The First Blight: Curse of Dumat [RP/Closed]

[FortyThree]

Diocles sighed, following the lead of his compatriots in filling his pack with fresher field rations before following them out to the horses. He rolled his eyes at Thaedrin's barb and mounted with grace, taking a moment to adjust his quivers and equipment to make room behind him before offering Sul a hand, insisting on her mounting behind him so he could keep the reigns.

The journey was hard, but somehow he was in better spirits than the night before.

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin took Ghil's hand and allowed the female barbarian to pull him up. He slid onto the saddle behind her and found himself wondering where he should put his hands. He grabbed onto the larger woman's hips as she started out and he wondered just how long it would take before sharing the horse became uncomfortable.

At the burnt on village, the elf couldn't help but look around at the destroyed homes. So far with each battle they had been successful as stopping the Darkspawn's attacks, but this place was not so lucky. He wondered if the barbarians refused to help them,or if they failed how long it would take the monsters to make every town and city like this one.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn was faced with a difficult choice. Be left behind to walk alone in the elements or ride with the charming archer. Perhaps it wasn't actually a difficult choice.

The elf readily accepted his help up. She'd meant to gingerly hold onto Diocles for the journey, but the pace set was a bit too fast for comfort, especially on the back end of the steed. She clutched onto out of fear she would fall off. She relished in the short break they had to fill their stomachs before they set out to ride again.

 

[Cinnonym]

It was settling into evening when they reached the Minanter. Alrik's knowledge of the area proved accurate, and they were able to bring the horses over a shallower section of the river, avoiding both of the Darkspawn-infested cities. Thaedrin never asked where the brigand had gotten his information, since the Hunterhorn mountains were distant from here. He didn't care, either, so it made no difference. He was preoccupied with the cities they had left behind, and the urge inside him to kill what was left crawling about, reproducing.

It was well past midnight, past time to make camp, but Thaedrin pushed them still. An hour more, and Ghil had had enough.

"The horses are all but wheezing, I am near falling off. It is enough of the riding today."

The Constable gave his reins a sharp tug, slowing to a halt. His gaze lingered on the horizon for a moment, long enough that Ghil feared he would return to a gallop. Finally, though, he dismounted and gestured to the others. "Off the road. Set up the tents, we will rest here for as long as is necessary."

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin was thankful that Ghil had spoken up. He was not sure Theadrin would have listened to anyone else if they mentioned how exhausted they were becoming. As soon as they stopped he slid off the back of the saddle. When his feet hit the ground he grumbled just a bit and stretched it wasn't to comfortable riding on the back end of the horse; and to do it for so long was killing him.

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles dismounted with far less grace than he had when they had started the journey (Though still more than Ulrin) and rubbed the neck of the poor beast that had done so well carrying them this far. Shaking his head, he turned to offer Sul a hand down.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Thank the Creators for the creation of Ghil. Sulahn'nehn had a feeling that Thaedrin would have continued to ride until the horses collapsed. It was late and cold and while camping out wasn't desirable, it was a welcome break if it meant they could all get some sleep soon.

"Thank you." With the archer's help she got down from the horse with ease, stretching as soon as she'd placed her feet on the ground. The entirety of her back was in knots. She was ready for bed, even if it was on the ground. And how exactly were tents set up?

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles nodded to her, before beginning to set up the first tent. The ground was hard, so he petitioned Ghil for aid in getting poles and pegs into the ground. The two of them working together, with some elvish aid, got the job done relatively quick.

"I admit, I'm anxious for sleep. But we're not the most tired ones here. We can't keep working the horses this hard, or we'll be walking shortly."

 

[Cinnonym]

Ghil nodded her agreement, clapping the dust from her hands. "Let us sleep, before the blood mage's mind is changed." She crawled into a tent and threw herself down onto the bedroll with a groan of exhaustion. "Much better... I am stiff as the board."

Thaedrin frowned, monitoring the others restlessly. "Quickly. Do not waste what little time you have, spare the pleasantries and shut your eyes."

 

[ShadowFolk]

The elf yawned again, covering her mouth. The chat would have to wait for another time, they spent too many hours awake and she was not quite so willing to spend one more upright. She gave a nod and an unenthusiastic wave to the others as she ducked into the same tent as Ghil. There was not a lot of room and it was too cold to change, which worked out fine for her as she was too sleepy to do so. Sulahn'nehn collapsed onto her mat as soon as it lay flat and closed her eyes, mumbling something that might have been a good night.

 

[Rosen2012]

How he wished to cut out that man's tongue. He pulled back the flap of the second tent and crawled inside. At least in his sleep he only had to deal with the wailing torments of the Darkspawn and their master and not the constant snide demands of Theadrin. "We cannot reach the barbarian's fast enough..." He laid down on the bed roll and sighed; he'd be sore by the time this trip was over.

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles decided to retire as well, though his paranoia was more noticeable than ever this night. He slept in his armor, knives at hand and bow strung.

 

[duckflesh]

The night was quiet until about three in the morning, when it became, abruptly, very loud. With a series of sharp reports, the poles supporting the tents were hacked through, sending the heavy sheets of canvas collapsing onto their occupants. Torches alit outside, and what sounded like a hundred dogs start barking.

"What is this!" an ugly voice shouted in the Alamarri tongue. "Who walks on our lands?"

Alrik rushed out of his tent first, but without managing to recover his axe; he immediately found a knife to his throat.

"We..." he began, but the knife pressed harder, drawing blood. He grunted with displeasure.

There were five Alamarri apparent-- two female and three male, with three hounds.

"We hold the leader now," a heavily bearded man who was almost elderly crowed, watching with disdain as the other Wardens struggled out of their tents.

 

[Cinnonym]

Thaedrin struggled free of the canvas, only to freeze like a Cone of Cold had been cast. The Alamarri before him were just as giant as the ones in their own party; even the older man seemed enormous from his place on the ground, looking up. Would they kill him on sight? He couldn?t move. The dogs might take his throat.

Ghil, however, lacked the fear. She burst out of what was left of their tent, half dressed and bearing her greatsword. In her native tongue, she shouted, ?What do you mean by making yourselves known in such a fashion, you had no time to sound a horn!? Damn you all, I?ve only slept an hour!? She eyed the group, before her blind anger became a more severe sternness. ??Ciraine? Back away. We came to talk.?

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles awoke with a start, practiced hands whipping his knives from their resting place as he rolled to escape the tent. However, his new armor was more cumbersome than he was accustomed, and he took too long to get moving. He cut two quick perpendicular lines in the cloth instead, emerging with some difficulty. He held his knives in a fighting stance-Until he got a good look at the scene. Sighing, he lowered his weapons-But did not release them. He spoke lowly from the side of his mouth, figuring none of them spoke Tevene.

"So these are the honorable warriors, huh? Surprisingly good at ambush for all that."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn froze as soon as she was free of the cloth, it didn't take long to realize they were not in the best position. She remained still and silent while the others got to their feet. The foreign language didn't help her nerves. What was being said? There were a lot of giants with a lot of dogs. All she could think about was how angry they seemed. And that they did not have a particular like of mages. Or elves.

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin fought with the canvas of their tent as it fell down around them. The elf found the hole Diocles had cut and followed him out, clutching one dagger in his hand. The rogue did not get to his feet immediately however, he was frantically looking around from where he was crouched on the ground with his dagger raised. He saw the archer standing still with his weapons clutched by his side and Ghil with her sword raised. Taking in the barbarians he slowly pushed himself to stand up cursing their luck under his breath.

Here's to hoping they were willing to listen.

 

[duckflesh]

The elder was clearly shocked to see Ghil, his sword dipping slightly.

"I... what are you doing here, with these boy lovers and knife ears?" he muttered, but waved away the lithe young woman with a knife to Alrik's neck. She gave him a push that was probably supposed to knock him down to his knees, but it had no apparent effect other than the low growl that was emitted from the back of Alrik's throat.

Two of the dogs continued to growl, backs arched. The third, however, trotted over to Ghil, panting happily.

"You dishonor yourself, bringing strangers here," the elder said. "Are these your pets? Or did you bring them as a peace offering? I suppose the small girl looks lively enough, but I don't know what you expect us to do with the rest."

 

[Cinnonym]

"Don't you speak to me of dishonor." Ghil snarled, stepping forward; her eyes swept over the Alamarri the elder had brought with him threateningly, but then she knelt to give the friendlier hound a good scrubbing. "You and I need to speak, and I want to speak alone. You'll not like what I have to say, but your animals behind you will like it even less. ...And tell them not to touch anyone."

 

[duckflesh]

He grumbled. "Fine, out of respect for the Clayne, you can have your way. But be warned, my respect only goes so far."

He took a torch from one of the others and gestured that she should follow him a ways off the path.

The other Ciraine stayed put, glaring at the remaining Wardens. Alrik, ignoring them totally, knelt down to pet the hound. "Be careful. Yell if we should kill them," he called after Ghil in Tevene.