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.
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.
In Her Sleep
Port Llast was behind him, and the young girl in white robes, in front. Tailing the girl was easy enough, thus far; for apart from his family 'gift', it had been one of the skills he was trained for in his youth. It was a kind of family heritage, only enhanced by the blood-line ability that seemed dominant within the family.
Soon enough, however, things had begun to take a more complicated turn, as they usually did. Keeping his distance as always, he spotted something from within the trees. "This is not good..." the figure thought to himself. And sure enough, a moment later a large orc had sprung out towards the girl, grabbing for her cloak, while another shouted instructions to get her bag. Xarkuss was faced with a difficult choice. To come out of hiding and protect her from the beasts, would be to reveal himself, and risk earning her distrust. On the other hand, the beasts might harm her, and that was unacceptable.
At first he hesitated, having faith in the fact that she is, after all, a Guardian. But the instant the orc advanced upon her, grabbing for the young girl's throat, it was decided it was just not worth the risk, Dagger in one hand, and the other just about to guide a spell to the back of the beast's head.
Just then a magnificent ray of light suddenly collided with the hulking creature's face, rendering him into a frenzy of agony, and making it collapse to the ground. It was done with impressive force, as was the second one that followed just moments after. Xarkuss couldn't help but smile from under his cloak, as he reassumed his hidden position, and quickly proceeded to follow the girl again; regretting he could not stay behind and make sure that no other orcs followed, as he might lose her.
Going further up the steeping path, the girl was sprinting, clearly trying to put a good distance between her and the two orcs. The farther she went, the colder it got; and having lost her heavy cloak to the beasts, it seemed unlikely that she would be able to continue her journey.
He would wait until she was asleep...
The girl was soon out of breath and sat on a nearby rock, breathing heavily into the frosty air. Just then a figure approached her, and seemingly startled her, as he initiated conversation. Again, the hidden figure was ready to act if something didn't look right, but the stranger seemed harmless enough; or at least, of no ill intent. Just to be safe, though, Xarkuss decided to use his gift, for additional concealment. Just in case. His form immediately began to fade, taking a much less tangible, more misty/shadow-like presence.
It was not long after, that a larger band of orcs appeared to be making their way towards the girl, and her new companion, stranger; seemingly bent on avenging their fallen friends. However, this time there was apparently no need to worry, for the stranger had also noticed the creatures' approach, and the manner and stance in which he held his weapon, suggested he was quite capable of handling the situation. Yet, Xarkuss still advanced a bit closer to the scene, to be able to act in case anything was amiss.
The girl had also aided in fending-off a few of the beasts, but in doing so, she had also exerted the last of her physical stamina, and quickly collapsed beside a near-by tree. The man was still busy in battle with the creatures, but did not look to be in need of any aid. It was time.
Xarkuss discretely approached the unconscious Emalia, and reached within his cloak, depositing something within the girl's robe-pocket. Then (seemingly retrieved out of thin air) deposited some more items into the girl's pack.
The girl awakened some time after, in the presence of the stranger who had protected her from the orcs; the same stranger who had also seemingly saved Xarkuss the need to reveal his presence. It was fortunate, to say the least.
Soon enough, however, things had begun to take a more complicated turn, as they usually did. Keeping his distance as always, he spotted something from within the trees. "This is not good..." the figure thought to himself. And sure enough, a moment later a large orc had sprung out towards the girl, grabbing for her cloak, while another shouted instructions to get her bag. Xarkuss was faced with a difficult choice. To come out of hiding and protect her from the beasts, would be to reveal himself, and risk earning her distrust. On the other hand, the beasts might harm her, and that was unacceptable.
At first he hesitated, having faith in the fact that she is, after all, a Guardian. But the instant the orc advanced upon her, grabbing for the young girl's throat, it was decided it was just not worth the risk, Dagger in one hand, and the other just about to guide a spell to the back of the beast's head.
Just then a magnificent ray of light suddenly collided with the hulking creature's face, rendering him into a frenzy of agony, and making it collapse to the ground. It was done with impressive force, as was the second one that followed just moments after. Xarkuss couldn't help but smile from under his cloak, as he reassumed his hidden position, and quickly proceeded to follow the girl again; regretting he could not stay behind and make sure that no other orcs followed, as he might lose her.
Going further up the steeping path, the girl was sprinting, clearly trying to put a good distance between her and the two orcs. The farther she went, the colder it got; and having lost her heavy cloak to the beasts, it seemed unlikely that she would be able to continue her journey.
He would wait until she was asleep...
The girl was soon out of breath and sat on a nearby rock, breathing heavily into the frosty air. Just then a figure approached her, and seemingly startled her, as he initiated conversation. Again, the hidden figure was ready to act if something didn't look right, but the stranger seemed harmless enough; or at least, of no ill intent. Just to be safe, though, Xarkuss decided to use his gift, for additional concealment. Just in case. His form immediately began to fade, taking a much less tangible, more misty/shadow-like presence.
It was not long after, that a larger band of orcs appeared to be making their way towards the girl, and her new companion, stranger; seemingly bent on avenging their fallen friends. However, this time there was apparently no need to worry, for the stranger had also noticed the creatures' approach, and the manner and stance in which he held his weapon, suggested he was quite capable of handling the situation. Yet, Xarkuss still advanced a bit closer to the scene, to be able to act in case anything was amiss.
The girl had also aided in fending-off a few of the beasts, but in doing so, she had also exerted the last of her physical stamina, and quickly collapsed beside a near-by tree. The man was still busy in battle with the creatures, but did not look to be in need of any aid. It was time.
Xarkuss discretely approached the unconscious Emalia, and reached within his cloak, depositing something within the girl's robe-pocket. Then (seemingly retrieved out of thin air) deposited some more items into the girl's pack.
The girl awakened some time after, in the presence of the stranger who had protected her from the orcs; the same stranger who had also seemingly saved Xarkuss the need to reveal his presence. It was fortunate, to say the least.
You Take the High Road
Emalia set out from Port Llast headed northward on the High Road. The road had suddenly become much less traveled and much more inclined than when she had started out. The more she headed upward, the colder it became, and it was welcome for her to pull out the warm cloak she had picked up in Port Llast. She had been walking for hours, noting certain movements within the trees which she could never quite decipher. As the trees came nearer to the road, what sounded like grunting whispers reached her ears – and forced her to pick up her pace. She had begun jogging when the first orc burst from the trees.
The beast was menacingly tall and bulged with unnatural muscle, all bent on procuring Emalia's items, and perhaps, Emalia herself. The thick hand latched onto the cloak, pulling it off even as it threatened to choke Emalia and send her sprawling backward.
"Get bag!" one of the orcs shouted to his companion. Dutifully, the second tromped after Emalia. Here, Emalia faced the choice. She had to do something, for there was no hope of her outrunning the orcs behind her. She was spun around by the force of her pack being pulled off of her shoulder, and watched as the fruits rolled down the road. Instantly, the orc was upon her with thick hands about her neck, full intent on killing her. Before he could cease her breathing, however, Emalia called out a spell, bringing down a ray of light so intense, the orc let go with an alacrity that belied his frame, and gripped his beady black eyes in howls of fury. The orc companion, upon hearing the cries, rushed Emalia with his club now brandished high above his head. Before he could bring it down to connect with her head, a second blinding ray of light hit him full on in the face, sending him into the same contortions as his ally. Quickly, Emalia scooped up what little fruit she could, stuffed it into her pack, and began racing up the road - hopeful that the two orcs behind her would need quite a long while to recover.
The day wore on with no further incident, if being freezing cold with hardly any food were to be considered non-incidental. Emalia trudged up the road, her light cloak pulled as tightly as could be managed about her. The encounter with the orcs had left her weakened physically, and it was in no way remedied by the fact that she had run almost to the point of collapse on a road uphill. She finally felt safe enough to seat herself on a rock, her breath coming out in the air as a vaporous trail, "Am I truly to die here?""That's up to you, of course. I wouldn't recommend going forward if you plan on living though. It gets worse and you've not the gear for it."
Fear shot through Emalia like a lightning arc and quickly she looked around. "I have no money..." She spun around, finally spotting a slender man dressed in a heavy brown cloak and loose wool clothes. Emalia fought to calm herself, trying with difficulty to pull on her experience as a Guardian to help. "Can I aid you?"
Again the stranger, who spoke in quiet, low tones, recommended for Emalia to turn back. "I can't. I can't go back. I have to go into these mountains." "Have to? You don't have to do anything. But even if you did, I'm saying you should go back to get supplies first.""I can't. I have people following me. They don't understand that it's my mission." The traveler followed her, and they both talked over matters of the Apprentice, the Jihad, her losing so many people she cared for, and the fact that the whole of this journey was being undertaken in the hopes that she would determine at last if this path was the correct one. She was meant to do something more than mill around Westbridge or the Caverns and-
The traveler, without a word, unhooked his staff from his back. The orcs were back, and this time, there were more. "Drop money and weapons and maybe live," the leader barked. Emalia's mouth dropped open as the traveler sprung into action. Never before had she occasion to see someone who moved with cat-like fluidity, nor the ability to handle a weapon as if it were an extension of his own body. Emalia did next to nothing, using her whip to fell one of the orcs, her spell to drop another, and she took off running, hopeful that the man would follow her. Farther up the road, she used the rest of her energy to kill yet another orc.
As soon as the charred body hit the ground, Emalia staggered over to a tree and collapsed. When she came to, the brown-cloaked man sat by her in silence. She felt more rested than she ever had since the start of her journey. They talked for a long while of Emalia's past, and why she was truly undertaking such a seemingly foolhardy mission. No matter how much talked, Emalia could see nothing beyond going farther north. With indifference, he tossed her his warm cloak. Emalia, strong in her conviction that she was well rested and able to continue, rose high into the air. In her sights, the City of Luskan. She had no idea of what lay within the city, and only gave thought of getting provisions. In the frigid altitude, she made her way through the air, well above any orcs that might give her trouble.
The beast was menacingly tall and bulged with unnatural muscle, all bent on procuring Emalia's items, and perhaps, Emalia herself. The thick hand latched onto the cloak, pulling it off even as it threatened to choke Emalia and send her sprawling backward.
"Get bag!" one of the orcs shouted to his companion. Dutifully, the second tromped after Emalia. Here, Emalia faced the choice. She had to do something, for there was no hope of her outrunning the orcs behind her. She was spun around by the force of her pack being pulled off of her shoulder, and watched as the fruits rolled down the road. Instantly, the orc was upon her with thick hands about her neck, full intent on killing her. Before he could cease her breathing, however, Emalia called out a spell, bringing down a ray of light so intense, the orc let go with an alacrity that belied his frame, and gripped his beady black eyes in howls of fury. The orc companion, upon hearing the cries, rushed Emalia with his club now brandished high above his head. Before he could bring it down to connect with her head, a second blinding ray of light hit him full on in the face, sending him into the same contortions as his ally. Quickly, Emalia scooped up what little fruit she could, stuffed it into her pack, and began racing up the road - hopeful that the two orcs behind her would need quite a long while to recover.
The day wore on with no further incident, if being freezing cold with hardly any food were to be considered non-incidental. Emalia trudged up the road, her light cloak pulled as tightly as could be managed about her. The encounter with the orcs had left her weakened physically, and it was in no way remedied by the fact that she had run almost to the point of collapse on a road uphill. She finally felt safe enough to seat herself on a rock, her breath coming out in the air as a vaporous trail, "Am I truly to die here?""That's up to you, of course. I wouldn't recommend going forward if you plan on living though. It gets worse and you've not the gear for it."
Fear shot through Emalia like a lightning arc and quickly she looked around. "I have no money..." She spun around, finally spotting a slender man dressed in a heavy brown cloak and loose wool clothes. Emalia fought to calm herself, trying with difficulty to pull on her experience as a Guardian to help. "Can I aid you?"
Again the stranger, who spoke in quiet, low tones, recommended for Emalia to turn back. "I can't. I can't go back. I have to go into these mountains." "Have to? You don't have to do anything. But even if you did, I'm saying you should go back to get supplies first.""I can't. I have people following me. They don't understand that it's my mission." The traveler followed her, and they both talked over matters of the Apprentice, the Jihad, her losing so many people she cared for, and the fact that the whole of this journey was being undertaken in the hopes that she would determine at last if this path was the correct one. She was meant to do something more than mill around Westbridge or the Caverns and-
The traveler, without a word, unhooked his staff from his back. The orcs were back, and this time, there were more. "Drop money and weapons and maybe live," the leader barked. Emalia's mouth dropped open as the traveler sprung into action. Never before had she occasion to see someone who moved with cat-like fluidity, nor the ability to handle a weapon as if it were an extension of his own body. Emalia did next to nothing, using her whip to fell one of the orcs, her spell to drop another, and she took off running, hopeful that the man would follow her. Farther up the road, she used the rest of her energy to kill yet another orc.
As soon as the charred body hit the ground, Emalia staggered over to a tree and collapsed. When she came to, the brown-cloaked man sat by her in silence. She felt more rested than she ever had since the start of her journey. They talked for a long while of Emalia's past, and why she was truly undertaking such a seemingly foolhardy mission. No matter how much talked, Emalia could see nothing beyond going farther north. With indifference, he tossed her his warm cloak. Emalia, strong in her conviction that she was well rested and able to continue, rose high into the air. In her sights, the City of Luskan. She had no idea of what lay within the city, and only gave thought of getting provisions. In the frigid altitude, she made her way through the air, well above any orcs that might give her trouble.
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."
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