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

[Hrothgar]

Morn Sigil

Morn gets within a few feet of the figure on the floor. The figure jostles violently, almost sitting straight up. Wha-? Don' kno'...please th' mast'r. Gain fav'r...agin'...Hrmmm. Snores emit from the sleeping form, its high-pitched voice identifying it as an old, human male.

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Valurel's sleep is troubled by dreams. Dreams of his beloved Ceranae, of the magnificent Veradeen, and darker dreams of Ceranae's death, the slow and brutal destruction of his homeland, and his many scars, both mental and physical, inflicted by his hated foe the Orcs. He dreams of the death of a town that he knows nothing about. He dreams of a poor orphaned girl who can't see left in a world without hope. He awoke with a start, pain shooting through his body. He coughs and spits out a clump of dirt from the cave-in. Looking around the cavern, he immediately remembers where he is. All seems quiet for the most part so he fades rapidly back into unsettled sleep.

 

[Dirigible]

Jon squeezes Aislinn's shoulder before releasing her. "I don't think that this goddess would mind if you shed a few tears, child. It's good to let the grief poisons leak out." Goddess. What an odd word. Jon shifts, his eyes drifting towards the dozing 'ghost'. 'God' is what they called the King of The Black Pit... but '-ess' makes it sound like a woman. How silly. Stifling a yawn, Jon decides it must be some kind of imaginary friend of the girl; well, anything that helps calm her memories of her family is a good thing.

"I don't suppose we were lucky enough that that cave-in crushed all the orcs?" he mutters. "Perhaps we should check if there is another way out of here..."

Jon Rane closes his eyes, listening for a response until fatigue claims him moments later..

 

[Krug]

Starhl swings the blade and begins to laugh. "Many orc will die under this blade," he laughs.

The barbarian helps look for an exit as well. "Want to smell fresh air again. Not rot."

 

[Bobitron]

Kaela sits close to Aislinn, letting the youth lean on her if needed. After a few moments, she starts humming a folk tune known to the inhabitants of Caft. It was often sung in the fields, and her low tones are soothing and soft. She finds her eyes drooping, but struggle to stay awake.

 

[Micar Sin]

Morn Sigil

Morn sat back on his haunches and stared intently at the man, trying to discern any clues as to his identity.... Was this the one who sold the people of Caft to their deaths? Taking his Sepi in hand Morn slinked closer to the man, listening intently to his mumbling. Leaning in close to the mans ear, Morn whispered "How will you regain favor?

 

[Hrothgar]

The woodsman Starhl scrabbles over ancient fluted columns and crumbling walls, ruins of a forgotten age. To his right, the black gulf yawns hungrily and the horrible stench continues to emanante from its depths. With the flight from Caft, Starhl breathes heavily with his exertion exploring the ruins. Just outside of Kaela's green light, hidden by a partially collapsed stone wall, a dark, narrow crevice splits the stone cavern. An almost imperceptible draft ruffles Starhl's beard.

Turning to his companions, Starhl sees that they have succumbed to their fatigue. Reznik and Valurel both sleep where they sit, turning their heads restlessly, their minds still fleeing from the terrors their bodies have eluded so far. The stranger Jon and Kaela comfort Aislinn; Jon and Aislinn slowly drift off with Kaela's soft, clear singing. Kaela herself fights fatigue, her eye lids drooping in the gentle, green light.

To stay and rest, or move on?

Morn Sigil

Wha-? Who?! The old man snaps awake at Morn's words, struggling to fend off the lithe demon who whispered into his ear. Shuffling backward on his hands and rump, white, bedraggled hair covering his face, the man screams. Don't hurt me, Whisperer! I won't tell no one you're here! Please don't kill me!

 

[Hrothgar]

Despite the forboding dark pit in this chamber, the Heroes of Caft rest in peace. The uncomfortable stone floor of the cave is hardly noticed, intense fatigue overcoming the Heroes. Time passes unnoticed, the green light from Kaela's stone unwavering, pressing back the oppressive darkness. In time, stomachs begin to ache with hunger, groaning and rumbling in protest.

OOC: I assume Kaela would assist others with her heal skill. How long do the Heroes plan to stay?

 

[Micar Sin]

Morn Sigil

Staying back in the shadows, Morn stared hard at the man. Lowering his voice to to a threatening whisper he snarled "Who are you old man? Why do you hide here?"

 

[elapse]

To sleep, perchance to dream.

Reznik
The short, intense journey had taken its toll on Reznik. As much as he fought against the slice of death known as sleep, he finally succumbed and layed in fitful slumber.