Kusanorr looks at Daka's hand, not sure what to do.
"Daka. I can not... um... move the world too far. The dead place should be close. But i do not understand. I travelled through that place for a long time, and I never saw something like this." says Kusanorr pointing at the green grass and trees around. He then stares at the man with the broken nose for the first time.
"A... camp? Can I go? With you?"
"Y...you go with them!" Stutters the bandit again, pointing at the others. "Just stay away from me!" He puts another step between himself and the kasatha and then waves you on, turning and starting north through the clearing.
A little way further you pass a cold campfire, probably where the guard post was sleeping through the night. It sits behind an old ruined stone wall, but your guide just mutters something about "old junk" if asked about it. Shortly after that the clearing is over and you enter the undergrowth again. You stop for a bit at the stream mentioned, in which you do not see anything glittering (maybe it's the lack of moonlight), and then a small path opens through the bushes, that looks well travelled, but very thin and hard to see from the side.
It takes you several hours of traveling through the forest to reach the camp mentioned. As the sun starts going down on your left you see the trees thin out, and the path gets wider and straighter. Then a shout sounds ahead.
"Jiel, is that you?" A younger man appears behind a tree on the left, holding what looks like a spear made from a visibly curved branch. "Who did that to your nose..." At this point he finally registers you coming up behind the bandit, Jiel. "Stop right there, you! Are you crazy, bringing travellers here?" He turns to Jiel again, who has not responded in any way to the 'greeting' and keeps walking forward. "I'll have to... take care of them." The young one seems unsure of his exact task but grips his 'spear' and starts towards you.
"Lay it off, boy, lest you part with a limb or two. Or are you now so good you can take on demons and devils by yourself?" Jiel growls, pointing behind his back to you. The eyes of the younger one widen as he takes in your appearance. "And get that stick off my face, will ya?" Mutters your guide, pushing the now frozen 'guard' away from the path and continuing forward.
The boy (he really is young, but tall) stands on the side while you pass, eyeing your faces with fear, and your gear with interest bordering on greed. You can see he has several scars on his arms and face, and his clothes look as if he had walked through the bushes of the forest for about a year - ragged and worn, patched up here and there with the skins of small animals. Ahead you can hear more voices and the smell of fires and cooked meat reach you as the first tent comes into view between the trees.
|
"Kusanorr? That's an odd name. But having the power to heal is a useful skill. I'm Shirak and that is my buddy Leyafold." Shirak points to the tree shape behind Kusanorr as it seems to wither and melt from it's tree form into the crimson petaled plant.
Taking in the ongoing banter between the others, Shirak walks over to the unfortunate tree he'd stabbed during the altercation. Placing a hand over the wound in the bark, he closes his eyes and bows his head. His lips move silently for a few minutes. Terminating his meditative state with a light pat, he follows his companions into the forest.
Annoyed by the ruins, mutters "Could they at least pick up after themselves?"
Shirak's mind wanders back to the strange silence they encountered earlier, aimlessly following the figures before him. The dead trees...no noise...this 'Kusanorr' seems to fear it as well... The boys outburst snaps him back to the present. Dumb! You must pay attention to your surroundings!
Shirak immediately looks around.
And I thought I had it bad enough, but the unjustified fear humans have for Edmund and Kusanorr... It's not right!
"Young man," Daka says, noticing the boy's covetous gaze towards his Crossbow "Eyes up here!". He makes a circular, waving gesture around his own face as he walks by. Following Jiel into the camp, Daka nonchalantly keeps an eye out for any other guards, hoping that they won't find themselves surrounded by hostiles.
These people seem to be poorly supplied. We should keep a close eye on our possessions. Unconsciously, he gives his sword a tap and hefts his backpack.
|
|
It seems these men have been here for sometime. Surely they have seen things!
Concern that the hostility the bandits have for the party would affect the outcome of the search for answers; As Torcet walks, he sings in a low voice, songs of bandits!
After some time, he approaches the young man for some light chatter.
"Young man, please do not be afraid by our presence, we are merely humble travellers in search of shelter."
Two of the creatures Kusanorr is travelling with are very similar to the man who hurt him, the other appears hideous and fiendish and Shirak was quick to threaten him and his friend looks quite odd, so, during most of the walk, he tries to talk with Daka and get to know him better.
More of them! he thinks as he observes, amazed, at the concentration of monsters. Or maybe I am the monster here. He finally takes a deep breath and greets the man he encounters, remaining wary after the terrible experience he has lived and now, hopefully, is about to end.
"Hello! I am Kusanorr!"
The young man takes another step back at being addressed by Daka and then just shakes his head at Torcet's try at communication. Kusanorr's greeting makes him jump away as if he'd touched boiling water. As you progress further into the camp you don't see any other guards, but people slowly gather around you as you pass their tents. They are mostly men of ages ranging from late teens to white heads, and mostly human, with the occasional half-orc or half-elf. However, there are several elderly women around, cooking in front of the largest tents. Drying meat and herbs are hung from trees and high poles and you see some people cleaning what look like old swords and sabres, barely looking up at you.
As you reach the center of the camp you are now surrounded by most of the people in it (maybe fifty souls), all quite ragged but with a certain spark in their eyes.
"This is not what I would call a good tactical position." Mutters Edmund darkly. "However, they are poorly armed so we'll probably have no trouble cutting our way out if need be." He gets out his gandasa and holds it ready to defend himself.
"And why would you slaughter my peaceful subjects, warrior?" A strong voice cuts through the whispers of the crowd and all noise dies away. Before you stands a short and heavy set man clad in leather armour, and the blade on his side is neither rusty nor old. The people standing around you look at him with a kind of reverence. As Jiel opens his mouth to speak the man silences him with an incline of his head. Your guide nods and steps to the side.
"I heard your songs." The chief addresses Torcet now. "In your travels, have you heard of The Lynx?"
"Hello. I am Kusanorr!" says again the kasatha with exactly the same gestures he used a while ago, but significantly more nervous.
He then looks at Torcet, expectantly, and holds the hilt of his sword.
|
|
Shirak steps between Leyafold and the leather clad man, looking to his companions for cues.
Looks like a temporary setup. I can appreciate their decision to avoid butchering this place.
Splitting his attention between the crowd and there apparent leader, Shirak evaluates the situation.
A small smile creeps across Daka's face Kusanorr certainly is a friendly fella'... It is male, isn't it? Well, either way, I'm growing to like it.
Daka stands just to the left of Torcet, obviously tense but pointedly keeping his hands away from his weapons, listening intently. Subtly, he looks around at the gathered 'subjects' Looks like his word is law around here. That's hardly ever a good sign.
What is The Lynx? wonders Kusanorr. Sounds like a funny word.
"Have you seen the... a dead place?" he asks to the leader. He has more questions than time to hear their answers.
"What gives you the right to call them 'subjects'? Are you a person of nobility, or simply another self-proclaimed ruler of the woods?" Says Edmund with a grimace. "Because if it's the latter, I am sure the local authorities will be delighted to hear we removed the threat your subjects probably present to the peaceful travellers on these roads."
"I will not be intimidated, warrior. I know we all look like bandits to your eyes." The man lets the tiniest of sighs. "But we are not. And I will repeat my words as a warning: do not harm my people." He then turns to Kusanorr.
"Greetings, otherworldly being." His stance does not betray any surprise or fear, and he regards the kasatha with the same level of focused attention as he does the other members of the group. "I see you have been there already. But the others have not." He looks around at the faces of the group, letting his gaze hover on Edmund's last."We will come to that, and the Lynx," he nods at Torcet, "in a minute. But first I must ask: Why exactly are you here, and what happened with my second guard?"
|
|
"No one has a right to rule the woods, Edmund. The trees claimed it long ago."
Turning to the speaker, "You mean one-eye? Don't know. We're here to make this place right. Something or someone has violated these woods. What can you tell us about it?"
Shirak keeps his stern gaze upon the leader.
He's more than he seems.If this is a result of his actions...retribution will not be swift...
Daka tries to expand on Shirak's cryptic words "What my friend means is that there seems to be a dark presence in this forest. People are disappearing, and even sound itself goes missing from time to time. Right now you and your men seem the most likely cause, have you anything to say to make us think elsewise?"
"As for your man, Kane, he was sucked into some sort of dark... hole. I do not know how else to explain it, but I fear he may have swapped places with Kusanorr here." he gestures towards the Kasatha "Into the dead place he speaks of. But not before the madman attacked us!" making sure to emphasise the last sentence Daka continues "He seemed completely insane."
As the 'chief' listens to Daka's explanation and accusations his expression hardens. The crowd around you breaks into mutters at the words 'one-eye' and a lot of angry looks are cast in Shirak's direction.
"The man was a criminal." Says Edmund loudly, looking around as if daring someone to oppose him. His tail flicks menacingly, making several people shift uneasily. "He got what he deserved by attacking simple travellers for no reason."
This draws even more mutters from the crowd, with several people fidgeting at their belts, but then the man before you silences them again with a raised hand.
"I see you know almost nothing about the state of this place. To think that we," he indicates the people around you, "are able to cause such happenings is foolish at best. However, most of you do not seem ill-willed, so I will tell you why we are here. And then..." He looks over you once more. "You might decide to help us with a certain matter."
"The Lynx was a man, once the leader of the Blue Gulls. They operated out of Oppara nearly fifty years ago, and they had a long history even then. The group maintained a public front and provided its members with the means to lead a normal life, not skulk around in the woods; they were part smugglers, part traders. The Lynx was married to one of the priestesses of a minor cult. One day a ritual she was performing went wrong and she was left mindless. She couldn't move on her own, or eat, or speak, and all healing failed. The Lynx sought other ways to bring back his woman. Darker ways." You realize at this point that there is no sound coming from the crowd around you. They have all held their breath listening to the story.
"And so he came here, in these woods, to look for a magical item that could return the soul of his mate. He was sent to an inn sitting at the road north. And he was never heard of again." Another sigh escapes the man's lips. "We are the descendants of the Blue Gulls, cast down from their position of power in the capitol, trying to return what is rightfully ours. All the unexplained events that you mentioned are caused by the presence of the item the Lynx sought to retrieve. Kane had spent a lot of time in places where there is no sound, 'in the shadow' as we say, and it damaged his mind. He wouldn't have attacked you otherwise. He was telling us that he sometimes saw a dark forest, where the sky was dark gray all the time. This," he nods at Kusanorr, "is your dead place."
Daka nods solemnly as the chief tells his story, "I apologise for the accusation." he says earnestly when the chief is finished "But I'm sure you can understand our mistrust given our first meeting with your men."
Daka looks to his comrades, "I believe this man tells the truth, and that we have a chance to aid these people, and ourselves, if we just lighten our mood." he states, making sure to meet Edmund's eye in particular.
We can learn much here... A nice long chat over a nice warm meal is all we need.
|
|
Torcet listens intently to every word that comes out of the man, fitting together the pieces of what they know.
"Thank you for sharing with us, but if I may continue to ask, what do you know of the cult and the artifact? Or this inn you speak of? But yes, I agree with my ally Daka, let's end with the hostilities! Maybe some drink and song to lighten the mood?"
As he said this, Torcet gazed back at his tired and restless allies.
Magic. Kusanorr is not very familiar with it, but he is able to grasp the concept of the story.
"If your friend is in the dead place... we could try to find him, but... "lighten the mood" first would be good." He is not sure what they mean with that, but drinking and singing seems good. "Sorico?" he suggests, without realizing the delicious dustshroud rabbits don't exist on the place he is in.
|
|
"So it seems this "Linx" is our enemy. I apologize for the insinuation" Shirak says looking to his companions to assure his etiquette is correct. "Have you looked into fixing this horrendous mistake? What can you share about the artifact?"
Shirak looks around the crowd.
"It seems you have fallen a ways since you were a noble clan. It is fitting though. For the light cannot shine without the dark."
"So you admit you were outlaws once." Concludes the tiefling after listening to the story, his posture not relaxing one bit. "Still, if your men have not done wrong to others in fifty years, which I doubt, we could let you get away with trespassing on what is most certainly the land of some local lord." The distaste he felt for this decision, mostly supported by his companions, was clearly visible on his face. "Be assured though, that if we see signs of banditry in these woods we will deal with them justly and swiftly."
"I do not expect anything less from you." Says the chief with a wry smile. "Before I offer you this camp's hospitality for the night, however, I should correct your definition of 'enemy'. The Lynx was a great man that cared for his people, sometimes to a level that endangered himself. It is the dark magic of the item he wanted that is causing the problems." The smile is long gone now. "If I knew anything else I would have used it to find the item and stop all this. However, none of the men we've sent to the inn that is found deeper into the Wedge have returned to tell us what exactly happens there, and this is what I would ask of you, seeing as you already have set a similar aim for yourselves. We are otherwise reduced to observing what happens in the forest, and trying to get into that dark dimension you have touched already. It seems Kane has managed it on his own." He sighs and then his posture relaxes slightly and he opens his arms in a greeting gesture. "You may rest here without fear of any aggression on our side. If you want to talk to me, ask for Glendo. Now I have some other matters to attend to." He turns and walk away with Jiel, the man that brought you to the camp. The crowd around you visibly relaxes after the last words and then slowly turns to their own evening chores and entertainments. You are shown to a couple of empty tents and a cold campfire, but people seem friendly enough (although Edmund and Shirak still draw hard stares from almost everyone).
"Well, let's get this thing going" Daka says jovially as the group is left alone around the cold campfire. He slides off his heavy backpack with a sigh of relief, and after a quick stretch finds his flint and steel. "Nothing better than a nice warm fire at the end of the day." he states with some satisfaction as a spark takes to a bit of kindling he found.
Getting up, he claps his hands and starts rubbing them together "Right then! We're going to need some more logs for this thing later, and perhaps something nice to cook on it..." he glances around the camp for likely sources "Edmund, since you're obviously in no mood to mingle, could you please keep an eye on my pack while I'm gone?" They may be friendly enough, but I bet there a few sticky fingers around here... not that I blame them, given their situation.
With that, he takes off into camp proper.
Should I go with Daka? wonders Kusanorr. He could ask some questions and maybe even get to wash his clothes and blanket, but he had walked for long and he just wanted to sit down, have some food, and later sleep.
He prefers to day goodbye to Daka and drops to the floor with a sigh. Then he puts his backpack, armor and sword to a side, close to the campfire.
"Do you know... others like me?" asks the kasatha to the remaining creatures while stretching his arms.
|
|
Feeling uneasy with so many people around, Shirak and Leyafold travel along the edge of the camp. Shirak keeps a watchful eye on the inhabitants as they cautiously retrieve fallen branches for the fire.
It's kind of the forest to supply our needs so generously
Upon returning to the tents, they stack the wood nearby.
"No Kusanorr. I don't. I'm fairly certain you aren't of the natural... Perhaps you are simply meant to balance this place. Can't have dark without light, so it makes sense for there to be unnatural things among the natural..."
Edmund sneers at Daka's request. "I am not your guard. However, be sure that I will not let any of those reformed criminals near without proper reason." With that he continues his activities, his tail holding the oil cloth he uses for polishing when there is something he needs both hands for. He ignores Kusanorr's question, choosing to let Shirak deal with the being for now.
"I come bearing gifts!" Daka boasts as he returns to the campfire, dropping a large sack of firewood near one of the tents. He continues on to sit next to Kusanorr, giving him a pat on the back "I hope you like meat, friend. I've found some dried deer, and this wonderful, fresh loaf of bread." tearing off a hunk of bread and keeping a bit of meat, he passes them around to the others.
After the others have taken their food, Daka leans in and quietly says "These people are in worse condition than I first thought. The stream's drying up, many of the tents are ragged, and at least some of the older folk don't even have proper bedding or care." he lets out a small sigh "Whatever we can do to help these people, we should."
Sitting back upright, Daka turns to Kusanorr "So Kusanorr. Tell us more of where you come from... I've never met someone like you before."
|
|
"A bandit's life is a life of song,
Not for the faint of heart, but mind of strong,
They quarrel, they fight, they plunder, and drink!
The monsters and men, they fear them and run,
The bandits life is not for just for fun!
But let me tell you of bandits most brave,
When you hear of their name, even dragons they cave!
... "
Torcet continues to sing, and tell of Bandits most brave, who venture the world in search for treasure, saving some princess, and vanquishing vile monsters, but he says no names.
"Wait..." says a sinewy looking man with graying hair. The flask of alcohol is currently in his hands. "You say they were bandits, why would they save them princesses? What's a bandit to do with one of 'em?"
"The dresses, Tik, the dresses cost a kingdom, they do!" Interrupts another, grabbing the flask and turning towards the bard in turn. "What I don' get is why would they figh' evil things. What would you get from that?"
"De bounty, o'course." Says a thickly accented voice behind Torcet. A dark figure stands to the side of the nearest tent, tying knots in a rope hung from the low branches of the tree above. Its face is in shadow and a grayish cloak covers its shoulders. The men around the fire fall silent and only the first one that spoke gulps loudly as he finishes off the flask. "What is mo' interes'ing," continues the figure, "is why the song says no real names. Maybe i's jus' made up?"
At this the men around the fire start to mutter and look at Torcet, waiting for him to deny or admit the accusation.
"An' s'ill mo' legends come." Concludes the stranger without turning around. The men around the fire are clearly disappointed by Torcet's inability to give them any details of those heroic bandits and shoo him away, calling him a braggart and shouting that they didn't ask for fairy tales.
|
|
Torcet returns to the party, slightly disappointed that the performance did not go to his advantage. But he keeps a strong head. "Well. Where are the others? We should regroup and share what we know. There could be more to the puzzle that we thought." At the instance, Torcet lays down and looks lost in thought.
Kusanorr smiles. Light and dark. That is exactly what I am.
"Thank you, Daka!" he says when the green man arrives, and helps sharing the food. "I come from a village called Kithel, as I told you before. It had a lot of..." he grabs a piece of dirt, trying to remember the word. "Sand. A lot of sand everywhere. Everyone says there is nothing else, even if you walk for long. But they were wrong." He looks at the trees around him, still quite shocked by the new nature of the place he is in. "We hunted animals, like Sorico." The kasatha looks down to the meat, feeling somewhat dissapointed, but still thankful. He takes a bite and sees Torcet is coming.
"Hello. I... I think we are all here. What did you see?"
|
|
"Ah. You are right. I must have been lost in my own mind." He calls his allies to gather around the fire, as if telling a story.
"I've heard many tales about the inn. Mostly casting fear on people when told, and that it's host has only one ear. Many unsubstantiated claims about the magic of this artifact that the Lynx seeks but everyone comes into agreement that this is no mere simple artifact, it has been beautifully crafted and has immense power. On top of all this, I bumped into a particularly interesting character. He wore a grayish cloak. There's something about him that tells me he holds a position of authority and may be of interest.
From a desert eh? That would explain the blanket... I really should travel to Osirion one day, see what it's like.
"Beautifully crafted you say, but do we know aught of its shape? Is it rod-like or some sort of jar perhaps?" Daka wonders as he stuffs his last piece of bread in his mouth and continues, speaking with his mouth full "This grey-cloaked man... perhaps we could seek him out on the morrow, see if he has any advice for us before we head for this Inn?"
Daka gets up and fishes an empty waterskin out from his backpack. After mumbling a quick prayer and with the wave of a hand, the waterskin bulges and a small spurt of water shoots out the top. "Anyone need a refill?" he asks before taking a mighty swig. "I met someone interesting myself." he says, sitting down again "A lady called Lei. She's in charge of the supplies around here... I bet she knows a thing or two about the happenings of this camp. I promised to meet her again later to re-fill their water supply. Perhaps one of you would like to come with... ask her a few questions?"
Edmund listens carefully to Torcet's and Daka's stories, but finally shakes his head.
"I don't believe these misfits are able to provide us with any more information than we already have. Also, if we assume a grain of truth in what you just told us, what is to stop this Glendo from seizing the artifact for his own gain once we find it? It sounds like something one like him could use to increase his control of his 'subjects' even more." He spits out the word 'subjects' with disgust, the state of things in this camp obviously not to his taste.
Kusanorr jumps back, startled, after seeing the water sprouting from the waterskin.
"How did...?" He points at the object, remembering how surprised he was when he healed himself for the first time. A pointy branch had scratched him and, when he touched, a light had come out of his hand and the graze had closed.
"I will go with you." Kusanorr starts to stand up. "Are there... wounded people? In the camp? I think I could help them. With light." He smiles at Shirak, feeling somewhat proud.
Daka smiles "It seems we have a lot in common Kusanorr. But if my little water trick impressed you, you should see this guy in action sometime!" he says, nodding in Shirak's direction as he stands up "Water everywhere."
Daka dusts himself down as he returns the waterskin to his backpack, "Yes, I noticed a few wounded people. I healed those I could, but there may be more." As he gets ready to leave with Kusanorr, a pensive look creeps across his face "But I fear our dour friend has a point. We are in this forest to end the horrors of the area, to find out what happened to those poor souls in the river, not to restore these people to power. If we find it, we'll have to consider what to do with this artefact very carefully... Perhaps we may even need to destroy it." he looks at the others, trying to gauge their reaction.
|
|
Contemplating his companions words, Shirak replies "The creek bed could be a natural state, but judging by the rest of this place...it should be inspected. If there is information to gain about the devices location, that would be helpful Torcet."
He pulls out his Waterskin and hands it to Daka. "If you don’t mind. These people have done well to not offend the balance here. We'll go with you. I'd like to inspect the plants they store and see this creek."
"Whatever this device is, it must be destroyed. The balance it disrupts can't be allowed!"
Seeing this creature in action would shed some 'light' on its abilities. At least it should determine it's purpose in the world.
Wary of Kusanorr, the two stand to follow Daka.
|
|
Hearing upon his allies words, Torcet answers "There is no known location that I could perceive of the artifact, only connections with the Inn, however I do recall a presences of a very powerful artifact when we first encountered the silence. One can only speculate about this coincidence." As he said this, he looks weary and tired. "I, for one, am pretty tired, am probably not one to be making chit chat anymore, and will likely call it a night."
"Fair enough Torcet. We may have another long day tomorrow after all." Daka says whilst filling Shirak's waterskin, he gives it back with a smile "Let's be off then. Though the creek may have to wait 'till the morrow, I've no idea of its location." with that, Daka sets off again, motioning for the others to join him.
Daka leads the others in a circuitous path around the camp towards the large storage shed he visited earlier, looking for those who might benefit from Kusanorr's magic as they go. Along the way, he tries to make small talk with Kusanorr and Shirak, even trying to bring Leyafold into the conversation occasionally.
Night is already upon the forest and the trio finds that most of the camp's inhabitants are either in their shelters or huddled around the camp fires. It soon turns out it would be inappropriate to go into tents looking for someone to help. As the group reaches the storage area Lei is just closing the door of the small shack. She lets you in to the now empty water pots and tells you to come by in the morning to get something for the road.
"It can be a long road you're taking." She says, looking away into the darkness. "And then it might be a short one."
"Thank you." Kusanorr inspects the pots, while he talks to Shirak. "Um... what is your friend? Why is he not talking?" The little flower is a curious creature, even more so than the others.
|
|
Shirak takes his waterskin and follows Daka. "Thanks". As he follows Daka, he reluctantly engages in his idle chatter.
Looking intently at Lei, Shirak pries,"What's wrong? Long or short road doesn't make much difference so long as we accomplish our task."
Upon hearing Kusanorr's question, a sly smile crosses his face.
The petals shake as a small rustling noise escapes Leyafold. With a glint in his eyes he replies
"My friend is known as a 'leshy'. I was lucky to meet him in a time of need. His kind is not abundant. So far, you haven't spoken in a tongue he can answer to.
Good to see the tension thawing a little between those two.
"You might want to step back," Daka says to Kusanorr as he approaches the pots "unless you want to get wet." once again he mumbles his small prayer and each pot in turn is instantly overflowing with water.
"Thank you for your hospitality Mam, it is most welcome!" Daka says, responding to Lei's offer "Forgive me for prying, but my friend is right. You seem troubled... Is it anything we can help with?" concern in his voice.
Lei looks sideways at the undine, her dark eyes flashing in the reflected light of a camp fire nearby.
"Irony is lost on you, isn't it? What I meant is," she turns to Daka and her expression softens a bit, "that the inn you are going to has often left us waiting hopelessly for our dearest to return. You seem like good people." Her eyes are flashing again, a bit too much. "Make sure you take the long road." With that she closes the shed again and hurries off into the night.
"Poor women. Must have lost a lot of friends to that accursed inn" Daka says with growing anger of over the events of the forest. "Well there's nothing to do for it now." he looks to his companions "Time to call it a night, I think." and wonders back to the camp.
Kusanorr touches the water in the pots, like trying to make sure it is really there.
"And what tongues can he answer to?" he asks as he follows Daka out of the shack. He then turns to the green man.
"How do you make the water appear? That would be very useful in Kithel..."