The Sudden Approach of Unexplainable Power: IC

[unleashed]

“I guess it would be safer trying to find their camp without following that brute. Well, let’s push on towards Eberdeen then, at least until we’re out of sight of the majority of Janston, and then strike out west... hopefully their camp won’t be too hard to locate going that way,” Aekalos remarks, adding with a grin as he holds out a hand, “Up you get, my cautious friend.”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Erast takes the hand and stands up, his light frame easily lifted off of the ground. As they head out of town, Aekalos can see one of the women looking out at the window watching them go. She doesn't look anxious, just curious or interested. She waves briefly when she sees that Aekalos can spot her.

It doesn't take long to get far enough away from Janston. To the west lies a thin forest, although the further west the more thick it appears to get. It does not look like a particularly challenging place to head through.

 

[unleashed]

Aekalos waves back and smiles when he sees the woman, before turning his attention back to the road.

Once they’re out of sight of Janston, Aekalos leads them west towards the forest. “Well, that doesn’t seem too rugged, and it might even allow us to get close to their camp undetected. I just hope it isn’t too well concealed, as we might walk right past it if the forest gets too thick.”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Erast looks to the forest with a bit of skepticism. "Off the beaten path, then? Well, good thing my shoes have sturdy soles." Maris gives him a look out of the corner of her eye and the look is not necessarily one of approval.

The party travels slowly for the better part of an hour before they come across what appears to be a well used path heading north. The ground has been trampled solid by many feet from many occasions, but the feet always seem to be headed north and south. There are a few thin lines in the ground as if a cart is occasionally up or down the path.

 

[unleashed]

“You could just wait here if you’d like Errast, and we’ll come back for you,” Aekalos chuckles, “though I’d think you’d have walked almost everywhere by now.”

“Well, this looks promising,” Aekalos remarks, when they find the path, “Let’s follow it and see where it leads... at least until we hear or see something which makes us believe it’s no longer safe to do so.”

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Maris chuckles with Aekalos at his comment, Erast gives a pleasant smile before answering. "I have been many places, but I try to stay where the roads are solid. I prefer to go where people have paved civiliazation into already."

[Sblock=OOC]I realize the conversation is stretched over the journey ... but, that's why this is fantasy!

Also, north or south along the path. I think earlier I said the trail runs north, but what I meant was north/south. From the descriptions, Aekalos could reason that the ambush location is likely to the north, the orc village may well be to the south. Just in case my direction-giving skill is poor.[/Sblock]

 

[unleashed]

“Really... where’s the fun in that! The best things are often found off the beaten path,” Aekalos grins.

[SBLOCK=OOC]Actually that bit would have taken place before they headed off towards the forest, but since we jumped from there straight to the forest path I had to put in somewhere, as it was just too good an opportunity to waste to poke fun at Errast. Don’t worry, I’ve held two conversations at a time before in the same message... and with different people at that. BTW are we going with Errast or Erast, as it’s changed from the first to the second as we’ve progressed?

As for direction, south then. I thought I’d taken them too far south there for a minute when you said the path headed north and not north/south.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Nonlethal Force]

Errast smiles, "And the most dangerous..."

After walking for another half hour south on the trail, signs of organized life begin to appear. Many of the trees are marked with scratches and claw marks. A few of the trees have been cut clean with axes and saws in a lumbering attempt. However, the south wind brings the most obvious sign of some type of civilization ahead. The smell of excrement carries through the air.

[Sblock=OOC]Well, it should be Errast with a double "r." What we have there is a case of the finger being faster than the keyboard and my double "r" is n't registered by the computer.[/Sblock]

 

[unleashed]

Aekalos chuckles, “Sadly that’s only too true at times...”

Once the smell reaches them, Aekalos stops and says, “Well, it seems like it’s time to leave the path behind and proceed a little more cautiously, using whatever cover the trees can provide for us,” before heading into the trees a way from the path and continuing southward.

 

[Nonlethal Force]

The trio advances slowly, with Errast staying several yards back from Maris and Aekalos. After creeping forward for about ten minutes they come upon a significant orc-made clearing in the thinner woods. So far, they have managed to escape detection, although one of the major dangers is that most of the trees are thinner trees like birch and ash. There are few thick trees like oaks to hide behind.

The clearing seems to have very little organizational mind behind its construction. Houses are set up at almost any angle compared to others around it. Most of the houses seem to be of a stone and mud construction - almost a makeshift adobe. The rooves look to be made of a grass and mud mixture.

About the only thing that does look planned is a large fire pit in the center of the village. Although it is difficult to see the pit completely on account of the weird angles of the houses, there do look to be several skeletons lying around the fire pit. It is unclear as to wether or not the skeletons are human or animal remains.

There appears to be several large wooden tripods constructed on opposite sides of the pit. Between each pair of tripods, a long thin wooden rod rests across the tripods (and therefore across the pit). Next to the tripods on the far side of the pit there are several platforms that look big enough to have several people stand on at the same time.

As far as population, there are only a few orcs milling about. Those that are outside seem to be sharpening weapons and dressing various hides - some of which could well be aromor. What looks to be strange is that about half of the houses have goblins chained outside the front door. The goblins seem to be on leashes that extend from their necks to the front doors of the house which has it chained. None of the goblins are making any noise whatsoever.