Solvistania leads Chops along through the forest, being careful to avoid any signs of passage, and heading deeper into the wilderness. All through the journey, her eyes rove over every tree and rock, memorizing the landmarks so becoming lost will not be an issue. They travel north, for most of the day, then towards evening her pace slows, and it is clear she is looking for a place to perform her ritual. soon a clearing opens up, as if by magic, and she indicates their journey is over. "We shall camp here, Chops. I will need to meditate for a full day, in order to call my companion to me, so I depend on you to protect me, my defender."
She thens sits cross-legged in the mossy grass, and then closes her eyes, allowing her sense to expand over the remote woods, calling out, searching...
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Solvistania leads Chops along through the forest, being careful to avoid any signs of passage, and heading deeper into the wilderness. All through the journey, her eyes rove over every tree and rock, memorizing the landmarks so becoming lost will not be an issue. They travel north, for most of the day, then towards evening her pace slows, and it is clear she is looking for a place to perform her ritual. soon a clearing opens up, as if by magic, and she indicates their journey is over. "We shall camp here, Chops. I will need to meditate for a full day, in order to call my companion to me, so I depend on you to protect me, my defender."
She thens sits cross-legged in the mossy grass, and then closes her eyes, allowing her sense to expand over the remote woods, calling out, searching...
Solvistania meditates...and dreams.
She dreams of the life she has led before, growing up as the ward of Queen Aradil and the times among the elves of Erethor, then she dreams of her childhood, watched over by the servants of the Shadow in the Pits of Hell. It is a time she does not care to revisit, but in this case she must, as it is who she is.
She goes deeper into herself, feeling the elf blood, while dominant, and also her orc blood, mixed so to be undetected by those who would bring down the Light. She concentrates on her blood, feels the magic coursing through her veins, more magic than certainly any normal elf could sustain. She feels, in each drop of her blood, a feiry passion for life, a hunger for sensations, a drive for power, and other motivations, she cannot fathom. She calls for undersatnding of the primal urges in her blood, the blood of dragons, in her veins, which compels her and sustains her frail body, she calls for a spirit dragon companion to enlighten her, to show her what it means to follow, to be a dragon.
Also she feels her elven blood call for a feline companion, a snow leopard, to help her, one with ties to the ancient Snow Witch tradition. she feels the conflicting desires in her soul, but concentrates on the dragon calling in her blood.
Chops watches Solvistania's svelte form sway with each step as he follows her to her chosen spot to perform the ritual. He notes the soft curves of her slim body through the thin silk of her dress. He smiles. Emotion like this has been so foreign to him since Shayla was lost to him that terrible evening. He notes how that loss is less painful now. He feels that hole in his heart is a little less deep.
He turns his attention to the forests. So different than his dwarven caves back home. He finds he likes it outdoors. He listens for the sounds of animals. He hears the birds calling each other. A strange croaking sound is heard near some pond. He startles as he hears the sound of leaves shuffling and brush crackling. The sound stops. His hand goes to his axe, but then he spies the chipmunk, motionless, trying to remain unnoticed by the two strange creatures walking through its territories.
Later, Chops watches Solvistania prepare her ritual after reconnoitering the perimeter. He tells her that he is going to take a catnap while she prepares. That she needs to wake him at any sign of danger. He feels a light, feather touch as she caresses his cheek, telling him it is time. She enters her trance while Chops watches. He listens to the sound of the forest.
After a few hours, he decides to exercise a bit. He practices his fighting styles, performs several varieties of push-ups. Balance moves. Plyometrics (but he doesn't know that is the word for it). All the while, he is listening and remaining alert as only a true defender can.
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Solvistania meditates...and dreams.
She dreams of the life she has led before, growing up as the ward of Queen Aradil and the times among the elves of Erethor, then she dreams of her childhood, watched over by the servants of the Shadow in the Pits of Hell. It is a time she does not care to revisit, but in this case she must, as it is who she is.
She goes deeper into herself, feeling the elf blood, while dominant, and also her orc blood, mixed so to be undetected by those who would bring down the Light. She concentrates on her blood, feels the magic coursing through her veins, more magic than certainly any normal elf could sustain. She feels, in each drop of her blood, a feiry passion for life, a hunger for sensations, a drive for power, and other motivations, she cannot fathom. She calls for undersatnding of the primal urges in her blood, the blood of dragons, in her veins, which compels her and sustains her frail body, she calls for a spirit dragon companion to enlighten her, to show her what it means to follow, to be a dragon.
Also she feels her elven blood call for a feline companion, a snow leopard, to help her, one with ties to the ancient Snow Witch tradition. she feels the conflicting desires in her soul, but concentrates on the dragon calling in her blood.
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Long hours pass in your dream-like state. Wind blows and day makes way to night and night once again before the sun. It is cold in the mountains and fog has fallen, blanketing the world around you. Even Chops is hidden from your sight and you feel completely alone with your thoughts. You remember your Father and your adopted family. You remember snow of the northern forests and stars on clear night sky. So much beauty... You are alone. Nothing answers your call. Sadness comes over you and you are ready to give up. Perhaps you are destined to be alone forever - or until you fall fighting the Shadow, anyway. But suddenly, a faint purring can be heard in the fog. An amused voice sounds in your head: "Prrr... I am a Cat. What are you? You are strange, I must say."
Long hours pass in your dream-like state. Wind blows and day makes way to night and night once again before the sun. It is cold in the mountains and fog has fallen, blanketing the world around you. Even Chops is hidden from your sight and you feel completely alone with your thoughts. You remember your Father and your adopted family. You remember snow of the northern forests and stars on clear night sky. So much beauty... You are alone. Nothing answers your call. Sadness comes over you and you are ready to give up. Perhaps you are destined to be alone forever - or until you fall fighting the Shadow, anyway. But suddenly, a faint purring can be heard in the fog. An amused voice sounds in your head: "Prrr... I am a Cat. What are you? You are strange, I must say."
Solvistania is startled somewhat by the response, but recovers quickly. Aye, I suppose strange is as good a word for what I am. Still I am pleased you heard my call. My name is Solvistania, and my defender prefers to be called Chops. What name would you be known as?"
Solvistania wakes from her trance, and immediately seeks out her defender, Chops. He still watches over her like a hawk. She walks over to him, and says, with a smile on her face, "It was a success, I would like to introduce you to Felina.". She picks the High Elvish word for Cat. "Do you think you could catch a bird for her?"
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1d20+13
Solvistania wakes from her trance, and immediately seeks out her defender, Chops. He still watches over her like a hawk. She walks over to him, and says, with a smile on her face, "It was a success, I would like to introduce you to Felina.". She picks the High Elvish word for Cat. "Do you think you could catch a bird for her?"
The big dworg takes a knee and reaches out to pet Felina. He starts to speak to the cat in a voice about an octave higher than usual. "Awe, who's a cute kitty? You are? Yes you are." He scratches it behind the ears and under the chin, letting the familiar rub her gums on Chops fingers. "Oh, you don't like that at all, now do you? Kitty want a birdy? Ok, daddy will find you a nice plump birdy."
To Felina
[
"So, uh, we got some weird stuff goin' on 'round here." Muni says to Gilian and Kiron as he flaps back to them. "Oruks and Wargs and bad Dwarves rippin' each other apart. Twice. Don't really know what to make of it, but I do know battlefields. They're fresh, and only one survivor. An Oruk. Disappeared into the woods."
Once Chops has caught a small bird for Felina, Solvistania says to chops, "We should hurry back now, I have an uneasy feeling about this place, as if we are no longer alone. "
Once Chops has caught a small bird for Felina, Solvistania says to chops, "We should hurry back now, I have an uneasy feeling about this place, as if we are no longer alone. "
"Yeah, lets get moving."
"So, uh, we got some weird stuff goin' on 'round here." Muni says to Gilian and Kiron as he flaps back to them. "Oruks and Wargs and bad Dwarves rippin' each other apart. Twice. Don't really know what to make of it, but I do know battlefields. They're fresh, and only one survivor. An Oruk. Disappeared into the woods."
"There is something else as well. There is a restless spirit around here. Hear, the woods are silent, too silent to be safe. But," add Gilian, "tell me more. Are the corpses killed the same way the dwarves down there were, when they failed their summoning ? I'm worried the creature they summoned is still around here. Take us to the remains, I may get more information from them."
Take us to the remains, I may get more information from them."[/b]
"You got it. This way." the bird squawks, and starts flapping from tree to tree leading the pair to the closest of the battle sites."
Kiron nods to Gillian's words and falls in step with her. He has lost his whimsical personality as if the notion of battle consumes all of his concentration and being. He keeps his mouth shut and lets his eyes ears and nose, have the lot of his perception, keeping his senses honed on locating the battle worn Oruk.
Perception
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You reach the place of carnage and for the moment even the big orc is taken aback by the sheer savagery of wounds inflicted seemingly by bare hands, but he senses no danger in the vicinity. Set of huge tracks lead away from the clearing, and Kiron recognizes them as the tracks of oruk.
You reach the place of carnage and for the moment even the big orc is taken aback by the sheer savagery of wounds inflicted seemingly by bare hands, but he senses no danger in the vicinity. Set of huge tracks lead away from the clearing, and Kiron recognizes them as the tracks of oruk.
** spoiler omitted **
Gilian looks closely at the wounds created by the creature in Oruk guise.
"Who could inflict such wounds? I think the thing the dwarves summoned during their missed summoning may be the author. Let me look at that.".
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You reach the place of carnage and for the moment even the big orc is taken aback by the sheer savagery of wounds inflicted seemingly by bare hands, but he senses no danger in the vicinity. Set of huge tracks lead away from the clearing, and Kiron recognizes them as the tracks of oruk.
** spoiler omitted **
Gilian looks closely at the wounds created by the creature in Oruk guise.
"Who could inflict such wounds? I think the thing the dwarves summoned during their missed summoning may be the author. Let me look at that.".
"Kiron, I don't like that. What we have here is a creature that can change bodies and that is bent to kill. Seing what it has done, I think it is better for us to go back and tell the others. I do not want to face it on our own."
Kiron tilts his head. He nods agreeing with Gillian about the creatures shapeshifting. "When you become a shape shifter, paticularly one that travels diffrently, a quaddraped and biped for instance it is difficult to get used to the other," He looks at the wobbly tracks once more. " I think we may be upon may polar opposite. A wolf or worg perhaps that can shift into an Oruk, it certainly fights like a beast. but luckily for us m'lady. you are accompanied by a creature that can change bodies and that is bent to kill." Kiron stands up from his crouch. " if you'd feel more comfortable however, then to the pak we go. Muni keep an eye out for that which would ambush us, would you?" Kiron speaks to the sky, in the assumption that the bird is around to hear him.
The pair sets off towards the cave once more. He squats down once they come near the cave mouth. turning to the little pebble. "little one, might you speak in favor of me to your grandfather. I would hate to come to blows with such a wise and elder over nothing.
He smiles at the little one, On seccond thought, best not to bother him then.he stands and speaks to gillian. is it pebble that looks like you? or you who looks like pebble? he is being completely serious , atleast by his tone.
"No problem, though I think that thing is long gone." the bird says from it's perch in a nearby tree.
Kiron tilts his head. He nods agreeing with Gillian about the creatures shapeshifting. "When you become a shape shifter, paticularly one that travels diffrently, a quaddraped and biped for instance it is difficult to get used to the other," He looks at the wobbly tracks once more. " I think we may be upon may polar opposite. A wolf or worg perhaps that can shift into an Oruk, it certainly fights like a beast. but luckily for us m'lady. you are accompanied by a creature that can change bodies and that is bent to kill." Kiron stands up from his crouch. " if you'd feel more comfortable however, then to the pak we go. Muni keep an eye out for that which would ambush us, would you?" Kiron speaks to the sky, in the assumption that the bird is around to hear him.
The pair sets off towards the cave once more. He squats down once they come near the cave mouth. turning to the little pebble. "little one, might you speak in favor of me to your grandfather. I would hate to come to blows with such a wise and elder over nothing.
"I don't think this creature is a shapeshifter like you. I think it is more a malevolent or an enraged spirit that was summoned into the body of a dwarf but that can then possess other bodies. And, while I respect your martial abilities I've seen too many death these last days to risk our lives without informing the others."
He smiles at the little one, On seccond thought, best not to bother him then.he stands and speaks to gillian. is it pebble that looks like you? or you who looks like pebble? he is being completely serious , atleast by his tone.
"PEBBLES TRIES TO BE LIKE GILIAN, TO LEARN HOW SOFT PEOPLE THINK. GRANDFATHER SAYS: WHEN YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND GRANITE, YOU NEED TO MOVE LIKE GRANITE."
"hmmmmm, well it is mere speculation on my part. As far as risking your life, Lady Gilian I agree, and so we shall not. Though I look forward to standing over the corpse of one so accustomed to being the hunter instead of the hunted. He says in reply to Gilian. He looks to the pebble and nods. "Indeed,your grandfather isWise " as the groups converge on one spot Kiron exclaims" Ah, Chops! Lady Solvi! I am glad you are both returning as well, do we have anyone else out?"
Solvistania nods to her new packmate in greeting. 'Kiron packmate, it is good to see you well, Gilian it pleases me as well." She points to Felina, who has emerges from behind her, and eyes the rest of you with cool curiosity, and continues, This is Felina, she is another member of our pack, and is not to be eaten or perched on.
She notes the looks on their faces, and murmers "We have both felt the presence of this spirit. We need to hold counsel, and decide what must be done about this presence."
To Felina:
Kiron grins at felina and then Muni."That's what I thought too, Sorry Muni, I guess it can't be helped you must just look delicious. probably comes in handy with the lady raven spirits."
He looks to the six at the cave opening and nods, "well lets go tell the others what we have found."
Felina looks at Muni and meows hungrily.
The raven stares at the cat, and starts talking conversationally,
"Cat, I'm fed up with things thinkin' they're gonna eat me, so I'm only gonna tell you this once. I know what you are, an' I know you can understand me, so don't play dumb. I've been around a damn long time. I'm older than the ground yer standin' on, and I remember when cats were a whole lot bigger an' meaner than they are now. They didn't kill me. You ain't got a prayer. I'm older, tougher and meaner then you'll ever hope to be, and I'm twice yer size. Now, my boss an' yer boss work together, so I'm gonna give you a second chance to make a first impression. It can go one of two ways, either you can keep lookin' at me like that so I've got an excuse to eat yer eyes an' then yank yer soul out to be a plaything for a pack o' teething Taludos pups, or we can play nice and be friends."
The bird casually preens itself, then looks back at the cat with it's flat, dead gaze.
"So what's it gonna be?