Bordell's Tales, Chapter 1 : Two faces.

[Jdvn1]

Xavier lets Sir Stone take the lead, as he is the leader and knows how to handle himself in these situations. In the meanwhile, Xavier looks at each of the other hunters, trying to figure what kind of men the are--savages, surely.

His attention goes back to Leopol's conversation to try to learn how he handles himself. When it is time to follow the hunters, he silently gets on his horse and follows. <Hopefully this will not delay us too much>

 

[Velmont]

You leave the group of hunter behind, following Alpha. The other two hunter close the walk. During the ride, Leopol speak to you and Bellmon.

"Barbarians are great warrior and they have a code of honor of there own. If one give you his word, you can be sure he will honor it. The only way that he can broke his word without losing his honor is the life of a tribesmate is in danger or there ancestor would be offensed by an act. It is the later that give much trouble to our relation with the tribes, as most Gailian doesn't understand the way of there ancestors. Also, raiding is way quick way to bring the ressources to survival, and so saving life of there tribes who suffer from hunger during hard seasons.

Horned Owl is one of the most powerfull shaman. His tribe have never participated in raid. Many times, he was mediating some negotiation. He always make sure to guide us in the way of there ancient so we don't offence them. Sadly, each tribes is independant, so we can have an agreement with all there tribes easily."

You all continue your way silently throught the forest who become more heavily dense.

 

[Jdvn1]

Xavier nods. <That means I must not do anything that would break their customs. I should stay quiet and follow Leopol's lead.> Xavier rides the horse and keeps watch around. "Stone, I will only speak, then, when you allow me to. If I am asked a question, I will look to you first for approval to speak. These barbarian tribes, I think, have strong leaders, and subordinates are meant to be seen not heard. So, I will follow what you do and say."

 

[Velmont]

Leopol nods at you and you continue to travel for over half an hour. The barbarians don't seems very talkative, so you stay silent for the remianing of the time. You arrive in a small village. Two dozen of large tent are scattered among trees. Each tent could easily contain up to ten men, but you suppose there is less than that looking at the few people working around.

Alpha ask you to leave your horse outside the village perimeter. Leopol dismount and you follow his lead. The two escort you had take care of your horses as you follow Alpha in the central tent. He asks you to wait a moment outside. As you wait, you see that the men and women doesn't seem to bother of your presence, but the kids spy on you and as soon as you look back at them, they go into hiding. "When you'll enter the tent, don't sit down before you are offered. Once you are offered to sit in his presence, it is for life, so don't be surprise if you aren't offered today. It is a mark of trust."

You finally enter the tent. This tent is large and empty. You only see a man, must be in the fifty. He seems still strong and his hairs are turning white. He were almost nothing but a pagne around his waist that fall up to his knee. You spot that he is wearing two well made ring, one on each hand. You doubt they are of barbarian craftmanship. Leopol sits down in front of Horned Owl, and Kriegspire too. Bellmon place himself behind Kriegspire, and you do the same behind Stone.

The man smiles at Stone, but you see some sadness too in his eyes. He talk to you with a surprising godo Gailian. "I would be happy to meet you again, knight Stone, but you always come when the time are dark for our people. You seems attracted by the night like a ray of moonlight. I see you've come with new hope for your order." He turn his attention to you and Bellmon. "My name is Horned Owl, as I watch over my people during the night hours they pass. I guide them both through the physical and the spiritual world. Tell me, squires, why have you followed the man known as Crian in his path of virtue?"

Stone nods at you, so you are allowed to answer.

Bellmon decides to speak first. "I've join the order to help the people of my country, to protect them from the harm of the outside world and from themselves. I've come to get the better of myself." Those words are familiar. Even if they aren't told as they are in the knight oath, the meaning is just the same. The shaman had been looking in the yes of Bellmon during all the time of his answer, and Bellmon seems uneasy with that. Horned Owl eyes left Bellmon and he is now staring at you.

OOC: I need to know, on a rank of 0 to 10, how much your character is convince of the answer he will gives and why...

 

[Jdvn1]

Xavier looks back at the man, clearly unaccustomed to the situation, but hiding nothing, "It is the history of Crian the man that interests me more. Crian was a strong, powerful man, respected by all. He enjoyed contests in a regular basis in order to see who was best. At the same time, he was respected as a leader. When war came to the lands, he did what he could in order to protect the kingdom and keep his own people safe. Finally, in a grand display of both power and leadership, he gave his life to killing army which was plaguing his people. Following Crian is about protecting your people, but also about a devotion to strength and being the strongest possible person you can be. He was a great man and I would have gone to fight the witches with him. He is an ideal we all should strive to."

ooc: 8.5

 

[Velmont]

As you speak, it's look like that the gaze of the shaman not only look into your eyes, but also into your soul. It make you a bit uneasy but you finish you speach without showing it. Where Bellmon's answer have been recieved by a total indifference, yours make the man smiles. You look at Stone and you see him absorbed by something, but you can't tell what can absorb him so much.

"I know you aren't here for us." says Horned Owl to Stone who wakes up from his daydreaming "But I must warn you that darkness is walking in our territories. It has started recently and many hunters have dissapeared. The words tell it is the darkness that is roaming which have taken them. Many leaders are presently putting the blame on Gaile and Theor, but I think this darkness is going beyond borders."

"Do you know anything about this darkness."

"I know nothing about it. I only feel it. And I feel it over your head. It await for the good moment to take you. But a light is ligthing your way. It won't protect you, only guide you. You must go, I don't think it was in your plan to come to see me. So you can travel faster, Alpha will guide. Just tell him in which direction you want to go."

"Thank you."

Stones and Kriegspire both stand up and leave the tent. Bellmon follows Kriegspire. As you leave, you feel the gaze of Horned Owl on you. You all exit the tent, but Alpha stay a moment to speak with hsi father.

 

[Jdvn1]

Xavier has a slightly puzzled look. <Who is this man? What does he know? How does he know it? What is this darkness? And the light?> He says nothing out loud, though. He merely stays quiet and follows Stone out of the tent. <I have time to find answers to these questions, I think>

 

[Velmont]

Once outside the tent, Stone ask you and Bellmon to prepare the horses, as you'll all start to travel as soon as Alpha is ready. A few minutes after you finish the task that has been asked to you, Stone, Kriegspire and Alpha come to you.

"Which direction you are going?"

"We were traveling west from where you take us, then we wanted to go south west."

"Ok, we'll travel south west. I can guide you up to the border of Theor. The tribes in these parts are in war against Theor, blaming them for bringing the darkness upon them. They are the most heavily touch by it. Many of there warriors have disappeared. If you adventure alone in these parts and fall on a hunting pack, you might regret it. With me, you'll be safe. As for the darkness, I can't tell where you'll be the safer. Is that sounding good with you?"

"Seems fine."

You all mount, and Alpha guide you. You travel for two days. The travel is pretty quiet, as Alpha make sure to avoid most major hunting ground so you won't have to deal uselessly with the other tribes, as it could take some times. The second night, you are given for task to go hunting with Alpha for the supper, a task that you've never been given yet, as you are the worst hunter of the group. You shoot pretty well with a bow, but your skills to find and approach a prey are not really good. You do as you are ordered and you leave the camp site with Alpha.

You follow Alpha, who stays silent. Once in a while, he just makes a sign to tell you to follow or look. After half an hour, you seem to have no success when he shows you the footprint of some game. The path is pretty clear. You follow it when at one moment, Alpha stop you. He point in front of you, but you don’t see anything at first. After moment, you see some movement. A stag seems to eat the leaves of a tree.

“Prepare your bow and don’t move from here. Give me two minutes. After that, the moment you’ll see the stag looking on the opposite direction, you shoot at it from here. Try to do no sound at all when you’ll shoot.”

You prepare your bow and wait. You see the stag continue to eat quietly. It doesn’t seem to have notice you or Alpha. It takes almost five minutes when the occasion you wit happen. The stag stop to eat and watch the opposite direction, something having drawn his attention. You shoot the arrow, and hear a small whistle from the arrow that pierces the air. The stag quickly turn the head before leaping from where he was. His action seems to have taken too much time, as your arrow hit the creature’s leg. Instead to do a gracious leap, he fumbles in the bush. When he tries to get back on his feet, you see it freeze than lifelessly fall on the ground, an arrow in the neck. A moment later, you see Alpha over your prey, making sign to come. You join him.

“Nice shot. We’ll cut the creature before carrying it back, it will make things easier. With that, you won’t need to hunt for some times.”

 

[Jdvn1]

Through the hunting expedition, Xavier seems noticably tense--he is not comfortable romping around the forest, but nevertheless he tries his best. When Alpha spots the animal, he tries to stay as quiet as possible, getting ready for the attack.

Afterwards, Xavier seems noticably less tense. "That's good--maybe Kriegspire has a recipe for stag." After they finish cutting the animal, he tries to make his way back to the camp quickly.

 

[Velmont]

You return to the camp where the others have finish the camp.

"The hunt have been long..." says Kriegspire as he hear you coming.

"... and successful" adds Stone seeing the meat you are carrying.

That night, you had a nice dinner and you all slept well. You had even some difficulty to stay awake during your night watch but the sleep lose the fight and you got replaced by Stone.

The two next days pass without events and you finally reach the border of Theor, thanks to the help of Alpha.

"The village is just over the hill over there." He says, pointing the edge of the forest where you are walking. As you get out under the sunlight who is slowing falling, now almost hitting the horizon, you all wait at the sight of dark smoke that come behind the hill.

"That's too dark smoke to be the fire of the bakery." says Stone, broking the silence as he unsheats his sword. "Be cautious." You all climb the hill and you see the village. Many house are burned down. The biggest building, looking like the forge, is still burning. You see nothing moving in the village. You all follow Stone up the village.

As you enter the village, you see stands that have fallen over, fruits and vegetable spilled. You see some animals killed, surely by the panick or the fight. You see door bash down, ashes of building. You see trails of blood. The only things moving is the dust and sand push by the wind.

"That's not normal. Spread out and try to find any survivor. Come back to reprt to me." says Leopold. The three split out and start to search the place. As you are about to leave, you hear Alpha "The darkness have fallen on them."