Nothern Shadows

[Rob-hin]

Casan was meditating, unaware of the danger that was just outside his wooden cottage. “It” was looking for a way in.
Instead, it found the nest of Casan’s owl, he had named him Lucky. It didn’t kill Lucky’s mate for food, but just for fun. Lucky however did honour to his name, he was out hunting while its mate was breeding on her eggs.
When the black owl got back from a successful hunt, he was holding a mouse in his beak, it panicked completely. He dropped the mouse he had been hunting for hours and looked everywhere for his mate. There was nothing left but some feathers and broken egg shells…

Alarmed by the loud screams of Lucky, Casan awoke from his meditation. He grabbed his staff and stormed out. Lucky was just sitting there, staring at the darkness of the night, but there was nothing there. He didn’t even notice while Casan picking him up. He took the owl inside and hoped this would calm it down a bit. By the heat of the fireplace, the owl started to come to its senses. It didn’t look scared anymore, just sad.

Casan had always been good with animals, and he and Lucky had been together for years. Nonetheless he had no idea of what had done this; he thought it was done by a wild animal, a wildcat perhaps.
Truth is it was a creature more evil then he had ever seen.

If Casan had had known what it was, he would have locked all doors and windows. Instead he went outside listing to the animals of the forest. He had a good relation with the animals of the forest, as good as any human can have. His love for the forest had come from an old friend of him, an elf. Casan leaned many things about the forest from him.

Casan concentrated, but no matter how hard he tried, the forest was quiet, unnaturally quiet.
He searched all around the cabin for traces of the animal until he found some strange claw prints.

“This was no wildcat” he said out loud.

[Aegis]

"They were skinned! All of them!" Another crowd had formed with the Kunckle-head Tavern. In the centre of the group, two men sat in chairs, taking swigs from their tankards. "The entire farmhouse was empty! But heres the real scary part." The man next to him smirked, he knew the story, as he had already been told by his friend, and didn't believe a word of it, so he was finding the whole story, and reaction amusing. "All six of'em. Skinned, and hagning upsde down from the barn's rafters! Not a drop of blood..." The crowd seemed to gasp in awe, and Terran had to take another dip swig of his ale to avoid laughing at the notion of it all. A dull hush came over the tavern, no one talking, or not caring, a lone figure emerging at the base of the stairs.

Gheve had calmed down after a few hours of rest. By now, everbody had forgotten about him, and no longer cared about the once panicked gnome. Gheve heard the last portian of the story, and saw Terran having to drown himself without laughing. Something inside of th gnome screamed, and he went running across the run, wrapping his hands around the drunk's throat! "It's not just some story! It happened! IT did those things!" Some of the men had come behind the frenzied gnome, and pulled him off Terran. Gheve was flailing wildly, trying to break free of the strong men's grip. The attention of the room now fell on the gnome. Few recognized him, but all thought he was crazy. After a moment, he calmed. His body went limp in the men's grip, and his head drooped.

"I'll take care o' him fer ya." Kara stepped forward, and took the Gheve by the shoulder, the two men letting go of him reluctantly. She knelt down to face Gheve. "Now. Yer gonna have t'keep your temper down. We can't be breaking up every little scuffel you have in here, even on the word of Anduin." She smiled brightly, and led him towards the bar, and poured him a mug of ale. gheve just stared at it, his face sullen and depressed. Kara knew all to well what he must be going through. She took pity on him.

[Durwyn]

Durn heard a story from two men nearby but took no notice of it. They looked like ignorant fools to him. But when a gnome tried to strangle one of the men he watched as a barmaid took him and gave him a beer. He went over and asked "what happened, I'm new in town and I want to know what happened". The gnome stared at him and babbled "It killed them, all of them, dead, hanging from a tree, all of them." The barmaid came over and told Durn not to disturb the gnome. After Durn apoligized he went to his room to think. Adventure was definely abounded here.

[Arcane]

Gylderon just stared at the skinned form of the beast. This beast was skinned a second after he heard it scream....his bow was streatched to the point of breaking. Gylderon checked the surrounding areas for any sign of any creatures. He decided that the safest route would be from the tree-tops. He very quickly climbed a tree and scanned the surrounding forest. The two warriors were moving swiftly in his direction. Their blades were drawn and the old one was looking around alertly. Th young one had a claymore and was deftly looking through the shrubbery. It occured to Gylderon that whatver creature could kill and skin the two men should it pass his mind. He looked ahead. It was straight forest. Perhaps if he joined in with the men and helped them with the information he had gathered so far. Not yet...he had seen how that warrior treated the younger one and did not fancy being accused of the skinnings. He scanned the surrounding forest again. Gylderon leapt from the tree to the forest floor. He resumed his scouting, bow out, poisoned arrow at the ready. Gylderon moved through the first mile without trouble. He suddenly stopped short. He examined the ground and noticed that the passing tree roots were all tainted with blood. He looked up at the trees and saw more hanging forms. Everywhere, bodies were hanging from branches. It was a sickening sight to the elf, who, by his ancestry, was used to living his life in the view of nice nature...this was brutality. Gylderon turned back and began running silently through the forest, in the direction of the warriors. He had a trail.....a trail that might lead to answers long overdue.........

[Aegis]

Anduin and Kilden came running into the small patch of oepn space where they heard the yeti roar from. Both came to a skidding halt when they saw what had befallen the creature. The raw muscle was still warm with life, and the blood still flowing through the veins, but it was dead. Anduin, who had been a warrior and adventurer all his life, managed to stomach the sight, though at great cost to his will power. Kilden, though, still reletivly young in the field, had to force himself from wretchin, if only to show strength in front of the veteran. Anduin acted quickly. He knew that if they were to leave the beast hanging in the trees, it would attract other creatures, and possibly attack the two men. He approached the carcas, sword drawn, and cut the thing from the tree limb. Once on the ground, he knelt beside, and began to run his glove along the side of the body. Kilden, having regained his composure, approached Anduin, a puzzled look marring his youthful face.

"What are you looking for?" Kilden knelt next to Anduin, and looked at the corpse dumbly.

Anduin said nothing for a moment, still running his hands around the body. Finally, he sighed, and leaned back. He turned to Kilden. "I was hoping to find some signs of a weapon." Kilden looked at him expectantly, and Anduin shook his head. "None. Whatever did this, it isn't human. I'm not even sure it's off this plane." Kilden scoffed at the notion, but didn't challenge the veteran. "For now," Anduin started, "I think we should head back to town. It's going to be dark soon, and I'd rather not be out here with some creature stalking the forest." Kilden nodded in agreement.

The two stood up, took another look at the body, and began to walk from the clearing, Anduin leading the way. Kilden stopped at the edge, and turned to face the body one last time. What sort of creature could do that? Killing it in self defence would be one thing, but to skin it, and not even collect it's body for food. Kilden didn't like it. He was new to the Dales, and it's way of life. Already he was wishing for the comfort of Baldurs Gate.

*****

Gylderon, after following the trail of blood for some distence from the clearing, was begining to become disheartend. He had seen no sign of any creature, nor any sign of more bodies, and the blood trail was becoming harder and harder to track. In addition, his hands and joints were begining to get stiff. He prefered not to work in the wilderness, finding the urban centres easier to navigate, and perform his dark task in. He was no Ranger, after all. He eventually gave up on the trail, turning around, and heading back to the edge of the forest, and the path back to Byrn Shandar. As he walked, he couldn't shake the unmistakable feeling of someone watching him. From time to time, he could hear a feint clicking noise, and knew it wasn't a natural noise. He didn't once lower his bow on the trip out of the woods...

[Rob-hin]

An hour went by, though for Casan it felt like just a few minutes. “I’ll continue my search for the beast tomorrow; it isn’t safe out there at night, not with that creature around.”
After locking himself in completely, Casan started searching through his books. Comparing dozens of claw prints with the ones he found outside. He had a great collection of books with practically all living animals in it.

“Nothing! I can’t find a print that matches the ones outside! How is this possible?” His shouting woke up the owl, which had finally fallen asleep.
“I’m sorry Lucky, it’s just frustrating…” Casan opened a small cupboard, pulled out an old bottle and filled a glass.

Sitting by the fireplace with Lucky on his own branch, Casan finally calmed down. It was getting later and later and Casan was getting tired. His mind started wondering, from the beast to history long gone.
He thought about when Casan was just a little boy, playing in these very same woods. It was spring and life was returning to the forest. Young dears playing, birds singing, he was impressed. He sat there for hours, watching and listening to every animal in the forest. He could feel the essence of every living being.
Suddenly, he heard a sound, a sound of fear and sorrow. Slowly he walked towards its origin.
It was a small bird, a little black owl fallen from its nest. Casan would put it up and place it back in its nest, but he knew it wouldn’t survive. It would smell like a human and it would be kicked out of the nest once again.
So he took it home with him. “You are lucky I came by when I did.” he said to the frightened little bird, so I’ll call you Lucky.

Then he fell vast asleep.

[Craig]

OOC:not very realistic traveling this far in such a short time but i don't want to miss out

Vren walked, on the night was comming but he knew if he slept here he would not have the privilage again.

When he finaly found the tavern he was pleased, he got a room with all of what money he had and went to his room.

[Durwyn]

Durn went from his room to take a walk outside. As he walked he thought about the place he grew up. He remered his father, a powerful orc chieftan. He had never liked the ways of the orcs but was well trained in the ways of a fighter. On raids he never killed. One night, he had a dream. It told him to leave the village and help those in need. He was sure it was a god, who else could do such a thing. But as he left his father caught him and attempted to kill him. Durn won but was wounded. He ran off and went uncounious because of blood loss. He awoke in a bed with a man next to him. That man was his only friend, Garthas the priest of Ilmater. His friend taught him to read and write and gave him a place to stay in his temple. But when Garthas died, he left the temple because everyone else had viewed him with distrust and suspision. He know traveled Icewind looking for someone he could call his friend. Its getting late thought Durn, Ill go back to my room and get a nights sleep. He went to his room and fell into a deep sleep.

[Arcane]

Gylderon ran swiftly but quietly down the path of blood and onto the road. The two warriors were no where to be seen but he could hear their heavy footfalls. He tsked tsked. If the monster was not following him, it would surely get these men. Gylderon pondered on whether to ally with these men or to keep on scouting. His mind returned to the yeti. It was killed in less than ten seconds...he began following the road slightly uphill, in the direction of the men, bow out, poisoned arrow in place. He would take no chances.
***************
It clicked its flap for a mouth wildly when it saw the small elf following its path to its cavern. It was so distraught that it forgot where the elf was going. Annoyed at itself for giving it a head start, it began following the road again.

[Nippy]

Kilden stumbled on a root but kept his balance. His sword was drawn and ready, he was bound to have need of it at this time of night, even if this... monster didn't catch them. There was bound to be other beats roaming the forest at night.

He followed Anduin covering the rear. His sight and hearing were sound and he could hear much of the forest night. The hooting of owls, the sound of animals gliding through underbrush. There was little that Anduin and Kilden could do, however, until they were faced with the beast.

A thought came across Kilden.

"Anduin, this beast is hunting at night, it won't like light, what if we went back and found a torch? It makes sense because we can't stumble around if it gets any darker and the beast can be warded off if it does come for us. I know that it might run from us, but we have little choice, if we die, no one else will know of this nightmare creature..."

[Craig]

Vren awoke to the noise of someone in the room next to him, he wouldn’t call it crying but it was in distress, to say the least. Vren walk to the room next to him and saw that it was a gnome, it looked quite, well Vren didn’t know what but it wasn’t happy, “Are…are you ok?” it looked up to him, Vren realised he was quite tall for a Halfling, “Ye… no” And the gnome told him all that happened. “I must go then, if it is an evil best then I must, uh dispose of it” Said Vren trying to look as heroic as possible.

He trudged out of the moon light and into the dark forest, he drew his sling, realising the Falchion could only be drawn when he needed it to be, he wondered why that man from the east gave it to his foster father? Oh well, best get to the beast and stop anymore killings, a shiver went down his spine, the monster that did the skinning seemed worse then a troll.

OOC:Not much but i don't want to spoil plans...

[Aegis]

It watched as the the humans left the confines of the forest, and later followed by the elf. He had come to deem the forest as his, but not in terms of territory, but more for grounds to hunt. It enjoyed that aspect of life. It didn't kill for food, nor did it kill for pleasure. It killed for the sake of the hunt, and the thrill of the trophy. It cared for little else. Crouching on an upper bough of a tree, it turned, and leapt back into the forest. The only sign of it's movement was the the lush backdrop of the forest blurring for a breif moment. As quickly as it had made it's way to the bough, it was back on the forest floor, moving to prepare itself for the hunt...

*****

Anduin and Kilden walked in silence for most the trip back to Byrn Shandar. It wasn't until the pair reached the outskirts of town that the vetean spoke. The older man turned to Kilden. "We're going to need some rest if we're going out into the forest again. Also, some equipment." He looked back to town, then back to the youth. "If you need anything, get it now. I don't intend to have to pull your arse out of the fire, if it comes down to it."

Kilden nodded, though confused. He didn't feel like arguing with Anduin, even if he was condescending. The two walked in silence, until reaching the Knuckle-head.

[Craig]

Vren saw the 2 men walking out of the forest, "Did you..." Vren started.

[Aegis]

The halfling walked into the forest, his weapon poised in a defensive posture. He wasn't quite sure what he was actually defending himself against, or even what he should expect! The forest held a much different cover in the night hours. Every branch snapping, or bit of darkness between the trees seemed to become accentuated, and intensified. Vren wasn't used to this, he didn't enjoy. He knew something inside the forest to be unwholesome, but he couldn't place it. It wasn't the feeling of magic, or even of some dark plot. It was a natural feeling, but made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end, and shivers run down his spine. He walked deeper into the woods, being careful to stay along the trail, so he wouldn't become lost. Lost, he thought to himself. He wouldn't survive a night in these woods if he got lost. Even though he could find food well enough, it wasn't that he was worried about. It was the uneasy feeling he had.

His hands were becoming coated in sweat as he moved deeper in, and every sound seemed to be louder than normal. His body suddenly seized up, and he spun, facing one of the bushes. He heard something over there. A rustling of the leaves, then a stick snapping, his sling poise to launch a tiny missile at whatever it was that was coming. He knelt down, ready spring into a run at a moments notice. He saw the bush rustle again, and the sound come closer. He watched as something bounched out of the bush, and was about to fire the stone at the creature, but held fast. He sighed a breath of relief as he saw a tiny rabbit hop out of the bush, and down the trail. He smirked to himself, and how high strung he was in here. He wiped the the sweat off his forehead with the back of his sleeve, and turned back in the direction he was traveling.

"OOooOOhh! A tiny one!"

Vren jumped at the sound. He wasn't expecting to find anyone out here, and this just played upon the tension he was already dealing with. He held his chest, which was heaving. He was breathing heavily, trying to calm his heart rate. Before him was a scraggly old man, who was haunched over, his arms dangling between his legs, and a long grey, matted beard hiding his foolish grin. He was bald, with traces of a mane, all of which was matted and dirty. He had obviously been living out here for a long time. The old man shuffled closer to Vren, and began to sniff the halfling. Vren took a step back, confused at what was happening, but made no move to dfend himself, thinking this man could cause no harm...

[Craig]

Vren fingered the falchion on his back, and it came loose. Trouble. He racked his brain for a reason what monster was like this? Doppelganger, the thought drifted through his mind, getting much more conceivable each time he considered it.