ooc:
I'll answer Pved's post later, along with any others that come in, when I get home and have access to my files.

Saeessira hovers a couple feet above the group, just within arm's reach. Jean stands by the edge of the walkway, no longer in possession of his rope. Beside him stands the male elf who approached a moment ago, now holding Jean's rope, which he coils slowly while keeping a wary eye on the group. Aust stands on your others side. In front of you stands one of the female elves, turned slightly away from you to face Silvan and the woman you saw duck through the tree branches before.

Lowering her head again, her eyes fall onto the lizardman's form. "Betterrr?"

"That's better," the fellin woman answers, still wearing her soft smile. "Most who possess a fairer tongue know me as Ralora, daughter of Eyani. There are a few who might know me by other names, though the names they use are not ones I would have given myself." She pauses a moment, and briefly the smile fades from her face. Her smile soon returns, however, and she glances over at the bear with its face buried in the cornbread bowl, "And one or two along the way might call me mother, if they could manage the word." Another pause follows, as she takes one of the fruits from her plate, tips it to her lips, and appears to drink from it.

"Now, on to your second question," she says, placing the fruit back on her plate, "I should think you know my answer already, if you took a moment to consider it. You say you were headed for the elven lands. Well, dear, you have found them. This is Destindeterre, the pride of the elves, and a comfortable home for a lady of the woods in her waning years. The wayguards found you passed, and asked me to watch over you for a while. I'm glad to see you have a healthy appetite."

Aanile

Your whistle into the trees earns a quick response. Twin Moon appears from the cover of branches and leaves above your head, and glides down in a wide circle, until she comes near enough to land. Then leveling herself, she holds her talons outward, and clasps onto your leather-covered shoulder, giving a few quick flicks of her wings to balance herself before folding them away at her sides. Turning her face towards yours, she nips playfully at the fur on your cheek.

Janus Krug, Drakkenmaw

As the three of you interact amongst yourselves, Velmoor slips off into the woods, along with his brother Celbarin, and the elven woman they had stepped aside to speak with a moment ago. The other six continue to circle the edge of the clearing, their eyes scanning the branches and the open woods, glancing back at you and the two newcomers occasionally, their bows mostly lowered yet still at the ready.

When the fellin woman whistles, you hear a slight fluttering. Then a small winged owl descends from the trees, and circles around a few times, before landing carefully on Freya's shoulder.

ooc:
And now...

Though your heart was filled with good intentions, you had very little idea of where or how to begin your journey. So you decided to start where you started before; you headed back home. But your cabin was empty, and even the village where you grew up lay abandoned. It looked as if everyone had picked up and left, taking most of their belongings with them. One of the local shops had a large sign in its dusty front window, but you couldn't read it.

Since you had done business in Northport before, that was the next place you went. People there seemed less friendly than you remembered, but for the most part the town had not changed. At a local tavern, a very small stranger told you that a lot of people had taken refuge in Northport to get away from the raiders. Those who knew the woods, however, had more often sought the help of the elves and fellis. So off you went again, this time headed deep into the woods.

You made your way from village to village, and slowly your hopes began to wane. Here too, you found some villages emptied, and those where people remained, all were on their guard. Some of the elven folk would not even speak to you, but shut themselves in their homes. Those who did speak with you offered only sad tidings, as their own villages had suffered from raiders of a different sort. "Orcs," the elven folk called them. Though you had never seen such a creature yourself, they assured you that orcs were the most hideous and hateful beings you may ever see.

After more than ten days, it seemed that all hope was lost. You sat down upon a stump, and sighed. Then the stump threw you off. A small man's head peeked out of it, with eyes blue as the sea, neatly cut blonde hair, a small patch of hair on his chin, and gold rings in his ears. "Well hello there," the little man smiled up at you, "don't see many folk around these parts so big as yerself, do ye now? Most certainly ye don't, I say, and when I say ye don't, likes as not that's the whole truth of it. So tell me, what brings a big fella like you about these parts all by yer lonesome?"

You told him about your son getting taken, about your time digging under the mountain, about your travels to Northport and through the woods, and when you finished, he laughed. "Well, if that's all there is to it now, just head yerself thataway southward. The elven city's the safest place in all these here woods, sure as the sun shines. 'Bout two days' walk, an ye'll come to it right sure. Jus' don't count on findin' yer way inside 'less ye know the folk 'at live there." He said his farewells to you, and off you went.

That was two days ago. So far you've found no sign of a city at all. Though over the past hour, pressing through the underbrush, you've walked through some of the finest trees you've laid eyes on in all your days.

"I see I am not the only person here trained in the magical arts of healing wounds. What is the source of your power? I have never seen one who does not call upon the light use such magics?" Gavin asks, wondering if the stories he had heard about druids and naturalists using powers similar to clerics.

He stopped, then dropped his backpack on the ground with a small grunt. Panicking, he took off his left boot as fast as he could.

"Non mais..." a somewhat small rock dropped from his large boot. "Must've been there for days... no rocks like that in this fine forest." He then took off his other boot and his socks.

"Et bien, I guess le Feets have other plans for this afternoon. Mais bon, ou ma la passer?"

Looking around, he went to sit at the finest tree within his range of vision. He took some very dry meat & made it his dinner.

"Et Merde, I'm out of water"

He then laughed heartily at himself. "Idiot, you could've fill it up in the last water hole you saw!"

And with a large, happy grin, he slowly kept eating his salty meat...

ooc:
By request of Ukko and with the okay of Murdoc, I will be editing his posts to make them more clear to everyone. All edits will be okayed first by Ukko, and I will not edit his posts before he puts them onto the boards so as to not be unintentionally guiding his actions.

Any remaining errors or misunderstandings in his speech are meant to be there for character purposes, and therefore should count as happening ingame.

- Drakkenmaw

[ 01-22-2003: Message edited by: Drakkenmaw ]

He walks around the group, pacing in frustration. He continues to search throughout the area for Ara with his eyes.

"Ithar, for now, we wait. We wait and see if these elves here bring us some food, or tell us where we can find some. We don't need to get them angry with us...at least not right away" she says grinning.

She then looks down at the others, and at the elves...

So, who is gonna let me know where I can get some food around here? I hear that elves are fine cooks!

ooc:
For those new to the game, if I put something in quotes, I'm not actually saying it. It is Saeessira's thoughts, hearable by only her familiar.

[ 01-23-2003: Message edited by: Falaanla Marr ]

She doesn't look up tot he one who asks her the questions, just mearly speaks.

"Powerrr frrrom naturrre. It has healing powerrrr, so I use it to help." Her words are in broken common. "Naturrre would heal him, I ask it speed up."

"How... how can you ask nature anything? 'The Shalm does not heed requests that violate his law, and those that ask for him to assist them in following his law have missed that his law is not to assist those whom his regulated works have placed in a situation'... Nature does not heed requests, but requests that all heed its word."

Her words were simple. She continued to play with her owl friend's cheek feathers and beak, cooing softly.

Try as you might, you can find no signs of the half-elven girl, nor of her elven disguise. Even if you did spot her, you cannot be certain that you would recognize her among the elves coming and going along the paths. You take account of Taylen, Aust, Jean, and Elysia with the two other guards, as well as Saeessira hovering above.

"We'll need to find her," Elysia frowns, "and in a hurry, too. The two of you need to resume your patrol, and I need to escort our visitors to see the elders."

"May I make a suggestion?" Taylen asks after the end of Elysia's statement. "We could help you look for our missing companion. That way those of you who need to complete your rounds can do so. Plus we have a better idea what she looks like than any of you."

Falaanla

The first female elf who approached the group looks up at you, "We will attend to your needs once we have found your companion, and taken you all to see the elders." You overhear Taylen's suggestion to the other elven woman. At this rate, it may yet be a while before you get anything to eat, though your companions might have something to tide you over.

Ukko

As you sit eating the last of your better food stores, you hear a brief rustling in the nearby foliage. When you look over, however, you see nothing but plants, and the impressive trees.

Drakkenmaw

Though your wounds are no longer as grievous as they had been moments ago, they still feel sensitive to the touch. Freya has healed you enough to travel, and without further treatment, they should eventually heal on their own.

Pvednes

"It is a good name, Tania Milner," the fellin woman says in a cheerful tone. "And such a curious girl who carries it. The elven city has long been protected from the prying eyes of those who would wish its residents harm. But I will leave that story for the elders to tell." Ralora takes a bite of her cornbread, and chews it casually.

As he drops to his knees, he sniffs the dirt, looking around carefully. He puts a small wood stick in his mouth to chew on, listening to the music of nature ... turning his head slowly ... looking for maybe an after-supper snack.

There doesn't appear to be any new movement in the bushes. The evening has gotten rather quiet, in fact. No small animals have broken the edge of the little clearing you found for yourself. If you're going to catch dinner, you might have to track it down.

Pvednes

Boltat the bear looks up from its bowl, and sniffs at the air. It makes a low grunt, and starts to wander away from the hut, following a path. Then you notice the path. It appears that what ground you can see is made from intertwined branches, much like the table where you've been eating. Beyond the edges of the walkway appears to be a very long drop, because you can see distant tree trunks where the ground should be.

Reyolen, Falaanla, Taylen

Elysia sighs, "I'm sorry, but we cannot accept your offer until you have seen the elders. Tedrea, Lithan, you two should continue the rounds while I escort our guests to the meeting hall." The male elf opens his mouth to raise protest, then closes it, and nods. "Just be cautious of the small one," he says to Elysia, as he and the other female guard walk away. He takes Jean's rope away with him.

"Come back here with that!" Jean shouts after the departing guards, "I am Jean Olivier D'Underhill, and I shall not abide this barefaced flouting of my rights and property!" As he moves to pursue, Taylen steps in his path, "Not now, Jean. If the people of Destindeterre have need of security, we should respect their request." Jean grumbles, but raises no further protest.

"Now," Elysia speaks up once Jean has settled a bit, "if you all don't mind, I would like to get moving before we manage to lose anyone else."

Aanile, Drakkenmaw, Janus Krug

Twin Moon nuzzles your fingers, fluttering her beak and nipping playfully. Then she gives off a single loud hoot, spreads her wings, and flies over to a tree branch in the direction where the three elves left. She hoots twice again, before disappearing into the woods.

The six elves circling the clearing slowly come to a halt, and split into two groups of three. One group approaches Gavin, "If you have nothing else to take care of, we have need to return to the city before the wayguard passes the gate. Eve approaches, and we have urgent news for the elders."

"Certainly, lord elf. I'm ready to leave now. What of these two, will they be granted enterance to the city along with us?"

He could hear his father's words: "People get mad when someone takes something from their Garden, even if that someone is your best friend." I may be hungry, but I still have a few rations left.

"En-plus, gathering supper is one thing, but cooking it will be another, and I don't want to attract anyone's attention... or do I?"

He uses the small time of light he has left to gather a few rocks that could manage a spark, then he takes fine dead wood and carefully prepares his campfire.

"Don't want to set fire to this fine forest now, bien sur"

Taylen leans close to Silvan and whispers "This is all very strange, never before have I seen the city like this, and I don't like it at all."

She looks up, and around, giving her surroundings another look.

ooc:
I'm holding off posting for a few days on the two main groups, to give a chance for everyone to reply. Once everyone in the group posts, I will post for it.

"I should hope not," you hear a voice emanate from the bushes nearby. A slender and somewhat short man with sharp pointed ears and fine features steps into the small clearing, carrying a longbow nearly as tall as himself. "Who are you, and what brings you to these lands?"

Pvednes

Ralora laughs gently, "Well, young one, if you're worried about falling through the walkways, you needn't concern yourself. The trees here are quite strong, and those branches have been growing since before I was old enough to walk. Just don't go wandering off. Once you've seen the elders, I'll show you around. We can go now, if you'd like." Your plate does appear to be getting rather empty. The cornbread is already gone, and only a couple small fruits remain.

& Right after he realize what he sayed, he thought about it again & told the elf:

"Je suis Barry D'LaVingue, and as I search the lands for my son, this fine forest lead me here."

He then felt a small sting on his hand and, looking down, he saw the small kettle starting to burn in his hand. As he puts his hand in to a fist until the burning is no more, he asks the archer:

"Et vous, who are you, fine sir?"

The elf listens quietly to your description of the small man who pointed you in this direction. He does not set aside his bow, nor does he draw it tight. Finally, after your introduction, he speaks, "By your account, it could have been a dwarf or a gnome who pointed you here. More likely the latter, all things considered. Nonetheless, I cannot guess why he would send you here, unless your son travelled with a merchant caravan. We do not lead many humans within the city's bounds. If you wish to go there, I will take you, but you must abide by the terms I lay out. Will you hear them?"

Reyolen, Taylen, Falaanla

"Very well," Jean smiles wryly, in complete reversal of his sentiment a moment before. "Lead the way, fair maiden, to your grande council of elders. I shall stand tall before them, and I shall speak of all the wonders I have seen in this fantastic world!" He stands as tall as a halfling can, and straightens his beret on his head with a triumphant tug. Aust says simply, "Fine, I will follow."

Elysia turns, and begins walking away from the entrance down one of the paths. She makes a brisk pace, but soon turns around, facing back to watch for stragglers in the group. Jean keeps pace for only a few steps, before he finds himself needing to jog in spurts just to keep up. Aust lags a few paces behind Silvan and Taylen, glancing about himself at the scenery as he walks.

Janus Krug, Aanile, Drakkenmaw

"They may enter with us," the elf answers you, "provided they do not stray. These woods remain a danger so long as the dark one stalks our borders." Though he has not told you his name, you have heard the others call this elf Lorin. He turns to the other newcomers.

"The decision is yours whether to join us or to remain. You have seen the dangers we face in these times. You may come with us, or you may remain here. Either way, you take your chances." The elf glances at each of his two companions, who nod silently, then step back, gazing at the foliage around the clearing once again, though they do not resume pacing.

The other group of elves chatter among themselves. Two of them appear more feminine than the rest of the group who remain in the clearing. The other woman left into the woods with Celbarin and Velmoor moments ago.

She grins, and eats the last piece of fruit in her bowl. "Thank you again for caring for me." she says, smiling.

"I will enterrr, but, I am to meet frrriend herre. He is in city still."

She holds out her arm, hoping her owl friend will perch, not wanting to leave her behind.

The fellin woman smiles once again, "I suppose there's no harm in it, though most times the elders feel more at ease around people who welcome their natural appearance. You are from the human cities to the west, though, unless my ears have taken to playing tricks. So I shan't begrudge you your own comfort. Come with me." She stands slowly, leaning on her cane, and picks up the bowl Boltat had been eating from on her way into the dome of entwined branches where you awoke not long ago. The sun seems to have fallen from the sky, as the soft ambient light has mostly faded.

Aanile

You find yourself waiting for a moment, before Twin Moon finally returns to the clearing. She glides down, and lands easily on your arm. After a few quick hoots, she turns to ruffle her own feathers with her beak.

The elf who offered to lead you into the Elven city now answers your concern, "I think you and your friend can come to an alternate arrangement. Anyone who comes to the city these days must speak with the elders. They will likely know where to find your friend."

ooc:
Drak? Fal? Your respective groups are waiting for you.

"Good," the elven man says simply. He lowers his bow, puts his arrow in the quiver at his hip, and pulls a rope out of his pack. "Please place your blade on the ground, and set your hands behind your back." He takes a step forward, "I promise it's nothing personal, just a precaution."

"One among your group spoke of something you should not know. He who knew my mark without seeing it, where is he?"

[ 01-31-2003: Message edited by: Drakkenmaw ]

The elf ponders for a moment, glancing around at his companions. After noting each one, he turns back to answer the question, "You do not speak false, yet your words hold only half the truth. The one you speak of would be either Celbarin or Velmoor. Do not discount their eyes nor their reason." He turns to the other trio of elves off near the edge of the camp, and calls over to them. One responds in a female voice, after which the elf turns to you again. "They have gone off with Rilanna. We should head for the city, they will know to meet us there."

Aanile

It seems that Drakkenclaw had brought up a new concern about these strangers. After the elf ponders the lizardman's statement, for a moment, he provides a brief answer in the Common tongue, then turns to the other group of elves on the far side of camp. "What happened to the others?" he asks them. A female voice calls back, "Rilanna heard someone not far off. They went to see about it." Following the female elf's answer, the same elf resumes his conversation with the lizardman, suggesting that they head for the Elven city as planned.

After all, it's not like if he could not break the ropes if he is in any troble.

He drops all weapons on the floors.

Then waits for the elf to tie him up.

At the suggestion of heading to the city, she looks towards the elf. "I will follow, when rrready."

I wonder if she'll mind me grabbing my book. Should have earlier.

[ 02-02-2003: Message edited by: Dr. Pvednes, PhD ]

ooc:
I forgot to mention in my last post to Aanile that the elves were speaking to each other in Elven tongue.

The elf stands idle as you place first your large axe, then your mid-sized axe, then your small axe, and finally your hunting knife in a small pile, each landing with a thud or clank. Once you stop to wait, he approaches slowly, walking around behind you with rope in hand. You feel him gently pull your arms around your back, and begin to bind them at the wrists. It takes him a moment of weaving and tugging before walking back in front of you again, the end of the rope in hand. He then shouts something into the woods, which so far as you can make out, sounds like, "Early is blinking," in your grandfather's tongue.

Two more elves stand up from among the bushes, and walk out to join the one who greeted you before. One looks exactly like the one who tied you up. The other looks up at you, and speaks in a woman's voice, "Thank you for your cooperation, large one. I am known as Rilanna, and this is Celbarin. The one holding your bindings is Velmoor. Celbarin, would you be so kind?" The elf who walked up with her offers a short nod, then shoulders his bow, and begins gathering up your axes under his arm. "Come with us, please," she adds, turning away, as she heads back into the foliage, followed by Celbarin. Velmoor gives your rope a slight tug, "Follow me."

Janus Krug, Aanile, Drakkenmaw

"Then it's settled," Lorin nods, "come with us." He has spoken more in the last few moments than during most of your trip. Now, though, he turns silently towards the direction from which the elves and you first entered this clearing, and walks away. His two nearby companions follow, and after a few seconds of chatter among themselves, the three others follow.

Pvednes

As you walk back through the mossy curtain into Ralora's home, you see her standing beside one of the alcoves, the bowl cradled in one arm, while the other elbow holds a small moss curtain aside. Her cane rests against the wall beside her. A clear liquid pours slowly out of the top of the alcove into the bowl. "I'll find you something for your hair, if you wait a moment," she says calmly, still staring into the alcove.

Your possessions, or at least those you were able to rescue from the caravan raid, have not moved from the shelves where Ralora left them. Boltat did not follow you inside, and you neither see, hear, nor smell any sign of the creature. Without it, the room appears fairly empty.

"They fell by my hand. It is..." He trails off for a moment, before coming back in a far softer tone. "...It is useless." He grabs any easily-removed materials he might find on the one body he searched, and stands with a sigh.

She turns to follow the others towards the city. She cared not what was done with the attackers bodies. All that mattered now was to get safly into the city and find Taylen.

They carried axes with them, and their armor appears to be in decent shape, unlike those you encountered a night ago. However, beyond that, you don't see anything of value on these orcs.