Distant shores: Chapter 1 - The voyage North

[Kazilan]

Machaon

"So you see, you can tell how fertile the local soil is merely by examining the type of tree that grows in it." Machaon looked around at his companions with a smile, having finished yet another lecture. He enjoyed talking about the natural world, even when noone else was listening.

"Of course, this brings up another fine point of discussion - can you intuit direction from the patterns of moss growth on a tree trunk? Well,"

His speech was cut short as he noticed the two groups in the distance.

"It would appear we have company. Or more to the point, that group of people moving on foot has company. It almost looks like they are a collection of pilgrims, or possibly peasants, from their dress."

Machaon squinted and leaned forward in his seat, tottering a little before settling back into a more comfortable position.

"I can't be sure, but it looks like trouble may be brewing. Armus, is this area often plagued" Machaon winced slightly at the choice of words, "by bandits?"



[ 05-15-2006, 12:26 AM: Message edited by: Kazilan ]

[Larry_OHF]

Nytia

In all, there were eight travelors, three fully developed druids and five trainees. They outnumbered this band of hooligans by three, yet these eight were not warriors, rather it was their practice to take the more gentle and humane paths through life. For the trainees, it had taken them nearly their entire lives just to reach this point of their training, and now they were facing a challenge that threatened them beyond anything any of the youths had ever before endured.

Faldorn had already been wounded seriously, and was in no position to defend himself nor anyone else. With him were Tylus and Alexia, trying to stop the bleeding. Brea, the third full druid, stepped forth to stand beside Gweanna.

That left Johann, the youngest of them all at barely 15 winters, Nytia, and Samuel.

Gweanna: "You have us at your mercy, and we shall comply with your request. We shall hand over our worldy possessions as a trade for our lives."

Gweanna motioned for Brea to make a collection of the party and she did so, passing around with her cloak made into the holding vessel of anything that might be of some value to these muggers. Each placed various odd stones that was known to have any monetary value at all in the world, though there was hardly any considerable treasure in the whole lot. There were some copper pieces for purchases of vital items within town, but hardly enough to have been worth stealing. After the items were collected, Brea brought them back and set them at Gweanna's feet where she still stood, keeping her eye on the leader of the thugs.

Nytia was furious that something like this would occur, but took her queue from the elder females who were keeping their emotions at bay and complying to the best of their ability. It was not in Nytia to accept her fate as it were, but she respected her elders, and knew that they knew best.

Johann was a bit different in his thinking. He was also furious with the hold-up, and one could easily read his face which held no doubt that he would much rather fight these vicious men than be victimized by them. Nytia understood that, but she would not do contrary to the will of the elders. Samuel could see Johann's face too, and their eyes met for a moment as though they were planning something. She was scared for them. They were so young. They were ill-prepared for a confrontation like this. She looked over at Faldorn, laying there, covered in his own blood and being administered to by Alexia and Tylus, doing their best to save his life. Alexia was still soothing Faldorn with a prayer of healing but Tylus had the same look in his eyes and flushed cheeks as did the other two young men. Nytia became more and more aware that this very well might end violently.

[dplax]

Armus

Armus' brow furrowed as he watched the group of riders approach those on foot. Something did not seem completely right and Machaon had just voiced the question that had been troubling himself.

"Recently the Council of Dosrothon had managed to sweep back the majority of bandits from this area as far as I've heard. Only the most foolhardy or the best prepared bandits would brave their patrols of this area."

His eyes followed the events taking place about half a mile away, and when one of the horsemen's swords cut down one of the travellers, he knew that something was definitely wrong.

He turned to his companions.

"We have to help these travellers!" He dug his heels deep into the side of his horse, who caught by surprise by this action leapt into a fast gallop towards the trouble zone.

[dplax]

For Nytia:

It all happened suddenly and without warning. It was Johann, the youngest who made the first move, standing up and throwing a dagger, hastily taken from its hidden spot in his sleeve, at the leader of the bandits. The dagger harmlessly hit the bandit's armour, but it was as a signal to Tylus and Samuel, who both attacked the same bandit behind the group, sending his horse into a frenzy. The beast promptly threw down his rider to the ground and gallopped some distance away.

Samuel had just slashed the bandit's neck, when he felt a searing pain in his chest. Looking down he was surprised to notice a sword protruding from his chest. The sword was slowly withdrawn and with nothing more to support the initiate's weight, Samuel fell to the ground, a look of surprise in his young eyes as he died.

"Stop!" Gweanna cried, her heart heavy at the blood of her kindred being spilt, and even heavier at her kindred spilling blood. "Violence is not the solution, you all know that!"

One of the bandits, who had his sword an inch from Johann's throat looked to his leader for guidance. A curt nod was the guidance he received and the sword rapidly slashed the youngster's throat.

"You have been given enough warning," the bandit's leader said. "The next time you try something like that, all of you shall be mercylessly killed." He paused while one of his men examined the body of his comrade. "Now as far as I remember we were in the phase of you handing over all of your valuables. Please continue with that. And one more thing. Because of this...incident we shall be taking that one with us," he said pointing at Nytia.

[ 05-20-2006, 08:16 AM: Message edited by: dplax ]

[Larry_OHF]

Nytia and company

Tylus looked around to see who was being pointed at, already knowing where to look first. Nytia was the prettiest female in the group, so it was only natural that these thugs would call her out. He looked over at Faldorn where he had left him when he and Samuel attacked the rider and who was being administered to by Alexia. They both were looking at him in silence, knowing his thoughts. He dared not glance over at Gweanna and Brea because they'd try to stop him from playing the hero twice today. However, he could not stand here and see these men take his friend, serving her a sentence worse than death. Tylus stepped forth and put himself in front of Nytia, taking his oak staff in hand and glaring at his foes.

"You will not leave this place alive if you try to take her! Take your foolish riches of the world and GO!"

Nytia had been fine until now. This had just been another test until murder became involved. They had killed only when the boys stepped out of line. Faldorn had been hurt, but not murdered. Samuel and Johann should have known better! However, now they said that they were taking her captive.

"Not again..." she murmered under her breath. I will not allow myself to fall victim to such a life again... and she tightened her grip on her staff of oak.

That is when Tylus stepped in front of her. He'll get himself killed for me! she cried from within. She could not bare another murder this day! What was to be done?!

[ 05-20-2006, 04:48 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[dplax]

For Nytia and company:

The leader of the bandits laughed out loud at Tylus attempting to protect Nytia.

"Come now, we are only trying to be reasonable. You have two possibilities. Either you hand over all your money and the girl and all of you walk away with your lives. Or you can try resisting us, we kill you, and then take your money and the girl. The choice is up to you. We don't care either way."

He lowered his voice to almost a whisper. "Some friendly advice though. There are certain advantages to the first option that the second does not have, so I'd suggest you take it." The bandit grinned widely, revealing not the rotten yellow teeth someone could have expected from a bandit, but very well cared for teeth.

[Larry_OHF]

Nytia and company

Gweanna tried to regain some control of such a desperate situation. She had not expected that her young ones would have been so brash as to try to fight against such folk as these...but at the same time she could not surrender the life of Nytia even to save the lives of the rest of them. It was simply not an option.


"Now listen here, young man! Now you're going too far, and..."

"And if you want a fight, then I challenge your champion to a dual for the life of this girl!"

It had been Tylus again, trying to do what he thought was the honorable thing and protect a friend.

However, Nytia was now tired of this stand-off and since it was now focused on her survival, she decided it was time she stepped up.

"I shall fight my own fight. Tylus, stand down. I shall prove to these men that they should have left when they had the chance to, keeping their vain riches."

She stepped away from Tylus's protection and gripped her staff in attack position, planting her feet into the ground and ready.

Gweanna and Brea did not know what to make of this. It had gone from their ability to negotiate and now Nytia had stepped up to defend herself against the men who now claimed her as a prize along with the other riches they had harvested. Was this acceptable to allow her to fend for herself? Should they impose? Tylus still had not stood down from his fighting stance, and it appeared that he was still ready to battle as well, maybe due to the loss of two of his brethren today. Vengence was always the wrong reasons to fight. Gweanna was the one in charge here, yet she felt that she had lost that control long ago. What would it take to regain this control?

Something had to be done. Nytia surely was no match for these men...was she? Even with Tylus fighting at her side...how much of a chance did they really have? She and Brea were not warriors either.

Off to the side, Alexia still sat by Faldorn's side, hoping that she could save his life.

[ 05-29-2006, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

[Calaethis Dragonsbane]

Anuehl hesitated. He had not been paying attention and only looked up when the dwarf and Machaon had spoken about helping the travellers.

"Yes, you're right." He agreed quietly "How are we to go about this? I am not skilled with weapons as you are, sir dwarf..." He cut short, his eyes widening. Despite being armed and outfitted, violence was something that did not appeal to him. His gentle nature caused him to shy back, "It seems... battle has already been joined. What should we do?"

He waited for instruction, for the first time in his life - or at least, in recent years - feeling truly helpless and quite hopeless. Maybe he should not have come.. self doubt did not become him he realised, but charging headlong into battle would only endanger others and quite likely get himself killed. He wasn't a coward; he just wasn't a berserker or weapon's master. He swallowed and closed his eyes briefly murmuring to any nearby benevolent elven deity to have mercy on his soul should he fall.

[dplax]

For Rastheme, Aneuhl and Machaon:

Armus had already ridden off by the time Aneuhl spoke, and thus did not hear anything of what the half-elf spoke. Rastheme was quick to follow Armus, being a warrior himself. In the distance they noticed a minor skirmish erupting among the riders and the group on foot, which seemed at this distance to leave three of those on foot and one of the riders dead.

It was now up to Machaon and Aneuhl whether they would follow.

[ 05-31-2006, 04:46 PM: Message edited by: dplax ]

[dplax]

For Nytia and company:

It came without warning. The leader of the bandits raised his right hand from where it had been hidden by the neck of his horse. A miniature bolt sped out from the equally small crossbow attached to his wrist and caught Tylus in the neck.

Tylus turned towards Nytia and his words mouthed a sentence, which she could not quite make out, and then he was dead, as his two companions before him.

"I am getting fed up with these games-" the bandit leader started, but broke off as one of his men interrupted him.

"There are riders coming..." the bandit said.

"I know." was all he got as a reply from his leader who turned back to face the much diminished group of druids.

"I'm feeling in a good mood today, so I'm going to give you," he pointed at Nytia "the chance to save all of your companions. If you come peacefully along with us we shall let them leave with their lives. Those who still have them, that is. If you try fighting, we shall kill them all and still take you. It's all up to pretty flower." There was no discernible venom in the man's words as though he spoke from a total calm.

[ 05-31-2006, 05:24 PM: Message edited by: dplax ]