Errisaigh’s eyes crinkle slighty.
It seems the opinion of this Tiadora is widely held...
When the knocking occurs in the morning, Nate is still asleep. He doesn't appear at all interested in getting up.
Farholde -
She walks in and takes in the small room and finds a seat at the table in the common room.
"Once you have all assembled I will let you know the Seventh Knots next steps.
Is there anyone here you need watched or eliminated as we begin our assessment of the city?"
Knocking on doors, loudly, "Please get up. It is time for business."
Jack kept an eye on their guest while Morana gathered everyone. He gave the woman, who he was fairly certain was Elise, a curt nod.
Nate rolls over, groaning like a spoiled child who was woken up to help on the farm. "Why bother?" He asks flatly.
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Jack walked across the room to Nate's bed, grabbed it by it's frame, and unceremoniously tipped it over.
Havelyn had slept in slightly, having gone to retrieve the gear he left behind before bedding down. He opens his door as the new arrival asks her question, nodding to Morana as she approaches. Dressed in plainer clothing, he looks much closer to his age this morning, not yet groomed or fully ready to face the day, it seems. Red bags hang under his eyes, from fatigue or weeping.
"Keep an eye on the Baron," he intones, glancing at Errisaigh. "He is our ally for the time, but he has eyes watching us. We would be remiss not to return the favor."
Errisaigh nods affably.
"Wise counsel."
"He...ahhh!" Nate slams onto the ground, completely unprepared for the rude awakening as his nose slams into the ground with a dull crunch. He scrambles to his feet and grabs Jack by the collar. "You're going to wish you never did that." He sneers. Although Nate is a large man and his presence would normally by an imposing one, it looks slightly comical when going up against the towering hulk that is Jack.
Jack's brows rose, and for a tense moment it seemed like the big man might resort straight to violence, but then he grinned and nodded approvingly.
"Better," he grunted. "This is how we need ya. Get dressed, we got work to do."
Nate stutters out loud for a moment as Jack walks away, but he seems to lack the will to follow after him. He turns and looks back at the bed, then shakes his head in frustration. "Damnit." He grabs his gear and follows the others with a sour expression.
Alice doesnt bother getting dressed yet. She had too much lousy sleep on the boat, and finally sleeping in a bed again made her body want to catch up on sleep.
She just wrapped herself in a blanket and sits on a chair.
Farholde -
If the woman has any opinion on how long it takes to gather together with Soren the last to arrive, the woman gives no indication with facial or body expression.
"Right.
It is my intention in the next few months to have spies set up in every inn, tavern and anywhere else adventurers and explorers might congregate. When you do find the Horn of Abaddon, contact me. For those groups I can’t personally dispatch, I’ll send a messenger with any information I can gather.
My understanding is that your group will be exploring the Caer Bryr.
Is there anyone here you know you need watched or eliminated as we begin our assessment of the city?"
"As I said before, the Baron is the only one I imagine we need watched at the moment. He has eyes with us, it is only right we return the favor." Havelyn gives a courteous nod to Errisaigh.
Nodding her agreement with Havelyn, "That is all we are aware of as we have not been her very long. Is there anything or anyone we should know about?"
Farholde -
She shrugs, "I do not know but I will find out.
When do you all intend to strike out into the north".
Jack shrugged. "When we're ready. Just gotta get supplies."
"Where's your crew settin' up shop? We got these rooms here we won't be usin' much, but we'll need someplace to come back to when we're in town. You could take 'em over. Or you could get another couple rooms wherever you end up an' keep 'em on reserve for us."
Farholde -
"We will likely set up shop in Drowingtown. I would prefer that you do keep this location as a meeting place when you return rather than having the cutpurses of that place see us all together. We will make sure the rental is paid through a third or fourth party agent.
Upon your return, hang a bedsheet out of the window and my agents will know that you are back. Then I will come see you myself to obtain your report and inform you of my team's progress here.
If there is nothing else...?"
Later, after Elise had left, Jack's brows furrowed in thought.
"So what's this place like," he asked, gesturing to the map. "Just looks like a lot of trees to me."
”I am afraid I am a creature of the town and have little experience with “wilderness”. The North is the land of the bugbears or so I am reliably informed...” Errisaigh supplies helpfully.
Into the Wilderness
It appears that the ride to the Horn is approximately a day away from Farholde. Based upon Kael's map and his now deciphered notes, the problems he encountered were twofold. First, the Horn is hiding in a forest of similar stone spires. Within a few days travel of the Horn there are at least a hundred similar natural structures. Second no matter how many times he tried to sketch the correct entrance, the wilderness would change abruptly if he would more more a quarter of a mile one way or another.
The trees of the forest are tall and broad. The thick-trunked baobab tree, unusual in such a wet clime, is common here and grows to enormous size. It is not uncommon to see trees hundreds of feet tall with trunks twenty feet across. To walk into the deep Briar is to enter the domain of giants.
Every flat surface is covered with brilliant green moss and lichens in every hue. Mushrooms of a million sorts proliferate and crowd every fallen log. Small animal life is dense -- squirrels, voles, mice and white-faced ghost monkeys. Birds dwell here in endless variety and dazzling panoramas of plumage are everywhere on display. It is a bountiful place rich and thriving with nature’s splendor.
Perhaps a half day's ride from the city, a large shadow covers the Ninth Knot from the sky. Aurex has reunited with the band...
Errisaigh can't help but be entranced by the dark beauty of the close forest.
"Jack was right. A lot of trees..."
The armored man's brows knit as he spies the draconic form lowering.
"Are we expecting company?" the direlock asks, fingers gripping his fearsome flail tight.
"As I understand it, the dragon has a connection with our lapsing friend, Nathanial." Havelyn pulls in his reins as the dragon makes its entrance, not wanting his horse to spook. "Hopefully Aurex has seen if there is more to this place than the trees."
The tree branches rustle, and the scattering of birds and small wildlife foretell the arrival of a powerful predator. Things go silent for a moment, the chirping of the birds and the singing of the insects lapsing into silence.
The air warms very quickly, bringing those present to sweating in an instant as the air shudders from the heat. Suddenly an immense presence is felt, and behind the party looms the spiked red dragon, who somehow managed to get very close despite his bulk.
Aurex does not look amused. Ignoring the others he moves forward, not caring if they have to scatter to avoid him, getting up to Nate. Nate rolls his eyes and tries to turn away before Aurex knocks him to the ground, taking a deep inhale before giving a sharp exhale that scatters leaves for twenty yards, seeming as if he has found something. He growls at Nate, seeming more upset about whatever state his partner is in than the new member of the group.
"Menas..." He growls, still holding down the surprisingly disinterested-looking Nate. "It was the ship ride, wasn't it? Not enough going on, the disinterest, you f$%&ing snake."
Nate shrugs, although it's only semi-successful coming from the weight of the dragon on his chest. "Can't blame me, can you? Oh what's the big bad dragon gonna do, kill me?" He says with a roll of his eyes.
Errisaigh is initially alarmed, but seeing this encounter is obviously between two beings who appear to have a compact of some sort he merely watches, loosening the knot at his collar to get some fresh air.
Alice watches intently at Nate and Aurex. It would be foolish to intervene, but she also doesnt want Nate to get bullied.
Alice hates bullies.
Into the Wilderness
Morana chimes in, "Who is Menas? That's Nate Aurex. Did you smack your head on a low hanging branch while awaiting us oh mighty Wyrm?"
"It is only Nate's shell, we speak with Menas." He growls, blowing hot air over Nate. "This is why I should have stayed with you on the boat! My presence keeps these cultists in check, but without me it is a free for all."
Into the Wilderness
Morana once more, "Cultists? What Cultists?! Do you think we had something to do with... with.. whatever you think is going on here?"
Errisaigh blinks a few times, his jaw firm but lips curling in confusion. He whispers to Lord Havelyn:
"What are they talking about? Who is Menas, and why does the dragon attack his friend?"
"We both know you can't fight me out, might as well let me breathe a little. Oh I'll tag along, doing whatever scheme you're involved in sounds slightly less boring than sitting in a jail cell."
Aurex smolders, but after a moment releases his claws and lets Nate stagger to his feet. "We have mentioned Nathanial's broken mind. You have only seen it while I had dominance over the various personalities fighting for control. Each of the seven a real person, cultists who tortured him until his mind was altered into this state."
Havelyn looks on the proceedings with a raised eyebrow, and can only shake his head when Errisaigh whispers to him. "I fear we are both the newcomers to this entourage. I know aught of their ways, but not all."
When Aurex explains the situation, at least in part, Havelyn shakes his head and breathes heavily. "So long as he seems capable of action, and content to join us. If there's aught we can do to help, I would lend a hand, but for now..." He waves a hand as if in dismissal of the problem. "Friend dragon, would you tell us what you've seen in your flight?"
Aurex snorts, scorching a small circle of grass and leaves. "For now. It would do well to keep him busy, despite any complaints about assigned tasks. Threats help, and don't be afraid to strongarm him." He glares at the larger, more intimidating members of the party. "Within reason."
He stares off into the forest. "I have been keeping below the treeline as to not drawn any unneeded attention. What I have seen is that game is plentiful and the predators are strong. Massive burrowing creatures and walking trees. I could avoid them with speed but you slow creatures will not be so lucky. I would stay vigilant, and be prepared for resistance."
Aurex finally turns his attention to the newcomer. He stalks forward and looms over him, lowering his head to be a hair's breadth away. He takes a deep inhale, then exhales nearly-scorching air over Errisaigh. "You are obviously one of us, else they would not bring you with them. What should I know of you, two-legs?"
Jack Tried to follow what was going on, but felt a lot like he had while he'd been watching the play in ballantyne. Whatever the story was, it didn't make much sense, but he was noticing all kinds of interesting things about the actors playing their parts.
"So who's Nate? Who's, uh, the real Nate?" Jack asked, feeling like he was on the edge of an important question but not really finding the words to say waht he was trying to get at.
A chimeric personality. Pain teaches such interesting lessons. Raaven mused, tilting it's serpentine head in amused fascination.
'Nate' chuckles. "Oh dear Nathanial has not been here for quite some time. When the rest of us are not taking turns bubbling to the surface Aurex buries him." If looks could kill, the gaze Aurex levied could melt stone. "Oh piss off, it's not like anything is going to change about it."
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Errisaigh bears the incoming brimstone blast without flinching. He nods in return.
"You should know my name, in case I lose a leg and thus two-legs is in error. Errisaigh Varkain, at your service. You should know I cannot fear you, but I do not for a moment underestimate you. You should know I fight with and for these folk, though not of their knot I am wound in it nonetheless. You should know I am spell-eater and horror-giver - I draw power from magic and give nightmares and pain to mine enemies."
Errisaigh finishes solemnly.
"Those are the things you should know."
Aurex expresses an emotion he rarely ever does; surprise. He seems somewhat amused by his 'two-legs' comment, and if he wasn't in such a foul mood he likely would have chuckled at it. Still he cocks his head in curiosity, raising it to give Errisaigh back his personal space. "I like this human." He says simply.
Into the Wilderness
For another half day, now reunited the Ninth Knot follows the map provided by the missing elf. As the sun sinks it seems that you have found the correct spires that coordinate with the place you seek. The entrance from this distance cannot be seen but of course it could not be that easy.
Ad it is not, to your left the trees rustle and stepping out from them is a large Treant with two lesser specimans, all dwarf even Aurex in size.
“You have happened upon the Horn of Abaddon,” he lectures, “a cursed place once of great corruption. It is my sacred charge to see that evil never again takes root here.”
He stares at the lazily flying Aurex, "I have heard tell of a red dragon in these woods. You are not welcome here Wyrm. If the rest of you trek with him, you too are most unwelcome.
I hope that I am clear..." Its voice rumbles the very ground.
Alice looks at the treant apprehensively and hopes one of her team members can come up with a good lie.
Havelyn clears his throat, as though preparing to speak, and lowers one hand towards his blades--more to draw attention to their insignia than as a threatening motion. As he opens his mouth, though, he realizes that to claim his knighthood as a boon would be false, and he is unused to passing off such lies as the truth.
Aurex growls in amusement. "I have been as a wolf in these woods, doing no harm except capturing what game is required to sustain me. Even when I saw one of your brothers earlier I fled to avoid conflict, you presume much to think I am here to cause harm."
Into the Wilderness
"Your kind causes naught but mischief.
This place, even if you here for the Noblest of causes, will twist and warp you. I save you from yourself with my intervention.
Move along, seek life, not death".
Well played, sentient kindling. Normally Aurex delights in twisting the logic of would-be do-gooders, but this treant was too wise to be distracted by his games.