The White Scourge IC

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare nods as the king speaks. "Very well, then. We'll leave immediately. Any objections to us going to the children's home, first?"

[Allyzedl]

"Nope, I'm ready."

[Fremen]

Verdun Krueger

The quiet figure in the back of the room watched and listened as the monarchs talked with the adventurers. Despite his entering late, the druid figured that he had heard enough to understand what was going on. He glanced at the map that had been laid out, at the red ring in the southern plains, and reflected on the area. Rarely had he ranged far from the forests over which his circle held dominion, but he knew the natural paths well enough, and so he turned his thoughts to the region in question.

His voice was deep but quiet when he spoke from the corner of the grand room, clearly unused to projecting across such a lofty space, "It should be straightforward enough. The plains offer no great dangers, and what we find underground should not prove overly difficult to surmount."

[Frivolous]

Jum the Sad


Jum listens to what King Rorik says about pay and the boys' parents and the urgency of the mission.

He solemnly nods to each answer to his questions. If he is disappointed in them, he does not show it.

Nevare nods as the king speaks. "Very well, then. We'll leave immediately. Any objections to us going to the children's home, first?"

Jum shakes his head. "I have no objections."

Verdun Krueger

The quiet figure in the back of the room watched and listened as the monarchs talked with the adventurers. Despite his entering late, the druid figured that he had heard enough to understand what was going on. He glanced at the map that had been laid out, at the red ring in the southern plains, and reflected on the area. Rarely had he ranged far from the forests over which his circle held dominion, but he knew the natural paths well enough, and so he turned his thoughts to the region in question.

His voice was deep but quiet when he spoke from the corner of the grand room, clearly unused to projecting across such a lofty space, "It should be straightforward enough. The plains offer no great dangers, and what we find underground should not prove overly difficult to surmount."

Jum gives a little wave to the newly arrived stranger and quietly says, "Hey."

Now that the monarchs have stopped paying attention to him, an almost visible wave of weariness crashes down on him. He looks exhausted from taking so much.

[Herabec]

The three monarchs remained their, patiently waiting for any further questions. If no questions came up, they'd dismiss the party to get started on their assignment.

The group now had some choices to make; they could travel to Anke Seiler's home to question her about her missing children.

They could instead head straight toward their objective, map in hand with adventure, wealth and possibly a cure as their goals!

They could ask around town for information, hire a guide or stock up on provisions they may be missing...

Or, if they were so inclined, declare the quest hopeless and retire.


Anke Seiler's home

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This small hut facing the merchant's square has seen better days. Indeed, many of the planks that make up the walls of this building are warped and in disrepair and the roof has multiple holes within it, ranging from small to rather large. The windows, of which there are two, have both been boarded up haphazardly, though a soft orange glow betrays the presence of someone within.

Travel onward!

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Behind you lies the gates of Rorikstead and the bustling noise of a large town, the voices of hagglers in the marketplace and children laughing and playing assault your ears. In the distance, the crashing of waves upon the shore intertwines with the screeching of various species of bird. Before you, in stark contrast, lie the rolling plains, stretching as far south as the eye can see.

Screwing Around Town

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Specifics, man! What are you going to do?

This is hopeless!

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GAME OVER

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare turns and walks out of the Hall of Monarchs. "Right then. To the boys' house."

Upon arriving, he knocks on the front door and waits patiently for an answer.

[Medic!]

Rugar

Rugar, anxious to get started, exits the audience hall with the rest of the adventurers gathered to head for the children's home. As he passes by the new-comer on his way out the door he offers a grin, Yer more'n welcome to come along directly this time, no need to straggle 50 paces behind! He completes the phrase without breaking his gait.

Once outside, he expresses a keen interest in wolf accompanying their newest addition, plying the man with question after question, Does he do tricks? How do you tame a WOLF!? Is he friendly, does he bite, what's his name? The stream of questions lasts clear up to the Seilers' home.

[Frivolous]

Jum the Sad


As he walks with the others to Anke Seiler's home, Jum puts distance between himself and both Rugar and the wolf.

He studies the wolf nervously, fully aware that the nasty predator could attack at any moment and wondering why it has not.

After a moment of thought and hesitation, he plucks his red rat Lenny out of his belt pouch and perches the familiar on his shoulder. Four eyes are better than two.

[Fremen]

Verdun Krueger

The druid simply nodded to the dwarf as the offer was made, and left the throne room alongside the others, there to make their way to the children's home. Along the way he bore the dwarf's questions with distant aloofness, answering them succinctly and without interest, "No. You don't. No, yes, and its a female - she's a wolf, she doesn't require a name."

[JelloCat]

As the group walks to the boys' home Sir Rodrick makes idle small talk with a few of the commoners they pass on the street. With a smile and a compliment for everyone the knights makes his way to their destination person by person.

[Allyzedl]

Ripley quietly follows behind the party.

[Herabec]

OOC:

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My most sincere apologies for the delay in posting a response. This weekend has been nothing short of exhausting and I've simply not had the time or energy to reply with any quality.

IC: Nevare's knuckles rap the old, rotted door, his hollow knocking echoing throughout the building. Several moments pass before any noise from within was heard; the sound of shuffling feet and the strained coughing of a woman. Several moments later, the door swung open.

The woman standing in the entrance might have one day been beautiful, but no longer. Her face was covered in boils and wrinkles, one side of it twisted terribly with one milky-white eye. Her long hair was curled and grayed as though from age and she stood, stooped over a cane. She was dressed in drab, moth-eaten gray robes that dragged the ground at her feet. Her right hand was withered and black.

"Yes..? Who are you, who call upon poor Anke?"

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Lady Seiler, correct? We've been hired by the monarchs to find your missing sons, Eric and Edward. We were told they had headed toward the bunker that was recently discovered, and didn't return. We'll be heading that way to look for them shortly, but I was hoping you could provide us with some information. What the boys look like, and why they were heading for the bunker, for starters."

[Herabec]

The withered woman furled her brow slightly at the man who spoke, her hand clutching tighter at her cane. "My boys? They're missing, yes, but I don't know what you're talking about. What bunker? They went hunting on the plains," she refuted, her good eye peering at Nevare with an inquisitive gaze.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"Hunting? I see. Can you tell us where their usual hunting grounds are?"

[Frivolous]

Jum the Sad


Jum stiffens in alarm as the old lady Anke asks about the bunker, then he relaxes as she seems to lose interest in inquiring about it.

He mentions gently, "A high official of the town of Rorikstead asked us to bring your boys back if we find them on our travels. But we need to give them proof we're not bandits. That's why we came to you, Anke."

"Anything you can tell us about them would be of help. And if one of them has a favorite toy we can show as proof we know you, that would also help."

[Medic!]

Rugar

Aye, AYE! And we can find 'em a bit faster thanks to this fine man's doggy if you have somethin' e' can sniff on wit' their scent.

[Frivolous]

Rugar

Aye, AYE! And we can find 'em a bit faster thanks to this fine man's doggy if you have somethin' e' can sniff on wit' their scent.

Jum the Sad


Jum looks startled. "Oh. I hadn't thought of that."

He turns his head and asks the rat on his shoulder. "We can't be going senile already, can we? We're too young t' go so stupid."

[Fremen]

Verdun Krueger

The druid cast a sidelong glance at the dwarf at the word "doggy," but conceded the point. He didn't say anything to the woman, for despite his own background, he knew little in the ways of consolation or placation to have any idea as to what to say to the woman. Instead he busied himself with just taking stock of the accommodations, and ensuring his companion didn't do anything to upset the locals.

[Herabec]

The woman furled her brow once again as if deep in thought, her hand clutching tightly to the cane in her hand before turning her back on the group and stepping into her house, the building dark save for the blazing firepit on the west wall. "I don't know where their normal hunting grounds are on the plains... They don't let me join them. But, if you think your wolf can track them..." she spoke, trailing off a bit as she hobbled off to a small table.

Once there, she reached down and grasped at a small golden necklace that lay atop an elaborately decorated tome. The necklace itself sparkled brightly in the firelight, a small golden sword dangling at the end. "This is Eric's - he never takes it hunting for fear of losing it, but he wears it all the time in the village. It should provide you with both the proof you need and his scent," she said before slowly making her way back to the door.

"They're young and prideful. This necklace belonged to their father; he was an adventurer - a great warrior. Eric and Edward always wanted to be like him... If it was bandits, then..." she spoke, voice wavering slightly.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Nevare reaches out and takes the necklace. "We'll find them, don't worry. I'm not losing anyone to some lowlife brigands." He hands the necklace to the druid. "Give your wolf the scent and lead the way."

[Fremen]

Verdun Krueger

The druid gingerly took the necklace, careful to hold it with the folds of his robe, so as to minimize his own scent tainting the object. Kneeling, he faced the animal, who inquisitively trotted forward to sniff the proffered necklace. The wolf sniffed the object, eying the druid curiously, awaiting the command it knew was coming.

"Track them," he said simply, rising.

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Taking 10 on the survival check to track with the wolf, giving a result of a 15 (enough to track on anything but rock/water).

[Frivolous]

Jum the Sad


Jum raises his fair eyebrows skyward at his companions' seeming determination to start immediately instead of doing other things first.

His feet ache from walking all day and he has other intentions, but he says nothing. He plucks his rat from his shoulder and rubs the tiny furry warm body between his soft plump fingers as he waits for the wolf to pick a direction.

[Medic!]

Rugar

Rugar's face twists into a mirthful smirk. An' you said he don't do tricks, bah!

The dwarf trots off happily to follow the wolf, anxious to meet up with these brigands. After thinking it over for several minutes, he draws his greatsword to get in a little "practice time" on the way, swinging at imaginary enemies and working through flourishing routines as he walks, keeping just enough of his attention on the wolf as to not get left behind.

He can faintly be heard humming a dwarven tune, occassionally singing some of the lyrics, Go'n' to bash a goblin Ma, be see-in you a' dinner! Clea-vin' 'im from crotch to maw, somethin' somethin' winner!

[JelloCat]

"Perhaps we should stock up on supplies before we go traipsing through the wilderness? I for one am not prepared for this. Perhaps the general store first?"

Without another look back the knight strode ahead in the direction of the nearest store.

[ToySoldierCPlus]

"Not prepared... ? What did he think we'd be doing, running around town delivering random ingredients to people?" Nevare shakes his head. "No matter. Guess we're waiting for him to finish his shopping. Anyone else need any supplies before we leave? I'd like to be on the plains before dark."

[Herabec]

The Rorikstead market was a place where one could find many mundane items on sale. A general store was present, as was a smithy and even an apothecary. Just about anything non-magical that the group would require could be found here.

Verdun's wolf, using it's keen sense of smell, has managed to catch onto Eric's scent from the necklace, though the proud beast seems somewhat unsure of the exact direction the boy had traveled, thanks to time that had passed since Eric had departed the village.

The wolf, however, seems most pulled toward the southwest.

Once the group had finished their shopping, the gates of Rorikstead and the plains awaited them. According to the monarchs, it would be two day's journey both ways - they should prepare accordingly.

[Frivolous]

"Not prepared... ? What did he think we'd be doing, running around town delivering random ingredients to people?" Nevare shakes his head. "No matter. Guess we're waiting for him to finish his shopping. Anyone else need any supplies before we leave? I'd like to be on the plains before dark."

Jum the Sad


Jum sits down on the nearest and cleanest available surface to rest his feet. He shrugs his round shoulders.

"I didn't know we would be investigating a bunker of t' Old World when I woke up this morning. Or that I would be looking f' two boys."

"Do we have enough light? I have torches. Enough to give us 10 hours of light, if we use them sparingly."

[JelloCat]

"Just give me a couple minutes guys. I'll be right back."

With a flourish Sir Rodrick sets off for the market, returning shortly with a backpack loaded with traveling gear.

"Ready when you are."

[ToySoldierCPlus]

Once Roderick and the others have returned, and Nevare, thinking better of setting out rashly, has improved his own supplies a bit, he turns to Verdun. "Have your wolf lead the way. We're setting out now."