The Ancient Paths - Path I

[ae1vart0n]

Hearing the guard stir, Hildor looked to make sure his equipment was where Dowkan had left it on the floor. He didn't need to be accused of accepting his weopons back, though they might argue he should have helped the guard, it was unlikely. He hadn't witnessed the attack, and really didn't know what to do for them anyway. And he didn't plan on arguing.

The safest thing to do would be to return to his rest. If he wasn't fully conscious when they got to the cell, they couldn't say he had just run back.

 

[Legildur]

The entrance, or exit in this case, to the caves is bathed in sunlight. How long had Dowkan been asleep?

"Whoa!" he exclaims quietly to himself. "Tat witch Syrriel must have dropped something in ma food. Either tat, or I dun burst something with all tat heavy liftin'."

Moving forward to the cave exit, Dowkan seeks out the guards left there by Father Braggi.

 

[hippocrachus]

~ Hrolf & Nae'talis ~

"A good thing you happened along, Brother Hrolf," the Tyrran says, scowling at Nae'talis. "Justice will be served."

~ Hildor ~

Hildor goes back to sleep, mentally preparing himself for the argument he wasn't going to have. A good plan.
In his elven torpor, Hildor dreams of things he doesn't know the names of. Things not of this world. Things hunting for him in his dreams. Hunting his dreams.

~ Dowkan ~

Stepping into the sunlight, Dowkan has to shield his eyes against the bright yellow orb. It's about midday; the sun is almost directly above him.
After a few paces, and his vision adjusts, Dowkan sees the carnage left of the Tyrran camp.
Five human heads stand on crudely carved spikes all in a row; the sun and carrion beasts have made the time of decapitation completely indecipherable. The two-man tents scattered about what was once a camp fire lay in ragged heaps: slashed, torn, and covered in dried blood.
The bodies have been removed.

 

[Legildur]

After a few paces, and his vision adjusts, Dowkan sees the carnage left of the Tyrran camp.

"By Moradin's left boot!" Dowkan exclaims as the full realisation of what has happened strikes home. Looking about frantically to see if there is anything nearby, he activates the frost ability of the waraxe as he warily looks around "Poor buggers."

'Father Braggi needs to know about this,' he thinks to himself and decides to once again to attempt to make his way back to Silverdown, eyes constantly darting about the place.

 

[hippocrachus]

~ Dowkan ~

Dowkan should reach Silverdown before sunset, but it doesn't take long before a search party sent for the lone warrior intercepts him and forces him to take a meal. Most of the party is made up of dwarves.
"What're ya doin' out here, ya dolt!?!" Captain Grogor barks at Dowkan when the rescue team comes upon him heading for Silverdown. The mercenary leader shoves Dowkan's shoulder for good measure.

[sblock]Moradin's left boot [/sblock]

 

[Legildur]

"What're ya doin' out here, ya dolt!?!" Captain Grogor barks at Dowkan when the rescue team comes upon him heading for Silverdown.

"Sometin's left an awful mess of the guards at the caves," says Dowkan as he chews on some salted beef. "Poor buggers have got nutin left but their heads on stakes. Someone, or sometin, is sending a nasty message to stay away."

"I was following Hrolf out here, but sometin really odd happened and then, well, I dunno what happened, but I know that it wasn't Hrolf that I was followin', and that Father Braggi needs to know what is goin on."

 

[Dhes]

"A good thing you happened along, Brother Hrolf," the Tyrran says, scowling at Nae'talis. "Justice will be served."

”Don’t think we should be so hasty brother. I found Nae’talis out side the garrison in accompanied of by Dowkan, one of the dwarven mercenaries hired by Father Braggi.”
”I’ll stay here with the “prisoners” and one of you go get Father Braggi, if anyone can shed some light on the mater it would be him.”

 

[hippocrachus]

~ Dowkan ~

Grogor looks around at the others listening to Dowkan's tale, sharing worried glances with everyone.
"Aye. We'll git ye ta Father Braggi double quick. We're supposed ta check up on them that were at the caves, but yer report is good enough..."
After Dowkan and the rescue team have sated their hunger, everyone packs up and begins heading back to Silverdown.

~ Hrolf & Nae'talis ~

The soldier looks at Hrolf with a doubtful expression, but turns to obey his request all the same. The other soldier returns to inform Hrolf that the guard and Hildor were sleeping. The guard's sleep seems unnatural and he is being taken to the sick ward.
After about an hour, Braggi and a few clerics come to the garrison. Two of the clerics go to tend the guard when they're told of his condition and the other is sent to check on Hildor.
"I was told by a labor team working on the wall that they saw Dowkan chasing after someone towards the mountains..." Father Braggi's concern is palpable.

~ Hildor ~

Hildor! the voice calls after him, pleading for him to slow down. The voice of Hildor's mother doesn't match the chaotic abomination chasing after him. Its wiry legs glide smoothly, slowly gaining on the fleeing elf with out-stretched arms that look more like tentacles. Hildor!
"Hildor?" a cleric asks, shaking him awake.

 

[Legildur]

Dowkan grunts in agreement, wolfs down the last of his quick meal, and goes with the mercenaries back to the Silverdown.

 

[ae1vart0n]

Startled and confused he bolts upright. The sweat dripping down his face only lasts a second though and quickly turns cold as his emotions shift from fear to confusion.

Opening his mouth to relate the dream to the cleric Hildor almost speaks, but it never comes out, as he quickly remembers his vow of silence and distrust. Instead he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He shakes his head right and left, as it to tell the dream it did not exist and to shake it out of his head.

Reopening his eyes he scans the room. Just as he'd left it. If he was lucky this cleric had come to release him.