Grandma looks surprised at the food Blaize has been eating.
"You made it this far eating that, that I am not sure what I would call that stuff. Here lets eat a real meal."
Then Grandma begins pulling supplies out of her backpack to prepare a meal.
"You two know each other?" Tobias asks of Mable, his suspicious stare softening slightly. "Why would you be looking for them?"
Kaveri approaches Blaize boldly, sniffing at her face, watching her with hard eyes. As Lucine inspects the newcomer, one paw comes down carefully between fox and gnome.
While Kaveri is suspicious of the newcomer, Storhrid is curious, approaching from the side and sniffing intently at the gnome's boots and hands before also sniffing her hair and at her face.
Raseri watches with a bemused chuckle before helping secure the camp against the cold.
As she works she turns to Tobias. "What do you know of gnomes, my friend," she asks.
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Blaize looks to Tobias, of course we do, who in Heldren doesn't know Grandma Mable. I used to to try and steal her pies when she set them out to cool, never did get one though, Mable always knew when I was coming.
Blaize was about to tell some more but she was suddenly "assaulted" by some rather furry companions.
as the sniff and check her out the first thing they notice is she is rather warm.
Blaize tries to be friendly with the wolf and fox? .
why ask him? I know ten times more about gnomes than he does.
Storhrid, too tired to really play, curls up against Blaize's legs and gratefully accepts any petting to be had.
"I imagine you know more than that," Raseri says as she returns to the fire, handing Tobias his cloak back, "and I can't blame you for trying to steal her pies if they're half as good as those cookies she makes."
The ulfen woman, tired and aching, sits next to Blaize rubbing her lupine friend on the back, trying to coax her to come sit by her.
"I was born and raised in Kalsgard, but the home of my clan is just north of the Grungir Forest. The veil between the First World and this is thin there, and there are more than a few settlements within full of fey and gnomes. I've even traveled to one of them once when I was little."
He watches the two-legs, wondering why she is so small. She does not smell like the young ones in the village. Two-legs are supposed to be taller. He sits, still able to stare her in the eye, and watches without blinking. He tries growling, testing her reaction. His paw stays between her and the fox, protecting those under his care. He sniffs a little too closely to her hair. She smells of smoke; he sneezes.
Helping Raseri set up camp, Tobias glances over to where Kaveri continues staring down the gnome. "Don't worry about him," he calls. "It's a dominance thing. Eye contact's how he asserts his position in the pack. Thinks himself the beta male. Just look away after a bit, he'll leave you be."
He goes to answer Raseri's question, but sighs when Blaize interjects. "I know that gnomes are cheeky little blighters who like to interrupt," he answers, with a wolfish grin. "Other'n that, not much. Know they're part fey, and you can't trust anything what's part-fey." He glances back at Blaize, adding, "No offense. For all I know, you're the exception."
He takes his seat by the fire again, shaking his head when Raseri hands over his cloak. "You've still got a nasty chill. You need it more." Watching as Mable begins pulling supplies from her pack, he chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief. "Don't tell me you have a whole kitchen in that pack of yours!"
Grandma chuckles as she pulls out a small pot.
"Not a kitchen but I do have some spices. You will be amazed at what I can do with that food you think you are eating and a few spices"
Grandma begins to gather some snow into her pot and heats it on the fire adding a few spices and the trail food she carries in her pack.
"This should warm everyone up from the inside out!"
Grandma looks warmly at Blaize.
"I know you think you were clever but Grandma has been around little ones before. I know your tricks, or at least some of them. I truly am glad to see you again. How have you been?"
Raseri, not up to an argument about whether she still has a chill or not, wraps the cloak around herself again, which was just fine with her.
Tobias chuckles as Kaveri, apparently satisfied with Blaize's wariness, leaves her be and slumps down at his side, resting his head on his paws. He scratches the wolf behind the ears fondly. "He's a big softie, once you get to know him. You two, what're you doing standing around? Still room by the fire." He motions for the former bandits to sit, indicating space on either side of the wolves. Have to be the best spot for 'em, he thinks.
As Mable works, he squints up at the sun. "Getting late," he mutters. "Should set up a watch. Happy to go first or last; I'm used to going long days."
Lucine was not used to anyone being wary around her, standing on her hind legs and looking up at Blaize curiously, the fox begins to dance.
"Lucine, don't try to steal anything now." Lies tells her familiar as it begins to act a little odd. "Gnomes are very peculiar about their belongings."
The crow from Raseri's shoulder pipes up for the first time upon meeting Blaize, "Hello young'un. Sorry for my rude silence... My name is Mabs. It is a pleasure to meet you dearie." Mabs says bowing her head.
The two "gentlemen" that showed up with the rest of the group keep to themselves, but give Blaize polite, although forced, nods of greeting. However, they are silent beyond that.
The Night sky starts to become darker and the snow fall heavier. The trees around you somehow provide enough protection that the ground is only lightly covered in white powder. For the first time since entering the forest sound other than the silence of snow fall is heard.
Howls come from all around low and indistinct, but firm and carrying. The two wolves and the fox perk up at this sound but do not return it, but none of them seem surprised or aggravated by it. The sound carrying among the trees is sad and mournful.
As supper cooks, Storhrid, after some petting and a playful tussle, wraps around Raseri's back and provides a nice warm place for the tired ulfen to lay her head while she waits.
"'S'kay," she says sleepily, "where's a fox gonna hide stuff anyway?"
As Kaveri sits near the former bandits, watching them with his hard stare, Tobias glances in the direction of each howl as it reaches his ears. "Don't seem to be getting closer," he mutters. "Any of 'em come near while we're sleeping, get me up first, and I'll see 'bout shooing 'em off.
"As for watch order, reckon I'll go first, give you ladies a chance to sleep. How about you and Lucine go after me, Lies; then Raseri and Storhrid, and let Grandma take the last watch, let her rest her old bones?" Glancing at the sky, he adds, "Not sure if the nights'll be longer with this unseasonable weather, but if they are, we can give Blaize a watch as well."
Raseri opens her eyes and nods in agreement with Tobias' suggestion for the watch. The Wolves do not worry her. She understands them, and in many ways is like one herself.
"They won't bother us," she mutters, "they hunt other things tonight."
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Blaize is definitely happy about the meal.
She seemed a little overwhelmed with everyone. but she soon warms up (no pun intended) she still seems a little nervous with the animals but she tries not to anger them, keeping a little distance for now.
I can help with watch with Grandma. and I can help with breakfast. I am really good at eating breakfast. plus I can get the fire going for the morning as well.
Lies looks over at Raseri and answers, "You'd be surprised."
She then gestures to Lucine who scurries back over to the young girl.
Mabs alights on a tree and tucks her head between her shoulders, "Night dearies. Wake me if you want me to take a turn on watch."
Mabs snores soon after, tired from the day. Your new additions also make to sleep, but one of them keeps their own watch, not exactly trusting.
After a warm meal and making sure that Storhrid was comfortable, Raseri falls asleep. She wraps up in a blanket and uses the white wolf's belly as a pillow. Curled up as she was, she wasn't much larger than her companion.
===
It takes a bit of shaking to get Raseri up for her watch, though once she is up, she's awake enough to keep her voice down as she mumbles about wanting a nice hot drink as she works to stretch out the kinks in her muscles.
Worried about keeping the fire going and keeping the camp warm enough to keep everyone alive, she isn't much of a lookout.
Her wolfen companion, however, is more vigilant and keeps an eye and ear out for anything that might come to hurt her or her master, or her master's friends.
Tobias waits until Raseri's eaten her fill before starting on his own meal. At his side, Kaveri waits his turn before eagerly gulping down his own share.
The hunter doesn't object to the bandits keeping their own watch - if they wanted to not trust them, that was their choice.
While Tobias is alert, Kaveri seems more interested in pacing around Raseri and Storhrid. "Oh, come on. They're fine," Tobias grumbles, motioning for the wolf to watch the trees. Ignoring him, Kaveri nudges Storhrid's nose with his once before laying down next to her and Raseri, trying to share his own warmth with the two of them.
"You're getting soft, aren't you?" the hunter chuckles, shaking his head at the wolf, who ignores him. "Ah well. Guess I'll keep watch for both of us, eh?" he mutters, shaking his head. After a few moments' thought, he crosses over to the pile of bodies, spreading his cloak over the Ulfen lass. He's used to cold winters, after all.
Grandma wakes up in the early morning ready for her watch.
As light comes back into the world, sound is again replaced by silence. Snow fall flutters to still white sky, howling to the soft breathing of your fellows, and the bone snapping cold with the mellow nip of winter morning around a tended fire.
As far as everyone can tell, the night went without incident.
The bandits are some of the first up, seeing that their watch lapsed halfway through the night, but Mabs is still fast asleep on her low hanging perch. The animal companions are messing and playing with each other and everyone is able to wake up rested and refreshed.
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Blaize awoke with grandma, hoping to be first in line for her breakfast, as well as assist in keeping watch.
as the others begin to stir. Blaize looks to the slowly dying fire. with a snap of her fingers the fire is blazing once more. she then tosses some extra wood on.
might as well make sure we are nice and warmed up before heading out. she says with a smile.
"Aye, we wouldn't want to lose any toes or fingers, would we," Raseri says as she joins Blaize by the fire, "So, Blaize was it? Care to help us rescue a lady in peril?"
Tobias groans as he wakes, staggering over to the fire, shaking a spoonful of grounds into his coffee-pot and leaving it to heat on the flames. "Damn weather didn't clear up, I see," he says grimly, pulling up his left trouser leg and massaging his calf. A wicked mass of knotted scar tissue covers most of the surface from knee to ankle; he hisses as he stretches out the limb. "Had to be today, eh?" he mutters to himself, pulling on his boots and beginning to work into his armour. "Everyone sleep well?"
"I'd have preferred a warm bed, but I slept well enough. " Lies comments.
"There was a Lady Argentea whose carriage was attacked. I now carry the sword of the only one of her guards to survive," Raseri says as she hefts the cold-iron sword so that Blaize could see it, "and I am bound to fulfill his oath. Once that is done, then we will find why the Is-harta have come to Taldor and brought the Hag's foul winter with them."
Grandma looks at their wounds and mumbles a few words to herself then carefully touches their wounds.
"I am afraid that I have been blessed with only one more healing spell today. I might be wise to do a little hunting for food today and deal with the cabin tomorrow."
"Honestly, I think we should hit them now, rather than giving them a chance to pick us off one by one," Raseri disagrees with Mable, "They know we're out here, and we can't all be in one big group if we decide to go hunting. Besides, they'll have time to prepare, and I'd rather not give them that."
"The group of bandits these two used to belong to," Raseri answers as she points to the two former-bandits, "Their boss is a necromancer or something and he's working with the White Witches, if appearances are anything t go by."
"I picked up a few tricks out here," Tobias puts in. "Need be, I can patch up a few wounds. Raseri has the right of it - we strike them as hard and fast as we can. We have a way to their hideout, and we're all well-rested." Standing and sweeping on his cloak, he whistles to Kaveri, who stops trying to roll Lucine onto her belly and trots to his side, pink tongue lolling out of his mouth. "Soon as we're ready, we go."
It takes Raseri a little longer to get Storhrid ready, but soon enough, the two northern transplants are ready.
Mabs wakes up with a start and yawns, "...I'm up... I'm up. What's happening dearies? We ready to move on?"
The bandits are seemingly ready, with their meager supplies and rations. If offered any breakfast they hesitantly take it and offer a quiet, meager thanks.
The light of the dawn starts to become almost overwhelmingly bright, however the sun stays behind the layer of whiteness that is the sky. Seemingly in response, the clouds become thicker and start to smother the light before it becomes too bright, giving the winter land a slight shadowy cast.
Tobias makes sure to offer the bandits breakfast - after everyone else has eaten (right down to Lucine), but he offers nonetheless. "Even the lowest of the pack deserve their share," he says with a short nod. "Long's you're with us, you're our responsibility."
As the group is ready to leave, he takes the more receptive of the pair to the front with himself. "You're with me, lad. Take us to this cabin you lot've been holed up in." As they walk, he tries to remember the lay of the land, see if he recalls any cabins - and whether the fellows are telling the truth.
Grandma nods approvingly at Tobias as he offers food to the bandits. After everyone is finished eating she quickly packs everything up.
"OK I am ready to go."
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Blaize seems to cling close to Grandma, as she is a familiar face. and the extra bits of good food helps as well.
If they are in a cabin, then maybe that will have that warm bed some have been wanting.
Blaize gathers her few belongings, and even offers some of her half frozen jerky to the prisoners. as well as to the animals (as long as they don't try and take it all).
Tobias remembers the path in which they follow:
They once offered you a position among them, but you had your own reasons for turning them down. Seemed nice enough and wouldn't accept payment for their duty, only taking the odd small donation in supplies and working odd jobs here and there.
As the bandit leads the group, you start to see smoke in the distance. The trail starts to become hard packed and defined enough to tell that many have come and gone this way. The bandit then take you off the trail and into the trees as to lessen the chance of discovery. Random animal carcasses, either cleaned or whole, start to appear. At first, only one or two at a time, and then with more frequency. Some of them were obviously hunted, arrows jutting from flesh and stripped of the choosiest cuts of meat, others are shredded and torn up with tooth and claw.Each carcass could have been cleaned a lot better and disposed of cleanly, but was left behind to be wasted and freeze in the cold.
The bandit halts the procession as you see the cabin, still far off, but close enough to take in its design. The cabin, or lodge as it more closely resembles, isn't beautiful or designed for comfort. Those who built it though, obviously wanted it to last and made every bit of wood used in its construction form fitting, snug, strongly set within its foundation. The cabin itself has no obvious markings representing its owners or allegiance but has an air of tidiness and honor about it.
At the moment... it seems a little quiet. The bandit assures you however that this is the place in which they set up.
Once he recognizes the path the bandit is leading them on, Tobias stops, grabbing the man by the shoulder and addressing him in a low growl. "Your lot are at the old Sentinel lodge?" he asks, lips pulled back from his teeth in a canine snarl. "What did you do to them?" Turning his head slightly to explain to the group, he says, "The High Sentinels are a group who patrol these woods - take care of bandits, animals that pose a high threat - basically keep Heldren safe. Asked me to join their ranks once, but I preferred my solitude too much at the time. Worked with 'em once or twice. They patched me up after a run-in with a bear, let me sleep by the fire a few times, bought some o' my best furs - that sort o' thing. Good folk." Turning back to the bandit, he grunts. "Don't matter much, anyway. 'Least you're, personally, doin' the right thing now." Shoving the man's shoulder to get him moving again, he trudges next to him through the snow, his eyes dark with anger.
He shakes his head at the sight of the carcasses - "Bloody waste, that. Good meat on some of these, and what would've been good hides on most." He pauses to look over a deer carcass full of wounds, trying to figure out what manner of beast could have caused them.
"Right. Here we are, then," he mutters, pausing the group a good distance from the lodge. "'Less anyone objects, I say we go in and hit 'em hard. Front door seems the obvious choice, though if anyone reckons they can handle going in through a window, could work well for us. Get 'em from more'n one direction at once."
Grandma looks at the cabin.
"Going in the front door means they can easily defend the door and limit who can attack them. I think entering through a window into a room would work better. We can take them a few at a time instead of all at once.
Splitting up the group means trouble. I really think that is a bad idea!"
The bandit grimaces at Tobias and says, "You think I would be crazy enough to go against a high sentinel? I wasn't part of what went down... nor was my friend here. The boss chose a few of us to go along.... but it was mostly the fey that did it.... didn't leave much left, unlike the animals you see around us."
"Is there a side door? We could sneak in through that and take them by surprise," Raseri offers.
"Grandma, Mabs, you know anything 'bout this?" Tobias asks of the old woman and the crow, crouching by the carcass and pointing out the wounds. "Some kind of infection, maybe?"
When Blaize suggests smoking the bandits out, he shakes his head. "No. No fires," he says firmly. "Like I said, it's good people what own this place. Can't go burnin' down their lodge, 'specially if the bandits have 'em still in there." He fixes Blaize with a hard stare, hoping his instincts are wrong.
Trying to recall what he knows of the layout, he frowns, drumming his fingers on his thigh. "Should be more'n one door," he mutters. "Been awhile since I was here. Happy to sneak 'round, see what's there."
Grandma looks over the animals wounds.
Interesting wounds. I think looking around would be helpful. Maybe we can find an entrance they don't have guarded.
"Right. Lies, reckon you're quiet enough to get around unnoticed?" Tobias asks of the young woman, clapping the snow off his gloves.
"I'm likely quiet enough, but if I do get caught, I'm likely done for...Lucine on the other hand will attract less attention." Lies looks at Lucine, letting her know to sneak around a bit. Lucine quickly scurries off.
And Lies follows closely behind, far enough to have advanced warning from her fox, but close enough to come to it's aid if necessary.