NationStates Jolt Archive

(ooc: Macabees, Alric is not part of the Holy Grail Quest)

Alric looked back at the castle which was small in the distance. The sun just then rose emerged over the castle walls which now seemed to shine a white light. He mounted atop his horse and began to ride off.

Minutes later, he turned onto a westward road and he reached the edge of a tall forboding forest. After checking his map, he road into the forest.

[OOC: Sorry, I mixed up the two knights.]

Rodriguez took a look at Asengar's horse and said,"We'll get you a better stead in Calais, where I know some vendors."

He then adressed all,"We will be making way to Dover today and we will arrive either tonight or tomorrow morning. If it's the former we will sleep, if not we will just stop for breakfast at a tavern. For all other meals we can use the ones I had packed up." He handed each man his food, which would last ideally five days. Then he continued,"The second and third days of our trip will be the crossing to Calais, and I suggest you eat what I just gave you. Food give on the decks of ships is nowhere near as good. At Calais we will stay for two days for rest, and then we will continue on to Paris. From there I shall explain the rest."

Walking to Tegulcigalpa he put his rounded shield on his back, depicting the massive red cross in the center, and then mounted the black warhorse, while waiting for others to do the same.

"That sounds good. Let's go." Sir Hasdrubal turned in the saddle and waved to the knights and other courtmembers that had gathered to the wall to to see them leaving. He checked that everything was in place, his sword, shield, bags, food and parts of armour that he didn't wear, moved the lance to more comfortable position and moved ahead.

Silently nodding when Rodriguez spoke his piece, Sven then heeled Drakker around and started off, between the spaniard and Hasdrubal. The people watching from the castle probably could only see their backs by this time. Rodriguez and Sven's shields contrasted sharply, in both color and motif.

Unlike Hasdrubal, Sven did not wave as he left, only looking back slightly.

As the night approached the three riders (Sir Bane, Lady Alejandra, and Princess Daphne) finally arrived in the small plain town of Gradsaba. The three mounted horses trotted into town and down main street as their riders looked upon the simple dwellings of the people there.

"If either of you need to buy anything, I am sure we can find a couple of shops around here," said Sir Bane to Daphne and Alejandra. "Otherwise I would suggest we find an inn and get some food."

"I don't need anything, or at least nothing that can't be picked up at the inn, you Daphne?" Alejandra asked

After a long day of riding, Alric dismounted in the middle of a clearing in the forest, and he started to make a fire to cook a meal.

"Umm... I doubt they would have anything of use for me," commented Daphne.

"Well then," Sir Bane spoke again, "I suggest we head for the local inn."

Sir Bane stopped his horse momentarily to ask a passerby where the inn was. Bane followed the directions down the street and over to the left before appearing in front of an end. Hopping of Mars he pet his mane and then walked inside.

He walked up to the inn keeper and asked from under his cloak, "The ladies and I require a set of rooms."

"How many?" replied the inn keeper as he eyed the party.

"A set..." reiterated Bane but upon seeing the inn keeper's confusion he rephrased it even more simply, "Three..."

"Ah... well, why didn't you say so?"

Deciding not to argue, Bane simply said, "Twas my fault... now good you show us which three are ours?"

"Sorry, no."

Bane's frustration level was rising but still he kept his cool, "Why not?"

"Well, there are only two available rooms," responded the inn keeper, "In fact there are only two rooms at all... its a small town, we don't get many travelers." As the inn keeper noted the problem he remarked, "Each room has two beds..."

"Fine," Bane responded before turning to Daphne and Alejandra, "If you two don't mind sharing a room..."

(ooc: feel free to cause Alric problems.)

(ooc: feel free to cause Alric problems.)

ooc: I already have a plan...

(should I just go to the town then?)

ooc: just give me some time, I am kind of busy. Stay in the woods... arriving at town so quickly would be a little.... quick.

"I have nothing against it." Alejandra replied, "Do you Sara?" She asked as she turned to face Daphne, hoping she'd be quick enought on the up-take to go along with it.

"Hmm?" Daphne looked baffled momentarily but when she looked at Sir Bane she was filled with understanding, "Ah, yes. I am fine with it."

"Good," Bane said in part refering to Daphne's quick surge of understanding, "Well then it is settled... you two will share one room and I will take the other."

"Now... would either of you like some food," Bane asked the ladies as he removed a small pouch of coins from under his cloak.

"Yes I would." Alejandra replied, "How about you Sara?"

"Um, sure, I guess," replied Daphne as she adjusted to her alias.

"Well, I am going to go up to my room," responded Bane. "Here is enough coins for whatever you two would like," he said as he handed Alejandra the pouch. "If you need anything... you know where to find me."

He bowed ever so slightly before turning and walking up the stairs.

"Thank you good sir." Alejandra said to Bane.

"Innkeeper, what do you have for food for two hungry travellers?" Alejandra asked the innkeeper

"Well if you will follow me over here," beckoned the inn keeper as he walked to the bar. "I have a few ales - nothing fancy - to drink or simply water. As for food... I have some freshly baked bread," he said as he checked the cupboards, "Ah... I am afraid thats it..."

"No it isn't," came a new voice from the door way, "Just caught me this here pheasant," said the man as he held the bird by its legs.

"Ahh... very good," said the inn keeper, "If you will give me a bit of time, I can cook up some meat."

"That would be great." Alejandra replied

The newcomer with the pheasant set up a fire in the back and began roasting it. Meanwhile at the bar, the inn keeper handed the two ladies some bread and water.

"So... what brings you two to our town?"

"We are going to see a friend of our male companion." Alejandra replied

"Not in this town I assume?" responded the inn keeper. "Well if you are heading north, be careful... lots of bandits have appeared recently."

"We will, and thank you for the warning good innkeeper." Alejandra replied as she tipped the innkeeper.

After a short while Asengar begun to sing under his breath, it made little sense to most people seeing as it was an old tongue, mostly dead, but the songwriters of the time were the finest of his homeland. The language was rough at times and lilting at others, and it never failed to raise his spirits.

"Ri fuaim an taibh
'S uaigneach mo ghean
Bha mis' uair nach b'e sin m'àbhaist
Bha mis' uair nach b'e sin m'àbhaist

Ach pìob nuallanach mhòr
Bheireadh buaidh air gach ceòl
Nuair a ghluaist' i le meòir Phàdraig Nuair a ghluaist' i le meòir Phàdraig
Gur mairg a bheir gèill Don t-saoghal gu lèir 'S tric a chaochail e cheum gàbhaidh 'S tric a chaochail e cheum gàbhaidh

Beir an t-soraidh seo bhuam
Gu talla nan cuach
Far 'm bi tathaich nan truagh dàimheil
Far 'm bi tathaich nan truagh dàimheil

Chun an taighe nach gann
Fon leathad ud thall
Far bheil aighear is ceann mo mhànrain
Far bheil aighear is ceann mo mhànrain

Tormod mo rùin
Olghaireach thu
Foirmeil o thùs d'àbhaist
Foirmeil o thùs d'àbhaist"

He cleared his throat and smiled, he was outside, on the road even if he was not walking on it, and he was travelling a path hundreds of his order had walked before him.
All in all, it could have been worse he thought.

Once the fire had grown big enough, Alric pulled out a slab of salted meat and started to cook it.

It was an eerie night in the woods. The animals had disappeared into their homes and the owls no longer hooted...

Two figures moved swiftly through the woods as they came upon a man roasting some meat over a fire. The figures remained in the darkness and moved silently as they observed the man.

While the meat was cooking, Alric looked off in the distance. He had the distinct feeling of being watched. He ignored for a while until he thought he saw a shadow moving from one tree to another. He looked carfully at the trees and grasped the hilt of his sword. He stayed silent and still.

As Alric watched one of the figures jump from tree to tree, the other one crepty silently around him. The figure in the tree continued to distract the man as the other jumped out from behind a tree, wielding his massive swords and put them to Alric's throat.

When Alric looked at the figure he appeared to be a massive elf (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/Baelther.jpg) standing at six foot, eight inches and decked in spectacular looking armor.

Alric was utterly surprised by the move, "I should have known better..." He muttered under his breath. At a loss of what to do, since his sword had been knocked out of his hands, he said, "Who.. who are you?"

The giant elf remained silent as he held his swords up to Alric's throat.

Another elf (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/ArmaiCorvianna.jpg) lept down from a nearby tree with a bow over her shoulder. "I am Ar'mai Corvianna, princess of the Akenea'raeheal. That," she said point to her companion, "is Bael'ther... though don't ask him... he is mute."

"Why are you holding me captive? I am just on my way to Bravium."

"Captive? No," Ar'mai said as she looked at Bael'ther, "He is merely, highly protective of me..." she said as she smiled.

She nodded to Bael'ther and he put his swords down. Looking back to Alric she said, "I believe we can help each other... what you seek is what I seek, Alric."

Alric was left surprised for a moment, "You mean the dragon?" he asked.

"Indeed... the dragon..." smiled Ar'mai. "The inhabitants of this forest tell me you seek to slay the dragon... as do I."

"King Alfred sent me here." he replied.

"I never suggested that he didn't..." Ar'mai said, "In fact... I know he did."

"How do you know so much, even my name?" Alric replied.

Ar'mai grinned. "This," she said as she spun around with her hands in the air, "Is my domain... This is my forest."

At that moment, Alric thought there was something very enchanting about Ar'mai, though he could not point out what. "Well," he replied, "I am not quite sure where I am in your forest."

"Here? You are standing in the western part just slightly south of the midway point," Ar'mai explained, "To the north lies a long river that turns and leads up into the mountains; to the southeast lies a large lake - I am sure you are familiar with it as it lies outside the Alfred's castle - and to the far west lies the coast."

"You know the way to Bravium?" Alric asked.

"Aye, that I do..." replied Ar'mai.

"I, even equiped with a map, do not. All I know is that it is west of here. Can you help me get there?" Alric asked.

"Certainly," she said as she turned quickly and disappeared into the forest. Bael'ther turned to see that she had gone before taking slow but long strides in her direction. When he reached the edge of the small clearing he turned and nodded his head for Alric to follow.

Alric picked up his sword, sheathed it, and quickly followed behind them. He left everything else behind exept his pack which caried his food. Alric did not want to miss this oppertunity.

He ran up beside Ar'mai, "Do you know anything about this dragon? Like were it lives and what time of day it is seen and such?"

"I have heard numerous things about it... some say it comes and goes when it pleases, whether it be night or day," said Ar'mai as she noticed Alric had caught up to her.

"Many say that it lives on the outer island and hunts on the mainland when it so pleases. As for its description..." Ar'mai paused, "Well everyone has their own story about it looks like... some say it is the size of a castle while others a small house..."

"I was hoping for the thing to have a rutine. We should probably investigate the islands after we reach the town." he replided

"I agree... though we will have to get a boat," Ar'mai said.

"If Bravium a coastal town, we could get one their." Alric said.

"I know we can..." she said, "But I don't cary any human coins with me."

"We will, and thank you for the warning good innkeeper." Alejandra replied as she tipped the innkeeper.

"Ah, no problem... tis me job," responded the inn keeper.

The man from outside came in with the roasted pheasant, "Here ya are," he said as he ripped off a piece and gave it to each of the ladies.

"Thank you." Alejandra replied, "Would you like to join us for dinner?" She asked

"Hmm? Yeh- sure," he said startled that two strangers of the opposite sex would invite him to sit down, "Actually... I have already eaten, but I will sit with you still... if you wan't me too that is," added the now nervous man.

Daphne continued to sit idly by, letting Alejandra do the talking.

"We would prefere if you joined us for dinner, surely you can't resist your well roasted pheasent." Alejandra replied

"I thank you for the compliment, but..." he started to say, "If you insist, then I will dine with you."

He sat down with the two ladies, "So... what brings you to our small town..." he stops momentarily, "Where are my manners... my name is John Carlos."

"We are travelling with a friend to visit a friend." Alejandra replied, "Oh, and I am Alejandra, and this is Sara."

"Its a pleasure," replied John.

Daphne merely smiled.

He began to eat the pheasant before asking, "So whereabouts are you from?"

"I am from Spain, and Sara is from Londinium." She replied

"Ahh... so you a foreigner. Though so judging by your accent," John said before speaking about Daphne, "And you are from the Castleland..."

"Very interesting... so any reason for visiting your friend's friend?"

"He wished to looking up and ask him a few questions he couldn't the last time they meet." Alejandra replied

"Ah..." said John though he was still slightly puzzled, "So, why are you two traveling with him then?"

"He wished to set me up with his friend, or at least introduce me to him." Alejandra replied

"Oooh," he said when he understood. "I see... well, no I don't. Why did Sara come along then? Certainly he isn't trying to set his friend up with both of you?"

"I invited her along, she hasn't had a chance to get out of the city much." Alejandra replied, "Her father is a bit of a busy-body and doesn't like letting her from under his thumb."

"Ah, I know what you mean," said John as he took another gulp of ale.

"So, are you a woodsman and hunter?" She asked, wondering what his profession was.

"Me? Well in this town you got to be a little of everything... not enough people to go around for all the jobs. So, I guess you could say I am both and more..."

"Ah, a Jack-of-all-Trades?" She asked

"Yeh, pretty much," John replied

"I know we can..." she said, "But I don't cary any human coins with me."

"I have some money on me," Alric said, "It may be enough."

Alejandra ceased speaking for a moment as she finished off dinner, wondering what, and who else they'd meet.

"I have some money on me," Alric said, "It may be enough."

"That is good," Ar'mai said as she continued her quick pace. "If we keep up this pace we should reach the town before light."

Alejandra ceased speaking for a moment as she finished off dinner, wondering what, and who else they'd meet.

"Its getting late," John said as he looked out the window. He stood up as he took one last swig of ale, "I should be going."

"We should head to our room as well, perhaps we shall see you later thought." Alejandra replied as the inn keeper took the empty dishes away.

Alric matched her pace. He had alot of endurance and could walk long distances nonstop if needed. He followed slightly behind her so he did not get ahead and lose her.

"Doubtful," John said as he closed the door behind him.

"Good night, ladies," said the inn keeper. "If you need anything, my room is back there," he said pointing to the back room.

"Let's retire Sara." Alejandra said to Daphne.

"Ok," she said as she moved towards the stairs.

They headed up to the chamber that were to share for the night.

They walked further for a while untill they reached the end of the forest. Alric looked out into the distance and saw lights in the distance, the sun had already set. "We should hurry and get there." Alric said.

"Indeed," responded Ar'mai, "We must make all due haste. We," she said as she pointed to Bael'ther and herself, "Can certainly run fast enough as elves, but I wonder if you will get tired in your armor?"

*Sunrise*

As the sun rose over the northern hills, Sir Bane was already awake and sitting at a table in the main area of the inn (where the ladies ate the night before). As nobody else was awake yet, Bane had left a few coins on the bar and helped himself to a mug of water and some bread.

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Ar'mai stopped her brisk pace as they reached the edge of the town. When she looked past the town she could see the wide seas which eventually lead to the outer islands. "Well... here we are," Ar'mai said to Alric as Bael'ther remained quiet.

Shortly after sunrise, Alejandra awoke. She leaned over to 'Sara's' bed. "Time to wake up."

"We should try and find a boat now," Alric replied, "so we can set out in the morning."

Daphne stirred slowly, "Wha... ah... ok."

Slowly, Daphne pulled herself out of bed and prepared herself for that days journey. She walked downstairs and sat down across from Bane. Bane handed her some bread which she greatfully ate.

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Ar'mai looked at him for a moment, "Are you dillusional? It is the morning. Look yonder," she said as she pointed to the rising sun behind them, "The sun breaks over the hillside."

He looked east and saw the sun rising. He felt very tired at that moment. He stifled a yawn and said, "Lets go and find a boat then."

Alejandra dressed and joined Daphne and Bane for breakfast.

"Indeed lets," Ar'mai said. "Unless you need to sleep... we did travel far and quickly," Ar'mai suggested as she noticed his weariness. While she spoke, Bael'ther and herself each tossed on a cloak to conceal their identity.

As they walked into the medium sized town Ar'mai said, "Tell nobody of us..."

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Noticing that Alejandra had come down, Bane offered her some food and said, "How was your night?"

Alric nodded and said, "I'll manage." The three walked into the town as people were begining to wake up and started to go about thier business in the streets. He looked aroud, trying to think of a logical place to get a boat here.

Ar'mai giggled at Alric's obvious attempt to find a boat in the town. "I think it would be easiest if we went to the harbor over there," she said as she pointed down the road towards the water. "Usually boats are used in the water," she giggled again as she continued to walk down the main road towards the western sea.

"I am not used to water..." Alric muttered as he followed the two down the road to the harbor, "I am from northern England."

"Fairly well personally, you?" She asked

"That is quite alright," Ar'mai said as the reached the harbor. "Though I hope you are not to afraid of the water."

As they entered the harbor area they saw many boats and some men standing around. "You are going to have to do the talking, Alric," Ar'mai said to him quietly. "Try to get a boat with the coins you have and remember... don't refer or talk to us," she paused letting the vital information sink in. "If anyone asks, tell them that we are monks from the east."

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"It was quite pleasant," Bane responded, "I like the cool air of the northern lands... though we are not quit there yet."

He took a large swig from the mug, emptying out the remaining liquid before continuing, "When you two are done eating... I would suggest that we get on our way again. If that is alright with you two..." Bane said.

"That is fine..." Daphne said as she finished her breakfast.

"Then, if you two are done, let us be off." Alejandra said, as she shivered a bit.

"Well then, let us be off," Bane said. Standing up from the table, Bane walked to the door and opened it for the two ladies, "You seem cold, Alejandra... would you like my cloak?"

"Yes please, England is cold." She said as she accepted his cloak gratefully.

As Bane removed his cloak and handed it to Alejandra, it was quite evident that he was no average traveler. His bright armor now glinted in the early morning sun as he walked out the door.

The inn keeper had just awaken and was about to come down the stairs when he saw the three departing. Silently, he peeked around the corner at the top of the stairs and watched the three leave the inn.

Interesting... Very interesting.

Outside, the three horses were awake and standing as Bane mounted Mars.

Alejandra mounted Alonso, "Are you two ready to go?" She asked as she wrapped the cloak tighter around her.

Daphne mounted her horse, "Ready."

Bane breathed the clean air deeply as a cool breeze blew through, "Ah... how refreshing."

"Lets go them..." he said as he urged Mars forward. They headed towards the north exit of town before Bane stopped abruptly. In the distance, at the edge of the town, he noticed a large group of men forming up.

Alejandra loosened her blade, "I wonder they are after." She commented in a low voice to Bane.

"Well, we will have to find out... it seems they are heading our way," Bane said. Noticing that she had already gone for her blade, he said, "Don't be so quick to fight... it will only give you more time for future fights."

Mars started trotting again as Bane urged him down the road. When in range of the men, the lead one called out, "Halt."

"Just erring on the side of caution." She replied

As they arrived at the men, she asked, "What would you like?"

The man stood his ground with another eight armed men at his back, "Your names will do for starters... and don't bother lying about who you are."

"And why do you want our names, or suspect us of lying?" She asked of the men.

A man came forward from the group and stood next to the lead man. It was John Carlos, "Well for one your friend there seems to be wearing a suit of armor and the both of you are carrying swords..."

"And is that a problem?" She asked sweetly.

"It is when you travel with one such as her," said the lead man as he looked at Daphne who sat on her horse slightly behind Bane and Alejandra.

"Would you care to explain that?" Alejandra asked

The man smirked, "Well you see it came to our attention a couple of days ago that the King of these here lands, King Alfred - I assume you know him... well - is quite unhappy about something. He sent out messengers to every village, town, and city in the land telling the people to be on alert for three travelers, a man and two women."

The man paused momentarily, "The messenger said that the man and one of the women would be knights while the other would be a lady of nobility... his daughter, Princess Daphne."

"Now John Carlos and his friend Tom Smith - the inn keeper - come telling me that they have seen three travelers and that at least one of them wears a shiny suit of kinght's armor... We have come to take the lady... I am sure the King will pay handsomely for her safe return." The men laughed, it was clear they liked the idea of forcing the King to pay for his daughters return.

"Come now don't hide it. Do you deny who you are Princess?" finished John Carlos.

Quite flustered and speechless, Daphne finally managed to say, "I-I don't have any idea of which you speak. My name is Sara and I am the daughter of a poor blacksmi-"

"Even now you lie... the way you talk... it is not the way a daughter of a blacksmith would speak. You speak with elegance and royalty," interrupted the lead man again. "Now hand her over and there won't be any trouble..." he said as the nine men brandished their weapons.

"Bane, how many do you think you can handle?" She asked and before giving him a chance to respond, turned to the villiagers cum bandits. "How many do you think will survive, and do you really want to take the chance that you can pull us down before you personally fall?" She asked, her voice seeming as if she was speaking directly and individually to each of the men.

Bane grinned, "Nine... but I will save you a few if you want."

One of the other men responded, "You don't know what our lives are worth so don't try to put a value on them. Getting the Princess would make us rich and allow us to get drunk every night..."

The men murmured agreements as they circled the three and began closing in.

"Sara, stay by Bane." Alejandra said, as she drew her sword in one fluid motion, and tapped Alonso on his flanks. With a rear, he plunged into the men, as she slashed downward, aiming for weapons, knowing that her blade would be superior to any provincial armerment. Alonso, in grand warhorse style kicked and bit those men that were attempting to flank Alejandra or himself.

Bane moved his horse towards Daphne's, so that he could protect her from the bandits. Most of the men (7) attacked Alejandra and Alonso as Bane was being defensive rather than agressive.

They began trying to trip her horse by shoving the pikes and spears at its legs, while the men with swords (3) parryed her blows and struck at the horses body.

Alonso hopped side-ways in a way only a truely excellent warhorse could to, while taking a man's ear in teeth and biting, hard. Meanwhile Alejandra began smoting the men with the flat of her blade, putting sufficiant force to rattle their brains.

As one man tried to stick Alonso, he got a foot slammed into his chest with enought force to shatter his breast-bone.

Bane sat calmly on Mars as the two men near him did not dare come any closer. He held his sword loosely at his side, tempting them to attack.

The man who got bit in the ear, screamed out in pain and ran at the horse with his sword. Unfortunately he was smashed in the chest and planted into the ground. Screams of pain could be heard from the man, as the rest of the men continued to thrust their spears, pikes, and swords at Alejandra.

Alejandra tapped Alonso on the flanks, guiding him out of the melee. As she exited, she struck down at a man's spear, aiming to sever the point from the shaft.

As Alejandra exited the melee, the bandits did not bother to follow. Their sights were set on Daphne as the eight men standing closed in on her and Bane.

Noticing that it was no longer time to sit idly by, Bane whispered to Mars and lifted his mighty sword. He pulled out a light sword from Mars' side and handed it to Daphne, "See that you don't kill me with this," he said with a grin.

The bandits continued to close in, occasionally poking their spears at him. Bane began parrying the blows and lashing out at the men.

Two bandits fell as Bane slashed them across the chest, leaving a bloody stain in their ripped clothes. Six men remained standing, though two of them started towards Daphne and tried to remove her from her horse.

Seeing the two head to Daphne, Alejandra tapped her warhorse, and as he charged toward the two, let out a ferocious and ear-splitting shriek.

As they turned to the source of the yell her sword lashed out removing the first's head, while Alonso trampled the other.

The wind was blowing as the dark horse strolled along. Sir Vaden looked around. His horse pranced toward a bridge. He stopped at the bridge and stared at it.

"I need some money...I could charge a toll."

He took the horse and searched for the nearest city. He needed tools for he was going to build a toll booth. He took off in a random direction searching for a town of some sort.

OOC: this a good intro or should I do something else?

Alric walked up to a man who was standing next to a boat a little away from everyone else in the harbor and asked, "Is this boat for sale?"

The four men left standing were thrusting at Sir Bane with their spears and swords.

As one of them thrust his spear at him, Bane grabbed it and pulled it with his immense strength from the mans grip. He then thrust it back at the man, piercing his chest and sending him to his grave.

With his left hand, he slashed out at another man with his sword, slicing him across the temple. The man screamed out in pain before falling to the ground and squirming until his death.

The remaining two men looked at each other and then at Bane's face. They had seen their comrades fall and didn't need a second warning. Dropping their weapons to the ground, they began running south out of town. Bane turned on his horse and when they were about fifty yards away, he threw the spear like a javelin, pinning a man to the ground through his spine.

"Now then... where were we?"

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"Sale? No..." said the man. "But if ye wants to pay me a few morsels to use it for the day... I would be more than happy."

Ar'mai and Bael'ther continued to stand motionless in the background.


ooc: Zactarn Prime, a couple of things. A, if you wanted to charge a toll in the olden times, you don't build a toll booth... you simply stand on the bridge and tell anyone that wants to cross that they have to pay. B, you won't really have an exciting or active adventure if you just sit on the toll... I am not going to RP sending fifty people, one at a time, to cross the bridge - just to watch them be slain.

"Well, as our description seems to be circulating, and the king is obviously quite worried, I think you should escort Daphne home." Alejandra replied

:OOC: I know this. First I'm gunna build a booth find some NPC's and get them to run it and gimme the money. I'm also gunna raid a couple villages and do evil stuff and slaughter all the people at the bridge who look at me wrong :p

"Nonsense," Bane said as he watched the last Bandit run off into the distance. "Besides... I need to talk to the fellow as much as you do, the only difference is that I know what he looks like."


ooc: Again nobody builds a booth and nobody is going to stop for some random village foke. Secondly, if you plan on doing it that way, you will be basically RPing with yourself... not much fun in that

"I don't think his Majesty would appreciate that much." Alejandra replied

"I don't think that his Majesty would appreciate you convincing and plotting his daughter's escape from the castle either," Bane said.

"I never said he would." Alejandra replied

"Then I see no reason you are telling me what he would or wouldn't appreciate," Bane replied. "Besides, if I were to return to the castle, I would have to explain what happened and I doubt you want to be anywhere around these lands when the King finds out."

"We have spent enough time babbling on already. We must go now if we are to reach the highlands of the north."

"You know him better, so I guess we should be off." She replied

Alric relpied, "I will give you what money I have now for the boat for the day."

"Yes, off we go now," Bane said as he ushered Mars into a trot. He headed out of town and headed into the northern highlands - his armor gleaming in the morning's sun.

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

The man paused for a moment to think before saying, "That I will."

He took the pouch of coins from Alric and pointed them to his boat. It was nothing fancy and quite small, but it could fit the three fo them. Bael'ther and Ar'mai, still cloaked, climbed into the boat with Ar'mai taking the seat at the bow and Bael'ther sitting in the middle with the oars.

Seeing that they were out of earshot of anyone else, Ar'mai whispered to Alric, "Hop in, we will head to that island over there," she pointed to a small island in the distance.

Alejandra followed on Alonso.

"Lets go then." Alric said as he steped into the boat. It was an odd and new sensation for him as the boat rocked back and forth. He sat down in the stern of the boat.

Bane lead for the first time on the journey. After leaving the commotion of recent events behind them, the trio headed slightly northeast.

As the day grew longer, they found themselves going uphill and into the mountains... they had reached the northern highlands. Though the sun was warming the air slightly, it was still cool as they continued up into the mountains. The tips of the mountains were still snowcapped from the previous winter, and would most likely never melt.

"Not long now..." Bane said as he broke the silence. He became silent afterwards as he scanned the distance for any signs of something familiar.

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

With the massive form of Bael'ther commanding the oars with great strength, it wouldn't be long until they reached the western islands. Bael'ther rowed towards the closelt one and as it came into sight Ar'mai began noticing the layout.

She looked at it from a distance and saw that the island's floor was a thin forest, though it had many mighty looking trees. But the thing that really got everyone's eyes was that except the closest side, it was surrounded by a mountain's cliff.

As they rowed closer the island became easier to see and more detailed. "This seems to be the right place..." Ar'mai commented as she looked at the cliff. About halfway up she noticed many large cave looking inlets with a narrow path leading up to them.

Alejandra on Alonso rode along, trusting Bane would know, or at least be able to recognise the right general location.

The wind was blowing as the dark horse strolled along. Sir Vaden looked around. His horse pranced toward a bridge. He stopped at the bridge and stared at it.

"I need some money...I could charge a toll."

He took the horse and searched for the nearest city. He needed tools for he was going to build a toll booth. He took off in a random direction searching for a town of some sort.

OOC: this a good intro or should I do something else?

He approached a small tiny village. There was a small sign that read: Welcome to Farnoff. He smirked and continued on. He led his horse onto a smolle stone cobbled street. He continued down the path passing a small shack or two here and there but nothing of interest. He continued and approached the city's center. Here there were many small stands with stuff hanging from them to be sold. He approached one with a young man in it with much wood sitting on the booth. He said to the man, "I'll take the wood." The man stared at him. He spoke, "All of it would cost 20 gold coins." Vaden looked at him and said, "No I will take it!" He raised his sword and swung down at the man. His head split in two like a sliced melon on his neck. He then walked over to a small stand across form the wood one with two oxen and a wagon for them to pull. The old lady running the stand stared up at Vaden in fright. He said to the women, "Thanks for the wagon." He turned to the wagon and grabbed the oxen by their reins and he pulled them. He grabbed two men from the street and forced them to be in the wagon. one drove the other carried the supplies. Vaden took wood, knives, axes, food, glass, jewels, and other things and stuffed 'em all in the wagon. The small unsturdy wagon wobbled as they exited the town. As they headed for the bridge Vaden who was riding his horse next to the wagon spoke, "What art thou names?" The man driving spoke. "I'm George Til and this is my brother Ron Til." Vaden then turned away and they proceeded on.

Bane stopped his horse when they reached a flat part of the mountain. "Well... here we are. This is the height that I first found him at." He looked at a lone pine tree sitting at a fork in the path, "Definately... I remember this, the only tree on the mountain."

"Anyway... there are two paths we could take, one around that way," he said as he pointed to the right, "And one that goes around that way."

"I remember that its a good distance around the mountain, but I don't remember which way... shall we take a guess?"

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

At King Alfred's castle there were a few frightened peasants that had come to seek help. "Please your highness... a man came out of nowhere and started stealing our supplies and even killed my brother."

The King turned to Sir Lancelot and they had a whispered conversation before he spoke to the peasant, "Very well... Sir Gawain and Sir Scaggsmore will accompany you back to your town and investiage the matter."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," the peasant said as he bowed and walked out of the room backwards.

Not much later, Sir Gawain and Sir Scaggsmore had mounted their horses in full armor and proceeded on horse towards the town.

When they arrived they asked many people what happened and got many of the same stories. "Where did the villian go?" asked Gawain.

There was a dull silence as nobody quite knew where though most pointed in the same direction. "I know!" yelled a man from the back of the pack. "I was just coming into town and I saw the knight headed towards the woods... something about a bridge."

"Very well," Gawain replied, "Let us go Scaggsmore... it seems he his heading for the branch river."

Vaden continued on. They finally got to the bridge. He looked and told George and Rod to build. The men asked, "What do we build?" Vaden spoke, "A Tool Booth...we will make money..partners." George and Rod spoke at the same time, "OK." Vaden rode off into the woods telling the men he was looking for food.

"We should land on the far side of the island," Alric said, "I doubt anyware here is safe."

Bane stopped his horse when they reached a flat part of the mountain. "Well... here we are. This is the height that I first found him at." He looked at a lone pine tree sitting at a fork in the path, "Definately... I remember this, the only tree on the mountain."
"Anyway... there are two paths we could take, one around that way," he said as he pointed to the right, "And one that goes around that way."
"I remember that its a good distance around the mountain, but I don't remember which way... shall we take a guess?"

"How about we go around the mountain on it's right side?" Alejandra suggested, thought she was solely guessing.

ooc: sorry been gone for Thanksgiving

IC:
Sir Gawain and Sir Scaggsmore had been riding for not long when they found the two peasants building the toll booth by the bridge. Riding over to them, Gawain called out, "Stop that work, now. We will protect you and deal with this villian if only you will tell us which way he has gone."

The men, relieved to see friendly faces, thanked Gawain and Scaggsmore numerous times before speaking, "He went off that way, but I am sure he will be back soon." They waited nervously before Gawain thanked them for the information and told them to go home.

Gawain and Scaggsmore decided to wait at the bridge until the knight returned. Sitting on their horses with their swords drawn, they scanned the forest for the villian.

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

"We could..." Ar'mai interjected, "Though I believe that the other side is a straight cliff of that mountain - not the easiest thing to climb."

Bael'ther continued rowing towards the island as Ar'mai looked for a good landing spot. "I suppose we might as well land as close as possible to the pathway," she said. "Over there," she pointed towards the edge of the beach and Bael'ther turned the boat towards it. "Almost there... just another few hundred feet."

ooc: the island isn't that big

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

"All right then... the right it is," Bane said as he led forward. They continued around the long path that encircled the mountain. "Keep your eyes peeled... you will know his cave when you see it..." said Bane as he grinned, remembering how short the cave was.

"Gotcha." Alejandra said as she began gazing and searching for caves and crevices that might be caves while they rode.

Alric looked up at the cliffs, he was thrilled that he left most of his heavyest equipment behind. His gaze shifted up to towards the cave, their probable destination.

They continued to ride for a long while around the mountain. In the distance, the sun began falling behind the hills and the cool night would soon be upon them.

"If we don't find his cave soon... we may have to settle in one of those other ones," Bane yelled over his shoulder to the two ladies who were about thirty feet behind him. His comment was in reference to the few caves they had seen on the path around the mountain, "And then continue our search in the morning. Wouldn't want you guys to freeze," he said as he looked back and saw Daphne begin to shiver slightly.

He redoulbed his efforts to find the cave and urged his horse into a slight trot. Snow began falling in the mountains and soon Bane was out of site - partly due to the distance and partly the snow.

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

Bael'ther rowed the boat closer to the beach. When they were no more than twenty feet out, he jumped out of his seat and landed in the water with a big splash. His armor was enchanted not to rust in water, but it still did not help as he tried to manuever. Slowly he walked to the front of the boat and began pulling it towards the beach.

They finally arrived at the beach as Bael'ther dragged the boat up and tied it to the only tree on the beach. Ar'mai jumped out delicately and landed on sand without even sinking in. She walked with an amazing lightness about her as she made her way off the beach and next to the forest. The forest was dense and jungle-like with the sounds of many animals echoing in the foliage.

"Lets go," Ar'mai said impatiently yet innocently. "We have to make our way through the forest until we find that path we saw on the way in here. Then we have to carefully make our way up the path, which looked no more than three feet wide. And thennn," she continued as she elongated the 'n', "We have to find which cave the Dragon lives in and kill it." She paused momentarily to take a breath, "I want to get it done before nightfall because I don't feel like sleeping in the jungle... okay?"


ooc: sorry for not posting in a while guys, was gone for Thanksgiving and only got back night (was too lazy to post last night). Anyway... keep in mind you guys are in two different climates. Also pay no attention to the other person's time... one person is at midday while the other is at nightfall... it is purely for RPing affects.

Alejandra wholeheartedly agreed with Bane, because will it was simply cold to Daphne, to her it was down-right sub-arctic in temperature.

The snow began to collect on the ground as the sun's rays faded into nothing. Night emerged with a fury - the snow increased and it began blanketing the ground. One couldn't see more than eight feet in front of themselves and such Bane was lost to Daphne and Alejandra's vision.

Daphne continued to shiver as the temperature reached into the twenties (Fahrenheit).

"Daphne, see that cave, let's get to it." Alejandra said, teeth chattering a mile a minute.

Daphne tried to nod in agreement but was too cold, though she managed to turn her horse towards the cave.

When they arrived at the cave, Daphne slunked off her horse and managed to crawl inside. She dragged herself as deep as she could into the twenty foot cave and curled up in the corner.

"Co-l-l-l-l-l-d-d," Daphne managed to utter through her chattering lips.

The two peaseants, Rod and George, slowly drew out small iron daggers. they then lunged at Scaggsmore and Gawain. Vaden looked on from behind a tree, his horse tied to a tree a ways back.

The two peaseants, Rod and George, slowly drew out small iron daggers. they then lunged at Scaggsmore and Gawain. Vaden looked on from behind a tree, his horse tied to a tree a ways back.

As Rod and George lunged at the fully armored forms of Scaggsmore and Gawain atop the war horses, the knights popped them across their heads with the flat of their swords. The blows knocked the two unconscious as they lay in the dirt motionless.

As Gawain looked up he saw what seemed to be the figure of a man's head pearing out from behind a tree. He motioned to Scaggsmore and the two galloped towards the partially hidden Vaden with swords drawn.

Alejandra even thought she was every bit, if not colder due to her southern blood, than Daphne went to the cave mouth and stretched a blanket she'd taken from her saddlebag across the entrance.

The two walked toward Vaden and he panicked. He picked up a stone and whirled it sideways. He did this in hope of distracting the men and making them walk sideways. He slowly backed up to a tree behind him. He dre his bow and an arrow from his back and found a clear path through the trees. He then squatted down to remain completely hidden.

Daphne looked extremely pale as she curled in her wet clothes in the corner. Even in the protection of the cave she was shivering. She noticed, through barely open eyes, that her horse had entered the cave and lay down next to her. She pulled herself to the horse and they lied back to back as to gain body heat.

Slowly she drifted to sleep but even in her sleep she shivered.

ooc: if you have Alejandra go to sleep, I will continue the story along. Otherwise feel free to have her do what she likes.

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

Though Gawain and Scaggsmore heard the stone, they remained unflinching in their gallop towards Vaden. Though he tried to hide, Gawain had clearly seen him and two of them urged their horses forward as they dodged obstacles all the while.

ooc: for the last time they are on horseback - as showed by the galloping.

ooc: for the last time they are on horseback - as showed by the galloping.
OOC: I know just typed wrong thing.

IC: He then quickly fired an arrow straight into Scaggsmore's chest. The arrow stuck. Vaden had no clue if it just pierced armor, Flesh wound, or killed him and he didn't stick around to find out. He raced backward and put away the bow. He drew his sword and sliced the rope. He hopped on Blood and took off sideways and then up. He was heading in the direction of Gawain but about 4 yards to the right.

Alejandra had Alonso lay down on the other side of Daphne, while she curled up beside him in her blanket, after making a small fire, using small special fuel blocks that would last a good while before burning out. She then fell asleep as well.

ooc: Are you serious! you shot Scaggsmore! lol, just kidding. In fact I had hoped that you would shoot him, part of my plan from about 30+ pages ago was to have Scaggs killed - thanks.

IC:
The arrow pierced Scaggsmore's armor and caught him in the lung. The air bore itself into his flesh and punctured a good size whole in his right lung. He fell off his horse and began gasping for air.

When Gawain saw the arrow fly past him he turned to see Scaggsmore lieing on the ground. Seeing that there was no chance to save him, Gawain only paused momentarily before swearing an oath to track Vaden to the ends of the Earth and kill him. He redoubled his effort and concentration as he rode towards the incoming knight. With his sword in his right hand he was prepared for the incoming rider.

ooc: note* Gawain isn't going down as easy - he is one of the NPC's that I am keeping alive.

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

The night only grew colder as it grew longer. As the sun rose, however, the both of them were still alive. When they awoke they would see the fire still burning bright in front of them with the imposing figure of Bane stoking it with a long stick.

"Good morning Bane." Alejandra said as she woke and saw him there.

OOC: Let me hurt Gawain slightly and I run forever from him. And Your welcome. Scaggsmore was such a weird name anyway lol.

IC: Seeing Gawain coming forth at hin he quickly veered left and watched as Gawain went by. He whipped out his bow and arrow and fired at Gawain as he was turning around for a comeback.

OOC: Make it hit him in the arm so I can run and you can pursue in a never ending quest.

"Well good morning to you too," Bane said as he noticed Alejandra was awake. "I lost you guys last night... I thought you might even be dead. I wandered for a couple of hours before I finally traced you to this cave... not an easy task considering the fresh snow ever minute. The both of you were shivering so I decided to renew your fire - I ventured back out into the snow and found as many dry sticks as I could."

He paused as he rubbed his gloved hands together. "Bit warmer in here now... no?"

"Anyways... I found the cave..."

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

As Gawain turned his horse for another pass, he felt an arrow dig into his left arm. It had been one of the luckiest shots ever... it landed in between his gauntlets and the chainmail armor right at his elbow.

The arrow bore into his skin and dug into his muscle. Sheathing his sword momentarily, Gawain screamed in anger as he snapped the arrow in his skin. He then turned fully and raised his visor as he stared down the enemy knight.

ooc: sounds good to me.

Vaden then knew he had no time to run. Gawain was strong and Vaden knew it. He then pulled out a small iron dagger with a lead point. It woul pierce the armor and give Gawain a fatal case of Gang Green. Vaden stood ground and waited. When Gawain was close enough he threw it as hard as he could and it headed for his stomach. He then turned and ran. Blood galloped on and away.

OOC: I was hoping you would have fell. Ah well. You'l be out of commision for awhile.

"It's much better thanks." Alejandra said, "So you've found your friend then?"

The dagger landed in Gawain's stomach where it pierced his body and infected him with the sickness. He slumped off his horse and lay in pain as he blacked out.

A short time later a pair of maidens found Gawain and Scaggsmore's bodies and brought them to their village to heal. When Gawain woke up in a bed a few days later he was startled by his new surroundings. The maiden bid him to rest and recover as Gawain shot upright in bed.

After taking in his surroundings he lay back in bed and fell asleep.

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

"Ah... no, not really," Bane explained as he rubbed his neck with his hand. "I found the cave he lives in, but it seems that he hasn't returned yet since the day that I last saw him."

"Though we could go there and wait for his return... I am not sure how long it will be."

"Ah, then let's go." Alejandra replied

"All right then," Bane said as he got to his feet. Mars stood a few short feet away and was ready to ride as Bane led past the blanket and out of the cave's entrance. As he exited he called over his shoulder, "You may find it a little cramped, though." He walked a few short feet away and sat down on the cliff's edge, dangling his feet over the side.

In the cave, Daphne was waking and looked a good deal better than last night. Her clothes had dried from the night's fire and she felt good. She quickly got her stuff together and prepared to leave.

Vaden galloped over and beheaded Rod and George. He galloped back to the town where he found them. He took a stick off the ground on his way. He raced to the town. He looked upon the sign that say welcome to Farnoff. He then pulled out red spices of some sort and sprinkled them on the stick. It then ignited. It was night and the fire showed his helmet. He lit the sign on fire and pranced to the city.

ooc: you aren't magical and don't have any magical spices or objects

Gawain slowly began to recover over the next few days. When he was well enough he hitched a cart to the back of his horse and laid Scaggsmore's limp body in it.

Slowly he made his way back to Alfred's court.

When he arrived, people's faces became grim when they saw the lifeless body of Scaggsmore. A large funeral procession was planned and his body was carried through the down by eight knights of the court. They buried him shortly after and marked his grave with a white stone cross.

Gawain continued to heal and regain his strength. He practiced his sword skills even more every day as he was determined to hunt the knight down.

Alejandra got ready as well and prepared to set out as well.

OOC: There was myths back in medevial times about people who created spices for healing and ones for torching. The spice would touch would and get instantly hot. But if thats how ya feel i'll stop.

IC: Vaden headed toward the market. He began burning the stands where people had been. He burned the wood stand and took two slabs of wood. He rode on and continued to burn everything from buildings, homes, and now he headed for the castle atop the town. The town's king was to die.

As Daphne and Alejandra emerged from the cave. Bane stood up and brushed a little snow over the cliff's edge. He watched it fall a long ways down before hopping onto his horse. "Alright, lets go. Its not far at all..."

The sun had risen much earlier and was rising higher into the sky with every passing minute. The trio followed the narrow path around a bend a short ways away and found themselves on the backside of the mountain. To the north and east, two large mountain peaks could be seen as they formed a triangle with the mountain they were on. The three mountains formed a massive valley in between them which was covered in snow and seemed unexplored.

As they continued to ride they eventually were direclty between the opposite two peaks and were facing northeast. Right there was a small opening in the mountain - no more than four and half feet tall. Bane dismounted and pet his horse urging it to stay.

He then crawled sat down at the cave's entrance and said, "Here we are... this is cave."

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

ooc: you realize you are heading for King Alfred's court... where they are lots of soldiers and many many knights... it is pure suicide.

The Quest for the Holy Grail : The Bed of Roses
The horse ride to Dover had been quick and the knights had set their pace to make it before the end of the day, and so they slept there for a few hours before Rodriguez woke them all up again to put them on the ship to Calais, where they slept some more. The entire crossing of the channel might have taken three days but most of them had lost track through the utter boredom that had come from the shipborne voyage, with the fragile, wooden transports rocking back and forth in the turbulent waters of the English Channel. Once they had arrived at the ports of Calais, Rodriguez, a land loving man, even kissed the floor and prayed to God for his safe arrival to French soil. In Calais they spent the entire next day and then they left for Bethue, where Rodriguez knew a baron and his wife, the latter of which he had slept with on his last stop, although the baron seemed not to have found out just yet. She was a beautiful woman and Rodriguez was not a man to say no to a woman, but that was irrelevant for the task at hand. The baron provided all the knights with a place to sleep for the night and Rodriguez with a new set of plate armour and a stronger buckler; Rodriguez refused to replace his beloved battlesword and rapier, but he thanked the Baron anyways.

From there, they left south once again, reaching Arras within two days and Paris within a fortnight, taking frequent rests and such, making sure the horses were never too tired. The entire trip up to now had been rather calm and rather easy, to say the least, but in Paris everything just seemed to begin to go wrong, and it all started in the bar Rodriguez frequented when he was in Paris, the Il de Triumph. Already happy with two bourbons he had began to wail in his seat and a Frenchman had approached him and clasped his arm around the spaniard's shoulder saying,"Well, well, well look what we have here. Sir Rodriguez, the man who had fled Spain and his brothers for fear of repurcussions for loosing the most fateful of battles for northern Spain."

Rodriguez seemed to ignore him and then sneered, retorting,"Get out of my sight Castillion."

The Frenchman laughed and replied,"So Spaniard, what are you up to here? Are you wishing for passage back to Spain? If so, you should take note that your father is dead and your brother is now Count of Barcelona. Fortunately for your Spain he had defeated the small French army at Girona, but don't expect the French to send such a small party again. Unfortunately, for all the women you have slept with, you have not slept with the queen of France so I guess that you have no strings to pull that high up in court. What a shame."

Rodriguez kept calm, trying to sink all the new information in. His father was dead. His dreaded brother Count of Barcelona. He was lucky the veterans of Spain had won him that battle. "How many dead?" He inquired.

Castillion replied,"Half of the Spaniards. Maybe ten thousand. Thirty thousand Frenchmen. Quite a feat for Barcelona, no?"

Rodriguez nodded and said,"Indeed. But now, what is your true motive for stocking me here Frenchman."

Castillion was taken aback and responded,"Cannot friends merely talk?" The protagonist sneered and the Frenchman went on,"Alright, I see you are your usual self, down to business. I hear your on a quest; I don't know what, that has not left the sealed lips of the English court. But I know it is important. You will tell me this or I will sick the entire French army down your throat."

Rodriguez peered at him and retorted,"Is that a threat old man?" The other man nodded and Rodriguez stood, drawing his sword, and his foe drew his sword as well, silencing the entire bar who had begun to turn to look at the whole commotion. Rodriguez looked around and finished the debacle up with,"Not here." He abruptly left to wake the rest, who were all in one room in an inn in the outskirts of Paris. They would have to leave, now.

Alejandra was shivering and pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders as they road. Once they arrived at the cave, she got down to look into the cave.

Inside the cave it looked like a small cozy home. There was a table with shorty chairs and a firepit with a small cauldron over it. The wall was carved with different designs, words and pictures - some of them had apparent meanings like quotes to keep at heart. There were shelves and cabinets that were filled with different things from wands, to potions, to "regular" looking objects. In the back left corner, in a small crevice, was a large pile of wood that had been stacked for safe keeping. To the back right lay a bed that looked barely big enough to handle a child though it was comforted by a few blump and cozy looking pillows.

It was a regular looking home... quite a feat so high up in the mountains.

Though if any of the three wanted to enter they would have to bend over or crawl on their knees. The opening of the cave was barely four feet high, but after that the first half of the cave was closer to four and a half feet. The back part where "kitchen" was, was about five feet high. The strangest part was that where the bed lay, the ceiling was nearly twelve feet high (only where the bed was) and the walls were smooth and straight.

Alejandra decided to go into the cave and crouched down to enter.

Daphne followed behind her and ducked her head ever so slightly once she passed under the entrance. She sat down in one of the chairs at the table and was able to sit comfortably though she noticed the chair was quite small and low to the ground.

ooc: you realize you are heading for King Alfred's court... where they are lots of soldiers and many many knights... it is pure suicide.
OOC: so

IC: He trudged on leaving the city in flames behind him. He ran onto the drawbridge which was already down. He galloped in slicing two guards in half. Flames and a sword in his hands he pranced into the central keep. He got off his horse. He entered the keep and was thrown up against the door immediatly. The three guards were burned by the flames. They sprang back and panted. Vaden dropped the wood and sliced them with his sword. He threw two of the boards out the window into the courtyard igniting it immediatly. The big branch he hung on the wall. He walked forward stelth fully.

ooc: should I RP the soldiers and stuffs or are you DMG?

OOC: so

IC: He trudged on leaving the city in flames behind him. He ran onto the drawbridge which was already down. He galloped in slicing two guards in half. Flames and a sword in his hands he pranced into the central keep. He got off his horse. He entered the keep and was thrown up against the door immediatly. The three guards were burned by the flames. They sprang back and panted. Vaden dropped the wood and sliced them with his sword. He threw two of the boards out the window into the courtyard igniting it immediatly. The big branch he hung on the wall. He walked forward stelth fully.

ooc: should I RP the soldiers and stuffs or are you DMG?

ooc: so, you have sealed your fate by entering the castle. There is no other exit except death - meaning your end in this RP
ooc2: I will RP the soldiers and knights
ooc3: There are just so many things wrong with your post.... here goes:
1) There is no drawbridge... it is not surrounded by a moat.
2) It has a massive iron and wood gate which would be closed.
3) The castle is surrounded by a massive town and your presence would have been known much earlier.
4) After killing the guards at the gate you would encounter hundreds of more in between you and the long ride up to the keep (which has been described as quite long by numerous people in this RP)
5) If you were thrown up against the door, I don't see how you could burn them all
6) How the hell could you be walking stealthfully when you just killed 5 guards and alerted the entire castle
7) The castle is full of knights from all across the nation there for Scaggsmore's funeral.
8) Death is certain.

IC:
Had the noise and commotion numerous guards and knights had entered the keep. They saw the vuanted knight standing there with sword in hand and began closing in on him. The guards, numbering roughly eighty, were armed with pikes and swords as they formed the outer part of the enclosing circle. There were around thirty knights who responded to the commotion most fully dressed in armor with swords brandished. Though there were more knights on their way, the thirty knights encircled the man in a tight group.

"Surrender and face the penalty of your crimes," yelled one of the knights.

"Or die where you stand..."

ooc: so, you have sealed your fate by entering the castle. There is no other exit except death - meaning your end in this RP
ooc2: I will RP the soldiers and knights
ooc3: There are just so many things wrong with your post.... here goes:
1) There is no drawbridge... it is not surrounded by a moat.
2) It has a massive iron and wood gate which would be closed.
3) The castle is surrounded by a massive town and your presence would have been known much earlier.
4) After killing the guards at the gate you would encounter hundreds of more in between you and the long ride up to the keep (which has been described as quite long by numerous people in this RP)
5) If you were thrown up against the door, I don't see how you could burn them all
6) How the hell could you be walking stealthfully when you just killed 5 guards and alerted the entire castle
7) The castle is full of knights from all across the nation there for Scaggsmore's funeral.
8) Death is certain.

IC:
Had the noise and commotion numerous guards and knights had entered the keep. They saw the vuanted knight standing there with sword in hand and began closing in on him. The guards, numbering roughly eighty, were armed with pikes and swords as they formed the outer part of the enclosing circle. There were around thirty knights who responded to the commotion most fully dressed in armor with swords brandished. Though there were more knights on their way, the thirty knights encircled the man in a tight group.

"Surrender and face the penalty of your crimes," yelled one of the knights.

"Or die where you stand..."
OOC: Can I go good? Please. Swear allegience. Me and Gawain are bitter at first and then grow on each other but you never fully trust me for Scaggsmore

ooc: umm... little hard at this point. You are wanted on 9 counts of murder, treason, and destruction of property.

You burned an entire town, attacked the king's castle, killed at least 5 villagers directly with your sword (though you might be responsible for more due to the fires), killed 5 royal guards, and slayed a knight of the court.

Unfortunately you are past redemption.

ooc: umm... little hard at this point. You are wanted on 9 counts of murder, treason, and destruction of property.

You burned an entire town, attacked the king's castle, killed at least 5 villagers directly with your sword (though you might be responsible for more due to the fires), killed 5 royal guards, and slayed a knight of the court.

Unfortunately you are past redemption.
OOC: Put me in gladatorial type combat at first

Alejandra took a seat as well and wondered if Bane's friend would return soon.

A knight stepped forward into the man made ring, "We will give you the chance for an honorable death in battle... though know that you will die either way."

He closed his visor and took his form.

ooc: I will leave it up to you whether to die in battle or by executioner

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

Bane began to softly sing an old wives song that he had learned from his mother. He continued to wait outside of the cave as he did not prefer to be cramped inside.

"You could come in, there space to stand in here." She called to Bane.

"I know the space well," Bane replied, "And believe me, its not comfortable for someone of my size."

"Besides, I don't wish to startle the boy by having him return to see strangers in his home without seeing me first."

"Well there is a large area that is more than tall enought." She commented

"Yes, his bed. I know," Bane responded. "Its not strong enough to hold my weight and anway, it is too low to the ground for my comfort."

"Be sure you don't freeze then." She replied

"I will be fine... the sun feels good," Bane responded. And it was true, the sun had risen to noon time status and its rays heated the air slightly.

"Alright, be sure to come in if it gets too cold." Alejandra replied

Peering into the thick foliage, Alric swore he saw something moving. "Lets go then." He replied.

"The cold I don't mind... being cramped on the other hand is quite annoying," Bane replied over his shoulder toward the cave's entrance.

I wonder when he will return... it must have been a couple weeks now since he left.

I wonder if he will return...

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

"Well hurry up then," Ar'mai replied impatiently as she headed turned gracefully with her air flowing and walked into the woods.

Bael'ther simply shrugged and walked after her.


As the three arrived at a clearing near the path to the cliff's caves, the sun had fallen and night time had set in. The jungle had been thicker and harder to navigate then Ar'mai had anticipated and it seemed as though they would be spending at least one night in the jungle.

"Alright," Ar'mai said in a defeated and lackluster tone - a departure from her usually playful or commanding (bossy) tone - as they stopped in the clearing. "Lets get camp set up. Bael'ther you clear the camp sight from all stones, brush, and sticks - then set up a firepit and prepare my tent for me."

"Did you bring a tent with you?" Ar'mai asked to Alric but without waiting for an answer she continued on. "Well if you didn't you will have to sleep outdoors with Bael'ther - he likes it. Anyway... Alric I need you to go find some dry wood to use as a fire."

She looked around at them, "Chop Chop!" she said in her usuall commanding voice. "Lets not wait until the stars come out." Bael'ther set off to work and begun clearing the camp sight.

Little did Alric know that in the woods awaited a hungry lion, waiting for some prey to come along.

ooc: you can RP a fight between you and the lion if you want.

"We could always move your friend's bed so you wouldn't be cramped." Alejandra commented

"Then I would trully feel like I was intruding... how would you feel if someone appeared in your home while you were gone and moved your stuff and made it comfortable for themselves?" Bane said. "Besides I don't mind the cold... it is refreshing."

"Fair enought." She replied

"Just a sec!" Hasdrubal shouted as he heard the fast, rather impatient knocking from the door. He knew by instinct it was Roddix, and something told him the reason of this early waking was not of a positive kind. The girl sleeping next to her woke up too, and stretched herself. Sir Hasdrubal, who was well experienced in dressing up&excaping just after waking up (and the fathers and husbands of young women in the city of Camelot knew this too, even though he never got actually caught) was already almost done. He kissed the forehead of the lady, and whispered "Au revoir or something, love. It seems I need to leave now." He took the bag in which he had the pieces of his armour, put the sword to it's place and made his way into his boots with a dramatic jump that made the girl giggle. He opened the door after not more than 30 seconds after the knock-knock, everything reado for continuing the journey, and saw the grim face of the Spanish knight in front of him.

"Troubles, huh?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued; "Don't ask, I just knew it."

By the time Rodriguez knocked on Sven's door, the Callisdrunian was already dressed, as he was a light sleeper, and had heard the knocks on the doors of his companions.

He greeted the Spaniard in the hall, still looking groggy in his black clothes. He always wore black, but as of yet none of the others had asked him about it, so it appeared that his plain dark garments did not register in his mind as unusual. Sven obviously had not gotten enough sleep the previous night, though, unlike Hasdrubal, whose activities he had heard, due to the thin walls of the inn, Sven had not found female company. It was still occasionally difficult for him to get to sleep without either the rocking motion of a ship or the feel a castle's stone walls gave a room. Consequently, he had rather enjoyed the journey across the channel, no doubt confusing his comrades.

"Morning," he said lowly. He made a hand gesture of greeting to Hadrubal, who was also in the hallway. The others probably knew by now that Sven was a man who spoke very little, but they probably were starting to wonder about him, as he spoke even less about his past.

Alric began to look for decent firewood in the area and had a hard time finding it on the wet jungle floor. Again, he had the distinct feeling of being watched. With a bundle of wood under his arm he began to walk back to camp, noticing that he went farther from the camp than he wanted to. He began to wonder why this seemingly foreign place on a island off England when he heard some footsteps off to his right. He quietly began to draw his sword, preparing himself for whatever it may be.

Alric began to look for decent firewood in the area and had a hard time finding it on the wet jungle floor. Again, he had the distinct feeling of being watched. With a bundle of wood under his arm he began to walk back to camp, noticing that he went farther from the camp than he wanted to. He began to wonder why this seemingly foreign place on a island off England when he heard some footsteps off to his right. He quietly began to draw his sword, preparing himself for whatever it may be.

A mighty roar was let out by a fully maned male lion. It lept out of the brush and directly into Alric's path. Growling again it dared him to take another step forward as it open its mouth wide to show its menacingly big teeth.

ooc: rp it yourself if you want

Alric stepped back a bit, in shock for a very short period of time. Of course, he was not prepared to see a lion in England. But he quickly restored his composure as quickly as the lion had appeared. The lion swipped one of his paws towards, but Alric stood fast. The lion was just then trying to see if it could make its pray run. "I will never do that" he thought to himself.

Alric began to fall back slowly, trying to dare the lion on. The lion made another move, trying to sidestep to the left of Alric to get around his sword. Alric countered by steping back with his left foot and slashing upwards with his sword. The lion was able to avoid the blow but was slightly caught off gaurd. Alric, seeing that he had the chance he was looking for, advanced quickly on the lion and cut downward on the lion's back. The lion howled in pain and fell on to its side. The lion wreithed in pain on the ground and it was plainly clear the the great preditor was dying. Alric made another downward slash on the lion, which put the beast out of its misery.

Alric stepped back and looked around, now alert. He saw no more movement in the brush. Quickly, he picked up his bundle of wood and ran back to camp.

While Bael'ther was busy setting up camp, Ar'mai had been trailing Alric from above in the trees.

As Alric ran back into camp, Bael'ther turned to look at him curiously. Though seeing his bloody blade, he could guess what happened.

Meanwhile, Ar'mai had jumped down from the tree and landed gracefully on the ground next to the lion. She looked at it caringly and checked its vitals - it was slipping out of consciousness into death but was still presently alive.

Closing her eyes, Ar'mai made a few quick hand movements and uttered a few elvish words. In a few moments time the lion had regained its strength and leapt back to life. It stood and stared at Ar'mai momentarily before bowing its head and heading off into the forest.

Ar'mai left with all haste and arrived at camp shortly after, though she was careful to enter from the opposite side. "So... find anything?" Ar'mai asked innocently.

Alric replied, "I found some wood. Most of the wood was wet so we probably should perserve our wood." He knew he was not saying the whole truth but he did not want to mention the lion. He was not feeling to great about it.

"Ah," Ar'mai replied simply as she walked towards the tent Bael'ther had set up for her. Walking in she laid on the comfortable blankets and pillows with the true beauty of an elven princess.

"Be a dear - put up a fire and cook some food. I am afraid Bael'ther is now good when it comes to the culinary arts."

update:

"Bye Loki." Arioa said as she gave him a big hug as well as hugging Nilrem.
"Bye as well." Lillel said
Nephil picked Loki and placed him on his shoulder, putting Nilrem at the highest possible point. They then appeared on a mountain. "Does this look familiar?"


Nilrem began bouncing and was quite cheery, though it wasn't clear whether it was because he was home or because he was at the highest point he had been in weeks.

Loki looked around momentarily from mountain to mountain. He recognized the triangle the mountains formed and the coolness that was so different from that of hell.

He began to speak but caught himself - it was slightly emotional as he returned home. "Yes... yes this it," he replied slowly, "This is home."

Bane shot up as he saw a flash of light in the distance. He looked to see if he could spot anything but it was too far and the sight line wasn't that good so high in the mountains. However, a few seconds later he noticed another flash from the same spot.

Maybe he has finally returned

Bane stood to his feet and called to Daphne and Alejandra inside, "Hey... I saw something... he might be back. I don't know."

A few minutes later as Bane continued to scan the distance, he noticed the form of a small figure (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/vivi.jpg) in a pointy, yet floppy, hat, rounding the corner. It was walking slowly in short strides and supported by a staff (http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b360/DMG2005/Staff.png) as it made its away along the path.

That would be him...

"Can you tell who it is?" Alejandra asked as she exited the cave to look.

"Seems to be our guy..." Bane said as the figure rounded the final curve and came into sight, no more than 100 meters away. He walked with his head down so he didn't notice the three figures standing there.

"Ohh... he is so cute," Daphne interjected from behind Bane and Alejandra.

"He is somewhat cute." Alejandra agreed

Loki walked along the snowy path with his staff in hand, towards the group of three.

"Look at the staff," Bane said as he nudged Alejandra.

Loki continued walking right up to the group without even noticing their presence. Walking right into the solid figure of Bane, Loki was surprised and was knocked to the ground. "Huh?" he said rubbing his head.

"Ya." She replied as she leaned down to help the little man up. "Excuse me, might I have your staff?"

"Um... no?" Loki replied as he was caught of guard by such a blunt comment. "Who are you... and what are you doing up here?" he said as he looked up at Alejandra.

"Oh!" he said as he noticed the massive form of Bane. "Hey! Bane!"

"I came with him looking for your staff." She replied

"Oh?" Loki said looking from Alejandra to Bane.

"It is true," Bane confessed. "She found a scroll telling her to quest for the Staff of Merli-"

"Well then... you have found the staff you were looking for," Loki interrupted.

"Yes it seems so... its a long story but the princess," Bane bowed to make room for Daphne to be seen, "Was escaping, from the castle with Alejandra here," Bane glared at them. "And you as it is my duty to guard her, I couldn't let Princess Daphne leave without me. Though she ordered me to leave the two of them alone so I told them that I had seen the staff the quested for... and here we are," Bane said as he took a deep breath.

"Well, I can't give it to either of you. It was given to me by Grandpa and he told me to keep it safe," Loki protested. "Sorry for your troubles on your long journey here... but, well at least come into my home for some warm tea," he said as he walked by the three of them, staff glowing in the sunlight, and into his home.

He put up a pot of tea on the fire and sat down at the table.

"Could we deliver you and the staff to the king?" He asked of the short man as she joined him for tea.

Nilrem, who was under Loki's hat, had stopped jumping and was sitting still, listening intently to the conversation.

"Uh, I don't know if that is a good idea," Loki replied.

"Indeed. His appearance might alarm the simple folk," Bane added.

"Please?" She asked

"It would not be wise to bring him to the castle," Bane replied.

After a moment's thought he spoke again, "If I remember correctly... the message said that the Staff would lead us to something bigger. So... why don't we just look for that thing and then return to the castle with it."

Loki just listened on as he clutched his staff in one hand. Jumping up from the table he walked over to the tea pot and poured four mugs. Picking up them up in his hands he brought them to the table and handed them out. He continued to listen as he took large slurps of the warm liquid.

"Then do you know of thing that might fit?" She asked Loki.

"Not really," Loki responded. "Though N-, I had a feeling that there was something I was supposed to do when I returned - not sure what it is though."

"Could you help us find the object?" She asked

"Well, if it is at all related to the task that I must do - whatever it is - then of course I will," Loki replied.

"Thank you." Alejandra replied

"If you don't mind," Loki said, "I have had a long journey and gotten very little sleep while exerting much energy. I need to rest for a while before continuing any further."

He finished the last drop of his tea and made his way to the bed hidden in the corner. "Feel free to make yourselves at home," he said as he climbed into bed. Clutching his staff he fell fast asleep under the warm covers.

Alejandra nods, "I would like a chance to rest as well, this cold is sapping my strength." She commented

"Good idea..." Bane said as he remained at the table sipping his tea. "Though if you want... perhaps you could ask Loki to warm you before he dozes into a deep sleep."

"Loki, could you warm me up?" She asked of the little man who was beginning to drift off to sleep.

"Huh?" Loki said as he was startled and woken from his sleep. Leaning up in bed he responded, "Oh... sure."

He raised his right hand and a red glowing appeared, swirling in his gloved palm. It then disappeared from sight as Alejandra's clothes were warmed by the heat.

He then raised his other hand and flicked it at the fire in the center of the room. The fire roared and crackeld as in grew in strength and began heating the small cave.

Laying back again, Loki closed his eyes and fell asleep. The only signal of his presence was a light, innocent sounding snore (not an ugly one).

"Thank you." Alejandra said as she curled up and drifted to sleep.

Loki woke up in the morning to see the sleeping figure of Alejandra on the couch and Bane sitting at the table over a cup of tea. Sure enough the fire in the center of the room was still roaring powerfully and the cave was quite warm.

Yawwwn

"Good morning master Loki," Bane said as he turned to see the mage awaken.

"Good morning," Loki replied as he got out of bed and walked towards kitchen. He pulled out a piece of bread and a cup of water before going to the table and sitting down. He began chewing the small piece of bread before downing it with the cup of water - a few crums fell onto his lap, so he stood up and brushed his clothes off.

"Sleep well?" Bane asked as he broke the silence.

"Huh? Oh yeh... very well," Loki replied. "Nothing like sleeping in your own bed."

"Yeh... I know what you mean. Though it seems Alejandra was able to make herself comfy enough," Bane replied as he looked at the slumbering form of the woman.

"Yeh... Hey. Where is that other person with you?" Loki asked as he looked around not seeing Daphne.

"You mean the Princess?" Bane asked as Loki nodded. "I don't know... I haven't seen her... perhaps she is outside."

"I will go check," Loki said as he took his staff from where it was leaning against the table and walked across the cave to the exit. He left the cave and appeared on the small path outside. Looking around, as far as he could see from one side of the other, he couldn't see Daphne anywhere.

Hmmm Loki thought as he turned around to walk back inside. As he was about to enter the cave again, he noticed something out of the top of his eye. Taking a step back, he looked up more easily and saw the bottom of the Princess' royal dress. "Hey! What are you doing up there?" he asked to Daphne who was standing on the snow top of the cave. She didn't respond so Loki decided to go up to her. He looked around at an easy way up but he could not find any - he sighed as he realized he would have to climb (something he was not good at) to the top. Squeezing his staff under one arm, Loki struggled to make his way up the ten foot side of the mountain, before he finally managed to reach the area on which Daphne stood.

He brushed his clothes off again from the snow that had accumulated. "What are you doing up here," he asked her again but again he got no response. He turned to face the same way she was looking. "Ohhh," he said as he looked out over the vastness of the mountains and valley - it was so beautiful and undisturbed by humans. "That is a nice sight," he said again - this time Daphne looked down at him for a brief moment but still did not say anything.

They stood on top of the cave for a while, just looking out over the mountain and not saying anything. Eventually, Loki's hand became tired of holding his staff, so he stuck it into the ground in front of him. Less than five seconds later, Loki was startled to hear a gasp coming from Daphne. She looked out to a point halfway down the opposite mountain (the one to the northeast), and saw a bright light shine momentarily. She then looked at the Loki's staff and saw the red gem in it shining brightly. "Oh my!" she said. "Bane! Bane! Come look at this she cried as she climbed down the side of the cave, leaving Loki behind looking confused. She disappeared into the cave, but a moment later she reappeared pulling Bane by his wrist. With her other hand she pointed up in Loki's direction and then turned to look at the opposing light. "Look there..."

"What do you think it is?" Bane asked her as he too saw the lights.

"It must be the thing we are looking for..." Daphne responded. "It appeared after Loki put his staff there," she said pointing to where his staff was lodged into the ground. "I think it is responding to Loki's staff some how. It just must be it..."

"Well... I can't think of any other explanation for it. I guess it couldn't hurt to find out what it is considering we have no other leads," Bane replied as he walked back towards the cave. "Alejandra! Alejandra wake up. You need to see this."

She didn't buge. Not even a hint of awarenes.

Must be a deep sleeper

Bane walked over to where Alejandra was lying on the couch and tapped her on the shoulder. Still nothing. He began shaking her heavily until she woke up.

"Wha, who, what, whe ... ouch." Alejandra said as she was woken, while the second part was the sound of her landing on her butt as she tried to stand while her feet were still tangled in the blanket. "EKKKKK." She shrieked as she sprang to her feet from the cold stone floor.

As she looked around and regained her bearing, she asked Bane, "What is it?"

"Just come outside for a moment... you are going to want to see this," Bane said as he turned and walked out of the cave.

Outside Daphne was staring up at the staff in front of Loki while Bane pointed out into the distant to the faint light shining.

Alejandra dressed and came out to see what the fuss was about. She looked in the indicated directions and saw something that looked like someone was using a mirror to reflect the light back at her.
"Anyone know what that is?" She asked of the other three.

"Not really," Bane replied, "The Princess saw it first - tell her what happened."

"Well... I was standing up there," she said as she pointed next to where Loki stood silently. "I was there for a while - since I woke up - and that light hadn't appeared. Anyway, Loki came out here and eventually made his way up next to me. We were standing next to each other in silence for a while and still nothing. Then he put his staff there," she again pointed to where the staff stood in the ground above the cave, "And I saw that light appear in the distance and that gem at the top of the staff started glowing like it is now."

"Wierd huh?" Bane asked when she had finished. "We think its a good idea to go exploring for what it is - it seems like more than just a coincidence. We are going to get going soon, so wake up and get ready."

Alejandra walked inside the cave and started getting ready. Bane was about to do the same when he heard Loki's voice from above, "Umm... Bane! Do you think I can take my staff out of the snow now?"

Bane looked back and memorized the position of the light (as best he could). "Yeh, I think we will be fine," he responded.

"Ok," Loki said as he pulled his staff out of the snow and tucked it under his arm. He began climbing down the side of the cave and slowly and eventually reached the bottom with a thud as he fell on his behind. Standing up, he brushed his clothes off from the snow and then proceeded inside the cave. Within a minute he was already ready and waiting for the the three humans.

"Alright, one second." Alejandra said as she got ready which involved grabbing her sword and wrapping herself in a blanket to keep her warm and set off after Loki down the side of the hill.

"Alright, one second." Alejandra said as she got ready which involved grabbing her sword and wrapping herself in a blanket to keep her warm and set off after Loki down the side of the hill.

"All right," Bane said as he and Daphne exited the cave to where Alejandra and Loki were waiting. "Loki do you know how to get over to that other mountain?"

"Nope... I have never been over there," Loki replied. "I would think we would have to go through there," he said pointing down at the massive valley formed by the three valleys.

"I was afraid of that," Bane commented. "All right. We are going to have to make our way around the mountain until we can find a safe path down - its to steep here," Bane said as he set out down the path to the left.

Alejandra groaned, "Mountain climbing, in this cold? Are you sure you don't know a way across Loki?" She asked

Loki shook his head as the wind began to pick up, "Nope... never been across before. Never tried either - there are stories about what is down there," he as he looked over the edge to what would have been the bottom if it were visible.

"I don't even know if we can get over there," Loki commented. "I haven't even been on the inner face of this mountain."

"Stories?" Alejandra asked, "What kind of stories?"

"Oh its probably nothing," Loki said.

"If there are dangers, it's better to know them ahead of time, so spill." Alejandra said

"Hey... don't be so hard on the kid," Bane said as he turned his head to stare at Alejandra.

"Its okay..." Loki muttered. "Well... when I was younger, Grandpa used to tell me stories of what was down there. He told me of about all kinds of monsters and beasts. He said there were giant wolves and beasts of the snow. All kinds of scary things..."

"Ah, better forwarned than eaten." Alejandra replied, "Do you know of any paths down, beside the one we came up?"

Loki shook his head, "Grandpa told me not to wander too far."

"Then I guess we're stuck trying to pick out a safe path. Bane, do you have any experiance in mountains?" She asked

"But of course I do," Bane replied. "I have traveled all across the lands, climbing mountains high and low. Besides... I had been visiting Loki here for a few weeks before he left - so I had to come up here."

The wind began picking up as the snow began falling again.

"Then I guess you are to take point." Alejandra replied

"Indeed I will," Bane said as he continued on into the growing strength of the wind. The wind had been picking up heavily and its gusts had become increasingly strong.

"Ahhh!" came Loki's voice as he began sliding backwards from the wind. His light weight was no match for the increasing winds. Quickly, Bane moved so that he was directly in front of Loki. His massive body was now blocking the wind and Loki stopped sliding. "Thanks," Loki said as he readjusted his hat and straightened himself out.

"No problem," Bane replied. "It seems like the wind is picking up so stay directly behind me and you won't go anywhere, ok?"

"Yeh..." Loki said quietly.

"Now... if I remember correctly, there should be a path down the mountain not too far off," Bane commented to the group. "I never actually went down it, so I don't know where it leads, but it is our only shot."

Alejandra took position behind Loki to catch him if the wind shifted and followed Bane down the mountainside.

OOC: Some sort of a bump... (Will delete this after someone (preferably Macabees)said something))

Alric began to clear a spot in the center of camp for a fire and marked it with a ring of stones. He began seting logs in the fire ring. When he had enough in he lit the fire.