Journey Into the North

Seraph

"Report, Tan'Quin, Sirloaz." The ranger had a scowl on his face. "It's no going to be an easy trek. Without a guide, and without some cooperation, we will likely not make it as a group."

"Why."

"Well...there's two things. One...we found a way through without using the roads. Two...we found the goblin encampment."

"That doesn't explain what you said before."

"Problem is...the pass is through the mountain marked on that map. And, ah...that's where the goblin encampment is."

"Why can't we go through the forest."

"It's been warded--and there's guards."

"We can handle guards. I know nothing about wards."

"Nor do I."

"What's your recommendations?" I may be a hard ass, but I knew when to listen to my subordinates.

"I suggest we split the party. One group takes to the forest and triggers the wards in order to draw off the main force. The other goes straight through. We meet on the other side. It's...the only way I can think of that will get us through unpursued."

"As long as you think you can lose the small army of imps that will be pursuing you. I don't want any unnecessary sacrifices."

"No problem, given the right team"

"Good work. Get some rest, we're setting off at sundown."

I turned away from the duo and scratched my chin. I looked around the camp, then began to think of a plan.

"All right everyone, listen up." I spoke before I realized I had thought of anything.

Most of the camp turned it's attention to me. Cyrus and the woman ignored me, though I had no doubt they heard.

"Sirloaz and Tan'Quin have informed me that we have a situation."

Cyrus yawned. He was tired, and although the Lorae was burning energy through his veins, he struggled to keep a focus on Lord whatever his name is, was saying. It came to him in snatches.

Splitting up.

Goblins.

A vote.

It made sense to him. Smaller, more efficient groups, paired so as to have as little weaknesses as possible. "Rightio." He said, standing up and stretching. "I think it's a good idea. Also, I want the bear, and the thief. Other then that, it matters little. And now," he finished decisively, "I am going to bed."

With that, he turned and walked toward Ursa, who was and had been for sometime, snoring. He floppd next to him, luxuriating in the warmth the massive form exuded. The last thing he heard were concerned whispers:

"Is that really safe?"

"Could get eaten ... or squashed."

As Finn smacked her lips and attempted to rid her mouth of the taste of that godsawful liquor Henry had given her, two more joined the party, a grey-haired man in a green cloak and a rather dirty young man, whom she recognized as being the one who tossed his dagger into the ground earlier. There was some discussion of a goblin encampment in the pass, and a warded forest, and how about splitting the group up?

She sat forward in interest even as the dwarf flopped down beside the bear. She eyed them and decided that, if possible, she'd stay as close to them as possible. The thief, though... he'd motioned toward Henry when he said that. Good thing she had precious little to tempt a thief, beyond the metal caps on her quarterstaff and a few plain, undecorated daggers. With all these fancy fops and nobles about, he'd have no interest.

"Ye're headed inta th' Blackwodes?" she asked then, remembering the mention of a mountain pass. The Blackwodes were the only mountains nearby. "Weel, then, coun' me in. None knows them mou'ains like me, 'cept possibly me da. Wha' pass is this then? An' how many goblins is there?"

"Who says you're coming, girl?" Seraph asked then. Finn just snorted and jutted her chin out, staring defiantly back at the man.

"Fionnabhair Chant does, an' Fionnabhair Chant will," she replied testily. "Soom knowledge o' dem mou'ains'd help, I'd wager, an' I lived me whole life in 'em." She tucked her knees to her chest and hugged them. "'Sides, got nuffink better t' do."

An' no food, an' precious little coin...

"I'll go wit' th' dwarf an' bear. An' th' thief, I s'pose." She glanced sidelong at Henry, subconsciously making a face; she still had the aftertaste of that awful liquor burning in her throat.

“I’m not going into the mountains,” Tan’quin said. “Besides, it seems the dwarf has already decided who he wants.”

Besides, Tan’quin thought, he was not too familiar with mountains. They reminded him much of the large structures built within the cities. Castles, they were called.

“Aye, and I never did ask for you to come,” Cyrus responded.

“Precisely my point.”

Tan’quin waited until the others decided who was going where.

Adrian sat alone from the group trying to heal his wound, but either he had exausted himself healing the others or he had no idea. He slumped his shoulder defeated "some hero i make, i got injured by imps for god sake he muttered."

He sighed and looked at the wound it was pretty deep. He should really try taking his armour off and healing it, but he was just too tired he got his pack and laid it on the ground. He then lay his head down on it and closed his eyes and fell fast asleep.

Valin pulled Sirloaz over to the side and asked him a few very quick, very necessary questions.
"How deep is teh forest, by your estimation?" Valin asked
"Well, it gets really deep and tangly in places even so close to this camp, so on my best guess, no less than three days' ride, due to the vast underbrush and growth"
"Alright, is there anything else we can expect in there?"
"Well, other than the ward, and the Imps and Goblin camps nearby--just the usual animals and such," Sirloaz said matter-of-factly.
"Alright, good," Valin said. He called another meeting of the whole party.
"Lord Belfast and I will lead two different parties in two separate directions, in order to get around these Imps," he said, quickly. "The first group will be comprised of myself, Tan'quin, Alden and Sirloaz. We will be going through the forest and will be setting off the ward. As well as setting off the ward, we will be conducting raid attacks on the main Impish force and drawing them away on basically a wild goose chase, with the eventual plan to either lose and or kill all of them. The second group will be comprised of the rest of you, who will be going through the mountains with Lord Belfast, to attack the main force, here," at that, he pointed in the dirt at the place on the rough, hand drawn dirt map he had hastily made. Valin continued, "With that completed, we will be clear to proceed to wherever it is we are going. There is a small farming fronteir village at the base of the mountains, here," Valin pointed again, continuing "Called, um..." He hesitated, forgetting the Common name of the town. The girl, Finn, quickly interrupted him, saying
"Sedgeley. I's where I were rai'ed up I was. Inn'it noth'ng there, though, tha's fer sure,"
"Precisely my point, Finn, is it?," Valin said. Finn nodded to say that Finn was indeed, her name.
"Where there isn't anything, there will be no 'prying eyes', if you will. See?" Finn nodded her understanding, and faintly smiled.
"Right, so we will all meet in Sedgeley in four days' time, and finish up any more resistance and to continue onward from that point. Any questions?" Valin said, finally, smudging out the makeshift map, so that anyone to come to the camp after them will not know where they were headed.
Finn spoke up, more in protest than in a question
"But I neren't nearly been anywhere yet! I just lef' wot a few days 'go. They'll think me be comin' back ta stay fer good!"
Valin replied cooly,
"Well, Finn, thats you're choice, but if you want to continue with us, that's where we're headed," he continued speaking out to the whole group, "Come on now, lets get moving!" and he walked over towars his horse, and with an effortless leap, mounted the great beast with efforless skill.

(OOC: If any of this doesn't work for you, let me know and I'll change it)

(OOC: Other than the fact that Sedgeley's high in the mountains and a minimum of four and a half days away... yes, that works . I'll just correct those in my post, shall I?)

Finn scowled at Valin, though on her petite face it looked more like a pout than anything else. At nearly twenty-four, she looked not much older than eighteen or nineteen, thanks to her stature and bone structure.

"Three days won' be enow. Four an' half, at th' very least. An' tha's not countin' the fightin' an' all." She shrugged, though. "I'd say more o' five days. Alden, ye can guide yer lot there, aye?" The gryphon replied in the affirmative. "Weel, then. Five days. Got a problem wit'at, m'lord?" She didn't wait to hear his response, but turned to grab her quarterstaff instead.

When the elf leapt onto his horse, she pulled a face at his back, then coolly turned around and woke up Cyrus (though she left the duty of rousing the bear up to the dwarf, liking most of her limbs exactly where they were) and the wounded warrior. "Wak' up, lad," she said, nudging him with her toe. "Got ground ta cover." Quite a bit of it, really.

She looked back at Valin, then. "I en't killin' no one, so's ye know, 'less they's no other way ou'. An' I 'spect my usual fee fer guidin' ye's t'rough the moun'ains."

He levelled a cool stare at her. "We'll negotiate that when we all come out safely on the other side of this mess."

Finn snorted. "Aye, aye, Capt'n." She sketched a mocking salute before turning back to her 'group.' "A'right... any of ye know how ta fight? 'Cos I en't no warrior."

(OOC: Sorry this post will be very short, but I don't really know what to write, just tryin' to advance dialogue)

"Oh and by the way, Finn, I saw that face you made. Do you always act like a child when you don't get what you want?"
"Well I, er, no, well...summat, bu' ye.." She stammered.
"Well, I see that you also have the uncanny ability of eloquence as well," Valin said his voice dripping with sarcasm. By this time, the whole decoy group had been assembled and was ready.
"We'll be in Sedgeley in Four days' time, no more, no less. I suggest you get these lot there as quick as possible as well. Oh and about fighting, don't worry, you'll learn fast. Just make sure they all don't kill each other," he said as he started riding away. Then with a wry grin and a wink he said "At least not until I'm back" and he and the other riders sped off into the forest.

As Valin finished explaining the plan to the others, I stood up and clapped him on the shoulder. Together we strode over to his horse. "Well spoken, my friend."

"You expected any less?" he said with a wry grin.

I just chuckled in response. However, something still troubled me.

The newcomer, Finn, was going to be trouble. She seemed very intent on contradicting everything Valin or I had to say. I scratched my chin and looked over to the woman, who was gathering a few things.

"I'm gonna make sure everyone's ready." I grabbed the horse's reins as Valin slipped his foot into the stirrup. "Good luck, my friend."

"To you as well..brother." Valin's words brought a warmth to my body I didn't know was there. And almost an honest smile to my face.

He trotted off to where his team had begun to assemble, and began talking to Sirloaz. I looked back to Finn and, straightening myself to my full height, walked over to her.

She heard me before she saw me, thanks to the red steel of my father's ancestral armor, and by the way her muscles tensed when she heard me, she knew it wasn't one of the others.

"Whadayeh wan'?" she grunted, pulling forth a trio of daggers from her belt and tossing them onto her bedroll.

"You know how to use those?" I asked, indicating the daggers as well as her quarterstaff, which lay across a nearby log.

"I ain' gonna be killin' nothin'," she said without looking at me.

"I didn't ask if you were going to use them--" She wasn't even listening. She hadn't turned t look at me, or even acknowledged I'd said anything. I grabbed her by the shoulder and spun to her around to face me, clamping my other hand around her shoulder, holding her in place.

"--I asked if you knew how to use them."

"Ge' yer paws offa me," she growled.

I ignored her. "Because if you don't know how to use them, I have to make sure you have someone to guard you, to watch your back. I will not have one of my people die trying to save an inexperienced firestorm of a woman with no combat experience."

She stopped struggling at that.

"I know 'ow ta use 'em."

I released her. "Good. Then I trust you not to hesitate if the time comes for you to use them."

She scowled at me and said nothing.

"Now...your payment. How much is your normal fee?"

"Five pieces o' gold."

"Guide us to the full extent of your knowledge, and we'll quadruple that. Prove yourself useful, and you can come with us beyond your borders."

Her face showed the slightest hint of excitement, then he expression scowled over again.

"I, too, know what it is like living your life in a cage, not knowing what the world outside it is like. For eighteen years of my life I lived in a stone cage with windows that looked out on only wasteland."

I neglected to tell her that the cage I lived in had 300 rooms and a wealthy surrounding town.

"Be ready to depart within the hour. You do not have a horse, to my knowledge--if this is true, you may ride with myself, or one of the others. Whomever you choose will be your partner. You are to stay with them in battle, should one arise."

"But I told ye I know how ta--"

"All of us will have partners, madam. Even the most experienced of warriors can use someone watching his back."

"I thought we were going to meet at Alten," Alden asked Valin.

"They left Alten yesterday, they'll be heading around the mountains. If we pass through Sedgeley we can get there a heck of a lot faster," Valin said.

"Okay," Alden said with a frown. "I guess I'll go check to make sure I haven't forgotten anything."

The area was clear. Valin, Tan'quin, and Sirloaz were on horseback all ready. Henry and Cyrus were unhooking the horses attached to the wagon. Finn was talking with Adrian.

Valin and the others began to ride. Alden followed.

(OOC: Hahah... um... had too much fun with this post? Sorry Fand! XD Grif is taking bets on how soon I'm going to die for this post, haha...)

*Ursa, aka Podgy

"Neigh cursas zits thyme tago."

Yes. I swear, that's what she said. And she said it to me. Or towards me, anyway. If it was an insult, then it missed its mark. Completely. Because it made her look more like idiot than I ever could. And that's saying something.

I glanced at Alden desperately, but he was gone.

Apparently I was stuck with this bunch.

Cyrus was being an idiot, as usual. No, I wasn't a magical bear, or at least I thought I wasn't. Beyond giving magical farts which could kill several deer (hey, you have to have food sometime!) I was clearly not magical. Although, I have to admit the prospect of being a magical bear wasn't totally unenticing. I wish I could make my ears turn floppier. Hey, it might be fun!

Okay. So anyway, he was standing around, gaping. And the girl, who knows what her name is, was standing around saying who knows what. Seriously.

I glanced at Seraph hopefully -- he seemed to be the only one with sense in this group. He, of course, ignored me, doing something else.

"Well, thank you sirs and inarticulate ladies, but I must head out now. I have an appointment with a honey cake shop."

I gave a bow, about to head out, but then Cyrus gave me a puzzled look. Well... more puzzled than usual anyway.

"You can't leave now!"

I stared at him. "Why not?"

"Because we need you!"

I looked over this bunch. Yes, they might need me, but EVERYBODY, as far as I was concerned, needed me. I was just that awesome. Or at least that handsome. Nobody can resist a bear. Even if I had a small case of bed fur.

"So why do you need me?" It was clear that, without constant questioning, Cyrus would only talk cliffhangers.

"You're part of our plan." He began to talk about splitting up. I just stared at him. Splitting up? With a band who was so lame that they regularly had imps attack them?

Oh great.

"And if we don't have you, we'll have to figure it out ourselves."

"Matt toads knee charred."

Ooooooookay.

"I'm a little deaf in both ears," I said to the girl, trying to give her a reassuring smile. "Could you possibly speak in a language I understand?"

She frowned and then she kicked me!

Well, at least she had guts.

I thought about it for a moment. On one hand, I could go to the honey shops and create havoc, which definitely sounded fun. Or I could go with these guys and girl and have a good laugh. Any normal bear would pick the first one. So which one did I choose? Yep. The second one.

Why did I always choose comedy before cakes?

They better have lots of food...

Henry took no interest in the bear -- it had no valuables, and besides, he had an irrational fear of bears ever since his first hunting trip with his Father and friends was marred by the death of a friend at the hands (or paws) of a Mountain Bear. He wouldn't dream of conversing with such a murderous beast.

He was interested in Adrian though -- the Paladin looked exhausted and had been forced to take a quick nap before they left. The wound on his shoulder had been deeper than he thought, and Tan'quin had only managed to give him rudimentary healing before he had to leave with the small attack group bound for the forest.

Henry moved his horse beside Adrian. "Those Imps ain't as bad as ya think they are, right? They got me as well, and Cyrus. Don't feel bad, mate. There was loads of 'em all over."

The dark-haired Paladin gave a weary smile. "It's just ... warriors like Lord Belfast and Valin look so invulnerable. They look like they could never be wounded. I want to be like them."

"Believe me," Henry began. "They ain't immortal. Well, uh, the Elf sorta is or whatever. But you know how I mean. They can be hurt, same as us. It's just they been doin' it longer. Fightin', I mean. I'm sure one day you'll be a great warrior, but for now, just try and stay alive, eh?"

Adrian seemed a little cheered up by Henry's words, and as the thief trotted his horse away to leave the Paladin to his thoughts, Lord Belfast stopped his horse and waited for Henry to come alongside him.

"That was well said, Henry." It was the first time the warrior had addressed Henry by his name, and he was a little surprised by the address.

Henry nodded back. "Jus' trying to keep us all together, yer know? We might not know each other, really, 'cept you an' that Elf, but we still gotta be there for one another, whether we like it or not."

Seraph smiled grimly. "Your words are wiser than you know," he said. "We'll be needing that crossbow of yours when we reach the Goblin camp."

"I'll be ready. Don't you worry about me. What you said about pairing up together makes sense to me. Cyrus an' me might be a good partnership. 'Im being the stout warrior he is, and me being the marksman, we could fight well," Henry said. He didn't respect the man's command, but he know underneath all the outside there was a genuine human underneath. The comment was not really a suggestion, but Seraph seemed happy enough with it.

"That's fine."

The conversation seemed to end in an awkward silence, and Henry pulled his reins and back into the ordinary formation. Cyrus gave him a wink. Finn, the guide, was at the front, still angry about the way Valin, Seraph and Ursa had talked to her.

Deep down, Henry felt a resentment towards Seraph -- his arrogance, his assumed leadership -- but another different feeling had arisen. It was one of respect. Here was a leader who at least fought from the front for once.

(OOC: Snoink, I cracked up when I read that post! Hehe... I couldn't even tell what some of that was supposed to mean! XD)

Well, that just chucked it all. The stupid bear couldn't even understand plain speech! Though kicking him hadn't done much good; there was too much fat and fur between her boot and any nerve endings for it to be effective. And she was still fuming over how that pompous fop, Seraph, had spoken to her. Partners! Bah. Finn had spent her entire life trekking through the mountains when most women were too timid to step beyond their own front gates. Partners.

She snorted and looked around at the men--she used the term loosely--in her group. Adrian, who was wounded and looked rather peaky; Henry, who, though she'd taken a shine to him despite (or perhaps because of) his vocation, she didn't exactly trust; Ursa, who had mocked her; Cyrus, who had laughed along with Ursa; and that awful Seraph.

Adrian, Henry, Ursa, Cyrus, Seraph. Adrian, Henry, Ursa, Cyrus, Seraph. Wounded, untrustworthy, needs kicked regularly, needs kicked regularly, needs kicked regularly. Was there any easy choice for partner?

Finally, she heaved a sigh and gathered her things before moving over to join Seraph. "Figgered it'd make more sense, seein' 's ye're th' un'fficial leader o' dis group, an' I's th' guide. Naw, budge up, ken?"

He raised one eyebrow at her, but seemed to accept her logic. Ha! See, she wasn't a child after all. She beat down the impulse to stick her tongue out at him, and levered herself up onto the horse behind him. She'd only ridden a few times before in her life, but she'd taken to it well enough; still, that didn't exactly prepare her for riding pillion. "Ehm... what dw'I hold on'a?"

"Beg pardon?"

Oh great. More speech jokes. She narrowed her eyes, even though he couldn't see it. "What," she said very, very slowly, "do. I. Hold. Onta."

"That would be me."

Grumbling unintelligibly, Finn wound one arm around the older man's waist and gripped it as best she could, given the slick surface of the armor. She rested the other hand on his shoulder, which was easier to get a hold on. "Aye, aye, get on wit' it then. Ye knoow how t' navigate th' foothills, yeah?"

OOC: Fand said we'd be travelling under cover of nightfall ... is that so? And is that really possible, with horses, in mountainous terrain?

Cyrus hopped on to Daisy, rubbing her head affectionately. He clucked at her, urging her to move. He guided her up behind Seraph, who had taken the lead with Finn saddled up behind him, and rode alongside Henry. This left Ursa and Adrian to travel together, and the bear was all to happy about this. "This is going to be fun." He said, a mischevious gleam in his beady eyes. Adrian's groan in response seemed only to delight the bear further.

The sun was just now setting, bathing the forest and foothills in bloody golden majesty. Just as Cyrus was wondering how it was they were going to travel through the night without risking severe injury to the horses and or themselves, Seraph called back. "For now, we will travel at a slow trot, making use of what light we have left." He said, "We will continue on through the night; Finn here, assures me that tonight will shine the full moon."

With those words, he spurred his horse onward. Cyrus clucked furiously at Daisy, who snorted, tossed her head and sped forward. Laughingly, he called out to Henry. "Come on now lad, yer gettin shown up by an old man!"

Of the bear, the dwarf cared not. It was an insolent beast all in all, and he endeavoured to enjoy himself as much as possible in this trip.

OOC: the terrain is only rocky once we reach the goblin camp--it turns into a cavern at that point. Until then, it's all forest.