Tales of Faerun

[Deleted6317247User]

After spending so much time in towns, Nawen was happy to finally camp out in the wilderness. She helped out to pitch the tents, and was about to offer her assistance to Conall, but then Xallistine beat her to it, so she simply sat on the ground and watched Rhegar running around the campsite, chasing bugs and enjoying the open space.

 

"Well, aren't you happy to be out of the civilized world?" Shalena asked as she noticed that Nawen, unlike herself didn't seem to mind being in the middle of nowhere.

 

"A ranger that likes wilds, shock of shocks!" The drow replied as she lay on the ground with her hands behind her head. As it was the clear night, the sky was full with stars. "Zorica's right," she thought, "it is a beautiful place."

 

"I find inns with warm beds much more likeable," the pirate mumbled as she approached one of the tents and peeked inside, "or better yet, my own bed in my cabin."

[tokyobiohazard]

As the group arrived at the campsite, Ianthe smiled as she heard Nawen say she preferred the outdoors and said, "I've missed being outside towns. Arva and I have been staying in cities for so long, a change of pace is nice."

Arva grumbled and kicked at a fallen log before sitting on it. He wasn't looking forward to picking ticks out of his bedroll tonight.

Aera had only one thing on her mind as she walked toward Conall's tent and crouched down, then crawled inside. It was a tight fit for her, but she sat cross-legged and prepared to wait for Conall to enter. Her stomach turned flips as she wondered if this was too bold a move, but she decided she had to have this talk with him about his shame for being a lycanthrope in as private a place as possible.

[Flipout6]

Weyland justified his reasoning to Rhaine, saying that since the innkeeper cared more about the plaster on his walls than the well-being of the people behind them, he desered a little bit of a roughing-up. He went along with the rest of them, but even Sybille and Amendale both explaining why they disapproved wasn't enough to sway his opinion. Sybille had sighed, thinking to herself that maybe he was a bit more like Arland than he liked to think he was. Marie, meanwhile, protested leaving the city, saying that they had to look after their own first and foremost. She followed them reluctantly, but made sure to point out several fortified, defensible positions where they could set up camp for the night. Not out of spite or to prove her point, but to provide reasonable alternatives, extra food for strategic thought.

 

It was all for naught, however, and they soon found themselves setting up camp under a tree. The view was particularly scenic and the moon shined brightly down on the vast plains surrounding them. They pitched their tents and set up camp, and soon there was a fire going.

 

Weyland briefly considered asking Dri if she wanted to walk around and talk a while, but then he yawned and suddenly a sleeping bag seemed incredibly incredibly appealing, and he stretched and stripped down to the same shirt and pants he was wearing at the inn, lumping his armor in a pile by the tent door. "If we're done here, I'm going to bed. I ain't takin' watch tonight, either, I'll pass out." He crawled right into his sleeping bag and his snoring was filling the camp in minutes. Then he accidentally rolled on top of the blade of his sword (he was sleeping beside it) recieved an audible jolt, yelped in pain, rolled over, and fell asleep again.

 

Meanwhile, Amendale told Tak'We, "I'll keep an eye on Dagny overnight, make sure no complications arise from her injuries." and he sat down beside her unconscious form, fiddling with the grass and occasionally checking her pulse, feeling her forehead for fever, and listening to make sure her breathing was steady. Once satisfied that she would be okay for the moment, he'd go right back to fiddling with grass. He couldn't even talk with the owl, it'd gone off hunting mice.It was, after all, still an owl.

 

As the Ordain sisters themselves went off to bed in the same tent, Sybille took a seat beside Arva at the fire and started roasting some sausages she'd bought in the market earlier. She looked sideways at him and stuck a roasted one in his face. "Want one? Got a whole damn pack." Then, cheekily and without waiting for an answer, she prodded him and suddenly asked, "So, you and Ianthe, huh? Two seemed awfully affectionate back at the inn. As in, borderline snogging." She grinned cheekily.

Edited March 20, 2014 by Flipout6

[GrueMaster]

Tenebris breathed a sigh of relief; he had been prepared to fight whatever that creature was, but was not eager for such an encounter. "Well, thank you for showing up finally," he said cheekily to the others when they came outside, though there was no malice in his voice. "I have to admit, I am surprised for once. " The half-vampire commented off-handedly as he adjusted his pack and followed Conall. "This may not have been one of the record times I've been forced to stay sleep out in the wilderness, but it is the first time that I wasn't the cause for such an event Well done, you lot. I think I shall enjoy my time here; that is, if we don't all die first. Anyway, off we go."

 

Tenebris remained silent for the rest of the trip, having not actually rested for Jergal knows how long, only deigning to speak once camp was made, and that was only to wish everyone good night. "Have a good night!" he called out from beneath his bedroll to no one in particular. "Don't let the vampires bite!" And immediately passed out to sleep.

 

 

Tak'we, still simmering from the angry innkeeper, muttered and hissed to himself about 'stupid softskins," all the while holding the unconsciously Dagny to the area where at they were going to make their camp. He laid his clutchmate down gently, and allowed Amendale to take over caring for her.

 

For the rest of the night, the thri-kreen patrolled the camp grounds, keeping an eye out for anything or anyone in case they were attacked again.

 

 

Dri could tell Weyland was rather angry, but she didn't quite know what to say. She hadn't been handy at all at the inn, and whatever had been hiding outside had fled already, so she wasn't feeling overly confident about herself, and thus was silent all the way to the camp.

 

The rogue began to see if there was anything Weyland was wanting to talk about, but the man had declared he was going to bed, and sure enough, he had done so in a very short matter of time. Sighing, she simply laid out her bedroll near Amendale's and Weyland's, and soon fell asleep herself.

[spyro1201]

"Actually, Ma'am..." - Adroroar continued, whilst the party was headed outside town. - "...If anything, that's one of the reasons I'd like to tag along. During my stays in the largest cities of Faerun, I met all kinds of colorful individuals, mostly adventurers like yourselves. Some were in it for the sake of doing good, some were in it for the money, others just liked the thrill of the kill, and others were in it for the journey. I identified with the last type. D-during my studies, apart from textbooks and such, I also occasionally read stories of heroes and their travels, the places they went and so on...I-It was quite inspiring. Eventually, I realized that I can learn quite a bit from going out into the world from time to time. Since then I've been on the road, and my current destination is the Shaar. Been wanting to see it for years, closest I've been is the drawings in dusty tomes in an old library. A-anyway, I'm very thankful to be accepted in your group." - he finished with a slight smile of his own, though barely noticeable in the dark streets. Although he didn't say much about it, Adroroar was quite worried about those wererats, but he tried to put that thought to rest.

 

Later at the camp, the tiefling sat close to the fire. He admired the scenery quite a bit. The moonlight gently illuminating his surroundings, creating a very peaceful atmosphere, as if the landscape itself was in a deep slumber. The group seemed to be settling down.

 

"I guess it's introduction time." - he said, hoping to get everyone's attention. - "M-my name's Adroroar Carter. I'm very pleased to be part of your party. Never seen a group this big. Where exactly are you all headed?"

[Brutii]

Daud glanced around the scenery at the campsite, the dark around them was comforting in some ways, and beckoned him. He preferred cramped cities, more places to hide. But this was not too bad, he supposed, but it could have been better. He looked around for a while, for he did not feel tired. Though he didn't exactly feel like he wanted to be awake either. Daud came to pause at a tree and ran his eyes over it, examining it quickly before taking a running start, leaping into the air and reaching out, grabbing onto the branch of a tree and spinning around it, landing atop the branch. He took a moment to stead himself and then he slumped down against the trunk of the tree. He liked the shadows and he liked being off the ground. He doubted it actually made any difference in the grand scheme of things, anything with two brain cells would probably look up to the tree if they were searching, but it made him feel slightly more secure... and there was less dirt and less bugs up here to bother him. He raised his head and stared off to the sky

Daud watched the black night for what felt like an age, wondering, thinking... Dreaming. He lulled thoughts around in his head as he stared into the boundless skyline, where was he going... what was he doing... And why? He reaching up and gently pulled the chain that hand around his neck, so that the ring he wore on it slid out from under his light armour and hung suspended in the air. He released the chain, taking the ring in his hands and spinning it over, examining it as he had done a million times, maybe more, before.

He turned it over, running his fingers over the edge of it, feeling it's cold, smooth surface. His fingers came to rest on the circle where the gem should be set. It had long since been removed, he supposed, and the gem sold off for whatever reason. He had never bothered to found out when he had the chance, now he doubted he would ever know. Things do change fast...

He sighed, dropping it and raising his head against, staring off into the night above

Edited March 21, 2014 by Brutii

[josh900]

After setting up his tent Tannin sat outside and began to brew up his noxious tasting potion to keep him up through the night. "Suppose I'll help keep watch then, hate sleeping on the ground anyways." He said as drank the newly brewed potion. A look of utter disgust spread across his face as he tried desperately to keep the foulness down. His limbs flailed around like a small child's would when throwing a temper tantrum as he made some terrible noise half between a retch and a moan. "One of these days.... One of these days I will find a way to give that a bearable taste." He said pitifully, wiping his now wet and red eyes.

 

"You're such a child some times." Azuris mocked him as he lay he finished setting up his tent. "By the way.... Anyone seen Hexol?"

----------------------------

 

Back in the city a small mousy looking man clung to the bars if a jail cell, his eye betrayed his anguish and despair, a member of the force that was sent to assassinate Conall, the young wererat had been faced with a horror that he never could have anticipated, so great was this terror, a force of destructive nature that followed wherever he went, that he turned himself over to the guards and was imprisoned. He has hoped to find solace behind the iron bars, a small taste of peace before his judgment, he his thought that no matter what the law did to him, that it would be a better fate than what he had suffered..... He was wrong, for the terror that he had gone to such desperate lengths to escape, was now locked in with him.

 

"So I've never been in jail overnight before! I've been to jail before but never overnight. This one time these mean old guards thought I was a halfling that went around killing people but I would never do that! They searched my bag and stuff and said they found a bunch of stuff that had been reported stolen! Can you believe that? Stolen items in my bag! Whoever took em must have gotten his and my bag mixed up, why else would all that stuff be in there? I was so mad but it was alright, I guess anyone could have made that mistake but still! He shouldn't have been stealing in the first place! Thieves are the worst kinds of people after all!"

[AurianaValoria1]

Conall glanced up to see Xallistine nearby, a fire spell already in the Ulitharid's talons. The werewolf backed away from the woodpile and gestured at it, "Be my guest, friend." He then turned and made his way over to his tent, which Nawen had kindly pitched for him. Opening the flap, he ducked inside...

 

"Aera!" he exclaimed in surprise, not expecting to see the weretigress within. He had not even seen her pass by him, likely due to his mental preoccupation. Conall shook his head rapidly and let the flap fall closed, "Sorry. You wanted to talk, I presume?"

 

He sat in front of her slowly, armor rattling, and Aodh slid from his shoulder to curl about his silver-plated foot.

 

Outside, Zorica snorted at Shalena's commentary and murmured, "Well, aren't you the special one?" She could recall a time when she thought owning her own bed was something that would never happen. The half-drow moved to sit at the base of the hickory tree, Sir Meowsalot mewing softly as she absentmindedly petted the little kitten's head.

 

Across the camp, Argyros smiled slightly at Ianthe as he walked up behind her, "Your partner there doesn't seem to share in your enthusiasm. I do believe he would much rather be in a warm bed like our piratess ally."

 

Zorica, glancing at the small group of pale elves near the log, had seen the way the albino one glanced at all the women around him, and she began to doubt that he was Ianthe's permanent partner.

 

More like 'in bed with our piratess ally'. The half-drow thought, her amber eyes narrowing.

 

Argyros then wandered over to the edge of camp, watching Tak'we's patrol. He, too, would be staying awake this night, making sure nothing disturbed the companions. His silver eyes took in every detail of the surrounding landscape, and he kept his bow in hand as he wandered about the perimeter of their encampment.

 

Meanwhile, as Weyland was trying to explain his actions to Rhaine, the Doomguide herself would hear none of it, "Try and justify yourself all you like. What you did was, as I said, completely uncalled for. I am astounded and disappointed that you behaved in such a manner. Why you would let an upset innkeeper's words move you to such an extreme reaction is beyond me. I advise that you keep your temper in check in the future."

 

As the Grey warrior went to his tent, she knew he probably did not care one way or another whether or not she approved of his actions. His sudden change in demeanor was unnerving, and for once, he seemed more like Arland than she had previously thought. Perhaps it was because his sister's attitude was so different from that of her brothers. Sybille and Marie both seemed to have good, level heads on their shoulders. Annette as well, though the girl was not as vocal as the others.

 

At Tenebris's good night wishes, Zorica and Rhaine both rolled their eyes. The latter glanced back at the half-drow, and the two merely shrugged at each other.

 

When Adroroar explained his intentions and inquired after their destination, Rhaine frowned, "I'm afraid this is much more dangerous than your run-of-the-mill, casual adventure. We are headed to the mountains, southwards, to rescue a friend...and to destroy the phylactery of a dracolich. Afterwards, we'll be going west." She sighed heavily, putting her hands to her temples out of exhaustion, "If you wish to know more, speak with the others. I'm going to bed, before I collapse from fatigue."

 

As she headed to her tent, she overheard Azuris's question about Hexol, and the Doomguide shrugged, "I wouldn't worry. He's gone missing before and returned just as spry as ever. He probably got distracted by a myriad of things in the city and will tell us all about it when he gets back, whether we want to hear it or not."

 

With that, she opened her tent flap, ducked inside, and secured it closed, laying down on her bedroll with her armor still on. She kept her pack and Touch of Death by her side, her hand curled around the hilt of the sword, and it was not long before she was sound asleep.

 

================================

 

Quarylene kicked open her coffin lid with a hiss.

 

They had been back at Ravenna's castle for a tenday, and in that time, the vampiress had not even wanted to speak aloud. The very fact that Lolth had managed to twist them both to her own ends enraged the drow beyond anything she had ever felt before, and she took it out on everything in her path, living and non-living.

 

She stepped out of the coffin and walked briskly out of her chambers and down the hall, backhanding one of the Devil-queen's servants as she passed. If he didn't need the punishment then, he most assuredly would in the future.

[Quintatas]

Xundus remained quiet as the group traveled outside the city and to a new camp, more so than usual. When they arrived, the drow went a short ways away from the camp, laying his bedroll out between two rocks. He hoped it would afford him some shelter from the wind, if there would be any. For all his years on the surface, he was still unfamiliar with its weather pattern. As he thought about it, he began to remember his time in the Underdark. He almost wished to go back, but when he remembered the evils of the other drow, the thought diminished.

 

In as comfortable a position as he could get in to, he quickly fell asleep.

 

==================================================

 

Marian watched the group from a safe distance, trying to count their numbers. A few were outside, but the half-fiend did not know how many were in each tent, or perhaps hidden elsewhere. How he wished to simply charge in and kill them all! But he knew that would be suicide - most of them appeared to be veteran fighters, and from his earlier encounter, he knew they had at least one magic-user.

 

Finally, the warrior decided he needed to get a closer look, and began to make his way closer, stopping about forty meters from it. A shudder ran through him as fantasies of bloodshed entered his mind. But in his careless daydreaming, his metal armor scraped against a rock, making a light but grating noise. The half-fiend winced at the sound, and prayed that Cyric would grant him strength if a fight came.

[Deleted6317247User]

"It really is," Nawen replied to Ianthe's comment, "I hope we'll stay out of towns for longer from now on." She added as she sat up and looked around the camp. She wasn't feeling very tired so she thought she could stay up as well.

 

Shalena on the other hand was getting ready for uncomfortable sleep. She peeked outside as she heard Zorica's words. "You don't need to be special to get the best bed in a pirate ship, dear," she said with a grin, "only good enough at convincing others to join your mutiny." With that, Shalena closed the tent flap and lay on her bedroll. "If someone doesn't have a bedroll, I'm more than happy to share." The pirate added.

 

After some running about the camp, Rhegar began sniffing the tents and after finding the one which belonged to Nawen, went inside. The drow stood up and was about to go towards her tent to get some things when she noticed someone sneaking around. The figure wasn't particularly close, but since she could see in the dark, whoever it was, it wasn't difficult to spot.

 

"We've got company." She said as she reached for her blade, and nodded in the direction where she spotted the figure.