Distant shores: Chapter 1 - The voyage North

[dplax]

Armus

Armus wiped the grease from the corners of his mouth.

"Yes, I have talked with the council. But most of those sitting on the council are trying to use this affair as political manoeuvreing. They do not know much that can help us. Except Stendal that is, but he is exhausted, after having protected us with his spell. It's as if we were already alone in our planning."

Armus paused, taking another mouthful of eggs.

"I do have a few ideas, yes. But my ideas work only with my own competences, which are poorly adapted to the current situation. I am pretty sure that studying the disease, while we move, stopping if necessary is more important than simply advancing north, so I am more than willing to listen to any ideas you, or any of the others might have."

Armus did not know whether he could or wanted to be the leader of this group. Even if he was chosen leader - for he would never present himself to be leader on his own -, he would surely listen to advice or ideas the others had.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Aneuhl almost gagged at the food, but surprisingly himself managed to eat half a loaf of bread and a couple of fried eggs, although the latter was probably not such a good idea. Surprising himself further, he actually managed to keep it down and after sipping some water, felt far better than he had, in no part due to the spell - and the fact that because of the spell, most of his discomfort was psychological.

After Machaon had said his piece and Armus had responded, Aneuhl quietly added his own input, rather too hesitantly, even for him, "I have a query," he asked softly, addressing Armus in particular, "With the exception of yourself, and master dwarf," Aneuhl inclined his head politely, acknowledging both of them "None of us are fighters. While we may be considered... somewhat of experts in our own fields, how good will that be if it comes to bloodshed? No - wait, hear me out," the young man added quickly, lest any raise objections, "Would it not be... wise, perhaps, to take a contingent of guard with us?

"I know guards and militias exist... and I don't know what you have planned, but the more I wonder on this, the more I feel... we are rushing headlong into something blind and unprotected. While I understand the need to keep a group small, it also does no good if we are all dead before we can reach the cause of this. I also understand that perhaps master Stendal cannot maintain such a spell over so many, but I still wonder at the wisdom of having so few to guard not only us, but this land as well. If I were on this council, I would be preparing for a full scale invasion.. not just sending a sort of.." Aneuhl frowned, as though groping for an unfamiliar word or phrase, "Strike team? Task force? Well, either serves.”

He fell silent, wondering and waiting for what Armus and the others would say.

[ 04-03-2006, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]

[dplax]

For Nytia:

They had travelled two weeks north, yet had only covered a distance of fifty miles. Every day they moved only slowly, studying the wildlife of Paradisia, which to them, with the notable exception of Nytia, was completely new.

The myriads of birds which greeted them each morning were like a rainbow flying by, so colorful they were. Gweanna, oldest of the group at fifty three years of age was well versed in the arts of soothsaying. Her specialty was reading the flight of birds, yet with the birds of these parts she was unfamiliar.

"Come here Nytia!" she called. "What do you make of the flight of that flock of birds. I'm not sure but their movements do not bode well."

OOC: pm Larry.

[Larry_OHF]

Nytia:

For the past couple of weeks, Nytia had been wandering in a sea of conflicting emotions upon this land where she had been born. She was a part of this island from birth, but her mother-land was not warm and comforting. This land had caused her much pain, and she did not expect the island to welcome her back...yet she felt neither afraid nor at peace. The island was reserving judgement of her for another day.

Gweanna's request come at a surprise, for she had expected the priestess to never have question to her abilities in listening to the promptings of nature in the sphere of omen-reading by the birds. She gazed into the sky and remembered these creatures from her youth...seeing them free upon the wind and wishing that she were one of them to fly the confines of her restricted abode. Yet these birds were not speaking of far away paradises and clear-running springs, or oaks most ancient...their message was frightful to behold!

"I see them, Mother Gweanna, and they speak to me as they have spoken to you, though you are not sure as to what you see...or maybe your hope is founded upon a more positive outcome than the one they share with us...for truely these birds of color warn us that our venture is accursed by a challenge that will come swiftly and harsh."

Nytia looked into her matron's eyes, fear already swelling into them for the safety of her friends...rather, family.

[ 04-04-2006, 12:39 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Morgeruat]

Rastheme

Rastheme had enjoyed the eggs, they were thankfully hard perhaps the chef knew the result of runny eggs on the hungover and didn't want to risk the results... "I disagree about sending a larger force, more than say a half dozen and travel slows, risk of discovery increases, and the ability to fight off or evade a reasonable amount of foemen also becomes more difficult. If anything I'd tell the counsel we need carrier pidgeons that home here and will be able to send word more quickly than a man on foot, and would also be more likely to return at all. As for fighting, we can train ye in the basics, but if it comes down to a serious and dangerous battle, ye'd be best to get to safety and throw knives or seek safety." Rastheme took a bite of the last of his toast, a small bit of egg still sitting on it and began combing out his goatee with the same care most dwarves took for their entire beards, ensuring not a hair was out of place, nor a crumb left sitting near his mouth. As he finished he plucked a hair that had grown too long and split it against the edge of one of his small axes.

[Kazilan]

Machaon

Machaon shoveled his breakfast down, looking at his companions as they voiced their opinions. Halfway through his meal he put down his fork and settled back into his seat.

"I agree that we are ill-equipped for a large scale battle. However, the use of one's intellect is often enough to escape from danger. In the case that we can't escape, I have no problem letting Rastheme here handle any physical combat we encounter. I myself have a few surprises for anyone who gives us trouble," Machaon smiled as his hand patted the bulging backpack resting on the floor next to him, "including a thing or two to even the odds in a tight spot."

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

"All right.." Aneuhl answered slowly and softly, "I admit that I know little on such matters, so I shall leave it in your more experienced hands," he told the dwarf with a nod, "So I guess this means putting my trust and my life in your skill with a blade," he smiled.

"So now that's settled... what do you have to say on the matter, Armus?" the half goblin-half elf asked quietly. Something seemed to be troubling him, but it was to anyone's guess what it was. He had, for the moment, put the question of guards out of his mind, simply accepting that the others had more combat experience - well, almost anyone did. Truth be told, Aneuhl had never been in so much as a brawl... but no one else was to know that.

[dplax]

Armus

Pigeons! Now that was an idea none of the council members had thought about. One of the guards in the room, having reached the same conclusion left the room. Probably asking for some pigeons, Armus thought.

"...what do you have to say on the matter, Armus?"

Armus realised that he had only half-listened in on the conversation since the mention of pigeons. He had been envisioning how things might have passed differently had his group disposed of pigeons when they had ventured to the inner regions of the island.

He stood up from his chair, so as to face the three other members of this 'mission'. From the words and sylables he had caught, he tried pieceing together the conversation, which had aspired before giving his own opinion.

"Yes, in case of a battle...", he started slowly still pondering what exactly to say. "If it does come to a violent exchange with someone or something, I shall do my best to protect the two of you."

Armus nodded to himself, then recalled hearing Rastheme mentioning something about being on foot.

"Haven't they mentioned yet that we shall be provided with horses until we enter the jungle, where they shall become useless?" Armus did not elaborate on who the they might be, but it wasn't too hard to guess that he was referring to the town council.

Armus put a hand on the table and with the other indicated the large unexplored areas on the map.

"I don't know about you, but I'm ready to leave."

"Er...Armus!" It was the guard who had left a few minutes earlier. In his right hand he held an iron cage, in which a pair of white pigeons were peacefully sleeping. "The bird master says that the birds shall easily find their way back here, but that due to the lack of time to train them properly, once you have sent a message with them, they shall be unable to find you again."

Armus nodded and took the cage, gently placing it on the table.

"Do any of the three of you need anything before I request the horses to be prepared?" he asked.

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

"Armour! And Weapons!" Aneuhl put in almost instantly. "I don't have any! And! Erm, some basic training might be good... even along the way." He smiled shyly, "If its all right with you?"

Armus nodded. "I can give you some amount of training along the way. About armour and weapons: I'm sure that we can obtain funds from the council for them, so if anyone else also wants to renew their weapons or armour it is possible. The only problem is that the council wishes we leave as soon as possible, so you'll probably have to choose pre-made armour and weapons, because we do not have the time for custom pieces to be made."

"Well, anything's better than nothing, right?" the young man answered, and grimaced slightly, "But we'll see, won't we?"

"There is a pretty good armourer not far from here, called William Grings." Armus motioned to one of the guards, whom the three of them recognized as the guard who had escorted them to the interview the day before. "Jonas, will you show them where it is?" Jonas nodded. "Rastheme, Machaon you two want to come along?" he asked.



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OOC: co-op post written with Dplax [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 04-08-2006, 02:36 PM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]

[Morgeruat]

Rastheme

Rastheme followed Armus and Jonas, grumbling about being forced to ride a horse again. He much preferred to ride in a cart or on a pony, not only that but he was alergic to horses and...