As the tempers flare, Gilian moves between the halfling and the towering Dorn spreading her arms.
Then in Trader's Tongue, turning round to address every one.
Suspicion is what made you all survive up to now, I guess. But for those who want to follow that spirit, you will need to trust the others. I have nothing to lose and if I die tomorrow, no one will remember me. So I choose tonight to trust that spirit and by the same, to trust each of you. I am a healer and I wouldn't stand in a fight against any of you. But I will help each of you as much as I can, be you tall, be you small. I will offer my skills to those who fight together, not to those who fight each other!
The near collapse of the elf woman stops her tirade and she moves towards her.
To Solvistania :
"You seem so tired, you should rest and sleep now even for a few minutes. Keep your strength for what's to come."
The massive Dorn does not seem to relax, though he never really seemed to tense as the situation flared. He simply continues to stand, quiet and inscrutable. His deep hood swings slowly towards his brother. Among Dorns the elder chooses the path.
Solvistania turns to the healer, gratitude glimmering in her eyes. "Yes, that would be good, this journey took so much out of me..."
She leans back, relaxes back toward the warming flames and drops off into a fitful slumber.
The burly half-dwarf, keeping his eyes on the tall human and his furry friends, says to the two women, "I am a defender. I am sworn to fight the forces of the Shadow. And I will not stand by while a potential companion is threatened, nor will I allow myself to be threatened." He hangs his urutuk in its loop. Turns to the elf hosting this meeting, nods, then sits. "But I do believe that our host will not allow any of us to bring harm to another. He would just send us back out to the wilds without a memory to how we got there. This is our chance at revenge. This is our chance to really fight back. Let's do this!"
She leans back, relaxes back toward the warming flames and drops off into a fitful slumber.
The massive Dorn's voice rumbles out from beneath his hood. "Guard her dreams, Muni. And stop antagonizing our fire-guests."
The raven's feathers ruffle "He was going to eat me!"
"Go." The Dorn says flatly.
The raven clicks it's beak toward the savage little halfling and explodes upward in a flash of dark feathers, disappearing into the darkness beyond the firelight. One of the wolves pads silently near the resting woman and lays down near her, looking up in the direction the raven had gone for a moment before also settling in vigil.
The raven's feathers ruffle "He was going to eat me!"
This sets Chops off. He laughs for a good minute before sobering up.
The massive Dorn does not seem to relax, though he never really seemed to tense as the situation flared. He simply continues to stand, quiet and inscrutable. His deep hood swings slowly towards his brother. Among Dorns the elder chooses the path.
"If the Vigdir heralded the coming of these others, brother, and would have us join them, then I will do so willingly. I trust in the power of your sight."
"Trust you, huh? Fine, I've followed your dream across the length of the land, might as well. Take care of Lar'Hadri, and I will go with these others into this hole of yours."
Pete howls at the talking animal. "Astirax! Shadow spy!"
He turns to the elf that summoned them, hair bristling and nostrils flaring. "Did you lead us into trap? This man has spirit-animal, like templar!"
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"No astirax can abide in my presence. Now, do behave, children. I am needed elsewhere. The Shadow is deep and long. The light must be guarded vigilantly. Come, my four-footed friend", he calls the horse. "I shall lead you to the green pastures in the mountain valleys where no shadow-spawn will find you, until your mistress needs you once again." Then he turns once more to all of you gathered by the fire. "Remember, trust no one but those sent by me. You shall know them by the burden of bones they carry." With those words still ringing in the night air, strange elf left the circle of light and disappeared into darkness, and the horse with him.
"Some have traveled many days without a good sleep". "We should take advantage of having someone to watch our back, and sleep this evening". "then with the rising of the sun, begin our exploration of the tower".
"I was thinking spending an extra day, gathering some food, resting, refilling supplies and scouting the area before we move in. This could be a long journey. And it would help if we knew something more about one another other than we all have special bones."
"Trust you, huh? Fine, I've followed your dream across the length of the land, might as well. Take care of Lar'Hadri, and I will go with these others into this hole of yours."
"Very well, then. I shall depart now for the realms of the East. You shall know your friends by the debt of bones they have with them. Farewell and greet my brother in my place."
"What realms lie East? And what exactly do you plan to do there, while we go in search of your brother... and what are we to tell him, when we find him?"
"Some have traveled many days without a good sleep". "We should take advantage of having someone to watch our back, and sleep this evening". "then with the rising of the sun, begin our exploration of the tower".
"I have little need for sleep these days, and would be glad to keep watch through the night."
"Trust you, huh? Fine, I've followed your dream across the length of the land, might as well. Take care of Lar'Hadri, and I will go with these others into this hole of yours."
"I have little need for sleep these days, and would be glad to keep watch through the night."
"More shall come this night." the hooded man rumbles. His shadowed eyes turn towards the dancing spirit-lights. "Go. Lead them to our fire."
The four small dancing lights streak off into the night bouncing and giggling, faster than a Sarcosan racehorse. One flies right through the stocky Dworg as if he were nothing more than air.
Pete remains sullenly silent; he refuses to sleep while the witch-Dorn remains awake.
"I was thinking spending an extra day, gathering some food, resting, refilling supplies and scouting the area before we move in. This could be a long journey. And it would help if we knew something more about one another other than we all have special bones."
Gilian nods at the Dworg: "We may attract attention if we stay here too long. We could still spend the morning gathering food or herbs. I was able to gather food on my way but did not take the time to prepare anything else. I would still wish to be gone by mid-day."
"To answer your other questions, I'm a healer and herbalist. I know how to survive alone in the plains or in the mountains. I can brew oils and salves that can cure wounds or neutralize poisons, but this is no easy process."
Solvistania sleeps on, unwoken by the quiet converstion going on around her. Occasionally you hear her muttering as if in the throes of a horrible nightmare, .
After some time, maybe because she is being guarded by the Dorn spirits, she finally lapses into slumber.
Gilian nods at the Dworg: "We may attract attention if we stay here too long. We could still spend the morning gathering food or herbs. I was able to gather food on my way but did not take the time to prepare anything else. I would still wish to be gone by mid-day."
"To answer your other questions, I'm a healer and herbalist. I know how to survive alone in the plains or in the mountains. I can brew oils and salves that can cure wounds or neutralize poisons, but this is no easy process."
Chops, head turned towards the young lady, nods in agreement.
"You are probably right. I get the feeling that this area has been mostly abandoned for quite a long time, but it is of some strategic importance. The enemy may be watching us and we don't even realize it." He turns his head to Pete. "Little friend, relax. I don't think the spooks are going to try anything. At least not tonight."
Solvistania opens her eyes, and rubs the sleep out of them, looking over at the dying embers of the fire, and at her newfound companions. Her gaze lingers over the Erunsil, any time she sees one she is reminded of those memories, and how they threaten to overwhelm her sanity.
She does not greet the companions verbally, preferring to enjoy the silence, and just nodding her greeting as her fellows start waking up to greet the new day. She also pulls out a sewing kit and starts mending her dress, not willing to let it deteriorate further than it already has.
Solvistania opens her eyes, and rubs the sleep out of them, looking over at the dying embers of the fire, and at her newfound companions. Her gaze lingers over the Erunsil, any time she sees one she is reminded of those memories, and how they threaten to overwhelm her sanity.
A black shape sails lazily down to land on a nearby rock and cants its head at the strange pale woman.
"Lady, you got some weird stuff in your head." the bird says before turning to the hooded dorn who rests still and silent against a nearby tree. "Hugi saw some other folks makin' their way in this direction. Should run into the kids soon." The big Dorn nods but says nothing.
"So who wants to feed the nice birdie?" the raven squawks to the wary group.
Solvistania starts to reply to the raven spirit, but hesistates, not willing to break the silence further. She thinks, Indeed I do have unusual memories in my head. Memories I would purge if I could. But they are a part of me. It would be like cutting off my hand, in a way.
As Solvistania wakes, she sees that Eyvindr was awake before her, staring glumly into the embers while rolling his bone pin between his fingers. It seems as tough he may not have slept at all. He barely acknowledges the others as they rise, and squints as the first rays of sun touch his face.
When the spirit bird returns and communicates what it spotted, the grizzled Dorn grumbles to his brother: "What do you make of that? Do you know what comes our way... should we prepare an ambush?"
When the Raven lands, Gilian rolls on her side and emerge from her sleep. She scans the horizon before moving to the fire.
There, she takes a small cauldron out of her pack and starts to boils water. At the raven warning, she stops her activity and looks to the Dorn brothers. "If it's a group, we should do as you say. But if it's a single person, it's more likely to be one of ours. Can Hugi tell us who he saw ?"
...Can Hugi tell us who he saw ?"
The bird flaps once and then begins preening from it's perch on the rock.
"Yeah, he could. But you don't want to talk to him. He's annoying. I'll pass it on, cause I'm such a nice gal. I accept gratitude in the form of food and compliments. He said it's just a couple of humans. They're comin' in from different directions, so they'd be easy pickins."
"What do you make of that? Do you know what comes our way... should we prepare an ambush?"
The bird turns to the sullen Dorn.
"Saw a good spot for an ambush if you want me to lead you there. I got dibs on the eyes."
His hooded brother speaks without moving or looking up from where he rests against the tree.
"It is unlikely that these new travelers would be here if they did not carry the same burden we all seem to. Stay your blade for now. The ravens will watch them and warn us should we be endangered."
"I spend all night lookin' out for her skinny tush-" the bird saws pointing it's beak towards Solvistania "-and I don't even get a break for breakfast before I get put back to work? Eyvi, tell your brother he's a jerk."
Solvistania speaks up "If we plan to greet the newcomers, I would like to come along, as well. They should be easily 'persuaded' to be more friendly, if need be."
...Can Hugi tell us who he saw ?"The bird flaps once and then begins preening from it's perch on the rock.
"Yeah, he could. But you don't want to talk to him. He's annoying. I'll pass it on, cause I'm such a nice gal. I accept gratitude in the form of food and compliments. He said it's just a couple of humans. They're comin' in from different directions, so they'd be easy pickins."
"What do you make of that? Do you know what comes our way... should we prepare an ambush?"The bird turns to the sullen Dorn.
"Saw a good spot for an ambush if you want me to lead you there. I got dibs on the eyes."
His hooded brother speaks without moving or looking up from where he rests against the tree.
"It is unlikely that these new travelers would be here if they did not carry the same burden we all seem to. Stay your blade for now. The ravens will watch them and warn us should we be endangered."
Eyvindr grabs his sword and starts to rise as Muni hints that he knows of a good ambush spot, but stiffens as his brother recommends he stays.
"I spend all night lookin' out for her skinny tush-" the bird saws pointing it's beak towards Solvistania "-and I don't even get a break for breakfast before I get put back to work? Eyvi, tell your brother he's a jerk."
"Rest is a scarce luxury these days, Muni," grumbles the stone-faced Dorn to the bird. "And I would a be a fool to step between a spirit guide and the Death-Speaker..." The bear-man sheathes his sword and stays within the vicinity of the camp, but nevertheless takes a few strides past Chops, Solvistania and some of the others to a spot that would grant him a better view of the approaching strangers...
Pete rubs his tired eyes and secretes himself behind cover, ideally downwind from where the folks are approaching.
"It appears to me we are all in this together like it or not" "I know we have all had hard lives, and tend to not trust anyone, but we have also agreed to enter into this task together". "If we continue our non-trust, and suspicion of one another, then the shadow wins". "If we must work together to overcome the darkness then let's do so now". "I am tired of all the bickering and suspicion". "I for one will find it novel to have someone at my back I can trust". "While it will take time to build this trust, we must start somewhere". "So lets quit hiding, and threating, and flexing our biceps, and get something done".
With that the snow elf rises to his feet, and prepares to await the newcomers...without his blades drawn, or his bow strung.
"It appears to me we are all in this together like it or not" "I know we have all had hard lives, and tend to not trust anyone, but we have also agreed to enter into this task together". "If we continue our non-trust, and suspicion of one another, then the shadow wins". "If we must work together to overcome the darkness then let's do so now". "I am tired of all the bickering and suspicion". "I for one will find it novel to have someone at my back I can trust". "While it will take time to build this trust, we must start somewhere". "So lets quit hiding, and threating, and flexing our biceps, and get something done".
With that the snow elf rises to his feet, and prepares to await the newcomers...without his blades drawn, or his bow strung.
"I agree with you," replies Gilian, taking some things from her pack and dropping them in the boiling cauldron. "Anyone want some bark tea. I'm afraid that's all I could find"
"I'll have some, thank you." Zafina says to Gilian.
She then walks over to Sky'tor.
In Erenlander
[ooc]And yes, that was just me using the wrong avatar. Have it sset as my Default, and forgot to switch over. Sorry. ;)
Chops slowly wakes and comes to an elbow, "Tea sounds great. I'd love some, thanks." He sits up and digs for a cup or something to drink it out of. "About the people coming, I think I should stay here or stay out of sight and scout. My good looks tend to either scare people or set them off. Either way, people tend to swing first and as questions later."
Solvistania walks over to the healer, watching closely her techniques on brewing the tea, storing it for future knowledge and says "I would like some tea as well, if you don't mind"
"Tea? For breakfast? Sheesh-" the fast talking raven pipes up again. "- Why can't the two of you ever fall in with people that know how to cook? Looks like another day of stealing Hugi's grub." The bird hopps twice and then launches itself into the air, quickly out of sight behind the trees.
One of the wolves pads over to Ragnar and bumps it's head against his shoulder where he sits leaning against the tree. He reaches up and scratches beast's head. There is a pause.
"Of course." the big man says. "We will be fine."
The wolf pauses for a moment, then slips quietly out of the camp. A moment later the other follows. The big man roots through a wide pouch and retrieves a thin, sharp tool and a half finished carving. His hands begin deftly shaving and scratching the oddly shaped ivory colored object. "Yes it is, Katy." He says quietly to no one in particular "Now hush. Go play."
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Morning light shines on a broken tower near to you. The tower once obviously stand tall in the huge clearing in the forest, but with the passing time clearing grew smaller and forest reclaimed lost ground. Now the trees are once again taller than the stone structure. Crumbled mound of black stone breaks the ground like a rotten tooth. On a closer inspection, faded carvings can be seen in the stone - a depictions of a tree with naked branches, sword and what seems to be a crown. Beneath it all is a strange rune, not unlike those used by the dwarves.
Sipping from his tea, "Delicious, Gilian," Chops looks closely at the rune, trying to see if he can recognize it.
Sky'tor looks sideways at Ragnar, thinking he must keep an eye on him. He seems on the brink of descending into madness.
He then stands and walks towards the ruins. "I'm going to look around a bit, and see if anything jumps out at me".
Perception take 20 (30)
Solvistania, after finishing her tea, (it was quite delicious), wanders over to where Sky'tor and Chops are, and starts to examine the carvings on the stone, also the rune underneath. Murmering under her breath, she brings forth an incantation.
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Sky'tor looks sideways at Ragnar, thinking he must keep an eye on him. He seems on the brink of descending into madness.
He then stands and walks towards the ruins. "I'm going to look around a bit, and see if anything jumps out at me".
Perception take 20 (30)
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Solvistania, after finishing her tea, (it was quite delicious), wanders over to where Sky'tor and Chops are, and starts to examine the carvings on the stone, also the rune underneath. Murmering under her breath, she brings forth an incantation.
** spoiler omitted **Solvistania, after finishing her tea, (it was quite delicious), wanders over to where Sky'tor and Chops are, and starts to examine the carvings on the stone, also the rune underneath. Murmering under her breath, she brings forth an incantation.
Nightflier