Showing posts with label Hellstrom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hellstrom. Show all posts
Current Character Description - Hellstrom Oldostin
An unimpressive man stands here clothed in forest green with a yew
bow strapped to his back and a large sharp woodsmans axe attached to his
belt. His shiny black hair falls to his shoulders in gentle waves and
his brown eyes scan the area warily. His wooden shield bears the
symbol of Ehlonna, the goddess of the forrest. A long jagged scar
marking his left cheek is the only mark on his otherwise darkly tanned
face. Tattoo's of vines work their way up his forearms and dissapear
under his green leather jerkin only to re-apear to create a circle
around his neck.
Shadow Among the Shadows
Hellstrom watched and listened from the shadows as Emalia gathered her champions for the trip into the mountains to find the temple. Hellstrom knew her intentions, but it no longer mattered. Hellstrom had been following ensuring Emalia's safety from a distance for the past weeks, and he knew more than he cared to. The only thing left was to ensure that Emalia made it to her destination safely. He briefly considered revealing himself to the group when they mentioned his name, but thought better of it. He knew how much turmoil his presence would bring with her pregnancy. Hellstrom sat back into the shadows some more and watched, waiting for them to depart.
Emalia sat on the edge of the cliff at the overlook, her eyes riveted on the dead air before her. Only briefly did she think of Hellstrom as she sat down. Her thoughts were mainly on the course of events that had now taken place, and whether or not she had given fate and destiny a chuckle.
She had gone home and told Colin everything and as always, he was there for her, comforting her. She fell asleep in his arms, feeling a bit better and woke the next morning - this morning - dragging Colin to the Jihad compound for a visit with Nephesh. Grobnak be damned, she was going to see the boy now that he was again awake.
The guards should have been her first indication of things to come. The questioning, wary eyes that locked on her as if wondering what she was doing there. After a bit of wandering, they had located Nephesh and all was joy... for a moment. The halfling had been under the impression that the journey had proceeded without him, which triggered Emalia's painful thoughts, which led to her finding out that even Nephesh knew what the Temple was for.
Emalia's mind - snapped. She wanted nothing to do with anyone. In her mind, they were all frauds. The innocents were not at all innocent. She had been duped. She squatted on the ground and let come from her the most soul rending sobs she could muster. Then... then... it happened. The calm.
Like the inside congealing outside, her very lifeforce seeped from her to form a cocoon. It hardened about her - keeping everyone out. From within, she could hear nothing but constant static. There was nothing to see, for the part of her sending for the shield was pure emotion. Only when she realized she was doing it, did she look up and break her focus slightly, right as the boy used his magic to enter her shield.
No sooner had she dropped her force and Nephesh's spell of rejuvenation landed, than the rage within her finally gripped her. She loathed her weaknesses - how could she protect herself if the boy could intrude upon what took her mortal soul to create? If he could get through, anyone with some sort of ability could. Curses upon the journey - for if she couldn't seal herself trying her hardest - she and her child would never be safe. How could she trust anyone to be what they claimed? Her mind snapped shut like a vice - people deserved to die by the RoK, they were vermin.
Her words poured out and seemed to solidify into daggers. She cut into Nephesh with her dark stare, then straight into the heart of Colin when she sent him off with the engagement ring she had thrown at him.
She cast a spell to leave, only to return moments later for her pack. There she saw the effects of her wrath in the form of a sobbing child. Her heart softened a bit, enough to offer an apology. Regardless, if anything else, Nephesh was still a boy.
And so she ended up here - leaving Nephesh to his rest. She wouldn't go home... should Colin be there (which she doubted, but she didn't want to face him). She wouldn't go to the Guardians (no matter that they had no idea of her dilemma and, indeed, may have been the help she truly needed), she wouldn't stay at the compound (she had definitely had enough of finding out just how many others knew about the Temple). Lastly, she wouldn't be going to the Temple, for without being able to protect herself, fate and destiny could shove it. No, she would sleep in the woods tonight, away from people... and everything else.
Still not yet night, she laid upon the grass and put a hand on what would be Brin within her flat belly. She thought of the childs' father and her soul sunk... she had been so cruel. Then she thought of the power she had commanded for the first time. Of all the times she had tried - only once was she sufficiently enraged did it work... what could that mean? She drifted off - the effects of the rejuvenation spell wearing down, her spirit completely drained beyond the spell. Her last thought before her deep, dreamless slumber was hoping that Nephesh would forgive her missing the morning prayers.
She had gone home and told Colin everything and as always, he was there for her, comforting her. She fell asleep in his arms, feeling a bit better and woke the next morning - this morning - dragging Colin to the Jihad compound for a visit with Nephesh. Grobnak be damned, she was going to see the boy now that he was again awake.
The guards should have been her first indication of things to come. The questioning, wary eyes that locked on her as if wondering what she was doing there. After a bit of wandering, they had located Nephesh and all was joy... for a moment. The halfling had been under the impression that the journey had proceeded without him, which triggered Emalia's painful thoughts, which led to her finding out that even Nephesh knew what the Temple was for.
Emalia's mind - snapped. She wanted nothing to do with anyone. In her mind, they were all frauds. The innocents were not at all innocent. She had been duped. She squatted on the ground and let come from her the most soul rending sobs she could muster. Then... then... it happened. The calm.
Like the inside congealing outside, her very lifeforce seeped from her to form a cocoon. It hardened about her - keeping everyone out. From within, she could hear nothing but constant static. There was nothing to see, for the part of her sending for the shield was pure emotion. Only when she realized she was doing it, did she look up and break her focus slightly, right as the boy used his magic to enter her shield.
No sooner had she dropped her force and Nephesh's spell of rejuvenation landed, than the rage within her finally gripped her. She loathed her weaknesses - how could she protect herself if the boy could intrude upon what took her mortal soul to create? If he could get through, anyone with some sort of ability could. Curses upon the journey - for if she couldn't seal herself trying her hardest - she and her child would never be safe. How could she trust anyone to be what they claimed? Her mind snapped shut like a vice - people deserved to die by the RoK, they were vermin.
Her words poured out and seemed to solidify into daggers. She cut into Nephesh with her dark stare, then straight into the heart of Colin when she sent him off with the engagement ring she had thrown at him.
She cast a spell to leave, only to return moments later for her pack. There she saw the effects of her wrath in the form of a sobbing child. Her heart softened a bit, enough to offer an apology. Regardless, if anything else, Nephesh was still a boy.
And so she ended up here - leaving Nephesh to his rest. She wouldn't go home... should Colin be there (which she doubted, but she didn't want to face him). She wouldn't go to the Guardians (no matter that they had no idea of her dilemma and, indeed, may have been the help she truly needed), she wouldn't stay at the compound (she had definitely had enough of finding out just how many others knew about the Temple). Lastly, she wouldn't be going to the Temple, for without being able to protect herself, fate and destiny could shove it. No, she would sleep in the woods tonight, away from people... and everything else.
Still not yet night, she laid upon the grass and put a hand on what would be Brin within her flat belly. She thought of the childs' father and her soul sunk... she had been so cruel. Then she thought of the power she had commanded for the first time. Of all the times she had tried - only once was she sufficiently enraged did it work... what could that mean? She drifted off - the effects of the rejuvenation spell wearing down, her spirit completely drained beyond the spell. Her last thought before her deep, dreamless slumber was hoping that Nephesh would forgive her missing the morning prayers.
To Westbridge
Day after day, the circumstances, as well as the company, surrounding the young girl in white, got more and more peculiar. First were the halfling and the behemoth of a man (apparently not too fond of one another) accompanying her at the temple of the Morning Lord. Then the Sunite woman of which Xarkuss knew not a name, who met her at the Alliance Arms Inn. Soon thereafter was the seemingly awkward reunion between the girl, the two from the temple (who looked like they were oddly getting along, now), and finally the Guardian, Hellstrom, who, ironically enough, seemed to have led them to the girl. A point at which, even though non-audible at the distance Xarkuss was careful to keep, literally every member of the currently assembled congregation looked to share the same confusion.
Things had not been very eventful after the odd meeting, though an encounter with constituents of the Black Church seemed like it could have taken an unpleasant turn. The abnormally large man was with her, but there was no telling how many of them would come to the aid of the two already there, in the event of trouble. Concealing his presence was important, but of course the priority was to keep the girl safe... at almost any cost. Fortunately, it never came to that.
And now, things had taken a different turn. Now... he was following them back to Westbridge.
Things had not been very eventful after the odd meeting, though an encounter with constituents of the Black Church seemed like it could have taken an unpleasant turn. The abnormally large man was with her, but there was no telling how many of them would come to the aid of the two already there, in the event of trouble. Concealing his presence was important, but of course the priority was to keep the girl safe... at almost any cost. Fortunately, it never came to that.
And now, things had taken a different turn. Now... he was following them back to Westbridge.
Mister Stone
Emalia woke by nearly falling off of Colin's shoulder when he jerked himself awake. "How... what?" Colin queried. Emalia too, sat up and looked about, for the moment unaware of anything being the matter. "Um, whe.. where are we?"
Emalia stood slowly, looking around. The campfire had vanished, it was apparent from the deciduous trees around them, they were no longer in the same forest as before. Emalia stared harder at the trees, her mind turning over the various plants, smells, and immediately - she realized she was not far from the very same places she had played as a child. They were in the Haon Dor forest.
She had only revealed this to Colin before they noticed Nephesh sprawled out on the ground. Colin shook the boy, but it took Emalia to lay a hand upon him to determine he had fainted. "What is going on here?" Colin again asked.
"I imagine... this little one attempted to move us as we slept and found it too much for him."
"Him? He did this?"
"You don't really believe in him, do you?" Emalia smiled and lifted Nephesh into her arms, leaning the halfling’s head on her shoulder. Inwardly, she smiled at the idea of holding her mentor, his legs dangling in his robes, as if she were his mother. She refused Colin's offer to carry the boy as they decided to take him to a temple, rather than her clan hall.
Still, she was worried about going home, but eventually, she would have to. They navigated through the woods, until finding the road that led back into the heart of Westbridge. They headed unnoticed to Life's Chapel, where Emalia went directly to the priest. "Sir, I am sorry to disturb you, but I am in need of help."
"Is there something wrong with your son?"
"Son... oh no. No. Though he is the one whom I seek to aid. You see, he cast a spell of some sort and he is quite weak from it. I would take him to my clan hall but-"
"There is no need to explain. In through the door, lay him there and I will care for him."
"Thank you."
Emalia returned to Colin's side, her face still worried. "I'm sure they will take good care of him." "I suppose leaving to the mountains is a bit out of the question with Nephesh down and Hellstrom... I wonder where he is... and if he's alright..."
Emalia noticed Colin's look and his shrug. "Emalia... perhaps he chose not to be found."
"I... guess that is possible."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to sadden you but I remember he did want to see you back safely and, well, you are back."
It was true and Emalia knew it. She also had to remember - she had made a choice and it was one she would respect. She nodded and admitted to the need for a shower, and Colin who suggested accompanying her - though only to take turns.
It was how they arrived at her home - and how they ended up without clothes. Emalia allowed Colin the use of her bathing room as she took the clothes and herself out to the river to wash.
The thoughts went through her mind as the cool water raced about her legs. She would soon return to the clan hall and let them all know that, for the time being, she was back in Westbridge. She would have to inform them that she had seen Hellstrom. She then would wait for Nephesh. She found herself wondering, as she scrubbed the clothes in her hands, if it might help to allow Nephesh to come to and bring him back to her home. The garden and river might do him some good.
Hanging the clothes on a root, Emalia dunked herself a final time and turned to see Colin wrapped in a blanket with his eyes riveted to the ground. The sopping wet clothes doubled as a shield as her cheeks grew crimson. A teasing series of daring remarks left her standing nude and exposed, but as Colin drew nearer to her, Emalia could only think of how to avoid the encounter.
She succeeded in getting into the house, her heart the entire time threatening to break from her chest. She quickly donned her clothes, feeling sanctuary in their touch. Emalia looked to Colin with a sigh. "I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble."
"I suppose I should dress. I'll spare you any more discomfort and go upstairs. Truly, I am sorry also."
"There are no apologies needed, save my own for being foolish."
"Emalia. No, it's not foolishness. I just... I just wish there was something I could do for you."
"I just wish there were parts of me that could just let go."
"Emalia, I'll take what I can get. You don't need to worry so much about me. The way I see it, something is better than nothing. If I can only have part, then that's what I get."
Emalia stared at the fire for a little longer her mind racing. She saw Hellstrom and thought of his conclusion that Colin was better for her than him. She saw Melchior, throwing a book down as he stormed out of her life. She realized in that instant that no one would love her as Colin would, and it drew her up and over into his embrace.
They had only just begun to lose themselves, when Emalia's fingertip strayed across Colin's back. A long, vertical scar could be felt from the small of his back, up to places Emalia couldn't reach. She slowed the embraces, and entered the questions. She could feel Colin's irritation at her, again, breaking off their embraces, but the desire to see what this was overtook her mind and snapped her libido into nothingness. When he turned around at last, Emalia was in absolute shock. A wound, part healed, part seeming ready to break with new blood was stitched crudely nearly the entire length of his spine. The answer to who did such a think shocked her, but no more than everything else that was to follow.
Colin, himself had inflicted the wound, but for nothing that Emalia could have guessed. He had once been dead, he explained, and had returned only after some unnamed person had constructed a form for him. The words, "flesh golem," were not spoken - and truthfully, Emalia did not know there was a technical term for Colin - but the more he attempted to explain himself, the more Emalia's body revolted from the idea of a constructed body - parts of someone's body in a form - attempting to be with her intimately. Not only that, but again, another person in her life who had once been dead had come back for selfish reasons. Moreover, here was another choice she had made... without knowing the what the consequences would be.
Colin pleaded with her to see him as he always was - he was still the same... but the only thing Emalia wanted to see at that point, was his back - walking out her door. Once he had gone, Emalia slumped onto her couch. Everything was not what it seemed - and it left her wondering what else could possibly go wrong.
Emalia stood slowly, looking around. The campfire had vanished, it was apparent from the deciduous trees around them, they were no longer in the same forest as before. Emalia stared harder at the trees, her mind turning over the various plants, smells, and immediately - she realized she was not far from the very same places she had played as a child. They were in the Haon Dor forest.
She had only revealed this to Colin before they noticed Nephesh sprawled out on the ground. Colin shook the boy, but it took Emalia to lay a hand upon him to determine he had fainted. "What is going on here?" Colin again asked.
"I imagine... this little one attempted to move us as we slept and found it too much for him."
"Him? He did this?"
"You don't really believe in him, do you?" Emalia smiled and lifted Nephesh into her arms, leaning the halfling’s head on her shoulder. Inwardly, she smiled at the idea of holding her mentor, his legs dangling in his robes, as if she were his mother. She refused Colin's offer to carry the boy as they decided to take him to a temple, rather than her clan hall.
Still, she was worried about going home, but eventually, she would have to. They navigated through the woods, until finding the road that led back into the heart of Westbridge. They headed unnoticed to Life's Chapel, where Emalia went directly to the priest. "Sir, I am sorry to disturb you, but I am in need of help."
"Is there something wrong with your son?"
"Son... oh no. No. Though he is the one whom I seek to aid. You see, he cast a spell of some sort and he is quite weak from it. I would take him to my clan hall but-"
"There is no need to explain. In through the door, lay him there and I will care for him."
"Thank you."
Emalia returned to Colin's side, her face still worried. "I'm sure they will take good care of him." "I suppose leaving to the mountains is a bit out of the question with Nephesh down and Hellstrom... I wonder where he is... and if he's alright..."
Emalia noticed Colin's look and his shrug. "Emalia... perhaps he chose not to be found."
"I... guess that is possible."
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to sadden you but I remember he did want to see you back safely and, well, you are back."
It was true and Emalia knew it. She also had to remember - she had made a choice and it was one she would respect. She nodded and admitted to the need for a shower, and Colin who suggested accompanying her - though only to take turns.
It was how they arrived at her home - and how they ended up without clothes. Emalia allowed Colin the use of her bathing room as she took the clothes and herself out to the river to wash.
The thoughts went through her mind as the cool water raced about her legs. She would soon return to the clan hall and let them all know that, for the time being, she was back in Westbridge. She would have to inform them that she had seen Hellstrom. She then would wait for Nephesh. She found herself wondering, as she scrubbed the clothes in her hands, if it might help to allow Nephesh to come to and bring him back to her home. The garden and river might do him some good.
Hanging the clothes on a root, Emalia dunked herself a final time and turned to see Colin wrapped in a blanket with his eyes riveted to the ground. The sopping wet clothes doubled as a shield as her cheeks grew crimson. A teasing series of daring remarks left her standing nude and exposed, but as Colin drew nearer to her, Emalia could only think of how to avoid the encounter.
She succeeded in getting into the house, her heart the entire time threatening to break from her chest. She quickly donned her clothes, feeling sanctuary in their touch. Emalia looked to Colin with a sigh. "I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble."
"I suppose I should dress. I'll spare you any more discomfort and go upstairs. Truly, I am sorry also."
"There are no apologies needed, save my own for being foolish."
"Emalia. No, it's not foolishness. I just... I just wish there was something I could do for you."
"I just wish there were parts of me that could just let go."
"Emalia, I'll take what I can get. You don't need to worry so much about me. The way I see it, something is better than nothing. If I can only have part, then that's what I get."
Emalia stared at the fire for a little longer her mind racing. She saw Hellstrom and thought of his conclusion that Colin was better for her than him. She saw Melchior, throwing a book down as he stormed out of her life. She realized in that instant that no one would love her as Colin would, and it drew her up and over into his embrace.
They had only just begun to lose themselves, when Emalia's fingertip strayed across Colin's back. A long, vertical scar could be felt from the small of his back, up to places Emalia couldn't reach. She slowed the embraces, and entered the questions. She could feel Colin's irritation at her, again, breaking off their embraces, but the desire to see what this was overtook her mind and snapped her libido into nothingness. When he turned around at last, Emalia was in absolute shock. A wound, part healed, part seeming ready to break with new blood was stitched crudely nearly the entire length of his spine. The answer to who did such a think shocked her, but no more than everything else that was to follow.
Colin, himself had inflicted the wound, but for nothing that Emalia could have guessed. He had once been dead, he explained, and had returned only after some unnamed person had constructed a form for him. The words, "flesh golem," were not spoken - and truthfully, Emalia did not know there was a technical term for Colin - but the more he attempted to explain himself, the more Emalia's body revolted from the idea of a constructed body - parts of someone's body in a form - attempting to be with her intimately. Not only that, but again, another person in her life who had once been dead had come back for selfish reasons. Moreover, here was another choice she had made... without knowing the what the consequences would be.
Colin pleaded with her to see him as he always was - he was still the same... but the only thing Emalia wanted to see at that point, was his back - walking out her door. Once he had gone, Emalia slumped onto her couch. Everything was not what it seemed - and it left her wondering what else could possibly go wrong.
Quickening
Emalia and Colin arrived back at the campsite arm in arm. She quickly blurted out the fact that she had led them the wrong way, hoping that in doing so, Hellstrom might forget the entrance she had made. Nephesh appeared perplexed that any Faithful would be in the city of Luskan, but when assured by Emalia, he let his questions fall. It was time to change gears - completely. "TTHEE MMOOUNNTAINNSSS OF BAAALLEFFIRREEEEE"
Emalia dropped to her knees at the sound of the familiar voice, gripping her ears though it was to no avail. It was the same voice that had spoken to her before - only this time... it was specific. Unfortunately, none of the group had any idea where the mountains of Balefire were. Again, it was looking to Emalia that another failed journey would ensue.
Colin and Nephesh walked to the campfire for the rabbit, giving Emalia a moment to request Hellstrom's attention. She knew they needed to talk and quietly, she followed him not far from the campsite. "Hellstrom, I'm sorry."
"Sorry for?"
"You know, if you are so stubborn you won't look at the situation-"
"I realized what I caused in Westbrige."
"You caused nothing. Everything happens for a reason."
"I caused you nothing but confusion and pain since the day we first really met in the woods north of Westbridge."
And so it was that they continued speaking. Emalia tried to get him to see that he did nothing wrong, and especially, that the Guardians were not going to view him in a negative light - but Hellstrom wouldn't hear it. Not from her. He would see her through to the end of her journey, but this didn't matter to Emalia. She had proved she would go out on her own - but something in her continued to feel guilty for bringing anyone else along. She had not only led the party the wrong way - she had made one of her own clan members fear returning home.
Before she could say more, Nephesh arrived, flashing his fingers toward Hellstrom. She had never seen such "language" used, and could not understand what was being said. They walked back to the camp, Hellstrom translating the fact that now, each party member knew of Nephesh's involvement with the Jihad. Both Nephesh and Hellstrom again began flashing hand signs to one another - and with Colin oddly asleep – Emalia had nothing more to do than listen to the occasional pop of the fire and look at Colin. Her choices all weighed heavily upon her and she found herself wondering where it would all lead. Eventually, she curled up at Colin's side and closed out the sounds of the night for the whispers of her dreams.
Emalia dropped to her knees at the sound of the familiar voice, gripping her ears though it was to no avail. It was the same voice that had spoken to her before - only this time... it was specific. Unfortunately, none of the group had any idea where the mountains of Balefire were. Again, it was looking to Emalia that another failed journey would ensue.
Colin and Nephesh walked to the campfire for the rabbit, giving Emalia a moment to request Hellstrom's attention. She knew they needed to talk and quietly, she followed him not far from the campsite. "Hellstrom, I'm sorry."
"Sorry for?"
"You know, if you are so stubborn you won't look at the situation-"
"I realized what I caused in Westbrige."
"You caused nothing. Everything happens for a reason."
"I caused you nothing but confusion and pain since the day we first really met in the woods north of Westbridge."
And so it was that they continued speaking. Emalia tried to get him to see that he did nothing wrong, and especially, that the Guardians were not going to view him in a negative light - but Hellstrom wouldn't hear it. Not from her. He would see her through to the end of her journey, but this didn't matter to Emalia. She had proved she would go out on her own - but something in her continued to feel guilty for bringing anyone else along. She had not only led the party the wrong way - she had made one of her own clan members fear returning home.
Before she could say more, Nephesh arrived, flashing his fingers toward Hellstrom. She had never seen such "language" used, and could not understand what was being said. They walked back to the camp, Hellstrom translating the fact that now, each party member knew of Nephesh's involvement with the Jihad. Both Nephesh and Hellstrom again began flashing hand signs to one another - and with Colin oddly asleep – Emalia had nothing more to do than listen to the occasional pop of the fire and look at Colin. Her choices all weighed heavily upon her and she found herself wondering where it would all lead. Eventually, she curled up at Colin's side and closed out the sounds of the night for the whispers of her dreams.
Unwanted Want
Emalia stared at the road ahead at the same time she listened to the heavy footsteps beside her. She and Colin had been walking in silence from the time they left camp early in the morning. Apparently, Nephesh had heard nothing of the group discussion in the early dawn hour, so for the boy it was most rational to send the "bodyguard". After all her begging and pleading with Nephesh not to speak to Hellstrom about being Jihad - the one source she never thought would talk had sung like a blue jay in the spring.
The only reason she hadn't dragged the entire party to Luskan was the fact that Nephesh, being halfling, was despised by the Luskan people. Colin, too was for bringing everyone - until Nephesh suggested he alone accompany Emalia.
Colin broke the silence with a statement that inwardly sent Emalia into a burst of flame: "I get the feeling you're upset with me." Had she more of her mother in her, she might have flown into a rage but her own calm stepped in to soothe her throughout their walk. She had explained to him her thoughts on Hellstrom and why she cared, when the full impact of what was being said struck her. She wanted Hellstrom to look at her with love in his eyes - just as Colin wanted from her.
Though her heart was not truly with him, Emalia made a choice as the gates of Luskan finally came into sight. Colin had done everything a truly devoted lover would do, where Hellstrom had run away. She linked her arm with Colin's massive one - determining that this was the right thing to do. She would think with her head and let her heart follow.
"Ay mate, friend er foe?" A pair of massive guards stepped out into the center of the road, one of whom thrust a rather meaty palm in the center of Colin's chest. Emalia glanced over, taking in Colin's look of irritation at having the man's hand on his person. She reached up, gently placing a hand on the guard's arm.
"Friend."
"We ain't privy to friends here."
"We come to buy."
"Aye, that's what all of 'em come to do. Start trouble and you'll be slapped in a cell and
forgotten about faster than a full on Hammer blizzard."
"'Cept Her."
"Yea. Lil' miss might be a treat for those starvin' thieves."
"Might be a treat anyway. Don't worry miss, we'll *try* to stop 'em."
Emalia's immediate reaction was to turn to Colin. Upon his face flashed a look of anger. Before Emalia's eyes, his own seemed to darken as a menacing look burdened his features. "You don't need to concern yourself, she's taken care of. Let us pass. Shouldn't you be looking out for trouble?"
"Colin... let's just go."
"Listen to the girlie, ay? N' watch yer back."
"Let's go..."
Already versed in the troubles that Colin could cause, Emalia let him past the snickering guards without looking back. Past the gate, the city laid out before them. From where they stood, hundreds of ship masts stood reaching to the sky, and like ants, the sailors moved among them with boxes and other assorted goods bound for either Luskan itself, or the world beyond. Everything about the town seemed dirty, in the sense that every one of the citizens carted around bags of coin along with a weapon in open defiance of anyone getting near them, or scuttled about with shifting eyes and their dark cloaks wrapped around them and their goods tightly.
Colin and Emalia walked into the streets and for once, Emalia didn't mind how close Colin was to her, nor the glowering gazes he gave to the many men that dared to grin her way. The true trouble, however was not knowing at all where to go. There was, however, one place where - when she thought about it, would probably be able to answer any question she had. Towering above the city, a tall black building loomed. Shaped almost like a wicked tree of many branches, or a hand with too many fingers, it offered a deep sense of foreboding - as well as the possibility for knowledge beyond that of any simple sailor.
Luskan's roads seemed purposefully built to thwart even the best cartographer, and both Emalia and Colin found themselves growing rather impatient. Lady Luck, however, seemed to beam an approving smile upon them when Emalia heard the word, "Apprentice." Quickly, she wheeled about and saw two black-hooded figures walking along the street, animatedly discussing between them something in regards to her God.
Before Colin could act to stop her, she rushed up to the men, her face much brighter than it had been for hours. "Excuse me, you mentioned the Apprentice?"
The men turned to her, their faces barely visible beneath their hoods. The only indication of any sort of physical markings was the curious numbers that were burned on the backs of their hands.
"What do you want, girl?"
"I'm seeking out a temple and hope you might be able to tell me where it is."
"What makes you believe we would share any knowledge with you?"
"I, too, serve the Apprentice."
Both men glanced at one another and Emalia could barely feel in the air the silent laughter that passed between them. They looked back at her with scrutinizing gazes before even continuing. "You aren't from around here, are you girl?"
"No. I've traveled a long way and am seeking the Temple of Light."
A guarded hiss escaped from one of the men's lips, which seemed to rouse Colin into protectionmode. Emalia quietly held up a hand and stepped closer. "Please. Can you tell me where it is?"
"You truly are foolish girl. For your sake, we hope you have not come too far. What you are looking for will not be found here."
"It won't be in Luskan, but in the mountains."
"Idiocy. You will die there, that much is certain. I will only bother to repeat myself once. What you are looking for will not be found here."
"Then... where?"
The man bearing the numeral "752" on his hand scowled beneath his hood and took the smallest step toward Emalia. It could have been several people for all she knew, as the force was staggering as it shoved her backward. "May Sephiroth guide you on your quest, foolish ones." "And learn you this - eavesdrop upon us again and you'll find yourself sorely in need of assistance."
The men walked off, their conversation renewed in hushed voices. Emalia turned to Colin with tears in her eyes. Everything was for naught. The temple she traveled so far and so long to reach was just as distant as when she started her trip. Only know, she had no clue where to go.
Colin wrapped his arms around her as she let out a disappointed sob. There was nothing here but gawking eyes, rude people, and broken dreams. The only thing they could do, was head back to camp and inform the others.
The only reason she hadn't dragged the entire party to Luskan was the fact that Nephesh, being halfling, was despised by the Luskan people. Colin, too was for bringing everyone - until Nephesh suggested he alone accompany Emalia.
Colin broke the silence with a statement that inwardly sent Emalia into a burst of flame: "I get the feeling you're upset with me." Had she more of her mother in her, she might have flown into a rage but her own calm stepped in to soothe her throughout their walk. She had explained to him her thoughts on Hellstrom and why she cared, when the full impact of what was being said struck her. She wanted Hellstrom to look at her with love in his eyes - just as Colin wanted from her.
Though her heart was not truly with him, Emalia made a choice as the gates of Luskan finally came into sight. Colin had done everything a truly devoted lover would do, where Hellstrom had run away. She linked her arm with Colin's massive one - determining that this was the right thing to do. She would think with her head and let her heart follow.
"Ay mate, friend er foe?" A pair of massive guards stepped out into the center of the road, one of whom thrust a rather meaty palm in the center of Colin's chest. Emalia glanced over, taking in Colin's look of irritation at having the man's hand on his person. She reached up, gently placing a hand on the guard's arm.
"Friend."
"We ain't privy to friends here."
"We come to buy."
"Aye, that's what all of 'em come to do. Start trouble and you'll be slapped in a cell and
forgotten about faster than a full on Hammer blizzard."
"'Cept Her."
"Yea. Lil' miss might be a treat for those starvin' thieves."
"Might be a treat anyway. Don't worry miss, we'll *try* to stop 'em."
Emalia's immediate reaction was to turn to Colin. Upon his face flashed a look of anger. Before Emalia's eyes, his own seemed to darken as a menacing look burdened his features. "You don't need to concern yourself, she's taken care of. Let us pass. Shouldn't you be looking out for trouble?"
"Colin... let's just go."
"Listen to the girlie, ay? N' watch yer back."
"Let's go..."
Already versed in the troubles that Colin could cause, Emalia let him past the snickering guards without looking back. Past the gate, the city laid out before them. From where they stood, hundreds of ship masts stood reaching to the sky, and like ants, the sailors moved among them with boxes and other assorted goods bound for either Luskan itself, or the world beyond. Everything about the town seemed dirty, in the sense that every one of the citizens carted around bags of coin along with a weapon in open defiance of anyone getting near them, or scuttled about with shifting eyes and their dark cloaks wrapped around them and their goods tightly.
Colin and Emalia walked into the streets and for once, Emalia didn't mind how close Colin was to her, nor the glowering gazes he gave to the many men that dared to grin her way. The true trouble, however was not knowing at all where to go. There was, however, one place where - when she thought about it, would probably be able to answer any question she had. Towering above the city, a tall black building loomed. Shaped almost like a wicked tree of many branches, or a hand with too many fingers, it offered a deep sense of foreboding - as well as the possibility for knowledge beyond that of any simple sailor.
Luskan's roads seemed purposefully built to thwart even the best cartographer, and both Emalia and Colin found themselves growing rather impatient. Lady Luck, however, seemed to beam an approving smile upon them when Emalia heard the word, "Apprentice." Quickly, she wheeled about and saw two black-hooded figures walking along the street, animatedly discussing between them something in regards to her God.
Before Colin could act to stop her, she rushed up to the men, her face much brighter than it had been for hours. "Excuse me, you mentioned the Apprentice?"
The men turned to her, their faces barely visible beneath their hoods. The only indication of any sort of physical markings was the curious numbers that were burned on the backs of their hands.
"What do you want, girl?"
"I'm seeking out a temple and hope you might be able to tell me where it is."
"What makes you believe we would share any knowledge with you?"
"I, too, serve the Apprentice."
Both men glanced at one another and Emalia could barely feel in the air the silent laughter that passed between them. They looked back at her with scrutinizing gazes before even continuing. "You aren't from around here, are you girl?"
"No. I've traveled a long way and am seeking the Temple of Light."
A guarded hiss escaped from one of the men's lips, which seemed to rouse Colin into protectionmode. Emalia quietly held up a hand and stepped closer. "Please. Can you tell me where it is?"
"You truly are foolish girl. For your sake, we hope you have not come too far. What you are looking for will not be found here."
"It won't be in Luskan, but in the mountains."
"Idiocy. You will die there, that much is certain. I will only bother to repeat myself once. What you are looking for will not be found here."
"Then... where?"
The man bearing the numeral "752" on his hand scowled beneath his hood and took the smallest step toward Emalia. It could have been several people for all she knew, as the force was staggering as it shoved her backward. "May Sephiroth guide you on your quest, foolish ones." "And learn you this - eavesdrop upon us again and you'll find yourself sorely in need of assistance."
The men walked off, their conversation renewed in hushed voices. Emalia turned to Colin with tears in her eyes. Everything was for naught. The temple she traveled so far and so long to reach was just as distant as when she started her trip. Only know, she had no clue where to go.
Colin wrapped his arms around her as she let out a disappointed sob. There was nothing here but gawking eyes, rude people, and broken dreams. The only thing they could do, was head back to camp and inform the others.
Hope
As Colin sprinted at full speed with the combined weight of all their gear on his back he felt none of it. He gave hardly a thought to what damage he might be doing to his body. After all, he wasn't worried about himself, but if something happened to Emalia... Colin willed his legs to move even faster as he kept his eye on Nephesh and Hellstrom flying overhead. He would not be able to catch them, but he was determined not to lose sight of them. It would have been so much easier to just be up there too, but Colin was fairly sure the potion would have had no effect for him, and that would have raised questions that Colin did not want to face, not with the prospect of meeting up with Emalia present. At least Colin was grateful that they had accepted his refusal without question.
When he first saw the two flying figures descending Colin didn't know why, but then he saw it, a thin wisp of smoke snaking its way towards the heavens. Colin immediately veered his course towards its source, his thick legs thrashing the sparse undergrowth before him as he left the path. It took only minutes for Colin to reach the small fire and he dropped the packs at the sight of its creator standing there talking to Nephesh and Hellstrom. Emalia looked every bit like an angel to Colin, her white robes peeking out beneath a brown traveling cloak and her hair shimmering with the rain that still clung to it. He rushed over to her, oblivious to her look of disbelief still directed towards Hellstrom.
Colin wanted nothing more than to take Emalia in his arms yet he resisted. After all, she had decided to leave on her own. He would have to take comfort instead in the fact that she appeared unharmed. As the four of them spoke it wasn't long before Colin came to the realization that Emalia knew their woodsman companion and it was then Colin learned the name he had missed the first time around: Hellstrom. To Colin, it felt like he had just been clubbed in the gut. Not only did they know each other, but here was Emalia's recent love, and they had led him right to her.
"I have to get rid of him." was Colin's first thought, yet he paused. It was true that Hellstrom had been invaluable in finding Emalia, which Colin voiced aloud, and if he said or did the wrong thing he only risked pushing Emalia away. However the sight of Emalia's hand resting on Hellstrom's arm as she spoke to him urged Colin to do something.
"Where do you think you will go from here?" Colin inquired of Hellstrom, hoping to prompt him along his way. However, the move quickly backfired on him as both Nephesh and Emalia requested for Hellstrom to join them.
It seemed that Hellstrom was the only one who understood the suggestion in Colin's inquiry and he attempted to refuse, "As much as I would enjoy company after so long alone my presence here will only serve to cause problems."
Things still didn't go as Colin had hoped when it dawned on Emalia what Hellstrom was referring to. "Oh no..." she whispered and looked to the ground."Why can't she let him go!?" Colin thought to himself with an unseen scowl, "He has caused her such pain and I have been there with her every step of the way. He doesn't deserve her! I should just spare her the trouble and eliminate..." his thoughts were redirected with the speed of a sword parry, "I have to talk to him. I will show Emalia that I have changed."
As Emalia pulled Nephesh aside to speak to him Colin took the opportunity to offer his own invitation to Hellstrom. Colin was dismayed at how quickly Hellstrom accepted, but the words had already been said.
Hellstrom went off into the woods with his bow and Colin was left with only his thoughts. Had he really made the right decision? He wanted to show Emalia a different side of him, and Hellstrom could be a true asset in the journey ahead, but he had just invited the competition for Emalia's love to travel with them further.
Colin was broken from his thoughts when Emalia came up from behind to speak to him. Unfortunately, the first thing she asked wasn't his first choice of subjects. "Where did Hellstrom go?"
Colin sighed to himself and kept his gaze on the grass at his feet. "I think he's hunting."
When his response was met with silence Colin realized he wasn't going to bring Emalia closer to him with his current attitude. He stood up, brushed himself off, and turned to face Emalia with a smile forced upon his face.
Emalia gave him a look of gratitude and spoke quietly, "Thank you Colin. I'm very sorry I've been so spiteful."
Colin shrugged off the words but within his spirits immediately lifted. "No, you've been under a lot of pressure, that's all." "I'm going to try to do better. I know you want what is best for me."
The words moved Colin deeply, an encouraging breeze for the flame of hope within him which moments ago felt in danger of being snuffed out. Colin knew not what to say, instead simply offering a friendly hug. Colin was elated when she accepted the hug with a smile. As he held her close he was very aware of her slender body pressed against him, the softness of her still damp hair against his cheek. He never wanted this moment to end, yet he knew if it lingered too long in silence it wouldn't be right. Still close to her, Colin brought up how worried he had been and they spoke briefly about Emalia's scuffles. They finally parted when Nephesh came over to pester Colin about where their supplies were and Emalia was drawn over to Hellstrom's offer of cooked venison.
Colin forced himself to eat with the rest, dismayed as he was watching Emalia sitting beside Hellstrom as they did so. However, Emalia's words and her touch still lingered in his mind, granting him patience and hope. He would hold onto those thoughts throughout his sleepless night by the fire, long after laying Emalia down to rest.
When he first saw the two flying figures descending Colin didn't know why, but then he saw it, a thin wisp of smoke snaking its way towards the heavens. Colin immediately veered his course towards its source, his thick legs thrashing the sparse undergrowth before him as he left the path. It took only minutes for Colin to reach the small fire and he dropped the packs at the sight of its creator standing there talking to Nephesh and Hellstrom. Emalia looked every bit like an angel to Colin, her white robes peeking out beneath a brown traveling cloak and her hair shimmering with the rain that still clung to it. He rushed over to her, oblivious to her look of disbelief still directed towards Hellstrom.
Colin wanted nothing more than to take Emalia in his arms yet he resisted. After all, she had decided to leave on her own. He would have to take comfort instead in the fact that she appeared unharmed. As the four of them spoke it wasn't long before Colin came to the realization that Emalia knew their woodsman companion and it was then Colin learned the name he had missed the first time around: Hellstrom. To Colin, it felt like he had just been clubbed in the gut. Not only did they know each other, but here was Emalia's recent love, and they had led him right to her.
"I have to get rid of him." was Colin's first thought, yet he paused. It was true that Hellstrom had been invaluable in finding Emalia, which Colin voiced aloud, and if he said or did the wrong thing he only risked pushing Emalia away. However the sight of Emalia's hand resting on Hellstrom's arm as she spoke to him urged Colin to do something.
"Where do you think you will go from here?" Colin inquired of Hellstrom, hoping to prompt him along his way. However, the move quickly backfired on him as both Nephesh and Emalia requested for Hellstrom to join them.
It seemed that Hellstrom was the only one who understood the suggestion in Colin's inquiry and he attempted to refuse, "As much as I would enjoy company after so long alone my presence here will only serve to cause problems."
Things still didn't go as Colin had hoped when it dawned on Emalia what Hellstrom was referring to. "Oh no..." she whispered and looked to the ground."Why can't she let him go!?" Colin thought to himself with an unseen scowl, "He has caused her such pain and I have been there with her every step of the way. He doesn't deserve her! I should just spare her the trouble and eliminate..." his thoughts were redirected with the speed of a sword parry, "I have to talk to him. I will show Emalia that I have changed."
As Emalia pulled Nephesh aside to speak to him Colin took the opportunity to offer his own invitation to Hellstrom. Colin was dismayed at how quickly Hellstrom accepted, but the words had already been said.
Hellstrom went off into the woods with his bow and Colin was left with only his thoughts. Had he really made the right decision? He wanted to show Emalia a different side of him, and Hellstrom could be a true asset in the journey ahead, but he had just invited the competition for Emalia's love to travel with them further.
Colin was broken from his thoughts when Emalia came up from behind to speak to him. Unfortunately, the first thing she asked wasn't his first choice of subjects. "Where did Hellstrom go?"
Colin sighed to himself and kept his gaze on the grass at his feet. "I think he's hunting."
When his response was met with silence Colin realized he wasn't going to bring Emalia closer to him with his current attitude. He stood up, brushed himself off, and turned to face Emalia with a smile forced upon his face.
Emalia gave him a look of gratitude and spoke quietly, "Thank you Colin. I'm very sorry I've been so spiteful."
Colin shrugged off the words but within his spirits immediately lifted. "No, you've been under a lot of pressure, that's all." "I'm going to try to do better. I know you want what is best for me."
The words moved Colin deeply, an encouraging breeze for the flame of hope within him which moments ago felt in danger of being snuffed out. Colin knew not what to say, instead simply offering a friendly hug. Colin was elated when she accepted the hug with a smile. As he held her close he was very aware of her slender body pressed against him, the softness of her still damp hair against his cheek. He never wanted this moment to end, yet he knew if it lingered too long in silence it wouldn't be right. Still close to her, Colin brought up how worried he had been and they spoke briefly about Emalia's scuffles. They finally parted when Nephesh came over to pester Colin about where their supplies were and Emalia was drawn over to Hellstrom's offer of cooked venison.
Colin forced himself to eat with the rest, dismayed as he was watching Emalia sitting beside Hellstrom as they did so. However, Emalia's words and her touch still lingered in his mind, granting him patience and hope. He would hold onto those thoughts throughout his sleepless night by the fire, long after laying Emalia down to rest.
Silent Reflection
Hellstrom slipped silently into the woods and found a tree close to the edge of the camp. He quickly climbed to a spot where he could look at the camp without being seen and pondered the odd circumstances that had brought all 4 of them together. Colin and Emalia at least Hellstrom knew even if he only knew Colin's name from Emalia. The child halfling Nephesh was a rather odd addition to their crew. Not to mention his incredible grasp of the use of magic.
In the camp Colin sat outside his tent looking off into the woods obviously absorbed in his own thoughts. Emalia slept like the dead in Hellstrom's tent, and Nephesh was sleeping in his own tent not far from the others.
Hellstrom, satisfied that everything would be safe in the camp decided to take the opportunity to scout the area a little bit. He nimbly leapt from branch to branch from tree to tree so as not to leave any trace on the ground as to where he had gone. After traveling this way for a short time, Hellstrom dropped to the ground and found a suitable small tree that he could use to make a staff out of. Offering a small prayer to Ehlonna, Hellstrom cut the young tree down and removed the small branches from its young trunk. It was a perfect weight and slightly taller than he was.
Hellstrom walked for a bit and found the clearing that he had killed the deer in earlier that evening, which reminded him that he needed to wrap that meat in something so that he could dry it properly later. So many things were swirling through his thoughts. Hellstrom knew that he would be unable to concentrate on the important things if he did not calm down and still the swirl of unimportant thoughts.
Hellstrom stripped off his shirt in the rain and walked out into the center of the clearing. With the rain falling and the lightning flashing overhead, Hellstrom spent a short while meditating, consciousness floating in the void devoid of thought.
Standing, Hellstrom held his newfound staff out in front of him. The staff spun as Hellstrom flowed into the forms he had learned in his training, the movements ingrained in his flesh from countless hours practicing in the elven woods.
After two hours of this, Hellstrom stopped in the middle of the clearing again, his thoughts collected and calm despite the situation at hand. The solution was simple really. They were going north and he was as well. Even if he wanted to avoid the others, it was likely they would run across each other again before long. Not to mention that regardless of Colin's strength and courage the woods was not a place for someone who knew nothing of it to be alone. Emalia would be safer with someone who knew what to watch for helping them.
Hellstrom sat down in the field watching the edge of the horizon lighten slightly as the new day approached. He had promised the others he would return before the sun came up over the horizon, and he was not one to break a promise. He gathered his shirt not bothering to put it back on, it was wet after all. New staff in one hand and soaked shirt in the other Hellstrom jogged back toward the camp to help the others break camp and gain some ground on their travels.
In the camp Colin sat outside his tent looking off into the woods obviously absorbed in his own thoughts. Emalia slept like the dead in Hellstrom's tent, and Nephesh was sleeping in his own tent not far from the others.
Hellstrom, satisfied that everything would be safe in the camp decided to take the opportunity to scout the area a little bit. He nimbly leapt from branch to branch from tree to tree so as not to leave any trace on the ground as to where he had gone. After traveling this way for a short time, Hellstrom dropped to the ground and found a suitable small tree that he could use to make a staff out of. Offering a small prayer to Ehlonna, Hellstrom cut the young tree down and removed the small branches from its young trunk. It was a perfect weight and slightly taller than he was.
Hellstrom walked for a bit and found the clearing that he had killed the deer in earlier that evening, which reminded him that he needed to wrap that meat in something so that he could dry it properly later. So many things were swirling through his thoughts. Hellstrom knew that he would be unable to concentrate on the important things if he did not calm down and still the swirl of unimportant thoughts.
Hellstrom stripped off his shirt in the rain and walked out into the center of the clearing. With the rain falling and the lightning flashing overhead, Hellstrom spent a short while meditating, consciousness floating in the void devoid of thought.
Standing, Hellstrom held his newfound staff out in front of him. The staff spun as Hellstrom flowed into the forms he had learned in his training, the movements ingrained in his flesh from countless hours practicing in the elven woods.
After two hours of this, Hellstrom stopped in the middle of the clearing again, his thoughts collected and calm despite the situation at hand. The solution was simple really. They were going north and he was as well. Even if he wanted to avoid the others, it was likely they would run across each other again before long. Not to mention that regardless of Colin's strength and courage the woods was not a place for someone who knew nothing of it to be alone. Emalia would be safer with someone who knew what to watch for helping them.
Hellstrom sat down in the field watching the edge of the horizon lighten slightly as the new day approached. He had promised the others he would return before the sun came up over the horizon, and he was not one to break a promise. He gathered his shirt not bothering to put it back on, it was wet after all. New staff in one hand and soaked shirt in the other Hellstrom jogged back toward the camp to help the others break camp and gain some ground on their travels.
Found
Emalia sped through the air, groaning. Not two moments before the weather was fine, then one by one the cold droplets of rain began to pelt her like little stinging barbs on her forehead. Everything on her body was getting saturated, and it was apparent that she would either need to land and make camp, or suffer the consequences of biting cold air on a freezing wet body.
The trees weren't welcoming as Emalia drifted down between the branches. Evergreen needles pricked at her ankles and nabbed at her cloak before she finally alighted at their trunks with a soft thud. Beneath the thick mantle of living needles the rain had barely touched the ground. Shivering, she made a small fire - carefully clearing away any of the brush that might turn the small flame into a rolling inferno.
Emalia let out a deep sigh and wiped her damp hair back from her face. She hadn't the time to even wring it out when the sound of soft footfalls reached her ears. She spun about quickly to see the form of Nephesh, complacently walking into her camp. It was much like seeing an apparition though she knew it was no trick. "How by the Gods did you get here..." Before she could finish, the man who landed behind the halfling tore the very breath from her chest. Her vision began to swim and only the frigid water that ran down her hair kept her from dropping to the ground. "Hellstrom..."
Emalia walked over to him, noting the fact that he looked more rugged than before, but still his black hair shone (many thanks to the wet weather that created an even more powerful vision). She wanted more than anything to throw her arms around his neck, perhaps even to kiss him, but a quick reminder of her situation - their - situation, stopped her from making a fool of herself... and more the better. "Emalia! Are you alright?"
In her heart she knew that out of these three people, two should not be together - yet here they were. "You know each other?" "Of course," Emalia answered, "this is Hellstrom."
How many times had Emalia cried on Colin's shoulder, or sat with him as he listened to her breaking heart over Hellstrom? She easily could have counted, as they were written plainly on Colin's face. Even though his countenance was grim, Colin kept silent, much to Emalia's relief.
She couldn't be sure how it all came about, but Emalia immediately wanted to know about the other Guardians. She spoke with Hellstrom, amidst Nephesh's noted questions and eventually had to explain to everyone why she had run off. There wasn't really a way to say it without simply saying it - she honestly felt that the mission she was on was no longer her own.
As Colin reassured her, Emalia sat wondering what she should do. A question which was answered as Hellstrom began to excuse himself. "Oh please... don't... don't go." 'Gods there must be something wrong with me... what am I doing?!' Emalia quickly thought, but the words were out before she could think anything over. The truth was she wanted him near, even if the tension had suddenly become unbearable.
Emalia stared between Colin and Hellstrom as they spoke until interrupted by a note. "Are they enemies?" it read.
She looked down at the small boy and gently lead him a few paces from the camp. "They are not enemies but, I believe, if I may be so bold to say it, they are both in love, or something much like it, with me." "Both parents may love a child and love one another. What is wrong with that?"
She could only smile, as here was a child - no matter how much he knew about The Apprentice, nor what kind of guide he might be to her, still unknowing of the intimacies of the heart. "Nothing at all."
Emalia told Nephesh a bit about the problems between she and Hellstrom, and could barely hold herself silent as the boy looked at her incredulously. "Why would Hellstrom be mad at you for joining the Church?"
"He does not believe as the church does... and it is why I, too, make this trip. To be certain
I am ready. It's complicated, but please, say nothing."
"If he does not know of the Truth, shouldn't I tell him?"
"I, after everything, am glad to see his face look on me with something better than anger."
"He must listen! The voice will make him understand."
"Please, Nephesh, I'm begging you not to put me in such torment again." Her heart beat miles a minute as she sunk down into the bed of needles, memories of Hellstrom's enraged face as they argued before, assailing her. She looked up, almost ready to cry, when the boy reached over and gave her a hug. It was one of the most welcome things in the world.
The venison was delicious compared to the half-hearted spells and mysterious food Emalia had found in her pack. As she chewed, Hellstrom spoke in a whisper: "In all my wandering lately in all the random choices and directions I've taken I never dreamed I would ever see you again." "Nor did I."
Emalia watched in silence as Hellstrom handed Colin a piece of the venison, letting the conversation drop there. Famished, Emalia inhaled the rest of her deer, then walked to the nearest tree. With hunger out of the way, the only thing left to dwell upon was where she would be going, and how to keep everything calm.
She curled within the cloak given her by the traveler, and put her head on her knees. At the sound of the pan flute, courtesy of Nephesh's skilled playing, Emalia drifted off into a dreamless sleep - her thoughts of what was to come dissipating like her breath in the chill Hammer air.
The trees weren't welcoming as Emalia drifted down between the branches. Evergreen needles pricked at her ankles and nabbed at her cloak before she finally alighted at their trunks with a soft thud. Beneath the thick mantle of living needles the rain had barely touched the ground. Shivering, she made a small fire - carefully clearing away any of the brush that might turn the small flame into a rolling inferno.
Emalia let out a deep sigh and wiped her damp hair back from her face. She hadn't the time to even wring it out when the sound of soft footfalls reached her ears. She spun about quickly to see the form of Nephesh, complacently walking into her camp. It was much like seeing an apparition though she knew it was no trick. "How by the Gods did you get here..." Before she could finish, the man who landed behind the halfling tore the very breath from her chest. Her vision began to swim and only the frigid water that ran down her hair kept her from dropping to the ground. "Hellstrom..."
Emalia walked over to him, noting the fact that he looked more rugged than before, but still his black hair shone (many thanks to the wet weather that created an even more powerful vision). She wanted more than anything to throw her arms around his neck, perhaps even to kiss him, but a quick reminder of her situation - their - situation, stopped her from making a fool of herself... and more the better. "Emalia! Are you alright?"
In her heart she knew that out of these three people, two should not be together - yet here they were. "You know each other?" "Of course," Emalia answered, "this is Hellstrom."
How many times had Emalia cried on Colin's shoulder, or sat with him as he listened to her breaking heart over Hellstrom? She easily could have counted, as they were written plainly on Colin's face. Even though his countenance was grim, Colin kept silent, much to Emalia's relief.
She couldn't be sure how it all came about, but Emalia immediately wanted to know about the other Guardians. She spoke with Hellstrom, amidst Nephesh's noted questions and eventually had to explain to everyone why she had run off. There wasn't really a way to say it without simply saying it - she honestly felt that the mission she was on was no longer her own.
As Colin reassured her, Emalia sat wondering what she should do. A question which was answered as Hellstrom began to excuse himself. "Oh please... don't... don't go." 'Gods there must be something wrong with me... what am I doing?!' Emalia quickly thought, but the words were out before she could think anything over. The truth was she wanted him near, even if the tension had suddenly become unbearable.
Emalia stared between Colin and Hellstrom as they spoke until interrupted by a note. "Are they enemies?" it read.
She looked down at the small boy and gently lead him a few paces from the camp. "They are not enemies but, I believe, if I may be so bold to say it, they are both in love, or something much like it, with me." "Both parents may love a child and love one another. What is wrong with that?"
She could only smile, as here was a child - no matter how much he knew about The Apprentice, nor what kind of guide he might be to her, still unknowing of the intimacies of the heart. "Nothing at all."
Emalia told Nephesh a bit about the problems between she and Hellstrom, and could barely hold herself silent as the boy looked at her incredulously. "Why would Hellstrom be mad at you for joining the Church?"
"He does not believe as the church does... and it is why I, too, make this trip. To be certain
I am ready. It's complicated, but please, say nothing."
"If he does not know of the Truth, shouldn't I tell him?"
"I, after everything, am glad to see his face look on me with something better than anger."
"He must listen! The voice will make him understand."
"Please, Nephesh, I'm begging you not to put me in such torment again." Her heart beat miles a minute as she sunk down into the bed of needles, memories of Hellstrom's enraged face as they argued before, assailing her. She looked up, almost ready to cry, when the boy reached over and gave her a hug. It was one of the most welcome things in the world.
The venison was delicious compared to the half-hearted spells and mysterious food Emalia had found in her pack. As she chewed, Hellstrom spoke in a whisper: "In all my wandering lately in all the random choices and directions I've taken I never dreamed I would ever see you again." "Nor did I."
Emalia watched in silence as Hellstrom handed Colin a piece of the venison, letting the conversation drop there. Famished, Emalia inhaled the rest of her deer, then walked to the nearest tree. With hunger out of the way, the only thing left to dwell upon was where she would be going, and how to keep everything calm.
She curled within the cloak given her by the traveler, and put her head on her knees. At the sound of the pan flute, courtesy of Nephesh's skilled playing, Emalia drifted off into a dreamless sleep - her thoughts of what was to come dissipating like her breath in the chill Hammer air.
New Companions
After the odd meeting with the child Nephesh and his impatient companion Colin, Hellstrom quickly made his way back through the city to collect his belongings and secure a horse to cart supplies to allow for faster travel. If he was right then his new companions would need all the haste that could be afforded.
As he approached the others at the gate he made a hasty apology for the time it took and strapped the other two travelers bags to the horses back. After a few seconds to make sure he had everything they headed out of the north gate. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Hellstrom started asking questions. "I need a general physical description of who I’m tracking" Hellstrom begins casually.
"She's a beautiful girl.. Brown wavy hair..." Colin replied dreamily. After some explanation that quality of character an beauty do not show in a footprint, Hellstrom finally got what he needed. Not that it mattered at that particular moment. The trail was well beaten and there was no picking an individual footprint out of it. Besides it was more than likely that the target was moving in a cart or some such vehicle.
Hellstrom tried not to pay too much attention to what the other two said. After all this was not his trek they were looking for a friend they believed to be in danger. These were not his friends and as soon as the job was done he would be on his way. Hellstrom thought about the payment that had been promised and he knew that in the end he would accept no payment, He had been headed north anyways and he had no need of the money.
After a short time they picked up the pace and started moving at a quick jog. Nephesh not able to keep the pace pulled himself up on the back of the horse and smiled happily at himself. Hellstrom chuckled politely and pulled off his traveling cloak stuffing it in a pocket of his backpack. Running felt good, it had been quite some time since he had gotten the chance to really stretch out and cover some ground. After a couple hours of running Hellstrom sees something on the ground and halts. "There was a struggle here," Hellstrom says evenly as he looks at the marks on the ground where two bodies had thrashed around."Can you tell what happened?" Colin asks worriedly."Two sets of footprints enter the path from this side,” Hellstrom says hesitantly. "Orc footprints."
"What else can you tell?" Colin asks as Nephesh falls off of the horses back obviously sleeping. Hellstrom walks around the area in a circle looking at the ground some more before saying, "One set of human footsteps. Human...Female by the shape, though she’s running so I cant tell weight." The other two look at Hellstrom as if asking what to do. Hellstrom adds "Followed by two sets of Orc footprints." Hellstrom points northward and says, "They are headed in that direction, I suggest we hurry." Hellstrom says as he grabs the lead ropes of the horse and sprints off to the north.
Colin is not far behind and to Hellstrom's surprise He is carrying Nephesh on his shoulders with little strain. Not too much further down the trail the trio run into another area of struggle and once again Hellstrom sets about figuring out what happened.
"Something was dragged off the trail here." Hellstrom says as he follows something into the woods a short ways. "A body of an Orc. It’s still warm." Hellstrom yells back to the other two. Hellstrom continues to search the area for more sign of what took place as Nephesh happily bounced up to the body of the orc and pulled out a small blue stone that he starts making symbols in the air with. "What type of weapon does your friend carry?" Hellstrom asks cryptically. "I ask because I found one more burnt corpse and two that were bludgeoned to death."
Colin looks at Hellstrom for a moment thinking and finally says "You know... I haven't seen any on her.", then with another moments thought he adds "I don't think she could inflict wounds like these."
At this time Nephesh grabs Colin by the wrist pointing out the ephemeral spirit of the orc hovering over the burned corpse it recently had been liberated from. Hellstrom makes a comment about the human Male footprints interspersed with the orc and female prints before wandering off to figure out where they went.
Nephesh jots a quick note on his notepad and hands it to Colin to which he replies "Gladly." Turning to the orcish spirit Colin says bluntly, "You are dead, creature. What happened here?" The orc growls and struggles against the magic holding his essence in place over his corpse before settling and saying, "Brown man, white woman... no give me food or weapons. Brown man bring out stick." A look of hatred crosses the orc's face as Colin asks, "The white woman. Was she small and thin?""Me break her in half if let. So small. Ho'ktar crush her. But dead now." The orc responds in kind looking down again at his ruined body."The better question you should be asking is how many were in his raiding party." Hellstrom says over his shoulder to Colin before standing up and walking over to where Nephesh was concentrating over the body of the orc. "How many were in your Party Orc?" Hellstrom demands of the orc.
"We four... plus two. She burn us. She whip us. She need die, suffer for Ho'ktar and comrades." the orc hissed hatefully. With this last reply Nephesh's energy is spent and the apparition blinks out of existence. After some argument about whether or not they should depart, Hellstrom points out that the only way that the woman could have left the area with no trace as she had appeared to do, was to use magic. Hellstrom utters a few words under his breath, a small spell the elves had taught him years ago to improve vision over distance. With the spell complete he leapt into the branches of a nearby tree quickly climbing out of sight to the top.
As he searched the horizon he picked out a figure flying quickly to the north at an incredible altitude. It was wearing a dark cloak and getting smaller by the second. Hellstrom climbed back down the tree hastily to inform his companions of what he had learned.
After some discussion and a quick argument about the intelligence of chasing a flying woman on foot, Nephesh pulls out two small vials from his bag and quickly jots down a note that says "Drink."
Hellstrom with a little hesitation drinks the fluid. Colin refused his so Nephesh shrugged and downed the fluid himself. As Nephesh quickly ascended to the tops of the trees Hellstrom realized what the vial was, a potion containing a flight spell. Hellstrom raised to the treetops himself to follow Nephesh as Colin gathered the supplies, shouldering the entire weight of the combined bags himself left the horse speeding off after the two on foot at full sprint.
As Nephesh descended into the woods just outside the perimeter of the camp Hellstrom stayed a few paces behind. After all this was their friend not his they were chasing. It would be better for her to see one of them first. As he walked into the camp and caught sight of the person he had been chasing for the whole day the breath in his throat caught and he could not breathe. He could only stand dumbfounded and speechless at the edge of the camp as Emalia's eyes fell on Nephesh first.
"How by the Gods did you get here..." Emalia says more than a little surprised to see the child. Then she notices Hellstrom standing behind Nephesh with his mouth hanging open in shock. Nephesh hastily scribbles a note and holds it out to Emalia who doesn’t even seem to notice as she slowly walks over to Hellstrom and whispers, "Hellstrom..." To which he replies in a shaky whisper of his own "Emalia...". Hellstrom looks over at Nephesh who looks as though he is confused by the events taking place before him before looking back to Emalia.
As the two looked at each other Colin came racing into the camp after seeing the small fire off in the distance. He threw down the packs and looked at Emalia and said, "Emalia! Are you alright?" Emalia looked at Colin shocked yet again to see another familiar face in this already unlikely group.
"I had no idea... I should have asked for a name..." Hellstrom mumbles more to himself than anything. "I was so worried for you." Colin says affectionately. "Why? I was in no danger... and had no idea you two of all people would have come together." Emalia replies. "I never thought I would see another guardian again much less you...." Hellstrom quietly says, still obviously quite shocked at what he is seeing. The others are too absorbed to notice Nephesh turn toward the edge of the camp and release a bolt of Pink lightning into the wood.
"You know each other?" Colin asks hesitantly. "Of course... this is Hellstrom." Emalia says as Hellstrom grabs something out of his bag and holds it up for the group to see. It is a different cloak than the one he wore. One with the emblem of the Crimson Guardians sewn to the breast.
A grim look crosses Colin's face as he hears the name again and finally understands who Hellstrom was. "I... didn’t know." Colin stutters.
Nephesh looked at Hellstrom with a new appreciation of who he was and scribbled a hasty thank you note to which Hellstrom replied, "No payment is necessary Nephesh... I had no idea...""How is everyone back home?" Emalia asked Hellstrom."I don’t know Emalia, I have not been to the clan hall in what seems like ages." Hellstrom replied still not quite sure what to think."But, why?" Emalia asks with a sound of concern tinting her voice."Remember that last time we saw eachother?" Hellstrom asks. Emalia nods and Hellstrom adds, "I left that day.""Hellstrom... they're probably worried sick about you..." Emalia responds."I couldn’t bear the problems i was causing with everyone I spoke to." Hellstrom said flatly. Emalia attempted to assure him that he had not caused problems, but Hellstrom was not so sure. After all what was Emalia doing in the middle of a distant continent being tracked by a mute child with a gift for magic and Colin.
Hellstrom could feel the tension in the air from Colin, he knew that Colin was looking at them now, stewing about the hand Emalia had placed on Hellstrom's arm as they spoke.
Nephesh hands Hellstrom a note reading "I am honored by your presence, and hope that this day dawns on a new friendship, Hellstrom."
Hellstrom responds with a noncommittal "Thank you Nephesh and You have been a good traveling companion indeed." before returning his attention to Colin.
"We appreciate your help Hellstrom. Where do you think you will go from here?" Colin says hastily, making it quite obvious he wished it to be other than with their party.
"I was headed northward. It was the only reason I accepted this job to begin with." Hellstrom explained. Nephesh quickly wrote a note asking him to join them on their journey and Emalia requested the same. Hellstrom could not help but look at Colin and see the distaste in his eyes for the idea.
After a hushed conversation between Emalia and Hellstrom, Emalia finally understood why Hellstrom was hesitant to join the party on the northward journey. Colin looked up at the group from his place on the ground and added. "Hellstrom... Your help has been invaluable in getting us this far... If you can help us to get Emalia where she is going in safety, then your presence will be welcomed."
Hellstrom could see sincerity on Colin's face but Hellstrom knew eventually his presence was going to cause problems. Colin approached Hellstrom and added quietly so that the others could not hear "We both know I care for Emalia... as more than a friend. Despite my greatest hopes, though, she doesn't seem to share my feelings... Don't leave on my account."
Hellstrom looks at Colin for a moment before nodding and the two part directions. Colin to pick blades of grass while sitting on the ground, and Hellstrom to stare into the woods contemplating the events of the day.
As Hellstrom strung his bow with a quick motion and silently slipped into the woods so as not to alert his prey his thoughts slipped away from thoughts of Emalia and the others back at the camp site. He stalked the sound further into the woods until he came to a small clearing and in the clearing was a deer feeding on the grass. Hellstrom crept up to the edge of the clearing and silently drew his arrow back to his ear and took aim.
He waited for the perfect moment and let the arrow fly. His aim was true and the arrow punctured the deer’s heart felling it within moments. Hellstrom walked to the corpse of the deer and knelt next to it saying a small prayer for the animal thanking it for its sacrifice before pulling out his knife and removing the internal organs for the wolves to eat.
A short time later Hellstrom re-entered the clearing with deer carcass in tow. He flopped it at the edge of the clearing and proceeded to hastily skin one hind quarter to get enough meat to make a meal for the 4 person group. With a few adjustments the small fire was perfect for coking and Hellstrom grabbed a small pan from his pack and proceeded to cook some of the Venison.
Nephesh came up beside Hellstrom and looking at the meat on the pan and then over at the carcass wrote a note and handed it to Hellstrom reading, "Teach me?" Hellstrom looked at the child with a look of surprise.
"You want to learn to skin an animal?" Hellstrom asked skeptically. Nephesh nodded his head and leaving the meat to cook a bit longer walked to the corpse of the deer and showing Nephesh how to hold the knife showed him by cutting away a few inches of the hide from the deer. Hellstrom handed the razor sharp knife to Nephesh and watched as he tried to duplicate the task.
Hellstrom satisfied that he would not completely ruin the hide then said. "Don’t make too many holes in the hide and I shall show you how to make a good warm shirt out of the hide," before turning back to the fire to check on the meat, which was done. Hellstrom divided the meat into 4 pieces and sharpening 4 sticks, placed a generous helping of the meat on each one.
After everyone had eaten Nephesh finished skinning the deer, he had made a few holes but nothing that could not be repaired. Hellstrom made a mental note to cure the hide on the next nights stop. Emalia fell asleep against a tree before she could even move to the tent that Hellstrom had offered her. Hellstrom would have no need of it this night. There was no sleep to be had for him.
After giving assurance that he would be back before the sun rose, Hellstrom slipped back into the forest to contemplate the day and decide for certain whether or not he wanted to be included in this group.
As he approached the others at the gate he made a hasty apology for the time it took and strapped the other two travelers bags to the horses back. After a few seconds to make sure he had everything they headed out of the north gate. After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Hellstrom started asking questions. "I need a general physical description of who I’m tracking" Hellstrom begins casually.
"She's a beautiful girl.. Brown wavy hair..." Colin replied dreamily. After some explanation that quality of character an beauty do not show in a footprint, Hellstrom finally got what he needed. Not that it mattered at that particular moment. The trail was well beaten and there was no picking an individual footprint out of it. Besides it was more than likely that the target was moving in a cart or some such vehicle.
Hellstrom tried not to pay too much attention to what the other two said. After all this was not his trek they were looking for a friend they believed to be in danger. These were not his friends and as soon as the job was done he would be on his way. Hellstrom thought about the payment that had been promised and he knew that in the end he would accept no payment, He had been headed north anyways and he had no need of the money.
After a short time they picked up the pace and started moving at a quick jog. Nephesh not able to keep the pace pulled himself up on the back of the horse and smiled happily at himself. Hellstrom chuckled politely and pulled off his traveling cloak stuffing it in a pocket of his backpack. Running felt good, it had been quite some time since he had gotten the chance to really stretch out and cover some ground. After a couple hours of running Hellstrom sees something on the ground and halts. "There was a struggle here," Hellstrom says evenly as he looks at the marks on the ground where two bodies had thrashed around."Can you tell what happened?" Colin asks worriedly."Two sets of footprints enter the path from this side,” Hellstrom says hesitantly. "Orc footprints."
"What else can you tell?" Colin asks as Nephesh falls off of the horses back obviously sleeping. Hellstrom walks around the area in a circle looking at the ground some more before saying, "One set of human footsteps. Human...Female by the shape, though she’s running so I cant tell weight." The other two look at Hellstrom as if asking what to do. Hellstrom adds "Followed by two sets of Orc footprints." Hellstrom points northward and says, "They are headed in that direction, I suggest we hurry." Hellstrom says as he grabs the lead ropes of the horse and sprints off to the north.
Colin is not far behind and to Hellstrom's surprise He is carrying Nephesh on his shoulders with little strain. Not too much further down the trail the trio run into another area of struggle and once again Hellstrom sets about figuring out what happened.
"Something was dragged off the trail here." Hellstrom says as he follows something into the woods a short ways. "A body of an Orc. It’s still warm." Hellstrom yells back to the other two. Hellstrom continues to search the area for more sign of what took place as Nephesh happily bounced up to the body of the orc and pulled out a small blue stone that he starts making symbols in the air with. "What type of weapon does your friend carry?" Hellstrom asks cryptically. "I ask because I found one more burnt corpse and two that were bludgeoned to death."
Colin looks at Hellstrom for a moment thinking and finally says "You know... I haven't seen any on her.", then with another moments thought he adds "I don't think she could inflict wounds like these."
At this time Nephesh grabs Colin by the wrist pointing out the ephemeral spirit of the orc hovering over the burned corpse it recently had been liberated from. Hellstrom makes a comment about the human Male footprints interspersed with the orc and female prints before wandering off to figure out where they went.
Nephesh jots a quick note on his notepad and hands it to Colin to which he replies "Gladly." Turning to the orcish spirit Colin says bluntly, "You are dead, creature. What happened here?" The orc growls and struggles against the magic holding his essence in place over his corpse before settling and saying, "Brown man, white woman... no give me food or weapons. Brown man bring out stick." A look of hatred crosses the orc's face as Colin asks, "The white woman. Was she small and thin?""Me break her in half if let. So small. Ho'ktar crush her. But dead now." The orc responds in kind looking down again at his ruined body."The better question you should be asking is how many were in his raiding party." Hellstrom says over his shoulder to Colin before standing up and walking over to where Nephesh was concentrating over the body of the orc. "How many were in your Party Orc?" Hellstrom demands of the orc.
"We four... plus two. She burn us. She whip us. She need die, suffer for Ho'ktar and comrades." the orc hissed hatefully. With this last reply Nephesh's energy is spent and the apparition blinks out of existence. After some argument about whether or not they should depart, Hellstrom points out that the only way that the woman could have left the area with no trace as she had appeared to do, was to use magic. Hellstrom utters a few words under his breath, a small spell the elves had taught him years ago to improve vision over distance. With the spell complete he leapt into the branches of a nearby tree quickly climbing out of sight to the top.
As he searched the horizon he picked out a figure flying quickly to the north at an incredible altitude. It was wearing a dark cloak and getting smaller by the second. Hellstrom climbed back down the tree hastily to inform his companions of what he had learned.
After some discussion and a quick argument about the intelligence of chasing a flying woman on foot, Nephesh pulls out two small vials from his bag and quickly jots down a note that says "Drink."
Hellstrom with a little hesitation drinks the fluid. Colin refused his so Nephesh shrugged and downed the fluid himself. As Nephesh quickly ascended to the tops of the trees Hellstrom realized what the vial was, a potion containing a flight spell. Hellstrom raised to the treetops himself to follow Nephesh as Colin gathered the supplies, shouldering the entire weight of the combined bags himself left the horse speeding off after the two on foot at full sprint.
As Nephesh descended into the woods just outside the perimeter of the camp Hellstrom stayed a few paces behind. After all this was their friend not his they were chasing. It would be better for her to see one of them first. As he walked into the camp and caught sight of the person he had been chasing for the whole day the breath in his throat caught and he could not breathe. He could only stand dumbfounded and speechless at the edge of the camp as Emalia's eyes fell on Nephesh first.
"How by the Gods did you get here..." Emalia says more than a little surprised to see the child. Then she notices Hellstrom standing behind Nephesh with his mouth hanging open in shock. Nephesh hastily scribbles a note and holds it out to Emalia who doesn’t even seem to notice as she slowly walks over to Hellstrom and whispers, "Hellstrom..." To which he replies in a shaky whisper of his own "Emalia...". Hellstrom looks over at Nephesh who looks as though he is confused by the events taking place before him before looking back to Emalia.
As the two looked at each other Colin came racing into the camp after seeing the small fire off in the distance. He threw down the packs and looked at Emalia and said, "Emalia! Are you alright?" Emalia looked at Colin shocked yet again to see another familiar face in this already unlikely group.
"I had no idea... I should have asked for a name..." Hellstrom mumbles more to himself than anything. "I was so worried for you." Colin says affectionately. "Why? I was in no danger... and had no idea you two of all people would have come together." Emalia replies. "I never thought I would see another guardian again much less you...." Hellstrom quietly says, still obviously quite shocked at what he is seeing. The others are too absorbed to notice Nephesh turn toward the edge of the camp and release a bolt of Pink lightning into the wood.
"You know each other?" Colin asks hesitantly. "Of course... this is Hellstrom." Emalia says as Hellstrom grabs something out of his bag and holds it up for the group to see. It is a different cloak than the one he wore. One with the emblem of the Crimson Guardians sewn to the breast.
A grim look crosses Colin's face as he hears the name again and finally understands who Hellstrom was. "I... didn’t know." Colin stutters.
Nephesh looked at Hellstrom with a new appreciation of who he was and scribbled a hasty thank you note to which Hellstrom replied, "No payment is necessary Nephesh... I had no idea...""How is everyone back home?" Emalia asked Hellstrom."I don’t know Emalia, I have not been to the clan hall in what seems like ages." Hellstrom replied still not quite sure what to think."But, why?" Emalia asks with a sound of concern tinting her voice."Remember that last time we saw eachother?" Hellstrom asks. Emalia nods and Hellstrom adds, "I left that day.""Hellstrom... they're probably worried sick about you..." Emalia responds."I couldn’t bear the problems i was causing with everyone I spoke to." Hellstrom said flatly. Emalia attempted to assure him that he had not caused problems, but Hellstrom was not so sure. After all what was Emalia doing in the middle of a distant continent being tracked by a mute child with a gift for magic and Colin.
Hellstrom could feel the tension in the air from Colin, he knew that Colin was looking at them now, stewing about the hand Emalia had placed on Hellstrom's arm as they spoke.
Nephesh hands Hellstrom a note reading "I am honored by your presence, and hope that this day dawns on a new friendship, Hellstrom."
Hellstrom responds with a noncommittal "Thank you Nephesh and You have been a good traveling companion indeed." before returning his attention to Colin.
"We appreciate your help Hellstrom. Where do you think you will go from here?" Colin says hastily, making it quite obvious he wished it to be other than with their party.
"I was headed northward. It was the only reason I accepted this job to begin with." Hellstrom explained. Nephesh quickly wrote a note asking him to join them on their journey and Emalia requested the same. Hellstrom could not help but look at Colin and see the distaste in his eyes for the idea.
After a hushed conversation between Emalia and Hellstrom, Emalia finally understood why Hellstrom was hesitant to join the party on the northward journey. Colin looked up at the group from his place on the ground and added. "Hellstrom... Your help has been invaluable in getting us this far... If you can help us to get Emalia where she is going in safety, then your presence will be welcomed."
Hellstrom could see sincerity on Colin's face but Hellstrom knew eventually his presence was going to cause problems. Colin approached Hellstrom and added quietly so that the others could not hear "We both know I care for Emalia... as more than a friend. Despite my greatest hopes, though, she doesn't seem to share my feelings... Don't leave on my account."
Hellstrom looks at Colin for a moment before nodding and the two part directions. Colin to pick blades of grass while sitting on the ground, and Hellstrom to stare into the woods contemplating the events of the day.
As Hellstrom strung his bow with a quick motion and silently slipped into the woods so as not to alert his prey his thoughts slipped away from thoughts of Emalia and the others back at the camp site. He stalked the sound further into the woods until he came to a small clearing and in the clearing was a deer feeding on the grass. Hellstrom crept up to the edge of the clearing and silently drew his arrow back to his ear and took aim.
He waited for the perfect moment and let the arrow fly. His aim was true and the arrow punctured the deer’s heart felling it within moments. Hellstrom walked to the corpse of the deer and knelt next to it saying a small prayer for the animal thanking it for its sacrifice before pulling out his knife and removing the internal organs for the wolves to eat.
A short time later Hellstrom re-entered the clearing with deer carcass in tow. He flopped it at the edge of the clearing and proceeded to hastily skin one hind quarter to get enough meat to make a meal for the 4 person group. With a few adjustments the small fire was perfect for coking and Hellstrom grabbed a small pan from his pack and proceeded to cook some of the Venison.
Nephesh came up beside Hellstrom and looking at the meat on the pan and then over at the carcass wrote a note and handed it to Hellstrom reading, "Teach me?" Hellstrom looked at the child with a look of surprise.
"You want to learn to skin an animal?" Hellstrom asked skeptically. Nephesh nodded his head and leaving the meat to cook a bit longer walked to the corpse of the deer and showing Nephesh how to hold the knife showed him by cutting away a few inches of the hide from the deer. Hellstrom handed the razor sharp knife to Nephesh and watched as he tried to duplicate the task.
Hellstrom satisfied that he would not completely ruin the hide then said. "Don’t make too many holes in the hide and I shall show you how to make a good warm shirt out of the hide," before turning back to the fire to check on the meat, which was done. Hellstrom divided the meat into 4 pieces and sharpening 4 sticks, placed a generous helping of the meat on each one.
After everyone had eaten Nephesh finished skinning the deer, he had made a few holes but nothing that could not be repaired. Hellstrom made a mental note to cure the hide on the next nights stop. Emalia fell asleep against a tree before she could even move to the tent that Hellstrom had offered her. Hellstrom would have no need of it this night. There was no sleep to be had for him.
After giving assurance that he would be back before the sun rose, Hellstrom slipped back into the forest to contemplate the day and decide for certain whether or not he wanted to be included in this group.
Guidance
“That damned halfling, I just know he drug her off without me." Colin swore as he hastily gathered his possessions from his chamber in the temple of Lathander and shoved them into his pack. He had just returned from spending almost two hours searching about the Waterdeep marketplace for Emalia. They had been gathering the last of their supplies in preparation for the trip northward. One minute she was right there with him and the next, she was gone. At first Colin had thought that perhaps she had just stopped in a store without him noticing but as the time wore on and he searched every store on the street, he realized that was not the case. It was then the darker thoughts began to creep in. Maybe there was a thief... a rapist... an assassin. As Colin had paced through alleyway after alleyway his dark imaginings threatened to send him into a state of panic. Then a new thought had come to him and he latched onto it like a drowning man to driftwood. Nephesh. That halfling must have snatched her away and convinced her to leave Colin here. Leave the outsider, the Faithless. That had to be it.
That brought Colin to his present state. He finished shoving items into his pack, threw it onto his shoulder and headed for the temple doors. Colin would be damned if he was going to let that little bastard lead Emalia away from him. Colin hadn't come this far to let some child fanatic lead her to her death.
Colin's stomping boot steps echoed throughout the large temple foyer as he reached the exit doors. He grasped one of the large wooden doors and threw it wide with such force that it crashed into the wall beside with a loud boom. A few surprised shrieks could be heard from temple patrons yet Colin paid no heed as he stormed through the doorway. Colin was halfway down the temple stairs before he noticed him. Right there, sitting on the lowest stair and playing with some rocks as if he had not a care in the world, was Nephesh. Colin stormed directly over to the halfling boy. "Where is she!?"
Nephesh looked genuinely startled as he turned his attention to Colin, holding up his hands in confusion.
Colin was not prepared for this reaction yet he was not going to let up. "Emalia. Where is she? Did you take her somewhere?"
At this Nephesh shook his head and communicated with a note, as was normal for the mute. "Perhaps she got lost in the marketplace?"
Colin didn't like this. He had been convinced that Nephesh had whisked Emalia away, yet he could not deny the honesty he was in the boy's eyes. "No, no. It wasn't even that busy today." Colin began pacing, the terrible scenarios of Emalia's fate starting to creep back into his thoughts.
Nephesh tried to offer more helpful suggestions yet none of it settled Colin. Finally, fed up, Colin demanded of him, "If your god is so wise and all knowing, ask Him where she is."
"That is not how these things work," Nephesh replied, "We do the bidding of the gods. They do not do the bidding of mortals. I am merely her guide on the path. This journey is hers to make, even if it is not convenient."
Those last words got Colin thinking. The journey. Emalia has been so focused on the journey, how it is her's to make, one of self discovery, one she must make alone. Could it be she simply left both of them to strike out on her own? Suddenly another piece of driftwood had bobbed to the surface for the drowning man.
Just as Colin was about to act on his new train of thought Nephesh stood and gestured for Colin to follow him. "What, where are you going?" Colin asked. Nephesh didn't answer, instead simply shrugging and heading back into the temple.
"It's just as well, I don't need him." Colin thought, yet he hesitated. He had no idea where Emalia was headed. As much as he hated the thought, if Colin could bring him along perhaps the halfling could be useful. With an annoyed growl he followed him into the temple. Although Colin walked quickly to catch up to Nephesh the boy always seemed to stay a few steps ahead, leading Colin through passages in the temple which he had never seen. Colin's irritation grew the further he followed. He didn't like the halfling much to begin with and the current situation was not improving his disposition. When he finally caught the boy by the shoulder it was because he stopped before a doorway guarded by two paladins in rose-colored armor. Ignoring Nephesh's irritated look Colin asked him, "Ok, so what is this place?"
The boy didn't answer, instead simply gesturing to the guards who stepped aside to allow the pair to pass. Nephesh continued through the doorway, again signaling Colin to follow.
Colin's jaw tensed. "I should just snap his little..." Colin's thought stopped short, rebounding in another direction. "I'll just find out what he's doing."
Nephesh led Colin through a seemingly endless maze of catacombs which gave way to tunnels and caverns. Colin's frustration built as they walked. All this time they were spending he could have at least been making some progress towards finding Emalia, catching up to her. After what seemed like an eternity the boy finally stopped before a passage which was covered by a beautiful golden-red tapestry.
As Colin stood there, breathing heavily with irritation, Nephesh handed him another note. "Beyond this chamber she lies, one who answers all questions pertaining to the dawn. Ask what you will, though the answers you find may trouble you."
Colin calmed a bit now that there seemed to be a point to this little trip yet the words were practically nonsense. "The dawn?" He asked, hoping for clarification, yet the boy simply nodded.
"What does that mean? Why must you be so cryptic?"
"I give only the answers I know."
Colin threw up his arms in frustration but it was obvious he wasn't going to get a clear answer. "Whatever, let's just do this."
Nephesh nodded and swept the tapestry aside, allowing Colin to follow him into the chamber. They emerged into a large cavern, the walls lined in musty red velvet tapestries depicting Lathander and the morning sun. At the center of the room a red elk rested, its black feminine eyes closed in the soft sighs of sleep. Nephesh slowly approached the center of the cavern, kneeling before the elk in respect and supplication.
Colin followed behind, his eyes scanning the clearly ancient tapestries in appreciation until his eyes fell upon the elk. He shook his head in disbelief. "A deer? Are you serious?" Colin's dumbfounded gaze fell to Nephesh and was met with a disapproving glare. The boy made an indication of silence and pointed to the floor beside him, directing Colin to occupy it. "This is ridiculous." Colin thought, yet he couldn't ignore the boy's seriousness. He reluctantly took the spot beside Nephesh, sitting instead of kneeling.
It was then the elk rose from her slumber. She gracefully stood and approached the pair, directing her probing gaze to Nephesh. "This one insults me." She spoke in a deep melodic voice. Colin's eyes grew wide upon hearing the elk speak and she turned her gaze upon him. "I am no deer mortal."
Colin's shock quickly faded as reason began to kick in. "There has to be magic at work here," he thought, "Some sort of illusion."
The elk snorted and spoke again, "That he is." The comment was directed at Nephesh, yet Colin had seen the boy write nothing. "What do you seek?""Where is Emalia?" Colin asked bluntly, clearly suspecting he was still wasting valuable time. He got no response from the elk but instead got a note from Nephesh."She who answers all questions pertaining to the dawn."Colin rolled his eyes in disgust. "More of his incessant nonsense." he thought.
The elk looked back to Colin and reared her head high, obviously displeased. "So long as he fouls this meeting, no answer shall he obtain. Respect is what I demand in return for an answer."
Colin couldn't believe it. Not only was he wasting his time now he was being insulted. His jaw tensed and a faint red glow crept into his eyes. "I will just slit it's..." but the thought ended there, redirected almost as soon as it came. "The time is already spent, I might as well continue to play along." He drew in a calming breath and lowered his head in reverence. After a moment of silence the elk spoke again, "The one you seek walks the road between sunrise and sunset."
Colin took in another calming breath to ward off his anger. These words meant nothing to him. "I'm sorry, what does that mean?" Colin asked in a controlled tone.
Nephesh handed him another note, "She is on a road, Faithless." Colin crushed the note in his hand, not knowing how much more of this he could suffer.
"She may or may not arrive before the sun sets on her life." the elk continued, as if finishing her previous statement.
This definitely got Colin's attention, his head darting up and his gaze fixing on the elk. "What are you saying? Her life is in danger?"
The elk spoke again, not directly addressing Colin, "Darkness closes in around her in many forms. The horizon between sunrise and sunset. She chases the appearance of the dawn cresting, without knowing the place it truly resides. Darkness..." she turns her gaze briefly upon Colin, "In all its forms... seeks her out. It will find her first on her path to redemption."
Colin had reached his limit. All he had heard was blathering nonsense and hints at Emalia's doom. Colin spoke in a deep, almost unearthly growl, "You speak nothing but nonsense!" Colin was going to end this creature's miserable life. His fury would be released and no amount of restraint was going to stop him. Sandorin would see the folly of his ways. He began reaching for his weapons and almost made it up off the floor before the feeling hit him. It was as if he ran headlong into a wall of utter darkness. There was an explosion of pain in his head, accompanied by a piercing scream which only he heard. The big man crumpled to the floor.
Colin picked himself up off the cavern floor. He had no idea how long he had been laying there. He felt a mild ache in his head and his vision was a bit dim but he was still in control of his body. He looked about the cavern and saw only Nephesh. "Where is it? Where did it go?" "We have our answers. We must leave now."
Colin felt only despair. The elk had appeared to truly know something about Emalia and now it was gone.
Nephesh promised an explanation to Colin and led him back through the tunnels and catacombs into the temple proper.
They soon found themselves in Npehesh's room. As Nephesh began adding his supplies to Colin's pack the big man started to emerge from his despondency. "What are you doing?"
"Preparing you." said his written response
"For what?"
Nephesh then began to take Colin through the meaning of the elk's words. With Colin's mind now clear he was now able to understand. Emalia was traveling northward along The Long Road towards the mountains. He couldn't believe how foolish he had been, and without the boy, how lost he would still be. He offered a sincere apology to Nephesh yet the boy simply reminded him that there were more important matters at hand. Neither one of them would be of particular use in tracking Emalia but they knew her general direction would have to set out hoping for the best. Nephesh quickly finished his packing and they set out from the temple. On the way through the Waterdeep marketplace Nephesh took a sudden detour over to an obvious woodsman perusing one of the market stalls. Colin's confusion was only momentary before realizing the boy was looking for a tracker. Colin was anxious to get their journey underway but he couldn't discount the value of a proficient tracker. With some impatience, Colin followed Nephesh over to the stranger. Colin stood a few steps behind, content to allow Nephesh to carry out the majority of the conversation.
As the two spoke of Nephesh's handicap, price, and their intentions, Colin found his attention drawn northward. His impatient gaze scanned the horizon, barely able to make out the faint outline of mountains in the distance. He almost felt if he could just focus hard enough he might catch a glimpse of white robes somewhere out there. With his attention so focused, Colin completely missed the woodsman's name as introductions were made: Hellstrom.
Colin was relieved when Nephesh and Hellstrom finally concluded the arrangements. It was decided the three of them would meet at the north gates of the city and set out that same day. The arrangements made, Colin had but one thought in his mind as his gaze returned to the north.
"Please be safe Emalia... I'm coming."
That brought Colin to his present state. He finished shoving items into his pack, threw it onto his shoulder and headed for the temple doors. Colin would be damned if he was going to let that little bastard lead Emalia away from him. Colin hadn't come this far to let some child fanatic lead her to her death.
Colin's stomping boot steps echoed throughout the large temple foyer as he reached the exit doors. He grasped one of the large wooden doors and threw it wide with such force that it crashed into the wall beside with a loud boom. A few surprised shrieks could be heard from temple patrons yet Colin paid no heed as he stormed through the doorway. Colin was halfway down the temple stairs before he noticed him. Right there, sitting on the lowest stair and playing with some rocks as if he had not a care in the world, was Nephesh. Colin stormed directly over to the halfling boy. "Where is she!?"
Nephesh looked genuinely startled as he turned his attention to Colin, holding up his hands in confusion.
Colin was not prepared for this reaction yet he was not going to let up. "Emalia. Where is she? Did you take her somewhere?"
At this Nephesh shook his head and communicated with a note, as was normal for the mute. "Perhaps she got lost in the marketplace?"
Colin didn't like this. He had been convinced that Nephesh had whisked Emalia away, yet he could not deny the honesty he was in the boy's eyes. "No, no. It wasn't even that busy today." Colin began pacing, the terrible scenarios of Emalia's fate starting to creep back into his thoughts.
Nephesh tried to offer more helpful suggestions yet none of it settled Colin. Finally, fed up, Colin demanded of him, "If your god is so wise and all knowing, ask Him where she is."
"That is not how these things work," Nephesh replied, "We do the bidding of the gods. They do not do the bidding of mortals. I am merely her guide on the path. This journey is hers to make, even if it is not convenient."
Those last words got Colin thinking. The journey. Emalia has been so focused on the journey, how it is her's to make, one of self discovery, one she must make alone. Could it be she simply left both of them to strike out on her own? Suddenly another piece of driftwood had bobbed to the surface for the drowning man.
Just as Colin was about to act on his new train of thought Nephesh stood and gestured for Colin to follow him. "What, where are you going?" Colin asked. Nephesh didn't answer, instead simply shrugging and heading back into the temple.
"It's just as well, I don't need him." Colin thought, yet he hesitated. He had no idea where Emalia was headed. As much as he hated the thought, if Colin could bring him along perhaps the halfling could be useful. With an annoyed growl he followed him into the temple. Although Colin walked quickly to catch up to Nephesh the boy always seemed to stay a few steps ahead, leading Colin through passages in the temple which he had never seen. Colin's irritation grew the further he followed. He didn't like the halfling much to begin with and the current situation was not improving his disposition. When he finally caught the boy by the shoulder it was because he stopped before a doorway guarded by two paladins in rose-colored armor. Ignoring Nephesh's irritated look Colin asked him, "Ok, so what is this place?"
The boy didn't answer, instead simply gesturing to the guards who stepped aside to allow the pair to pass. Nephesh continued through the doorway, again signaling Colin to follow.
Colin's jaw tensed. "I should just snap his little..." Colin's thought stopped short, rebounding in another direction. "I'll just find out what he's doing."
Nephesh led Colin through a seemingly endless maze of catacombs which gave way to tunnels and caverns. Colin's frustration built as they walked. All this time they were spending he could have at least been making some progress towards finding Emalia, catching up to her. After what seemed like an eternity the boy finally stopped before a passage which was covered by a beautiful golden-red tapestry.
As Colin stood there, breathing heavily with irritation, Nephesh handed him another note. "Beyond this chamber she lies, one who answers all questions pertaining to the dawn. Ask what you will, though the answers you find may trouble you."
Colin calmed a bit now that there seemed to be a point to this little trip yet the words were practically nonsense. "The dawn?" He asked, hoping for clarification, yet the boy simply nodded.
"What does that mean? Why must you be so cryptic?"
"I give only the answers I know."
Colin threw up his arms in frustration but it was obvious he wasn't going to get a clear answer. "Whatever, let's just do this."
Nephesh nodded and swept the tapestry aside, allowing Colin to follow him into the chamber. They emerged into a large cavern, the walls lined in musty red velvet tapestries depicting Lathander and the morning sun. At the center of the room a red elk rested, its black feminine eyes closed in the soft sighs of sleep. Nephesh slowly approached the center of the cavern, kneeling before the elk in respect and supplication.
Colin followed behind, his eyes scanning the clearly ancient tapestries in appreciation until his eyes fell upon the elk. He shook his head in disbelief. "A deer? Are you serious?" Colin's dumbfounded gaze fell to Nephesh and was met with a disapproving glare. The boy made an indication of silence and pointed to the floor beside him, directing Colin to occupy it. "This is ridiculous." Colin thought, yet he couldn't ignore the boy's seriousness. He reluctantly took the spot beside Nephesh, sitting instead of kneeling.
It was then the elk rose from her slumber. She gracefully stood and approached the pair, directing her probing gaze to Nephesh. "This one insults me." She spoke in a deep melodic voice. Colin's eyes grew wide upon hearing the elk speak and she turned her gaze upon him. "I am no deer mortal."
Colin's shock quickly faded as reason began to kick in. "There has to be magic at work here," he thought, "Some sort of illusion."
The elk snorted and spoke again, "That he is." The comment was directed at Nephesh, yet Colin had seen the boy write nothing. "What do you seek?""Where is Emalia?" Colin asked bluntly, clearly suspecting he was still wasting valuable time. He got no response from the elk but instead got a note from Nephesh."She who answers all questions pertaining to the dawn."Colin rolled his eyes in disgust. "More of his incessant nonsense." he thought.
The elk looked back to Colin and reared her head high, obviously displeased. "So long as he fouls this meeting, no answer shall he obtain. Respect is what I demand in return for an answer."
Colin couldn't believe it. Not only was he wasting his time now he was being insulted. His jaw tensed and a faint red glow crept into his eyes. "I will just slit it's..." but the thought ended there, redirected almost as soon as it came. "The time is already spent, I might as well continue to play along." He drew in a calming breath and lowered his head in reverence. After a moment of silence the elk spoke again, "The one you seek walks the road between sunrise and sunset."
Colin took in another calming breath to ward off his anger. These words meant nothing to him. "I'm sorry, what does that mean?" Colin asked in a controlled tone.
Nephesh handed him another note, "She is on a road, Faithless." Colin crushed the note in his hand, not knowing how much more of this he could suffer.
"She may or may not arrive before the sun sets on her life." the elk continued, as if finishing her previous statement.
This definitely got Colin's attention, his head darting up and his gaze fixing on the elk. "What are you saying? Her life is in danger?"
The elk spoke again, not directly addressing Colin, "Darkness closes in around her in many forms. The horizon between sunrise and sunset. She chases the appearance of the dawn cresting, without knowing the place it truly resides. Darkness..." she turns her gaze briefly upon Colin, "In all its forms... seeks her out. It will find her first on her path to redemption."
Colin had reached his limit. All he had heard was blathering nonsense and hints at Emalia's doom. Colin spoke in a deep, almost unearthly growl, "You speak nothing but nonsense!" Colin was going to end this creature's miserable life. His fury would be released and no amount of restraint was going to stop him. Sandorin would see the folly of his ways. He began reaching for his weapons and almost made it up off the floor before the feeling hit him. It was as if he ran headlong into a wall of utter darkness. There was an explosion of pain in his head, accompanied by a piercing scream which only he heard. The big man crumpled to the floor.
Colin picked himself up off the cavern floor. He had no idea how long he had been laying there. He felt a mild ache in his head and his vision was a bit dim but he was still in control of his body. He looked about the cavern and saw only Nephesh. "Where is it? Where did it go?" "We have our answers. We must leave now."
Colin felt only despair. The elk had appeared to truly know something about Emalia and now it was gone.
Nephesh promised an explanation to Colin and led him back through the tunnels and catacombs into the temple proper.
They soon found themselves in Npehesh's room. As Nephesh began adding his supplies to Colin's pack the big man started to emerge from his despondency. "What are you doing?"
"Preparing you." said his written response
"For what?"
Nephesh then began to take Colin through the meaning of the elk's words. With Colin's mind now clear he was now able to understand. Emalia was traveling northward along The Long Road towards the mountains. He couldn't believe how foolish he had been, and without the boy, how lost he would still be. He offered a sincere apology to Nephesh yet the boy simply reminded him that there were more important matters at hand. Neither one of them would be of particular use in tracking Emalia but they knew her general direction would have to set out hoping for the best. Nephesh quickly finished his packing and they set out from the temple. On the way through the Waterdeep marketplace Nephesh took a sudden detour over to an obvious woodsman perusing one of the market stalls. Colin's confusion was only momentary before realizing the boy was looking for a tracker. Colin was anxious to get their journey underway but he couldn't discount the value of a proficient tracker. With some impatience, Colin followed Nephesh over to the stranger. Colin stood a few steps behind, content to allow Nephesh to carry out the majority of the conversation.
As the two spoke of Nephesh's handicap, price, and their intentions, Colin found his attention drawn northward. His impatient gaze scanned the horizon, barely able to make out the faint outline of mountains in the distance. He almost felt if he could just focus hard enough he might catch a glimpse of white robes somewhere out there. With his attention so focused, Colin completely missed the woodsman's name as introductions were made: Hellstrom.
Colin was relieved when Nephesh and Hellstrom finally concluded the arrangements. It was decided the three of them would meet at the north gates of the city and set out that same day. The arrangements made, Colin had but one thought in his mind as his gaze returned to the north.
"Please be safe Emalia... I'm coming."
Landfall
As Hellstrom stepped off of the boat onto the dock of the Waterdeep shipping port the smell of the "City of Splendors" assaulted his nose. Hellstrom had been in the wilderness for too long obviously and he was anxious to leave. However, he was close to running out of supplies since his recent stop in Mahn Tor, and had not had a chance to replenish his dried meat stores. As soon as he had his supplies he intended to leave the city behind and go back to what he was used to.
Before long his nose got used to the smell of city life and as he was wandering around in this unfamiliar pit of thieves and vagabonds looking for a grocer to get supplies from, he decided that he would stay the night in one of the many inns that he had seen. A rest in a good soft bed would be good after sleeping so long on the ground or on the deck of a merchant vessel.
After a delicious meal of roasted venison and securing a room for his use at a decent looking inn, Hellstrom found himself scouting out the city. He decided that he would be leaving through the north gate and heading northward as that area of land was covered by the thickest forest. Hellstrom wanted plenty of cover to keep out of the cold night air. After looking out the gates at the woodlands bit longer he turned back to the inn where he had left his bag and newly acquired supplies for that much needed rest.
Before long his nose got used to the smell of city life and as he was wandering around in this unfamiliar pit of thieves and vagabonds looking for a grocer to get supplies from, he decided that he would stay the night in one of the many inns that he had seen. A rest in a good soft bed would be good after sleeping so long on the ground or on the deck of a merchant vessel.
After a delicious meal of roasted venison and securing a room for his use at a decent looking inn, Hellstrom found himself scouting out the city. He decided that he would be leaving through the north gate and heading northward as that area of land was covered by the thickest forest. Hellstrom wanted plenty of cover to keep out of the cold night air. After looking out the gates at the woodlands bit longer he turned back to the inn where he had left his bag and newly acquired supplies for that much needed rest.
Voyage to Waterdeep
Journal entry dated Tuesday the 23rd of Ches
The cold wastes of the inhospitable northern region of Mahn Tor finally convinced me to travel elsewhere, hence how I find myself sitting on the freezing deck of this cargo ship headed for Waterdeep. Thank god I don't get sea sickness or the pitching and rolling of this forsaken vessel would throw me into a fit of heaving. Two days in this boat sleeping in the cold wind is more than even I can bear. It will be only one more day and we shall make landfall in Waterdeep. From there I have no idea where i will go. Ill just let my feet be my guide and go where they take me.
Hellstrom Oldostin
The cold wastes of the inhospitable northern region of Mahn Tor finally convinced me to travel elsewhere, hence how I find myself sitting on the freezing deck of this cargo ship headed for Waterdeep. Thank god I don't get sea sickness or the pitching and rolling of this forsaken vessel would throw me into a fit of heaving. Two days in this boat sleeping in the cold wind is more than even I can bear. It will be only one more day and we shall make landfall in Waterdeep. From there I have no idea where i will go. Ill just let my feet be my guide and go where they take me.
Hellstrom Oldostin
Tinge of Doubt
Fate. It had to be, nothing short of it, really. Emalia had heard no voices this day, but as she got off of the horse-drawn cart in Port Llast, rubbing her back end no less, she ran into a lady she had spoken with many times before in Market Square of Westbridge. There really was no confusing her, the green eye and hazel looked over Emalia's shocked face, seeming to gather in an instant that Emalia was doing something she "shouldn't." A few brief apologies passed before Emalia was clued in to the fact that she had done the right thing: "Emalia, I've no idea why we have come to meet on this path, but I have been looking to speak with you."
Emalia and Dorian seated themselves at an oak table in the Alliance Arms Inn.
It hadn't changed since the first time she had been there to buy lemonade for Hellstrom, nor the more recent time before she had gone to Waterdeep. Now, however, she had company at the oaken table.
Emalia downed her two glasses of lemonade, and in short order, found out that Dorian was a member of the Sunites. "What magic fate! That's wonderful!" Emalia straightened, her face gleaming. "Then you can tell me where to find this, Keldon fellow."
"No. I cannot tell you."
"Isn't he Sunite as well?" Emalia asked, slumping in her seat.
"He surely is that and one most cherished."
"I just needed to ask him something."
"If you do not mind, what are you wanting to ask him?"
Emalia spent a few moments getting to what her desire was, directions. She was on a journey to the Temple of Light to find her path in life. She had been told Keldon knew how to get there. Once there, she assumed easily that the Priests would aid her in discovering herself. It was only when Dorian mentioned, "One of those..." that Emalia became confused. "Many," Dorian said, "seek Keldon and the place he resides, most for the wrong reason." And it was with this that Emalia sat wondering what the wrong reason could possibly be. She found herself wondering why, exactly, it had been suggested so easily for her to take this, as her journey to self discovery.
Looking over at Dorian, Emalia found herself wondering about Grobnak. Before she could delve into her own thoughts on the matter with any scrutiny, Dorian began scratching at the ground by her foot and looking rather pained.
Emalia saw the woman shiver and moved to help, but something in her own mind held her back. She was on the verge of an explanation from Dorian, but it would have to wait. "Suffice it to say, Keldon can be contacted," Dorian said through her pains. Emalia watched her, confused and worried.
"Keep safe, be sure to do that."
"I shall do my best."
Dorian parted from Emalia's company, barely able to recite her spell to vanish. Emalia stood in the middle of the inn for a long moment. The urge to continue was overwhelming and so she again headed out on the mountainous road with thoughts circling her. "One of those..." "Wrong reason..." She didn't know in the least what it could mean, but hearing it come from the mouth of someone like Dorian, who had helped her before, was unsettling. Almost as much so as the orcs that seemed to be growing in number the farther north she traveled.
Emalia and Dorian seated themselves at an oak table in the Alliance Arms Inn.
It hadn't changed since the first time she had been there to buy lemonade for Hellstrom, nor the more recent time before she had gone to Waterdeep. Now, however, she had company at the oaken table.
Emalia downed her two glasses of lemonade, and in short order, found out that Dorian was a member of the Sunites. "What magic fate! That's wonderful!" Emalia straightened, her face gleaming. "Then you can tell me where to find this, Keldon fellow."
"No. I cannot tell you."
"Isn't he Sunite as well?" Emalia asked, slumping in her seat.
"He surely is that and one most cherished."
"I just needed to ask him something."
"If you do not mind, what are you wanting to ask him?"
Emalia spent a few moments getting to what her desire was, directions. She was on a journey to the Temple of Light to find her path in life. She had been told Keldon knew how to get there. Once there, she assumed easily that the Priests would aid her in discovering herself. It was only when Dorian mentioned, "One of those..." that Emalia became confused. "Many," Dorian said, "seek Keldon and the place he resides, most for the wrong reason." And it was with this that Emalia sat wondering what the wrong reason could possibly be. She found herself wondering why, exactly, it had been suggested so easily for her to take this, as her journey to self discovery.
Looking over at Dorian, Emalia found herself wondering about Grobnak. Before she could delve into her own thoughts on the matter with any scrutiny, Dorian began scratching at the ground by her foot and looking rather pained.
Emalia saw the woman shiver and moved to help, but something in her own mind held her back. She was on the verge of an explanation from Dorian, but it would have to wait. "Suffice it to say, Keldon can be contacted," Dorian said through her pains. Emalia watched her, confused and worried.
"Keep safe, be sure to do that."
"I shall do my best."
Dorian parted from Emalia's company, barely able to recite her spell to vanish. Emalia stood in the middle of the inn for a long moment. The urge to continue was overwhelming and so she again headed out on the mountainous road with thoughts circling her. "One of those..." "Wrong reason..." She didn't know in the least what it could mean, but hearing it come from the mouth of someone like Dorian, who had helped her before, was unsettling. Almost as much so as the orcs that seemed to be growing in number the farther north she traveled.
Journal Entry Dated "Tuesday the 16th of Ches"
Based on the weather, I must be nearing the icy wilderness of Mahn Tor. The trees are bent with Ice and finding a decent place to sleep is becoming harder and harder as time goes on. I'm running low on food so I think I will make a quick stop in the city of Mahn Tor to restock. I have a few acquaintances there that should be able to get me what I need. Hunting has been sparse here in the ice. Most of the animals spend the day hiding from the large bears and snow cats that haunt this area of the wilderness. I’ve only seen a couple of them myself but I have seen the signs of them everywhere. Now to find a suitable place to set up camp for the night and begin the arduous task of finding enough firewood that is not laden in ice to make a fire.
Port Llast
The day was at its end when the ship finally arrived at the docks in Port Llast. Emalia gathered her things and walked out onto the docks. She had no idea that it took so many people - men (very burly, suntanned, and grinning men), to sail a ship. With her pack on her back, she ducked her head and walked down the boarding plank and onto the dock. "Don't forget we leave in the morrow, lovely. 'For the sun comes up."
"Oh... I, appreciate that. I'll be back well before then."
The tanned sailor grinned down at her from the bow of the ship, showing a distinct lack of teeth. She turned away quickly and walked into the city, biting her lip. Here was the place where she bought lemonade for Hellstrom. Her brow furrowed as she shook her head. No time to think of that. She was here to get provisions, then get back on the boat (hopefully avoiding any more leering) to get herself provisions.
Emalia walked into The Alliance Arms, the very place she had gotten the gift for Hellstrom. No one recognized her as she picked up a glass of water and downed it. "Do you sell food?" "Oh hon," said the wench, "we don't sell food here. We got farmers for that. Besides, sailors don't come in here for the food." "I see." "You know... you could get a job here if you're looking for one. I'm sure you'd make a lot of money for this place." "No... thank you."
"Oh... I, appreciate that. I'll be back well before then."
The tanned sailor grinned down at her from the bow of the ship, showing a distinct lack of teeth. She turned away quickly and walked into the city, biting her lip. Here was the place where she bought lemonade for Hellstrom. Her brow furrowed as she shook her head. No time to think of that. She was here to get provisions, then get back on the boat (hopefully avoiding any more leering) to get herself provisions.
Emalia walked into The Alliance Arms, the very place she had gotten the gift for Hellstrom. No one recognized her as she picked up a glass of water and downed it. "Do you sell food?" "Oh hon," said the wench, "we don't sell food here. We got farmers for that. Besides, sailors don't come in here for the food." "I see." "You know... you could get a job here if you're looking for one. I'm sure you'd make a lot of money for this place." "No... thank you."
Divide and Conquer
Throm rubbed the day old growth of stubble upon his chin thoughtfully. Taking the letter back from Jayden, he stood back from the pool glancing upwards in contemplation. 'On one hand, I can understand and respect a person's request for solitude. On the other hand however, this "if I live" part within the note does not sit well with me.' Flicking the letter with his index finger he put it carefully within his inner pocket. 'Usually I could count on my magic to locate those I wish to find, however if Hellstrom does not wish to be found I have no doubt he has taken measures to ensure that divination will not allow him to be followed.' Looking down to the resting man in the pool, he nodded as if in agreement. 'I agree with you Jayden, it would be most unwise of us to attempt to change the path which Emalia has chosen. Forcing our beliefs on her would only serve to drive her away from the Guardians, we have not the right to do so. However she too must be found, especially in light of events of more recent nature. Just because we won't be trying to change her mind, doesn't mean we can't keep an eye out for her whilst she holds the company of Jihad. Meanwhile, perhaps I can persuade you to join me in search of our Hellstrom?'
Murmuring a thanks to Jayden, he drew Taryn eastward into the library. After uttering a small incantation, a small lamp illuminated the darkened room giving both of them, light by which to see. In attempts to lighten the air, Throm allowed a small smile to escape his lips. 'That's it...once we get everyone back together no one is allowed to leave the clan hall.' Shrugging slightly he scratched the back of his head, turning to face his friend. 'Hellstrom has most likely retreated into the forests where he is most comfortable. Though the woods are not necessarily my most comfortable of areas, we shall begin our search for him there. Any words of wisdom as to where would be the best place to start?' Drawing a deep breath, Throm leaned upon the chair next to him.
'And then there is Emalia. Though there are no signs that she is in danger I fear it would be foolish of us not to keep tabs on her for the present time. I care not which deity she should choose to follow, however her safety is of course paramount. Can you find her trail and ensure her safety?'
Murmuring a thanks to Jayden, he drew Taryn eastward into the library. After uttering a small incantation, a small lamp illuminated the darkened room giving both of them, light by which to see. In attempts to lighten the air, Throm allowed a small smile to escape his lips. 'That's it...once we get everyone back together no one is allowed to leave the clan hall.' Shrugging slightly he scratched the back of his head, turning to face his friend. 'Hellstrom has most likely retreated into the forests where he is most comfortable. Though the woods are not necessarily my most comfortable of areas, we shall begin our search for him there. Any words of wisdom as to where would be the best place to start?' Drawing a deep breath, Throm leaned upon the chair next to him.
'And then there is Emalia. Though there are no signs that she is in danger I fear it would be foolish of us not to keep tabs on her for the present time. I care not which deity she should choose to follow, however her safety is of course paramount. Can you find her trail and ensure her safety?'
The Letter
As both Taryn and Throm stood there in the hall Jayden looked back and fourth at both of them, unaware of where to start. He started to speak toward both of them announcing the situation at hand, that Emalia had started off her path toward Jihad, and that our attempts to pull her back have seemed futile. "Do no, go to her and confront her, this will only draw her further away from us." He wanted to make it clear that the only option we had at this time was wait. Jayden then looked over the note once again and spoke "Hellstrom feels that this is all his fault, that he could have stopped this from happening." Jayden knew this was all wrong, he knew that Hellstrom could not have stopped this terrible thing from happening, and only if he could get Hellstrom to figure this out. Jayden peered over at Throm and spoke lightly "We must find Hellstrom...We need him, to continue the push toward Jihad. We cannot let him leave, because he is a great asset to getting Emalia back, she trusts him as much as she trusts me, but I am old and cannot fight for her like he can." Jayden turned his back from Taryn and Throm and thought for a minute 'Maybe...maybe this Insignia will work.' Jayden began to run a finger over the Insignia hoping Hellstrom would hear even if it meant Hellstrom thinking distress. Jayden turned back to both of them and spoke once again "Taryn, you must find Emalia, we seem to have....lost her. That is all..." Jayden then took his cane and slapped it on the ground, gimping back to his quarters to sit on his floor and think....
A Quiet Night
Taryn sat in the library as she often did with the books and the silent solitude of her thoughts.
She thought about Hellstrom leaving and wondered what really pushed him to go.
Was there something she missed?
She knew that sometimes she wasn't privy to some of the goings on in the clan hall due to her being deaf. Being not as in the know as she once was it was difficult to keep up with the lip reading to understand everything.
This situation was different though. Now was not the time to just sit by and let things go unsaid or noticed. Hellstrom is her friend and if he is in some sort of trouble, she wanted to be there to help.
Outside of the library, in the sanctuary, she felt the presence of her old friend, Throm. Taryn wandered out into the sanctuary to see if he could maybe answer some of the questions that she had about Hellstrom. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Throm handing Hellstrom's letter to Jayden, reading his lips she saw that he was saying: 'So... perhaps you might be able to enlighten me on the events transpiring as of late...'
Wondering what Jayden may know about this matter, she chimed in, 'What do you know, Jayden... If there is something wrong you have to tell us.'
With that, she leaned on her staff alongside Throm and awaited the answer.
She thought about Hellstrom leaving and wondered what really pushed him to go.
Was there something she missed?
She knew that sometimes she wasn't privy to some of the goings on in the clan hall due to her being deaf. Being not as in the know as she once was it was difficult to keep up with the lip reading to understand everything.
This situation was different though. Now was not the time to just sit by and let things go unsaid or noticed. Hellstrom is her friend and if he is in some sort of trouble, she wanted to be there to help.
Outside of the library, in the sanctuary, she felt the presence of her old friend, Throm. Taryn wandered out into the sanctuary to see if he could maybe answer some of the questions that she had about Hellstrom. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Throm handing Hellstrom's letter to Jayden, reading his lips she saw that he was saying: 'So... perhaps you might be able to enlighten me on the events transpiring as of late...'
Wondering what Jayden may know about this matter, she chimed in, 'What do you know, Jayden... If there is something wrong you have to tell us.'
With that, she leaned on her staff alongside Throm and awaited the answer.
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