Kingdom of Ferelden. Somewhere in the South
Julien ate his own apple fast. Devouring the fruit with a few hearty bites as they made their way through the forest. The Warden judged that their progress was good. And even though it wasn't unopposed the fact that the number of Darkspawn they met was enough for the two of them to handle, so far, was a good sign in Julien's books. If they were to stumble upon the Horde they would've done so already. Or at least that was what he told to motivate himself. And so far it was working.
"It was about time." Julien agreed as the trees got sparser. "Less chance of those abominations sneaking up on us." By the time they got to the clearing he was starting to feel just tired enough to not oppose the decision to make camp. And immediately set out into the woods to gather material for traps.
Of course, that was easier said than done. Usually he would carry some basic trap material with his supplies. But as with most of his equipment it was lost at Ostagar. So Julien was relegated to simply gathering sticks, twigs and rocks. While also somehow figuring a way to turn these materials into something actually capable of protecting or at least alerting them. How he would do that in the current conditions was still an unknown factor to him. If he were to be honest with himself, he was starting to doubt that he would be able to achieve something worthwhile without the proper material like metal shards, springs and mechanisms.
Still, he at least had to try. And with a sigh he stood up from where he had thrown the assembled material to have another look around the clearing. Maybe the previous occupants had left something useful? Not likely but it was worth a try. And so he gave the abandoned campsite a few more rounds. Julien was on the verge of giving up when a slight metallic glint on a bush by the edge of the clearing. Approaching carefully he cautiously brushed the leaves aside to reveal small necklace stuck on the foliage. The former duelist quickly snatched the trinket and brought it closer to study it.
The jewel was simple. The pendant had a small engraving depicting a crescent moon and a thin while the chain looked thin and fragile. The metal was silver in color but Julien wasn't sure if it was true silver. And of course, he realized bitterly as he pocketed the jewel, it was useless to his current needs. On the bright side, maybe he would be able to get a few coins out of it if they returned to civilization. Goal that would be much easier if he could fashion at least a few traps to protect them while they rested.
"I would have better luck getting us dinner." Julien mumbled to himself. "But I doubt Wystellia would fare much better in my position..." And it was then that growls interrupted his line of thought.
Drawing his sword and turning to face this new threat, the Warden groaned internally as two Darkspawn emerged from the woods. As if they hadn't had enough trouble for a day already.
"C'mon you ugly bitches!" Julien taunted. "Come and get me!" He frankly didn't knew if the Darkspawn could actually understand what he had said. But the hurlock armed with mace and shield charged at him. Julien waited a bit before making his own move, preferring to jump aside at the last possible moment and then backstab the Spawn before it could turn around. The beast howled in pain and anger as the sword slashed at his upper back while the Warden was forced to pay attention to his second foe, a genlock armed with a maul.
The wild swings of the smaller Darkspawn forced the Warden to give ground before he could finish the wounded foe. And soon enough the two Darkspawn were advancing together against the Warden. Julien found himself at a disadvantage, specially now that he lacked his shortsword and the convenient support of his mage companion. He decided to act before the Spawn could truly start attacking together and lunged at the hurlock, who was somewhat closer to him. The beast raised its shield to protect against an obvious overhead swing, leaving his lower body open to a well placed kick on the shin. The blow was enough to break the balance of the hurlock and Julien pressed his advantage, stabbing straight at the now unprotected face of the hurlock.
Unfortunately for Julien, the short time in which he had managed to kill the larger Darkspawn was enough for the genlock to close in. And the Warden saw himself almost getting his leg smashed by a maul blow. Julien was once again forced into the defensive as his enemy's weapon had more reach than his.
Casting a quick glance backwards, Julien tried to guide his retreat towards the trees. In the hopes that the enclosed space would constrain the effectiveness of his enemy. That part wasn't as hard as the rest. Considering that Julien could easily stay just out of reach of his enemy and lure him towards the treeline while he kept taunting the genlock.
As he got closer, Julien gave one last backwards jump that put right with his back towards a tree. The genlock realized that and the Warden could swear that the beast smiled as it charged again howling with the maul raised over its head. Once again Julien waited a few moments for his enemy to get closer before dodging. Leaving the tree shaking as it bore the full brunt of the blow.
Before the genlock could recuperate Julien was already on the offensive. And with a quick blow that buried his sword on the Spawn's head, Julien won the small skirmish.
Controlling his breath as he pulled his sword out of the foe, the Warden nervously surveyed the area. There could me more Darkspawn lurking at the ready at this very moment. And even if not, the fact that their campsite was already discovered once meant that Julien himself would get little sleep this night.
Julien ate his own apple fast. Devouring the fruit with a few hearty bites as they made their way through the forest. The Warden judged that their progress was good. And even though it wasn't unopposed the fact that the number of Darkspawn they met was enough for the two of them to handle, so far, was a good sign in Julien's books. If they were to stumble upon the Horde they would've done so already. Or at least that was what he told to motivate himself. And so far it was working.
"It was about time." Julien agreed as the trees got sparser. "Less chance of those abominations sneaking up on us." By the time they got to the clearing he was starting to feel just tired enough to not oppose the decision to make camp. And immediately set out into the woods to gather material for traps.
Of course, that was easier said than done. Usually he would carry some basic trap material with his supplies. But as with most of his equipment it was lost at Ostagar. So Julien was relegated to simply gathering sticks, twigs and rocks. While also somehow figuring a way to turn these materials into something actually capable of protecting or at least alerting them. How he would do that in the current conditions was still an unknown factor to him. If he were to be honest with himself, he was starting to doubt that he would be able to achieve something worthwhile without the proper material like metal shards, springs and mechanisms.
Still, he at least had to try. And with a sigh he stood up from where he had thrown the assembled material to have another look around the clearing. Maybe the previous occupants had left something useful? Not likely but it was worth a try. And so he gave the abandoned campsite a few more rounds. Julien was on the verge of giving up when a slight metallic glint on a bush by the edge of the clearing. Approaching carefully he cautiously brushed the leaves aside to reveal small necklace stuck on the foliage. The former duelist quickly snatched the trinket and brought it closer to study it.
The jewel was simple. The pendant had a small engraving depicting a crescent moon and a thin while the chain looked thin and fragile. The metal was silver in color but Julien wasn't sure if it was true silver. And of course, he realized bitterly as he pocketed the jewel, it was useless to his current needs. On the bright side, maybe he would be able to get a few coins out of it if they returned to civilization. Goal that would be much easier if he could fashion at least a few traps to protect them while they rested.
"I would have better luck getting us dinner." Julien mumbled to himself. "But I doubt Wystellia would fare much better in my position..." And it was then that growls interrupted his line of thought.
Drawing his sword and turning to face this new threat, the Warden groaned internally as two Darkspawn emerged from the woods. As if they hadn't had enough trouble for a day already.
"C'mon you ugly bitches!" Julien taunted. "Come and get me!" He frankly didn't knew if the Darkspawn could actually understand what he had said. But the hurlock armed with mace and shield charged at him. Julien waited a bit before making his own move, preferring to jump aside at the last possible moment and then backstab the Spawn before it could turn around. The beast howled in pain and anger as the sword slashed at his upper back while the Warden was forced to pay attention to his second foe, a genlock armed with a maul.
The wild swings of the smaller Darkspawn forced the Warden to give ground before he could finish the wounded foe. And soon enough the two Darkspawn were advancing together against the Warden. Julien found himself at a disadvantage, specially now that he lacked his shortsword and the convenient support of his mage companion. He decided to act before the Spawn could truly start attacking together and lunged at the hurlock, who was somewhat closer to him. The beast raised its shield to protect against an obvious overhead swing, leaving his lower body open to a well placed kick on the shin. The blow was enough to break the balance of the hurlock and Julien pressed his advantage, stabbing straight at the now unprotected face of the hurlock.
Unfortunately for Julien, the short time in which he had managed to kill the larger Darkspawn was enough for the genlock to close in. And the Warden saw himself almost getting his leg smashed by a maul blow. Julien was once again forced into the defensive as his enemy's weapon had more reach than his.
Casting a quick glance backwards, Julien tried to guide his retreat towards the trees. In the hopes that the enclosed space would constrain the effectiveness of his enemy. That part wasn't as hard as the rest. Considering that Julien could easily stay just out of reach of his enemy and lure him towards the treeline while he kept taunting the genlock.
As he got closer, Julien gave one last backwards jump that put right with his back towards a tree. The genlock realized that and the Warden could swear that the beast smiled as it charged again howling with the maul raised over its head. Once again Julien waited a few moments for his enemy to get closer before dodging. Leaving the tree shaking as it bore the full brunt of the blow.
Before the genlock could recuperate Julien was already on the offensive. And with a quick blow that buried his sword on the Spawn's head, Julien won the small skirmish.
Controlling his breath as he pulled his sword out of the foe, the Warden nervously surveyed the area. There could me more Darkspawn lurking at the ready at this very moment. And even if not, the fact that their campsite was already discovered once meant that Julien himself would get little sleep this night.
