Camping
Subject Getting Wood
As Harp and Salix wander through the nearby woods, Harp attempts to make small talk with his companion.
"Master Salix, I am unfamiliar with the followers of your way. I have heard stories, of course, of those who commune with nature, speak with animals, and in some cases, I have been told, though I find this hard to believe, even become animals. I have never had much occaison to spend much time in the wild, other than travelling through it. I have met very little in the forest that I have ever feared for most things seem to flee before me, wether out of fear or hatred.
How is it you, and those who follow your way, have found such an affinity for the wild? Do you not miss the cammeraderie of your fellow man, though I should use that term loosely given our current company."
Harp will continue to collect fire wood, waiting to see if Salix answers.
From: Randy
Subject Looking over camp
Ran looks over the camp. Seeing that Surin has the tents well in hand, and that Harp is doing a fine job delegating the duties he wanders off to a more secluded area not too far away. Reaching into his tunic he pulls out a carved holy symbol that he wears around his neck. Holding the symbol in his hand he kneals down and begins to meditate. His breathing slows and becomes steady as he clears his mind of all thoughts and repeats a soft mantra. As he reaches a state of peace, he begins to pray in a quiet voice.
"Corellon Larethain, father of my spirit, I bow before the in need. Please guide my heart and mind that I may lead this mission well. Help me to follow a path of honesty, strength, and compassion." He pauses for a moment before continuing, tears welling in his eyes. "Help me to forgive my father and to restore a connection with him. Help me to know that my mother is at peace."
Finishing his prayer he once again steadies his breathing and returns to meditating.
As he rises, he wipes his eyes clean and looks back to the camp. Pushing his hair back out of his face he slowly begins to walk back towards the others who seem so happy and carefree and he looks on them with envy.
From: Karl
Subject Civilzation
Salix give a small snort when Ran mentions "civilized lands". What he meant, Salix was sure, were lands where if the people hadn't killed nature outright, they had at least crippled her.
From: Karl
Subject The Druids
"The problem as I have come to see it, Harp, is that people tend to think too much in 'us/them' terms when it comes to the natural world," he pauses and gives a light whistle. A moment later the huge horned owl that had ridden all day on the pommel of his saddle swoops down from the perch it had taken up in one of the nearby trees and lands on Salix's shoulder.
"While I do enjoy the company of my 'fellow man', camaraderie can be found in many places."
"Harp, this is Noctis." Salix strokes the owl lightly with his left hand and holds his right arm out to form a perch. The great owl moves down his arm to his forearm. "Noctis, this is Harp. He is a friend." Salix follows these words with a soothing slow hooting sound and extends his owled arm toward the half-Orc. Noctis instinctively inches back a couple of steps along Salix's arm away from Harp, but Salix continues the soothing hoot and again strokes the great owl lightly on his back. "He is wary, as are most woodland creatures. But if you let him get to know you on his terms, and you are not a threat, he might accept you as a friend.
"Noctis and I have been friends for a few years now. He answered my call while I was still a neophyte. There are many individuals of the humans, elves, and . . . other. . . so-called 'sentient' races I have met whose company I would not prefer to that of my winged friend here.
"And that, in its most basic form, is the explanation for the 'affinity' you asked about earlier. Nature is not only all around us, but we are all part of her. Most men - of all races - have lost the connection because they have thought themselves separate from nature and view her as a force to be fought or at best plundered. Those who follow the Druid way foster the connection with Nature. We seek to reclaim our position as her sons, and have found that she has many endowments to offer her faithful ones.
"But now I sound like the Stormfather, and that is a deception. In truth I am only a beginner. I am a Wealdward, a guardian of the forest - only the first and lowest of the active charges in my Order."
Salix pauses a moment, considering his traveling companion. He had confessed a struggle to control is more violent nature, but in fact Salix has witnessed nothing of this on the trip so far. Not that Harp had been easy to observe, taking up the rear of the group as he had. "What about you?" Salix asks. "What has led you on your path? It seems that by all accounts most individuals with your . . . heritage choose to embrace the . . . well, the more imposing side of their natures. What keeps you on this . . . gentler path?"
From: Ami
Subject Cooking Dinner
Cai took the saddle off her mount, rubbing him down and hobbling him before she let him graze. This was unfamiliar territory and she did not want him to get far.
After getting permission to hunt, she walked deeper into the grove of trees they camped by. There would likely be no deer here, but that was no matter. Their group was too small to devour such a catch on this night and the next. It would take too much to prepare such a load of meat for traveling any longer. A brace of coneys should meet their needs.
With Grey's help, she had three plump rabbits sooner than she'd anticipated. The ease of her hunting and the health of the rabbits spoke of few predators and much to eat. She decided it might be of some advantage to scout the area a little more closely as she returned.
When she arrived at camp, yam roots, a few leaves of bay, and some thyme also weighed her bag down. The fire was well started. She sat down and started skinning the coneys, splitting them first down the middle and up the limbs, then deftly sliding the knife between the skin and muscle.She rubbed the meat down with the bay, thyme, and some salt from her rations, then speared all three rabbits on a green branch.
She carefully pushed the burning wood of the fire to the side, revealing hot coals. On those, she placed heavy cook pot laden with the yams and some water, then buried the oven in more coals. She added wood to the fire, and then used two forked branches to support the skewered rabbits.
She smiled. This might show Surin that eating off the land was better than he had feared.
Her job done, Cai looked up at the group around her. All but Ran, they laughed and talked together. Still unsure of how she fit, she listened carefully, waiting for a chance turn in the conversation that would admit her.
From: Kevin
Subject The path
Harp laughs deeply, scaring some of the local animal habitat.
"For one, there has been nothing to catch the attention of my more orcish instincts.
It has been a long path for me, and I have learned much from the Order of the Silver Sword, both as a lowly member and as a fosterling before that. While I suffered greatly at the jibes and jabs of humans as I grew up, it was nothing compared to what my orc ancestors have wrought upon the world. My brothers of the Order have taught me that strength is a responsibility, that those that have it should use it for the benefit of those less fortunate. My father's race has abandoned that belief, if they in fact ever had it. Pray that you are not around should we encounter any of my orcish "kin", for it will challenge all of my learned skills of patience and wisdom to keep from attacking them."
With that, Harp reaches up to a large limb on a dead tree, exerts himself, and snaps the limb clean free of the tree.
"Well , it might be a little large for the camp fire. Maybe Noctis would like to use it as a perch tonight. In all honesty, I have never seen such a collection of birds in all my life. I have no such affinity with wild life. The only animal who seems to tolerate me is my horse, and he is so stupid I actually named him that.
The Order gave me a home when I had none, raised me when I had no family, and has given me a chance to repay their kindness to me by allowing me to join their order. It has not always been an easy path, for my natural tendency is to make something happen instead of trying to think my way through. However, Knight-Captain Angelwing worked with me, maybe because of his highly unusual background, or maybe because of some higher calling. I do not know. Suffice it to say that I have not advanced very fast within the Order, but, really, I have no where else to go.
Forgive me, I am rambling on. This mission is the first important task I have ever been given, and I very much want to do well in the eyes of the Order.
Well, I think we have about as much wood as even I can carry. What say you to heading back to camp and seeing what our ranger friends have managed to round up for us to eat?"
From: Derrell
Subject Camping
Fal-Tor sits in front of his tent, studying his spell book in preparation for the dangers they may face in the coming days. The raven, Lenore, sits atop the tent, watching the goings on in the camp, so that she can alert her master if someone should approach. Fal-Tor would offer to help set up camp, but figures his time would be better spent preparing his spells, so that he can help ward off any attacks that may occur in the night, or on the morrow.
From: Karl
Subject Camping
There wouldn't happen to be a pallid bust of Pallas atop your tent too, would there? ;-)
From: Jake
Subject Dinner
Surin bustles around the camp, directing people as to where to place their tents, helping them to drive tentpegs, and so forth. When everything is settled he walks over to the fire, the scent of roasting rabbit drawing him. Picking up a stick he pokes idly at the coals. "Smells good! What are we having?" he asks, turning to Cai. He sees the rabbits roasting on their spits and a look of dismay spreads across his face. "Mimsy? Tell me you aren't cooking Mimsy! She's been my faithful friend since she was a kit, but I haven't seen her since we stopped and I sent her off to play with a pair of her friends!"
From: Kevin
Subject Dinner
Harp and Salix return to camp, their arms loaded with fire wood. They organize the faggots of woods close to the fire, but not so close as to pose a hazard. Harp then seeks out Ran Ell.
"Sir, I have come up with a watch schedule. I am going to suggest that while we are still so close to Gorn, that we split the overnight watch into 2 hour shifts. I will take the first shift so I can police the area and make sure all of the animals are properly set up. I am plannin on having Salix take the middle shift - I am sure his owl would be of some use in the darkest part of night. Cai can take second shift, Bel fourth shift, and I will leave the last shift to you. You and I both have some military training and the other three have their companions to help them keep watch.
I will likely go to a two person watch when we get closer to the pass."
Gaining approval from Ran, Harp then heads back to the fire where Cai has been preparing their evening meal. Upon seeing the small rabbits she has prepared, he asks what she will be serving after the appetizers.
From: Randy
Subject Watches
"Sir, I have come up with a watch schedule. I am going to suggest that while we are still so close to Gorn, that we split the overnight watch into 2 hour shifts. I will take the first shift so I can police the area and make sure all of the animals are properly set up. I am plannin on having Salix take the middle shift - I am sure his owl would be of some use in the darkest part of night. Cai can take second shift, Bel fourth shift, and I will leave the last shift to you. You and I both have some military training and the other three have their companions to help them keep watch. I will likely go to a two person watch when we get closer to the pass."
"A sound plan Harp. Thank you for getting everything set up here."
Ran watches as Harp walks away. 'He would make a good leader if only people could get past his appearance' Ran thinks to himself.
Ran becomes aware of the scent of herbs cooking and approaches the fire. As he does so he notices Cai observing the others. Ran takes a seat on a stump near Cai and looks into the fire.
"Good work nabbing the conies, they smell delicious." Ran looks to Cai as he speaks.
"I appreciate your cooperation taking the scout position this morning. You seem to be quite a capable tracker."
Ran turns his gaze back to the fire and sits quietly, waiting to follow Cai's lead on continuing a conversation.