Midnight: A Lost Faith's Shadow. Book 1, The Awakening. Chapter 4, Pursuit

[maddmic]

Herger is satisfied with the results of the combat. As he surveys the damage, he is not too concerned with their current situation. That is until he looks to the south and east. He sees more of the burning walking dead coming their way. With that, he looks to the north and west to try to determine their best course of action. Do they head into the forest, or flee into the plains?

If this horse belonged to their quarry, which way did they go? The old man was crazy enough to head into the plains, but he was no fool. He had elves with him, so surely they fled to the safety of the forest. Herger looks to the others. "We must flee. I am certain that even if we defeat the next onslaught of walking dead, that more will follow. Valurel, can you determine which way our enemies fled?"

He then pauses as he looks to Kaela and Cyz. "If we can't determine their direction, we should go to the forest. That would be the old man's instinct. He was a coward and wouldn't want to face a place full of so much uncertainty and forces of the shadow. Mardo, I can pull the cart so that we can stay ahead of the fell if you would allow Kaela and Cyz to ride with you. Otherwise, we need to figure another means of bearing the slower in our party."

 

[Bobitron]

Kaela nods, overcoming her fear and standing up from her spot beneath the wagon. Impressed with Herger's logic, she agrees. "Makes sense to me! Let's get out of here!" She hops atop the cart without hesitation, anxious to get moving.

 

[Bihlbo]

OOC: Through Mardo's quick action, Cyz's fire is out and the Fell was damaged. Cyz destroyed the Fell. As for Mardo's cart, I will side with Bihlbo's assessment of who it could carry.

OOC: If that's the case, my assessment is that it'll carry two Mediums and Mardo easy. A third Medium might have a hard time holding on. If I were GMing it, I'd say the third has to make Strength checks every five minutes, with a low DC, but the DC rises +2 for every successive save. So holding on for 30 minutes might be tough, but to get away it'd be easy (this seems the best way to mimic a similar situation I found myself in once IRL). That's just me though. Also, Mardo could piggy-back on Herger if needed. He has good balance

"Mardo, I can pull the cart so that we can stay ahead of the fell if you would allow Kaela and Cyz to ride with you. Otherwise, we need to figure another means of bearing the slower in our party."

"Yes sir!" Mardo barks as he quickly straps the rest of the water to the cart and turns to the two women to help them into position. "I'm sure glad we're off! I hate fire - it destroys and leaves ya with nothin ta show for it... Ah, good girl, hold on here," he says as he points Kaela to a secured and strong strap on the side of the cart.

OOC: Mardo doesn't get on till Kaela and Cyz (if she gets on) both look like they are holding on tightly and secure. If he has to he'll Run to catch up and scramble aboard.

 

[Hrothgar]

Cyz nods at Mardo as she pulls herself on the cart and collapses in agony. Quickly the Heroes stride west toward the great forest, the great homewood trees dwarfing the familiar oak and elm trees seen so often in the North. Strive as they might, the fiery Fell are slow footed, slowly falling behind the Heroes. Screaming in hatred and hunger, their cries only seem to attract more Fell. As the Heroes cover the half-mile to the forest's edge, they wind through blackend stumps and boles of skeletal trees that stand in mute testimony to the scorching hand of Shadow. The Fell follow through the no-man's land, igniting the broken remains of dead trees with their heat.

As the Heroes pass finally into the green forest from the ash ruin to the east, the Fell stop, unwilling to follow further. Screaming in frustration, they slam ruined trees in anger, smashing anything nearby before slowly sinking back into the ash plain.

The Heroes breathe easier as the Fell disappear. To the west, the land rises sharply, craggy stone bluffs breaking out among the oak and the towering maudrial trees. Passing into the great forest, the Heroes enter a surreal world: above, a canopy of leaves cover the sky, shading the forest in uncountable hues of green. Bird songs are carried on the gentle breeze that stirs the forest leaves, while uncountable, brilliantly hued butterflies flit amongst the ferns, flowers, moss, and grass on the forest floor. Although a slight breeze blows in the wood, the trees occasionally groan and twist even as the breeze abates. A land of eternal twilight with its shaded glades and shifting shadows, it is an alien landscape to all perhaps Valurel.

With no more than a few steps into the forest, a shout goes up from ahead. Hold your fire! There is an Erunsil amongst them! Seemingly melding from the forest itself, an Elven warrior materializes from the glooming wood. Dressed in forest green and weilding an ornate bow, chestnut brown hair runs down her back. With a strong voice, the Elf speaks. We know not what would bring such a ragged band into our forest, but you are not welcome here! Turn and leave! My warriors have their bows trained on you. Begone! Or die!

 

[Krug]

"We are enemies of the Shadow," says Starhl, growling, his eyes turned to the woods around him. Though he cannot see them, he knows what the elf says if probably true.

 

[Bobitron]

Kaela entered the glade in wonder. She had never seen anything like these primeval woods and it was hard to stop staring into the canopy above and letting the breeze run over her upturned face. A smile crept into form as they passed in peace into the ancient trees and the teeming butterflies.

The smile was quickly dashed when the defender made herself known. Why must even the places left that still hold goodness and safety be closed to us, she thinks sadly.

Krug's words came as the first reply. She looked over the elf carefully, waiting for her reaction. I hope Valurel can make an impression!

 

[maddmic]

Herger stops in his tracks at the elf's request. He is puzzled. 'Surely she must know that we are enemies of the shadow. We travel with one of her kind.' Not wanting to delay any longer though, he speaks after Starhl.

"We shall not take one more step into your forest, but we ask that you hear us out. Hear our story and decide if you will aid us, or throw us back to those whom we both fight. I only request this because we were sent this way by one of your sisters, Elaural of Erethor. She charged us with a task and we are on our way to complete it. Please, hear our words before you turn us back to the burning dead."

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Valurel stands in the wooded glade, throwing back his head and breathing deeply of the myriad scents the forest presents to him. He closes his eyes and listens to the soothing sounds of the birds and the forest in general. He is almost immediately overcome by the urge to plunge deeper into the forest and never leave again. He has missed this place, much more than he imagined he ever would. The only thing that was missing was the snow and cold that he was accustomed to. Other than that, everything was perfect. Perfect that is until the challenging voice. The language of his people was like soft and pleasant music to his ears. All of that changed when the same voice spoke out in the language of the Erenland.

"You would turn us away, sister?" Valurel called out in a language he hadn't spoken in more than a year. "I am Erunsil. This is my home. And these are my friends. Much have we had to overcome to get here and many horrors have we seen. My friends and I fight against Shadow. More importantly, we seek the Hope, a young girl named Aislinn, stolen away from our care and protection by forces with unknown intentions." Valurel holds out his hands at his sides, away from his weapons, so as not to alarm the elves. He does his best to force down his feral instincts as he speaks, hoping his words will have some effect on the elves. "I am weary and my spirit nearly broken. The only thing keeping me going is the knowledge that Aislinn is in the hands of those who might do her harm. Might we talk without the threat of violence?"

He falls silent, hoping he made an impression but ready to leap to action if the elves threaten he or his friends.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

Knowing there is little he can add to change anything should the elven sentries not accept the word of one of their own, Lodric carefully lifts his waterskin from his belt and takes a small mouthful to ease the gritty feeling of inhaled soot from his tongue and throat.

 

[Bihlbo]

Quietly, and with a practiced voice of calm friendliness, "Valurel, I'm not keen on being filled with elvish arrows. I hope you know what you're doing here. If this is a bargain of some type, I hope you explain it to us before you make any agreements."

As Mardo speaks he nonchalantly pulls off his hat to dust it and make sure it still looks good, and then adjusts his jacket, pulling here and there, brushing soot and dust off in places. As he fidgets, he gives sidelong glances to the others to see how ready the party is to fight or flee, depending on the outcome of the elf's parlay with his kin.

OOC: vs. the elves: Bluff check +9 to appear to be simply fidgeting and not preparing for a conflict. Sleight of Hand check +9 to push his hidden dagger into a position where it's easier to draw, without the elves being able to tell that he has a dagger hidden. (Maybe there is no game mechanic for this, maybe it's just flavor.)