"Come along now take the reins, and mount your elk. I will be traveling with you and be here should you need some healing. Sometimes weird things do happen in the ether." She relays and offers a hand to those that need it to get on their elk.
"Did anyone need to ride on Sunshine?" She said and with a clap the horse would walk up ready to serve as a mount.
"I am ready and eager to start on this journey. Nice to have you along for the ride Katrina." Roland pats his elk and hope his horse lessons from his younger years at the Garess estate pay off.
Lykàn has found his mount with ease having spent some time with it.
"I am ready to start this hunt." is all he says about it.
After the conversation of the timing of the journey comes up. Quince offers arrangements for any who desire it.
"I will see you in the morning." Quince moves off taking the Baroness by the hand the two share a giggle and they take a few stately steps before they hop to a faster gate. As the move from the field they share a kiss and with a spin they move on toward the castle.
One of the Elk handlers looks to the other, "Newly weds."
The other handler chuckles, "He's an Erastilian he is a half a life time of . . ." He makes to fists and thrusts his hips in a suggestive way. "To make up for."
The following morning there is a hearty breakfast for those wish it. Each elk has a few weeks trail rations in the saddlebags. Quince walks out and joins the others ready to travel. He moves to a strong warhorse, well-muscled but aging. He has a silky chestnut coat with a bright white star mark on his nose and white above his front hooves. The horse is prepped near the gathered elk. He rubs the horse on the nose and makes a bit of horse noises that horse seems to answer.
He looks at the others, "He's been with me longer than the elk. He also can make the trip."
He nods to Lykan, "Well the hunt is on."
His horse Scram stamps at the ground eager. "Can't say what we will find or what awaits. I am glad to have the stout hearts of the Varnhold Expedition with me." He takes a moment and invites those who would pray to do so as they set out asking a blessing on the trip.
Delilah declines to offered accommodations, saying she prefers to sleep outside. She asks where they were to gather to do the 'jump'.
That night she is at the edge of the trees with Iodren and tells him of the plan and the Elk. "Try not to startle them."
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Delilah comes alone the next morning, this time in a far less formal dress. These clothes look much more fitted to travel and matching the colours of the forest. She greets the others and readies the elk she had ridden with yesterday.
"There will be one more coming with us Quince. Please don't be alarmed, he is a friend, like the elk. He will not harm anyone or their mounts. He hunts smaller things." She whistles, mimicking the sound of a forest bird. A safe distance away a tiger steps out of where it was hiding, watching them, then lies down and licks a paw, waiting.
She calms her Elk in case it doesn't like seeing such a deadly predator nearby.
AS he approaches the elk he had managed to ride the day before, Dinenen again strokes the beast's neck, and speaks soothingly to it of great forests where food is plentiful and hunters few.
After quince introduces Scram, without naming him, Dinenen chuckles. "So, the magic is not inherent to the elks, then, but something you have provided them? Interesting."
Once Quince indicates that it is time to get moving, Dinenen climbs up onto the elk's back, but not before. Compared to most of the group, the monk has basically no gear, though his pack betrays an odd weight to it. Unlike the others, he had taken their hosts up on their offer for materials, but what he requested was a few books he hadn't read before.
Dinenen easily joins in prayer.
Quince smiled at the approach of the tiger. "He's not their first big cat. Thankfully. Tristan one of our other High Council members. Actually rides a big I guess its a lion. He is in Tazleford now, but knowing these elk will encounter things they have some limited experience. Still fear of a big cat is instinctual for them."
Quince looks at Dinenen, "I have studied magic but I have to admit the providence of having an efreet ally pushes the boundary of that." His eyes lit up like continuing the conversation would interest him but something quiets him.
The elks see the tiger and get a bit rigid, ready to bolt but as the humanoids don't seem affected they relax. After all they had been around much more dangerous creatures...
With a smile she tentatively says, "Yes... a tiger is a ferocious predator but Quince think of Ash..."
Then continuing with adding information she confirms Quince's words, "Yes Tristan has a lion. That is the easiest way to explain the mount."
Then addressing the problem now at hand she offers options, "Now I could bless the tiger or you can infuse it with our 'jumping magic'. Delilah, is this tiger of yours an animal companion? If so my bless should work for it. Otherwise we would need to take eight hours to infuse it. Otherwise it will be left behind."
"Yes, he is my companion and protector."
Katrina would walk forward seeming to take energy from one of the elks and offering it to the tiger with a cupped hand.
Quince looks on leaning forward in the saddle he looks at those who look at him and shrugs, "Welcome to the Greenwatch."
Soon enough with everyone on a mount you are off. The elk take you over to the edge of the water and jump. Before they land they shift to the ether plane. Then continue to run ontop of the water then turn East and then Northeast. You can clearly see each other, though all your color is gone.
After four hours of travel on the Ether plane Katrina slows and the next moment you are back in your plane. All of the colors seem that much more vibrant. You see there is nothing special about this place but you can easily see very far on the flat plain.
She pulls out a large bowl from her saddlebag and fills it with water from her hand. "Rest and stretch your legs. We have another four hours of riding from what we had gathered. As you can tell the ether is a very vacant plane." She says simply.
Following the example, Dinenen goes to water his elk, and tend to it as best he can. He has a few bites of food and a little water himself, but nowhere near the amount anyone would expect.
While the elks rest, he goes through a couple of kata to limber himself back up before the group continues.
He would barely hold onto the reigns for most of the ride. He had a strong relationship with his mount and trusted it. Luckily nothing jumped out at the group during their ride. The Ether also seemed to mute sounds let alone voices. It also made most quiet.
Exiting the ether following Katrina Fyre shakes it self. He would yawn and ask, "How is everyone? Next he would dismount and help Cleonora down. He let the others water their mounts first, as he scratched Fyre on the neck, stretched his own legs and then paid attention to Cleo, "Do I need to massage anything?"
After a while he would walk over to St. John and ask, "How are you holding up?"
Eventually he would make it over to Katrina to water Fyre and he would ask, "Taking a quick break from it all, escorting us? I assume you will be watching the folk of elk instead of heading back on your own?"
With a light blush on her face she nods saying, "Indeed. Kevros wanted me to get away from everything. From the cathedral, my research, and the kingdom. Yes I will stay with the flock and watch out for them. Sulvanii offered some protection just in case but a week would be hard for anyone to find and then get to me. He did cast anti scry spells upon me, this red tassel, and an invisible escort your cousin I believe."
He smiles at Katrina's response and adds, "Ah! That does make sense you have been working really hard. Also a foray with your closest friend, perhaps you want to be here with your healing should something terrible befalls us? Arthur how has it been?"
A disembodied deep male yet subtle voice responds to Jorne, "It has been good. Protecting, spying, and making the most of my time! So you two thinking about tying the knot?"
He grins widely at the thought and simply responds with, "One step at a time."
Looking back at Katrina he shouts to the group, "I am so glad Katrina is with us, she is the best cook in the kingdom!!!"
Once all rested, likely an hour, Jorne suggests, "Shall we get to our destination?"
With everyone mounted again the elk need little prodding. They quickly jump into the ether and ride to Varnhold with ease of the directions of those who have been there before. Yes several of you likely had maps but with Lykan and Delilah they are not really needed.
The elk stop 200 feet from the closest building and shift into our plane again.
Katrina says a quick prayer before the group leaves. Thanking Erastil for the safe trip and to continue protecting the group.
Quince hops down from the horse in good spirits. He pats the horse and chatters with the horse sounding like one himself. The horse moves a bit away grazing on the grass between the elk and the tiger.
"Where are we resting here Katrina? Do you know?" He scans the west north west horizon to see if he notes any landmarks.
He makes his way over to Delilah and her tiger, "How friendly is he? Or does he only tolerate you." Quince looks at the tiger with a wary eye, not worrisome, but unwilling to look away from it. "What do you call him?"
He motions with his head back toward his horse, "I have had Scram since I was young. His has lived long past his expiration date." He leans closer, "Don't let him hear you call him old though. He isn't taking it graciously."
He looks over, "Invisible escorts? Sulvanii would surround us with nursemaids if I let him. Welcome Arthur. Are you here to keep Katrina safe or do will I feel watched when I step behind a boulder." He chuckles.
Once arrived Quince looks around taking in the scene.
St. John waters his elk and and then feeds himself. When Jorne comes over he says, "You know my love of horses!". He then laughs and says "I never did like riding them and never took to it. This... wasn't as bad, though I may not sit for a week." He then smiles at Jorne as if remembering old times.
Upon their arrival outside the town St. John gets down and stretches and jogs in place some to get all his muscles used to moving properly. He then approaches Quince and asks "What is the plan for exploring here? One big group or a few smaller ones? I'll be out front looking for danger while others look for clues if that is ok."
The tiger stands up with a low warning rumble from its throat but accepts the blessing.
Delilah helps Sindri up to sit in front of her on her elk.
Delilah gasps as the elk leap and shift. She is surprised at the Elk's abilities first hand but holds on and enjoys the ride.
Delilah dismounts and goes over to check on her tiger companion. When Quince comes over she replies, "He is friendly. But he doesn't like to be touched. He is certainly no pet." She smiles. "His name is Iodren. We have survived the wild together for over 5 years." A low warning rumble comes from the tiger.
"We are here. That was much faster than I expected." She dismounts again and lets the elk do elk things.
She walks over and stands by her tiger again, looking towards the buildings. "Should we just walk in? Or be careful? It was empty when I was here before."
You can see a handful of buildings on this side of the stream that bisects the town. One of the buildings, on the water is a mill. The closest building looks in shambles. Most of the other buildings are simple cottages.
No smoke or signs of life comes from most of the town.
"There is smoke at the fort." She points in the distance, showing others where to look. "And a boar over there."
Quince leans in the saddle and looks to St. John, "Well lets get a look at the town. That might yield a path to follow from there we can think about options."
Quince follows Dililah's finger. "Smoke. Could be a sign of life."
Quince looks in the direction of the building in shambles for any sign of why it was disheveled.
"Oh smoke is my forte!"
St. John nods and says "To the corral first and then the fort or do we search each building on the way?" When he gets a response he heads in the direction needed.
Dinenen smiles, obviously entertained. "I've been told it is the journey, not the destination a few times. Your targets seem reasonable choices, but we should plan to stop for anything interesting, like the problem our leader just pointed out."
"If the town is empty then a corralled boar would be hungry. Let'scheck on it. Then the fort perhaps not everyone is gone. If anythingon the way invites scrutiny we can check. Wary all around."
He moves to the coral pulling out some rations. He looks over the fence. Noticing a slop trough he moves to that section of the fence and drops the rations into the feeder. "There you go."
The corral is 100 feet away.
The boar was feeding upon something and as Quince approaches it doesn't react immediately as he is slowly walking forward making a soothing sound.
As he dismounts, the elf is unusally gentle with his mount as he first inspects for any burs or stones that might have being lodged in its hooves or fur. Finding none, he proceeds to brush it down and tend to it with berries he had 'obtained' from the city before. With that done, he begins to stretch himself before taking a rest.
The surrounding area was silent but he guessed that was the way their travels were done.
"I spot smoke in the Fort to the far side of town. I also note that there's a boar in the corral."
He then notices Quince approaching it.
He watches to see how this one handles the Boar.
St. John waters his elk and and then feeds himself. When Jorne comes over he says, "You know my love of horses!". He then laughs and says "I never did like riding them and never took to it. This... wasn't as bad, though I may not sit for a week." He then smiles at Jorne as if remembering old times.
"I am glad you took this better than horse riding. When it's done we can walk it out together. I know I will need to stretch my legs again." He states in agreement and laughs too thinking back on old times.
-----
At the outskirts of Varnhold he would dismount and help Cleonora down. He would ruffle the fur on Fyre's neck and give the elk a hug before joining St. John in running in place. He would draw his short sword and slash the air a few times. Listening to the plan. As Quince moved forward with food in his hands he let Quince move on his own. Though he put the sword away and pulled his bow with two arrows. One in his mouth the other along his composite bow. They are gleaming with magical power.
St. John follows behind Quince about 10 feet, hoping to interpose himself should the boar become angry.
"Where are we resting here Katrina? Do you know?" He scans the west north west horizon to see if he notes any landmarks.
She repeats his question and then tells why,"Why are we resting here? Nothing to gather any creatures. A blank spot without threats. A spot to see as far as needed to see a coming threat. I was thinking a watering hole but that is where things collect and I can make my own watering hole. That is why I chose here." She didn't worry about making her words flattering
Quince holds up a cautious hand when he notes the creature is already eating. He moves to get a look at things. He moves slowly and non-threating. "Well hey there. Looks like you already have something to eat." He speaks slow and soft. "Don't be a body of some poor farmer. That would not go well." His tone continues gently.
"Where are we resting here Katrina? Do you know?" He scans the west north west horizon to see if he notes any landmarks.
She repeats his question and then tells why,"Why are we resting here? Nothing to gather any creatures. A blank spot without threats. A spot to see as far as needed to see a coming threat. I was thinking a watering hole but that is where things collect and I can make my own watering hole. That is why I chose here." She didn't worry about making her words flattering
[Dice=diplomacy]1+11
Quince smirks, "You have been busy. 'Why' we stopped makes good sense. I wasn't questioning the choice. I was wondering 'Where' we were? The last few miles of hills on our eastern border look a lot like the western border of the Heights. At least on the map." He chuckles. "Its good to be on the trail with you again. Like old times. I miss Tristan and Kev here though. Tristan has been busy with Tazlford and their defenses there. The struggle against the trolls took its toll." He changes his tone. "But we are here on this side of victory. All in all blessed."
He let the others water their mounts first, as he scratched Fyre on the neck, stretched his own legs and then paid attention to Cleo, "Do I need to massage anything?"
"Not in public." Cleonora joked with a shake of her head. "I'm fine thank you."
A disembodied deep male yet subtle voice responds to Jorne, "It has been good. Protecting, spying, and making the most of my time! So you two thinking about tying the knot?"
Cleonora jumped when she head the voice. "Ah! Son of a- What are you doing here?!"
However his question made her blush slightly. "Each day at a time.." She added with Jorne's answer.
"I'd be careful." Cleonora called to Quince, though she didn't stop him.
Its a boar you sense hostility... you cast charm animal...
The hostility towards Quince stops and the boar comes up to the corral making happy pig noises.
"Hey there porks. What are you eating?
Quince moves close enough to see.
"Nicely handled." She follows behind Quince. "I find a bird's eye view can be helpful. A closer look at where that smoke is coming from might help."
Delilah crouches down to the ground, her features seem to morph together, growing feathers, her legs shrink, clothes and possessions merging into her skin. Her arms stretch becoming wings and a beak protrudes from her mouth. It only took a few seconds, what was Delilah now looks like a Hawk. Flapping her wings sends her upward, gaining height to clear the trees. A sound can be heard as she is flying high.
Quince sees that the boar is eating other wild pigs.
Cleonora jumped when she heard the voice. "Ah! Son of a- What are you doing here?!"
"I am watching and protecting Katrina, though until Varnhold you have another protecting angel I suppose." The disembodied voice says politely.
Quince looks back, "Well this boar seems to be eating the rest of his herd." He looks down, "We might be best served using him for dinner. Once he has finished his friends he is likely to try to get free of the pen and boar can be troublesome."
As Quince makes his statement and looks at the corral, you can easily see where this boar broke through the poorly built fence over yonder.
From the amount of flies and the smell of rot you could easily say the dead wild pigs have been there for at least a week.
It is basically dimension door or another travel spell, you theorize that if the elk slowed down they would plop back to the material plane.
You have likely taken lead as you know the way back. You are about halfway back to Varnhold.
Roland dismounts the elk and nods when someone acknowledges the smoke from the fort. "Place looks untended for and abandoned for awhile. There is some activity, perhaps cooking, going on at the fort. Maybe we can find answers there. The boar does seem like it would make a fine meal, if needed."
Delilah has transformed into a hawk and has flown away. Quince is making friends with a boar in a corral that does not look like it will hold the giant pig should it want out. Jorne has pulled his bow out and is ready to fire upon the pig. St. John is 10 feet behind Quince.
She finds a careful perch, watching the giant and the gnomes for a few minutes.