(RP) Dangerous Legacy

((It is about 1 pm))

Ala looks up, "I have no need to rest. I merely wanted you to know in case someone...", Ala looks at the dwarf, "...decided to stir up a nest of dragons along the way, or charge screaming into the very gates of Hell itself..."

Krueger turns back toward the Priestess, anger apparent on his face. "Me'd rather die fightin' evils than bed down wit 'em. Ye watch er back, eff," Krueger growls, glancing down at the kobold beside her, "because me nae will!"

Jaeden steps in between the dwarf and Ala, grinning, "I'll be sure to exclude some of these more colorful conversations when I write this adventure into song."

A few moments later, the group is on the trail again, Gemble in the front scouting out the best path.



The walk through the wood is fairly easy. The hills roll gently and there is no hard terrain, crags and few fallen trees to pose much difficulty. Everyone settles into an easy stride as they walk. The sounds of fauna and flora can be heard; birds and animals escaping from a hidden place in a shrub, the cooing or crowning of various critters off in the distance, a breezy wind at the tree canopy blowing through the leaves.

The only other sound is that of the occasional “snap” of one of your footfalls and the semi-rhythmic sound of the squeaky wheel on the cart that Krueger is pulling. Jaeden begins humming a tune that somehow follows the squeak of the cart. As the tune continues, slowly everyone recognizes it as “The Hymn of Kendrian in the Tower of Rox’Voroth”, just one of the songs about the great battle three hundred years ago. Gemble also begins to hum along, though not with great musical ability. Jaeden begins to sing.

And up the stairs the trio went
Brave and bold they go
Kendrian and his mighty sword
D’Juticor
Followed closely by Fendek
Mightiest of dwarves
With Tandra’var close behind
Amidst the darkened shadows
Came a nasty hiss
The lord of daemon, lord of pain
Cast his glance on them
“For Enber”
“For Enber”
The mighty dwarf did shout
He lowered his blade and charged the beast
Knowing where he was hid.
“Away from me, hairy thing.”
The cruel wizard did say
And with a wave from his hand
The dwarf was cast away
Lifted from his feet, and flung into the wall
But Tandra’var, great Tandra’var
Leapt into the air
His aim was true, his heart was pure
Rox’Voroth hit the ground
A second blow was coming
But never did it fall
The vile wizard Rox’Voroth
Had caught him in his thrall
As Kendrian charge, sword raised in the air
Mighty Tandra’var could do nothing but stare.
The lord of daemons tried his will
Against the mighty priest
But the great sword, D’Juticor
Seemed determined to have his feast.
The sword did flash a dozen times
Rox’Voroth backed away
Casting as he moved
But the mighty blade he could not stay.
Then Fendek leapt at the wizard
Once again into the fray
“Your sword may protect you
Oh vaunted Kendrian
But Fendek does not wield D’Juticor
So there I’ll try my hand.”
A vile spell filled the place
And ichor from hell itself.
Black tentacles from his hands
Dug into Fendek’s heart.
The might dwarf, with a shout
Cried “For Enber” once more
Proud dwarf, mighty warrior
Sails now to the Shadowed Shore
But as the evil wizard reveled in his kill
Mighty Kendrian plunged the blade
Into the vile wizard,
All the way to the hilt.


Suddenly, with much of the song left to go, Jaeden stopped singing.

“Be there somptin?” Krueger said, releasing his grip on the handles of the cart to heft his axe to the ready, eyes scanning the area frantically.

“Nay, good dwarf. Tis nothing. I just… I just can’t sing of the death of the Dark One knowing his children roam about, out there, somewhere.” Jaeden said, a visible tremble crawling across his flesh.

Rak

Rak did not just listen to the song he indeed felt it. He's mother was one of the many that could sing this songs at noon with sorrow and proud.
“great song that is” he sees forward where Gemble decides their path. “maybe at our arrival at town with blades to fight, we also get a little song or at least a fine poem” “the friends of rescue” he chuckles about his silly attempt to make a fine name. He looks at Krueger “are you allways that jumpy? I could never have told that by seeing you so many times delivering beer at the Inn”

Liam hums along with the song as he walks, listening to Jaeden's singing. After the singing has stopped, he pauses until it's clear that they're not supposed to be listening to anything. After a few moments more he starts humming again quietly to himself, the same section of tune over and over that has gotten stuck in his head.

As Jaeden sang his song, Sel'Tarien fell behind, full of sorrow and anger. The short rest, despite the bickering it brought, had allowed him to push away the pain of the loss for a while, but the song opened the wound even farther. And for a moment, he wondered if his silent vow was a sign of hubris. How could he hope to stand against the dragon if Kendrian and Tandra'var could not?
Sel'Tarien stood a few seconds, his eyes closed before his resolve returned, and with the hard, cold face he had shown since they left Tev'el Rhoe, he catched up with the group again.

Sonrik is more at ease with this leisurely pace. The cooling air grants him relief in his hot armor. As Jaeden singe, he takes note in the differences in the version that he remembered from his childhood. When the song stops, and the troubadour speaks, Sonrik consoles him saying, "Fear not Jaeden, you are among friends. Indeed, ill times are upon us, but there is yet hope." He walks over and puts his hand assuredly on his shoulder, "Heroes of old cannot live on in our day, and new ones may yet still arise. Take heart.", says Sonrik, with a look of serene peace about him. It is hard to believe that this young man was in combat earlier this day.

“Are you always that jumpy? I could never have told that by seeing you so many times delivering beer at the Inn” He’Rak says to the dwarf who snorts back at him.

“Me ears an’ eyes do nae work as well in the overlands* as under, boy. Me be a dwarf, Aye!” Krueger growls in what only a friend who actually knew him would consider a friendly way.

Sonriks words comfort Jaeden immeasurably as the singer smiles back at him. “Indeed, milord, indeed.” He replies. “Come then, we should hurry on, nightlite is neigh upon us. Have you a request of me? I know many songs.”

“AYE! Be ye singin’ “Thauron’s Run?” The dwarf practically shouts, excited about the tale of the great dwarven paladin who lived 3,000 years ago… who, coincidentally, wielded the same sword, D’Juticor, as Kendrian.

“Of course, master dwarf.” Jaeden says with amusement, having entertained the dwarf with the song a dozen times before, for indeed, Krueger did love the song above all else.

Jaeden’s melodic notes spring the troupe onward. The tempo of “Thauron’s Run” was quicker and more upbeat, putting a bit more length into the company’s strides as the sun sunk behind the high, snow capped mountains in the west. The land darkened as cast into shadow, though the sky above was still blue with hints of purple and pink. The dwarf sings rowdily along, plunging onward with “rawr”s and “grrr”s in place of words of the song that he doesn’t know, which was a good many of them.

Two hours later, as the sky turns black with the night, Gemble announces that he sees the river ahead. "We should set camp here. We really can't make more time tonight in the dark." Gemble says to the others as each steps forward to view the babbling river, Lomus.

Lomus is some 40 feet wide, but somewhat shallow and rather quick moving. Boats do not come this far upstream because of that fact. Overall, it is a very pretty view.


*Overlands is often what the surface world is called, especially by the inhabitants of the “Underlands” (the subterranean world). Though most Overlands races think of dwarves as living among them because of trade and treaties, dwarves themselves consider themselves an Underlands race. Typically speaking, Underlands races are evil, and so, dwarves want nothing to do with them.

Ala remains stoically silent when the dwarf froths and screams at her, and her silence continues througout the rest of the day. Once they arrive in the camp, she makes her way, with Skatha, down to the bank of the Lomus and begins washing the dirt and the grime from her face and arms. She smiles as she sees the kobold mimicking her actions, and she cannot help but to think to herself that she is not only right but justified in her actions from earier today. 'I feel it in my bones', she says to herself...

She looks to Skatha, "Are you well? I know it has been a long way and my little one has legs a might bit shorter than mine..." She smiles kindly to the kobold.

Ashy:[sblock] "I'm scared of the ugly one." Skatha whispers to Ala as he washes himself, referring to the dwarf. "He'll kill me in my sleep, he will. But I'm so tired. I can hardly stay awake but for my hunger." [/sblock]