OOC: a very faint smell of smoke can be felt in the staircase, but it could be the cook's doing something wrong, you can't decide. Now let's make things a bit more interesting.

For Kirûn and Bober:

As a faint smell of smoke reached Kirûn and Bober, they heard footsteps coming up the steps. A few moments later a group of guards came up the staircase. Mostly orcs, but some humans were mingled into the group as well. Their leader a human clad in black armour addressed the two dwarves. <font color=blue>"You two, identify yourselves! We have a security breach and all dwarves have to be examined."</font>

For Turin's group:

Robyn cleaned out the wound and bandaged Roland's leg with the half trouser the wolf had torn off Turin. She then told him to rest until the morning. She kept watch together with Turin for the remainder of the night. Morning came with the sun shrouded in clouds and just after they woke Roland up it started to rain. Within a few minutes all traces of the fight during the night were washed away in the downpour. Robyn had just finished packing all her stuff and then went over to Roland. <font color=yellow>How is your foot? Can you walk with it?</font>

<font color=orange>Harmeth

"I see. One last question before you start teaching me things I don't know about. How were you captured?"</font>

<font color="FF3300">Kirûn

"I am Jorum and this be my kinsman Lorag. May I ask as to why me folk are being harassed in such a manner?</font>

<font color=lightgreen> "I admit it still pains me to move. But I shall be alright, thank you for assisting me. And you too Turin never have I seen a man strike down his foes with such fury." </font> .... :D

For Kirûn and Bober:

<font color=blue>"You may. One of the newly acquired prisoners has given information, that has told us, that two dwarven traitors are in the stronghold. You haven't by chance heard or seen anything of two dwarves called Kirûn and Bober? They look much like you two."</font>

OOC: The smell of smoke is starting to get stronger BTW.

[ 05-23-2004, 07:26 PM: Message edited by: dplax ]

For Turin, Roland and Robyn:

Had Roland not been injured they would have reached their destination in the middle of the afternoon. But like this they got there barely an hour before nightfall. It was Robyn who first spotted the entrance to the cave.
Area description: the cave entrance is about 150 meters ahead of the group, slighlty to the left. To the left there is a thicket of thorny bushes. To the right are some small uprisings, behind the group are the grasslands they have traveled through. The group is now at the top of a small hill.

Therlion sighed. <font color=silver>"As you know, I am a schollar. I research history, books and legends."</font> He tried to remember something to talk about, but he couldn't focus. <font color=silver>"I was journeying from the south to an old dwarven mine when I was attacked. I tried running, but the men caught up. I was knocked unconcious and I woke up strapped to a horse.</font> Not wanting to go into details, for fear of saying something inconsistent because of his loss of concentration and focus, he quickly added <font color=silver>"But that really isn't important right now. I am here, and your father wants me to teach you my lore. What interests you?"y</font>

<font color=orange>Harmeth

She saw that Therlion was not able to fully concentrate, and from this she knew he was not telling the total truth. But for the moment she had asked him enough questions.

"Very well. I have satisfied my father's wish that I subtly interrogate you, now let us pass to more interesting things. You said that you research legends. Tell me of some interesting legends you might know about."</font>

Just as Therlion was going to start to answer the door flung open and the guard who had been escorted Therlion there earlier stood there, with a rather blank expression on his face. He opened his mouth and then closed it. Without a single warning he fell forward to the floor. It was only now, that it was visible what had happened. A knife was sticking out of the guard's back. Harmeth screamed, and fainted.

A man with a sword in his hand appeared in the doorway. It only took him a moment's notice to get the situation in the room, and then with a battle cry he jumped towards Therlion, swinging with his sword. Far away, down the corridor rushing steps could be heard.

OOC: Could everyone please read the last post in the discussion thread and then send me the list of items they carry.

Everything played out fast, and Therlion only had time to dodge to the side and avoid the attack. A hundred options played out in his mind, with a thousands of different conditions that he didn't know yet. After a split-second debate in his mind on wether to use magic or not, he magically pulled the knife from the dead guards back and flung it in the attacker's chest. He hoped that the man would fall before the footsteps got too close, whatever side they were on. He didn't want anyone see him using magic, the results would be far too wild to control. The knife was still flying towards the man's chest, with magical speed and accuracy.

For Therlion:

The knife flew in a near straight line towards its target. It hit the man in the middle of his chest, knocking him backwards a few steps. A surprised look came over his face. His hand reached into one of his pockets and he took out a piece of paper. He tried tearing it apart, but his strength was fading away. <font color=blue>"You...you are.... not...one of...them. Help..."</font>-he said with heaving breaths and then fell in a heap to the ground. The footsteps which could be heard during all this time stopped suddenly in front of the door to the room.

As Therlion looked he could see Lord Easthome's son in the doorway, with his sword drawn. <font color=orchid>"You? Here?"</font>-he uttered in a surprised voice. He then took in the situation inside the room. He turned and gave out orders to others in the corridor behind him. Several men came into the room and carried Harmeth away. <font color=orchid>"Also call for my father, and the captain of the guard!"</font>

He then turned to Therlion. <font color=orchid>"Assassins are the worst curse of nobility in these parts. Thank you for saving my sister's life."</font> He looked at the man who had the knife sticking out of his chest. He spotted the piece of paper and took it out of his hands. After reading it his expression changed. New footsteps could be heard outside the room and Lord Easthome arrived along with the captain of the guard. His son, Kalan handed him the slip of paper without a word.

After reading it Lord Easthome suddenly drew a small dagger from a hidden sheath and put it at the guard captain's throat. <font color=lightgrey>"So, you plot against my family. This paper tells everything about your plan. The inkeeper, several guards. You wanted to replace me, eh? Well, it seems that this elf has foiled your plans. Take him away!"</font>-he said to some guards. He addressed Therlion next: <font color=lightgrey>

"I thank you for what you have done. I shall forever be in your debt. I shall now have you escorted back to your quarters, but I give you the freedom of this town. I assign one guard to help you around, but in this town you shall be able to move freely. However you are not allowed to leave."</font> He turned to leave, but turned back from the doorway to speak to his son: <font color=lightgrey>"You shall handle this business?"</font><font color=orchid>"Yes, father."</font> Lord Easthome left, taking all except one of the guards with him. <font color=orchid>"I'd like to talk to you later this afternoon."</font>-Kalam said to Therlion and then left.

The guard who stayed behind looked at Therlion. <font color=blue>"Where do you wish to go with your newfound freedom?"</font>

OOC: Therlion gets 4 more reward points for disposing of the attacker, taking his total to 6.

Possibilities came in, and Therlion was fast thinking where to go. But he sat down quietly and started thinking about the man's last words. Not one of...<font color=silver> who. He must have surmised that I'm not one of the Lord's men, and it was just his luck to see it too late. Why did he want my help? Did he want me to help in the conspiracy? </font> Therlion turned to the guard and said <font color=silver>"I wish to go back home, to my quarters"</font> He needed some time to think before meeting Kalan later.

[ 05-25-2004, 07:15 AM: Message edited by: Bozos of Bones ]

For Therlion:

After he went back to the quarters which had been given him, several hours passed without anything happening. At midday he was brought food, by the new inkeeper, a woman in her forties, but nothing else happened until the middle of the afternoon. But then a man in his early thirties came to see Therlion. <font color=blue>"I am the new captain of the guard. Kalam Easthome has asked me to tell you that he wishes to see you in the third room on the second floor of the inn."</font> The man left letting Therlion go there in the company of the guard whose job it was to watch over him.

<font color="FF3300">Kirûn</font>

Addressing the human leader.

<font color="FF3300">*snort* An all dwarves look the same to ye humans, as ye to us. But no matter. There be many of our kind in and about the gaming arenas whence we have just departed as the main fight of the day was most unsatifactorily concluded.

As for our business, we be merely on our way to the inn near our assigned quarters, in order to obtain a meal as me kinsman here was having de stomach burnins.

That is if...*sniff*...some lout don't manage to smoke or burn us to ashes with that confounded fire I be smellin.</font>

OOC: How many orcs and humans are there in the group? If I am allowed to ask this.

OOC>>>I don't remember if this cave was expected or not...so I will assume it is a chance discovery?

<font color=skyblue>Turin

"The cave will most assuredly be occupied by something, but it would also make for a decent resting place this night. I say we go in with weapons baring and take out whatever lioves there...and make it our own. That would be to our benefit. I see nothing obstructing our passage, so let us go inhabit this place. We may find it very useful..."

Turin led the others toward the gapping maw in the side of the hill. He had not the stealth of a thief, but crept along as quietly as possible, not wanting anything in the cave to hear an approach. When the got to the mouth of the cave, Standing to the side of it (not in front of it), Turin motioned for them to get ready to pass inside, and to be alert. They did not need anything jumping on them.</font>

OOC: It is a chance discovery, but since no one in Lord Easthome's town knew exactly where the wolves live, you have luckily (or not) stumbled upon it.

IC: The wolves in the cave did not hear anything, but they smelt something. One of them, got up from its late afternoon slumber and slowly walked towards the cave entrance. He went out of the cave and stood in the rays of the setting sun. The wolf stood about three meters from Turin who was hiding on one side of the cave entrance. The wolf sniffed the air. It detected a foreign smell which could very rarely be smelt here, but was more commonly felt in the villages they attacked. The wolf let out a long howl and then slowly turned towards Turin.

It had dark grey fur, with silver running down all of its back.

[ 05-26-2004, 05:24 AM: Message edited by: dplax ]

<font color=skyblue>Turin

"Curses".

Turin watched as the wolf approached, not noticing the humans yet, making a warning sound that it had detected his scent, then turned in his direction.

Whether or not the wolf was able to register the fact that it had been attacked was unsure. Turin lunged forward and chopped off it's head where it stood. Then he retreated back to his hiding spot and looked at the others, Roland who was on the other side of the cave mouth, and Robyn who was behind Turin himself.

Turin whispered:

"Ready yourselves. They will be coming out now, looking for trouble. We still have the first shot advantage. After that, it's going to be a mess. I doubt they will retreat, since this is there home. They probably have pups that they will protect to the death.

Listen! They come!"</font>

[ 05-26-2004, 09:34 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

For Turin's group:

Robyn put her bow and arrows down and took out two daggers.

The wolfcub which had been following its mother stopped dead in its tracks as its mother sensed danger and started sniffing. But when its mother was struck down it ran out in a few leaps to its mother and nuzzled itself against the body of the corpse. Turin, Roland and Robyn were so distracted by this, that they only saw the wolves coming at them too late. Unknown to them the cave had another exit and when the first wolf was struck down some of its companions took the other exit, and went round the small hill.

Suddenly with a ferocious snarl the leader of the pack, a huge male, almost double the size of the female wolf Turin had just struck down gave the signal to attack. Three wolves came bounding out of the cave entrance which seperated Turin and Robyn from Roland, while four of their companions ran out of the undergrowth in front of the group.

These four started circling Turin and Robyn, while the other three circled Roland. Silverbacked wolves were known for their intelligence, which was far superior to that of their normal brethren. They were going to wait for the humans to make the first mistake. Keeping their distance they continued circling, in the meantime also effectively cutting Roland off from his two companions.

The cub, thinking that this was some game, started bounding and running between the two groups of wolves.

OOC: Good luck getting out of this! Don't worry, should things go bad, I have a backup plan.

<font color=lightgreen> Roland looked at the three surronding wolves. His wound still throbbed but as adreadline ran it's course it started to relive some of the pain. He knew these wolves were smarter than their lesser cousins and knew by underestimating them would lead to his demise. He gripped his bastard sword in his hands more tightly and was quickily formulating a plan to outdo these beasts. He swiftly lunged at the nearest wolf and swung his blade. He didn't intend to hit the wolf in front of him however. He brought the sword in a long curving arc to his left where a nearby wolf was ready to pounce. It quickily leapt back though and only had a scrape upon it's nose. The wolf growled. Roland moved quickily at the thrird wolf and a slow sidelong attack. The wolf easily moved back but quickily Roland moved foward and did a quick, low and swift backswing. The steel whistled through the air and drove through one of silverback wolf's leg. It howled in agony of it's maimed limb. The other two growled and snapped their vicious jaws. One moved quicker than the swordsman had expected. The creature then shifted it's momemntum and moved backward. There was then a pain so immense a red haze passed over Rolands sight. The other wolf saw blood from the last battle on Roland's leg and just bit on his already wounded leg. It took Roland all his willpower not to pass out right there. He gripped the bastard sword with two hands and was about to plunge the blade through the intellgent beast. But the beast was shook it's head and used it's already sunk in teeth to tear Rolands wound wider. The wolf let go and managed to evade Rolands counter attack. It started at him with fresh blood on it's jaws. [i]The other wolf diverted my attention whilst the other striked me. <i/> Littlestone thought. In the corner of his eye he saw the wolf that distracted him pounce. Roland quickily turned and kicked with his unwounded leg while his other leg was screaming in agony by the weight it was supporting. The kick landed on the silverback's nose. And then a red haze passed through his vision again. The other silverback rammed it's head against Roland's leg making him fall to the ground and bit at his wrist making him lose grip on his blade. The teeth were sawing through the skin of his wrist to his bone. Littlestone got a small dirk from his belt and thrust it into the neck of the silverback. It shruddered and perished. The last wolf ran and snapped it's sharp jaws onto the man's neck....or would have if Roland didn't thrust the dirk into the inside of the beast's mouth upward into the brain. When the last beast died Roland got to his feet and retrieved his bastard sword and holsetered his Dirk. A lot of blood was spurting fourth from his leg whenever he moved it. And tried to take a step but fell foward and didn't get up. "I am sorry....Turin...and Robyn..." He whispred and he passed out. (not dead just like fainted!) </font>

[ 05-26-2004, 10:34 PM: Message edited by: Sythe ]

OOC: Roland as far as I could see fromthe post has killed two wolves and cut off the leg of another, which is howling in pain.

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

Watching the four wolves circling around them intently Robyn could only watch Roland's struggle. She could not help him. Roland made a defiant stand, but after taking care of two of the wolves and severly wounding a third one, he had fallen to the ground. Dead or unconscious Robyn could not know at this point. Roland was bleeding from several wounds.

Robyn briefly looked at Turin who was standing next to her. "Let's take care of these wolves fast. Roland needs help." She shifted the weight of her two daggers and suddenly without a warning from her stance she threw both of the daggers at one of the wolves. One of the daggers hit the wolf in the side, while the other hit it between the eyes, killing it. Robyn stooped and picked up two arrows from where she had threwn them down.</font>

The wolves, furious at the death of three of their companions moved to attack. The leader of the pack moved as though as he was going to jump at Turin from the left, but at the last moment with a push of its muscles it jumped at Turin's right and avoiding Turin's sword bit Turin's upper arm. The remaining female wolf positioned itself so as to be able to jump at any opportunity at Turin's neck, but did not jump yet. The third still standing wolf moved at Robyn and using the same maneuver the leader had used against Turin managed to bite Robyn on the left arm, however the wolf was not fast enough and Robyn managed to embed an arrow in its hide with her right hand. However from the left the arrow fell as the whole arm became numb from the bite. The wolf was however ready to move and attack again as the wound was not fatal.

The wolf whose leg Roland has cut off is slowly edging towards the unconscious Roland so as to finish him off. However it is in much pain and it will take time for it to get there. The wolfpup has bounded over to Roland and is licking the blood oozing from the wound on Roland's leg.

OOC: Turin's move next.

<font color=skyblue>Turin

More angry than hurt, as Turin had been in a lot of battles with Orcs and the like...reached down to the wolf clamped to his arm and dug his thumb and middle finger into the eye sockets of the wolf. In obvious pain, the wolf only thought of letting go and moving backwards, and now was blind, as the mush on Turin's fingers had been its eyes. He saw the wounded wolf inching towards Roland and wanted to throw his sword at it, but his arm hurt and he did not expect to throw well. Then he had the wolf in front of him to deal with. The sharp cry of the one that had grabbed his arm had spooked the others long enough to delay the attack from the others, but they were over that shock now and were aiming to spring. Just as the one in front of him lunged for his throat, Turin had seen her tensing up for the jump and with timed precision, side-stepped it and punched her head in mid-air as she sailed passed him. He quickly grabbed his sword with his left hand and plunged it into her heart as she lay dazed upon the ground. He looked about for the next attack, expecting one to come from somewhere, if the attack was not already being made. In that case, he had left himself vulnerable from the rear. </font>

OOC>>>Enough of my move. I cannot see everything from all angles at once, so I'll stop here to allow any wolves that see an opening to have their chance to move against me.

[ 05-27-2004, 01:15 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

OOC: I'll take each of the wolves one by one.

The leader of the pack has had his eyes torn out, but he still had his sense of smell. Hearing and smell helped him in anticipating his next move. The human was strong and had barely felt his previous bite. Not being able to precisely carry out an attack the wolf decided to go for the largest target available, the back. He jumped from behind Turin, where he had retreated and landed on Turin's back. Once there he sank his teeth into Turin's left shoulder, while its two front paws clawed deep into Turin's back. With its two hind legs and its grip on Turin's shoulder with its jaws the wolf held on, knowing that humans weren't too good at getting at things on their backs.

The legless (3 out of 4) wolf is still crawling its way towards Roland and has nearly gotten there.

The last wolf, which was combatting Robyn made another move on her. Robyn had no weapons available, but in the last possible moment she grabbed up her bow and thrust it into the mouth of the wolf as it got ready to bite her throat. The wolf fell back surprised, but with one powerful bite, bit through the wood of the bow, breaking it into two, and then spat it out. Then the wolf positioned itself to be able to attack again. The arrow in its side had pierced vital organs, but the wolf was still able to act as though it were only a minor wound though death was getting near.

For Kirûn and Bober:

<font color=blue>"Thank you for your help, dwarves. And don' worry about the fire it should be put out soon."</font> The human then signaled his men and they left in the direction of the arenas leaving the two dwarves to decide what to do next.

<font color=lightgreen> He felt although he was falling. He could not see nor hear. He hit the ground. But he felt no pain and there was a small light far far away. It was getting closer and bigger. When the light enveloped him he saw stars everywhere and his head was suddenly filled with many sounds. A bird chirping, a blacksmith pounding the iron, an eagle, a child crying. He could not move or speak but as sudden as it came it disappeared. There was a faint whisper he could not make out. It slowly got louder repeating the same two words over and over. The volume soon became deafining. The voice saying "WAKE UP!"

Roland Littlestone's eyes opened and saw the wolf he maimed slowly moving towards him. The man was very weary but new if he yielded he would perish. He took out the dirk from his belt. And the maimed wolf hesistated. It saw how this man killed his companion with that weapon. The silverback growled angrily and bared it's teeth.
It pushed off the ground by it's strong hind legs. Lady Luck smiled on Roland today. The beast put too much power into the jump and went over Roland. As the beast was midair above him the boy stabbed into the creatures heart and it soon lay dead. He saw Turin and Robyn still fighting. Both of his companions were in peril. Robyn with no weapon and Turin with the pack leader on his back. He crawled over to the body of the wolf he just slain and took out the dagger from it's heart. And called out as loud as his strength would allow "ROBYN!" He threw the dirk at her though not a powerful throw it still managed to reach her near her feet. He tried to lift himself up but more blood from his wrist and leg came out. He picked up his bastard sword again with one hand. And limped towards Turin. Each step nearer was a red haze. </font>

[ 05-27-2004, 06:12 PM: Message edited by: Sythe ]

<font color=skyblue>Turin


"Blast you, dog!" Turin yelled as the wolf's teeth ripped flesh. He had searing pain coursing through his shoulder now and had had enough of this wolf. The only thing that came to his mind was that the wolf only had it's mouth to use to hang on, as it's paws were not like those of a cat, made for clinging to it's prey. Dogs (or wolves) could only maw one to death.
He threw himself backwards, landing on the wolf with his heavy body, spun around and began wrestling the creature, strangling it with his bare hands. Though a piece of his wanted to just go ahead and let these beasts send him to his dead family's side...another part of him remembered that he was to avenge their blood first and that meant hitting Morgoth hard in his defences that would allow others to take him down if he himself could not make it.
He was not going to lose that mission to a few stray mangy wolves.
He pressed harder on the wolf's throat, growling at it in hatred. One might wonder who was the more dangerous predator.</font>

OOC>>>Since I have no life points, could you tell me how I am faring health-wise? It would help me act accordingly.

OOC: Is it Kalam or Kalan?
<font color=silver>"I have been looking forward to this meeting, sir."</font> Therlion said as he was entering the room. <font color=silver>"I have some questions for you, and no doubt you have some for me."</font> He looked towards the guards, and then at Kalam, preferring to talk in private about this.

The injuries of Turin's group:

Roland has several bites, is weak and is losing a lot of blood. He is becoming weaker with every passing minute. He can hardly carry his sword. He can only drag it on the ground, he does not have the strength to lift it. He is soon going to pass out again.

Robyn has a bite on her left arm, and can't use that arm at the moment.

Turin has a minor bite on his right arm from the first attack of the wolf. From the second attack he has a deep bite on his left shoulder and two deep claw marks on his back running down parallelly from the left shoulder to the middle of the back. The left arm is in pretty much pain and is nearly useless, the right is only minorly hindered by the bite.

Hope that helps for posting.

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

She was totally intent on the wolf ahead of her. She did not notice the dirk being thrown to her feet. When the wolf facing her jumped at her throat she merely stooped and with her right hand gave the wolf a push so that it landed on its side. The wolf rolled over several times until it finally managed to stop. The broken shaft of the arrow lay on the ground between the wolf and Robyn. It had probably been broken during the roll. The wolf winced in pain as the arrow dug even deeper into its hide. It felt death getting closer, but it was not going to give up trying to kill Robyn.

The wolf started pounding towards the still crouching Robyn, but suddenly it seemed as if it stumbled and it fell to the ground. Roland's dirk lay embedded in one of its paws. While the wolf was getting up Robyn saw her opportunity to get at it. She jumped upon the wolf knocking it over and she rolled several feet away with it. While they were rolling she tore the dagger out of the wolf's paw and slammed it into its neck. The wolf stodd motionless for a few seconds, but then fell to the ground, dead. However it had managed to bite Robyn's right upper leg in the close combat.</font>

The wolf combatting Turin

The wolf could not see, but it felt, heard and smelt the human above it. It pressed with all of its muscles against the ground while trying to raise its head towards the hands strangling it. It managed to bite the right wrist of Turin and when the grip lessened from the pain the wolf rolled out from under Turin at the same time pushing Turin in the other direction with its legs. The wolf tried standing up, but it was short of breath from the strangling it had received and collapsed to the ground. It tried getting up again, putting all of its weight first on the front legs and then on the hind legs, thus getting on its legs. However the slowness of this maneuver gave Turin one chance to take care of the beast.

For Therlion:

OOC: It is Kalam.

Kalam signalled the guard accompanying Therlion to leave. He was just about to start speaking when Harmeth came in the door. She looked at Therlion with a grateful smile. <font color=orange>"I thank you for saving my life. Without you the assassin would have managed to kill me. I ordered drinks for us, which shall be brought up to this room soon."</font>-she said, and then sat down on one of the vacant chairs.

After Therlion sat down on the other chair Kalam stood up and handed a note to him. <font color=orchid>"This note was given to my patrol in the wilderness by a messenger from the stronghold. My father has not seen it yet. Read it!"</font>

While Therlion was halfway through the note a boy brought up several alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.

OOC: pm'd the note.

[ 05-28-2004, 06:43 AM: Message edited by: dplax ]

<font color=skyblue>Turin

He could not believe how careless he'd become. He used to be better than this. What was it about these wolves that was different than fighting those of Morgoth's bunch? These wolves were not evil. They were natural predators but not evil. Elves could probably have told these guys to move on and they would have perhaps. That was why Turin could not fight them the same way. These wolves had nothing to do with the death of his family. He then pitied them.

He staggered over to the wobbly wolf leader, picked up his sword from the ground and as the wolf came at him for one final attack, Turin kicked up with his foot, catching the maw and driving it's head back, stopping its advancement.
Then he jabbed at it's heart, felling the poor beast. He turned to look and see if his companions needed help. Yet the fight was out of him. He did not have much love in killing any more of these animals. He spied the motherless pup, running about, and felt sorry for it. What should he do with the poor thing?</font>

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

After Turin killed the last wolf Robyn limped over to Roland to inspect his injuries. After a few moments of watching him she looked at Turin.

"He is in pretty bad shape. I can treat his wounds here, but he needs to get into a more experienced healer's hands soon. We need to be able to transport him somehow. Could you look in and around the cave to see if there is anything we could move him around with?"

Robyn then went to get her pack and from it took her healing kit again. She started cleaning Roland's wounds and with strips of her spair clothing bandaging them.</font>

While she was working here the wolf pup came running up and watched with curious eyes what Robyn was doing.

The note caught him completely off, as he was not expecting this. <font color=silver>"This note must not... Is there a possibility that the stronghold sent out more than one messenger?"</font> Therlion feared yes, and started playing out situations in his mind.

[ 05-28-2004, 08:24 PM: Message edited by: Bozos of Bones ]

<font color=green> Before the battle had ended and Roland was limping toward Turin he had again fallen unconcious within the his first few paces. He woke again and saw Robyn take out the healing kit. He slowly looked toward the wolf pup and faintly smiled. He soon after went back to unconciousness </font>

<font color=skyblue>Turin

But what could he find that would be of use?...

He thought long and hard about it, then went looking in the cave for some clue as to what he could use to help Roland. This had been all his fault. He had slipped up, not been a good leader, and now one of his men was going to die because of his foolishness. Turin was adamante that he would fix all this as soon as he got Roland better. He'd take over and let his rage rule over his other senses. He'd wipe out all of Morgoth's fools alone if he had to.

He searched the cave and to his luck he found a rotting corpse that had died maybe a month or two ago. The body was eaten clean of its flesh, but it was not the bones that caught Turin's interest. This man had worn a large cloak. It was laying there beside the body, untouched. It must have come off of him during the fight for his life when he had stumbled upon this den, and then had been used by the wolf pup to sleep on.
Turin gathered the cloak up, ran outside and found two strong oak branches that were straight and about 8 feet long each. He shaved off the twigs, fastened the cloak to each branch by tying the corners in knots upon the branches, then whittled the bark away on the branch corners, making it smooth for handles. In about 20 minutes, he'd fashioned a way to carry Roland. Taking it over to his two companions, Turin sat it down on the ground, picked Roland up and laid him atop the cloak, then took up one end of the bed, instructing Robyn to take the other side. </font>

[ 05-29-2004, 12:18 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

In the cave Turin also found:

The equipment which the dead man had with him:
-a badly torn apart leather mail
-a small golden ring with a precious stone set into it
-a rusted metal helmet
-a slightly rusted long sword
-a leather shield
-67 gold pieces

OOC: just post in your next post what you took with yourself.

<font color=orchid>Kalam Easthome

Kalam took a beer from the boy and told him to set the rest of the drinks down on the table. He drank deeply before answering.

"The type of messenger which bore this message is trustworthy enough to relay the message. It will have been the only one."

Seeing that Therlion did not completely understand what Kalam had just said he explained.

"There are not only humans, orcs and trolls which serve Morgoth. He has much more devious and powerful creatures which serve him. The messenger was a shadow creature. I still shudder from the effect it had on me and my men."

"You are actually very lucky that it was I, who received the message. Had my father got it, you would probably be dead by now. Although a mage like you could probably defend himself."-he said with a wink.

"I saw your magic when you took down the assassin earlier today. But don't worry! Apart from me and my sister no one will know about it."

"Let me tell you something. All day today there was heavy fighting between my father's troops and troops which rebelled against him. However the guard captain was a fool. Instead of looking for my support, which he could have gotten, he intended to wipe out my entire family. I agreed with his rebellion, but not the way he did it in. My father is a ruler who does not respect at all his people. He only looks at his own interests. That is why he joined up with Morgoth. Because he thinks that he is going to be on the winning side."

"I have men, who are loyal to me, but after today my father will be much more careful. I'd need your help and the help of Turin and the two others to be able to succeed in overthrowing him."

"And if you'll excuse us we have to go now. We shall talk again, when the time is right."</font>

Kalam and Harmeth left leaving Therlion to his thoughts. The guard who was charged with accompanying him came into the room and waited upon Therlion.

Therlion sat in the room, thinking. So now he knew Kalam's plan. Not knowing what kind of help Kalam needed in that plan, he remained sitting for a few more moments. He decided he was ready for whatever Kalam needed. Getting up, he took a beer and drank only a little to wet his throat. He started walking and anticipated the guard's question <font color=silver>"I am going home, the young lord has assigned me some work."</font>

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

Robyn put on her pack and then took hold of the other end of the improvised stretcher, then winced as her injured arm felt the pain. However she knew that Roland must be suffering much more and this gave her strength. She looked to Turin:
"Which way shall we go?"</font>

The wolfpup

The pup followed Robyn everywhere she went. It seemed to have taken a liking to her.

<font color=lightgreen> "Easthome..." Roland said his voice, quiet as a whisper. Every breath seemed to hurt more than the last. He gestured at the pup. "What .....about...the...wolfpup?" Roland closed his eyes and tried not to faint again. </font>