NationStates Jolt Archive

The night was beautiful, the dark comforting her from the horrors of the daylight. Soft chirps from crickets matched the regular beat of her heart. This was her peace, this was her tranquil cure. The crunch of dried twigs and leaves, now soothed out any thoughts of terror clouding her mind minutes before.

She bent down and picked up a moderate amount of dirt and let it flow over her fingers and fall back to the ground, gravity pulling at each small granule. There had been a time in her life she hated the outdoors, growing up in royalty had spoiled the young girls ideas of fun-in-the-sun. Those days were now long gone, not that she missed it. She vaguely remembered her other life. Whispers haunted her dreams and she dismissed them with the sun's golden touch on her pale cheeks.

Her hand grazed the rough bark of a nearby oak tree, doesn't compare to mother's silky skin, but can be just as comforting. How long had it been since she had felt her mother's strong and compassionate embrace? Her chin raised and her visions of silver sparkles shot out from the black abyss. She closed her eyes and now all was black.

[color=red] The clash of steel on steel could be heard off in the distance, along with the shrill, seemingly endless, cries of women and children. She was late, she could have stopped this. No, don’t lie about it, but she could have prevented the deaths of the women and children. She ran, her legs were numb and she couldn't tell if she was actually moving closer to the village. Smoke began to sting at her senses before she even saw the smoke rise. The trees surrounding her were like a green and brown blur out of the corners of her eyes. Now, the screams quieted. The attack was over, she had failed. Yet, she continued to run to the village. What seemed like ions later she arrived to see a gory scene. Something she would not like to envision again. The attackers had left, left the village to burn.

Some bodies were piled on top of each other and were being burned. Fragments of body parts were strewed around the village. It seems the attackers were having some fun afterwards. She saw an infant sprawled out, covered in blood, eyes fixed and open. She kneeled down next to the boy-infant and rested her hands softly over the child's eyelids and closed them. It appeared the woman lying next to him was his mother. She had her dress sliced open, along with her abdomen. Guts spilled out. She grabbed the infant and placed it in the woman's arms. She said a prayer and left.

She couldn't bare the sight of this anymore.

She exited the village and turned to watch it burn. Ashes floated into the sky and she said several prayers for the spirits in the village. She blinked her eyes several times. She would not cry. She looked out into the horizon, she would find these attackers if it was the last thing she did in this lifetime.

She heard the shrill call of several vultures in the sky. [/color=red]

Startled by the reoccurring dream, she sat up from her spot under a willow tree. She had this dream now for fourteen days. Fourteen days since the last village, fourteen days tracking them. The dream taunted her and her endless days and nights.

She stood up and stretched. She arched her back and her spine cracked in several spots.
What I wouldn't give to be back in that wretched palace just for a massage.

Regena Galetea Aideen Terousi of the House of Terousi, protectors of the people of Empress Serene in the land of AmandaTheGreat, now went by Galetea Aideen. She was no longer considered part of family or that life anymore. Regena means queen, she was supposed to be the future queen after her mother. Galetea meaning gift, Aideen meaning fire/flame, she thought could remain the same. She had many gifts or what her parents called talents. She now used them for the good of all and not just her.

Galetea was a woman who looked like an exact replicate of her mother, down to the same measurements. They were women of small stature; they stood 61 inches tall and weighing 110 pounds of muscle. They have curves of women, but more slim and fit then the citizens these days. Both had dark eyes that could draw anyone into the black abyss, dark wavy hair covered shoulders and pale skin in contrast to the dark hair. Galetea put aside the glorious dresses and now wore suede of pale tan. Her pale stomach flat held a black stone in her navel. Her short skirt revealed strong thighs. Her feet covered with the same material, boots to her knees. In one boot was a small silver knife encased in white wood. Along her thin waist was a bag that rested on one hip. Across her fair bosom was a sash that held her bow and arrows. Placed firmly in one hand was a long silver steel sword, spending the radiant beams of light in different directions.

She was a woman many saw as a threat in the villages and was not welcomed. She searched for this attackers and she searched for her cure.

OOC: Looking for some role-players...not sure where this will lead...so ideas are welcome...tg me. I'm interested in a possible love interest and definitely need some evil-doers. Because my character is able to see visions before they happen, if you are the evil one stage a vision in her head of what might happen and she can respond either effectively or not effectively to that vision. Questions and ideas welcome. Beware it might be slow moving at first because I am finished up with my bachlor's degree, I graduate May 13th. Thanks.

Bump before I post again, any takers?

Dureena removed her helmet and ran a hand through her silver/golden hair as her she scanned her surrounding. The banded mail was hot but she couldn't afford to remove it, not with the constant threat of the Iron Thorn.

She slid of her horse and looked back toward Sarlya. "We'll take a few minutes", she said in her musical elven that would have sounded pleasant even without her ability to sing. "The horses need the rest."

Sarlya threw a leg over and hopped down, then rubbed her butt. "Any idea where we are?" she asked in elven, since Dureena had never learned any other language but her native tongue. Sarlya was half-elven and had grown up on the streets, therefore learning several different languages.

Dureena sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry Sarlya, I have no idea."

Sarlya shook her head, "Not your fault Dee." She liked Dureena. Dee was pleasant to the eyes and Sarlya was the type that wasn't choosey when it came to male or female for an intimate partner, as long as they were energetic and not boring. Not that she looked at the Holy Knight in that way. Dee she liked as the best, and only, friend that the exotic dancer turned adventuress ever had. She was a bit slow, but she had a wisdom to her none the less. Sarlya had the patience to explain and teach her and once Dureena knew something there was no way to fool her on it. She still needed a good tumble in the sheets as far as Sarlya was concerned, be it male or female, but Dee was something that Sarlya thought was an extinct species. She was a virgin, and chaste, and believed in marriage before lovemaking.

Dureena knew that Sarlya danced, but she didn't know what kind. Sarlya had told her ballroom and court dancing and Dee believed her. She did know that Sarlya was a crack shot with the bow, even having put an arrow through the eye of a diving hippogriff once, killing it instantly. She wasn't aware that Sarlya was a sorceress and that she used her powers to augment her shooting, not that it would have bothered her. She was well aware of her friends flings and frowned on it, but she wasn't one to involve herself in the personal affairs of others, not even friends, unless asked.

Dureena replaced her helm after about half an hour, some trail rations and some water. Seeing her mount Sarlya did the same with a sigh and once again the two were heading off.

[Tag.] Been a While, Amanda.

Galetea continued as the sun beat down. Beads of perspiration welled on her skin and slide down her smooth body. Her pale skin, now reacting with the sun's caress was turning a pleasant shade of tan. She now slowed down her persistant pace because she heard acouple voices, specifically women's soft tones.

She was not worried, nor did she not think they were capable of damage. She never underestimated a woman, for she knew what havic she could do.

She was closer now and she could smell them, not like the wretched odor of men, but the sweet, but salty smell of women who had been traveling. She caught what they were saying.

Ah, they are in the same ship as me. Lost.

Her sense of direction was great, but there were so many small villages it was hard to keep tract of them. She had lost her count after two hunderd and some.

Now, she could see them. Two women and two horses.

The one with the silver hair might poise a threat, it appeared they were both warriors. But that one seemed to be the leader in some way, or otherwise the other just respected her a lot. Coming from another woman that meant she deserved it. What were these women out here for?

Galetea approached them. She did not grab her weapons, but made it certain that they would understand if she was threatened she would attack.

Her melodous voice broke the silence, "Good-afternoon ladies. My name is Galetea. I am a travelor, among other things. It seems to me we are in similar positions, for I am lost also."

OOC: Ravea! Hi, good to see you again.

A Kunai knife flashed behind a tree for an instant. (Were are we, anywho? A forest or something?) A pair of largish green eyes, hidden in the shade, stared out at the three women. Possible Victims? The pair of eyes considered. No. Not now. The eyes lay on the particularly large and armored elven women. It would be far to dangerous to even think about stealing anything at the moment, given the thickness of that armor. Well, might as well try another tactic. Stalking was tiresome, and there might be the oppertunity for a few free meals here.

A slender figure stepped out of the shadows. It appeared to be a tall, partly masked man; the only part of his face that was visable was above the bridge of his nose. Raven hair covered his scalp, and he was dressed all in black and green. A Kusara Kama, complete with a chain, hung by his side. His legs were adorned with different weapons-everything from Kunai knives to Shuriken to dangerous-looking claws. He was about six feet tall, with a menecing glare. He spread his arms out in a guesture of peace.

"I'm in the same boat as you three. I've been wandering around for two days. Having no idea were you are is something of an inconvenionce." His voice was dry, deep, and raspy. "The name is Duncan Hynes, And I'm as just as lost as you are." He held up his right arm and gave a thumbs up, winking as he did so.

OCC: http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000C4JY9.01-A3E9JPN8AUZ8Z6._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg
Here's the Kama.

(OOC - Quick note. 1) I forgot descriptions and 2) I made a typo. Dureena's hair is light golden in color, I was trying to get across that because of the sun it was reflecting as silvered/golden. Descriptions follow then I'll post thier response and change it if your reaction to them changes because of it.

Dureena - Wears banded mail with a glowing hand emblazoned on the chest. The shield has a symbol of a hand seeming to stop a sword. She wears helm on her head and on her right hip was a longsword, on her left was a heavy flail. On her neck she wears a holy symbol and to those who can sense it they can feel the slightly more than fledglin powers of a holy knight with an undercurrent of the power she could wield once she learned. She has golden colored hair and silver eyes and classic elven features. Her speech is always in elven, knowing no other language, and tends to hint toward older elven speech patterns.

Sarlya - This woman is beautiful, plain and simple with Chestnut brown hair and light blue eyes and she is half-elven. To say she's dressed is pushing the envelope. She wears a small leather vest that leaves open her stomach and back and small, short leather skirt slit up the front and back for easier riding. On her right hip is an elven rapier and on her left is a parry dagger. On her back is a master crafted longbow. Two quivers are on her back and one on each hip hanging on the scabbard and sheath. Her clothing reveals a great deal of flesh and would most likely turn the heads of most men and some women. The archeress has power as well, though it is the power of sorcery.)

Galetea approached them. She did not grab her weapons, but made it certain that they would understand if she was threatened she would attack.

Her melodous voice broke the silence, "Good-afternoon ladies. My name is Galetea. I am a travelor, among other things. It seems to me we are in similar positions, for I am lost also."

The armored woman slid from her horse and placed herself between the archeress and the approaching woman. The archeress again threw her leg over the horse and dropped to the ground, giving the unknown watcher in the bushes a rather pleasant sight of her softer leather undergarment in the process. She took up a position to one side of the armored woman and slightly behind her as she removed her bow, though she made no move to reach for an arrow.

"She said good afternoon", Sarlya translated into elven, "Her name is Galetea and she's lost too."

Dureena nodded but before she could answer...

A slender figure stepped out of the shadows. It appeared to be a tall, partly masked man; the only part of his face that was visable was above the bridge of his nose. Raven hair covered his scalp, and he was dressed all in black and green. A Kusara Kama, complete with a chain, hung by his side. His legs were adorned with different weapons-everything from Kunai knives to Shuriken to dangerous-looking claws. He was about six feet tall, with a menecing glare. He spread his arms out in a guesture of peace.

"I'm in the same boat as you three. I've been wandering around for two days. Having no idea were you are is something of an inconvenionce." His voice was dry, deep, and raspy. "The name is Duncan Hynes, And I'm as just as lost as you are." He held up his right arm and gave a thumbs up, winking as he did so.

Now the archeress did draw and knock an arrow, though she held it point down as the armored woman repostioned herself to be between the archess and the two newcomers while not being in the line of fire of each.

"Another lost traveler, Duncan Hynes", Sarlya translated again.

Dureena looked at the two and smiled though it couldn't be seen for her helm. "Truly has fate thus smiled upon such as we", she said in her older elven style.

"Yeah?" Sarlya asked, her own elven the newer form, "care to explain how four lost people is better than one or two? We're equally lost. Besides, once is coincidence, twice is happenstance", then she started looking around, "three times is enemy action."

"Sarlya", the armored said, her tone had reprimanding tone for those who didn't speak the elven tongue. "All is not darkness where shadows lie."

"No, shadows mean somethings there."

Elves. She should have known by their appearances, but human women were fickle and could pay their lives to the devil just to look beautiful. These women obviously did not. This man has been nearby and he looks to me as if he needs something. What I do not know.

Galetea almost laughed, Sarlya, appeared to be dressed similar to her. Yet, Galetea's body was a bit more tone compared to the elven false fraility. The beads of sweat still glossed her slightly tan skin and trailed down her muscular calves. Strands of dark hair stuck her back and across her oval face.
A quick flash of her hand and she had tied her hair up in a ponytail, with several unruley strands hanging loosely.

She reached into her bag and pulled out a canaster and opened it. Cool liquid poured out into her open mouth and some ran down her chin. She handed it to the woman and mouthed in their native tongue.

"It is water, drink or the heat will get to you."

She paused, thinking of what to say next.

Do not tell them my story, they need to know nothing.

"Do you know where the nearest village is to here?"

ooc: mind if I bring a non-evil half-demon to the story?

OOC: Sure go ahead, but I will need some "bad guys" soon.

Dureena moved toward the Galetea as she removed her helm, golden hair spilling from it, wet with sweat in the heat. She accepted the canister, thier own water running low, but took only a mouthful.

Sarlya allowed her periferal vision to keep track of the man as she looked over the woman with an appreciative eye. One could think she was sizing her up as a potential threat, which was fine with her. Her eyes slid over the woman's trim, glistening body. After a moment she focused her attention agian on the man, neither accepting nor rejecting the water.

In her odd, older elven tongue Dureena responded, "I know not this place, nor whereat we travail. We be far from our homelands and not availed of map or directions. Hope in me was that one would know and perchance offer guidance." She held the helm under her right arm, leaving her left free to draw steel if needed.

(OOC - If you want I could play the Iron Thorn as the bad guys. They would be after my two characters, the reason they're far from home and lost, and such activities as Galetea witnessed is thier type of 'sport'.

Khevi lopped throught the forest, moving quite rapidly but almost silently. Hearing what sounded like people he took to the trees, leaping and swinging from tree to tree almost like a monkey till he got onto a tree overlooking the clearing. Sitting on a major branch of the tree he swung down till he was at basically eye level, holding on to the branch with his feet will gazing at them upside down, long blue hair hanging down.

ooc: hair colour is about this colour = :eek:

Moving away from the ashes of yet another nameless village, Hartesh felt the sorrow well in him at such destruction. He cast his eyes furitively amongst the dead, thier lifeblood spilled vainly for a cause that could only bring more terror before achieving its final goal. He knew better than to try to stop this wanton slaughter, as his own people had lived oppressed for years under a brutal system, a system that reduced humans to becoming killers or becoming dead.

As the sun sank beneath the Southern Sea that lay in the far distance, Hartesh joined his people in the evening prayer-cleansing before spreading his rug in the direction of Ancient Makkah, home of the Prophet of so long ago. As his forehead touched the ground in supplication, Hartesh asked God for the strength to stomach what was to come.

Upon completing his prayers, Hartesh rolled his rug and tied it to his mule, then turned to his followers. They silently stopped cleaning thier weapons and securing thier booty and watched him, waiting. He stood silently for a moment, then began to lead his mule, north to Kaledan, towards the final act that wold bring Final Salvation to his people.

Tavik, for he had no second name, enjoyed the calm & quiet of forests. They where so different from the marshes he had grown up in as a hatchling... Far less water & far fewer things wanting to turn him into lunch.
The slow, graceful movements he performed hinted at a destructiveness buried deep within, tightly confined & well-controlled. Through the meditative stances & philosophy of the 'Aknash-Kerene', or 'Palm of Steel' when translated from the harsh Argonian dialect, he was able to come to terms with the nature of his people & that of himself. As such, his center in was nearly impossible to upset, his concentration rock-solid.

Tavik was of normal height for one of his kind, around six feet two inches, with a muscular build honed from several decades of practicing his art, he cut an imposing figure without the upper portion of his gi, a simple sleeveless garment that fit tightly above the belt & pants he preferred for training. The uniform itself was a faded hunter green, spattered with mud & dust at odd intervals, signs of travel & hard wear. The belt itself was the typical sash-like portion of cloth & was a black so faded it was nearly gray, tinted with crimson at the ends & fraying severely.

As hot as the sun was, it felt energizing on his greenish scales, tinted slightly with black to create a mottled pattern. The tail that hung from the rear of the pants was the same hue, around four feet in length, thick & muscular like the rest of him. Like all his kind, ear-fins sprang from the sides of his lizard-like head, above what passed as a forehead on his kind. A scaly snout dominated most of his face, forming his upper jaw as with any lizard specie. The one remarkable feature Tavik posessed was his hands: The clawed hands where remarkably toned, and the third & fourth knuckles on each hand where oddly larger than the other two. His forearms where as hard as iron, the bones within layered with calcification from years of power-blocking attacks.

With each slowly swaying movement, he ended the current sequence with a powerful palm-strike & a soul-shattering kiai that echoed for a mile or two in every direction from his peaceful clearing where he had set up camp for the day. The next was finished with a roundhouse kick that caused his pant-leg to snap like a whip as his leg moved, and followed with the mighty kiai for added power & effect...

"Three is enemy action", Sarlya muttered and raised her bow.

Dureena had moved away from the woman, placing the helm on her head as she sensed the demonkin closing in.

Sarlya let loose her arrow just a second to late as Dureena nudged the bottom of the bow. As a testimony to her skill she still only missed the blue haired one by an inch at most.

"NO!" Dureena stated in her ancient style elvish. "Demonkin, thine shafts shall avail the not", she told her as she drew her blade.

Sarlya shifted her aim to the man while still keeping the woman in her periferal vision as Dee confronted the demon.

"Speak demonkin, how are thou known?"

"Whoa." Khevi said as he let go of the branch with his feet and flipped to land on his feet, "My name is Khevi, and I'd appreciate not being threatened or shot at if it's all the same to you." Now that his hair was out of the way they could see he had what looked like cat ears, while his eyes where green and slitted like a cats.

ooc: it's just his hair thats blue
save for the abnormalities listed he looks basically human, save for his fingernails are more claw like and can be extended to full claws.

Duncan remained motionless as the blue-haired demon appeared from the trees. He thought the creature was quite foolish to show himself so easily...but then again, Duncan had done the same thing. He looked on as he watched the smaller of the wo elves draw her bow, hitting a patch of bark with her arrow hardly away from the demon's skin. Duncan gave an appreciative whistle, but inside he was thinking as fast as he could.

These two elves made a perfect match...One large, slow, and powerful, the other small, fast, and deadly. Duncan could defeat either one alone, but together...

Duncan's ears pricked up. He heard a deep rumbling from far away, and trees swayed a little. This was no wind. Duncan's hand brushed his Kusara Kama. Was something coming, or was he just imagining things?

(OOC - Okay Theao I changed the post to hair instead of skin, my bad. He IS demon kin though right? If not then Dureena wouldn't have sensed him at all.

Raveo - You pegged them perfectly, power and speed, nice job. *Gives Raveo a cookie*)

The work in the village had not taken long and the gains were meger. Grimnir moved through the other merc's, standing out like a swore thumb as he towered over the others his ogrish parentage clearly visable. His black and yellow mail was caked in soot from the fires as were his blue/green greeves and vambraces, his axe and sword however were clean, unadorned and at the ready. His dark green eyes barely visible under his heavy brow, his long red hair flowed free except for the top as it was fashioned into a topknot. He looked toward the setting sun, awaiting the order to move out.

ooc: he's half demon, so yes demonkin. If you've seen Inuyasha(T.V./movie), then Khevi is like Inuyasha in terms of appearence, save with green eyes and blue hair.

The order given, the soldiers split into 3 groups. Grimnir and the other irregulars were set in a skirmish line ahead of the other troops. They moved swiftly into the forest to be the eyes of the unit.

"He says that his name is Khevi, and he'd appreciate not being threatened or shot", Sarlya translated into elven.

Dureena hadn't actually expected an answer. She stood, not sure how to respond while Sarlya continued to train her bow on the masked man. The woman had dropped down a notch as a threat in thier eyes, as she showed her good intentions.

"Please inform him that am known as Dureena. Inquire of him as to the intent of his presence here. Inform him that no harm shall be forthcoming if none is offered", Dureena asked of Sarlya.

Sarlya glanced in the direction of Khevi, "She's Dureena. She won't harm you if you don't harm us and she want's to know what you want."

"I was just wandering throught the forest. If you give me no reason to fight, why would I?" As he was saying that his nose twitched, "I smell blood and smoke, and it's coming this way."

Duncan raised a gloved hand and waved to Khevi.

"Duncan Hynes, and I'm just as lost as you. I won't harm anything around here unless it harms me."

Yeah Right, Thought Duncan. What a treasure trove of characters he had at his disposal! Duncan wondered what the best way to get as much loot as possible from these people would be; of course, this was complicated greatly with the appearance of the demon. Duncan had no idea how powerful he was. He looked up at Khevi's comment.

"I caught the scent just a little while ago. I wonder what it is?"

"From the smell of blood, I'd say a battle and from the smell of smoke, a village that had been ransacked." Khevi replied as he jumped up onto a branch and swung so he was upside down again.

The raiders had dispersed into the forest in search of new targets, overeager they were becoming sloppy.

Galetea let out a cruel laugh. This group is becoming more of a distraction than of help. I thought maybe they would realize it was from me. Guess I was wrong.

She stepped forward, light broke through the trees and she brightened up as if the light was within her and was finally released.

She hadn't meant for it to be cruel, but she was doubting their ability.

She spoke words stern and serious, speaking first in English and then in turn in the elven language for Dureena, "You are correct to say you smell blood and smoke." She paused meeting Khevi dead on, There is something about him I do not trust. His kind here and why?

She continued once more, "For you smell it on me." She slipped out her sword, metallic silver, but radiating many different colors from the sunlight. At the end of the sword, its dangerous pointed tip, was rusty red, that was flaking off.

I am a warrior, why would they not think I would fight others. Giggling, I do not wear this for fashion.

She did not tell them anymore, they didn't need to know. No one needed to know her story and her reasons for being here.

She blinked... An dimmed vision of a man resembling an ogre flashed before her eyes.

Who the hell is that?

She did not change her outer appearance, she was good at masking her emotions and more so her thoughts.

This group is getting way to big, but I can still use the others to help me out. She looked at each person. Two elves, with different capabilities. A warrior of some type and a demonkin. She looked around and sized each one up. They each have positive attributes, and possible ailments. Which one is of most benefit to me. Well, Dureena and Sarlya are most likely not to split up. So that leaves me with the demonkin and the warrior. Or I could go with the other woman. Or just leave on her own, I had never needed someone before. I do not trust any, but who is the most of my worries, probably the demonkin, I do not know what his powers entail. But neither do they know my powers.

She spoke once more, "I suggest we break up into two groups, one of three and the other of two and exit the forest that way. We are too large a group to be together, we will attract the attention we do not want. Khevi, I would like to go with you. This leaves Duncan to decide to go with our group or our lovely elves group. I assumed you do not want to be split up, however I am able to speak and understand elvish myself. What do you all think?"

OOC: Dragons Reach, actually I would prefer if you didn't bring in your Iron Clad character. I dont' mind subplots, but I would prefer to stick to the original plan and the main characters already established. Theao, I like the show Inuyasha.

"That wouldn't bother me," Khevi replied still hanging by his feet "Thought the scents I smell are fresher than those coming from you."

Sarlya spoke before Dureena could, "We'll go alone. He", she said, nodding the unknown man, "can go with you." Dureena and Sarlya had traveled alone before and knew how each other worked. They could do so again.

OOC: Do you still need a main bad Guy? I have an excellent Character in mind.

"Now wait just a Minute!" Said Duncan, somewhat put off. A trick! And he was too foolish to see through it. Galetea was not the least dangerous as he had thought-she was the most dangerous. Paired with the Demon, that group could be the most dangerous. Better to Incapacitate the quick elf by suprise and take on the big one with speed than to get caught fighting the demon and that...Women.

He turned to Sarlya.

"I think I would rather go with you two, now that I think about it."

"Then I hope you can keep up with horses", she told him and smiled gently. Her smile was in response to Dureena's reaction, who, not following the conversation in common began looking between the two of them. When Sarlya smiled Dureena relaxed figuring everything was okay.

"I'm a bit faster than I look, especially in forests," Duncan reasoned. "I'm sure that I can follow you fine." Of course, he was not really that sure, but he was quite quick. He could just follow the pair of elves from behind if they were really that fast on thier horses.

"We would prefer to go alone, thank you", and with that she switched to elven. "We need to split up Dee."

"Why?" Dureena asked.

"Damned if I know, I don't think it's wise but we've alone this long."

Dureena sighed and nodded. She was sure this was some test of her will and she was determined not to fail. They remounted, Sarlya eyeing the man the whole time.

"Best make haste", she told Dureena, "and try to get as much distance as we can before the light fails."

Dureena nodded and spurred her heavy warhorse while Sarlya fell in behind her, her own light easily keeping pace.

Hertash heard the rumble of hoofs behind him, knowing it did not bode well. The single-track discipline was only broke in emergencies, and the four beat of a galloping horse sent a clear message. He dropped the rein of his mule and turned around as Twynom, captain of the rear-guard, pulled his horse to a halt.
"Master, the rear-scouts report that we are tracked. It appears that we are followed by two elves, a human , and..." the captains voice trailed off. "And?" asked Hartesh, eyebrows raised. Twynom moved closer, "Master, it appears that a Daemoni is with them." Hartesh felt his eyes lighten and the corners of his mouth turn up. "A Daemoni!" he said aloud. "They were all destroyed years ago. Besides, why would my war-captain worry about a Daemoni following in the path of our righteous Jihad?" The warriors around them eased considerably. Hertash laughed, then moved close to Twynom, whispering: "Take six men, follow them. When night falls, kill the human and the Daemoni, and bring the elves to me." Twynom nodded, "As you command, master. Peace be upon you." "And you as well, war-captain."
Hartesh let his gaze wander over the tired band of men he led, these poor, shabby warriors, united only by the hope of a land to call thier own. "Let's keep moving. We won't get anywhere by sitting around here," he said with a smile that inspired his weary followers. He picked up the lead-rein of his grazing mule and continued walking, as Twynom rode back to the rearguard, worrying over his new mission.

Khevi, remained upside down while awaiting the other to finally decide what they were going to be doing.

"Well, I think that I'm going to be coming with you anyways-you don't have to like it." An idea suddenly struck Duncan. He slid his Kusara Kama out of it's sheath and flung it upwards; it stuck into the side of a tree easily. Duncan kept a firm grip on the waepon as he ran up the side of tree and pulled the Kusara Kama with the chain.

"Perfect. I can swing above you in the trees to keep up your horses."

OOC: Warhaven, yes, I need some "bad guys". Feel free to post.
Kaledan, you forgot about my character, although I do not think anyone will be able to figure her out. She is not a elf, not a human, and not a demon.

IC: Galetea watched Duncan, What is this guy thinking. Oh well. Better him be off with those ladies than have myself to worry about him. Now, this demon, I hope he will keep up.

"Khevi, we will take the west border of the forest, watching the sun and hiding within the trees. There are always things watching that we need to hide from. Dureena and Sarlya, I do not care which path you take. We meet in two sun's time at the next village. Pass along the Writhered Snake Creek and you will be safe."

She paused, she just hoped they wouldn't ask how she knew that.

"Let's go."

They would travel a way around, but around the numerous dangers of the forest. If he was fast on his feet they would make good time. Horses can somewhat be a burdonsome in this thick forest, she hoped the elves would keep up with their time. Although, their way would have less threats, it still had threats. She kept every sense open and still watched over Khevi.

Khevi flipped down and followed after Galetea, keeping up with her, by travelling along at an easy lope. "So where are we headed and why did you choose me to come with you?"

OOC: Amanda: If I read your description correctly, then your character looks human, right? The scouts would ahve been some distance away, so for them to have seen a subtle difference would not have been likely. Is that alright or do I need to modify? I can also assume that they only saw part of the party, as it was through the trees. Let me know!

Kris

"Khevi, we will take the west border of the forest, watching the sun and hiding within the trees. There are always things watching that we need to hide from. Dureena and Sarlya, I do not care which path you take. We meet in two sun's time at the next village. Pass along the Writhered Snake Creek and you will be safe."

They left as a question formed on Sarlya's lips. She watched the direction that they had taken off suspiciously.

"What is wrong?" Dureena asked in her elven tongue.

"She said that they would take the west border of the forest and for us to pass along the writhered Snake Creek and meet at the next village and that we would be safe."

"This sounds good, so what is wrong?" Dureena asked again.

Sarlya sighted in exasperation, "Does she sound lost to you? Like she claims to be? And do YOU know where this creek is? I certainly don't."

"So what shall we do?"

"Well we came from that way so we'll go that way", she said, glad to be speaking elven as it was easier on her parched throat, first pointing one way and then the opposite.

Dureena shrugged and continued on, Sarlya following along with her.

Duncan sighed. He was still somewhat confused as to where exactly he was going, but decided to sta with the elves. He jumped from tree to tree, easily keeping up with the pair of elves easily from the treetops. Duncan acted as if he did not even notice the two below him, but he was subtely watching thier every move-especially the archeress. Which one would lose thier patiance first-the small elf, or Duncan?

Suddenly, Duncan heard something. A rustle in the bushes below? He scanned the grond in search of the disembodied noise. Nothing, except for another nameless enemy and somthing else to watch out for. This forest was beginning to give Duncan the creeps.

OOC: Are you Amandathegreat on NS? I ask because I cannot find imported_Amandathegreat. Possibly TG me? I have to ask you a few questions before I can go ahead and post.

OOC: I guess that is true, they could have assumed she was human by sight, or did not even see her because you didn't specify if the human was female or male. Don't worry about it then, Kris.

Warhaven, it is AmandaTheGreat in NS and imported_AmandaTheGreat on the forum, don't ask it is long and complicated, but I messed up on registering when we got the new forum site basically.

His daily practice of kata complete, Tavik seated himself near the small stream that ran through the clearing, emptying his mind in preparation for meditation on the events of the day, his ongoing training, and his next stop in his wanderings...

Acute as his sense of smell was, the wafting scent of the buring village eluded him in his meditative state. Besides, the troubles of others where not his own, it was best not to get involved if at all possible. The Argonian stretched out his senses, seeking to get into tune with the surrounding forest & learn from its passive nature. In his youth, he'd been exiled due to his unfortunate parentage. Tavik was the only son of an Argonian mother & a Dark Argonian father. His conception had been violent, as the ways of his father's people always where. For her defilement, his mother was exiled shortly after she laid the single egg.

Tavik's mother died shortly after he'd hatched, and he'd somehow found his way back to the village that had exiled his mother. Ignorant of who the hatchling actually was, the Argonian villagers took him in. As he grew, it became more apparent that Tavik was the offspring of the defiled Argonian maid they'd sent to starve in the Marshes years before. Things finally came to a head during one of the beatings some of the local males Tavik's age had decided to give him since his arrival. This time, things went far differently than they had gone in the past. Filled with malice from these attacks, Tavik had begun to condition himself, and by secretly watching an aging master of the Infinite Mystical Claw, he had learned a few techniques & how to employ them. After the dust settled, tavik had somehow killed two of the young males, and left a third badly injured.

For this inhumane slaughter, the villagers had again booted him out. By some strange twist of fate, the young Tavik had stumbled across a mossy building that had once been an Argonian monestary. Within were scolls detailing a fighting art that had been used by the monks in protection of their home from various raider groups. The scrolls where, however, somewhat damaged, leaving Tavik free to fill in the blanks & create his own art of combat & meditation, seeking to help himself find inner peace & some sort of atonement for the unjust killings that had caused him to stumble across the old monestary in the first place. He'd seen it as a sign from some higher power that he was meant for something better than the life of an outcast, but for what exactly, he wasn't quite sure...

Galetea looked up at the demon man. She was taken back by his question, she would have assumed he would be happy to go with her, maybe her skills weren't has hidden has she wanted them to be.

"Khevi, I choose you because I felt we would work better because we are similar in that we are outcasts. Humans do not disregard elves, but they are more immune to them to creatures such as ourselves."

She paused, she would not give herself away yet. She would not be that easy to figure out. She knew she appeared like a human, but yet she was still seen as an outsider. Could be for her warrior-like appearance or other reasons left unsaid.

"Let us concentrate on our direction. There are many dangerous things in this forest. Things that I have not encountered, but seen."

"Ah, I've smelt many of them, they tend to not want to show themselves for some reason." Khevi replied as he jumped from the ground to a tree.