Green Makes New Friends and Plans
Cathil DuAndath
Not wanting to be left behind, I quickly mount up, and follow
Zeptha's lead, and inquire about Darrin's fondness to the woman
(whom I don't know) and am quite baffled about.
Dalin Varon
As I mount my horse I cannot help but to look at Darrin in his
undisturbed slumber. "Fyn, I know how he feels. I too lost someone
dear to my heart back in Evereska." I bow my head and give my
condolences. I move my horse next to the group and ready myself for
the journey.
Zeptha
Zeptha replies quickly that Fynvola is her best friend in the
whole world and will be her maid of honor at her wedding in
Waterdeep when you all get back there safely.
Dalin Varon
When Tag, Cathil, and I arrive at the encampment I promptly
introduce myself. "Hello", ,"My name is Dalin Varon, Tag has brought
your dilemma to my attention. I'm glad to help fellow adventurers. I come
from the Elven city of Evereska. I'd be glad to answer any questions
you have of me."
Fynvola Quain
Fynvola joins the others, her eyes and nose red from the tears she's shed.
She looks at the newcomers curiously and smiles a little at Dalin's last
words. She replies, "You may well regret saying that to a bard, Dalin" but
then she falls silent and seems lost in her own thoughts.
Dalin Varon
I give a slight grin back and nod in agreement.
[Fynvola]
" I should take any advice a bard gives me!"
Dunz Kann
I take the flask from Tag and take a gulp quickly and look away lost in thought.
[Fynvola]
Are you a bard?
[Zantorax]
More importantly, are you the only spellcaster capable of sleep?
[Cathil DuAndath/Dalin Varon]
Either of you helpful in this area?
[All]
Food for thought... We may not be able to control the how and when that the
engagement may occur, but, a good idea may be to divide and conquer if we
get to choose it. ... Be considering how best to apply surprise, missile
fire, spellfire, and finally melee.
If they spot a few dwarves that taunt them, it is reasonable to assume a
party of orcs will give chase which allows us to set up a nearby ambush to
make the odds better - quickly and quietly. An all-out assault on an
encampment, preceded by infiltration to give some protection for the
captives, as well as spellfire, will be messy and ultimately necessary
regardless.
Dalin Varon
[Dunz]
Cathil and myself could scout out ahead and observe the enemy, or we
could
figure out a suitable ambush.
[Cathil]
Are you up to it?
Cathil DuAndath
Well, I have surprise on my side. You see, once I had been
stranded on the Sword Coast with no money, because I was mugged.
In that amount of time I had to catch my meals, which meant
sneaking on other trav... err... animals, and capturing them for a
meal. So, I offer whatever assitance necessary.
Dalin Varon
[To Cathil]
"My friend what would we do without your wit!"
"We should be going on ahead to scout out, the orcs may have left
recon groups to look for us."
[To all]
"Any objections?"
Jeremiah
"It is well that you have skills to offer us in this time, and as such they are
welcome. It should be noted however, that the warrior Dunz Kann, would seem to
be our noblest choice as a leader in time of combat. As such, I would seek his
assent to begin your duties as scout and seeker."
"I would agree though that a discussion, as we journey, on what strategy we
should employ to force the fight with the orcs, would be wise. I have some
little knowledge of these affairs, but can perhaps assist most with healing and
other support in the coming fray. Tell me and the others of any suggestions and
we will counsel your words carefully; as the lives of ourselves and others may
depend on wise choices."
Dalin Varon
"My deepest apologies Jeremiah I was unaware of the party's leader.
Is there is anything else I need to know before we go?"
"I thank you for you help."
Dunz Kann
Glancing sideways at Jeremiah from within his hood (assuming you were quick
enough to catch it and can see that well at night), the warrior says, "We
may very well need all of your skills before we are done young elf. But I
will trust Tag to lead us to them right now. I know the value of surprise,
but sneaking up is not my style. ... But for vile evil creatures..."
Dalin Varon
"I am truly sorry if I offened you, but I was unaware of party
leadship. I thank you kindly Dunz."
"Please inform me we my skills will be of assistance to you"
When Darrin awakens
Fynvola Quain
When Fynvola gets the canteen, she takes a great swig, shuddering in
reaction to the taste, then passing it on. She is concentrating on the road
ahead and the trail the orcs have left, though she occasionally
surreptuously steals a glance at Darrin. She seems lost in her own thoughts...
Zantorax Nightwind
The harsh, dwarven concoction oozes its way down my throat and a slight
grin passes over my face. I almost take a second swig before passing it on
but decide not to. Those closest to me can hear my words, "That's a
wonderous drink, I think I'll have to find out how to get more."
The light moment is short-lived, though and I am quickly back to a deadly,
serious calm. I spur my horse forward, making sure that I ride alongside
Tag, my staff bouncing around where it is strapped to my back.
Jeremiah
The First Day Comes and....Goes
You ride through the day getting a second wind as the sun shines
brightly. You level out into a plains area, newborn green grass stretching
for miles in every direction, except for the crushed grass under your
horse's hooves. There is a stretch five orcs in width and Tag leads you straight
down the middle of it. But as the sun sets, you grow weary, and even your
mounts begin to stumble over the evenest terrain.
It is then that Tag calls a halt. Most of you fall from the saddle
gratefully. It looks as if Darrin will disagree with his friend, but then he
slides from his horse and begins to care for the poor beast. Tag leaves his
horse to Darrin and tehn lightly speeds from the glade to scout ahead. He
is quickly engulfed by the darkness.
Currying both horses keeps Darrin preoccupied as Maeg and Varn break
out a loaf of bread and hard cheese. "Tomorrow," Maeg warns, "will see
plain rations, so enjoy this delicacy while you can," he laughs as he
hands some to each of the party. As he comes to Dunz, he looks up at
the towering warrior, and continues sharply, "And I heard that remark
about a couple of dwarves taunting some orcs and allowing them to give
chase. I ain't orc bait, Dunz Kann. So come up with a different plan."
Varn says quickly as she passes around a flask of water, "Besides, you
would be wise to realize, that some orc may look on us as friends, or
perhaps Tag as well."
Maeg glares up at Dunz, and grumbles, "So think on that, if there's
really a brain in that oversize gully dwarfs body."
While everyone continues to make plans and eat their small morsel of
food, Darrin sits quietly at the edge of the small camp, staring in the
direction that Tag went. Aside from saying Zeptha's name when he first
awakened, he's spoken no other words all day. Maeg doesn't even try to
approach him with food or water.
How Green is my Valley
Dunz Kann
The warrior takes the offered bread and cheese after seeing to his horse,
then he sits and softly begins thinking out loud.... "If these orcs went to
all the trouble of capturing women and children for slaves, then it is
reasonable to assume that they will have to rest periodically. Their
movement will slow down considerably and if moving at night, that would
require torches making them easier to spot. ... Hey! Anyone else with
tracking ability get a good look at the trampled grass and could hazard a
guess as to how close we are to them?"
[Maeg/Varn]
You are already orc bait, as are we all.
There are no advantages to being second best in a fight.
If you are this friendly to the orcs, it could work.
[Dalin]
I would appreciate the aid of your night vision so that we do not become
the object of a 'suitable ambush'.
[Cathil]
I sincerely hope that you find no cause to be sneaking around my possessions.
[Zantorax]
A little entertainment for the group if you will... can you blow smoke
rings without a fire?
Dalin Varon
Dalin nods in acknowledgement and speaks, " I would glad to put my
races abilities to good use. I will keep
a constant look out for orc ambushes."
After the party sets up camp Dalin props himself up against a trees
and looks off into to enveloping darkness. "I'll keep a look out for
anything suspicious.", Dalin quenches his thirst by taking a swig from
his water skin never taking his eyes off the dark woods.
Jeremiah
"Friends and fellows, I note we may have gained quite a bit of ground on our
fleeing prey. It seems that we may have a chance of overtaking them and of
rescueing those who were taken."
"We would be well served with this brief rest and will certainly be better able
to deal with our foe once we've caught them. If we can rest briefly, with some
kind of watch, I feel we may stand a better chance of making the rescue a
successful one. I for one must rest my worn and forlorn self. Call and wake me
when you must."
Cathil DuAndath
Cathil gently ties his horse to a nearby tree, and then
promptly has a seat underneath that same said tree, sighing
"Ahhh... comfort enough for Tymora herself." Leaning backwards
Cathil stretches his weary muscles, and cracks his aching joints.
Feeling somewhat out-of-place from Dunz's earlier comments about
rummaging through his belongings Cathil decides that conversation
with a less wary individual would be ideal.
With that, Cathil DuAndath rises and walks over to the one
called Fynvola, and more properly addresses himself.
[Fynvola Quain]
"I pray it be known to you that I am no thief, and I beg of
you to dispose any opinions that may plague your mind about me. I
have no need for material things, it is within the heart... what I
indeed lack. I would cherish the moment if you were to at least
lighten my ears with the soft echo of your voice, since it is
easily many years since I have come upon anyone so graceful as
yourself Ms... Quain. By all means share that which distresses
you for I find myself distressed upon your sadness as well."
[All]
Setting up watch tonight is necessary, no doubt. I will take
over once Dalin has let his eyelids get the better of him.
[Dalin]
Sleep whenever, I've got you covered.
Fynvola Quain
Though Fynvola is obviously as weary as the others, she carefully ties,
unsaddles her mount and brushes him down as well as she is able. With a
final affectionate pat she moves near the fire and gratefully accepts the
cheese and bread though she seems suspicious of it as she takes tiny
nibbles, seems to wait for a reaction then eats hungrily.
She looks up at Cathil and smiles as she replies, "Methinks you are a
surviver Cathil, doing whatever it takes to survive and none but the gods
have right to judge you. My name is Fynvola Quain, do please call me
Fynvola. My sorrow is for the people we seek to rescue, for the loss of
innocence of these lands and those within it""sit here , if you
like and I shall play a tune"
Fynvola speaks louder to address the group, saying, "Let me know when it's
my watch."
She stretches a little looks at her bedroll almost longingly, but pulls out
her clarsach and runs her fingers testingly across the strings. It seems to
enliven her and she begins to play a rendition of Day is Done as everyone
prepares for their bedrolls. When most seem ready for sleep, she plays a
very relaxing lullaby, seeming to tired to sing this evening.
Dunz Kann
"Nooooooo.", hisses the warrior just before he starts choking on his meal.
Upon reaching his feet, "Fool woman!" "Where... do you think you
are? You will not play music. You could bring down all of those
orcs upon us and then where would those villagers be once we are dead?"
"And there will be no fire tonight."
[All]
It is entirely possible that we will not stay here the entire night. Those
of you not used to hard riding or are just tuckered out should get some
sleep now.
[Cathil]
Since we have just met, I do not think anyone but Dalin knows what is your
profession. I cast no aspersions. I simply
stated a fact about how I would react to such actions. (Besides. If in one
breath you protest and in the next say but as your friends you would not do
that... Be that as it may, I believe you are sincere.)
Zantorax Nightwind
Zantorax takes two shares worth of food (fitting his large size) but seems
to have plans other than eating the second share as he moves away from the
rest of the group and towards Darrin.
As he sits next to his friend Zantorax holds out the second share. "You
should eat something. Vengeance is lousy on an empty stomach. Besides, Tag
would have my hide if I didn't make sure you weren't neglecting your health
while he's away. Besides, you look like you need to talk, and something to
concentrate on, other than what has happened, usually makes things a little
clearer in the mind than dwelling on it." The offer of food and someone to
talk to is accompanied by a (hopefully) reassuring smile that quickly fades.
Fynvola Quain
Fynvola completes her song, then stands and strides over to the insolent one
purposefully. Her tiredness obviously outweighing her usual good humour she
says with sheer venom in her voice, "I am no fool, `warrior', and you would
best remember that. An orc's sense of smell is reknowned as being far more
potent than it's sense of hearing...if we are that close they will be here
directly and I would rather a head on fight than tolerating such insolance
from my -=supposed=- allies."
She spins on her heel and stalks away in fury to sleep near the horses.
Dunz Kann
Already on his feet and approaching Fynvola, the warrior leans
in very close and determinedly whispers, "How would you feel if
you had to look Zeptha in the eye and tell her your music needlessly
brought the instrument of Darrin's death?" After a pause, he continues,
"Do you think orcs are the only thing out here that would kill us?
Look around you. We are exhausted. Only a fool would prefer
a 'head on fight' now."
The Brief Respite
Darrin seems oblivious to everything, until Zantorax offers him some
bread and cheese. He looks startled, so intent was he on staring eastward,
and after a second's hesitation, he reaches out to take the proffered food.
He is about to speak or take a bite, he is not even sure which, when he hears
the commotion between Fyn and Dunz.
The youth stands up quickly, and says, "Her music was quite soothing, and
any music would lift all our spirits. Do you think we are so close to them?
We have many days and nights ahead of us before ere we come within five miles.
And I guarantee if there was but one orc or any other enemy within a mile of
us now, he would have been dead ten minutes ago, or do you think Drow are
that incompetent?
The anger in the youth quickly runs out as he glances around the camp.
"However you have the right of it. Now is not the time for song," he sighs.
"And though I could listen to her lovely voice forever and a day, I suggest it
is time for all of you to get some sleep. You included," he says pointedly
to Dalin. "Tag will return all too shortly, and when he does we will ride
again. Thus it was that he and I hunted the last time."
The youth turns haunted eyes to Zantorax and says, "Rest now, friend.
I have not the words to express how I feel, or by the Gods I would never
let you get any sleep."
He turns and with a quick glare towards Cathil, he steps towards the
horses, and Fynvola.
Tag's Return
Sleep comes easily to most of you, and Tag return's all too quickly and
begins waking you. Softly, you hear him say to Darrin, "You should have
slept, as well." Darrin shakes his head just once, and then is up saddling
his horse.
Tag says to everyone as he readies his own mount, "If you have a second
horse use it now. The trail continues straight, but if we rest any longer
we will lose the ground we gained all day yesterday. If we do not catch them
before the barren High Moors, tracking will be more difficult. And yet
if we kill ourselves to catch up, we won't be in any condition to fight."
He glances to each of you and says, "I am thinking that you have come with
Darrin and I to meet our dooms. I pray to Ellistree that I am wrong. Perhaps
those of you with Gods should send your prayers as well.
He sets an easy pace for the first mile, but when the horses are loosened
he pushes the pace and the land begins to roll by in the monotonous dark.
Just before the sun rises, you see a few bodies, that of two women and a small
babe. They lie on the path directly in front of you, trampled where they fell
by those who had not yet fallen.
(
geocities.com/timessquare)