Outracing the Flames RPG

[Nogrod]

Bregoware

Sythric and Osmod both noticed that someone had rode alongside them. It was Fionn. Before Osmod had time to answer anything, that Sythric had kind of just thrown to his face, Sythric was greeting Fionn heartily. “Master Fionn, do join us with the ride. I would really like to hear, how you are feeling today, and what do you think about the mission we have”.

Hastily Sythric hissed to Osmod, so that Fionn could not have heard it: “You have something to say over the things I just talked you, let's have them later”.

[Undómë]

Bregoware

Meghan eyed the men, or that is the majority of the men as Rædwald still rode by her, who were now clumped together like ticks on a dog. There were two of them, at first, Osmod and Sythric. With Sythric talking quite seriously to the younger man. And then up came Fionn. She rather liked him; he was still boyish enough to make her smile with his ingenuous manner. Still, he was a male, and soon he would be sucked into that great brotherhood of males around which she might only stand quite prettily and quite demurely staring in.

And then of course, there was Eostre. And sometimes she almost envied the woman her fierceness. Meghan dug deep in herself and could not find an answering strain. Sure, she shepherded her little herd about and kept them safe as she could. But who was she fooling with her thinking that she could ride with such . . .

She looked hard at the group of men, her brow furrowing, searching for an image on which to pin her thoughts. Eagles. That was it. Great birds of war, all big and majestic, clear eyed and so sure of themselves.

And what was it that Rædwald and Sythric had called her. Ah, yes . . . magpie, and sparrow. Bothersome birds, the both of them. And who would think to put such a small creature among heroes. Certainly none of the tales told about the fire she’d heard had ever featured such.

‘Ash,’ she whispered, leaning low over her mount’s neck, ‘you should have nipped me hard on the leg the moment I mounted you. Woken me from this dream that I might indeed be equal to the task.’ You’ve been a fool, Meghan! she chided herself, straightening up in the saddle. Better to make the right decision now, before the river is crossed, before you become nothing more than a liability.

Rædwald’s horse nickered and bumped lightly against her boot. Meghan flicked her eyes toward Rædwald, noting with a certain irritated alarm that he seemed to be scrutinizing her. She cocked her head at those riding at the front of their little group. ‘Shouldn’t you be up there? Discussing strategy and such?’ she asked in a somewhat peevish manner. She waved him away from her, slapping his horse on the hindquarters to drive him off. ‘Go talk of plans and important matters with your fellows. I’ll hear no more of suitable husbands and first borns. My head is aching already from your idle chatter.’

She stopped her horse completely, watching as he and the others drew further ahead.

[Arry]

Wulfham

‘I thank you for your telling of Vaenosa’s story.’ Brand was quiet for a while, his face thoughtful, as he absorbed the horrid details Incana had told him. ‘It explains quite a lot about her actions.’ He put his cup aside and stood up. It was his habit when he was faced with something of a serious matter to walk about a bit. His thoughts were more easily collected and viewed as he paced, he’d found. And this was certainly something of a serious matter.

‘Someone should let Dorran know these things.’ He crouched down to where Incana still sat. ‘Will you do this? It would come better from you as her friend, I think.’

Brand raised his hand to his face, rubbing at the bandage over his wound. He stood back up again, excusing himself from her company as he did so. ‘I’ll be back before nightfall,’ he said, picking up his cloak from the ground where he’d been sitting. ‘I need to walk for a while. I have some things to think on.’

He pulled his cloak about him and nodded to her, then let his steps take him away from the camp.

[Maeggaladiel]

Fionn looked slightly taken aback at the jovial manner in which Sythric invited him into the conversation. He had halfway expected to be treated as an unwelcome intruder, although he had little idea why he had expected this. Perhaps it was because they were both older than him, and certainly more worldly. There was little reason for them to have become friends under normal circumstances. But this was hardly normal, was it?

"Ah," he began uncertainly. "Pardon if I'm interruptin' anything." He looked around him, and his face burst into his usual grin. "It's just that I'm usually stuck bringing up the rear of the party." He leaned back in the saddle. "It's rather nice having a view of something other than the back of your heads once in a while. 'Course, that's saying nothing against the back of your head. Fine heads, they are, to be sure." He grinned again.

[Naria]

Wulfham


Disheartened by the lack of feelings and response from Brand, Incana watched the man walk away from camp. She noticed that the day had progressed from lunch to the time she was done talking to Brand; evening was slowly approaching. Incana took some rocks off of the roasting boar and saw that it was almost done. She replaced the stones and thought to herself, we cannot just eat the meat by itself we must get something to go along with it.

Incana remembered that Dorran had found turnips earlier. She waited until he came back into camp with some more wood and asked, "Dorran if you are not too busy at the moment, could you show me where you found those turnips you used for the stew?" She also had a thought that if he was able to find turnips maybe there will be some potatoes as well.

[Tevildo]

Dorran took Incana by the hand and guided her over to the edge of camp, pointing to a tall pine that stood some ways off. "Just head in that direction and you'll find a small stream. Be careful there. The ground is tricky....filled with all kinds of gnarled tree roots. Follow it south no more than thirty feet and you'll see a patch of turnips growing near the bank. The clearing is well watered and the sunlight peeps through so I wouldn't be surprised to find other root plants there as well."

There was a moment of silence between them, as Dorran glanced awkwardly over at the girl, wondering how to bring up what was on his mind. He felt he had to say something. "Please, Incana, I hope you don't think ill of me, but I overheard a good deal of what you and Brand were saying. I was watering the horses and managed to come by at just the point you were speaking. I have been thinking a lot about all this. Vaenosa's so different from my sister that I can't make head or tail of her. And I admit I've been angry at her because of her teasing. Yet I do understand that past grief can turn people inside out. She's lucky to have her mother. Her hunting skills are extraordinary for such a young girl, and I am grateful for the food she's provided. Perhaps, she'll get to feel more comfortable with us. I hope so. It will make things easier for everyone, including herself. I just can't say these things to her directly, but maybe you could let her know that I've no wish to be her enemy or hurt her in any way. I've seen enough misery come down on people's heads, and I don't want to be the cause of any more grief for her."

"As to the other question you asked me before, that's a lot easier to deal with. Unfortunately, we don't have enough time for drying the meat. That would take three or four days. But Brand has some salt. You can place some thin strips in a brine solution. Hang the jerky over a low fire until dawn. When we break camp, just pack up the jerky and continue smoking the next night. The whole thing takes about four to five days of smoking and is worth every minute. I remember my parents did this when we were on the run to the west, safe out of the dark lands so that we could light fires again."

Dorran stopped a minute, wondering if he should go on. But if he didn't say this now, he was likely not to have another chance. "Anyways, there's one more thing I must say. Incana, you have a gentle heart. You stuck your neck out for Vaenosa and that's says a lot. Whatever doubts or fears I have about your friend, I have none whatsover about you." With that, Dorran hastily dropped Incana's hand and hurried back towards camp.

[Undómë]

Bregoware

Rædwald


‘Well,’ he said to his horse as they plodded toward the lead group, ‘it’s a simple truth that women have their own ways.’ He patted his mount on the withers, more an assurance for himself as any comfort to the horse, who simply flicked his mane at the sudden touch. ‘She’ll get over whatever blue funk she’s sunk into and come round to her bright spirited self again. Just needs a little room to brood.’

His thoughts went back fondly to his mother, who had periodically thrown his father and her sons out of the house, suggesting they go do ‘something’, when she was feeling too hemmed in and bossed about. She’d say she was doing some deep cleaning and would they be so kind as to take the herd out to a far pasture for a few days or more. And it was true – the little cottage was gleaming and all in order when they’d come back, and she herself would be smiling and welcoming them with open arms. Perhaps that little space of time was all that Meghan would need to get her thoughts in order.

Rædwald kicked his heels into his horse’s flanks and pulled up just shy of the group of men at the head of the group. ‘Private confab going on, eh?’ he called out as he neared them. ‘Or can another join and shoot the breeze with you?’