Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Final Chapter)

[Fenris]

"My brother and I do not always get along, but I suppose the end of civilization goes a long way to showing who your true friends are. Dartis and Caramip, I know you realize what we risk by using the sword before the olive branch, but I do have my orders to march out and I intend to follow them. Still, that doesn't mean that I won't pray to the gods for your success. Godspeed, my friends, and may you find us a way through this storm."

Before you leave, Commander Sassarius allows you to go to his general store and pick out any rations and waterskins you feel you may need. Also, available are single man tents, bedrolls, winter blankets, hammers, and metal stakes.

"I am not asking you to march out. In fact I would like to have your army there, but only as a backup. We need as many healthy people at the end of this as we can. Just let me try the olive branch first Sassarius. Why send an army when a cohort will do yes? Let us see what the olive branch gains us first. Just march slowly is all I ask, give us a few extra days. Your men may need to be ready to fight in any case. No need to rush. I shall see you one way ro the other outside of the Silverwood."

So saying Dartis takes his leave and stocks up on supplies. "We must ride swiftly Cara, the army will not delay and we have much to do before it arrives at Silverwood."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

"Most, if not all of my my men, now have this disease. I plan to move at a decent clip, but will not rush in order to preserve the strength of my soldiers unless the priests are no longer able to keep the army healthy. In that case we'll have to make a desperate forced march. With the pace that we will start at, though, you should have a couple of weeks of a head start. Will you go straight to the elves or check on your own first? As you travel, keep in mind that there are reports of chaos and death rapidly spreading through the cities and larger human towns, while travel through the less populated plains has become dangerous as once surpressed goblinoids have been taking advantage of the power vaccuum that is developing. I would suggest sticking by the system of roads and waterways for ease of travel and navigation, but avoiding man and goblin while you move."

 

[Bloodweaver1]

"Perhaps home, maybe our other half has had similar if not better luck than we.” Offers the small gnome as she gathers he refreshed supplies and loads them onto her lucky riding dog. Looking up to her short time but dear friend she offers him a strong however false smile and asks, “We ready?”

 

[Fenris]

"Sound advice" replies Dartis to Sassarius.


"That sounds like a good idea Cara. I am more than ready to leave Tallione behind."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Caramip and Dartis head out west, leaving the Tallione Army to its preparations. The trip is mostly uneventful although desolate and eerily lacking of human activity along the small waterways that the duo travel. But on the third day the sky grows dark from an incoming storm.

The storm looks as if it will be pretty severe and the ears of your horses twitch as the animals grow nervous. You are on a deer trail next to a small stream that flows slowly to your left. Behind you is open land, although to the right and straight ahead by about 200 yards is a sparse grouping of trees. A rocky hill juts out from the middle of the trees. Further down the trail you believe you can make out some kind of settlement out of the increasing gloom, but if so the settlement is a mile and a half off and you would have to ride hard to beat the incoming storm.

What's worse, Dartis' head is beading with sweat as he feels an illness coming on, although its not so bad yet that it is hampering is mental or physical abilities.

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip Ashhearth

"I do not like the though of resting underneath the rocks but the possiblity of staying in a town filled with zombies does not interest me either." Chimes Caramip as she watches the storm grow ever closer. "What do you say? Shall make safe in the caves or head for the town?"

 

[Fenris]

OOC: Uh, what cave?

"No, we need to avoid any towns, they may be inhabited by the undead at this point. Let us make for the trees for a bit of shelter from the rain and wind."

 

[Deuce Traveler]

The two of you easily reach the woods before the high winds begin to make life uncomfortable. Caramip spots a perfect place to camp and wait out the storm: a large rock overhang that creates a canopy over a wide portion of the ground allowing you to fit your horses, your bedrolls, and a sizeable campfire. The duo tethers the horses and quickly gathers enough large stones and dry sticks for a campfire. As the storm begins to savage the nearby forest you find yourselves comfortably settled in.

Caramip takes the first watch while Dartis gets some rest. However, as the exhausted gnome moves to awaken the noble for his turn both suddenly notice something that she did not notice before. On the other side of the campfire sit two individuals, one short and skinny human in merchant clothes while the other large man wears the skins of a hunter from the southern Dorinthian tribes. They seem to be playing some kind of game against one another using bones, but otherwise ignore the two of you.

 

[Fenris]

No one wore skins like that any more, certainly not after the Tallione invasion. It was possible perhaps some small group existed in the wild still.

Dartis calls out in Dorinthian "Friends, come and share the warmth of our fire."

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip Ashhearth

Perhaps it is the lack of sleep from the long rides and even longer nights, but Caramip has an erry feeling and cannot help but eye the two new comers skeptically. She makes her to back of the fire as Dartis calls over to them.