On the edge of the western highlands and the mountains in the north, a group gathered, it was mainly folk who lived off the lands or traded, but they had heard from several travelers that there was a way to see a better world. A better world was what most of the poor, desperate, or weak could hear, a life away from a monotonous lifestyle of repeating the same actions every day to live. These people did not work that much, the foraged and lead their herds of various animals through the land protecting them. Simple lives on the outskirts of a civilized world.

This society wanted more; they had come back from the mountains to their ancestral homelands when the river returned life and streams to the region. Their leader Hulius was asked to read a map to the exodus and to lead them there. And so he had set off weeks before, leaving the cliffs of the coastline, and heading inland. Ninety-seven people in total, most of them younger folk, the oldest being the elderly Hulius in his late fifties. There were only humans in this close society.

Several days into their journey, they had left their ancestral homeland and entered a territory unknown to most of them. Here, raiders had come to their camp, they took several people, and some were killed when resisting. Their flock of animals had been cut into almost half as well. Hulius had to lead them to a small trading town in which he had used many times before and bought back the people who were taken. Those that were lost to the sword, not much could be done at that time.

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Hulius sat on a blanket next to the footpath towards the city, just off the side with his people, they had collected some new members to join them, but he was looking for warriors or just people to help protect the group. The men could always use their slings, as he had done previously, but it was not much help against numbers, or when an opponent came close. To which, not a lot of them knew how to fight in a melee. Several had offered for coin, but he was unable to give that, he only had his people, and the way to get across the continent.

But he would sit, and continue to rest himself there, he had several baskets with him, along with a sling with a pouch of rocks, a skin full of water, and a crooked staff to help him guide the flock of sheep that was spread across the hill which his followers rested upon. Near him, a fire was started as the night was slowly coming over the rolling hills, a beautiful orange sky spread out above them.

Sorry typo

Kotone walked cautiously through the raiders land she had her swords in their sheath. She spotted people nearby, cautiously walking over she was strained from her backpack and held her hands on her sword handle. Getting closer she deemed the people to be not to malicious and removed her hand from the sword handle. Finally confronting the people she smiled. She politely bowed and looked at the leader.
"Exsuse me,do you have any will or milk perchance?" she asked.

Traveling from the distance of the footpath, a taller looking man could be spotted from the distance. His figure looking like one of someone who had an aura that felt strong, yet warm. Upon closer inspection as the man got closer, would seem to give off a more magical presence naturally, as the man would finally arrive toward the small encampment placed by Hulius and his people. When Anseyla would arrive to fully take in the sight of what was happening, Anseyla began speaking with people to find out what this was, and of whom was in leadership of this traveling band. Upon finding out the information he needed, Anseyla would eventually arrive in front of Hulius, as he'd wait from acknowledgement from the leader, showing a respect of his authority among these people. Being so close to the man, immediately a sense of ease could be felt in the air, as the man that stood before Hulius exerted such an energy seemingly instinctively. The man would stand with his hands folded in front of him, standing tall and having a small and charming smile coming across his face. Perhaps he put this on to make a good impression, perhaps this was his natural mood. Nonetheless, the man would stand in front of Hulius with his hair gently flowing in the breeze, hoping that Hulius would be interested in speaking with him. During his wait however, he'd also notice the elf standing next to him, as he'd smile and give her a polite nod as they both stood and she asked her question.

Kotone noticed a male next to her and finished her question, she the waves to the male. Smiling softly and turned towards the leader and inspected the others trying to understand their situation. Then she placed her back pack on the ground tired from carrying it. Pulling out a bag of silver she handed it to the leader of the group. Finally she turned to the other male and looked him over before extending her hand out.
"Hello I'm kotone." she replied smiling.

The older man looked up towards the younger elf, "We have milk... but at the moment, not a lot of will to continue." he said as he looked at her, pressing his lips together, "do you have anything to trade for?" he asked, "or instead join an escort until we get out of the highlands?"

"If not, you might be able to find something in the trading town half a quarter of a league down the path on the other side of that hill, and might be able to do more with that coin there... a silver coin from the south could buy most of what everyone here has," he said as he sat there, smiling before looking at the other man who had walked up. His eyes slowly moved as did his torso, his head turning slowly as the smile widened.

"And what can I do for you traveler?" he asked as his eyes landed upon the taller man, "because if you are looking to leave this land, then we will be heading out soon possibly..."

Kotone nodded and pondered the though of leaving but couldn't bare them being defenseless. And she wanted a fair and even bargain for her service, she looked towards the older leader and smiled. Pulling out a few miscellaneous daggers and handing them to the leader and smiled politely. She stepped back and looked intensely at the leader.
"I will accept to protect you in addition teach some people to fight in return whatever food or fabric you receive must be split evenly deal?" She asked lightening up and smiling .

Anseyla looked between Kotone and the older leader, as he after allowing Kotone to respond, would reply to the leader's previous question, ''I just was happening to travel by when I saw your encampment, and my curiosity got the better of me, and I was simply curious as to what this exactly was, and what was going on here.'' Anseyla looked around the camp, as he would see how the people were surviving and living, ''Perhaps maybe I'd like to join your group of travelers, as I might be able to add some assistance to your people's cause.'' Anseyla after that gave the leader another smile, as he kept his hands folded as he continued to glance around the camp.

Hulius smiled softly looking between the two, and at the daggers that were given to him, “I thank you for the knives, why you have so many, I don’t exactly know… but I thank you nonetheless… and of course, but you will have to put in work for food as well, and learn… fabrics, well it will take time for the wool to grow on the sheep.” he would then turn towards the taller man, once more, “I thank you, once again, but we are just Shepards from near the mountain territory along the coast, we mainly travel to the mountain to trade, but I come down to the south badlands to do so… and it is a safer route geographically for my people.”

Anseyla listened to the older man intently, as after hearing him out replied, ‘’I understand, and I hope that by joining you perhaps I can find more of my own reasoning in my travels. I’d be more than happy to tag along with you all, and I appreciate your gracious acceptance of me into your people.’’ Anseyla gave a respectful bow of his head, as he’d move his hair slightly out of the way of his face after doing his respectful nod. After a moment Anseyla would also add, ‘’I just recalled, pardon my manners.. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Anseyla.’’ He would give a small smile between the both of them.

Kotone nodded and smiled placing her hand to her side as she tried to understand what was said. Walking to the people of the group she handed everyone some of her left over food. Handing the lettuce to the sheep's to eat as she petted them. Walking back to the leader she put her backpack back on and looked forward seeing some of the nearby town. The sun was almost about to set in a few hours or so.
"We should keep moving if you want to get any closer and out of this waste land, and keep the silver you may need for those who can barely move I'll try to carry." she advised.
She worriedly looked forward at the time and her ears perked up she covered the tips with her hands and turned slight red in the face. Before she turned towards the other male trying to get a read on him, he was obviously a warrior and maybe a half breed. But there was something else that she couldn't quite pin on him, just a feeling of pure strength. Looking forward she stated at the sun and it's lowering before it started to blind her making her look away from it.

Hulius looked at the girl, "we have food, and know-how to live from the land dear." he said as he laid down, "But the night is about to come... it is better to get rest then it is to move when we cannot see. We are also safe near the town, the warlord does not let anything happen to visitors of his home. "We just seek protection from the world which preys on the weak..."

He shifted several things on his blanket, "but if you wish to hunt for meat, you may, we do not slaughter an animal unless if it is needed or celebration... We have around ninety people, and several hundred animals, most of the men forage and hunt, picking up the trail we leave behind, they go in small groups or by themselves, so they are harder to track and hunt down. For when they are gone, that is when we need protection the most."

"It is good to have people who wish to join us, Anselya and Kotone.. shall our journies together be fair."

Anseyla gave the man a smile, as he would notice the elf looking him over out of the corner of his eye, but would not acknowledge it. Instead, Anseyla would ask the leader, ''I believe our journey together will be more than fair. However I must ask of you, is there any place in the camp I could stay that would be a bit out of the way? As a newcomer, I wouldn't want to pose any issue to any of your people with my presence.'' Anseyla looked around the forest and camp for a moment, and even looked up at the sky, before finally returning his gaze back to Hulius, as he'd hold his smile from earlier. Anseyla would during his question unfold his hands and allow his arms to rest gently upon his sides, as he'd lean his head a bit closer toward Hulius to better hear his response when he responded.

Kotone nodded in disappointment and smiled bowing before looking away from anseyla. She sat her backpack down and pulled out a blanket and wrapping it over her body and taking a water cantine out . Observing the nearby hill she found a clean patched area, She turned her attention towards the leader gazing at him fiercely but not maliciously. Her head tilted slightly before she in-sheath her sword placing it straight flat against her leg.
"Ok, I'll take first watch probably all night if anyone needs me I'll be in a tree." She replied. "And also I don't hurt animals or kill them."
She climbed up the nearby hill, covers herself in a blanket and held her sword firmly. Looking at the terrain from above it had a slight angelic feeling as the sun set and the colors became vibrant. Leaning her head against the soft grass she closed her eyes and felt the light breeze touch her face. She eventually opened her eyes to observe around her again.

Hulius looked at the girl and smiled softly, "go to sleep dear... we are close enough to the town to be safe." he said looking at her, "and we should all be rested for when we set off tomorrow.." he watched as she went up the hill, before he looked back to the man, "there are several newcomers... I am sure you can find a place on your own."

He turned himself towards the fire, "just find a place to relax and enjoy your time here... tomorrow we will continue, and maybe find travelers along our path. But, I feel as if I must sleep soon... my old body can only handle so much sitting in a day."

Anseyla smiled and replied to Hulius, ''It shall be done.'' With that, Anseyla would walk off a little bit of ways off from the camp, and find a nice flat terrain to rest on. Anseyla would find some nice and decent flatland, and lie himself down where he could get a nice view of the stars. Anseyla would still be visible in the sight of the camp, and those watching over it, but he would have himself at a side angle of their vision. Anseyla would be using his hair as a pillow, and would have one leg entirely lying against the ground, and the other one propped up as he had both of his hands resting upon his stomach. Anseyla enjoyed staring up at the stars, as it found it very relaxing, and very thought-provoking to wonder what was beyond the small lights in the sky.

Kotone stood up flustered at the moment for wanting to dance, she quietly took her flute out her backpack. She started to soft elven traditional song, the voters touched the air as she looked up towards the twinkling stars. The wind picked up and drifted it the notes into the air, she caught her breath before picking the song back up. She watched the nearby people slowly fall asleep and the campfire flicker in the distance.
Softly she ended the song and played back down in the grass, as she closed her eyes enjoying the breeze. Her flute tightly in one hands grasp and her sword in the other. She covered her lower half in a blanket since her clothes we a little short and it made her slightly uncomfortable.

Hulius soon heard a flute, and closed his eyes listening to it as he was kept away by it, and he slowly shifted as he waited for her to be finished. He moved a bit closer to the campfire before he relaxed some and his eyes fell short and his body moved up and down as he breathed.

The rest of the camp would slowly fall asleep around them, moving closer to fires, the animals would continue to graze or camp around in large groups, or near their respective caretakers. The night fell over quickly, and the moons shined bright up in the sky with the stars.

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In the morning, and I mean dawn as the sun rises, most of the camp was up and packing up. Hulius was already up with his pack, he looked around enjoying the sunrise and he turned his head towards where the others were hoping that they would be up or that the rabble that was growing around them would help in their ability to rise.

He stared at where the elf and the other headed off towards, hoping that they were both awake by now, knowing that they might not be as they are definitely not farmers or herders. He stretched some as he looked about, the animals are grazing and enjoying themselves as their owners allowed them to. Most of the fires were smoldering out or put out by the people around them.

"Get ready, we will be moving out soon!" he yelled out as loud as he could.

Anseyla would seemingly be an earlier riser, as he'd be sitting up a little bit higher up on a hill above the entire camp, with his eyes closed and enjoying the sunrise as the sun gently greeted him with it's warm and blissful touch. Anseyla would be lost in the sounds of the animals graze, the crackling of the smoldering fires, and the gently smoke of disintegrated firewood. Anseyla enjoyed all of the smaller moments as best as he could, his philosophy knowing that the major events of life could easily cast over the beautiful and more minuscule memories. Anseyla would gently perk a sharper, more eleven ear when he heard the call of Hulius, alerting them that they would be moving out soon. Anseyla with this knowledge, slowly stood himself up and carefully made his way back down the hill, as he seemed to be a more cautious individual by character. Upon reaching the bottom, Anseyla would walk more into the more general congregation of people, as he'd await for the entire traveling band to begin moving out toward a hopefully brighter future. Anseyla as he stood around however would take time to fix his hair, ensuring that his more eleven features were not shown, as it seemed to be a noticeable quirk that he was hiding something when it came to his heritage. Anseyla would find a place in the crowd of people to close his eyes and enjoy the sun's presence once more, keeping his senses alert as to when they would finally be on the move.

Kotone had awoken not soon after the sun began to shine she desperately wanted to get to the city and fast. She had unfinished business within the nearby town she headed down towards camp. Her face lifted seeing the campers and their leader she enjoyed watching people communicate and love their life. Walking towards the leader she put her hair into a messy bun.
"Hello good morning, are you guys up and ready?" she asked happily smiling.She
She stared into Hulius's eyes and smiled awaiting an answer as she bowed to Anseyla in acknowledgement. She looked towards him in a greeting manner and smiled politely, using her hair to cover her ears.
"I hope you slept well." she said towards Anseyla then turned back to the leader awaiting an answer.