Dreskin Vray's page

If your house is as mighty as you say Oleg, that exactly is where you and Svetlana will be. We will handle the rest." Dreskin said, stacking up the second bowl on the first and pushing it towards Svetlana before standing up to his impressive height, towering over the humans. "We have been sent to tame and settle these lands and that is exactly what we will do. We will show the bandits who the true rulers of this land will be."

The half-orc would leave the table and begin a slow inspection of the entire compound, going around the back of buildings, checking windows and even climbing on the wall and doing a full rotation around the homestead.

"If they are coming from the forest they will have to ride all the way around the fort to get inside. You have two stout gates that we can swing shut and seal them inside. Right there-" Dreskin pointed at the narrow alley formed by the buildings directly inside the gate. "-is a perfect kill zone."

Dreskin came over to the table and sat down on the ground at one end, so tall that even in this position the table was level with his stomach. He accepted a bowl from Svetlana with a nod and smile, his huge hand engulfing the bowl. Before he could begin eating he was forced to juggle as Svetlana shoved two more bowls into his hands. "Uh, thanks." the half-orc said, placing two of the bowls on the table before tipping his head back and pouring an entire bowl directly into his mouth.

"Bandits are stupid cowards who fall into patterns once they feel comfortable. It wont be hard to set up a trap to bring our prey down. If they haven't changed since they 'executed' me then we just need to wait here. When was the last time they came around for collections Svetlana?."

Morning would find the burly half-orc outside the fort facing east as the sun rose, sitting in the tall grass with his eyes closed in a meditative position. Laeron's breathing was slow and deep as he let his mind sink deeper and seek out a connection with the beasts and land around him. When at last he felt his spirit resonate he drew from the great strength of the earth under his legs, filling his mind with the secret spell glyphs of the druidic faith. When the magic began to surge through his body he withdrew from the connection and opened his eyes.

This time of day was always Laeron's favorite. He never felt more refreshed and alert then the moments immediately after meditation and his instincts sang with the desire for the hunt. The half-orc swiped his hand through the dirt and grass before washing the fresh loam between his hands. His daily prayers complete he hopped to his feet and made his way back into the small fortress, hungrier then a bear out of hibernation.

"Yeah. She had just decided we weren't going to be giving merchants the option of giving up their load to let them live anymore. 'Kill them all and let the gods sort them out while we get drunk off the booty' was what she said. I have issues with wanton murder and carnage so I argued about taking the easy path because I knew it would mean an increase in the calls for soldiers and...well us. She responded by punching me in the face and then bringing bringing down her handaxe on my neck." Laeron said while sipping at the excellent mead.

"Stripped me and tossed me in the river thinking I was dead when for some reason I didn't die. I remember coming in and out of consciousness on the side of the river before managing to crawl up onto the bank before collapsing again. Woke up sometime later with a raging fever and my neck on fire but somehow alive."

Laeron gave a great sigh as the talkative Svetlana vanished into the house and he plunked down at the table and pulled one of the mugs towards himself. "I used to run with one of the crews out here until I had an argument with my leader and she left me half dead in the woods with this." He pulled the tall collar of shirt back to reveal one side of his neck covered with a nasty scar. "I was found by a crazy old man out in the woods foraging for herbs and he managed to drag me back to his hut and patch me up. Spent the next year harping to me about the power and majesty of the wild and how life flows in a great circle from the tiniest bug to the mightiest dragon and then back in a never ending cycle. Finally when I was strong enough I went out with him when he went looking for herbs, to protect him from the bandits that I used to call friends."

The big half-orc tore a big hunk of bread out of the loaf in his hand and chased it down with another swig of mead. "Got tired of being harped at about my violent 'ways' so left about six months ago and went north to civilization. Did a few odd jobs for a few months before the call went out for this and I met you all." he used his finger to indicate their general location. "So there is a good chance we will run into my old crew."

Laeron gave a great sigh and looked up from where he had been concentrating on his horse. "It's good to see you again Lana. Can we not do this tonight? We've been riding for several days and a bed sounds just about divine right about now. I promise I will tell you the whole story over breakfast and if that crotchety old man Bokken is still around I'll say hello to him when I get a chance. Deal?"

"Laeron." the big half-orc said quickly and dismounted. He pulled the charter from the saddlebag and handed it to Oleg. "We have been sent to wipe out the bandits for good and establish a colony further south."

The words seemed rushed and Laeron quickly looked away from Oleg and seemed intent on focusing solely on his horse.

"Three more days should get us there." Laeren said with a soft baritone as he rolled up the map. Shifting in his saddle pulled the high collar of his shirt down and revealed the scar that went the right side of his neck for a split second before the elf pulled the collar back up to hide it. "I don't want to waste too much time sucking up to the locals, we are the ones with the charter and the mission to tame the land and make it ours. They can either adapt or leave."

Posted just to get the character on the list