Outracing the Flames RPG - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Eowyn Skywalker · 02-22-2006, 12:04 AM

Shoved awake, Eostre found herself tying her boots back up and standing up to examine the newcomers critically. So. They weren't trusted. Well, which one of them was the traitor, then? She innerly snorted. Did the marchwarden believe that desperately that they were unable to handle a mission with more than one experienced person to take the lead?

What was it now? She let herself mentally take the tally... Meghan's brother, and now one sent by the marchwarden himself, or so t'was said. She held silent through the tangle of words, language spoken, and seeming greetings.

Well, said some sadistic part of her mind, at least Meghan's brother is good looking.

She frowned and silenced that thought near to immediately. But already awake, she had a strong desire to follow after this... Sythric... and interrogate him. Why was he here? What was the council's suspicions that they would insist on sending them off... but she restrained herself, returning to sit back down on her bedroll. Perhaps I could take the next watch...

Undómë · 02-22-2006, 04:09 AM

Bregoware

Rædwald

Rædwald felt the tiredness of a long day’s ride creeping on him, too. He motioned for one of the others to take the watch and waited as they retrieved what weapon and other things they might need to pass the time.

‘Wake us at first light, if you will,’ he asked. 'The sooner we’re to the ford and cross it, the sooner we’re heading down the river and toward Edoras.'

Nogrod · 02-22-2006, 08:51 AM

Sythric freed Thydrë from all the load she was carrying, gave her a quick brushing and tended her some oats. "Now try to rest my friend. We have miles to make when the sun rises. Good girl." He patted Thydrë's side and took his own bedroll. As he saw Raedwald also turning to sleep, he bade him good night and made a bed for himself, just some ten feet away from the other old man. When was it that they had camped together the last time? Sythric felt like asking, but was too tired to exactly go for it. Tomorrow, maybe, he thought, and fell asleep.

Even in his dreams, he was still riding.

Valier · 02-22-2006, 12:41 PM

Wulfham

Vaenosa awoke to Incana shaking her violently. "Vaenosa get up, get up Dorran needs our help!" Vaenosa's first reaction was to stike out at whom ever was shaking her. But her head cleared and she suddenly remembered where she was. She was not at home in her comfy down bed, she was lying on the hard ground in a clearing not far from the road. The sun was beginning to illuminate the sky, morning was approaching.

Vaenosa jumped up, her head was whirling. The men were back and they were hurt? what is going on? Vaenosa saw Incana attempting to make her way towards the lone figure that was hobbiling towards them. Incana stopped, turned and slowly made her way back towards Vaenosa and sat down, defeated on to her bedroll."Please go to their aid, they need help and I am not able to do so!" Vaenosa stood for a long second, then made her way silently to Dorran.

She came along his right side and motioned for him to lean heavily on to her. He obliged and they slowly made their way back to the camp. Vaenosa stayed quiet on the trip to the fire, but it was not strained. She did not want these particular young men to be injured or die, even at those times she had been bold and mocking towards them, she found them both intriguing and wanted to see how far she could push them. She knew at some point they would snap on her,as all men usually did, but she was always curious to see how long it would take them. She brought Dorran to Incana who was waiting anxiously.

"Where is Brand? Is he greatly injured?" Vaenosa asked. Dorran pointed towards the direction to where they had gone. "I left him a distance from here in a small clearing, he is covered in my coat. He is injured! Please hurry!" Vaenosa whistled for Nay, leapt upon his back and headed down the path Dorran had indicated. She found him not too far, lying beneath Dorran's coat. His face was bloodied, as was the ground around him. She slid from Nay's back and rushed to the fallen man.

She was unsure of what all his injurys were and was insure how to get him back without causing farther injury. "Nay my boy, I need you again. Come here." She motioned Nay to lay down and she tried to move Brand. She used all her strength and rolled him onto Nay in a sitting position. She did not want him to fall or injure himself even more on the ride back. Before she left, she scanned the area. She picked up Dorran's bloodied coat and a knife she found on the ground. As she looked to see where they had put the cat, she noticed a large Willow tree growing not far off from the dead feline. She knew that the inner bark was an analgesic or painkiller. Seeing as they would definately need some pain relief she gathered some with her dagger. She again went to the feline, grabbed it by the scruff and dug the fangs from the jaw bone. She wiped her hands on her slacks, pocketed the teeth and started back with Nay in tow.

She had to stop a few times to readjust Brand's position,and now when she pushed him back into place he let out a moan. They were approaching quickly and Vaenosa could see the fire. She motioned again for Nay to come to Brand's bedroll. She positioned Brand over her shoulder, for the quickest decent off the horse. She laid him down without to much strain and turned to face the two concious people.

"Here I found these." Vaenosa said handing Dorran his coat and the knife. "Also I brought back some Willow bark. It will help with the pain. Steep it with some tea and see if you can get him to drink some. You two should have some as well. I will be back shortly, I need to wash the blood from Nay now before he attracts any more predators." Vaenosa turned wearily towards the stream leading Nay behind her.

Maeggaladiel · 02-22-2006, 02:07 PM

"I'd take the next watch," Fionn began, "but people tend to show up unannounced whenever I'm left in charge. I'm too tired to make any more introductions. We'll end up with an army a thousand strong if I keep this up." He lay down on his bedroll and closed his eyes. A moment later, his eyes reopened.

"Which would apparently suit the March-Warden just fine," he added, quietly and not without some ire.

He held no grudges against either Raedwald or the newcomer Sythric; he had always admired those who rode in the Mark. But it was quite disturbing to think that the council, all of whom had seemed perfectly happy to send the small party out to Edoras, was now doubting their abilities.

Why did Bregoware send a retired Rider out as "aid?" Did they think they needed a babysitter? Were they regretting their choice in messengers? Did they expect his party to be hopelessly lost and crying like children right about now?

Fionn forced his eyes closed once more, and sleep descended upon him.

Nogrod · 02-22-2006, 05:20 PM

Bregoware

The easterling cavalry was closing in, riding ever tighter around the perimeter of the refugee camp. They sent their lethal arrows one at the time, at least fifty arrows in the air simultaneosly. It was pure slaughter. The children were crying out in panic, their mothers wailing in agony. The men and the women were trying to find a shelter from the wagons, some of them trying to shoot back. Two or three of the wagons had already been lit by the flame-arrows, that a few of the easterlings used. The darkness of the night and the brightness of the flames made a stark contrast. Then there were those blood-chilling screams that came from the onfalling orc-army. It had emerged from nowhere, and was upon the people before they could come to grips with this new danger. Cwen was running towards her mother, face turned to despair, when the orc appeared from behind her, and swang its sword...

Sythric woke up, sweating, hearing his own heart bumping heavily and fast. It was quiet, and the stars shined calmly over the skies. He rubbed his forehead to ease the tension, but that didn’t seem to help. Slowly he rose up to sitting position and tried to relax. Nothing seemed to help: he was still shaking all over. Maybe it was just too little sleep or something...

As he seemed not to be able to get those images out from his head, he rose up, and thought of having a little walk. Maybe a chat with the guard, whoever he or she was, could release him from these dark visions. He would just have to occupy himself with something else. Sythric saw a figure standing, leaning towards a tree, some thirty feet away from him. He started to approach the figure carefully: not to make too much noise, but no to be perceived as stalking either. He would just need to have some company, not a third alarm for this party today.

Arry · 02-23-2006, 02:26 PM

Wulfham

Brand was barely aware as someone leveraged him up from his blankets to a sitting position and spoke to him. He could barely make out the words at first, but they were spoken in a soft voice, and he was very glad of that. His head was pounding from the fall he’d taken when the cougar landed on him. Brand struggled to open his eyes and he groaned as he raised his fingers to the back of his head, to the large knot there.

‘Drink this!’ he heard the voice urge him. It was a sharp taste on his tongue as he took a swallow of the warm tea. Willow bark! ‘Good!’ he said, his own voice barely above a whisper; the loudness of it as it rattled about his head made him wince again.

He took the cup in his hands, sipping at the brew. There was a bulky bandage of sorts on his left forearm he noted, and then recalled how the cat had clawed him. The gouges stung beneath the strips of cloth and he wondered if they would leave scars. Worse yet was his face. The right side of it felt on fire and the eye was swollen shut. Brand fingered the bandage that had been secure there. It seemed a little west, and drawing his finger tips away from it he noted they were stained with dark blood.

A grim laugh escaped him, causing him to groan again at the movement of his face. A bit of dark humor in the midst of present pain. Seeing as how he would most likely be scarred, perhaps his sisters would give up their quest to find a suitable wife for him. ‘Now that I am no longer suitable,’ he said to himself, ‘perhaps they will leave me be!’

He asked after Lady. And being told she seemed to have fared better than he, he heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Wake me at first light, then,’ he said. ‘We should get an early start.’ His voice trailed off as he lay back down; soon he was asleep.

-----

Next day . . .

He felt warm as he threw off his blankets. Opening his eyes, he could see the sun was shining brightly and already stood at the mid-day position. Brand raised himself up on one elbow and yelled out, ‘Hey!’ He was about to chastise his companions for letting him sleep when his head began to throb and his wounds ache. Brand lowered his voice and waved to someone on the other side of the fire. ‘Any of that willow bark tea left?’ he asked instead. ‘And am I still dreaming or do I smell something roasting over the fire?’

His belly rumbled hungrily with no accompanying wave of nausea. A good sign, he thought . . .

02-22-2006, 12:04 AM	#1
Eowyn Skywalker Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somewhere far, far away. Eh. Posts: 402	Bregoware Shoved awake, Eostre found herself tying her boots back up and standing up to examine the newcomers critically. So. They weren't trusted. Well, which one of them was the traitor, then? She innerly snorted. Did the marchwarden believe that desperately that they were unable to handle a mission with more than one experienced person to take the lead? What was it now? She let herself mentally take the tally... Meghan's brother, and now one sent by the marchwarden himself, or so t'was said. She held silent through the tangle of words, language spoken, and seeming greetings. Well, said some sadistic part of her mind, at least Meghan's brother is good looking. She frowned and silenced that thought near to immediately. But already awake, she had a strong desire to follow after this... Sythric... and interrogate him. Why was he here? What was the council's suspicions that they would insist on sending them off... but she restrained herself, returning to sit back down on her bedroll. Perhaps I could take the next watch...

02-22-2006, 04:09 AM	#2
Undómë Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 400	Bregoware Rædwald Rædwald felt the tiredness of a long day’s ride creeping on him, too. He motioned for one of the others to take the watch and waited as they retrieved what weapon and other things they might need to pass the time. ‘Wake us at first light, if you will,’ he asked. 'The sooner we’re to the ford and cross it, the sooner we’re heading down the river and toward Edoras.' Last edited by Undómë; 02-22-2006 at 01:44 PM.

02-22-2006, 12:41 PM	#4
Valier Twisted Taleswapper Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: somewhere between sanity and insanity Posts: 1,706	Wulfham Vaenosa awoke to Incana shaking her violently. "Vaenosa get up, get up Dorran needs our help!" Vaenosa's first reaction was to stike out at whom ever was shaking her. But her head cleared and she suddenly remembered where she was. She was not at home in her comfy down bed, she was lying on the hard ground in a clearing not far from the road. The sun was beginning to illuminate the sky, morning was approaching. Vaenosa jumped up, her head was whirling. The men were back and they were hurt? what is going on? Vaenosa saw Incana attempting to make her way towards the lone figure that was hobbiling towards them. Incana stopped, turned and slowly made her way back towards Vaenosa and sat down, defeated on to her bedroll."Please go to their aid, they need help and I am not able to do so!" Vaenosa stood for a long second, then made her way silently to Dorran. She came along his right side and motioned for him to lean heavily on to her. He obliged and they slowly made their way back to the camp. Vaenosa stayed quiet on the trip to the fire, but it was not strained. She did not want these particular young men to be injured or die, even at those times she had been bold and mocking towards them, she found them both intriguing and wanted to see how far she could push them. She knew at some point they would snap on her,as all men usually did, but she was always curious to see how long it would take them. She brought Dorran to Incana who was waiting anxiously. "Where is Brand? Is he greatly injured?" Vaenosa asked. Dorran pointed towards the direction to where they had gone. "I left him a distance from here in a small clearing, he is covered in my coat. He is injured! Please hurry!" Vaenosa whistled for Nay, leapt upon his back and headed down the path Dorran had indicated. She found him not too far, lying beneath Dorran's coat. His face was bloodied, as was the ground around him. She slid from Nay's back and rushed to the fallen man. She was unsure of what all his injurys were and was insure how to get him back without causing farther injury. "Nay my boy, I need you again. Come here." She motioned Nay to lay down and she tried to move Brand. She used all her strength and rolled him onto Nay in a sitting position. She did not want him to fall or injure himself even more on the ride back. Before she left, she scanned the area. She picked up Dorran's bloodied coat and a knife she found on the ground. As she looked to see where they had put the cat, she noticed a large Willow tree growing not far off from the dead feline. She knew that the inner bark was an analgesic or painkiller. Seeing as they would definately need some pain relief she gathered some with her dagger. She again went to the feline, grabbed it by the scruff and dug the fangs from the jaw bone. She wiped her hands on her slacks, pocketed the teeth and started back with Nay in tow. She had to stop a few times to readjust Brand's position,and now when she pushed him back into place he let out a moan. They were approaching quickly and Vaenosa could see the fire. She motioned again for Nay to come to Brand's bedroll. She positioned Brand over her shoulder, for the quickest decent off the horse. She laid him down without to much strain and turned to face the two concious people. "Here I found these." Vaenosa said handing Dorran his coat and the knife. "Also I brought back some Willow bark. It will help with the pain. Steep it with some tea and see if you can get him to drink some. You two should have some as well. I will be back shortly, I need to wash the blood from Nay now before he attracts any more predators." Vaenosa turned wearily towards the stream leading Nay behind her. Last edited by Valier; 02-22-2006 at 12:57 PM.

02-22-2006, 02:07 PM	#5
Maeggaladiel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The end of the world as we know it. I feel fine, incidentally. Posts: 500	Bregoware "I'd take the next watch," Fionn began, "but people tend to show up unannounced whenever I'm left in charge. I'm too tired to make any more introductions. We'll end up with an army a thousand strong if I keep this up." He lay down on his bedroll and closed his eyes. A moment later, his eyes reopened. "Which would apparently suit the March-Warden just fine," he added, quietly and not without some ire. He held no grudges against either Raedwald or the newcomer Sythric; he had always admired those who rode in the Mark. But it was quite disturbing to think that the council, all of whom had seemed perfectly happy to send the small party out to Edoras, was now doubting their abilities. Why did Bregoware send a retired Rider out as "aid?" Did they think they needed a babysitter? Were they regretting their choice in messengers? Did they expect his party to be hopelessly lost and crying like children right about now? Fionn forced his eyes closed once more, and sleep descended upon him. Last edited by Maeggaladiel; 02-22-2006 at 02:35 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

02-22-2006, 08:51 AM	#3
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	Sythric freed Thydrë from all the load she was carrying, gave her a quick brushing and tended her some oats. "Now try to rest my friend. We have miles to make when the sun rises. Good girl." He patted Thydrë's side and took his own bedroll. As he saw Raedwald also turning to sleep, he bade him good night and made a bed for himself, just some ten feet away from the other old man. When was it that they had camped together the last time? Sythric felt like asking, but was too tired to exactly go for it. Tomorrow, maybe, he thought, and fell asleep. Even in his dreams, he was still riding.

02-22-2006, 05:20 PM	#6
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	Bregoware The easterling cavalry was closing in, riding ever tighter around the perimeter of the refugee camp. They sent their lethal arrows one at the time, at least fifty arrows in the air simultaneosly. It was pure slaughter. The children were crying out in panic, their mothers wailing in agony. The men and the women were trying to find a shelter from the wagons, some of them trying to shoot back. Two or three of the wagons had already been lit by the flame-arrows, that a few of the easterlings used. The darkness of the night and the brightness of the flames made a stark contrast. Then there were those blood-chilling screams that came from the onfalling orc-army. It had emerged from nowhere, and was upon the people before they could come to grips with this new danger. Cwen was running towards her mother, face turned to despair, when the orc appeared from behind her, and swang its sword... Sythric woke up, sweating, hearing his own heart bumping heavily and fast. It was quiet, and the stars shined calmly over the skies. He rubbed his forehead to ease the tension, but that didn’t seem to help. Slowly he rose up to sitting position and tried to relax. Nothing seemed to help: he was still shaking all over. Maybe it was just too little sleep or something... As he seemed not to be able to get those images out from his head, he rose up, and thought of having a little walk. Maybe a chat with the guard, whoever he or she was, could release him from these dark visions. He would just have to occupy himself with something else. Sythric saw a figure standing, leaning towards a tree, some thirty feet away from him. He started to approach the figure carefully: not to make too much noise, but no to be perceived as stalking either. He would just need to have some company, not a third alarm for this party today.

02-23-2006, 02:26 PM	#7
Arry Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 704	Wulfham Brand was barely aware as someone leveraged him up from his blankets to a sitting position and spoke to him. He could barely make out the words at first, but they were spoken in a soft voice, and he was very glad of that. His head was pounding from the fall he’d taken when the cougar landed on him. Brand struggled to open his eyes and he groaned as he raised his fingers to the back of his head, to the large knot there. ‘Drink this!’ he heard the voice urge him. It was a sharp taste on his tongue as he took a swallow of the warm tea. Willow bark! ‘Good!’ he said, his own voice barely above a whisper; the loudness of it as it rattled about his head made him wince again. He took the cup in his hands, sipping at the brew. There was a bulky bandage of sorts on his left forearm he noted, and then recalled how the cat had clawed him. The gouges stung beneath the strips of cloth and he wondered if they would leave scars. Worse yet was his face. The right side of it felt on fire and the eye was swollen shut. Brand fingered the bandage that had been secure there. It seemed a little west, and drawing his finger tips away from it he noted they were stained with dark blood. A grim laugh escaped him, causing him to groan again at the movement of his face. A bit of dark humor in the midst of present pain. Seeing as how he would most likely be scarred, perhaps his sisters would give up their quest to find a suitable wife for him. ‘Now that I am no longer suitable,’ he said to himself, ‘perhaps they will leave me be!’ He asked after Lady. And being told she seemed to have fared better than he, he heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Wake me at first light, then,’ he said. ‘We should get an early start.’ His voice trailed off as he lay back down; soon he was asleep. ----- Next day . . . He felt warm as he threw off his blankets. Opening his eyes, he could see the sun was shining brightly and already stood at the mid-day position. Brand raised himself up on one elbow and yelled out, ‘Hey!’ He was about to chastise his companions for letting him sleep when his head began to throb and his wounds ache. Brand lowered his voice and waved to someone on the other side of the fire. ‘Any of that willow bark tea left?’ he asked instead. ‘And am I still dreaming or do I smell something roasting over the fire?’ His belly rumbled hungrily with no accompanying wave of nausea. A good sign, he thought . . .