[IC] Godless Ichor (Dark Fantasy/Action)

[CadenGallic]

"You may rest this night... I am sure my Tinder is safe." Sorreau assured him as she smiled graciously, taking a bowl for herself and partaking in the soup. She looked upon Eldarin with curious eyes, old eyes... she had not seen company for a while, that much he could tell.
"Tell me, kind sir... what is your purpose here in Galothiel? It is not the safest place to adventure these days."

[Eklispe]

Eldarin was pleased, this women was kind and not emitting any of the traits of a man eating witch. Or all of them, it was hard to tell sometimes. He took a seat on the ground as he continued sipping at his stew, "I imagine the same as anyone passing through this parts. Tales of the Black Ichor. From what I've heard drinking it is the second worse mistake you can make after searching for it, but I'm a curious man. I wish to see how true this tales are and enjoy a little adventure along the way." Perhaps not the best reasons for wandering through such dangerous lands, but what was life without living? He grimaced a little, "As for this not being the safest place, I've gotten a little bit of that. I'm not sure whats more dangerous, the water, the plants, or the animals. I've either learned about them firsthand or been warned off."

[CadenGallic]

"Ah... yes, few pass through these woods these days that do not seek the ichor at the river's source..." Sorreau was extremely reserved in speaking of the ichor and of its effect upon her forest. One of her foxes nuzzled affectionately into her legs, causing her to stroke it's head. "Yes... and I fear the worst you have not yet even met... I feel compelled to warn you." she sighed slightly. "Do you know of Ents?" she asked.

[Eklispe]

"Ents?" Eldarin asked curiously, but not too skeptically. He'd seen quite a few things in his time but giant walking talking and fighting trees was a little much wasn't it? "Aren´t those the living trees that guard the forests from intruders? Are you suggesting that those lay on the way to this Black Ichor?¨ he was curious about her reaction to it. Obviously she had some experience with it, though what he couldn´t say. Perhaps this idea wasn´t wise after all. No matter, it was too late to turn back now.

[CadenGallic]

"Yes, those Ents. Not quite as large... I suspect the ichor seeping into the ground has grown them." Sorreau looked toward her animals with a slight sigh. "They patrol the woods and strike out at invaders. Be wary of them, for whilst they are not strong alone, they can easily overwhelm in numbers. Of course, fire is a weakness for them." she continued to explain, readjusting her seat slightly.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin nodded, so they were like wooden bandits. He could work with fire, as long as there weren't too many of them at a given time. "Any particular advice for avoiding the beasts?" he asked, hoping the women could give him some helpful insight. Of course dealing with them on his own shouldn't be too troublesome but he'd take any advantage he could get. Eldarin made a mental note to possibly grab a torch on the way out, it was always easier to make fire when you had something to base it off of.

[CadenGallic]

"The Ents have weak vision but can sense movement on the earth. Move slowly around them and keep out of their vision. If you can do that, you may be able to avoid a conflict." Sorreau advised him further, briefly looking around the hut to her torches. "I will let you take a torch with you as well. It will help us both in the long run."

[Eklispe]

Eldarin resisted the urge to nod again for fear of looking like a bobblehead "I see, I'll keep that in mind, a torch would do me some good as well. Is there anything else?" Eldarin asked as he scraped the last of the soup and set his sword and buckler down next to the small mattress and laid down, obviously indicating he was ready to sleep. He didn't want to be rude about it but his eyes were getting harder and harder to keep open and he felt as though with a good night's rest he would be ready to begin his journey again.

[CadenGallic]

"No, kind traveller. I believe i've told you all I can." Sorreau could see he was tired and had no issues with him taking his rest now, by the looks of things. Around her feet, her foxes were looking droopy eyed and slowly beginning to curl up and fall asleep too. "Sleep well, traveller."

The night passed quietly and pleasantly for the pair of them. When morning broke and light streamed through the walls of the hut, everything was as it was the previous night. The fire was out, the torches were mostly doused, except one Sorreau had left lit for him and the woman herself was asleep peacefully in her chair, snoring softly.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin woke up silently and looked around. No evil monsters had attacked in the middle of the night. How pleasant. Seeing the women sleeping peacefully brought a small smile to his face. Instead of waking her Eldarin grabbed the torch she had thoughtfully kept lit for him and exited the building silently. Time to go on a fox hunt, Eldarin thought to himself as he made his way further into the forest.

[CadenGallic]

The morning brought a strange milky mist into the woods. There was something of a cold snap in the air and whilst the light situation had somewhat improved thanks to the morning sun shining down, the forest was still very dark and particularly ominous. A little wandering onward led him back to the well trodden path he had abandoned prior, leading him west of his position. This path would eventually lead him to a slight hill leading up to a somewhat higher up section of the woods. It was a little steep, if he couldn't find a way around, he could always try climbing it.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin took a glance around, he didn't want to bother going off the path and doubtless running through annoying underbrush that would make travel difficult. He was glad for the light and warmth of the torch in the dank dark wood. He held it in the same hand as his buckler and with a quiet sigh began the trek up the hill, a good vantage point might give him an idea of where to continue his search.

[CadenGallic]

The hill proved to be a harsher climb than expected, some handfuls of dirt falling away under his fingers and footholds crumbling, but eventually he made it up onto what was more or less a raised section of the woods. He could see more trees beyond, these ones slightly bigger and less tightly packed... and then he saw them. The lumbering shadows amidst the trees, patrolling back and forth, dragging leafy oaken tendrils behind them as their steps tore up the earth slightly. There was just slightly taller than a man, thin with oaken limbs and no clear face, leaves dotted their tops. These were the Ents.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin was suddenly glad that he hadn't tried wading through the thick underbrush. If had then he might not have seen the Ents before they saw him. The question was, what to do now. Obviously fighting them would be an idea in poor taste. He could start a forest fire but that would just as well kill him as it did them. Perhaps he could use it as a distraction though, surely if they saw flame they'd immediately try to put it out. Climbing through the treetops? No, he'd risk walking into the grasp of a waiting Ent. Running through them was unadvisable, though with the help of some flame he could perhaps do it. Eldarin deliberated for a few moments more. Well the safest thing to do would be to start a fire a safe distance away and see what happened. Little risk, possibly big reward. Eldarin held the torch up in front of him and stared at it fiercely. He raised his hand to the torch and muttered jumbles of words under his breath. The words ceased and Eldarin's hand left the torch, now holding a fireball the size of his head. He gave it a might hurl, far forward and to the left of the hill. Time to see what happened. Hopefully this didn't bring the whole forest down and his head, since that could happen in more ways than one.

[CadenGallic]

The fireball landed against a dead branch and set it ablaze, the fire spreading across it and consuming it, moving onto the grass too. Two nearby Ents turned, seeing the bright light as they lumbered over to it. The Ents seemed at least semi intelligent as they began digging up clods of earth with their tendrils and flinging it over the fire to douse it. He had a perfect opening.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin grinned, sweet. The Ents could still sense his movements though so running probably wasn't the answer. Eldarin cautiously moved forward, attempting to step on roots and rocks as much as possible rather than putting his full weight on the ground. If they sensed him regardless then he would simply sprint away as fast he could, his options were rather limited after all since he didn't fancy his odds in a fight.

[CadenGallic]

Luck was on his side today, his method of avoiding detection was working masterfully as he could see the two Ents continue to work on putting out the fire and soon succeeded. He'd got enough time to pass more or less by their patrol area... but in the shadows of the trees ahead, he could see another Ent lumbering up ahead... beyond it, he could see what looked like a clearing area.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin deliberated only momentarily, it was unlikely that he could evade the Ent while still maintaining a modicum of speed. If the Ent called for help, somehow, then his allies should be too far behind to cause any trouble. Abandoning any pretense of stealth Eldarin came as close to the thing as he could without getting smacked and raised the torch to his mouth, exhaling with a combined force of breath and magic. The result was a flamethrower, spewing fire all over the Ent. Naturally Eldarin turned and continued running, seeking to leave the area as soon as possible. By the nine when he found this fox returning it was going to be a trial and half in it of itself.

[CadenGallic]

The Ent reacted with a sharp rustle of its leaves as fire sprayed over it, coating its oaken body in the burning substance. The flames prove to be even more effective than initially suspected as its body begins to burn into ashes and it collapses into the grass, smoldering and dead. Hitting it with such a wide spray allowed the fire to spread quickly, thus, the Ent never stood a chance.
Eldarin is able to make it into the large clearing, the morning sun finally able to shine down on him once again from above... the curious thing about this clearing was, whilst it was lined with trees, there are patches of disturbed and torn up earth in spindly patterns... as if trees were being pulled up from the ground.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin grinned, he hadn't expected it to be so effective, the Ent had died before it could even raise an alarm. Now however, Eldarin looked around him curiously. Was this the Ents roosting ground or something? Perhaps even they needed to rest and they did so here. Well it wasn't his concern really. Shrugging to himself Eldarin continued on, keeping an eye out for more Ents or the little fox.