Nothern Shadows

[Durwyn]

"alright Vren, no need to get angry said Durn calmly. "We'll go together than.
They traveled into the forest despite the lateness of night.
"Stay close Vren, it would be better, as I see in the darkness better than you" said Durn. Durn remembered why his pack felt heaver than usual. Durn had brought along his shield, something he had never brought out here before.
But i'll nedd the protection thought Durn. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Vren mentioned ahead. Ahead he saw a group of people sleeping. With a very alert elf keeping watch. But something was diffrent about this elf, couldn't put his finger on it. Everyone else was sleeping. Durn sat down next to a tree. He didn't like that elf's glare. It unnerved him. He motioned to Vren to follow and, when they were further away from the camp, said "We'll go there in the morning, when their awake. Now would only cause confusion and misunderstanding. He didn't mention that the real reason was the elf. What's diffrent about him now? thought Durn as he fell asleep.

[Craig]

"No," Vren was speaking from 2 points, but dared only say one, "If we stay here, even if you stay on guard it could take us down, and still be ready for the others, they might come looking whilst the beast circles behind them!" The other reason linger on his lips to long to be spoken, what if Durn was afraid of the reaction, Anduin had looked old but no novice, he'd know an orc when he saw it.


[OOC IDMTBR but SPEACH MARKS!!!

{edited for gramma and stuff

[Durwyn]

Durn thought of Vren's arguments and knew that the elf would give him a unfriendly, if not hostle reaction, in the morning or no.
"alright Vren, I just didn't want to startle them" he said. They walked back to the campsite but Durn made sure this time he gave them plenty of warning. Not moving silently, talking very loudly, and making noise so that even the deepest sleeper would have awoken. He just hoped he wouldn't get a arrow in his eye. He walked into the claring, with Vren, and awaited a response.

[Nippy]

"What? Whats going on?" Kilden kicked out of his bedroll, hearing a commotion within the camp.

He grabbed his blade and leapt up, looking at two figures that walked into the camp.

"Calm down human, you have no reason to worry..."

Gilthanus walked up beside Kilden and began to ask questions of the two figures when Anduin woke up as well...

[Rob-hin]

Casan wasn’t up and ready as soon as Kilden, who obviously was more disciplined then him. “Damn” Casan cursed his own late reaction. Anduin was also up and ready, alert as ever.

Casan noticed Gilthanas talking to a strange twosome. A big guy, a half orc, Casan noticed. He never actually saw one but he had read about orcs and half orcs. Next to him there was a smaller person, a Halfling. “What a strange pair.” Casan said softly, carefully so they wouldn’t here it.

Sedge was still asleep. “Wake up, we’ve got company.” Slowly Sedge opened his eyes and looked around confused. “Huh…what, what’s going on?”

[Durwyn]

Durn saw one of the humans, a warrior get up quickly, ready for battle but the elf told him not to worry. Another one of the adventurers got up and started to wake up another. A mage by the looks of it. By the Gods, how had the man slept through his comotion. The others gathered as the elf eyed him suspiciously. Wait a minute thought Durn, thats not a elf, thats a half-elf, though he might have been through several generations, getting more elf blood.

[Magus]

"Since Kis'thana died, things have been difficult between us..."

Anduin’s words echoed in his head. Kis’thana...there was a name he hadn’t heard in a long time. Unfamiliar emotions began to stir in him, long repressed. Grief, sorrow, confusion...it all resurfaced as if it had happened yesterday. He gritted his teeth, squeezing the hilt of his sword as he willed the painful memories away. Never again would he... Never again. It was best that way.

He stood there, his mind blank, listening to the sounds of the night, his senses attuned to his surroundings. The pain in his eyes faded away, replaced by the usual cold steel. An hour passed.

Suddenly he heard noises in the distance. He listened as it came closer, pulling his bow from his back. Knowing it could be anything, from danger to a large woodland animal, he didn’t wake the others.

When the two intruders stepped into the clearing, an arrow whistled by, lodging into a tree, inches away from the face of the big one. “Move an inch and it’ll be your last,” came a voice to the side, distinctly elven. They stood there silently for a moment, beginning to regret their decision. They hadn’t expected to walk into the camp unaccosted, but this was a bit extreme.

“Hmph. Drop you weapons. Any false moves...” The voice trailed off, letting the threat linger. They obeyed as the others began to stir. They turned. The elf on watch stood not far away, his white hair glistening in the waning moonlight. His gray eyes glinted dangerously, a ****ed bow aimed at the big one. Vren suddenly had the irrational urge to rush the guy. He quickly reconsidered. The elf handled the bow with the ease of experience. No doubt he could drop them both in no time flat. Definitely not worth putting to the test...

Finally the elf relented, apparently satisfied. He lowered his bow. "Calm down human, you have no reason to worry..." the elf said as a young warrior came up beside him, sword drawn. Another one jumped up, ready for battle. “I can handle it Anduin,” the elf said, a bit louder. He walked a little closer, eyeing the two suspiciously. “Why are you here?” he asked sharply, as the last stragglers stumbled over to see what was the matter.

Suddenly the elf’s eyes widened. “An orc!” he spat, his bow up and ****ed in an instant. “Your filthy life ends here!” He took aim and prepared to fire...

[Aegis]

Anduin squinted at the mention of an Orc. He hated the foul beasts, and knew them well enough, both by smell and posture. As Gilthanas was about to loose his arrow, Anduin stepped forward. "No!" He yelled in a commanding tone, making even the cold, half-elf to stop. "He's not an orc, at least not a full one. He's a half breed, like yourself Gilthanas." Gilthanas scowled at being compared to the half orc, but lowered his weapon. Anduin swore he could hear both of the newcomers sigh in relief. The old warrior stepped forward. As he walked past Gilthanas, he casually laid a hand on his weapon, and gently pushed it further down, making sure he didn't react the wrong way hastily.

Anduin stopped in front of the pair. Quite an odd match, he thought to himself. Half-orc, and a Halfling. Normally the Halfling would've been in the half breeds stomach. "Who are you, both of you, and what are you doing following us into the forest?"

[Rail]

The last bit of sleep left in a rush as the old warrior uttered the phrase callously. Sedge lunged forward as Gilthanas' bow was lowered, for the warriors' other hand was moving quickly toward his katana, but not because of the orc. Damn you, Anduin, thought Sedge, you should know far better than that! The old wizard was quicker than anyone had expected, pushing past a startled Kilden and Casan to lay a hand on the half-elf's shoulder. None other seemed to notice the danger of the cutting remark, including Anduin.

Gilthanas turned at the sudden motion and movement behind him, and his blade halted in it's scabbard. "Not now, my friend," Sedgemon whispered. The sound was sober and pleading and clear. "For me, not now!"

Gilthanas' eyes held a dangerous glint in them, one Sedge knew very well, and hoped for all the world to never see them look that way toward him. To the rest, Gilthanas looked as cold and cool as ever, but Sedge knew what to look for, and saw the clear signs. Gilthanus was both offended and indignant. An elf was nothing like an orc, in his mind. Nothing! Gilthanas had every right to take out his blade and demand an apology, or carve one out, if need be. But the half-elf stayed his hand. He did not, however, turn to look at his old friend. Not for a long time. Sedge was sure the half-elf would need to take some time to allow his thoughts to clear and emotions to cool before dealing once again with Anduin.

When the old wizard was sure Gilthanas would not retalliate, he turned angrilly toward Anduin. "Damn it, Anduin..."

A quick look from the half-elf, though silenced the brewer. He would take care of this, and he didn't need Sedge to intervene.

Anduin looked genuinely confused. Sedge doubted if the old warrior knew just how cutting his remarks were.

Wheeling around once again to stand beside Anduin, Sedge eyed the strange pair before them and brought up his hand. "Ieyail Zhadim!" In a flash of sparks, a brightly glowing ball appeared above his outstretched fingers, shedding light on the surrounding forest and the two intruders.

The half-orc stepped back in alarm, but said nothing. He looked unafraid as he shielded his eyes from the sudden change in light.

The halfling, however, took a step forward defensively, and closer to his weapon on the ground. "You not harm a hair on his head, you hear!"

Sedge raised an eyebrow at the diminutive warrior. Turning his attention for a moment, he focused on the halfling, studying his garb and appearance. He muttered to himself for a bit, but his eyes were clear and intent. Gilthanas and Anduin saw the Sedge of years ago once again in the mage. "You are the halfling from the inn, yes?" Sedge's voice was calm and deliberate.

The halfling looked around a bit nervously. He could see the careful stances of the four other warriors around him, all focused on Durn and himself. "Uh..., yes."

Sedge nodded to himself. "No, little one. I will not harm him. Nor will he harm us, wearing those token of his." He turned again to the half-orc and focused his intense gaze on the surprised warrior.

Durn was not sure what to make of these people, though he was grateful to still be intact. He thanked Lathander for small mercies.

Anduin sighed audibly. "Okay, let's try this again. Who are you, both of you, and what are you doing following us into the forest?"

[Craig]

"Well first we should sit down, and calm down. Me and Durn are no more evil then that creature is good," said Vren settleing down, "I was following anduin, when all of a sudden, I see Durn here coming up to me, I'm surprised you heard my scream."

"After Durn explained what he was, we set of to the forrest, and came straight when the beast ran after us," Vren gave an involuntary shudder and continued, "As soon as we escaped, I went with him to one of his friends, A mage I believe."

"Once I left his friends house, I went to see were you'd gone, instead I found Durn, and we went into the forest."

Vren pause for a second, "Anything I've missed Durn?" And at that, he left the main group and motioned Anduin to come over to the trees,"

[Aegis]

Anduin followed the halfling over to the side, wondering what it was that he wished to speak to him about, in private...

[Craig]

"Anduin," Vren said, "I wanted to say sorry, and...and..."

"Yes, litt...Sorry,"Interrupted Anduin

"Whilst I was in the forrest, I met an old man...He wasn't natural, I...I could tell. I think he was a Doppleganger..."Replied Vren, stuttering and tripping of his words, obviously nervous, if it wasn't he would have looked a fool and cost the group valuable time.

[Durwyn]

Durn knew that Gilthanas hated him, probaly the other elf did too. Most elves hated orcs, and half-orcs as well. Humans hated him because of his human blood mixing with a foul orc, enemies they had to kill to survive their daily life. It wasn't easy being a half-orc in the northern realms.
"yes, Vren about explained everything that's happened so far, though my friend is only an aprentice wizard, to a Diviner named Shardalon." said Durn to the other members. He could see Gilthanas, staring at him with disgust and hatred. The others were suspicious of him, at least. Vren had taken Anduin aside to tell him something, so Durn sat alone, now that the others had gone back to their resting, or were talking among themselves. Only Gilthanas kept watch over Durn now.
Probaly just because he doesnt trust me. Not that many do. thought Durn. He pulled out a small, carved piece of wood. It was a crude attempt to make Lathander's holy symbol. It brought back memories of living in a place that was safe, where people trusted him. That was until the orcs followed the tracks and destroyed the temple. And killed Garthas. His sadness for the death of his friend again rose, along with his seething anger towards the orcs of Shadowburrow, his tribe. Now they hunt me where ever I go. Will the same thing happen to the next place I settle down. But next time I won't run, like I did last time, condemed them by running away. I'll never abandon anyone to those creatures again. Then Durn sat for awhile before going to sleep.

[Rob-hin]

Though Casan seemed to be at rest again after recent events, he hardly lost the half Orc out of his sight. He seemed different from what he had read about Orcs so far. He looked more … more … sensitive, if it can be put like that.

Strange, I thought they are supposed to be violent somehow. He didn’t trust him, but also wondered about himself. I never judge so easily about someone. But the reputation about them has to be based on something. He was confused, for now he decided to keep an eye on the half Orc.

Hardly moving, he searched for his blades. He had learned from his last brute wake up. Determined not to be caught off guard so easily again, he placed them so he could grab them easy.

[Arcane]

Gylderon looked at the two figures standing in the morning light. A halfling and something that looked like an orc. His dagger was in his hands the second later but when he finally did see Anduin questioning them, he sheathed back his blade and stared contemptiously at Gilthanas, who had hhis bow ****ed in what he first thought was elven fashion. "Fool! The bow string and arrow are to relaxed!"Gylderon thought to himself. He slowly circled the newcomers, in shadows, so that his dagger may find the back of the orc in case he...wait. This was no orc, or if it was, it was a half breed. Gylderon looked at the half orc and smiled. This was a good hearted creature. Offering his hand to the half-orc, he introduced himself. "My name is Gylderon good half-orc, an elf from the south lands..." Gylderon did that while staring at Gilthanas, who had his eyes wide open in shock at this friendly maneuver to the creature that he thought all elves hated.