Happenings around camp
Subject Surin
After directing Salix in the art of tent erection, Surin lies back on the ground. "I'll get something to eat here in a minute," he thinks, "but gods it feels good to just lie still."
Surin is creeping through the goblin encampment, flitting like a shadow from tent to tent, checking them for occupants. He hears movement in the tent nearest him, and freezes, his body taut, but whoever is inside just mutters something in a voice thick with sleep and begins to snore softly. He lifts the tent flap gingerly, taking care to block the moonlight from his body, and steps inside, dagger held ready. Kneeling at the goblin's side, he slips the blade between her ribs in a quick, practiced stroke, piercing her heart even as her eyes fly open.
"Surin," she says softly, and blood, black in the moonlight, wells up from her open mouth. Despite the blood, he can see her mouth the word "Why". With horror, he realizes that this isn't a gobin at all--this is Viensong, the closest thing he had to a friend in the circus camp, and the first woman he'd thought he loved. His hand jerks back, and a torrent of blood gushes from the wound. He can taste it in him mouth, the brackish copper tang of it, and he starts up in horror, but looses his footing. The tent is filling with blood now. It should be running out the doorflap, why isn't it running out the door flap? I'm going to drown in Viensong's blood, I didn't mean it Viensong, I didn't. I'm not a killer, I had to do it, you would have made noise, I had to.
The blood is brightly lit now, and although Surin is completely submerged in it, he can see somehow. Viensong is floating in front of him, her hair moving gently in the current, her glazed, dead eyes looking at him sorrowfully. She reaches out, her cold hand gripping his shoulder, and he knows that she will pull him after her into death. She begins to shake him, shake him like a dog, and her voice is deep as a man's as she says "Surin, wake up! Come on, we've got to be on the move."
He wakes with a start, disoriented to find himself in a sunlit glade, Ran shaking him gently by the shoulder that Viensong had been clutching only a moment before. "I'm...I'm up, I'm okay. Just give me a second.
He gets up and walks unsteadily a short distance into the woods, then kneels and retches as quietly as possible. He finishes and stands, leaning weakly against a tree for a moment before relieving himself and rejoining the party.
From: Karl
Subject Salix
Salix is awakened with a tap on the shoulder. The Elf, Kal, stands above him.
"Your watch," the Elf says, then takes his place on his bedroll to sleep.
Salix rises. It is nearly dawn so he asks Harp if he can take the watch long enough for Salix to complete his morning meditation rituals. He then moves to the East side of the camp, facing the rising sun. As the first rays of dawn break across the horizon, Salix is filled with a rush of warmth. The fears and cares of the night before seem to burn away as the very core of his being fills with light. He says a silent prayer of thanks to Obad-Hai for his protection and bounty and for the powers he has granted and will yet grant his servant.
His meditations complete, Salix returns to Harp and thanks him for taking the watch alone for that time. He then moves to the opposite side of the camp from the 1/2 Orc and begins watch in earnest. After a few moments, Noctis flies into view from somewhere deeper in the trees, a large rodent of some sort hanging limply in his talons. He alights on the high branches of a nearby tree and tears into his meal.
As the morning progresses quietly, Salix periodically finds himself looking back across the camp at Harp. Just a short while ago, Salix would never have imagined teaming up with his kind. Now, looking at the enormous . . . man? - well "brute" didn't seem to fit. Harp had shown himself continually to be not only intelligent and self controlled, but also for as strong and fierce a warrior as he was, he was equally as kind and considerate a healer.
He wondered where those qualities came from. It couldn't be as simple as the mix of blood in his veins. He'd known too many humans to think that Harps gentler qualities were inherently human. But it seemed even less likely he had gotten those qualities from his Orc-ish nature. Salix had never met a kind Orc - no, not even kind to one another in his experience. Maybe it was self control he got from his human blood. Certainly his Order had helped him to exercise control...
Control. Such a human quality. The thing that set man apart from other creatures. The thing that often made man an enemy of the natural world. But wasn't it control of self that kept Salix on the path of Obad-Hai? Wasn't it Obad-Hai that in turn granted Salix some small control within His realm? Control. The quality that tamed the rampaging destruction of fire, letting Salix burn what needed burning and spare what should not burn. Harp was a model of the power of control. It tamed the beast within him making his Orc-ish nature an asset - and clearly it *was* an asset. The party would likely be dead by now and the Lady sold into the unimaginable were it not for Harp's strength and ferocity in battle.
Salix snaps back from his musings to find Harp staring right back at him from across the camp. How long had the half-Orc watched him staring. What must he think? Salix gave a quick nod and turned back to his post. Noctis, his meal finished, had fallen asleep on his perch. Good for him. That tree must sure be better than sleeping on the bouncing pommel of a saddle. Harp must think I've gone flighty, he thinks to himself.
Just before noon, before waking the others, Salix walks around the camp to where Harp is keeping watch. Not wanting Harp to get the wrong impression, he had been careful not to be caught staring again. "Harp," he says softly, letting the others sleep their last few minutes in peace. "I want to tell you . . " (What, exactly?) ". . .I wanted to tell you that I'm glad you are here." (No, not just that) "I mean, well, you have been the backbone of this party. Ran is a good leader, but he is only still learning wisdom that you seem to tap easily. Were it not for your advice at the right times, things could have gone badly." He pauses. "I just wanted you to know your contributions are appreciated."
(What was that? Sheesh! You'd think you were handing him a plaque or something) Salix feels heat rising to his face, but not wanting to end the conversation on that awkward note, he reaches out a hand and puts it on Harp's enormous shoulder. "I'm glad you are my friend, Harp. You have my trust and respect." Before the awkwardness completely ruins him, he retreats to the task of awakening the others.
(Spell list is updated).
From: Kevin
Subject Harp
Harp is slumbering deeply when Bel nudges him. He starts awake, feeling a twinge of pain or two, reminding him that while he is not dead, some parts of his body are certainly the worse for wear. Bel says to him "Your turn for watch. We have seen little to report. Hopefully, it will stay that way.". With that, harp watches as Bel heads over to his bed roll and lies down. Harp gets up, straps on the base pieces of his armor and weapons, and heads over to where Salix is rising. Upon hearing Salix's request for some time to meditate, Harp agrees, wondering at the devotion Salix has shown to Obad Hai. As Salix retreats to the other side of the camp, Harp watches him, in awe of the powers Salix had been able to call upon. Seemingly so simple on the outside, he had proven a valuable ally on this trip, one with many gifts that had benefited the group.
After a short while, Harp sees Salix rise from his meditations and take post on the other side of the camp. Harp takes his position, but continues to scan the whole camp. He sees Salix gazing up toward a tree. Thinking that Salix has noticed something, Harp follows his gaze to find Salix's companion, Noctis, devouring some small animal. Harp chuckles to himself - oh, to have so simple of a life, eat, fly, sleep. He envied Noctis at this point. Harp realizes at this point how much help the birds had been on this journey. Keeping in basic contact when they had separated, having them as overhead scouts for trouble, sending silent messages, they had truly added to their abilities. And Salix could talk with them!!! Harp could only speak Common, though he had a rough understanding of basic Orcish. He had tried to learn more when he had joined the Order, but classroom studies did not come naturally to him.
Harp looks around, his musings still rumbling in his head. He looks past Salix, noticing that the Druid is staring in his direction, but not focused on him. Surprised, since Salix was normally one of the more observant and focused members of the group, Harp watches him to see what happens. Minutes later, Salix seems to come back into him self, and notices Harp watching him. Salix seems embarrassed, and looks away. Harp wonders to himself what he just saw.
As the morning draws on, Harp sees Salix rise, and come over an approach him. Salix seems uncomfortable, and starts to try and say something to Harp. His words come out uneasily, but they are words of support and kindness toward Harp.
Harp listens in slightly stunned silence, not sure how to respond. He has so few friends, never having bonded with any of his fellow members of the Order. His background and size have always separated him, as has his difficulties in following the strictures of the Order. Oh, he could learn the words well enough, but the deep meaning seemed to slow to seep in sometime. He knew that the peace he saw in his superiors in his Order came from that deeper understanding, and that he was unlikely to ever reach that level. His orcish nature made the martial aspects of the Order more appealing, but he feared that if he truly gave in to that side, he would become nothing better than Dargrak. There was a thought that scared him - to turn into a paid thug, killing and kidnapping for profit, worrying about nothing but personal gain. That was what he was fighting, and the Order provided the training to help him control those urges.
After watching Salix walk away, Harp is overcome by emotion. He had never had someone express admiration to him before, or give positive reinforcement before. It was an unusual feeling - he had done some good. He had followed the training he had been given, and it had worked. He felt a sense of gratitude for Salix well up in his heart.
Harp starts to help Salix rouse the others and prepare a quick meal. When he gets a chance, he will say to Salix "Your words have more meaning to me than you know. I thank you for them and would be honored if you would allow me to consider you my friend". The word sound akward in his mouth, but they are the best he can do to return the favor to Salix.
(OOC: Spell list updated - Mark, will you let me know when we can use them again?).
From: Mark
Subject The comming months
I am expecting that the current adventure will be comming to an end between late May and mid June, depending on how quickly I want to kill all of you. :)
Seriously, I see this leg of the adventure ending in the time frame I have listed above. If any of you want to make changes, for example if Jason wants to create his own character, this would be the time to do it. There will be some time in a major town so any thing that you might want to do in town, such as have new armor made, try and find a new spell or two or whatever can be done. Assuming your character lives that long. ;)
Please contact me directly if you want to make any changes. I have a pretty good idea of how I will motivate the group to continue on but I would like a good idea of what group I have to motivate.
Thanks
From: Kevin
Subject The comming months
Seeing as Harp is a member of the Order, if the new adventures involve it, then I guess he (and I) will stick around.
I will determine what he wants to do in town once we get back there. I do not want to count my chicken before they are hatched.
From: Karl
Subject Friends
(OOC - I'm not getting all the emails at work, again. I don't know what to do about that. If it seems like someone isn't getting a response from me I don't mind being "pinged" directly at my karljennings@usa.net or kjenning@visa.com addresses.)
Salix hears Harp's words. Friends. With an Orc no less. Well, actually a half-Orc. Who would have thought it. He wondered what the other members of The Order would think. The older, wiser ones would probably understand, though Salix can't recall any tales of friendship with Orcs. The younger ones would be scandalized, though. But not if they met Harp and took the time to know him. Would *I* have taken the time if the circumstances hadn't demanded it? Salix asks himself. No way of knowing. But thanks to Obad-Hai that the circumstances brought such wisdom and new understanding to one so green as I.
"Harp, the honor would be mine. You are a fine man with a good heart. Obad-Hai has blessed me in knowing you." He extends a hand in friendship to his burly pal.
From: Mark
Subject Mailing list
I know we have been having occasional problems with the mailing list. Has every one gotten the last couple of turns?
From: Jason
Subject Cai
Cai spends most of her watch reflecting on her decisions of the last few days. She feels disappointed that she allowed the goblins to remain practically untroubled in human lands. Having given her word to see Rochelle safely back to Angelwing, she could have chosen no other path, of course, but the prospect of those very goblins terrorizing some hapless villagers causes her no end of mental turmoil. It was her duty to preserve the land in its rightful order, and goblins had no place in settled human lands. Goblins did not settle among the civilized races; they killed, looted, and destroyed.
Bah! Her thoughts were leading her nowhere. She had no other choice, and would not, did not, regret the decisions that brought her here. Her lifestyle had never before brought her into contact with so many gifted companions, and the good they were able to accomplish was truly impressive. Still, the failure to do her personal duty rankled deep within.
After a few hours, she wakes Bel to take her place. She retires quickly to her tent, but sleep is a long time in coming.