[Game Thread] Freedom is Never Free

[zevonian]

Being long legged and well traveled, Jamuss knew he had time to eat and drink as they traveled closer to that town he didn't bother remembering the name of. As such, he knew he would not need to spend time waiting anything such as dinner stew.

Jamuss took a deliberate pace in his steps as he walked from the road to the clearing. He now knew how many steps there would be for the average caravaner from that path to their camp. He dropped his bundles at a spot he found fair, and unstrapped one of them immediately. The biggest two planks of wood were placed near where the first tent was being located. "Put under tent, should you want firm surface to sleep on. Some not like being too close to dirt. If tent have hole in bottom, planks keep out bugs." He made something aking to a wave towards the girl, and then went about his other business.

He went back and picked up shorter pieces, ones he had broken as cleanly as he could. Every few paces between the camp and the road, he shoved a board into the dirt. They were not done in a straight line, but rather haphazard so as to not provide a solitary trail from the camp. He did this in a manner that caused the boards to appear nearly parallel to the ground, but in actuality each piece jutted out of the ground a bit. "Boards will make more noise than dirt, if stepped on. Anyone try to avoid them, they spend more time walking towards us, be easier to spot."

He repeated the process to a lesser degree upon the other sides of their newly claimed land. By the time he was finished, others had dealt with the donkey carried equipment, as well as their own gear.

"My eyes are as good at high moon as they are now. I would take middle watch. If given spare knife, I would sharpen spear if one of you would want one on those hours. Someone wake me for watch then, and tell me who to wake up after." Jamuss then took his two remaining bundles and put them side by side. He removed his odd quiver, and pulled out one spear, placing it somewhere for easy grabbing and throwing. The orc blood then put his back to the bundles and waited for things to quiet down before going to sleep.

[jm935]

Zalmoxis busied himself about the clearing, unloading the donkey and himself and starting to set up the tents. He wasn't adept, but he managed to make a decent shelter with some help from his companions. He thought about the question of watch. "Eight hours, four of us. Two hour watches, then. I'm usually rise quite early to meditate, so I'm happy to take either the last watch or the one before. Or the first, I guess. So any but the second if I were choosing."

As they worked, his pet slipped from his bag and started to explore. The apprentice addressed him worriedly. "Don't go far, Zelophedad. And if something dangerous comes towards us, wake me." He shrugged to the others. "I don't know if he understands much, yet, but it can't hurt, right?"

[Alex M]

Nicholas sighs and slips his shield from his back. "I'll take first watch." He removes his swordbelt and sits, leaning against a tree and stretching his legs out. Carefully he removes his boots and shakes them out for any rocks or dust that may have crept in. Then his socks, and he slowly rubs the sole of each foot. It's care in the smaller details that will save you in the end. He shrugs loose of his chain shirt, laying it out beside his shield. Finally, taking a whetstone, a polishing cloth, and a small flask of oil from his pouch, he unsheaths his scimitar to lay across his lap and begins, inch by inch, to hone and oil and shine the blade. He has followed this procedure every day for nigh as long as he can remember, and throughout the process keeps his eyes on the woods, his ears open and Perception (take 10) = 16alert for any sound beyond the normal cracklings of life in the night.

[jm935]

"Alright then. You and Jamuss, I'll take third and milady here can have fourth. A good night to you." Zalmoxis ducked into the tent and began to settle for the night, his spellbook close at hand and comforted to feel Zelophehad wandering around the edges of the campsite.

[zevonian]

For if Lord Danskil and Hitman's characters are still with us As Jamuss heard the final decisions on watch order, he took a count of how many people were still amongst the Exiled. He pointed at the ones that hadn't spoken up all day. "One of you take half of second and half of third. Other takes half of third and and half of fourth. More eyes for the darkest hours. Yeah, that will do." After every last statement to be made about the watches was uttered, he promptly closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

 

DM and fellow active players: Yeah, that's in case we're supposed to asssume the other two pcs are still with us. If not, please ignore it. Thanks.

[IW2RP]

As you finish setting up camp, and just as the sun is beginning to set, you notice an elven woman walking along the trail, she takes notice of you shortly after you notice her.

 

This is our new addition. I'll be taking care of the tag alongs soon enough so you wont have to role play around them anymore.

[Alex M]

Upon the woman's approach, Nicholas sets his scimitar down atop his shield and springs up, tucking his dagger through his belt. He strides to the edge of the clearing, positioning himself between his companions and the stranger. Now he stands curling his toes into the wet grass, finding his balance and setting himself for any surprise. No need yet to threaten; see if she'll pass on.

[jm935]

Just as Zalmoxis is nodding off, he hears Nicholas move quickly outside. He scrambles to the opening of the tent and sticks his head out. A passerby. But seeing Nicholas calm between the elf and the camp the apprentice moves more slowly as he crawls out and unfolds himself, retrieving his nearby staff and watching curiously.

[zevonian]

Jamuss couldn't help but hear one of his counterparts moving away from camp. None of his modest alarms were stepped on, and looking out he saw an elven woman not that far from them. "Who is out there?" It was just enough of a bellow so that his fellow Exiled could hear him clearly, but that the elf blood would only understand his words if her hearing as as keen as he had been once told that race all possessed.

She need not answer me, she need only know more than one person has spotted her.

[Raunchel]

Khryssa immediately goes to her feet, looking around her to see what is happening. She tries to remain unseen by the stranger.

[DarthNerdus]

I hope these rumors are true. Aelwenn thought to herself. It has been so long since I managed to find anything of use in my journeying. She walked idly along the path. Always walking the road alone, I wonder if I will ever find the end. Letting her mind wander, she once again realized how used to this feeling she was, almost comforted by it. Aelwenn had felt alone her entire life. Her mother had died during childbirth. They had told Aelwenn it was her fault, her mother had died because of her, of what she was. She was briefly cared for by her elven family. She was constantly told how she resembled her mother but had been contorted, tainted, by him. Over the years, the pain of this realization and what it meant became too much to bear. She was asked to leave. Cast out. Alone.

She travelled, never finding a place for herself. Early in her life she discovered that she had powers, some abilities within her. They had blamed this on him, said that it was not elven magic. It was erratic, hard to control. It was his. Resentful of him, resentful of how she was like him, she harbored this power. Used it, strengthening it. They said that she would never be able to control it, because she did not have the time necessary to learn and study it during her shortened life. They said it would consume her, and it did. By the age of five Aelwenn began to lose her sight.

Over time, the effects of her father's lineage have taken mysterious tolls on Aelwenn, most obviously, vision became clouded. It has not been without its benefits however. As Aelwenn has spent adulthood searching for her father, she has discovered that her powers deviate from her lineage. Specifically, the ancestors of her father's bloodline and the raw power in her veins. She feared that as she learned more of her family's past and unlocked new potential within herself, that she may be consumed entirely.

But, that would not happen. At least, not yet. For now, she wandered. Constantly looking for her father, looking for answers, looking to make him pay. To find out who he really was, what he did, and why it all happened. Why she happened. She wandered, constantly looking for where she belonged. Alone, but yet, not. The answers to her past and everything she was becoming where just behind the next locked door.

Her mind snapped back to the present as a deep voice bellowed out from the night. She realized she had been walking all this time without paying attentions to her surroundings. She froze, looking around her. The darkness made no difference to her, if there was something close enough for her to see, she'd see it either way. And see them she did, standing but a few long paces away a man stood at the edge of a clearing. Though she could not make out everything behind him, the signs of encampment led her to believe that he was not alone here in the woods.

"Oh… well, uh, hello there." She awkwardly broke the silence, not know what to make of the situation. "My name is Aelwenn, um, who are you?"

[zevonian]

Jamuss stood up, picking up a spear as he did so. The orc blood calmly spoke to the men that had said virtually nothing all day. "Spread out. Look for others."

He gave a look in all directions, making it obvious he was scanning for any elven counterparts, and then called out to the stranger. "Who you with?"

 

Again, incorporating the two "awol" player's characters in case either return to posting.

[Alex M]

Nicholas smiles to hear Jamuss scramble up behind him. Prepared beats surprised, every time. Upon the half-orc's challenge, he steps closer to the road to speak his more conciliatory piece. "A fine evening to you, Aelwenn. My name is Nicholas. As you've now interrupted our camp, answer me: is there something you seek of us, or are you simply passing on?"

[DarthNerdus]

"Well, to be perfectly honest, I wasn't planning on either. I was walking along thinking that I should look for a place to rest when I let my mind wander and lost track of myself. I am on my way to Bellover, I hear rumors that draw me there, but that business is dreary and ought not be discussed during the darkness of night. I don't mean to be nosy, but what brings you to these parts? You don't exactly look like a group of travelers that would be together for no reason..." Aelwenn took care to not impose, but simply keep a casual conversation going. By now, she knew that there were far more people here than her newfound acquaintance and did not wish to create trouble.

[jm935]

The apprentice stays quiet behind Nicholas, but his attention perks at the elf's mention of rumors to draw her to business in Bellover. He can't help himself; obscure talk and whispers of hidden things are delights no wizard can refuse.