Outracing the Flames RPG

[Arry]

The immediacy of the skirmish was fading; the press of emotions settling down into a space where he could think more clearly. Brand twitched his shoulders, throwing off some of the tightness and the welling hatred for the Orcs and Easterlings that had fueled his thoughts and actions for the past moments of the assault. Hatred . . . and fear, too. He could not deny that. Even as he’d thrown his net, he’d wondered would he die. And this time he’d mastered the thought and met what might have proved a fatal task with some degree of success.

But now, hearing the man’s words as he struggled in the net, Brand wondered if perhaps he should have used his head more and his gut-feelings less.

‘. . . fiend of the nameless one,’ the fellow had shouted out. ‘. . . enemy . . . Riders of Rohan . . . King Theoden . . . Bregoware . . .’

‘Did you hear him?’ Athwen had asked. And now Dorran came up whispering hurriedly that he didn’t think these two looked like the Eastern men he’d heard of.

Brand’s shoulder’s slumped, a sickening feeling washing over him. The little haze of battle had cleared completely from his eyes. And now he took in the two figures. They looked like . . . him . . .

‘’Vaenosa, stay your hand, please. I ask you. Lest we be like the Orcs and other fiendish creatures of the Shadow and kill our own.’

He turned to the netted man and laid down his cudgel. Crouching down beside him he looked him in the eye, words of apology and explanation spilling from his lips. ‘We are men . . . and of the Mark,’ he began. ‘We are sorry our actions have brought you harm. Like you we thought you were the enemy finishing up that gruesome task the Orcs had begun. Worse actually, we thought you were Eastern men come to take us into slavery for your Dark Lord.’ He began to loosen the cords that held the net tight, hoping the man was not so overtaken by his own anger that he would rise up and kill him.

‘My name is Brand,’ he said as his fingers loosed the fetters. ‘My companions and I are from Wulfham, two days north of the great ford. We are bound to the King’s Hall to ask aid for our village.’

He loosed the last knot, letting the net fall free. Brand stood up quickly and took a step back from the man. Then, thinking better of his actions, he stepped forward once again and extended the man a hand up . . .

[Nogrod]

“I agree with being careful, and I agree with keeping nearer to each other. But I would insist us to keep a fair pace anyhow. At least now, there seems to be plenty of open land in the direction those two have hurried to. Maybe we slow down a bit before those woods over there – if they are maintaining their direction, and we eventually end up there.” Sythric answered, looking at all the three others, trying to hide his suspicions and fears that had immediately started to pile up in his head.

“I propose Raedwald goes in front, for he’s a real wizard when it comes to tracking. Either of you, Meghan or Eostre, if you have any of those skills, ride beside him. I’ll leap first somewhat to the left flank of you three, just to be able to see, if there is anything nearer the river to be worth noticing. I’ll be back at your side in no time.” Sythric glanced at Radwald, who nodded in agreement.

Sythric took to full speed, riding towards the river, heading a bit backwards. Then, approaching the shoreline, he started slowing down a bit, turning little by little southwards. As he rode forwards, he studied the undergrowth and the surroundings with watchful eyes for any mark of an ambush being prepared from there. So it seems they were not running away from something then. Well, that’s the good news. And what might be the bad news then...If not away from, then after something? Soon he ended up riding at somewhat parallel line with the others – a little behind, some hundred yards from them, quite near the sparse trees and bushes by the side of the river. There seemed to be nothing of interest there. If not away from, then after something?So what could it be?What on Middle-Earth could they be running after then?He had been so sure to find tracks beside the river, some mop-up group trying to ambush the last survivors or scouts. But no, that clearly wasn’t the case. But they wouldn’t have rushed themselves over a whole orc-party either, they wouldn’t be such fools, even angered or depressed. Had they seen orcs, or easterlings, they would have turned back. Surely they would. Osmod would have turned. Fion would.

He started to increase his pace and to angle towards the others, encouraging Thydrë to make all the fun out of it. When she was not tired, she really loved to make some speed. And now she really made some.

[Naria]

Riders of Rohan reverberated through her head back and forth like an echo....

The group and herself were so caught up in catching one of those wicked fiends that Dorran had described that capturing a fellow man did not even enter their minds. After her heart had ceased its thud against her chest and her breathing slowed, Incana realized only then what they had done. She felt just in their final decision, afterall they couldn't have known what or whom these people were. It still was no comfort to her.

Incana noticed Brand offering a hand to the conscious man, in turn letting the others know that they could now let their guards down. The woman could not but help feel horrible and guilt ridden for the attack. Her gaze immediately left the one man now standing and went to the still unconscious man on the ground. Incana knelt down and brushed some dirt and leaves off of his face and saw what she had done to him. The rock that she threw had hit him squarely in the forehead and left a substantial lump and bruising.

Incana stood up and walked over to her horse and took the strap of her water skin off of the saddle horn and went back to him. She knelt down once again and tilting his head she let the water drizzle down the man's throat. She looked up at Vaenosa, "This man is going to need some of that medicinal herb you found earlier. We will make some into tea, for her will surely need it when he awakens."
Incana then looked the other way and addressed the man beside Brand, "Am I safe to assume that your Lord would not send just the two of you?"

[Valier]

Vaenosa had stayed her hand and dropped the unconcious man to the ground. They were from Rohan as well? How could they be sure? She decided to drop the subject and leave it to the others, she was afraid her temper would get the best of her and thought she would keep her mouth shut for now.

She was now unsure as to how she felt about having two more men in their camp. She had threatened them both and the one man had laughed..laughed!. She was certain he would hold a grudge against her, how could he not? Vaenosa moved towards Incana who suggested that she get some willowbark for tea. Vaenosa nodded and headed towards her horse who was chewing at the bark on a nearby tree. Vaenosa's head was whirling after all the excitment. She had been afraid, but the thought of being a slave to some evil over came any fears she may have had. She had just acted and she was still unsure...Should they trust these men so blindly?

Giving Nay a push gently from the side, she pulled out the willowbark she had saved from earlier in their trip, from his saddle bag. She decided she would leave the blade with Nay as well, but she made sure her trusty daggers were at her sides. She left nay to his bark, as she brought her bark to the fire and started the water boiling.

At this moment she decided to put on a bit of a sour look hoping noone would speak to her. She planned on being quiet and watchful. She would not be caught at unawares.