[IC] The Forests of Death (Dead)

[EWillden]

The Forest (4 hours later)

Ishmael took the lead shoving the prisoner forward as he did so. He watched the man as they moved. He only prayed there would be no more distractions for awhile and for awhile there was just that,... peace. All that can be heard as the coming darkness of night came and the light of a cresent moon gave light to their path. Ishmael looked to the group to check on their status. If they were going to keep moving they might need to rest soon. His thoughts however where interrupted with a spear. The spear did not him or anyone in the group except one. The prisoner fell forward as the large spear had pierced through and out the other side hitting the dirt behind him. He prisoner hung in place and began to slide down the spear.

Ahead of the group was a form standing upon a rather large dog. To be exact it wasn't a dog. It was a warg, the orc on top of it was a orc scout. The orc was not heavily armored. He wore what could be seen as chain mail. The orc pulled out a long sword and was going to charge until something stopped him. He began to here a noise being shouted out in the distance. Ishmael had also began to look around with his sword drawn. He was not too happy with their prisoner gone. This scout must either be for the bandits or a tribe somewhere else. Ceceria drew her daggers and was preparing herself as well but even she titled her head at the sound.

"What the hell is that?" She said and Ishmael turned to face her shrugging. Soon the rustling of the forest could be heard as small sapplings and bushes were being pushed out of the way. A voice came out clearer and clearer each second. The voice calling out...

"mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine mine!" Until finally it leaped from the darkness of the forest. It was just as large as the orc but seemed to have some sort of fur sowed to its armor. It's visage unable to be seen as it slammed into the orc on top tackling him. It then rose up quick lifting its large ax. The light of the moon catching the side of his face revealing a orc that had a large scar across his face and a chipped tooth. Some of the group would recognize something on the orc. The pelt he used to cover his armor resembled a creature that they had ran into four hours ago. As the ax rose up high the orc below him rose its arms up.

"Please no you would not kill your own kin now will you?!" He asked and the scarred orc just simply smirked.

"My kin never cared for me so why should I care for it...." He sad and the axe came down parting the other orcs skull. Gorgamesh then saw the warg was about to turn and claw at him. Its head close enough for what he would do next. He swung his helmeted head forward smashing it into its face causing it to reel back and hop away. One of its teeth hitting the dirt path. The orc stepped down on his first kill and yanked his axe out as the warg began to recover from the daze. It charged forward and the orc charged it and then slammed the steel shaft forward nailing the warg again in the face. When the warg looked back at him to retaliate it felt the axe hit the side of its head. The rest of its body went limp. The only thing keeping its head from hitting the floor was the orcs axe. Gorgamesh yanked the axe free blood splattering against his face and armor. He then stared down at the warg raising a hand up to his chin. He was trying to figure out how he would hall it off so he could cook it and eat it. Then again... he shrugged I got jerky off my last kill so I don't need to. He then looked to the other orc and began checking the orc's head and fitting his fingers through the hole he created with his axe. He sighed and rose up. "Hmm... no trophy out of that one."

Ishmael did not know how to react to the scene. Some unknown orc just came running out yelling out his ownership of his two latest kills and is now checking the bodies over. He then noticed the pelt and then looked over to Ceceria and then Daniel. That was one less were wolf the world would have to deal with. Ceceria just rose a brow smirking with a little... "Heh..." What a peculiar orc. Daniel was a bit scared of the whole situation and then looked to the dead prisoner and then to Ishmael.... "What now?... that man was our lead to the bandit's hideout...." He said and Ishmael simply sighed and shrugged. "Perhaps he might know where it is." He suggested and Ishmael sighed. Might as well ask. "You there,.... by chance do you know where the bandit hide out is located for the black moon clan?" He asked.

The orc looked over at them and took in their questions. "Know bandit camp?.... maybe" He said and looked to be in deep thought. He then nodded slamming his fist into his palm. "Alright yes I do,... me show you, come come me show you." He said and swung his axe so that the shaft rested on his shoulder and began to lead them. Ishmael sighed. His horse then began to move along.

The Mountain Fortress

Nova was fast asleep on the cold floor of the castle dungeon. She was having a sweet dream and the vampire walked in and crouched brushing her hair away from her face. Such a beautiful flower she was. So so so beautiful. You are mine now,... all mine. Forget the idea of going back to that horrid city. Stay with me as my possession.

[Afina]

Ramara

Ramara encouraged her horse forward as they continued down the road, pulling the hood of her mantle back as the moon came out. There was no need to shield herself from the sun at this point anymore. When the spear hit the bandit though, all semblance of peace was shattered; tightening one hand on the reigns of her steed as her other hand grabbed a dagger and she was suddenly crouching with her feet in the saddle to get a better vantage point to watch the scene unfold before her. Slowly she stood up fully, one hand on the reigns as she stood there as stone; perking a brow a bit at the sight before her.

“That was different,” she said before shrugging and moving her feet as she slowly fell back into place in her saddle; adjusting herself as she grabbed the reigns with her other hand and pushed forward once again as they followed the Orc. “Perhaps we are merely being a less boisterous version of the young corsair running to the were right now,” she quipped with a smirk playing on her lips.

Regalia

Regalia enjoyed the travel, the cooler air, the peace. It was wonderful until it was broken. Tilting her head to the side as she watched the bandit fall, her hand fell to the hilt of her blade while the other held tight to the arms wrapped around her waist. “Hold young one,” she whispered to Inyata but her eyes fell to the Warg riding Orc. Gasping slightly as she saw the other Orc claim it as his own and the death it unleashed on its own kind. Looking over to Ishmael spoke to it and then it leading them off her hand fell from her blade. “Well this is an interesting turn of events,” she said before looking towards Ramara as she slid back into her saddle.

“Very different,” she commented towards Ramara as she nudged her horse forward. “Stay on your guard little one,” she cautioned as they rode, following the Orc to wherever he was bent on taking them.

[Salrynn]

Inyata was bored, she wasn’t exactly enjoying what was happening at the moment in time because she wanted to get involved with anything and everything that perked her pirate-like interests, always being the type to get her hands dirty. She was surprised she even sat still for so long to the point that she started to drift into a long sleep; being tired about the whole journey, from fighting in a tavern from just... sitting on a horse being bored. She wanted wanted fun! she wanted the most excitement she has ever had in her life!! it was only until around 3-4 hours later she was in complete peace when suddenly she awoke up to a noise, not just any ordinary noise though, the noise was the running clogging-like sounds of a warg being ridden on by a orc… There was also suddenly a strange orc with the little unusual party and, just killing off the warg-riding orc just right there and then…

‘GO ON!!!!’ Inyata shouted, cheering on the orc that wasn’t riding on the warg ‘GO ON MAN!! KILL HIM!! BEAT HIM TO A PULP!!! WOOOOOOOO OH OH OH OH OH!!!!’ She would shout, only encouraging him more as she fist pumped into the air with the most mischievous grin. You could tell that Inyata was clearly enjoying this, finally watching something fun which she could get involved with indirectly. ‘WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO’

[EWillden]

The Road

It got later and later as the moved on the hours coming and going fast. Over time Ishmael began to hear yawns coming Daniel and possibly a few others. He called out to the orc leading them. "Hold,... we are going to make camp off to the side. Some of us are getting tired and could use a rest." He said and began to lead Daniel off the path and into the forest and once he felt they were in far enough stopped and got of his horse helping Ceceria down as he did. He walked to the wagon that Daniel had been driving and began to remove supplies from it putting up small tents , one by one for each member of the group. He then placed the bedrolls down after that underneath the tents and even prepared a fire for warm as the night got colder. He made sure he built it bigger then normal and then sat down using a rock as a seat. He began taking his armor off one by one as he did until he was in his tunic underneath.

The boy Daniel moved to sit next to him and watched the fire and began to put together a nice tiny rack over the fire and hung pots to it. From there he began to cook the meal that they would be having. Daniel looked around as he saw Ceceria join him by the fire. Sitting next to him and she smiled as she looked at the fire and the food about to be cooked.

The orc Gorgamesh moved to sit in place and didn't set up a tent or bed roll at all. He removed his werewolf helmet revealing his scarred up head. He was bold and had a torn right ear and a scar across his face as well as several about the back and top of his head. He then pulled from his side his own sack and began to remove a item from it. A long and good sized piece of were wolf jerky. He chomped down on it as Daniel looked at him. He glanced over at him and pulled another from the sack. "Want some,... jerky made from a were wolf... very good, very tasty. Tastes almost as good as the rabbits I ate a while back" He offered and the boy just shook his head and the orc shrugged.

"What is your name orc?" Ishmael asked him and Gorgamesh looked to him. "Name is Gorgamesh of the tribe of the white skulls." He answered.
Ishmael nodded, ... "My name is Ishmael,... wasnt the White Skulls wiped out a while back?" He asked causing a toothy grin from the orc.
The orc looked to him and smiled. "Yes, they were,... all but gone no tribe left except me." He said.

"Sorry for your losses..." He said and the orc laughed. "Sorry?... don't be sorry,... I was the one who killed them all. Serves them right for kicking out Gorgamesh. Gorgamesh showed them, now there leaders skulls decorate my belt." He said and Ishmael rose a brow.

"They kicked you out?" He asked clarifying what he just heard.

"Yup,... they were afraid I would challenge chief and beat him, so kicked me out they did. Now I am here with no god and no tribe." He said. Ishmael nodded and just went with it. Whatever.

Ceceria looked at the orc and scooted closer to him and smiled. "Is it alright if I feel them. "She said twiddling her fingers towards the scars. He nodded as she began to touch his face. Starting with the scars around his head and the top. Tell finally she began to trace the one across his face. He then out of no where snapped his jaws at her and she jumped back and he laughed at her pointing his fingers at her frightened face. She smirked brushing a hair from her face and slapped his shoulder.

"That wasn't very nice..." She said. The orc stopped and offered her a taste of the jerky and she pulled his hand close and bit the piece. She then pulled back and began to chew. The taste was intense and then something came over her mouth. It began to burn as she chewed and began to fan her face while blowing in and out. "What did you spice if with?"

He shrugged and pushed his sack towards her and she saw that he had a few long dark colored peppers. She began to feel her nose run and eyes water. He then removed a gord from his belt and bit down and pulled the cork off and handed it to her. She then took a drink to wash it down and found out it was full of a azure liquid that tasted rather good. It was no grug or ale or anything. It even had a little bit of a fiz. She looked to him with a odd look. "Made from a root I found out here... didn't know what it was until I boiled it and stuff. Now I can't stop drinking it." He said and then she nodded. She took the jerky he offered her and began to eat it.. more slowly of course and in between drinks. "How did you make it so sweet?"

"Bandit had the sugar... me took sugar." He explained and she nodded to his answer.

[Afina]

Ramara

Ramara perked a brow as Ishmael said they were to make camp for the night and shrugged as she followed him off the road and into the forest somewhat until he had chosen a camp site. Dismounting her horse she tied him to a tree and looked around. “Yeah, no thanks,” she said as she looked at the tents and climbed up high into a tree, making herself comfortable as she sat down, straddling a branch as she did and leaning back against the trunk of the tree.

Over the years she had found she rested better if she was off the ground and separated from the group a bit. Sighing to herself she pulled some food from her side pack and ate quietly as she watched the rest below her, taking a small sip of water from her skin every so often. They were an interesting bunch but she wondered if with so few they could really take care of things. The squire seemed all but helpless and the young corsair tended to run into situations without thinking. Oh well, she thought to herself, they are Ishmaels and Regalias problems, not mine.

Regalia

Regalia followed the group, chuckling somewhat at what Inyata had said towards the Orc, cheering him on. The girl had spirit; she had to give her that. Once Inyata was back safely in the saddle she pressed on, following Ishmael to the chosen camp site and waited for Inyata to dismount before she did. She pushed her hair out of her face as she looked around. She had a tent but left it be for now since Ishmael had seemed to go ahead and take care of one for her and the rest of the group. “Thank you,” she said kindly towards Ishmael and had a seat by the fire.

This was just the first of many long days ahead of them. Pulling out her sword she rested it in her lap as she pulled out a polishing cloth. It didn’t seem to need any tending to but she did so nonetheless, the sword had been passed to her from her father and it was the one thing she had left of him these days. Sighing slightly as she worked she would look up from the blade every so often to take a look at the group before going back to work. Laughing somewhat at Cecerias reaction to the Orcs jerky and making a mental note that perhaps she should stay away from anything that he cooked up.

[EWillden]

The Forest

A hour had past and Ceceria and Gorgamesh seemed the best of friends. She had been leaning on his shoulder for about half a hour each taking turns of drinking from the gourd which was quickly running dry. When they had finished she frowned.... "Sorry I did not mean to drink it all I promise." Gorgamesh smiled and laughed at her shaking it off. He then moved a arm around her clasping the opposite shoulder. He would then point to the stars telling her stories and she would listen. She did not stare at them however, only at him. He had a look about him that drew her in. Was it the scars? was it his free spirit? was it his insanity? She figured it was all three. She could see that in his eyes there were no color just emotions all of them bunched up causing him to behave unlike most. When he caught her just staring at him he paused and coughed a little. The moon light caught her eyes and made them sparkle with his visage and for a minute there it almost looked like she would kiss him and then he pulled away. She sighed and went back in a sitting position but still rather close to him. She liked him and she did not know why.

She looked to see Ishmael staring at her with a raised brow and she had to laugh. "What?...we all have our tastes in people. I just like him that's all" She said. Ishmael nodded and snorted. "Yeah remember how you had your arms around me?" He asked and she went quiet and then twiddled with her thumbs. " Well your taken so... I decided to pick someone else. Who is this woman that has claimed you anyways?"

"Don't worry you will meet her soon." He said and she frowned. "Your no fun."

[Warrior in the Shadows]

Wade let his rucksack drop, as he fell to the ground. He landed very roughly but felt relief from the sudden rest. He let out a sigh as he leaned back and closed his eyes, focusing on relaxing his entire body. It was a little trick he used so he could keep walking or running. He just concentrated enough on rest that he could feel alive when he had to move again, no matter how much time he had to rest.

Wade slowly opened his eyes up again when he heard the crackle of a fire. The sound brought back a small memory of one of his many genocidal missions.

It was dark out, and fires burned everywhere. This small village had been set ablaze and the stench of death was in the air. There was chaos everywhere as men ran back and forth, killing anyone not wearing their uniform. Dead children littered the area, with mothers killed next to them. No one was being left alive.

Wade was a sergeant-at-arms, yelling orders to footmen. It was difficult to communicate with everyone at once. Too many people were yelling at once. Footmen were doing whatever they wanted and seemed to be looting. The weaker willed ones looked to be shocked at the killing, unable to move and commit to action.

Wade came up to a kid who was hesitant in killing a woman and her two children. He seemed to dislike the idea of just killing them off, as they had been told to kill everyone. So Wade smacked him to the ground and kicked him in the face. "Fucking WEAK!" He screamed at him. He then turned to the woman and her children and looked them up and down. The woman was quite attractive, with such beautiful blonde hair the likes of which he had never seen before. She looked calm and unafraid, as Wade took his crossbow off his back and pointed it at her.

She said some words that meant little to him, but surely meant much to her. He would never forget them, not really intent on remembering them. They stuck anyways. "I won't be around when you get back, my Hugh." The bolt then released by Wade's pull of the trigger and plunged into her chest. She fell and he proceeded to stab the children, as they screamed for their mother and their father. He just kept stabbing them, until they stopped moving and breathing. The blood seemed to cover him, as there was just so much.

He stepped away in disgust as the group of soldiers seemed to wrap up their purge of the area and start moving out.

He breathed heavily as he suddenly roused himself from his small nap. It appeared that he had dozed off for a few minutes. He looked to have gathered plenty of sweat from such a short nap. The dream was just bad enough to wake him so suddenly. He looked about, to and fro. He noted that the female assassin had started eating and he took heed, rummaging through his own rations, consisting mostly of jerky and bread.

Wade began to gnaw on the jerky, taking sips from his water skin after every bit he swallowed. It was salty jerky and had a lot of flavor to it. "Anyway else need food, perhaps? Maybe a bit of jerky or bread?" He spoke up. "Maybe we should get something to cook. It would be better than rations."

[Salrynn]

Inyata got off the horse slowly as soon as she saw make everyone stop to make camp. but she got rather bored quickly… once more. She didn’t want to sit around… so what does she do?? She starts singing her pirate songs to accompany the party on their rest, for the young Inyata; she didn’t exactly care if she was going to annoy others or not… she just wanted to sing so she wasn’t bored at all. Although the song wasn’t exactly appropriate for the likes of the team…

What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
What shall we do with a drunken sailor?
Early in the morning?
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Way-hay, up she rises
Early in the morning
Put him in the long boat 'til he's sober
Pull out the bung and wet him all over
Put him in the scuppers with the deck pump on him
Heave him by the leg in a runnin' bowlin'
Tie him to the taffrail when she's yard-arm under
Early in the morning

[Afina]

Regalia

Regalia smiled softly as she listened to Inyata sing, it was something that all pirates seemed to have in common to help pass the time on long voyages; whether they be on land or at sea. Straightening her back somewhat she thought back to her days as a young corsair on the Maelstrom, her father teaching her and the sounds of the crew singing as they worked. She missed those day, so long in the past that even the memories of them seemed to clouded by the morning fog rolling in over the tides. Looking over at Inyata as she finished cleaning her blade and sheathed it she motioned for the young one to come take a seat be her next to the fire.

“Beautiful, perhaps you would like to learn one my father taught me so many years ago,” she said as she reached over and pushed a few strands of hair out of Inyatas face gently. “Seems appropriate to teach you one that has been handed down in my family since I took you under my wing. Now mind you it isn’t as joyous as the one you just sang for us. It is a touch more somber, but then again, so am I,” she said with a smile before looking over towards the fire as she began to sing. Regalias singing voice was rich but not over stated, it seemed to carry much like she carried herself in everything she did or said.

An old man by a sea shore at the end of day
Gazes the horizon with sea winds in his face.
Tempest-tossed island, seasons all the same.
Anchorage unpainted and a ship without a name.

Sea without a shore for the vanished one unheard
He lightens the beacon, light at the end of world.
Showing the way, lighting hope in their hearts,
The ones and their travels homeward from afar.

This is for long-forgotten light at the end of the world.
Horizon's crying the tears he left behind long ago.

The albatross is flying, making him daydream
The time before he became - one of the world`s unseen
Princess in the tower, children in the fields -
Life gave him it all: an island of the universe.

Now his love`s a memory, a ghost in the fog.
He sets the sails one last time saying farewell to the world.
Anchor to the water, seabed far below,
Grass still in his feet and a smile beneath his brow

This is for long-forgotten light at the end of the world.
Horizon's crying the tears he left behind long ago.
This is for long-forgotten light at the end of the world.
Horizon's crying the tears he left behind long ago.

Ramara

Ramara looked down as the group below, listening to Inyata sing, she found it a tad much for right then but the kid had been behaving herself as of late, so she opted to let it slide. The young one did need to release nervous energy it seemed. As Regalia began she perked a brow, hopping down from her place in the tree and wandering over to her horse, unlacing her Vielle case from its place and taking it out. Placing it to her chin as she drew the bow across the string she began to play in time with Regalias singing as she leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes, letting herself feel where to go with the music.

Regalias Song

[EWillden]

"Oh why the fuck not...." Ceceria said as she rose up and removed her violin from its case and began to play as well. She played it in front of Gorgamesh. The flames light dancing about her features and face making her rather intoxicating to the barbaric orc. He seemed to stare at her and only her mesmerized by her movements. She even began to dance with the violin spinning and bending her body in ways he thought where impossible. He wanted her for his own. It was a hard feeling to understand for him. He gulped as her eyes had a certain glow about them and he had the desire to dance but he would have to remove his armor and he did not feel like it. Instead he just laid back into his bedroll and closed his eyes letting in the sounds of their music into his ears. Specificly hers.

Ishmael smiled as he watched them bond in a moment of song and dance. It was welcoming and he wished she was here with him, he would very much like to dance with her. He figured he would again when the time comes around. He just wanted to dance with her right now. The fortress seemed so far away to him now and he only hoped he could get to her in time. The group was a lively bunch. She would like these people and then liked the orc let himself lay his back down upon the bedroll.

Daniel looked to Wade and rolled his eyes. "Oh yes one of us should totally cook something.... " He said as he stirred the contents of the pot. Is that what being drunk made you?... he sighed and just ignored it and went back to mixing up a stew.

[Afina]

As the song came to an end Regalia smiled softly towards the two musicians that had joined in. “Well that was lovely, than you both,” she said in a kind voice. Ramara nodded slightly as she turned and went to place her instrument back in the safety of its case before securing it back where it belonged. Looking up at the tree for a moment she sighed; making a leap upwards and climbing back to her self-appointed post. Resting herself back down, she straddled the limb and used the trunk as back support as she pulled the hood of her mantle up and let herself relax a bit in the cool evening air.

Regalias eyes followed Ramara and she could only smile at the assassin. She had a funny way about her she thought to herself but then again so did the rest of the group. It was not truly something that could be helped in such circumstances. A rag tag bunch brought together by a simple piece of parchment posted outside a tavern wall. It was bound to bring out the more colorful of society. Rising from her place Regalia retrieved something to eat from her possessions and tossed some fruit over to Inyata before seating herself back down close to the fire; watching the flames flicker; cutting through the darkness of the evening and fading the chill in the air.