Island Map, Introducing Melani
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
OOC:
Ty:
Does Mission know where he might be able to get a boat back to the mainland? That's his main concern right now-- a boat means safety for him and Promise. If Overlook is the only place to find one, than that's where he'll go; but if he can find a ship in Nesalin, he'll go there and avoid the armies of darkness.
IC: Mission alternates between listening to Sa'id's translation of the halflings' discussion, and gazing at his son. Food for Promise-- things were starting to look hopeful.
It only lasts a moment-- the news from the halfling scout makes him frown. But Sa'id asks the same question of the halfling chief that Mission would have asked, so the monk continues his silence.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
Nesalin is the main port city on Huss. There are other villages with boats, but they will be fishing boats and the like. Nothing that you would want to make an ocean crossing in.
Nesalin is the best bet for finding a seagoing ship.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
OOC: Ty, do you still have that map of the island? I can't find it in the archive and I think it would be helpful to get an idea of where things are relative to each other. If you don't have it anymore, no problem.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
Map.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
Nesalin is a day's ride from Overlook-- I've been reading the archives this morning, and it's in the description of the island.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
Nukaru is about to answer Rennik when Sa'id speaks. He listens to the wizard then says, "The Kalama do not go to Nesalin. If that is your destination, so be it. But we can not aid you."
To Rennik he says, "If you travel due south, the edge of the forest is only half a day away. You can follow it west to the human road that leads to Overlook. There is little we can do for you, other than refill your water skins and food pouches. We have our own fight coming."
From behind you a voice bursts in, "First One, please may I speak!?"
Nukaru nods, and the scout who reported in moves into the circle of light from the fire. With the hood down, and no longer in shadows, it is possible to see that the scout is a female. Her face is broad and plain, and her eyes angry. She still plays with the hilt of a knife in her belt. "Chorrdath. You have seen the nameless black god, you have seen what they do to those they take?"
Women as scouts and hunters within the tribes are not unknown, but they are rare. Only those women too fierce for marriage and motherhood take to the hard life of a fighter. Rennik decides not to be offended at her sharp tone, and says, "I have."
"And there is no hope? They have their spirits taken, as your kinsman did?"
Rennik nods. "They do. There is no hope but the death of their god and his vile servants."
The scout wheels around to Nukaru. "Then I demand blood for my loss! You must release me to my own hunt! I must have blood in payment for blood."
The tears running down her cheeks are the only sign of the terrible pain that motivates this brash speech. Rennik sees them and remembers his own berserker rage after the loss of his betrothed, and how he felt only blood could ease that pain.
Nukaru does not argue with her. He just says, "Melani, you are released from service to me. We will miss your eyes in the fight to come, but you must hunt your own prey. Mongoose guide you, little one."
She nods at this, and turns back to Rennik. Clearly, she has taken him to be the leader of the group. "I will guide you through the forest, and past the armies of the nameless. For a half score years I have scouted the forests of this island, and for the last three I have been First Scout. No one knows these lands better than I. If taking this child away hurts the black one, then I will spend my last breath on the task. I would use the last drop of my blood to quench the fires at his black heart, were power given me to do so. Will you accept my bow and my knife, in service of this child the black one fears?"
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
How close were they to the edge of the forest?
Mission keeps quiet still, but his mind is awhir. The army from Kessel. . . how long would it take them to reach the edge of the forest? They'd have to move through the forest-- that couldn't be that easy, could it?
How much time did he have to get Promise to a boat?
There's the crux of everything. Getting Promise off of Huss. Farron had said that he could summon a horse-- Mission had never ridden one. Blood and stone, he'd RUN if he had to, to Nesalin.
Not Overlook. He would not allow his son to be trapped in a siege. At Nesalin, he could hire out on a boat, like he'd done to get here. A boat to get back to the mainland, and from there to Bannock's Ire.
Mission stays quiet, idly stroking Promise's leg. He'd talk his plan over with Garyth and the others later.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
Then again. . .
Mission lays his hand on Sa'id's shoulder. "Overlook is a small city, Sa'id. Why would. . . his army go there? Nesalin has the wizard's college."
And the port. They had to reach Nesalin before the army if Promise was to have any hope of getting off of Huss.
It is all he can do to keep from snatching Promise away from the halfling nurse and starting off right now.
Then the halfling woman steps forward, and Mission can barely hear her offer of help. Yes, whatever, let's get moving! he wants to shout. A half-day's journey to open lands; another day or two's journey to the cities. . .
Calm. Patience and caution. The Path would turn as it willed. Promise's eyes are on him, even as he continues to nurse. Mission takes a deep breath. Wisdom would decide the Path, not haste.
He turns to the halfling woman. "I appreciate your offer for help, very much." He pauses for a moment, feeling silly and rather large and clumsy amongst this company. "Um. . . and I accept."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
OOC: Hi guys. Nice to finally meet all of you.
I hope I did not mess up and send this out with out my actions.
IC: Melani turns to Mission and cranes her neck up at him. "I was not talking to you, scribe. I was talking to your leader. It will be his decision to accept my help or not. "
Mark
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
IC:
She waits for the Chorrdath's answer. As she does she surveys the others in the group. Three of them are look like scribes. Two of them have the soft hands of scholars and the robes of merchants. Useless in a fight. The one with the baby is a mystery. He carries himself like a fighter, but has neither armor or weapons. He has a baby in the forest. An enigma. The big one with the shield is also strange. He carries weapons like a warrior and a shield like a warrior, yet wears no armor.
The other human and the halfling are less of a mystery. The man is obviously a guardsman, though his armor and weapons seem much abused. The halfling is a wild looking creature, obvioulsy used to the wild. He might be good in a fight. With all these big people around, she might find it easy to get behind an enemy and strike them when they were least expecting in. Nothing surprises someone like an arrow coming out of nowhere and pinning them to a tree.
Thinking to herself, I wish they would make a decision.
OOC: Just a little insight.
Mark
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
Mission offers the little hafling lady a wan smile. "I am the boy's father, Miss." He manages to keep his voice mild. "I think I have somewhat to say about who gets the opportunity to face torture, dismemberment, and death on my son's behalf."
"And so, again, I welcome you to our merry band. You were saying something about guiding us through these woods?"
Blood and stone. Another halfling to tame.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Chase; Out of the jungle and into the woods
Leader? Rennik supresses a chuckle. For a time, perhaps, but outside the forest in the twisting streets of a human city, he would look much like Caller Farron did in the jungle. Yet, only a week ago, he struggled for dominance over this group... and now?
They had looked to him for days, trusting his judgement, allowing him to fall into the role of leader. True to their word before the dangers were even known, they fell behind when in the wilds - as best as could be expected. And he, in turn, would fall behind Garyth once the walls of Overlook, or any other human city, were rising unnaturally around them.
"Reth'tenn Melani, you do us great honor by offering your skills in our time of need. Tales of Kalama scouts are legend among my people from the wars between our tribes."
He pauses, not sure how to continue, but forges ahead. In the lands of the halfling, he is leader, and this was no time to cause doubt in the mind of a skilled scout and bowmaiden or confuse the assembly with talk of shared leadership.
"I accept you into our company, Reth'tenn, and hope that your bow and eyes can guide us safely away from our pursuers." He grasps her left forearm near the elbow with his left hand in a firm full-forearm grip, a cementing of the bond between warriors.
"But time is against us, and we must make haste." He bows low to the Nukaru and requests permission to leave. "Kal'tenn, we humbly apologize for distracting you from your duties and beg leave to get the child to safety."