[IC] The Sands of Blood (Dead)

[EWillden]

So the half breed didn't want to be friends. She held back a reaction to it and turned her head at the group. It was a good average size group. She felt they could handle any situation at this point. At least she hoped they could. Gnolls, she knew the group could handle. It was whatever was in this abandoned city which seemed to be underground. There are plenty of horrors from the underdark who would easily make a home there. There was no telling what could be awaiting them there. She kept the wagon moving and once the camel was at a pace she accepted she placed the reins down made sure they were secure before leaning back. She tried her best to loosen her leather armor a bit so she could breathe and pulled forth a hand crossbow from her right side. She checked it to see if it was in order. A bolt was already placed in position on top of the frame. The bolt was laced with a powerful toxin that she pressed her finger against to make sure it was still moist. Once she found that it was she smiled placing it back and sticking the finger in her mouth. The poison was in fact not a indigestible kind ,but one of the kinds that had to enter the blood stream. Meaning it was perfectly safe unless you had sores in your mouth. She then crossed her arms and stared up at the night sky. She then wondered how far had they moved and turned back to look. They were a good distance away from the city ,but its torch lit walls could still be seen. She decided to have the wagon go about another mile or two before she would have it stop. This way the others can get off and properly sleep.

(3 miles later)
The moon was high above them now as the wagon suddenly stopped. She quickly scouted the area with her eyes not seeing anything out of place for the moment. She then looked to the group behind her. "Alright those who would like to properly sleep, grab a bed roll and pick a spot. Hopefully near the wagon." She then looked to the goblin. "You will take up first watch with me." She said. She then looked to Varis and nodded to him. She then grabbed a canteen and a sack of what she could tell was for the camel. She then hopped off the side and moved up to him. Her hand moving up to his face and removed the piece that rested in it's mouth. She then untwisted the canteen and took a gulp of water and then held it up for the camel to drink. Once she felt it had enough, she took the sack and placed it over its mouth and hung it from its head. She then with her hand wiped its slobber from the canteen and took a sniff from it. She then moved to lean against the side of the camel. Its fur was short but soft and its body was rather tough. She just stared forward off into the horizon. She had no clue that she was being cleverly watched from beneath the sand on a hill.

The creature watched perfectly hidden due barring itself in the sand. Its features could not be seen at all due to it being night. It smirked as it watched, a large canine poking out from the side.

[Salrynn]

Ellyn got up and started dancing with the halfling Elis, switching a few notes to make her music cheerier and happier. While dancing she almost forgot her notes... Infact she actually did forget a few notes and the music stopped.

'Oh, naughty me' Ellyn smiled and then the wagon stopped. As soon as the wagon stopped she looked to Elis and nodded, slighly bothered by his height in case she got neck problems. In the end Ellyn looked for the bedrolls and found them at the front of the wagon, picking one which was juuust right for her.

[Fatal Error 1337]

"I'll take watch after ye." Bjoric offered, "It'll be dark for a while yet, and we'll need out best eyes for it."

Pulling out a bedroll, he laid half of it against the rear wheel of the cart with his pack underneath so he'd be in a reclined sitting position. Not wanting to sleep too heavily in unfriendly lands. Sighing he laid against the bedroll, placing his hammer across his lap, staring off into the horizon where the night seemed to explode out of nothingness. And there he watched until sleep took him.

[Inertia]

Another half a day spent reading the tomes of old, Artos was about done with the library off tomes his parents had piled and hid away. Getting up to stretch his locked bones, when he got up they resounded with light cracks and with another yawn he glanced outside the windows and noticed that it was getting dark soon. Closing the aging book, the dust permeated through the air as Artos did so.

I think I should travel now, look for more tomes, he thinks to himself, And I need to refill my pouch with money.

Setting off for travel, he goes down the staircase of the hidden room. With a snap of his fingers, the torches begin lighting themselves up. The crunch of his boots on the cold stone echoed through the winding staircase, and the homey smell of humidity hit his nose. The slight hum of magic also penetrated his ears, looking at the armor he smiled slightly as he approached it. Equipping his armor and his trusty weapon, Red Trinity. He also put on a cloak for the cold weather and to cover his rather conspicuous armor. The slight hum now drawing silence, as he wore his armor.

---

Aimlessly travelling for days on end, stopping at every inn and tavern. Sometimes asking for Magus' and sometimes participating in the bar fights that frequently occurred, though none really satiated his thirst. Doing some quest that would bring him enough money for travel and daily necessities, like escorting a caravan or even something as simple as finding their pets. Many people were intimidated by his uncommon and unusual hair color and deep scarlet eyes, though Artos didn't really care too much. Most of the coin he did make were spent on informants, asking around for sects of Magus', anything about 'The Devour' or even ancient texts and tomes.

Most of the informants brought him no information of use, although one did pique Artos' interest. The Informant mentioned a group of misfits, heading over to an ancient city to look for a chalice that would bring alot of money. At first Artos' didn't care much, until the informant mentioned that there might be ancient books that would suit what he was looking for. Reluctantly, Artos set off to find this group, offering his assistance in place for the tomes and some of the money.

-

A few more days pass as he tried looking for the group, it took alot of effort to track them down as most of the leads lead to a dead end. Finally finding the group, they were stationed near a dessert of sorts. Before approaching the group, he felt someone or something watching this odd group. Though he soon shrugged it off as he thought it was naught.

Silently whispering a spell, "Mens Oculus" his eyes lit red and began looking around to confirm his ill feeling. His feeling came true, he did notice some creature hiding itself in the sand seemingly smirking. Deciding that engaging it alone would be dangerous, he began walking to the stationed group. He winced noticing that most of them were Elves of some sort. He swallowed his pride and with his red eyes still flickering from his spell, Artos had forgotten to take off the spell in his haste.

"You. Elf woman keeping watch, there's something there in the sand and it looks like it's watching this group for some unbeknownst reason." he said to her as silently as he could, distrust pouring from Artos. He pointed in the direction of the creature, "It's hiding over there, against the sand."

[EWillden]

Vivian narrowed her eyes at the newcomer calling her a elf woman. She heard better maners coming from a orc, and that was saying something. He had informed her of something watching them from another directionand when she looked in its direction her dark vision taking effect, making a lot of it look like a black and white film to her eyes, she indeed did see something.

The creature growled as the group was joined by a newcomer and it felt it had spotted it. Its ears heard the man give him away and he cursed and rose up from the sand. The form of a large dog like creature could be seen as the sand poured of it. The creature stood on two legs and howled into the night like a wolf. The signaled the others. Nine more rose up from the sands. The party was completely surrounded. They all carried shields and waraxes. Each one took their waraxe and began to beat against their shields. The sounds were followed by loud cackling or laughter. The sound was similer to that of a Hyena. Then the aparent leader of the group rose up its hand in the air. The Gnoll howled once more and then drew out a greatsword and charged at the party. The other nine gnolls did the same.

Vivian knew there were too many and drew out both her hand crossbows as she rose up and took aim. She then let fly two bolts. They hit into the chests of two of the gnolls. They fell face first into the dirt. The bolts didnt kill them out though. The poison that coated the bolts did. Foam gathered at their mouths. She put the crossbows away and drew forth her longswords. Time to show what a drow can do. "Names Vivian by the way. Don't call me elf woman again."

[Salrynn]

Hearing the commotion outside Ellyn rushed outside with her harp and saw what was going on 'Oh my! what in the name of elves are THEY!!! doing here!?' Ellyn began to question herself as she heard the noises of the gnolls and stepped out, falling flat on her face due to how long her dress was. She didn't know what to do, so many to choose from and so little time. She couldn't even fascinate because she was so distracted by all their weaponry and whatnot.

In the end she stood up quickly and picked the gnoll closest to her and started to play countersong in hopes of damaging the gnoll quickly. And sure enough it did, her sound wave based attacks hurt the gnoll. Ofcourse it didn't kill them off so she decided to play as many countersongs as possible in order to kill this gnoll off, even if she was the last one to kill hers.

[Ryu]

"That's right!" Varis shouted out. "She's the drow with the morally screwed compass!" As he finished his shouting, he drew his short sword with his right hand with his left hand inching just a few millimeters away from the pommel of his dagger. His "father" had always told Varis that he should fight with two blades rather than one, teaching, training, and drilling the fighting form into Varis' head. However, as the years went by, Varis developed his own way of fighting which involved quickly drawing the dagger if need be to parry a blow and strike back with his short sword.

As a gnoll rushed towards him, greatsword in its hand, he knew he wouldn't be able to block a greatsword's strike with his measly dagger, but Varis stayed calm, slowly circling around the gnoll as it had its greatsword in both of its hand, questioning what Varis was doing as he continually circled the gnoll. This went on for a few seconds before the gnoll charged once more towards Varis, holding its greatsword over its head before swinging down towards the half-elf, coming down on him quickly.

But Varis was quicker. He was faster, and after years of mercilessly assassinating people in the dark of night, his eyes had adapted to the dark. Without even so much as hesitating, he took out his dagger, raising it up towards the greatsword while taking sidestepping towards his right. As the two steel blades met each other, bright sparks flew into the air as the tip of the great sword hit the ground, the gnome's eyes widening as he realized where Varis was.

With his short sword, Varis quickly stuck it into the gnome's head, leaving it in for a few seconds before taking it out and kicking the dead gnoll to the ground.

[Afina]

Sana perked a thin brow as she watched Hugh drift off to sleep quite abruptly. Chuckling slightly to herself she eyed the pipe that was still burning low in his hand, before looking for something to snuff it out. Righting herself in her place, she unlaced the leather ties of her bag and rummaged around until she found her mortar. Pulling it out, she slowly reached over and pressed it lightly over the hollow and pressing down ever so gently to snuff out the embers. Once she was satisfied that it wouldn’t be a hazard anymore she removed it and placed it back into her bag and securing the ties of said bag once again.

As Elis spoke to them she placed her finger to her lips and gestured into the direction of the sleeping Hugh. “Shh,’’ came softly from slightly parted lips that curled into a gentle smile towards the little one. “We wouldn’t want to wake your steed now would we?” she teased lightly before resting back once again and letting her eyes close, hands resting gently on her pack as she sought sleep. Slowly drifting into a light slumber for a time, the gentle rock of the wagon comforting to her; reminiscent of childhood days on the trails.
When the wagon stopped suddenly, her body weight shifted causing her form to lean against Hughs. Rousing slowly she yawned and looked around, seeing where she was and sitting up quickly letting out a quick “sorry,” coughing slightly afterwards. Perking a brow at her vocal tone she let out a sigh of relief and laughed to herself. The squeak was gone and she couldn’t be happier about that. The last thing she wanted was to end up in a fight and having to yell get down! to someone like a mouse.

Rising from her place she stretched slightly as she slung her pack over her shoulder and jumped out the back of the wagon. Looking up at the night sky, she marveled at the stars; the heavens alive with the fire that could only be cherished in the late hours. Turning and taking in her surroundings she overheard some speaking of watch. “I’ll take last watch,” she pipped in before grabbing a bed roll from the wagon and scouted a place to rest.

Deciding to make her camp a bit from the wagon, not far, but enough not to get trampled if something suddenly roused the entire party; laying it out on the ground she used her pack as a make-shift pillow and rested down on her side, her bow gripped in her fingers and her quiver still laced to her back. She dared not sleep unprotected this evening.

Sana was glad she had as she heard the creature growl slightly, having yet to be able to drift back off to sleep. Quick to her feet and by the time she was standing she had drawn an arrow from her quiver and drew it back. Stepping slowly around to see what was occurring. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust in the moonlight but thankfully it was a clear evening. Coming around to the front of the wagon from the far side, her eyes fell on the gnolls and her eyes narrowed.

Taking aim and letting a slow breath release from her lip she let it fly; the arrow slicing through the air and finding its target in the flesh of one of the Gnolls upper thigh causing it to howl in pain. Before the arrow had landed Sana had already drawn another as she dropped to one knee, “did that hurt?” she sniggered as the Gnoll in question growled, saliva dripping from its jaws as it ripped the arrow out and it charged her. Taking her time she took aim, her breath steady as she watched the monster come closer. Its axe raised high and its shield before him. Quickly moving to the side as it lunged to her, she rolled out of the way. Coming out of the roll, she spun around and came up behind the creature as she let another arrow fly, it embedding itself deep at the base of the Gnolls skull. The Gnoll dropping to its knees, flailing as it did Sana drew her dragged and dropped her bow. Grabbing the Gnolls fur she moved to slice its throat but it flung itself forward and Sana went tumbling into the sands. Coming up quickly she barely managed to side step the creature as she dropped down to one knee and swept a leg under it, catching its heel and knocking it out from under him.

As he hit the ground on his back Sana flung her dagger, it hitting in the beasts eye socket. The monster yelped and blood came from its jaws as it clung to life. Sana stepped over and drove the dagger deeper as her boot connected with the hilt, ending the Gnolls life. Reaching down she wrapped her fingers around the hilt and yanked it out before retrieving her bow and knocking another arrow into place as she took in what was going on around her.

[Fatal Error 1337]

Bjoric had barely drifted off when the howling and cackling of the gnolls had him up with his hammer in hand. Looking around he could see they were surrounded by a small raiding party, and someone new but he would deal with him once the immediate threat was dealt with. Which came in the form of a howling beast charging straight at him.

Bjoric raised his palm at the charging gnoll, shouting a couple words in ancient dwarven he felt the familiar thrum of divine power surge through his arm. Out of his palm shot a beam of blinding light, slamming into the creature, burning fur and searing flesh. The gnolls bloodthirsty howl turned to a yelp as its charge faltered and it came stumbling into range of Bjorics waiting hammer.

Yelling with a mighty swing, the hammer sank into the staggered gnolls side with a wet crunch. The force almost lifting it front the ground where it now lay dead with most of its ribcage caved in. He turned from the fallen creature, readying to help the others or strike down another.

[Inertia]

As the howl pierced through the stillness of the night, gnolls popped out of the sound like rabbits. Eyeing the caravan, most of them had come out to fight the threat. "A band of Elves, huh." he accidentally said out-loud with a slight hint of suspicion laced with wariness as he squint his scarlet eyes, trying to discern them. The slight hum of the spell breaking his silent thought. Can I trust these elves with my back.

Turning back around as half of the gnolls were dispatched with relative ease and the leader fell. Artos thought he wouldn't even need to lift a finger, then a waraxe whips on his head but he managed to step back quicker and dodging it by a hairs breadth. Another swing quickly followed but Artos smoothly redirected the blow to the side and stepping back further than before,

Quickly whispering, "Ignis" flames then appeared and danced around Artos' left hand and he quickly pointed it at the attacking Gnoll, catching his delicate fur on fire. As the Gnoll was preoccupied by the flame, trying hard to squelch the flame while squealing in pain. Artos walks up to the screaming Gnoll and swiftly brings down Red Trinity and decapitates the gnoll while his fur was still on fire. Waving his sword to the right to get rid of the blood, he sighed as that fight was too easy and looked back towards the fighting elves. Folding his arms, he watched to see if any needed help.

[Horrid]

Drizzak

---

The trip in the wagon was far too slow for Drizzak's tastes, but the grovelling apology from the halfman was satisfactory. The chortle he vocalised was low and gutteral, almost evil, but was cut short as he felt his personal space being breached. The halfman had tried to play him, but he was a quick-witted dragon, small and quick. His laugh devolved into a growl as he swiped the vial of firey-liquid back and replaced it with a particularly foul-smelling extract from his leftover reagents. That same dark chuckle came back as he pocketed what was rightfully his once more. He wrung his hands as the wagon came to a sudden stop, a temporary camp going up as bedrolls were laid out. Drizzak squeezed to be the first out of the cramped wagon, rolling to the ground with a giggle.

Then came the appointment of his watch position. With the dark-warmblood. Being appointed as first watch did not sit well with Drizzak, he was much too excited to sit in one place for the night and look at the expanses of wild nothing that sprawled before them. He would have bared his fangs in a grimace, had he the time. Before he could tell his ears from his nose, the group was up and fighting. Fighting dogmen. Many dogmen.

"Gooooooooood."

That same evil grin crept over Drizzak's face as he tore his costume off and revealed his ash-coloured, scarred body. Garbed with only pants, Drizzak grabbed for his earlier prepared vials and simply tipped them both into his mouth. Dragon-juice and burn-fuel. It was time. With a cough, The small goblin's eyes began to smoke as his skin changed from ash-white to a deep crimson. His spindly limbs suddenly beefed up, arms elongating into gorilla-like clubs. His legs beefed up, but remained short and stumpy. Small ridges rose on his back and a stumpy tail sprouted from a hole in the back of the special pants. What was once a pale, skinny goblin was now some sort of beefy, miniature dragon-ogre hybrid, standing at just a foot higher.

Then he burst into flames.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

With a noise like a cackle from the maw of Bahamut himself, Drizzak slingshot his new body into the closest unattended Gnoll. The dogman was not prepared. Not nearly prepared for the Red Death that was Drizzak, the Dragon. The Gnoll swung with its waraxe in a wide arc, but Drizzak was far too quick to fall for that. He ducked into a roll, lashing out with an arm as he skid to a halt. His elongated reach caught the Gnoll in its leg, toppling it with a great thump against the sand. The vile laughter continued as Drizzak rolled to the fallen dogman's side, grabbing a tight hold on one of his arms and placing a foot on its side. With a swift yank, a pop and a tear, Drizzak removed the Gnoll's arm completely. He was still cackling. Laughing without end. He brought the arm down again and again at the Gnoll's ribcage as it cowered and panicked, yelping for its comrades. Its fur was smoldering as he threw the arm to the side and pinned its other arm. His other fist came up slowly, craggy and bloodied.

"BAD DOGMAN! DOWN! HAHAHAHA!"

His clawed hand went for the Gnoll's eye and pierced into the socket before wrenching it to the side, removing the head completely. There was not much gore to be seen as the crackling fire of Drizzak's form quickly ate away at the corpse, leaving a blackened canid skull a few feet from a humanoid skeleton. Drizzak roared as he rolled off, looking to the others to see if help was needed.

[Warrior in the Shadows]

Hugh had finally fallen asleep, with strange dreams occuring to him, such as one where he felt and thought he heard the presence of the halfling, attempting to wake him. He had a strange dream where he felt Sana bump up against him, getting a warm and peacefule feeling inside from that particular one. The images were flashing through his mind relentlessly, playing through over and over, until he suddenly woke to the sound of howling and the clash of arms. He stood up and stumbled forward, completely rousing himself from his slumber. He nearly face planted on the other side of the wagon, before catching himself with both hands.

He stood to his full size and looked around. A few gnolls came charging past the wagon, heading for the others, who were fending them off skillfully. Hugh was quite confused, but he knew the exact reaction required. Unfortunately, before he could prepare himself one of the gnolls was after him, approaching the wagon quickly. It snarled as it approached, causing Hugh to become a little angry with the beast. Before it could set itself upon him he started tossing bedrolls at it to take it down. "I don't like being woken by overgrown hyenas!" He shouted. Finally, he threw something metallic at it that made it stumble and fall over, and then it was his turn to cause terror.

He ran at the gnoll, setting upon it with his falchion, shoving it into the thing's ribcage and pulling upwards. The blood spilled made a mess of one of the bedrolls that had unraveled atop the creature. Hugh was working on getting the falcion out of the creature, but before he realized it, teeth sank into his shoulder, and he fell back on top of a gnoll. He still had protection from his armor, but the pressure enough was causing pain. He shouted in agony, as the creature worked its way to a less armored portion of his arm and kept biting him. Some of the teeth were sinking in through his chain mail sleeve. He had crushed its blade wielding arm when he fell back, as no doubt, the thing was trying to cut his throat after biting into him.

Finally, he pressed his body into the gnoll's mouth, pushing it open to his great discomfort and pain. He grabbed one of the bedrolls with his free hand and started shoving it into the gnoll's now open mouth, trying to see if he could fit the entire thing inside it. Soon the thing started coughing from the bedding touching the back of its mouth, and Hugh recovered. He took the gnoll's blade and stabbed it into its abdomen, shoving it up into the ribcage.

Hugh reeled back from the mess he made, with blood on his hands and his own blood starting to bleed from his arm. He pulled the falchion out of the first gnoll he killed and recovered to a ready stance, seeing that the others were dispatching the rest without as much trouble. All he thought, was that if only he had recovered his falchion in time, he might have been left without injury. "Oh bother." He muttered, staring at his arm. Gnolls could be sneaky and fast, and Hugh had the great misfortune of allowing one to get the drop on him.

[Inertia]

Looking back at the group, they were dispatching of the Gnolls rather easily, only one was having a tad of trouble but not too much. The small goblin drank a liquid and turned into a monkey hybrid thing. Easily turning the attacking Gnoll into submission then soon death, with a whistle, he was astounded at the groups fighting prowess. Stronger than I originally thought, well I guess I won't need to kill any Gnolls huh?

After a while of Gnolls being easily dispatched, one had attacked an unprepared Man. He had killed the Gnoll rather easily, albeit he was bitten rather deeply on the arm and it was bleeding profusely. Walking in stride towards the man who had just asked for a medic, he placed his left hand over the bleeding wound and whispered, "Emantur Vulnure." A beam of weak light surrounded Artos' hand and the wound. After the light dissipated, the wound was closed although the blood lost did not get replaced. He had learned the spell from a tome that transcribed the working of ancient healers, the spell itself was one of the most basic as the tome had been burnt beyond reading and he was only able to scavenge a few spells. The spell itself took alot of mana and was limited to wounds that weren't too deep nor life threatening.

"It does seep away alot of mana, as I thought." he said to himself out-loud.

[EWillden]

The fight was going pretty well for the group as each one managed to kill a gnoll or two. Vivian watched seeing if she needed to jump in at any moment. However, another creature had its sights on her. It must have just raised from the sand itself ,but it was too late to react as she saw it draw forth its bow. It releasedthe arrow and she ducked. She then realized the gnoll wasn't aiming for her. She looked behind her and saw that the target was the camel. This put a stop to their little ride. From here they would would walk. She looked back at the Gnoll who just turned around and fled.

She sighed and sheathed her swords. She kept staring at the camel and shook her head cursing in feint undercommon. This will ut a cramp in their mood. They had won ,but the gnolls had made a trip even longer. She looked to their new friend nodding. "Thank you. Fill free to join us if you want." She then noticed Hugh was a bit injured. She moved over to the towering human and was about to offer him , her services. However their new friend beat her to it. She then sighed and looked to the bedrolls and the mess made on them.
"That ones yours now..." She said with a bit of mirth, pointing at the one covered in blood.

She turned around and looked at their now useless wagon. "We lost our wagon." She said. "Out of spite a gnoll killed the camel." It was still night time and she did not feel like continuing still. She sighed and moved off sitting in the sand. The victory did not feel like a victory. She simply hoped they had enough water to last them. She should have jumped infront of the arrow instead. At least the others could still make it there no problems.

[Afina]

Sana took note that the gnolls were dropping quickly as she glanced around. Each person in turn taking one out and seeing the numbers drop quickly, perhaps a few left but she doubted they would last long. A gasp escaped her lips as she saw the gnolls teeth find Hughs arm but it was over with too quickly for her to be of any assistance. Rising from her place she placed her arrow back in its quiver and hurried over as she slung her bow over her back and sheathed her dagger, figuring she would clean it later. Coming up to him she shook her head slightly, “biggest brute in the group and you caused the biggest mess,” she teased lightly as she grabbed her pack. Taking a closer look to the damage she sighed. “He got you good,” she muttered before looking up at him. “You got him better,” she sniggered. “And congratulations on taking out that mean old bed roll in the process. It kept giving me funny looks. I didn’t trust it one bit,” she laughed as she rummaged through her pack.

Sana perked a brow at the new comer,"whoa, who in the hell are you!" she snapped. She wasn't exactly comfortable with the group as it was and now we had someone new just jumping in. It didn't sit well but as she saw the wound begin to heal she nodded slightly. “thanks,” she said, "but still, who are you?" she asked as she knelt down and

At Vivians words she looked over and cursed. “Well, it can be dinner; perhaps Hugh would be good enough to let us use his steed to help move us. If it can carry him it has to be strong,” she said in a light voice before looking back over to Hugh.

“If you don’t mind, we need to clean you up now. I seriously doubt you want to spend the night with both yours and that creatures blood on you,” she said sternly as she held up a skin of water and some clean rags. “Now, shirt off. It needs repairing. No debate.”

[Ryu]

Varis looked at the dead gnoll before him, staring at its dead, lifeless eyes as it laid on the ground in a pool of its own blood. As he stared at the dead gnoll, he began to recall his first ever kill, which was some type of animal at the age of five. His father had ordered the poor boy to do it, and after minutes of refusing, his father had crippled the animal, leaving Varis to put the damned furry four-legged beast out of its misery. He could distinctly remember having no problem with killing any sort of animal -- or human -- after that event.

Varis gave out a small chuckle before turning around and walking over to the drow, placing his weapons back in their respective scabbard before noticing the dead camel on the floor, an arrow stuck in the animal.

"I'll keep watch now," Varis began as his stared at the dead camel, his pompous tone still existing. His gaze shifted over to Vivian as he awaited for a response since he didn't have anything else to say.

[Warrior in the Shadows]

Hugh felt a little dazed, as the blood began bleeding profusely from his wound. He was unsure of who would heal him, but it didn't quite matter at the time being. Before he knew what happened, a hand was placed on his arm, where the wound was imminent. The hand lit up and soon the wound was sealed. "Well done..." He looked up, "Uh, sir." He noted that the person who had just performed healing magic on him was not previously a member of his party, and he was thoroughly confused. "I'm obliged with the assistance, though."

He hadn't the time to respond as Vivian had arrived to offer some assistance, only to offer a little bit of annoyance and telling him the blood soaked bedroll now belonged to him. "But what of the one shoved in that one's mouth?" He pointed to the one who got the drop on him.

Soon Sana had arrived in the vicinity and gave him a few teases, before fetching her own supplies. She joked with him about the bedroll, "Well, I suppose I killed two birds with one stone." He laughed with her a little, before the subject of transport came up. "We can use him to pull the cart, but we won't all be able to ride in it, unfortunately." He said, looking to Rodger the Horse. "I'd rather not over stress Rodger." He said.

Sana soon came to him with a water skin, clean rags, and orders. He nodded, "Well, I'd rather not sleep with its blood and mine, but I didn't realize I would be so forced to clean it." He smiled and obliged her, removing his pauldrons, and then his chainmail. Finally he took off his shirt, revealing his body to have its share of scars and his muscles. He was bloody all over his arm and he wore a fresh coat of sweat from the entire ordeal. "I do have an extra in one of my horse's saddle bags. This shirt is kind of compromised." He said, looking over the blood stains and the rips where the gnoll's teeth had broken through. "I suppose I can salvage it." He muttered.

There was a bruise all over his shoulder and the blood was still covering his arm. "Well, where do you want to sit for this?" He asked Sana, it being apparent that he was not getting out of this chore. He held his hands together and grinned, "And, please be gentle." He teased.

[Kronshi]

Elis stood and watched as a war was displayed before his eyes. He got lost in the battle and forgot that he was capable of fighting too. Jumping down and un-sheathing his swords, Elis ran over to the nearest Gnoll and stared up at it, "Why hello there, you don't mind if I kill you right?" At this the beast swung his club down upon Elis. He quickly side-stepped and jabbed one of his swords into the thing's knee causing it to topple to the ground, "I'll take that as a 'No' then." Elis then stared the creature in the eyes as he supported himself with his shield, "Brought you down to my level didn't I?" He took his other sword and stabbed into the beast's neck cutting open it's jugular. He then pushed the Gnoll over and pried his first sword free from it's leg and then ripped the other one it of it's neck and left to creature there to bleed out or suffocate, whichever came first.

[Inertia]

The rather bulky man had began to thank him, albeit in a tone of caution and confusion, Good quality, caution is always good for safety and if you want to stay alive. Opening his mouth, "Don't mention it, I wanted to try the spell anyway. Oh and I am Artos Raulyn, Magus, though we are lessening in number. Pleased to make your acquaintance Sir Hugh." he replies, knowing of Hugh from an old tome he had read.

As the gnoll began to retreat, the camel had died with a squeal. Gnolls were so petty, but now they had no animal to pull their rather small wagon for this large party. Most of the members began sheathing their weapons and the air of tension quickly dissipated and relaxation began to settle in. Artos had a slight frown, as his worst feeling came true,

So... Many... Elves... he thinks with a grimace as he looks around the party of unique individuals. Different types too, a midget elf, a dark elf, normal elf. AGHHH He tried to get rid of the slight frown, he tried. "Thanks for the offer, I'll accept. Though if there are any kinds of tomes or books of power, I would like to keep it Elf- V- Vivian." he continued with his frown deepening "And uh, please brief me on the mission later on, when everyone is good."

Before glancing at the two flirting individuals again he says,
"Well, Sir Hugh, if you'd like I can clean the bedroll." he says, "Though I would like a spar in return would be nice, haven't had a good one in a long, long while."

[Afina]

Sana smirked as Hugh motioned to the one bed roll that was securely lodged in the mouth of the dead gnoll and rolled her eyes slightly. "You're impossible," she sniggered. As she waited for Hugh to get rid of his bindings she glanced around. "We need a clean up crew to drag these dead bodies off. I don't want to sleep around rotting corpses," she continued in a disgusted voice. Opening the flask she tilted it as she pressed on of the rags to the open mouth, letting it get sufficiently damp for the task at hand.

Looking over to Hugh she perked a brow as he removed his shirt and took note of the scars, biting her bottom lip slightly. It seemed he had seen his fair share of battle in deed. "Just sit there okay," she said as she moved closer, coming to his injured side and slightly behind him. Narrowing her eyes as he told her to be gentle. "Yes, I know, you're so fragile," she stated flatly as she rested one hand on his gently on his back as she carefully began to clean the blood from his skin. Sana was being careful, she saw the bruise and didn't want to add to any pain he may have been experiencing. She may have been a brash person at times but she was compassionate as well.

"Yeah, you'll need a clean one for now but I am sure the damage is nothing a little wash and mend can't take care of," she said as she moved closer so she could better reach the remnants of the blood. Hugh was far taller than she and significantly broader of shoulder. Her hair brushing his skin as she leaned closer to work, trying not to rush things, especially around the bruises.

Looking over to Artos she smiled. "Thanks again," she said as she motioned to the area that was healed now that the blood was removed, her fingers running over the smooth healed skin lightly. It looked far better than it had. Looking back over to Hugh as she finished she smiled. "I think that does it," she said as she wrung the rag to her side, a large red puddle of watered down blood pooled onto the sand before being absorbed and leaving a red tinge to the sands itself.