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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ruined" data-source="post: 1298561" data-attributes="member: 113">Here's a bit more for you:13th of Chardot, yr. 150 A.V. “And then we took their weapon cache to teach them a lesson. Let me say that Marus was less than pleased.” Gerad and Liam shared a laugh as they walked towards the stables. “What did he do to you?” Gerad shrugged. “What he should have done. We all had to pull mandatory watch and patrols for the next few weeks. Myself, I expected lashings. We deserved it.” “Some of the men would have left after that,” Liam offered.“I’m sure Marus felt the same,” Gerad said. “The resistance movements in Quelsk draw from all sorts. Rabble looking for fights, vagabonds looking for something other than work to do. They don’t endure punishment well as a rule.” The pair stopped a few yards from the side of the barn. The doors were opened, but they saw no sign of Blackwater. “So how do you want to do this?” Gerad asked. Liam bit at his lip and looked up at the man beside him. “You convince him to step out back. Then we’ll have a talk with him.” Gerad nodded and watched as the halfling quietly slipped off around the barn. He still had trouble believing that Marus was a spellcaster like the old wizard and Liam. In truth, Liam didn’t seem much like a wizard to Gerad. He was far more personable than Kelkarrin or Nieman. The stench of manure struck his nostrils as he entered the barn. Blackwater was there along with a young lad pitching hay into one of the stalls. At Gerad’s entrance, Blackwater looked up and smiled. He rose to his feet and walked forward, wiping his hands on his breeches. “Greetings again to ya,” Blackwater said. “What can I help you with today? A bit of horseflesh? Or perhaps some gossip?” As before, Tobus sucked air through his teeth with that annoying sound. “Umm,” Gerad hesitated. “Actually I was looking for a bit of information.” Blackwater’s smile deepened and he moved closer. The stench moved with him. “Perhaps we could speak out back,” Gerad said, motioning to the closed back doors. Blackwater nodded at his meaning, and led him out the back doors. Gerad glanced around as they stepped into the sunlight, but he saw no sign of Liam. Neither did Tobus, who happily closed the door to the stables behind them. “So, what is it that old Tobus Blackwater can help you with?” Gerad looked at the man, suddenly wondering what lies he would ply the man with. Liam was nowhere to be seen. He could ask him about the wizard. It would be interesting to see if the man who sold Liam secrets knew of his benefactor. Blackwater raised an eyebrow at Gerad, waiting for a reply. As Gerad watched, he heard a gentle thump, and Blackwater collapsed into a heap. Standing behind him was Liam, wielding a black sap in his hand. At once, Gerad was truly impressed with the skills of his newfound friend. *** While the boys were off playing with the town snitch, Surielle and Tréan were forging a path into the edge of the deadly Hornsaw Forest. Tréan had only heard tales of the Hornsaw, such as the beasts mentioned in Barrett’s tale, but Surielle knew better. Her path leading south from Darakeene had taken her, Brianna, and Maximillian through the tainted forest. She had seen the horrors left by spider-goblins, gorgons and asaathi. Were it not for the sorcerous skills of their mentor, she and Brianna would never have completed the journey.Kelkarrin knew of a grove not far within the forest. He had casually mentioned it when Surielle asked about her mother. The name Amara had brought no recognition to his face, but there had been druids in the area before. As soon as he mentioned the grove, she was determined to see it for herself, with or without her companions. Each had their reasons for their journey, but Surielle’s foremost concern was locating the mother she never knew.“It was interesting how Kelkarrin knew of my order. They’re not prevalent here, from what I’ve learned.”“The Sisterhood of the Scythe?” Tréan asked. “Nor had I heard of them. Little surprise. You never call yourself a member of the Sisterhood.”“You’re right,” Surielle said as she stepped over a fallen branch. “I’ve grown so accustomed to secrecy, I barely use my true name anymore.”“All of us are that way, dear.” Tréan stopped, pulling her hand from the side of a tree. It was slick with a dark red stain. Surielle thought it to be blood, but Tréan quickly shook her head. “It’s sap – I think. I see what they mean about this forest being tainted. We’ve not gone far and everything is beginning to feel sick.”Surielle was about to tell her that this was normal compared to the twisted life she had seen, when a crashing sound stopped both women where they stood. It was a tree groaning, creaking, and falling to the forest floor. Surielle looked to the skyline, but the tree was not falling upon them. The ground shook in its passing. Neither woman spoke. And then they heard thunderous footsteps moving in their direction. The two of them knelt down, with Snowmelt standing close to her master.The steps slowed. Surielle heard sounds of foliage moving nearby. Snowmelt’s ears lay back and the wolf issued a quiet growl. As she moved forward to look, Surielle placed a reassuring hand on the wolf’s haunches. Beyond the trees in a small clearing stood an eight-foot tall terror. It was a unitaur – a man-shaped beast with white skin and a horn like the rhinos that lived out in the savannahs. Tales of these beasts were grim affairs, usually ending with a number of deaths before the savage creature could be brought low. The unitaur took a few ponderous steps, and then stopped with one eye looking in their direction. Neither Tréan, Snowmelt, nor she moved.The unitaur snorted heavily and began to walk towards them. Surielle could hear Tréan begin the familiar cadence of a spell. She considered the same in those last few moments. And then Snowmelt darted from their spot by the trees. The unitaur roared in anger at the wolf. Snowmelt did not attack, however, but sprinted off in another direction, encouraging the unitaur to follow.“NO!” Surielle screamed. Once again, her wolf had tempted fate to save her. As Tréan finished her spell, Surielle grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down the path of broken branches the clumsy unitaur had left behind. Heedless of any danger, they followed the trail. Surielle heard fresh sounds of growls and roars, and what sounded like a painful yelp. Onward they went, Surielle running with Tréan by the hand.As they reached the battle, both were unprepared for the sight. The unitaur lay on the ground in a wash of blood. Snowmelt was nowhere to be seen. Atop the unitaur was the largest lion Surielle had ever seen. Its shoulders stood as tall as Surielle did. The lion looked up from its kill, its mane covered with the unitaur’s blood. Surielle felt Tréan's hand grasp hers tightly. The massive lion regarded the women with cool black eyes. Surielle scanned the clearing, but there was no sign of her wolf. Had the lion killed it too in so short a time?The lion growled at them, a throaty sound that shook Surielle’s gut. It took a step back away from the unitaur, and began to change. It shrank in size, with its tawny skin turning into smooth alabaster flesh. Where once had been the lion, now stood an elf in simple hide and furs. He casually wiped a smear of blood from his cheek.“Why are you here?”“We have been told there is a grove here,” Surielle began, her voice unsteady. “We…”“Why are you here?”  Surielle saw his eyes directly on her, and possibly her amulet. She cleared her throat in an attempt to regain her composure.“I seek a druidess that once walked this path. Her name is Amara.”The elf regarded the two of them in silence. As he deliberated, Snowmelt returned to the clearing, warily moving around the elf and the unitaur carcass.“Please follow me into my grove. I will tell you of the last time I saw Amara.”</blockquote>

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