Heroes Die Young

Maybe: Not a problem, not late at all in fact ^^

phantom: Very okay by me

We've got a lot of members so if anyone feels as though they're being left behind, send me a pm and I'll try to catch you up or let the group know on the discussion thread. We can try to accomodate for the majority's pace.

Alistair

Pretty little thing with her white hair and heart shaped face but the priestess robes were a big give away. That made her God's woman and if there was a woman worse than... well any other woman, it was one belonging to him. Still. I was surprised by the note. I bared my teeth at her in a smile, probably frightened her even more and gave her a nod.

"You can pray for me little mother so long as I don't have to believe it will help." I didn't tell her she wouldn't fail. No sense in being dishonest with the girl. It wasn't possible to not fail with such a bloody big group. We'd be burning some bodies along the way, oh yes.

"I've no injuries you can fix just yet," I added. "Only some old battle wounds." I gave her a grin and a wink before turning to get a good look at the dregs we were taking. I expected she'd probably write something else down, a jolly good job I knew how to read. I thought I saw someone duck out of my sight in the crowd, didn't see who it was but if there was ever suspicious behaviour- bloody Nora! Half jumping out of my seat, I shot Charles a glare and urged my horse to start walking in order to cover it up. Whistle?

"That's what you call shouting? Nearly burst my ear drums..." I grumbled.

Taking one last look behind, I was both pleased and wary to see a few staffs and wands lighting up. Bloody mages. Never knew if you could trust them or not. Magic wasn't something I relished tampering with, wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen evidence enough. Still. There was magic and then there was trickery and both were as- wait. I met the gaze of a familiar youth - not so young anymore - and gave him a scowl before turning my head front again. Just what I needed. Trouble inside the walls before I'd even got a chance to face what was on the outside. Well. Every mercenary knew you had to watch for attack from within. I'd have to keep my eye on that one.

Then the priestess was handing me another piece of paper and looking up at me with those shy, temptress eyes. Women! I quickly shifted my gaze to her tidy writing.

Charles

I wasn't sure how exactly, but I'd managed to figure out what direction we were supposed to be going. Whether we'd end up in the right place, I had no idea. Ah well, I had to keep my hopes up, I suppose. I was hardly going to admit the fact that I wasn't too sure about where we were headed. Not to Alistair anyway, I'd look like a complete idiot.

As the thoughts ran through my head, I felt something nudge me on my shoulder. I turned around and looked up to see Thomas, casually sitting on his horse. He smiled at me before speaking.

"You do realise that the map's upside down, don't you, Charles?" I could tell that he wanted to laugh.

I began laughing myself. "I do now! Don't tell anyone... but reading this map isn't the easiest thing to do."

Thomas winked at me, a sign that he promised me to do as I just asked. Still chuckling to myself, I turned the map around, and finally, I realised where we were supposed to be headed. I think. I realised that what I thought was a tree, was actually a rock, but that was beside the point.

"And call me Charlie, by the way." I looked back up at him. "Charles sounds... too formal."

"Okay, I will." Thomas grinned.

At least there was someone that didn't seem to think I was a complete idiot. Well, that's how it came across. He could have thought I was a real mess for all that I knew. Thomas seemed genuine though, that was definitely a good thing.

Smiling, I looked at the map again. Now, how was I going to turn everyone around without making it obvious that I wasn't sure about what I was doing?

Thomas

"Call me Charlie, by the way. Charles sounds...too formal."

I looked at him and smiled. This Charles--Charlie--seemed anything but formal. "Okay, I will," I said cheerfully. "As long as you call me Tom."

Charlie grinned. "It's a deal," he said. Then he turned back to the map and peered closely at it.

"Now, we're just coming from this city, I believe. Which means that we should soon be coming to a fork in the road." He glanced up hopefully, but so far our path led us straight through the countryside, with no evidence of a fork or any other deviation in the road. "Well, perhaps not..." he muttered, chewing his lip. "Oh blast it all."

"I believe," I said in a conspiratorial tone, "that's actually a stream you're looking at. Which means we're right here," I added, tapping a spot on the map a good ways away.

Charlie peered even closer, his nose almost touching the paper. "Oh! Oh yes, you're right. Thank you."

I nodded amiably, then glanced back at the group. Most were busy with their own devices, keeping track of their paraphernalia and whatnot, but a few were sending dubious looks at the oblivious Charlie. I swung off of Chester, who didn't even break his pace, and landed next to Charlie.

"By the way," I said casually, "you might not want to talk aloud so much. People can hear you. Act like you know exactly where we're going. Because you do." I winked at him at those words and he gave me a wry smile.

"I'll try," he said. I nodded and looked back again. The majority of people were shuffling their feet--or, if they were riding on horseback or in wagons, their horses were shuffling their hooves--and I decided that the group could use a bit of morale.

"Hey-ho!" I cried at the top of my lungs, startling everyone near me. "What say you all to a little marching song?" And before anyone could put down the idea, I started singing a well-known village tune with a lively beat. People started joining in and I actually saw some smiles. The pace quickened a bit, and Chester and I cheerfully mixed with the crowd--until the leader, Alistair, appeared by my side.

"What is this?" he growled. "We're going on a quest, not a parade! Now shut your bloody trap and move on!"

He started to ride off, and I couldn't help but give a parting rebellious word. "At least I was trying to help instead of flirting with the ladyfolk."

Unfortunately for me, he heard that comment. As he whipped around and came deliberately closer, I had a sinking feeling in my gut. You've really done it now, Tom, I thought ruefully.

Leif

Everything was splendid until some terrible animal screeched outside his wagon. What was worse was that it wasn't screeching in pain - it appeared to be wailing to some song.

Terrible. Utterly terrible. Was it some mating call? Leif carefully made his way towards the ghoulish driver of his wagon, but he didn't dare poke the man - er, corpse. Poking corpses sometimes led to arms and heads and fingers falling off, and it upset them so.

"What's going on outside?" Leif asked.

The driver turned to Leif, who would have flinched if he wasn't so used to rotting flesh. "They're singing a song," it croaked.

Leif wrinkled his nose and withdrew into his wagon. Why, oh why, was he stuck with this bunch again? Oh right. Because Max told him he might find some things worth selling on the way there, and because the cards confirmed what Max said. Leif wondered if these people knew that not all of them could drink from the fountain.

For a moment he almost felt tempted to ask the cards who would be able to drink from the fountain, but he refrained. He wanted it to be a surprise.

When the wagon lurched to a halt, Leif was thrown against a box of food. He groaned. What now? What did those idiots do this time? Leif nimbly slipped out of his wagon with a scowl on his face.

The tension in the air almost killed Leif, especially so when he realized he was smack dab between a cowering man and a warrior he vaguely remembered as Alastair.

Leif cleared his throat and glanced at Alastair. As far as he knew, Alastair wasn't the type to hurt people. So Leif forced a smile onto his face.

"So. How's the journey going?"

Isolda Dye

He smiled at her, a smile formed on her lips. Thank goodness he wasn't already hurt, however she would have to keep an eye on him, sometimes men let pride get in the way of his health. It would make her job a whole harder. When he walked off, she assumed that he didn't need to hear her pray for his safety. She could tell that he didn't believe in the gods, but it was his loss, when they saved his life, through her, he would believe. If they it does make it quite a bit easier to heal them, if they don't believe in them, the magic doesn't work.

Her tradition was to drop to her knees, lower her head, and pray, however the mud would stain her robes. Despite the fact that they would get stained on the journey she wanted to keep them clean as long as she could. It was a symbol of who she was, and it made her feel good about herself. For whatever reason it always made the village men stare at her in a way that made her shiver with fear. Anyways, she shut her eyes and lowered her head, she clasped her hands together and raised them to where they were at the same position as her nose.

"Lords please watch over those we travel with, and that warrior. Give us strength, good fortune, and courage enough to go around. In addition please forgive me for lying to the warrior, I did not deserve to get a reply, but to the good fortune you bestowed on me, he could read. For this I thank you. There will be many that die, however I hope that it is not a lot, when they do fall, please great them with the welcome of heroes, and treat them well. Amen."

She looked around nervously, she could tell that corruption was a strong force within them. She was getting nervous, she couldn't sit still. This was actually the first time she felt both nervous and anxious all at the same time. She needed someone like her to talk to, someone to befriend. A girl talked to someone. She was younger then Isolda, but she didn't care, perhaps she could guide the girl to the light. She was talking to someone, she heard her mention that her name was Melody.

She walked up to this Melody and the person she was talking to. "Pardon me for interrupting, but I'm feeling quite nervous, and I would like someone to befriend." She spoke to Melody. "You look quite nice, the gods tell me you heal as well." She looked over at whom the girl was speaking to, "again, terribly sorry."

MELODY

"no it's ok, it's nice to talk to another girl here." She smiled. She was a priestess. "I'm melody." She looked like she knew that.
"I'm Isolda. Why have you come on this journey?" I sighed.
"Adventure. I have lived with healers for 3 years, and they were way over protective. I never really got to do much, and i never really got out. They didn't approve of my taste for older men. Why did you come?" I looked up at her. She seemed to be soaking in what i just said.
"My church sent me, to heal the injured."i nodded. She seemed nice, but she almost looked like she didn't want to come.
"Well I'm glad I'm not the only healer." She smiled. She wasn't alone, healing is so boring though.
"So are you with some one right now, my church doesn't allow me to marry." I looked up at her, she had broke me from my thoughts.
"I've not been fortunate enough to find anyone. I feel sorry you can't experience it." She sighed.
"I am a woman of god."

Isolda Dye

She seemed a tad bit uncomfortable speaking to a healer that had a taste for older men, however being raised in the church she wasn't open to the influence of the outside. Perhaps that's what was considered normal. "I am a woman of god," it was a partial thought, she was trying to explain what she felt in more detail, "if I could explain how good it felt to be, I would." A slight sigh of defeat passed through her lips.

"Only three years?" A slight frown formed on her lips. Melody nodded, "yes, three." Isolda shook her head. "You can't be very advanced then." This made Melody scowl, "I am very good thank you very much." Again, Isolda shook her head, this time she had her hands up, she had failed to articulate what she was trying to say yet again. "I mean, I could teach you some of the more advanced healing. Burning the dead, protective herbs."

Thanks for letting me in.


Name: Bryce Walker
Age: 27
Position: Hired Guard

Reason for joining: He was hired for protection on the way to the fountain, but has more of a reason than a few bucks. He is following them because he is a criminal, and a man wants him dead for theft. The reason he choose the group is because he wants to steal it for himself.

Appearance: He is a large burley man, barbaric looking, wearing ragged chain mail, that has rusty parts, and large chunks missing. A variety of scars decorate his entire body, along with “tattoos.” He also has a distinct rotten odder, and needs a weed whacker to have at him for an hour or two.

Personality: First and foremost he is rude. He doesn’t care what people think of him, so he is sloppy, loud, smelly, and everything else irritating. Along with short tempered and violent, with his sword always in his hand, and his shield ready to bash your head in. He is also very prideful, and will not admit to being wrong, or doing wrong, ever. No morals, in a nut shell.

History: Bryce’s mother was a slave, and when he was born his father was outraged. The father was having an affair, and if he found out he was going to be killed, father and law was the head of the manor. So, he fled, with Bryce and his mother, and they lived on the road, living off petty crimes.

A pleasure to have you Bolt

Alistair

A lively looking lad was riding up front by Charles and the two seemed to be talking quite amiably but I had my suspicions. The young lad was doing a lot of looking at the map and Charles was doing a little too much nodding. Who exactly was leading this expedition? I decided that I'd better get a look at that map myself when we settled down for the night. Somewhere private. Somewhere I could give our wonderful leader a few tips on how the questing business was supposed to go. And then the boy started singing. That was all we bloody well needed, sure, alert the bandits and provide them the perfect cover to catch us unawares!

"What is this?" I demanded, pulling my horse alongside his. "We're going on a quest, not a parade! Now shut your bloody trap and move on!" I was happy enough to have done with the singing and move on without it coming to blows. Then he made an unacceptable comment:

"At least I was trying to help instead of flirting with the ladyfolk." I whipped around and Sabre turned with me, catching on to my mood. His nostrils flared and he stared down the boy's excuse for a steed as I glared at the 'master' himself. I didn't have words for the fury within me. Yes, I admired the girl's figure but flirting with a lady of the church? If anyone even considered, nay dared to dishonour a girl in my party-

That was when the wagon jerked to a halt at my right and a familiar man stumbled out. I blinked at him, his words barely sinking in as I tried to get a grip. Leif, Leif Benedict. I'd journeyed with him before. And then I realised I had a grip on the hilt of my sword- how close had I come to baring steel? Letting go, I gave the summoner a gruff smile in return. "It would be better without the foolishness of youths," I told him steadily. "I suppose that's your wagon." I gave it a sharp look and knew that it was. It was being driven by a corpse for damnation's sake! That still creeped me out. "Don't want to fall behind."

And with that, I gave the boy a last scathing look just to prove that I could without wanting to kill him. I turned Sabre and made my way to the front once more. "Where are we sleeping tonight?" I asked Charles to take my mind off the incident. Even to me my voice sounded aggravated so I fixed my tone and added. "Every night we're outside the walls of a city, we'll need to set up a healer's tent."

"I don't think we'll reach the city tonight," Charles said after some looking at the map. I tried to peer at it from my position on Sabre. Well at least he was holding it the right way up.

I'm so sorry I haven't posted yet! I just haven't had time. I promise to get mine in in the next day or two!

Name: Miranda Prince
Age: 29
Position: bard
Reason for joining: (Why do they seek the fountain of youth?) She feels like she has wasted a lot of time. She disguised herself as a boy from the ages of fourteen to eighteen to get people to take her writing seriously, and found that the performance affected what she wrote. She is afraid of aging and wasted time and feels she cannot embark on her great poetic project at the age of 29. She has not disclosed this; she is going under he pretence of wanting to document the journey.
Appearance: Small and formerly skinny so her weight hangs uncomfortably on her, red hair in a bob, blue-grey eyes.
Personality: Self-serving, determined, independent, intelligent.
History: Served two different masters between fourteen and eighteen, moving in with the second at sixteen-she thought she had him fooled and then he began making advances on her, which she endured for the sake of her art as he was very influential in society, but found she could no longer endure at eighteen when she became pregnant by him-she left, got rid of the child and has been attempting to find a patron ever since but her figure is changed she can no longer disguise herself as a boy and finds it difficult to get respect. She is hoping to produce an epic poem out of this journey through her experiences and acquired time, which will earn her the respect and status which she craves.

No problem Dreamy, I'm looking forward to it

Love the character Jas <33

MELODY

"I think my level of healing is fine. They said that i learned things in weeks that took then months to get right." I didn't give her a chance to apologize. I stormed off, i was being immature, but i was always immature and unreasonable when i was angry. I slowed pace near the main wagon, the one Charles was in. I focused on the path ahead, trying not to think about how immature i was being. I wasn't angry with her, i was angry with myself for over reacting. I could be so immature at times. I swung myself up onto Charles wagon.
"Hello, sorry if i frightened you." I smiled at him.

**I am having a bit of trouble getting my characters into the mainstream of things. Anyone have any ideas?

Jorin

Jorin looked up from the horses as the group started to sing. He heard a small chuckle from his side, and glanced over toward Master Garrett. Garrett was smiling to himself, humming along to the turn. Garrett turned a pair of sparkling eyes toward Jorin.

"That's a tune I haven't heard for some time," Garrett smiled. "I remembering singing that as a boy."

Jorin gave a tight smile. "How are you feeling?" replied Jorin. Garrett frowned at him.

"I'll be fine for a while yet, Jorin. The sickness hasn't yet taken a firm hold on me."

Jorin nodded. "I know," he muttered. "But that is why we aren't wasting any time."

Jorin felt a hand on his shoulder. "Jorin," said Garrett firmly. "You don't even know that this fountain exists, or that it will present a cure. If - "

"I know the risks," said Jorin harshly. Garrett fell silent. Jorin hunched over and glared at the road ahead.

Thomas

I breathed a sigh of relief as Alistair rode off to go yell at someone else. I turned to the man who had (most likely) saved my life and said, "Thanks for intervening. I'm Tom."

The other man extended his hand, and I shook it. "I'm Leif," he said. "Nice to meet you. And next time, try to keep those comments in your head."

I nodded dutifully. "Yes, good idea." I glanced ever so briefly at the driver of his wagon, then did a double-take. Was that--it couldn't--no--but still--

"Something wrong?" Leif asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"N-no," I stammered, while inside my head I was shrieking, There's a corpse driving the wagon! A CORPSE! Suddenly, I felt very sick and with a hasty excuse and farewell to Leif, I steered Chester away--and bumped into another cart.

This one was being driven by a rather grim man, while an elderly, frail-looking man sat beside him.

"Sorry!" I stammered, completely flustered. "I didn't see you there!"

The one who was driving snorted and glared down at me, but the older man smiled kindly. "Not a problem, lad," he said gently. "Is everything all right?"

I glanced towards Leif's wagon, where his corpse driver was lethargically slapping the reins. "Er--yes, yes I'm fine."

"Are you traveling with anyone else?" the old man inquired.

I shook my head. "No, just me." I sneaked another look at Leif's wagon. Almost fascinating, if it wasn't so revolting.

"How would you like to keep us company?"

The words finally sunk in. "Eh? Oh? What? Oh! Yes, sure!"

"Master Garrett," the grim man said respectfully, "are you sure about this? I think we'd be just fine on our own." He gave me an icy stare.

"Now, now, Jorin, the lad's just fine," Master Garrett said, patting Jorin's shoulder. "He might be a nice companion for us, hm? I rather think so."

By the frosty glare in Jorin's eyes, I wasn't so sure that he agreed.

*That all right, phantom?*