First Few Steps

Abram


Abram watched as Lyke made some slithering motions with her hand, then punctuated the mime with a two-finger strike to her thigh. Perhaps the ending was a bit overly dramatic, but the point was clearly made. Abram looked back at the tracks and considered that they might be snakes, it was one of the only animals that could make such a trail. But there were too many of the tracks for his liking, at least half a dozen unique trails. Snakes were solitary things, only moving in a large group when a nest hatched. And even then the young vipers would go off in their own directions, not having a single care for their kin. No, whatever made these wasn't any serpent Abram knew of.


Abram looked towards the tracks and followed their course. They seemed to come from the wilderness and were heading towards the camp. Beast or not Abram didn't like the idea of just letting something come into camp unannounced. He stood up and held his poleaxe firmly on his shoulder as his eyes stayed locked on the trail. Without looking away Abram spoke to Lyke. "Keep watch for now, I'm going to follow these tracks. Best to be sure an' all that."


Slowly and carefully Abram began to follow the tracks, moving as silently as he could as he traced their intended destination.


@Teh Frixz


@Silvertongued
 
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The trails seems to be heading back towards the camp, but stops dead at a stony patch of earth, littered with loose stones and pebbles.
 
Abram


Abram looked around at the camp to check if the others were still asleep. All of them were, including their newest addition Darius. Abram looked back at Lyke when he found the end of the trail and signaled for her to come over to where the tracks ended. He wasn't exactly sure what he was looking at and he wanted a second opinion on this. If they needed to they might wake up Osric or even the crone for their opinion on things.


@Silvertongued @Teh Frixz


[dice]18010[/dice]
 
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Lyke


Having just settled into position for her shift, Abram was already waving her over. He just couldn't get enough of her it seemed.


Donning a little smirk, she walks on over to where Abram ended up. She follows the little groove, smirk vanishing when she came up to the pebble pile. Snakes didn't do stuff like this.


Lyke inadvertently looks up over in the direction of the Fae filled woods before looking back down at the mound. She jabs a thumb at camp. One of them ought to know, this was beyond her knowledge.


@KamiKahzy
 
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Abram


Abram nodded at Lyke's gesture. He motioned out towards the horizon to indicate Lyke should keep an eye out just in case. Meanwhile he went over to the camp quietly and began to shake shoulders, seeking any that would rouse from their slumber. Osric, Adelaide, Ealhstan, Sam, even the crone in the caravan. Each received a gentle but firm nudge from the hedge knight's mailed hand.


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Osric Silkhand





Osric wakes groggily from a dream that escapes his memory before he has time to think, soon thereafter rising to his feet with blade at the ready.


The darkness occludes his sight not in the least; might as well be noon.


"What is this?" he hisses at Abram.
 
Sam


"Huuuwuzzhat?" comes a Tradestongue purr from the furs.


He wakens, his hair in even more frantic disarray than before his slumber, making him look a mix between lunatic, and a recently napping tomcat.


Everyone's already moving by the time he gets his bearings.


"What's everyone g -" he blinks, marshallow-headed, realising he's talking the wrong dialect and switches back to Kelenite,"What doing?"
 
Abram


Abram was glad he got at least two of the others to wake so he could get some perspective on this. He waved Osric and Sam over to the stones he had found and pointed to the collection of pebbles with his poleax. "Look at the tracks," Abram pointed to the trails left in the dirt, "now look where they lead." Abram pointed back to the pebbles, each tiny in their own regard but curiously out of place in this whole scenario. It was as if the rocks themselves had made the tracks in the ground, each stone rolling of it's own accord.


Abram lifted his weapon and planted the shaft on the ground next to him, holding it in the crook of his arm. "Now, I be the son of a fishmonger. But even I know stones don't move 'emselves."


Abram looked to the two men, silently waiting for them to speak their minds.


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Osric Silkhand





Osric rubbed his chin thoughtfully, experimentally nudging a stone with his boot.


[dice]18100[/dice]

Lore 3 means this is one success.
 
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Ealhstan dragged himself to his feet, leaning on his crutch and stomping towards the gathering with a surly look on his face.


"What-"


He caught the tail end of their conversation and his expression shifted instantly from irritable to wary. After a brief pause he moved to stand next to Osric as the pan nudged a stone with his toe. Ealhstan inspected the stone, then ran his eyes over the scene, the Inquisitor studying it closely.


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Ealhstan glanced to the others.


"Heard of this before." He grunted. "Carnivorous rocks. The critters like to take a bite out of you while you sleep."


Ealhstan flicked the stone away with the tip of his crutch.


"Harmless, if you know what you're looking for. Check your clothes, boots and bedding for them, unless you want one of them to chew right through you."


He threw a glance at the pile of pebbles.


"As for those... I'd say that they're best left alone."
 
Sam


His eyes widened at this development, and he immediately turns out his boots to make sure. He possessed no bedding, so instead his furs and clothing get a violent shuffling motion, throwing off some soil from the sleep before.


Shoes returned to feet his approaches the offending rocks.


"Rocks not very fast. No leg. Kick into hole? Bury?" he offers, "I liking my toes..." he trails off, sounding mildly perturbed.
 
Lyke


Her eyes slide up and down the various pebble paths. Every fiber of her being wanted to call out horse shite but she resigned herself to a sharp clucking noise.


Luckily, she'd made her tent and gotten some sleep before the arrival of the supposed rocks. It was the start of her shift too, whoever was next better go back to sleep.


She gestures a few times for the rest to go back to sleep, snapping at the inquisitor a few times before gesturing at the rocks and jingling her coinpurse.


Suddenly her eyes go a bit wide as she hurried back to the caravan for a metal pot. Returning she drops to the ground, looking for the stone the cripple flicked away.
 
Abram


An incredulous look had been stuck on Abram's face the moment Ealhstan explained what he thought the stones were. "Carnivorous...?"


Abram looked down at the stones, then back at Ealhstan, then over to Lyke who was frantically trying to find a metal pot, presumably to place over the offending rocks. Everyone in the vicinity was accepting this information with ease, but Abram was having a hard time wrapping his mind around it. He'd certainly never experienced anything that could be considered magical in his life, the strangers in the woods being his first and only encounter with the supernatural. But this?


Abram looked at Ealhstan and asked quizzically, "You're serious, aren't ye?"


@Hellkite
 
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Ealhstan shrugged at Lyke.


"Might be worth something. You'd need a specialist dealer though, and those can be hard to come by."


The Inquisitor looked past her to Abram.


"I'm serious. They're strange, but hardly the strangest creature I've heard tell of. An old colleague told me about them once; chewed a hole straight through his foot when one got caught in his shoe." Ealhstan glanced at the pile of pebbles again.


"They're not my really my speciality, and I'm not sure I want to let them out of sight unless it can be avoided. I suggest we leave them where they are. I've some cold-iron in my bag which might deter them if they're related to the fae. Otherwise we'll just have to be attentive and careful."
 
Abram


Now that he'd had his confirmation, Abram couldn't help but look down at stones in a contemplative manner. He studied them, immobile and unassuming little pebbles in the night. He stared for a long while, projecting an air of sophistication and curiosity that was not typical of the large hedge night. After he had taken his time, Abram finally spoke in a succinct tone, projecting the sum of his thoughts into a single, concise statement.


"...Huh."


Abram them promptly shrugged and turned away from it all, his interest long since faded now that there was no threat of immediate danger. He walked over to his bedroll and began to shake out the fabrics, ensuring no stones had mysteriously worked their way into the folds. Abram then began to unstrap his armor, placing it in a neat pile next to his sleeping area. It took a while but eventually the large man was down to his plain clothes, and after removing his boots he promptly laid down on his bedroll and placed his poleax within reach. Abram wasted no time in drifting off to sleep, and within minutes a soft but deep snore could be heard coming from Abram's direction.
 
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Osric Silkhand





Osric takes a spare waterskin, cuts the neck off, and carefully drops a handful of the biting stones in before tying it off.


"Should be too sturdy for them to escape. I fancy I might find a use," he says, then shakes out his clothes, empties his boots, and digs a little trench around his bedroll before going back to sleep.
 
With the apparent threat of flesh eating minerals dealt with and contained as well as the group is capable of, the rest of the night is quiet, save for a frightened outburst from Darius, waking from some terrible dream. He deals with it as well as a man restrained in a strange and foreign place can, and aside from his initial shriek upon waking along with the shortened gasps that follow, he remains relatively calm. He does, however, ask softly for a candle to keep him company.


The next morning is pleasantly clear, the sun cresting over the horizon like a golden disk, warming all with its touch. The crone seems somewhat cheerful with the weather, claiming that it was good for her joints. Even Darius, drawn, pale, and haggard, is somewhat happy with the sunlight, though his dour expression makes it difficult to tell.


It takes little travel over the next few days to reach the settlement of New Hope. It's a small town, more shanty than actual buildings, a crowd of caravans clustered on the outskirts, but construction work is clear. However, what immediately draws the eye is the massive quarry the town is built around, a partial tower rising out of its depths.

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Taggin' you punks in case the alert system is actin' the maggot again.


But yeah, you've arrived at New Hope. Decide how and what you want to do in town, where you'd like to park your crap, and generally, what you're hoping to do.
 
Lyke


With every step towards their destination and away from the woods, Lykes anxiety began to diminish. Her demeanor changed for the benefit of all with her signs becoming less choppy and her treatment of Darius growing a bit softer. Going so far as to offer the man drink from her own supply during their last night outside before arriving in New Hope.


Upon arriving at the 'town' itself, Lyke certainly began to show her intentions. Eyeing and pointing at the shack of a tavern as they passed through. As with most dives of this sort, it undoubtedly had beds to rent out to travelers like themselves as well as the makings of a really good night.


Rotating in her saddle, she leans back over to smile at the few souls of their small company in true enjoyment of reaching their destination
 
Abram


Abram's tired eyes had begun to turn bright as the prospect of civilization loomed in the distance. And apparently he wasn't the only one looking forward to the prospect of a bed and a wash. Lyke was practically bouncing in her saddle as New Hope came closer and closer within reach. Her attitude had noticeably improved and she even started to be genuinely nice on a few occasions.


Abram couldn't help but notice the change and decided to investigate. He urged Athos forward until he was keeping pace with Lyke, then asked her directly, "Excited?"


@Teh Frixz
 
Adelaide Auerstedt


Adelaide hadn't roused at the minor commotion over the discovery of rocks outside of their encampment; exhaustion from the day's travelling leaving her sleeping obliviously. Realising she had not woken when there had been a potential risk, Auerstedt is annoyed with herself the following day, appearing somewhat more curt than usual. If asked, she claims having not slept properly. Though, for her part, Adelaide had slept relatively well, only once during the night finding herself rolling over and onto an uncomfortable stone. Remembering Brickshaw's instruction, a former mercenary commander, she slides her knife into the minuscule crack and pops open the rock like a clam. Hazy eyed, she tosses the carcass far from the camp, it landing silently in the grasses before falling back to sleep. Adelaide is silent on the matter, embarrassed with her lack of action earlier in the night, showing only affection towards Abacus.


Entering a New Hope, temptations upon her coin purse vie for attention. Some extra Laman dye, more proofing of her boots or bodice, or perhaps some sweet meats. Adelaide knows what she'd really like, however she doesn't know the town well enough, for where there is a safe place she might get a shave from someone other than herself. Her prudent budgeting would allow it, though it is somewhat helped that the opportunities for such indulgences are very far between. Crestfallen, she considers the risk of a scene occurring to be too risky with her new travel companions. Trying to distract herself from disappointment, Adelaide rides alongside Osric. "So, what is the plan here, find out a bit more on our "guest's" affairs and scout for work?"
 
Lyke


The arrival of Abram quickly made her aware of the way she was acting. She quickly zips back up, calming down to her normal self. It was just something about being in civilization, being back around all the sights and sounds, even the smells of a human settlement just made her feel right. Maybe it was part of growing up in a city or quite possibly the weariness of her destroyed company that made her wish she was back behind the "walls" of humanity.


She reels in the large black warhorse, settling on a trot alongside Abram. Smile temporarily hidden as she points at the tavern, miming out a long drink and resting her hands on an actual pillow. She also gives her rather light coin purse a good shake, hoping to get paid soon for the person they escorted in, jabbing a thumb at Darius in the caravan.


He was a good thing from a lousey campaign, a source of money she could burn through and maybe find a way to stick it to the nobles that almost got her killed back at the fields.
 
Abram


Abram smiled quietly to himself and nodded in agreement. "Aye, bed and drink will be nice. A wash too if they 'ave it." He then looked back at Darius sulking in the back of the caravan and gave a questioning frown. He turned back and addressed Lyke with his concerns. "Not sure 'e's worth much as 'e is. If 'is tale be true, 'e 'as no Lord to claim 'im. No Lord, no coin."


@Teh Frixz
 
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Lyke


Something to really bring down the mood. Lyke frowns in return to Abram, looking back again at their formerly noble wretch. Bastard better at least be thankful for this. Could have been a dead body being turned in just the same result.


She looks back over at Abram, shrugging. She points at herself then up and down before wagging her finger in a 'no no' fashion and shaking that purse again.


No lord or master for her, plenty of coin to be had. Something to be said about being a bandit for a while, you found value in both taking and making your own coin. She heard something about a starving wolf and fat lapdog before that always seemed funny. Seemed those roles were reversed now for her and Darius.
 
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Sam


He was as gleeful as Lyke upon sighting the village in the distance, standing in his stirrups and stretching in the sunlight. He ruffles his pony's mane excitedly, "Look Blue! A home place!" Blue whickers merrily in jest.


He looks over to Darius, gauging his response, "Friend, look of many people! Safe, away we are now,"


He wriggles in his saddle like a stir crazy puppy.
 
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