ooc:
To make things simpler, I have copied the text and description of the note from chapter 1.

The note Ara hands you consists of a single piece of paper, scribed over most of its surface with Draconic writing. The script is very elaborate, making it very unlikely that those creatures scribed it themselves.

quote:

---

Seskalsas,

Once your task in Vista is complete, return to Pyreside with whatever merchandise he can provide. Bring your brothers. We are expecting battle. The Terranos rabble are line-riding the path to Islandway, and the landers have new presence in the Cove. Tossrissics has been captured unexpectedly. Our forces must gather soon. We must strike before we are struck.

+Eskaskagoss+

---

The right margin of the paper is lined with symbols, though they are not from any language you recognize. There is also a minute drawing in the lower left corner, with the appearance of a hastily drawn and very crude map.

Willias

Most of the company appear to be awake, and talking among themselves. Whatever fire there may have been has left little more than burnt ash in the middle of the road. Only Taylen continues his meditation, sitting near a tree on the far side of the road. The sun has just recently risen, and shines over the treetops as you gaze down the trail ahead. The morning air busies itself with the sounds of birds and insects, though the noise no longer bothers your head so much.

Aanile

You still have most of the lizardman meat you packed away the other day. If you would prefer something different, you also have your fishing net tucked away at the bottom of your pack. Either way, the thought of food makes your belly rumble.

"I can not tell you much that you have not already said before. I have heard the name of 'Tossrissics' said before, by those of my kind who attempted to prey upon the craft that carried me across your great pond. They shouted it as if it would call strength to their bodies as they attacked. Those of your type also spoke of it, but they said the name so softly. It was as if they feared the word."

He then thinks awhile longer, and, handing the roll back to Ara, speaks once more.

"I have also heard of Terrano, but I can tell you nothing more than that it was heard by me."

As you rummage through the bag, you find a variety of the dwarf's former possessions. First and most obvious, the dwarf's handaxe sticks out of the bag, and must be moved aside before you can rummage further. Beyond that, you find several sets of tools, a few torches, and a smaller backpack rolled up. A small bird's head peeps out of the backpack at you, and gives off a small, high-pitched chirp.

Falaanla

"I am somewhere!" Ithar declares cheerily. "Hey, looky looky, I find a people in the bag in the bag!"

Aanile

The meat still smells reasonably fresh, though it will likely not last more than another day or two in its partially cured state. If you are uncertain, you could always follow your old habit of purifying questionable quality foods.

Once you settle down near your pack, Twin Moon begins to circle lower, until she finally settles onto your shoulder with a series of heavy wingbeats that fan your whiskers, and drops a freshly killed weasel in your lap.

"Hmm, interesting, very interesting..." Jean says quietly as he glances over the scroll. "Yes, quite an odd twist of fortune you have. For this writing along the edge is in Orc writ, and it just so happens that I, Jean Olivier D'Underhill, highwayhalfling extraordinaire, have a master's conception of their vile script."

"So what's it say?" Ara interjects impatiently. "Ah, patience," Jean replies, and clears his throat. "The orc script is very complex in the reading, and very crude in the telling. It reads, quite simply, as a set of instructions. One, capture alive. Two, follow map. Three, give prisoners to lizardmen. Four, reward is lifeblood. It also adds at the end that there is an extra value for those of the Elven kin." He holds the map up again for any onlookers to see. "And see here? There's a map right in the corner!" he says with pride.

Thinking the lizard meat is still ok, she eats a few peices, and offers some to her owl friend. Then she sets to skinning the weasle, looking for a knife to use.

ooc:
I expect to see a significant reaction to the statements Jean just made. They are significant, as they tie together much of what you have seen so far. Characters with high wisdom should take particular interest, as they would be the first to put the pieces together.

Twin Moon accepts your offering happily and greedily, snapping up the first strip of meat you offer her. Once she finishes eating it, she gives a soft cooing sound. The expression on her face, while hardly visible, reminds you of a smile.

While you don't have any blades so easily handled as a dagger, you could always make use of the scimitar at your side. For small tasks such as this weasel, however, your claws have typically sufficed.

"Silvan Koras, the world does not revolve around you," Ara says bluntly, putting her hands on her hips. Her elven accent has returned, as has her matching demeanor. "Elves outlive most races by double. You think maybe that makes them worth more? And besides, if they were only after elves, I think they would have said so. Not to mention that we were in Vista. There aren't any orc in Vista! Gods, Silvan, you have to be the most conceited elf this side of the mountains."

You awaken from your meditation to the sight and sound of an elven woman yelling at Silvan across the burned-out campfire. The sun has come up, and in the light of early morning, the elven woman looks a lot like the half-elven girl you'd been traveling with the day before. However, she has the ears of an elf, and by all respects she certainly sounds like an elf.

The halfling fellow your group met last night is holding up a familiar-looking parchment. The others all appear to be awake, except for Khazmon, who is out of sight from where you sit, and is most likely still quite dead. Silvan appears to have appropriated some of the Dwarf's possessions, while the rest lie in the pile where Drakkenclaw put them last night.

After a while, hearing this elvin woman yell at the other elven male, she couldn't help but chuckle at the world revolving comment.

"And a fine morning to you, my elven friend," Jean offers a formal bow to Taylen, bringing down the arm holding the parchment to cross his waist for the bend. "Indeed, this morning has shown signs of leading into a busy day. Your feline companion has been waiting for you. And I have graciously given my services as translator, decrypting for you the last piece of writing on this important parchment, the meaning of which had thus far eluded your illustrious company. Would you care to hear it for yourself?"

[ 09-03-2002: Message edited by: Reyolen ]

"I've hearrrd, that many orrcs find elves verrry tasty."

She get's up carefully, haven finished off the weasel with her owl friend. Brushing off her hands and clothing, she takes steps towards Reyolen. "Now that he's up. I suggest we go."

"Aye, yes, I concur. That would do quite well," Jean said, turning briefly towards Freya briefly before returning his gaze to Taylen. "Sir, I will tell you whatever you wish to know along the way. Fair lady, please lead on."

[Ara]

"Go?" Ara asked, somewhat surprised. "But where are we going? The others don't appear all ready to move on to Destindeterre, and I thought we decided already that we were heading there first. Where else is there to go?" Her elven accent remains intact, as she uses the opportunity to break away from Silvan. Thick-headed brat, she thinks to herself, not even worth my time trying to get him to stop thinking about himself.

She picks up and packs her items, suggests that all who wants to follow do so. When everyone is ready, she looks at Tay, nods, and heads off in the direction of the orc camp, knowing Tay will help lead the way.

"Most certainly," Jean says, following a half-step behind Taylen, and half jogging to keep pace. "As I told the others, orc writ is a crude language, difficult to read, but the concepts are simple. The writing on the scroll amounts, in total, to hardly more than a set of instructions." Holding the scroll up partly in front of himself, but not so much as to block his vision of the wood ahead of him, he reads again, One, capture alive. Two, follow map. Three, give prisoners to lizardmen. Four, reward is lifeblood. It also adds at the end that there is an extra value for those of the Elven kin. I believe that's what Ara and the other elven fellow were all in a spat about."

Taylen strokes chin and slows his walking slightly remembering the halfling has shorter legs

Hey! Anyone seen my bird anywhere? Last I remember he was rummaging around through those backpacks... Anyone? Miss Kitty lady? What about you, Mr Prissypants elf boy? Seen my bird?

Sae then walks around, looking for Ithar...

Ithar...IIIIIIthar...come out come out where ever you are!

Sae giggles

[ 09-05-2002: Message edited by: Falaanla Marr ]

"Hey, wait for me!" Ara calls after the group, as she quickly gathers up her bedroll under her arm, and hurries to catch up to the departing group.

ooc:
Two weeks without Willias. I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this, especially with one player gone and one party member deceased.

Watching and listening to the conversations unfold around him, Aust carefully touches the wound on the back of his head. It is still terribly sore, but the blood seems to have dried. Nonetheless, when the group begins to move out, he decides to risk his wound, and follow along. Picking up his belongings he walks slowly at the back of the group. He smiles when Ara catches him up, and offers her his arm.

ooc:
Once the whole party is underway, I'll forward to their arrival at the orc camp. If Willias posts actions for himself before then, I'll delete the NPC post.

"Here I am!" Ithar chimes out, as the little bird flits out of the bag Silvan had been fishing around in a moment before. "Hey, where people go? People fun! I wanna follow people. You wanna follow people? Let's follow people!" He follows after the party as they depart, flitting from branch to branch.

Aanile

As you walk in the direction of the orc camp, Twin Moon seems to grow nervous on your shoulder. She does not depart this time, but repeatedly ruffles her wings as you walk along, as if ready to take to the skies at any sign of trouble.

Hey! That WAS my bird in there! Had ya hurt him...why...

Sae then hears Ithar call back to her...

"Yes, Ithar, Lets follow the people..."

Sae makes sure to grab all her things, then flies up into the trees, to try to catch up with Ithar...

[ 09-07-2002: Message edited by: Falaanla Marr ]

ooc:
Willias will be leaving the group due to time constraints in real life. As with Jean, Aust will now be treated as an NPC through the end of the chapter.

The camp does not appear to have changed significantly since you left it last night. A few flies have begun to gather around the dead orc bodies. As before, the four tents lie set in a rough square around the obelisk and campfire in the clearing's center.

Drakkenmaw, Falaanla, Reyolen

Taylen and Freya lead you through the woods headed away from both the trail and the stream. After a moment, you pass the bodies of two orcs, clad in leather armor each sitting at least in part in a shallow pool of dried blood. Neither appears to be moving. Neither of your two guides offer more than a brief word in explanation of the bodies' presence, and the group moves on.

Another couple minutes pass, before you finally emerge into a decent-sized clearing. There appears to be a crude camp, with a couple hastily set-up tents, and an odd-looking structure in the camp's center. Two orc bodies lie near the camp's center. One of the orcs, possibly the one who ran from Taylen during the initial battle, lies scorched atop the remains of a long-dead campfire. The other, clad in heavier-looking armor than any of the others you saw by the bridge, lies motionless, its legs crossing a cruel-looking double-ended axe.

The construct at the camp's center stands roughly seven feet in height. The top foot of the construct consists of a thick glass orb, colored partly with a deep red in its lower half, and clear in its upper half. A round pillar of stones supports the orb, about half a foot wide at the top, and nearly four times that at the bottom. Roughly four feet off the ground, a metal ring wraps around the structure, with four thick metal rods protruding directly out from it, equally spaced around its girth.

[ 09-14-2002: Message edited by: Ford Prefect ]

"Herrre, it is." She says, knowing that Tay knows alot more then she does. Which isn't saying much.

She continues to sooth her owl friend, trying to reasure that nothing will happen, and that she is safe.

Silvan moves forward slightly causiously, just enough to not be walking blindly, surveying his surroundings carefully. He approaches the construct in the center of the camp. He circles the construct, taking a good look for any runes, markings, or anything that resembles anything he remembers, magical or no. He also glances up from his survey of the construct enough to take in the camp around him.

For all your soothing gestures, Twin Moon remains on edge. She does not fly away, but bobs on your shoulder at any sudden sound or motion. Stroking her chest seems to sooth her ever so slightly.

Reyolen

The base section of the contstruct appears crafted from smooth stones of various sizes, which fit together without crack or flaw. The surface has no visible runes of any sort, nor can you discern any unusual patterns in the stonework.

The camp around you consists of four tents, not quite evenly spaced around the construct. Each tent looks large enought to house two or three individuals, or to shelter one person and supplies. You cannot see inside any of the tents from here. The ground is hard and well trodden, with no sign of grass or any other plant growth. Thick underbrush lines the edges of the camp, roughly at the tree line. Freya stands a couple paces from you, with one foot propped on a horribly scorched orc corpse.

The ground feels hard beneath your feet, almost as stone. You can see no signs of life on the barren earth in and around the camp. Apparently nothing grows in this soil, even with the abundance of water you have seen.

"This camp has been here a very long period of time. The earth has been trampled to submission all around the area."

ooc:
It's a couple days earlier than my standard policy for treating a player's character as an NPC. However, Taylen's input is very important to this scene, and he told me he would post by last Friday evening. This will hopefully be the only NPC post for his character. If he posts for himself before anything happens which his actions would change, then I will remove the post for his character. However, if events occur in the meantime and he wants to modify the actions I give his character here, he should consult me in chat or via PM.

"Hey, changing tents! Excuse me for just a moment," Ara rolls off the words quickly. Without loosing herself from Aust's arm, she begins to walk towards the nearest (northwest) tent, dragging him behind. "What? Hey!" Aust blurts out in surprise, half-stumbling behind her, "What do you need me for?" "You're an Elf, aren't you?" she answers, "I need to pick out proper Elven attire." "Then I suggest you ask someone else," Aust grumbles. "Fine, be that way," Ara hmphs, finally letting go of Aust's arm. She pulls the tent-flap aside, and ducks under.

"If the lovely lady would like opinions on her attire," Jean interjects, running up behind Ara, "perhaps I, Jean Olivier D'Underhill, who has encountered the finest and the fairest of ladies in the royal courts, may lend my humble services to milady's cause." He gives a sly smile and a courtly bow, as Ara turns around to face him. The expression of exasperation on her face soon fades into a matching sly smile of her own. "Certainly, why not? After all, I will need someone to tell me if I look the part." With that, Ara steps into the tent, Jean following at her heels. "Women," Aust grumbles to himself once the flap shuts, and rolls his eyes.

[Taylen]

Taylen walks over to the construct, beside the well-armored orc corpse, then turns around to face the rest of the group. "This camp was obviously the source of last evening's ambush," he says loudly and clearly. "The orcs that retreated were headed in this direction, and when we got here, we encountered these two." He points to the two orc corpses on the ground, one of which lies beneath Freya's foot.

When he looks up again, he notices Ara and Jean walking into the northwest tent. "If I might have your attention..." Taylen almost shouts, though his voice sounds only slightly annoyed by the interruption. The then pulls the five rings from his pocket, "I'm certain some of you have already noticed the rings these orcs wore. I believe these rings relate to the structure you see beside me. I examined it last night, and have come to believe that it needs more than one person to operate. Aust, Drakkenclaw, would you mind stepping over here please?" With that, Taylen waits for his companions to respond.