[Game Thread] Chapter 1-01: And For A Second There We Were

[Still_Pond]

Slagorin roars in victory as the cowards flee and stomps in the face of the dead goblin at his feet. He takes a few short breaths and lets the beast blood cool. His tiger stripes re-form into a dragon knot tat-too on his head and his bear-like feature fade back to just a very ugly dwarf.

He hears the muffled voice of a captive, but so do the others. He lets someone else help and instead tends to the fallen. He needs to act quickly, before the bodies cool. He drags the goblin bodies out into the open and lies them side by side. After a (taking 10 on perception to search the bodies (18))quick search on each, he flips them face down, heads facing west, toward the setting sun. Their eyes denied the stars, their souls denied the rebirth of the sunrise. They will feed the birds and insects now, worth more in death than they were in life.

With the dead tended too, he returns his attention to the assorted group of odd travelers. He is about to just turn and leave when he hears a chirping sound. Crows, ravens or gulls are almost always the first birds to a kill, but he hears the sound of an eagle. Looking up, he sees the noble bird perched on a branch high above. Had it been there the whole time? It was likely. Good weather, good battle, and a noble bird to feast on the fallen - this was a special day. It was important that he remain. He moves to stand beside the noble dwarf. If he's to stay, he will stay with his own kind. He nods to the eagle, assuming the other dwarf knew of the significance of the presences of such a bird after the battle.

[doggius]

As the sounds of battles seem to subside, Wilhem tries to relax, expecting someone to release him. His soft blue eyes look around, taking in the brush and bushes that seemingly keep him hidden from view. He continues to try and call out, his voice muffled by the gag and he waits.

Noting that at this time, no one seems to be seeking him out, Wilhem has a moment of frustration and he struggles against his bonds, wiggling his arms and notes the tension seems to slacken a bit and he begins to work on his bonds escape artist 18shifting his arms in hopes to free himself.

[Naresh]

Wilhelm manages to escape his bonds and shrugs the ropes off as if he had never been bound.
The green forest around you is as silent as ever, the canopy blocks the sunlight, leaving the small rays that penetrate to highlight the beauty around you, the bluebells are blooming, and the light breeze proves calming considering the frantic slaughter that just happened.
Now, companions bonded in battle stand awkwardly around considering what to do. The town of Greenbank is further along the road, maybe a half hours walk, the goblin trail is still fresh and easily tracked.

A thought enters your head "The world is your oyster it seems"
A million possibilities are open around you!

OOC Could have sworn I mentioned greenbank before... but apparently not

[doggius]

Wilhelm stands and looks at the fallen bondages with slight contempt. "How did these vile creatures get the jump on me?" he ponders while he removes the gag and as he searches the ground for his discarded sword. His shield is still attached to his back, over his light grey cloak.

Spying the ivory handle peeking out from under the brush, Wilhelm bends over and picks up the elegant long sword. Holding the sword aloft, he inspects it for a moment before nodding to himself and sliding the well made sword into it's leather scabbard.

With a flip of his head, his shoulder length blond hair is flung out of his rich blue eyes and he steps forward, out from behind the bush and notes the group milling about. Eyeing the corpses he smiles a charming smile. "Well met." he says. "May the judgement of Heironeous guide your hand and judge their souls with rightousness." he says softly, in prayer as he bows at his waist.

"I am Wilhelm, what brings you to these parts?" he asks.

[Still_Pond]

Slagorin keeps a grumble in his throat and looks away from tall Wilhelm and his absurd words. No mortal king had any domain over the spirit world. What 'brought him to these parts' was none of his business, so the dwarf ignores the question. He instead moves to stand next to Marulo, the Dwarven noble. "Jeg var ment å være her, for å kjempe sammen med deg, og nå til å følge deg." (I was meant to be here, to battle with you and now to accompany you.dwarven translation)

He says nothing further and refuses to admit that perhaps the others were fated to be here as well. It is a fact he'd rather not think about. They were too tall and that one called up on unclean magic. Instead he crouches down to look for tracks, and finds the obvious goblin trail. Goblins were like ants, where there was one there were many near by. "Goblin trail here." He tastes the soil, but can get no clear sign about the wisdom of following it. It seems a consensus must first be reached by those gathered. He will follow Marulo, the others are free to do as they choose.

[Felyx Zephyr]

Marulo shakes his head. The battle had called back memories that he didn't want to relive and he must have frozen for a moment in the heat of the fray.

Back to his senses he realizes what is going on. Upon Slagorin's mutterence, he replies, "Your strength will be a welcome additionDin styrke vil være et velkomment tillegg"

Though the silence before and after Slagorin's brief words is deafening, Marulo is not sure if he is to break it.

But it becomes unbearable. The dwarf turns his gaze to the one who is obviously a priest and says "Well met, though I do not share your faith. I was merely travelling, as were we all, when the cretins attacked. By your bonds, I see you were captured prior to this battle."

[doggius]

The incredibly handsome man smiles in amusement at the exchange between the dwarven mutters, in their native tongue. He pulls a leather thong from his belt and wraps his blonde hair up into a pony tail, all the while smiling confidently. Though, at the mention of his capture, the confidence melts into embarassment.

His dark grey cloak is lined with thin black leather, silver lines reach across the cloak, forming into a silver tree. Over his back is a triangular shield that is slightly curved, as if to wrap around the body. On the shield is painted a similar vigil as to his cloak. Upon closer reflection, you see the gouges within the wood from previous battles.

"Aye, how they got the jump on me, I will never know." he says sheepishly, then shrugs. "Well, my good dwarf, fear not. I have no intention of trying to sway you to my god." Wilhelm then directs his attention towards the kneeling dwarf. "You intend on following the trail?" he asks, then returns his attention to the other dwarf, with a raised eyebrow.

"Because justice dictates I must." his face turning solomn and serious. "They show their heart with their actions and a swift justice must be served." he says turning towards the trail. Tugging at a leather string at his chest, his shield swings down and he deftly catches it, slides his arm through the leather straps and draws his long, well crafted sword, before slowly heading down the path.

[Still_Pond]

Slagorin ignores the human's question. Then, when he continues to speak of justice the ugly dwarf's voice cracks out as he gestures to the row of dead goblins. "Our attackers are dead." He says, suggesting that justice has already been done. "You off to kill all o'their kin now?" He chuckles because killing all their kin would be quite the task. Goblins breed like insects and incest is rampant. Still, if Marulo wishes to hunt goblins, Slagorin will follow. He moves aside, letting the tall human pass; letting him follow the goblin trail.

[doggius]

At the dwarf's crackling voice regarding the attackers, Wilhelm pauses for a moment, then turns to regard the dwarf with a smirk. "You'd allow the others to flee?" he says curiously. His obvious aggressive manner seemingly droops a little, his shield drops slightly, his sword tip dips.

At the second comment, the handsome human laughs heartily. "That would be a task that one man could not handle, alone." he says, a glint in his blue eye says that he'd welcome the chance to try, though. Then he regards the silent dwarf for a moment, before turning his attention back towards Slagorin.

"So, you wish to let the other's flee in peace?" he asks again.

[Still_Pond]

"They are cowards."

That is all he says, as though that were explanation enough. The dwarf stands silent, waiting for the others to make a decision.

[Felyx Zephyr]

Marulo, while not enamored with the idea of chasing goblins back to their nest, feels like he may agree to go on what would essentially be a safari with ugly beasts. Still, he has no particular grievance with the goblin cowards. He waits for anyone else to make a solid decision, fixing the others with a dwarf gaze.

[doggius]

He looks at the dwarf with a raised eyebrow, at his plain statement. "Fair enough." he says with a respectful nod. "By your decree, justice has been mete upon those that seek you harm." he says.

He spins the long sword in a round loop, the action driven by his wrist, more so than his arm, and expertly slides the sword back into it's scabbard. When the sword is completely sheathed, the hilt meeting the top of the sheath clamped down, as if the judgement was final.

Bowing deeply, he then says, "Please, at the least, let me attend to any wounds you may have incurred?" he says, looking about the group for any injuries that he may heal.

[Still_Pond]

Slagorin took no damage, and for this he was doubly thankful for he wasn't sure he wanted this delusional man attending his wounds. Marulo is a careful prince, clearly weighing his decisions carefully and waiting to hear all opinions. The two dwarves stood together, fixing the others with their stone-like dwarven gazes.