Midnight: A Lost Faith's Shadow. Book 1, The Awakening. Chapter 1, The Charge

[Dirigible]

Jon Rane

It's by far the longest speech he's ever heard in Norther, but to his surprise the vagabond can understand almost every word. Her dialect is odd, though... No, it's just modern, he realises. Jon grimaces, and concentrates on picking out her tale. At first it seems fantastical, almost a fae-story for children - hardly surprising, given her age.

As he listens, though, it dawns on him how right the story feels. 'Right', as in it corresponds with my own delusions, he thinks dryly. Nevertheless, he came here searching for those willing to fight the Shadow... and protecting a child from the enemy seems like a worthy first step along that path.

"They were after you, then, Aislinn?" he croaks as the girl pauses. "How did the orcs know where you were? Or that you even existed?"

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

"By the way, in case I forgot to mention it earlier... my name is Jon Rane, and I am at your service. Not that I normally make a point of throwing myself in front of rampaging orcish sty, but it looked like you could use an extra body"

Valurel opens his eyes, letting them adjust to the dim light in the cavern before speaking. "I am Valurel, Jon Rane. Again, you have my thanks." Even that little bit of speaking saps his small reservoir of strength so he closes his eyes again and dozes.

When Aislinn begins speaking, he listens, hearing snatches of what she says as he fades in and out of sleep. Her words are foreign to his ears. He's heard this language spoken before, during his many days spent wandering the northlands but has no understanding of it. When she stops speaking, Valurel drifts off, his mind and body giving in to the rigors of the day.

 

[Bobitron]

Kaela introduces any others that haven't spoken up yet, but her attention is still fixed on the blade. Using her knife, she carefully chips away the rest of the crust with the thin edge.

 

[Hrothgar]

Yes, stranger, they were after me. At least from what I overheard the legate saying in the inn. Why? I can only guess. Aislinn shudders in the green light of Kaela's stone. The worm Lorne is to blame. He always desired my mother, but he feared my father, Uriel. He must have sold the information to the legate...but the worm is dead now. Her face dips down into her soiled dress and she begins to sob softly.

Kaela's meticulous effort is rewarded as the blade pulls free of the limestone covering the skeleton's chest. The greatsword's blade is heavy and sharp, the hilt unremarkable, and the leather covering the long handle worn and stained. Along both sides of the blade several runes are inscribed, identical on both sides of the blade.

Morn Sigil

Morn slips into the cave silently, his eyes and ears sharp for signs of danger. His alertness is awarded by the slight, almost imperceptible sound of something grating on the rock ahead. Morn's hackles raise. He is not alone in the cave.

 

[Micar Sin]

Morn quietly dropped to his belly against the moist earth of the cave. Placingthe blade of his sepi between his teeth, he grimaced at the bitter residue of orc blood, and began to slither forward. If there was to be blood spilled to feed the earth, it would not be his alone!


OOC: Hide: +14 (4 ranks + 4 size + 2 racial + 4 dex)
move silently:+8 (4 ranks + 4 dex)

 

[Dirigible]

Jon Rane

Jon frowned uncomfortably as the girl began to sob. He'd naturally assumed that the older girl, Kaela, was looking after her, but she seemed more concerned with the sword embedded in the earth. Standing on legs that wobbled like overcooked carrots, he made his way over to Aislinn and dropped a comforting arm over her shoulder.

He looks around at any of the other fugitives he can see, and mouths her mother?

 

[Bobitron]

Aislinn's sobs snap Kaela from her fascination with the sword. She walks to her side along with Jon, setting the sword down at her side. "Aislinn, you've been so strong during our flight. Let it out, dear. I'm here. All these people are here to protect you." She catches Jon mouthing the inquiry and replies with a shaken head.

Her gaze lingers on the sword for a moment. "Any of you strapping warriors able to make good use of that?" There is a fierce light in her eyes that wasn't there before.

 

[Krug]

"Good blade, if no use Starhl can take," says the Dorn, though he is comfortable with his axe.

 

[Hrothgar]

Aislinn draws her knees up to her chin, her arms wrapped around her legs. Tears stream down her cheeks as she looks in the direction of Jon and Kaela, the clear liquid mixed with small amounts of a milky white residue mirroring the color of her dead eyes. I miss my father and mother, but I should not cry. The goddess will protect me know. I am in her hands.

Starhl grips the greatsword with practiced ease. The sword feels remarkably well-balanced in his strong grip and the blade incredibly keen. Starhl can only shake his head as he wonders what tales this blade could tell. Was it used in the last war against the Shadow? And who was the unfortunate soul that was its last owner? Will a similar fate befall Starhl?

The cave grows quiet except for the muffled cries and sniffles of Aislinn. In the gentle green light from Kaela's stone, Valurel and Reznik doze quietly.

Morn Sigil

The elfling drops to his chest and moves stealthly along the muddy cave floor. Morn's eyes quickly become adjusted to the darkness in the cave. Beyond a small rise in the cave floor, something stirs on the ground. Moving closer to get a better look, Morn sees the figure is that of a man or orc laying on the ground. Relaxed, regular breathing sounds throughout the cave; the thing on the ground is obviously asleep.

 

[Micar Sin]

Morn's lips draw back in a feral snarl as he slithers forward towards the sleeping form. Glancing about to make sure there are no lurking suprises, Morn takes the Sepi from between his teeth as he slides closer to the sleeping form...

OOC: Hide: +14 (4 ranks + 4 size + 2 racial + 4 dex)
move silently:+8 (4 ranks + 4 dex)