Portent to the Terminus

[Vazzaroth]

Shale climbs into to carriage.
"I'll be fine here."
Less crowded anyway...

[Kirstin]

Aurelia AC: 18 HP: 8

"The Crow sounds wiser than most of the 'civilized' gods that people follow in the cities I have always inhabited. They seem to promote war, intolerance, and ignorance." She then laughs and lghtens the mood of the conversation, "I don't have anything against Rodrick," She suddenly leans in a little and speaks in a whisper loud enough to be heard over the wind and other noises, "Actually I think he's really handsome, but it's fun to tease him because he gets so nervous and squeamish." She leans back giggling and bringing her wings in around herself like a wall but not actually hidding herself from Huron as she blushes a little. "You seem not to notice me like most other men do. Is there reason for that? Have I insulted you or pushed you away? Or am I just not the type of woman you find pretty?" Suddenly she realizes something that seems to hurt her deepdown and insight painfull memories, Aurelia speaks quietly and with her eyes down and her wings slumped "...or is it... is it my... wings?.." She tilts her head just enough to see him and there are tears in the corners of her eyes.

[anarch_nomad]

Huron AC:16 Hp:33

Huron moves her wings out of the way so that there is no obstacles between him and Aurelia and he kisses her on the forhead. Your are beautiful and the wings show that the Crow loves you and wants you to have this gift, granting such a blessing is unheard of to my people. *he smiles, his body still up next to hers* Again your beautiful like the springs most wonderous flowers blooming. *he places one of his hands on hers*Its the way you acted in town. You had no reaction to my blessings not even a thanks of gratitude and when I asked you questions they went unanswered. Which led me to believe originally that you were arragant and the Crow does not allow arragance among his children because none of his children are better then the other. But ive seen now you just didnt realize what I was doing.

[Visturon]

Once Rodrick and Brelsan have climbed into the carriage and Karak has gotten into a wagon the procession gets underway.

Two huge wagons rumble out of the town gates up toward the north, up one of the trails mostly used by these lumber wagons. Those aboard the wagon realize that they don't actually set on a cushion but that the padding under them is that of the canvas cover, that could provide protection should rain start, rolled up and curled around the edge so that the lumberjacks and passengers wouldn't be so bruised after the three days.

The inside of Aurelia's carriage is furnished plainly but nicely though the cushions on the comfortably shaped seats are somewhat thin. The doors can be strapped open to allow air flow and a better view of the surrounding landscape.

A few minutes out of sight of the cities wooden walls, and the timbermen all begin singing a number of songs and trying to get their new friends to sing along with lots of back slapping and encouragement. The men are very physical and regularly slap or punch one another or wrestle for a minute with the loser often going over the edge so that once he gets up he has to run to catch up and gets into the back of the wagon causing everyone to scoot toward the front to make room. Thus it seems that the competition between the men is to be at the front of the wagon longest and in a few hours everyone in the escort who sits on a wagon is residing near the front...

[Kirstin]

Aurelia AC: 18 HP: 8

"Thank you for your kind words but my wings are not a blessing from the crow." Aurelia doesn't pull away from him but she tries to stop anymore tears, "These wings are the most odvious signs of my fathers curse upon me, his blood flowing through my veigns makes me unable to be blessed, that is why I did not respond to your blessings. My father was a master of dark magics and he used them to destructive effects all over the world, the black magics flowed so strongly through his veins that they were passed on to me..." She raises her hand and the green fire she demonstrated in the Tavern once again engulfs her hand, suddenly the purple flecks running through the flame surge in number and size and she points at a boulder letting the blast burst forth from her being and it leaves a blackened dent in the boulder where it strikes. "These wings may appear angelic but the magic that flows in my veins has only ever been used for destruction." She hugs Huron and her wings wrap around them for a moment, truly engulfing Huron in the hug and hiding them from veiw for a few seconds.

[anarch_nomad]

Huron AC:16 Hp:33

Huron rests his forhead on hers and looks into her eyes. The Crow works in mysterious ways. The wings might come from your fathers dispicable dark magic. But the crow is the one who made them look beautiful and you along with them. The amazing energy you can create can defend your friends and your...loved ones. The Crow shows me many a things. He does not tell me your purpose is for destruction but to help,protect and to care for your friends. Huron kisses her again,then gives her a long hug.* The crow will gladly take you as one of his children if you desire it? Brelsan has joined and has asked if he could help bring back my tribe. I would like you to come with us and help, I know this is quite odd seeing how we just met but there is no question that the Crow wants me to meet you,Brelsan, and the others. You...you remind me somewhat of my mother. *he retraks back slightly and wipes her tears off with his right hand, then smiles while looking into her green eyes* She was beautiful and lovely just like you are.

[Fenria]

Rodrick

He did not mean to eavesdrop, but Rodrick had really nothing better to do while sitting in Aurelia's carriage, polishing his armor. At first, he did not believe what Aurelia was saying. Then, as he thought of his actions the day before, he realized how badly he had acted, as far as manners are concerned. He set his armor aside and thought on the way he should have acted. Then he prayed to Pelor, asking for the will power to act as he should around his companions, and not as his body wanted him to.

Finished with that, he began again on his armor. While he did this, he idly thought of what he would do to make it up to Aurelia. He also thought of how he'd ask Huron about his tribe. He realized, suddenly, that he wanted to help Huron. And not just because Aurelia was doing it, but because he thought that a tribe so noble should not deserve to be wiped out. He sighed, and continued his work.

[Visturon]

Suddenly a lumber jack slaps Karak on the back hard enough to knock him onto the stuff in the middle of the wagon "Come on man, sing with us." Then another slaps the first across the face and they proceed to grapple resulting in the second falling off the wagon.

After falling the seven feet to the ground from the deck of the over sized lumber wagon, the man jumps to his feet and sprints back, leaping onto the back of the wagon as if it were nothing and claiming himself a new seat, causing the others to scoot around toward the front.

As you travel the only real thing to notice about the landscape is that it is an ancient oak forest, the trees are mostly five feet or more in diameter and due to the size of their canopies they all stand twenty to thirty feet apart, leaving open ground with only sparse covering below. Most of the ground is covered by a natural layer of dead leaves and fallen branches that hides most lesser obstacles and stops most plant life from taking root and growing in the shaded woods.

[DraPrime]

Brelsan

*falls asleep for the journey*

[Visturon]

After a long day of loud singing and rambunctious play the caravan comes to a stop and the lumberjacks unload to set up camp; the wagons and carriage are set in a circle and a fire is started in the middle, one of the men makes four batches of some sort of bland tasting thick soup and distributes it to everyone. After dinner the men find places to sleep; the majority just find a spot on the ground and lying down.

The next day starts at dawn with a meal of eggs and bacon, before everyone loads up to start the journey anew.

This day is much like the last with nothing of importance happening.

At about noon the third day you come to an area where the trees are only half grown and in thicker quantity than in the rest of the woods, within minutes of the dramatic scenery change you roll into an encampment with a few hundred longterm tents set up in a large circle and a good sized wooden hall in the middle. The wagons come to a halt and the men begin unloading all the goods immediately.

Thom approaches you all and says to meet him in the hall in a half hour, he then walks off to see about his animals getting taken care of.

Upon looking around you notice there is a big field on the edge of the camp with a lot of oxen grazing in it.

[Daracaex]

Nuada AC:18 HP:22/22

Stretching his back out, Nuada comments, "that wasn't exactly the most comfortable trip I've ever been on." Looking at Aurelia, he says, "I should have gotten a seat in your carriage when I had the chance. I think I have more bruises from the lumberjacks than from a fistfight!"

[Vazzaroth]

Shale will hang about the carrage after Thom gives them instructions.
"So... what are we supposed to do for thirty minutes?"
He looks about and takes in the camp.
"Bored already?"
No! Mabye.

[Kirstin]

Aurelia AC: 18 HP: 8

[response to Huron while still on the road] "Thank you for the assurance of your faith in me but I don't believe anyone knows what my powers will come to until that day comes that decides their use. And I am afraid that as I am I lack the potential for faith enough to follow any gods teachings because those I have witnessed for any time have always turned out bad; yours might be the real deal and a true cause of good but for now I must follow my instincts." Aurelia turns back from him and looks to the road ahead of them. "We all very well may have been meant to to meet, and I would love to see you one day revive your tribe but I am not ready to be that involved in any pursuit."

[upon arrival at the camp] Aurelia looks to Nuada "Well then maybe on our next journey together you will be wiser and ride in some luxury. Though I was tempted to go get a little roughed up by those big men myself..." She gives a sly smile and slowly rises about 10 feet where she hovers looking around. She then calls to one of the men leading away the oxen "Hey big fella, make sure my horses get taken care of too, I would really appreciate it." She gives him he best little 'I need some help from the strong men' pout and slowly turns around where she excitedly responds to Shale with giddy schoolgirl attitude, "Lets look around and explore the camp!" Aurelia then begins to slowly fly in the general direction of the big hall at enough height to barely clear the tents.

[Fenria]

Rodrick

Rodrick shakes Brelsan till he wakes up. "Well Brelsan, we're here. Try not to look around too much, I don't want you getting sick. If you want, I'll go with you when you go out to the forest to make camp." He climbs out of the carriage as he says this and waits for Brelsan to get out too.

[anarch_nomad]

Huron

Huron jumps down from the carriage landing on all fours. He crawls around the ground smelling the terrain. He then makes his way to Rodrick and Brelsan. He makes himself go upright. Did you enjoy the ride?

[Visturon]

In looking around you begin to notice that outside the ring of tents trees and plant life dominate the scenery, though all fresh it appears to be striving and already strangely large for the pace oaks usually grow at.

The camp is full of human activity though, men rushing every witch way on their midday traditions and the bustle of the camps leader and taskmaster returning to his post.

[DraPrime]

Brelsan

Brelsan gets up and looks around. His fingers twitch with the urge to do something about this. "I don't know if I enjoyed it. I slept most of the time."

[Weezer]

Karak
Karak jumps down from the wagon he was riding on, exhausted by the boisterous lumberjacks antics. He slumps down against the carriage and relaxes, clearly glad that he is off the wagon.

[Daracaex]

Nuada AC:18 HP:22/22

"Well, a half hour is not a lot of time. Why don't we head to the hall to meet with Thom now?" Nuada sugests. He starts following behind Aurelia.

[Crystall_Myr]

Naris

Naris jumps off his horse, replying to Nuada, "I'm fine with that, there's no time like the present."

[Fenria]

Rodrick

"Come on, Brelsan. Let's head to the hall. See what needs be done."

Rodrick follows Nuada.

[Weezer]

Karak
standing up from where he was sitting, Karak follows his companions into the hall, periodically rubbing the bruises that the boisterous lumberjacks gave him.

[Visturon]

While approaching the hall nothing outstanding occurs. When you reach the hall you see that it is made with fine workmanship and that it is built so solid it could withstand any storm.

Inside there are eight rows of tables all about fifty yards long, the room is a huge square with a large firepit in the middle with stoves and grills set up around its edges. The room has a ceiling much like that of a gothic cathedral with the high peak and massive beams and huge trim boards, around the base of this there is a balcony that runs all the way around the room. The balcony can only be reached by a stair case on the far side of the massive room.

After a half an hour Thom comes in flanked by two men, the one on Thom's right is a fairly small man who seems abnormally alert and suspicious and the one on his left is well muscled with sunken knuckles and a crooked nose.

They walk forward and Thom addresses all of you but seems to focus on Nuada, "It's high time we get down to the matter of your pay for your help with this escort. I believe there are just the eight of you?"

[Daracaex]

Nuada AC:18 HP:22/22


"Yes sir. I am Nuada Ailil, and my companions are Lady Aurelia, Huron, Roderick, Brelsan, Shale, Karrak, and Naris," Nuada says, introducing the rest of the party.

[Fenria]

Rodrick

Rodrick extends his hand warmly to Thom. "Pleased to meet you properly, Thom. Who are your friends?"

[Visturon]

Thom takes Rodricks hand and shakes almost to firmly, "These are my associates in running the camp; Dillan, who specializes in information, and Peter, who specializes in restoring order." At this the muscled guy gives a laugh that doesn't show much sign of intelligence and cracks his knuckles. Thom continues, "As for your payment, I will pay a third of it now and the rest upon a successful delivery. If the delivery is not successful then the remainder to be paid will be decreased proportionally." He gestures to the little guy who brings out a bag of coins "I hope that 80 gold apiece will be adequate?"

[Weezer]

Karak
At the sight of the gold Karak's eyes light up and he says greedily
"Yes, 80 gold should be fine"

[anarch_nomad]

Huron

Huron looks somewhat troubled. Before we accept the money shouldnt you explain more in detail what you want us to do?

[Visturon]

Thom chuckles, "I did wonder how much you knew. Alright here is the situation I have and then I'll explain how you all fall into it. Every week we send out a shipment of felled logs for the lumber groups down by NewSight but for the last few months those shipments have been getting highjacked. The highjackers seem to have some way that they scramble the memories of the incident and none of my men remember being attacked or the event of losing the lumber at all. In a few cases it has been that the men set up camp and awoke in the morning to discover all the lumber gone. Sometimes the wagons are gone too other times just the lumber and on a few occasions the oxen vanish as well. On two occasions the men all vanished with the load. Obviously this isn't helping me profit from my chosen trade, so I have tried four different paths back to town, all of which have had the same result, periodic vanishings of my shipments." He looks around at you all to see that you all understand and then resolves that you all seem to be aware enough and goes on, "That is where you come in, I need an escort a little tougher and more specialized than a few lumberjacks to defend and investigate the loss of my lumber. You will travel back to town with the caravan of lumber and either protect it or report on what took it. I will send along the usual 10 man escort in addition to you all; the path you take back is up to you; and should the load be completely lost and you want to receive a payment at the other end I would advise finding out what you can about the thieves."

His companion looks to you all with a distrusting eye "So do you still want this gold?" He looks like he really doesn't want let the bag go but he still holds it ready to be handed over.

[Vazzaroth]

"Wait. You... you have sent 10 men plus the ox crew each time and they still were overwhelmed?"
He looks at the group quickly.
"We better be on our toes, indeed..."