Game Thread Whitehorn. - Page 10

Olorian · #**136** 05-08-2012, 02:34 PM

Tarya turned to Flint, as they walked back to the village. "What a lot of blah-blah with these new folk. Biqqesh talks a lot but these dogs, bears and the little gnome wag their tongues enough as well. Ahh...." the half-orc gazed at the sky, "I see... Sheevos is out there today... that explains..."

**Admin Sedracus** · #**137** 05-09-2012, 02:18 AM

Grabbag shook his head no - nature and the corpses of his enemies supplied most of what he needed. No need to go into town with nasty people but good steak again. Grabbag turned to Tarya as she spoke of something in the sky. "Who Sheevs? He up in sky? He can fly?" he asked, wondering why Tarya was gazing upwards.

Dalinen · #**138** 05-09-2012, 03:09 AM

Flint snickered at Marcan's reply. Haha. Quick and clever. With no retort of his own, he simply grinned and walked on. He smiled again at Tarya's quip. Not for the first time he appreciated how much more enjoyable it was traveling with a like minded person. In most things, anyways. He was still adjusting to the different 'sheevos' characters that kept flowing from her mouth. And by adjusting it typically meant not listening.

As one after another of the group voted to press on into the night, a tingle of energy coursed through the shifter. It would be a good night. They had full bellies, a good pack, and commencing a hunt. His hand tightened reflexively on the spear shaft. He always enjoyed the first hunt with a new pack.

Olorian · #**139** 05-09-2012, 05:55 PM

"In a way, yes." Tarya answered Grabbag's last question, mysteriously. "Though whether it's a he or a she I don't know. What do you call the white dots in the sky at night, bigbear? I see some of their auras during the day, and I believe they guide our fate. What do you think?" The half-orc spoke these words friendly and neutrally, genuinely curious of what Grabbag's beliefs would be.

Meanwhile the wagon and horse were readied for the evening ride, and soon the group was riding off to the cave, or at least, in the general direction pointed out by Norris. It was a bit cramped in the wagon and the comfort level was not that high, with all the bumps and holes in the road. It was an odd group of adventurers, and though they hadn't talked that much, Tarya didn't feel out of place. These were outsiders too, just like Flint and her, and despite the mysterious Corian, she felt like all of these were quite the outdoorsy types. She looked forward to a starry night. She could feel the subtle signs of excitement in the way Flint was holding himself. Anticipation. This was what she valued in the muscular dogman - live for the moment, but be ready for what's next. She felt safer with him around - and a bit aroused at times as well. Especially in the days around full moon...

**Admin Sedracus** · #**140** 05-09-2012, 06:11 PM

Grabbag shrugged. "Stars. I see them. I feel free!" Grabbag grinned, thinking back to when he had first seen the stars, when Dedrik had helped him escape from his subterranean captivity. After a few moments, he understood Tarya's joke calling him bigbear, and he laughed a full belly-shaking laugh, and he slapped his hand on her shoulder in appreciation. "Hehe. You funny!" he said, still in the throes of laughter.

Not too long after, the laughter subsided, and he became a bit more silent, also reminiscing the pain from before he knew the stars. "Stars all around." Grabbag muttered. "Stars are many. Sheevs is a star? How can stars do stuff?"

Olorian · #**141** 05-10-2012, 01:35 AM

"Exactly! Ooffh!" the half-orc woman said with joy, before her shoulder was almost dislocated. She recovered quickly, not unfamiliar with the rougher ways of physical contact. "Sheevos is a star indeed, and a very busy one. Stars are the footprints of the gods in the sky, some say. Others call them the script of life, written in an unknown language. Either way, they are the moving forces of what goes on in the world. Usually their influences are subtle, as they pull softly on some chords or lifelines, or when that unfamiliar sense of ease or unease just seems to come from nowhere in stressful situations. Sometimes the stars move the earth, when it storms, or with earthquakes, and their power is unequivocal. When you start seeing the patterns, you can predict certain events.... or bend some of their power to your will."

Master of Monsters · #**142** 05-10-2012, 02:31 AM

"Indeed I am coming. Unless you think that you won't need my blessings my lord can offer?" Travis said with a wide grin on his face.

Once the group made it to the wagon, Travis was quick to climb up in the front of the wagon, silently volunteering to be the driver. The sun was just beginning its long descent to the horizon, and the group knew that if they took advantage of the hours remaining of day light they could put several miles behind them before they would be forced to stop for the night.

The wagon rolled on down the worn trail, and indeed the going was rough, but Travis was able to pick and choose a route that was at least tolerable, and the priest even managed to keep the wagon at a good pace, thus the team made great time.

A few miles out side of the town, the terrain begun to change from the thick dense forest the town sat in, to the rolling hills of mountain steppes. The daylight was just beginning to fade when they wagon came across a fairly deep river that cut the trail in two. Pulling up to a stop, Travis hopped down from the wagon and stretched gingerly. "Don't worry, I know of just the ritual to make this forging go just swimmingly." the priest said, and then after a few minutes of preparation, he was ready. As he wove the weaves of magic that he was controlling, the river suddenly began to form a layer of solid ice, with the water still rushing below the newly formed crust. "Be quick, this wont last all day now." Travis said as he scooped up his equipment and hopped back onto the wagon.

With the river behind them, the trip was once again uneventful as the rumbled down the trail. twilight faded into night, and it was not long before Travis brought the wagon to a stop. "There looks to be a small cave over there." Travis said, pointing off toward a looming shadow just outside the light of the torch he lit when darkness made driving difficult. "I think we should camp there for the night, as the trail has become to rough to navigate in the darkness. We don't want the animals breaking a leg, now do we Grabbag?" Travis asked with a jovial smile on his face.

sammichweasel · #**143** 05-10-2012, 08:50 AM

Biqqesh listens to the half-orc with interest, finding the idea of using the patterns for prediction fascinating, if perhaps quaint. Still, she clearly has some power, so her abilities are clearly something to pay attention to.

He is uncharacteristically silent for the majority of the ride, considering the ramifications of finding the Staff. These are things he has long debated with himself, but still has yet to come to a satisfactory answer.

Glancing around at the camp, the golem positions himself with his back to the fire. "I shall handle watching over the camp. I have no need for sleep, or sustenance. I shall watch over you. Zikherkeyt."

EngrInAZ · #**144** 05-11-2012, 05:26 PM

Corian was quiet for most of the journey, preferring to leave the chit-chat for those more adept at it. He spent most of his time watching the landscape, looking for animals and foliage that he was unfamiliar with and marveling at the beauty. Though he is of elven birth, he spent very little time with his family or other elves. He grew up in the city, learning the ways of the streets and how to survive, and thinking only of himself. It wasn’t until he neared adulthood that he gained exposure to the world outside the city, the forests and streams and all the woodland creatures. It was during this time in the military that he learned the importance of reliance on others. You must be able to trust those you fight with if you are to survive.

As nightfall comes and Travis pulls the wagon to a stop, Corian hops down off the seat looking over the area. His keen elven eyes can see the cave and the surround forest easily enough in the moon light. He turns to the group, "I will have a look around the cave, you never know if something else might call it home." Corian moves carefully up to the cave, looking around the entrance and listening for any movement or sounds.

Dalinen · #**145** 05-11-2012, 06:04 PM

Riding along in the wagon had made for a pleasant journey. The rougher road meant much more jostling, but Flint had long ago gotten familiar with the bumps and jerks of Tarya's reliable old cart. As was his tendency, Flint had stayed alert and on guard during the early part of their trek. As his comfort with the new group members grew, his edginess subsided enough for practicality to win over. Figuring he'd spend some of the night on guard, he curled himself up in a ball on the cart and let himself be rocked to sleep. He had awoken for the river crossing, and Travis' ability to make an ice bridge over the water had deeply impressed him. Anyone who could understand the natural elements enough to command them like that was deserving of respect, he thought. His estimation of the priest had risen accordingly, and he looked forward to seeing more of his talents and perhaps enrich his own understanding of nature's secrets.

When the group stopped and the priest pointed out a likely camp spot for the night, Flint followed without comment. He and Tarya had met up wi th Biqqesh and Corian almost a week ago, and the clay construct's habit of taking guard had become routine. And so far so good.

It had been some time since he'd looked at Norris' hand drawn map and that of their actual chart. How close we're they? How close we're the likely nearest Orc scouting parties? The questions tumbled around in his mind as he considered what implications, if any, they bode for their chosen camping spot. The cave will hide the light from prying eyes. It will do us nicely. I will follow you, Corian. My eyes and spear will cover you. Once the cave is clear, I can gather boughs to cover the cave entrance to further hide the dance of the flames off the cave walls.

He was doubly interested in ensuring their sleep was uninterrupted - he had caught sight of Tarya's look earlier, and her scent had been open ever since.

Olorian · #**146** 05-13-2012, 01:51 PM

Like Flint, Tarya had gotten used to the old wagon's rhythm, and she had also come to trust Biqqesh as a valuable guardian. In a week, one couldn't truly know one another, she also knew. And in the presence of the mysterious little halfling and his animalistic friends which she hardly knew, caution told the half-orc woman to offer Biqqesh to share the first watch, so that if Corian and Flint would take the next shifts, they would be two at a time to stand guard. Somehow the new "friends" still made her feel a little uneasy, and going into a dark unknown cave added to that feeling.

Tarya Stargazer had learned the hard way not to trust strangers too quickly. After all, even after years of fairly peaceful coexistence, people could still stab you in the back... or rape you. She decided to stay with Biqqesh while Corian and Flint took a glance at this cave that Travis had pointed out. Tarya had also been very impressed with the cleric's powers, and he seemed a good guy. So she waited with anticipation what the search of the cave would yield, holding her gnarly staff in both of her green and hairy hands. As the night had come, all but one of the eyes on her robes had closed. Every few seconds, the opened eye would close while another woke up.

hvg3akaek · #**147** 05-15-2012, 08:15 PM

Marcan searched briefly for a comfortable tree to rest in - he had learnt that higher positions were more favourable against unwanted visitors of the night. And, being able to teleport up somewhere others couldn't climb was a great safety blanket for him. With thanks to the strange golem, Marcan curled up, carefully positioned between two branches, and went to sleep.

Humafan · #**148** 05-17-2012, 04:31 PM

Tarya's comments before they leave about Dedrik being too chatty confused the dwarf. Heck, she used more words commenting than he had spoken recently. She is an orc though, perhaps she can't count, he thought to himself.

Your prayers are welcome brother," he says patting Travis on the arm. His rare smile lingers as he looks at the priest. Its his attempt to let Travis know he doesn't blame him for what happened to their friends. As the wagon journeyed, Dedrik was happy to see a group where Grabbag could more or less fit right in. It would be good for him to not feel like the outcast for once. The dwarf slept when he could and whittled when he couldn't. Overhearing, Tarya and Grabbag's conversation, he chimed in to help explain what Tarya was saying.

You mean the stars are like a reflection in the water. We look at them to see what is happening here. Sometimes they show us little things and sometimes they show us big things. Is that the way it works? He was vaguely familiar with this type of teaching, but not a believer. Still, he did what he could to explain it simply for his big friend.

***

In the cave, Dedrik claimed an area and plopped himself down. If he planned on setting up any sort of bedding, he wasn't showing any signs of it. Before the group go too comfortable, he asked a question that might have been expected before they embarked. "So what's the story with this staff and where are we going to get it?"

Master of Monsters · #**149** 05-18-2012, 02:44 AM

With a group of so many trained woodsmen about, the cave and surrounding area was quickly searched. Marcan even helped, by giving the group a lookout and birds eye view(even if he didn't do it well) The cave was roughly a thirty foot semi circle, with several holes worn the the rock from where centuries of rain had worn natural channels through the rock. This allowed an exit for smoke from any camp fire the group may make. There was signs of animal activity, which was expected, even things as large as bear; but none were fresh. It was quickly deemed that the cave would be safe for the night at the very least. As the group began to settle, Travis seemed to settle much especially after Dedrik's accepting gesture. It was the priest that was quick to take up Deidrik's question. "Ah, yes, where are my manners? I forgot you were not present at the meeting. Not much is known about the staff, but ill tell you what we know." He replied, then began to retell the meeting with Grabbag, Dedrik and Marcan now know everything that happen, Travis explained in excellent details the whole meeting. Charles and Norris.

OOC: Okay, last round of posts before morning. Everyone post what their overnight precautions or any skill checks you may wish to make. Also if anyone plans on keeping watch, give the exact times. There will be four 2 hour shifts(so tell me which shifts you will be awake for, if any)

Olorian · #**150** 05-18-2012, 03:14 AM

Tarya cleared her throat in a very orc-like manner. Then she replied to Dedrik, "Yes, you could say it's something like that. Are you versed in the arts of divination, friend shifter? Would you like to know your fortunes?"

She settled down, sitting with her back against the sleeping ball of fur that was Flint, and listened to Travis's version of what happened at the mansion. From a small leather bag she took a few bones of very small animals - rodents, birds. Casually she dropped them on the ground next to her, looking at their configuration. "Ahh... hmm... yes..."