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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4712102" data-attributes="member: 3285">Sibling Rivalry: Part 6 – The CampsiteTrue to his word, Torric was up at the crack of dawn, ready to guide them to Quintus’ last known campsite. “We will take care of Calactyte.  He is still unconscious; it will take days for him to recover.  It is not safe for him to travel until the worst of the storm passes.”“Thank you,” said Sebastian.  “I know you will treat him with as much kindness as you’ve treated us.”Outside, a cold wind blew unmercifully and seemed to cut directly through outer clothing. Of the red snow, only a crimson, oily smear remained, giving the cracked and blackened landscape the appearance of a seeping wound.“Why is that snow red, anyway?” asked Vlad. “During the final days of the God’s War, a group of Kelekene elorii were caught outside of the protection of the Vastwoods by a legion of the First Imperium, called the Legion of the Storm Lord,” lectured Ilmarė. “Before this legion could attack, another legion appeared and demanded that the elorii be offered safe passage to the Vastwoods. This legion was called the Pride of Chendo. Their general argued with his counterpart but could not dissuade them from wishing to put all the elorii to the sword. That night, the Pride of Chendo attacked and decimated the Legion of the Storm Lord, forcing their retreat from the battlefield. The wounded Chendo general returned to the elorii and told them that they were free to enter the Vastwoods.  But the Storm Lord had his revenge.  The Kelekene, trapped by the Storm Lord’s troops, enacted the Kurenthe…the death curse. It devastated the area. Thus the Red Snow.”Torric was unmerciful in his trek, setting a pace few could keep up with. “Can’t we rest for a bit?” gasped Vlad. “The weeping mother teaches us that a little hardship is good for the soul,” jeered Torric. “She strengthens us for the inevitable difficulty ahead.” The day passed uneventfully and they made camp in a crag that protected them from the worst of the weather. By the following midday, they reached the hillock that served as Quintus’ campsite. It did not take a seasoned veteran or acute perceptions to tell that a pitched and brutal battle took place here recently. They wandered throughout the camp, searching for clues as to what happened. “A raid,” said Beldin. “Worse,” said Sebastian. “No bodies or survivors remain from either the attacking force or from the scholar’s expedition.”Ilmarė held up some blood-spattered notes. “There are coins from the last dynasty of the First Imperium here, as well as the corpse of an ancient goblin. The notes indicate that this goblin was found by Quintus frozen in a ravine holding the bag of coins along with a symbol he identified as belonging to a centurion in the Pride of Chendo.”“The amount of blood that dots the layer of snow in the campsite indicates that some people were killed and gutted,” said Vlad. “Voei,” said Torric. “What?” asked Beldin.“Voei.” Torric shuddered. “Voei are huge brutes, some as tall as small giants. They file their teeth and are well known for their fondness for human flesh.  The Voei normally range in the Fervidous Hills, but have been known to raid as far south as the Corlathian Mountains and as far east as Milandir.”“And you think they did this?” asked Sebastian.“I do.  The Voei are savage brutes born without the slightest shred of human kindness or decency. Mercy at the hands of the Voei is a quick death.”“I’ve found a set of tracks heading off into the Corlathian Mountains,” said Ilmarė.  “So at least we know which way they went.” “If Quintus’ expedition was taken by the Voei,” said Torric, “then I have little hope for their survival. If any members of the team were taken alive, they probably won’t be by the time you find them.”“You’re really cheery, you know that?” muttered Beldin. Torric fixed Beldin with a stare. “I have completed his task by taking you here. I must return to the Shrine.”“Thank you,” said Sebastian.  “We’ll take it from here.”</blockquote>

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