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

[Hrothgar]

OOC: How long does do the Heroes plan on staying in their current position? Not that they can tell time, except by healing I suppose.

Morn Sigil

The old man lowers his skinny arms, trying to pierce the darkness and view his assailant. Sitting on his haunches, long, stringy gray hair covering his face, the old man croaks, Fallax. Fallax is my name, Whisperer. Fallax wipes his face with his filthy robe, becoming emboldened when no additional attacks come. A lonely soul am I. Minding my own business, dedicating my life to my own curiousities. And hiding from...the Shadow. He whispers in a hushed tone. You are not a demon of Shadow, are you Whisperer?, fear rising in the old man's voice.

 

[Krug]

Just 4-6 hours, I guess...

Starhl is jittery. He hopes to get out of this place soon. He waits while the others get some rest, and takes in some sleep too. He dreams of being chased by orcs, and this time, there are too many of them...they close in, howling, swinging their blades..

 

[Bobitron]

Kaela fights off sleep to see to the wounded as best she can, but she too fears the rush or the Shadow's troops that could snuff their lives as easily as a candle. Making her way to Starhl, she rests a hand on his strong shoulder. "Do you think we can afford to tarry? I don't know that the Shadow would follow us into this place, but who can say what evil might drive them." She looks around at the collected heroes. "We need rest and proper healing."

 

[Micar Sin]

Morn Sigil

Morn Settled back against the cave wall, keeping his blade beneath his cloak so as not to further frighten the old man. "I am a wanderer myself...You reveal much in your sleep Fallax...whose favor do you seek to regain? Answer truely for Caft is a funeral pyre and orcs stalk the land, so I am in no mood to quibble...."

 

[Hrothgar]

Silence is the Heroes only companion in the dark recesses of Northern Eredane's underground. In the soft green light of Kaela's stone, the Heroes rest in peace. Slowly, with Kaela's ministrations, wounds begin to knit and aches begin to subside. However, a sense of urgency stalks in the minds of the Heroes. Bellies ache and rumble. Where will they find food? Are they to starve in the cave? And where are the forces of Shadow that have been relentlessly stalking them?

OOC: The Heroes have rested 8 hours. Each hero recovers 2 hit points.

Morn Sigil

The old man draws the back of his hand slowly across his mouth, pausing in his reply to Morn, his face inscrutable. Master? I have served many masters, Whisperer. Fallax sneers, And I still bear the scars of my servitude. A scholar in Highwall I once was, broken by the Shadow's dark agents, forced to research the secrets of Aryth for its eventual destruction. Hee Hee. If I still curry the favor of those bastards, my mind is broken. The old man titters.

 

[Bobitron]

Kaela awakens with a grumbling stomach before most of the others. She takes a moment to collect her thoughts before going around to each of her companions and awakening them with a gentle touch and soft words.

"We can't stay here," she says simply once everyone is awake. Resting a small hand on Aislinn's shoulder, she looks about the cavern. "There is nothing for us here. We must move."

She reaches into her satchel, taking out a handful of roots. "These have been treated with stimulants to increase awareness. Each of us should chew one as we walk, it will help to sharpen our senses."

ooc: I have five each of two sorts of gnaw roots. Choose a +2 bonus to either Spot or Listen. I'm not sure if they stack or the duration, can you check that for me, Hrothgar?

 

[Dirigible]

Jon Rane

There are certainly worse ways to awaken than being tended to by a pretty woman, Jon thinks as Kaela's medical talents pull him through the veil of sleep. But he doesn't have time to dwell on that entertaining notion, as as soon as he awakens the rumble of the demon borborygmos fills his belly.

"Mmm, yes," he grumbles, rubbing at his empty stomach. "I think we amay have spent quite enough time down here. Please, someone, tell me that there's a way out of here besides that... dunghole?" Jon asks, glancing at the stinking pit in the floor.

The vagabond stands, but at once almost doubles over from the pain. In the night (was it really night?), his bruises have set into a plate armour of paint hat crushes, grinds and twinges every time he moves. Grabbing his knees for support, Jon spits on the ground, his jaw working and eyes screwed shut as he marshals himself.

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Valurel awakens from a restless sleep when he hears first Kaela and then Jon speak. He struggles to his feet, his tired muscles having stiffened in the hours since he had assumed his position on the cavern floor. He stretches, his back making an audible cracking sound. He winces in pain, his wounds having only slightly healed.

"I check for other way out," he says, starting to make his way cautiously around the perimeter of the cavern. He hopes to find something other than having to descend into the forboding pit.

OOC: Search +5 (Take 20 if possible for a total of 25)

 

[Micar Sin]

Morn Sigil

Morn regarded the man solemnly, suspecting that his mind was gone long ago...
"And how did you come to reside in such...luxurious surroundings Fallax?"

 

[Krug]

Starhl joins in the search to help find a way out of here. "Hopefully orcs not waiting," he says.