Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dirigible" data-source="post: 1104207" data-attributes="member: 12631">Session 2   -   -   -   Shortly before dawn, Coel stalked back into town from his bivouac out in the woods, and met his companions near the gate. Ellionwy had her hair tied back, appropriate to keep it from falling over her face as she walked, and carried a flexible stick as a walking cane. Urlandt's beard and hair were unruly and tangled, and he was bleary-eyed, every now and then he stiffled a yawn against the back of a hairy fist, clearly suffering the effects of the last evening's drinking. He carried both his own and Ellionwy's packs, hers looking rather small next to his.As the three of them made their way towards the gate, Coel's preternaturally keen vision caught sight of Ilasus, leaning casually against the wall. She tapped the stem of her pipe against her lips, studying the three humans as they approached. When Ellionwy and Urlandt drew close enough to finally notice the Caransil, their reactions were different. The giantblooded Dorn looked distinctly unsettled, and it showed blatantly given his size, as he shuffled his boots and avoided looking at her. Ellionwy, on the other hand, stared at Ilasus with a mixture of admiration and awe."Be swift on your journey," general Ilasus spoke in a low, musical tone. "My informants have warned me that the orcs of Nouk-Gamar, a hundred miles to the east, have begun to mobilise. They can force a hard pace, when pressed by their Legate masters, and can be here in three days. Perhaps less." She frowned for a moment, the expression lining her flawless features. "The Shadow's black-winged eyes dare not come this deep into the homewoods. I fear our spies are of the two-legged breed." With a curt nod, Ilasus turned on her heel and strode off, her cloak swirling like the night sky behind her, making her seem to fade into the morning-dim forest beyond.The group had barely left the oval of wooden stakes that made the refugee camp's pallisade when another figure blocked their path, leaning on a staff that served as a crutch. Gornrig scowled so deeply it seemed his eyepatch would tear, his malevolence focused on Coel. His foot and leg were heavily bandaged, and he clearly avoided putting any weight on it. As the three travellers moved by him, Gornrig snarled in a low voice to Coel, "I'll see you bleed for this, wildlander".Coel didn't spare a single word on the sergeant of the guard. Instead, he lashed his boot out with deadly precision, knocking the crutch out from under Gornrig's arm, sending him sprawling to the ground to a breakfast of mud. [Aside] I swear, if he doesn't stop doing things like this, I'm gonna change his alignment to Chaotic Evil...[/Aside]He continued to stride on, ignoring the sounds from behind him; Gornrig's stream of vile, ear-curdling invective; Urlandt's earth-rumbling chuckle; and Ellionwy's pointed tsks. He set himself a fast pace, using his practised long-gait to speed ahead of the others, more to get away from them than to scout out the land, though he did use the opportunity to get a headstart on the day's foraging and hunting.After an hour or so, Coel made his way back to the others, silently lamenting their lack of progress. "If we are to outdistance the orcs before they arrive, we must set a faster pace. We travel for ten hours, and I will set a firm speed. He paused, eyeing Ellionwy's legs. "And you ride on the Dorn's shoulders. His stride is far longer".Disregarding Ellionwy's scandalised protests, Coel turned back to face the endless, verdent expance of the Caraheen forest, and vanished into the trees, relived to be properly alone at last.</blockquote>

Verification