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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3215008" data-attributes="member: 35788">It took several hours for the villagers to become organized and gather up their blankets, tools, and weapons.  Rhema, Charis, and Semeion managed to arrange for the horses to carry the larger belongings that had been made while the villagers were underground.  In spite of this, there were two main factors causing the delay for such an ill equipped people.  Although they had only what they could carry in the first place, part of the problem was sheer excitement.  Over the course of the past month the people had been told of their dragon father’s plan to exterminate them on account of their allowing the Provenience to be taken from them.  It took a little while for the ideas to sink in, but once the people were given enough time they realized just how close they had come to death for all.  The past month seemed so surreal that when the announcement was made that they would be traveling north many were simply stunned.  They were slow to pack because they couldn’t believe that is was actually happening.The other part of the problem was that there were a few water reclamation teams already out in the caverns.  These teams needed to be located and then brought back to the village.  Once the teams were located, these villagers also needed time for it to become real.  All in all, the process of packing and finding the water reclamation teams had taken just over three hours.Rhema fidgeted nervously as she looked over the villagers.  Charis smiled as she saw her nervousness and tried to ease her mind by talking.  “As long as the journey is, we’ll still leave well before Ischarus comes to get us, you know.”Rhema smiled, “That’s even saying that Ischarus is coming and it isn’t some kind of trap.”Semeion approached Rhema from behind and startled her by placing his hand upon her shoulder.  “Is that what your heart tells you is going to happen?”Rhema looked over the villagers as she took a moment to think before speaking.  She slowly shook her head from side to side.  “No, that’s my brain thinking.  I know that Ischarus is a very capable leader and fighter.  I also know that we’ve gotten in and out of Quehalost many times without something going wrong.  But that’s just it.  My brain is convinced that something went wrong this time.  Sure, my heart tells me that we’ll meet in the tunnels and I’ll embrace him.  But my mind doesn’t buy it.”Charis laughed at Rhema’s tension.  “Well, it does look like the villagers are about ready.  You’re the dungeon expert, Rhema.  Perhaps leading them will help ease your internal conflict.”Rhema nodded.  “Let’s hope!”  Rhema patted Shauvry along the neck and swung up into the saddle so that she would be well above the heads of the rest of the villagers.  Shauvry’s saddlebags were full, but her added weight was not too much for the horse.  Shauvry shifted back a few steps and Rhema used the motion to help the horse turn so that it was facing the people.Rhema sighed, knowing that she didn’t feel like being a leader right now.  Yet, she had to be their leader.  She breathed deeply and spoke loud enough for her voice to echo across the cavern.  “Freed people of Quehalost, sons and daughters of the dragon Grixanthrosilithiss, listen as I proclaim your freedom to you!”The people cheered loudly.  They gestured upward into the air with their hands.  From somewhere near the back of the crowd Druff’s voice rang out over the people, “Long live the freedom fighters who have delivered us!”  Another cheer carried through the people in response to Druff’s initial call.  Druff called out again in response to the people.  “For freedom!”  Another loud cheer followed and Druff repeated the scene.  “For freedom!”  The people gave a third cheer, each one building in intensity upon the last.Rhema lifted up her hands and the villagers quieted down.  She smiled as she caught Druff’s eyes from the back.  He had done a masterful job at getting them excited and motivated to listen to her.  “Today you begin a historic venture.  Never before have this many people from your village tasted the freedom outside Quehalost.  All that you need to do from this point on is put one foot in front of the other and follow me!”The crowd cheered once more and Rhema lifted her hands to quiet them down after they had their fun.  “I will not lie to you, the tunnels will still be dangerous.  But we have lived under these mountains for almost an entire month, now.  One more day of travel and you will be free indeed!”Again a chorus of cheers rang through the underground cavern.  One final time Rhema quieted the villagers down.  “I will ask Druff and Xando to select one of the defensive teams to guard the rear of our group.  Tierna, I want you to walk in the front with Charis, Semeion, and I.  The rest of you should file into the middle and follow the people in front of you!”Rhema slipped off her horse as Tierna approached from deep within the crowd.  Rhema stepped forward, guiding Shauvry as she held the reigns in her hand.  Charis handed Elistra’s reigns to Tierna as she approached and allowed the newest Provenience to follow immediately beside Rhema.  Charis and Semeion followed as they led their horses as well.  With another great cheer the villagers pushed forward in motion.  It was time to leave this underground haven.The villagers walked for several hours.  Rhema intentionally kept the pace slow so that they would not need to take rest breaks often.  She also knew that if they moved slowly enough that the denizens of the tunnels would have plenty of time to get out of their way.  They hadn’t been bothered upon entering the mountain passageways and she expected they wouldn’t be bothered leaving them.  A group this large would simply be too great a threat to try and take on.  Rhema wasn’t worried in any case.  The villagers had taken to Druff’s and Charis’ martial training well.  Most of them were quite skilled with their makeshift axes and clubs.Around the sixth hour Rhema stopped short as her blood ran cold.  The villagers had long since been walking in mostly silence.  The excitement waned and the traveling became work.  She was accustomed to hearing the many footsteps behind her and nothing to the front.  Yet as she approached the next slight bend she thought she heard a shuffling of feet from ahead in the tunnel.  She stowed the sword that Semeion had enchanted so that it no longer shed light around the tunnel.  As her light dimmed, a murmur passed through the villagers behind.Rhema breathed lightly.  “Tell them to be silent!”  Rhema hissed the command as she looked ahead and stepped forward.Behind her, Semeion turned to silence those behind him and motioned for them to pass the message back through the ranks of people.  Charis handed Abijou’s reigns to Semeion and approached Tierna from behind.  She drew her heavy pick and spoke softly to Tierna from immediately behind her.  “I’m going up there to protect her.  Make sure you take Shauvry reigns and secure them.”Tierna nodded, although Charis didn’t wait for any kind of response.  Charis’ was too occupied with peering forward and using her enhanced ability to see to the best of her ability.  Even her enhanced vision was all but useless in the pitch black darkness that enveloped her.However, Rhema was not quite as defenseless as Charis had first thought.  Her race had long since developed the ability to see in complete darkness for a small radius around her body.  Rhema scanned the tunnel ahead, noting that there was nothing of importance before the bend.  She crept forward, staying to the side of the tunnel away from the direction of the bend.  As she stepped forward she carefully peered around the corner.  The tunnel ahead was just as dark as the tunnel behind her.Suddenly, Rhema spotted movement ahead.  The movement was quick; but she had spotted it all the same.  It looked as though a head peeked around a corner for just an instant.  She didn’t think the head had come into view long enough for it to spot her.  Cautiously she whispered to Charis, “Shake your head if you can see me.”She watched Charis as her head shook from side to side.  Rhema smiled, knowing that Charis was effectively walking blind.  She also knew that if Charis was walking blind then all the Drakontai were as blind as she was.  Rhema gingerly stepped forward as she tried to get into a better angle to see the figure ahead.As she moved, her foot intentionally dragged along the bottom of the tunnel spilling a slight amount of dust across the floor.  It was a subtle enough sound that she figured it would get a reaction out of the figure ahead.  Her plan worked.  With the help of her ability to see in complete darkness Rhema saw the figure’s head pop out of its hiding place for just an instant.  It was a face she recognized.She pulled her sword from out of its scabbard in a rapid motion, spilling light everywhere into the tunnel.  The effect was blinding upon all who could see the blade.  Her voice sounded hopeful as she called forth.  “Ischarus?”The confused voice of her associate sounded from where the figure had been hidden.  “Rhema?  But, how?  You should be another five or six hours ahead of me!”  Ischarus stepped out into the open, squinting at the emergence of the bright light.  Cautiously he unsheathed his own blade.  The effect was to double the intensity of the light in the tunnel.Rhema’s voice sounded much more confident after hearing Ischarus’ voice.  “Is it really you?”  There was a hint of emotional instability as her voice echoed through the tunnel.Slowly, everyone’s eyes began to adjust to the light.  Ischarus lowered his blade and approached Rhema quickly.  As he did, Charis stepped around the corner and thrust her pick into Ischarus’ path.  She had a less than pleased look on her face.Ischarus pulled up short of impaling himself on the pointed end of the pick. “Charis?  What’s wrong?”Charis smiled.  She was glad to have caught Ischarus off-guard.  “And just how do we know that you really are Ischarus?  You could be an agent of my father dragon in disguise.”Ischarus replied out of his confusion, “Have you lost your mind completely living underground for so long?”Rhema shook her head.  “No, Ischarus.  She’s not insane.  We received a telepathic message from your dragon father saying that you were coming.  But we need to make sure it isn’t a trap.”  She motioned for Tierna to bring Elistra forward.Smartly, Ischarus lowered his blade to the floor.  “There.  My weapon isn’t going to hurt anyone.  How about you lower yours, Charis?”Charis responded with a smile and lowered her own pick.  She did not rest it upon the floor as Ischarus had done.  Rather, she kept it at her side.  “Hopefully you don’t mind our precaution.”Ischarus also smiled.  “Of course not.  I’d rather you be cautious than foolhardy.  Do whatever it takes to prove I am who I say I am.”Tierna brought Elistra forward and handed the reigns to Ischarus.  He smiled as soon as he saw his horse and reached out to touch her upon the nose.  Elistra snorted with a contented snuffle and shifted forward a step so that her whole nose would be within Ischarus’ reach.  Ischarus accepted her movement and allowed the horse to press its nose into his shoulder.  He slowly reached up and scratched behind the horse’s ears.Ischarus turned to look at Rhema.  Her face was filled with tears as she spoke.  “Is it really you?  Is it true?”Ischarus stepped back from Elistra and opened up his shoulder to accept Rhema.  She drew close to him rapidly and embraced him fully.  Her arms tucked up under his as he responded by embracing her in a hug as well.  A look of relief passed over his face and he said softly, “It is really me.  I have finally come for you all.”Tierna spoke, careful not to interrupt the moment too horribly.  “Then it is true?  We are indeed free and you dragon father has beaten ours?”Ischarus smiled again.  “Well, they didn’t let me stay there long enough to see it for myself, but if you got a message saying it was true then I would assume it is!”A loud chorus of cheers rang out as the news of Ischarus’ coming and the proclamation of freedom was spread all the way to the back of the villager column.  Suddenly everyone felt like cheering and walking all over again.[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]It took several hours for the villagers to become organized and gather up their blankets, tools, and weapons. Rhema, Charis, and Semeion managed to arrange for the horses to carry the larger belongings that had been made while the villagers were underground. In spite of this, there were two main factors causing the delay for such an ill equipped people. Although they had only what they could carry in the first place, part of the problem was sheer excitement. Over the course of the past month the people had been told of their dragon father’s plan to exterminate them on account of their allowing the Provenience to be taken from them. It took a little while for the ideas to sink in, but once the people were given enough time they realized just how close they had come to death for all. The past month seemed so surreal that when the announcement was made that they would be traveling north many were simply stunned. They were slow to pack because they couldn’t believe that is was actually happening.The other part of the problem was that there were a few water reclamation teams already out in the caverns. These teams needed to be located and then brought back to the village. Once the teams were located, these villagers also needed time for it to become real. All in all, the process of packing and finding the water reclamation teams had taken just over three hours.Rhema fidgeted nervously as she looked over the villagers. Charis smiled as she saw her nervousness and tried to ease her mind by talking. “As long as the journey is, we’ll still leave well before Ischarus comes to get us, you know.”Rhema smiled, “That’s even saying that Ischarus is coming and it isn’t some kind of trap.”Semeion approached Rhema from behind and startled her by placing his hand upon her shoulder. “Is that what your heart tells you is going to happen?”Rhema looked over the villagers as she took a moment to think before speaking. She slowly shook her head from side to side. “No, that’s my brain thinking. I know that Ischarus is a very capable leader and fighter. I also know that we’ve gotten in and out of Quehalost many times without something going wrong. But that’s just it. My brain is convinced that something went wrong this time. Sure, my heart tells me that we’ll meet in the tunnels and I’ll embrace him. But my mind doesn’t buy it.”Charis laughed at Rhema’s tension. “Well, it does look like the villagers are about ready. You’re the dungeon expert, Rhema. Perhaps leading them will help ease your internal conflict.”Rhema nodded. “Let’s hope!” Rhema patted Shauvry along the neck and swung up into the saddle so that she would be well above the heads of the rest of the villagers. Shauvry’s saddlebags were full, but her added weight was not too much for the horse. Shauvry shifted back a few steps and Rhema used the motion to help the horse turn so that it was facing the people.Rhema sighed, knowing that she didn’t feel like being a leader right now. Yet, she had to be their leader. She breathed deeply and spoke loud enough for her voice to echo across the cavern. “Freed people of Quehalost, sons and daughters of the dragon Grixanthrosilithiss, listen as I proclaim your freedom to you!”The people cheered loudly. They gestured upward into the air with their hands. From somewhere near the back of the crowd Druff’s voice rang out over the people, “Long live the freedom fighters who have delivered us!” Another cheer carried through the people in response to Druff’s initial call. Druff called out again in response to the people. “For freedom!” Another loud cheer followed and Druff repeated the scene. “For freedom!” The people gave a third cheer, each one building in intensity upon the last.Rhema lifted up her hands and the villagers quieted down. She smiled as she caught Druff’s eyes from the back. He had done a masterful job at getting them excited and motivated to listen to her. “Today you begin a historic venture. Never before have this many people from your village tasted the freedom outside Quehalost. All that you need to do from this point on is put one foot in front of the other and follow me!”The crowd cheered once more and Rhema lifted her hands to quiet them down after they had their fun. “I will not lie to you, the tunnels will still be dangerous. But we have lived under these mountains for almost an entire month, now. One more day of travel and you will be free indeed!”Again a chorus of cheers rang through the underground cavern. One final time Rhema quieted the villagers down. “I will ask Druff and Xando to select one of the defensive teams to guard the rear of our group. Tierna, I want you to walk in the front with Charis, Semeion, and I. The rest of you should file into the middle and follow the people in front of you!”Rhema slipped off her horse as Tierna approached from deep within the crowd. Rhema stepped forward, guiding Shauvry as she held the reigns in her hand. Charis handed Elistra’s reigns to Tierna as she approached and allowed the newest Provenience to follow immediately beside Rhema. Charis and Semeion followed as they led their horses as well. With another great cheer the villagers pushed forward in motion. It was time to leave this underground haven.The villagers walked for several hours. Rhema intentionally kept the pace slow so that they would not need to take rest breaks often. She also knew that if they moved slowly enough that the denizens of the tunnels would have plenty of time to get out of their way. They hadn’t been bothered upon entering the mountain passageways and she expected they wouldn’t be bothered leaving them. A group this large would simply be too great a threat to try and take on. Rhema wasn’t worried in any case. The villagers had taken to Druff’s and Charis’ martial training well. Most of them were quite skilled with their makeshift axes and clubs.Around the sixth hour Rhema stopped short as her blood ran cold. The villagers had long since been walking in mostly silence. The excitement waned and the traveling became work. She was accustomed to hearing the many footsteps behind her and nothing to the front. Yet as she approached the next slight bend she thought she heard a shuffling of feet from ahead in the tunnel. She stowed the sword that Semeion had enchanted so that it no longer shed light around the tunnel. As her light dimmed, a murmur passed through the villagers behind.Rhema breathed lightly. “Tell them to be silent!” Rhema hissed the command as she looked ahead and stepped forward.Behind her, Semeion turned to silence those behind him and motioned for them to pass the message back through the ranks of people. Charis handed Abijou’s reigns to Semeion and approached Tierna from behind. She drew her heavy pick and spoke softly to Tierna from immediately behind her. “I’m going up there to protect her. Make sure you take Shauvry reigns and secure them.”Tierna nodded, although Charis didn’t wait for any kind of response. Charis’ was too occupied with peering forward and using her enhanced ability to see to the best of her ability. Even her enhanced vision was all but useless in the pitch black darkness that enveloped her.However, Rhema was not quite as defenseless as Charis had first thought. Her race had long since developed the ability to see in complete darkness for a small radius around her body. Rhema scanned the tunnel ahead, noting that there was nothing of importance before the bend. She crept forward, staying to the side of the tunnel away from the direction of the bend. As she stepped forward she carefully peered around the corner. The tunnel ahead was just as dark as the tunnel behind her.Suddenly, Rhema spotted movement ahead. The movement was quick; but she had spotted it all the same. It looked as though a head peeked around a corner for just an instant. She didn’t think the head had come into view long enough for it to spot her. Cautiously she whispered to Charis, “Shake your head if you can see me.”She watched Charis as her head shook from side to side. Rhema smiled, knowing that Charis was effectively walking blind. She also knew that if Charis was walking blind then all the Drakontai were as blind as she was. Rhema gingerly stepped forward as she tried to get into a better angle to see the figure ahead.As she moved, her foot intentionally dragged along the bottom of the tunnel spilling a slight amount of dust across the floor. It was a subtle enough sound that she figured it would get a reaction out of the figure ahead. Her plan worked. With the help of her ability to see in complete darkness Rhema saw the figure’s head pop out of its hiding place for just an instant. It was a face she recognized.She pulled her sword from out of its scabbard in a rapid motion, spilling light everywhere into the tunnel. The effect was blinding upon all who could see the blade. Her voice sounded hopeful as she called forth. “Ischarus?”The confused voice of her associate sounded from where the figure had been hidden. “Rhema? But, how? You should be another five or six hours ahead of me!” Ischarus stepped out into the open, squinting at the emergence of the bright light. Cautiously he unsheathed his own blade. The effect was to double the intensity of the light in the tunnel.Rhema’s voice sounded much more confident after hearing Ischarus’ voice. “Is it really you?” There was a hint of emotional instability as her voice echoed through the tunnel.Slowly, everyone’s eyes began to adjust to the light. Ischarus lowered his blade and approached Rhema quickly. As he did, Charis stepped around the corner and thrust her pick into Ischarus’ path. She had a less than pleased look on her face.Ischarus pulled up short of impaling himself on the pointed end of the pick. “Charis? What’s wrong?”Charis smiled. She was glad to have caught Ischarus off-guard. “And just how do we know that you really are Ischarus? You could be an agent of my father dragon in disguise.”Ischarus replied out of his confusion, “Have you lost your mind completely living underground for so long?”Rhema shook her head. “No, Ischarus. She’s not insane. We received a telepathic message from your dragon father saying that you were coming. But we need to make sure it isn’t a trap.” She motioned for Tierna to bring Elistra forward.Smartly, Ischarus lowered his blade to the floor. “There. My weapon isn’t going to hurt anyone. How about you lower yours, Charis?”Charis responded with a smile and lowered her own pick. She did not rest it upon the floor as Ischarus had done. Rather, she kept it at her side. “Hopefully you don’t mind our precaution.”Ischarus also smiled. “Of course not. I’d rather you be cautious than foolhardy. Do whatever it takes to prove I am who I say I am.”Tierna brought Elistra forward and handed the reigns to Ischarus. He smiled as soon as he saw his horse and reached out to touch her upon the nose. Elistra snorted with a contented snuffle and shifted forward a step so that her whole nose would be within Ischarus’ reach. Ischarus accepted her movement and allowed the horse to press its nose into his shoulder. He slowly reached up and scratched behind the horse’s ears.Ischarus turned to look at Rhema. Her face was filled with tears as she spoke. “Is it really you? Is it true?”Ischarus stepped back from Elistra and opened up his shoulder to accept Rhema. She drew close to him rapidly and embraced him fully. Her arms tucked up under his as he responded by embracing her in a hug as well. A look of relief passed over his face and he said softly, “It is really me. I have finally come for you all.”Tierna spoke, careful not to interrupt the moment too horribly. “Then it is true? We are indeed free and you dragon father has beaten ours?”Ischarus smiled again. “Well, they didn’t let me stay there long enough to see it for myself, but if you got a message saying it was true then I would assume it is!”A loud chorus of cheers rang out as the news of Ischarus’ coming and the proclamation of freedom was spread all the way to the back of the villager column. Suddenly everyone felt like cheering and walking all over again. [/Sblock]</blockquote>

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