I," responds Eyvindr as he hauls in some more wood effortlessly. "I will take first watch." As the shadows of night lengthen, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish the big man from his bear hide.
Ilona smiiles as Solvistania drifts off to sleep wishing the sorceress at least a few hours of peace.
"Sounds like a good idea Gillian," watching Chops she shakes her head, grinnning. "I'll definitely fit in with this group," she muutters to herself.
"Besides, a little hard work'll make sleep all the sweeter, that and snuggling up to somone..for warmth of course," she finishes with a wink.
Ragnar continues to stare at the fire in his hands, the pile of wood next to him seemingly forgotten, the biting cold ignored though his chest is still bare beneath his long coat.
The fire sizzles once as something wet falls into the bowl.
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Pete high-tails it back to the rest of the group, cold, tired, and with his metaphorical tail between his legs.
"I look for cave. Too many worg out there, though."
Sky had one of the last watches before the pseudo morning. As he waits for the remainder of the party to awaken, he tries to determine which direction the sun rose in. That will at least give him a reference to keep from getting too lost, when they leave the clearing.
"Well we can't stay here forever". "What say we pick a direction, move out, and see if we can get out of this cursed mist".
The big dwarf-orc wakes, yawns, and climbs out from under his bedroll. He is fully dressed from his turn at watch. He rolls up the bedroll and ties it to the pack, making sure all straps are secure. He pulls out some dried fruit, mushrooms, and salted pork. Chops notices Sky'tor peering into the gloomy dawn light and heads over to talk to him, staring into the mists alongside the Erunsil. "You think we will get some sort of sign?" he says in between mouthfuls.
Having slept the last part of the night, Gilian gets up with dawn and revive the fire to brew an invigorating herbal tea for the journey. She pours some over dried roots and chew on them silently while every one gets ready.
"I'm not sure we will get any sign from the elven spirit. Any thought of a direction we could take?" she asks the two early risers.
"We will surely meet worgs this morning, Pete told us yesterday he met some in the forest."