Nothern Shadows - Page 4

Rail · #46 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 03:05 AM

Sedge watched as his old friend sauntered off and flagged down young Kara. He hadn't changed much since their adventuring days. He still had a way with people. Sedge couldn't understand how the old warrior had talked him into it this time. 'Until then, we hunt for these creatures', Anduin had said casually, as if they were looking for late season wild strawberries or something. This was a killer of horriffic proportions!

The former wizard looked at the gnome and his heart went out to the poor young lad. The gnome's eyes were hollow, empty of any joy or mischief they once had held, as he glumly stared into his mug trying to contemplate going back to the scene of his trauma. Sedge had dealt with the settlement of gnomes a couple of times for business and was fairly sure he must have me the young gnome before, though he certainly couldn't claim to know any of the gnomes personally. "Gheve," Sedge began, hoping that was the name the young Kilden had mentioned. The old brewer was always bad with names. "I am very sorry for all that happened. I know this is a tough time to talk about this, but I need to know a few things about what happened."

Gheve nodded and proceded to tell the former wizard about the murders. They had to stop several times and allow the young gnome time to regain his composure. Sedge found himself choked up during the telling as well, though Kilden didn't seem to notice, or at least he didn't look down on him for it. The young warrior patted the gnome reassuringly several times when things became difficult and showed a fair amount of compassion, a trait often missing in today's hot-blooded young warriors, thought Sedge. In fact, Kilden was not so unlike Anduin, though certainly with a lot more hair.

Sedge asked a few questions of the gnome throughout the story, but mostly he found himself wondering what he was doing here, preparing to hunt such a creature. This should be the job for the warden and his men or soldiers. Maybe even some other young adventurers, or the Druids or Kanduhar. Or even the Harpers. But certainly not for the brewer of Bryn Shander! Fear knotted his stomach briefly as he thought about it and he found himself trying to think of something else as he took a swig of his ale. It seemed Jalen's been watering things down again. And this was such a good batch!

He realized Gheve had asked him something and he looked up, startled from his thoughts. "Hmm? What was that?"

Gheve looked a bit crestfallen, but Kilden jumped in to Sedge's rescue. "Yes, Gheve. It won't be easy but we'll find a way to defeat this creature. Don't you worry about it."

The young warrior looked questioningly at Sedge, but the brewer didn't reply. He'd wanted to voice his agreement with Kilden, but his stomach had knotted again, so he settled for nodding. The poor young gnome! All his family and friends! All gone and so horriffically, too! Sedge sighed and caught hold of himself. He was definitely not cut out for this any longer. For a brief moment he thought about telling Anduin he'd have to find someone else to help him, but Sedge knew something had to be done. He sighed and silently cursed Anduin's name, even though he knew it was wrong of him to do so.

The old warrior, as if summoned by Sedge's dark thoughts, returned to the table, laughing at some joke he'd shared with Kara. "Well, I think we'd better call it a night."

Sedge nodded and pushed his chair back from the table. The thought of trudging back through the darkness to his house after hearing such a gruesome tale now seemed a bit daunting, but he pulled his robes a bit tighter around him. He knew the robes were a bit old fashioned, but wizards in his day didn't wear fancy clothes or wield swords. They simply practiced magic, fair and simple. So much had changed since he last put these robes, and himself all the more so. Things will be much better once Gilthanus gets here, thought Sedge as he surveyed the group he would depart with in the morning. With a sigh, he bid a respectful goodnight to Kilden and bowed to Gheve in gnomish fashion. He nodded to Anduin. Turning, he walked past the jibes and jokes of Jalen and company and walked home though the forboding darkness. His bed seemed uncomfortable and cold that night.

Rob-hin · #47 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 10:41 AM

He had been drifting through the woods for some time now and Casan was getting tired. The thought of returning home just crossed his mind until he saw something. Unsure what it was he went to have a look.

He moved carefully from tree to tree, “Better to be safe then sorry” Casan thought. When he got closer he noticed a hideous smell. He saw a couple of ravens where picking at the skinless body of a yeti for food. Casan startled the birds and they flew of, screaming just to let him know he wasn’t welcome.
Horrified by the site of it, Casan fell on his knees. “What could have done this? The creature is more vicious then I have imagined!” He just sat there for a couple of minutes while it sank in.

For the first time in his life, he didn’t want to be in these woods.

He stood up, knowing it wasn’t safe to let his guard down, thinking about what he should do next. “Should I return to my cabin, keep searching these woods so I can hope to save as many people as I can or should I go to Bryn Shandar to warn the people about what is out here…”

Craig · #48 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 11:18 AM

Vren backed up to the tree, “Di…did you hear that, the uh clicking?” Said Vren nervously, sweat dripping down his cheek
“No” Replied the old man
Vren glanced aside, every bone in his body seemed to itch, and he saw a figure, unaware that it might be the creature, he stepped back a few paces, then ran as fast as his small legs could take him.

Nippy · #49 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 11:43 AM

Kilden saw Sedge leave the tavern and Anduin go up to bed. Gheve quickly finished ale.

"Th... Thank you Kilden. I don't want to seem childish but your help was very welcome."

Gheve trudged off to bed and Kilden was left on his own. He slowly finished his drink and mused todays events. He had seen a ruthless killer and hunter and had almost been attacked by it. He shivered involuntarily and decided quickly to go to bed.

Aegis · #50 (**permalink**) 03-11-2002, 11:19 PM

Vren was finger his weapon more now, making sure the leather bindings were tight. His head was scanning the forest, unsure of what was out there. He didn't like it. He heard nothing in the forest after that loud clicking noise, but nothing else. He glanced towards the old man, who was crouching over, picking at bits of dirt and plant on the trail. When the old man felt the attention of the halfling, he peaked his head up, his long white beard dragging alone the ground. He beam a large, toothless grin, and then returned to picking at the ground. Vren was at a loss for words. the old man had heard nothing, and seemed unconcerned. The hair on the back of his neck seemed to stand on end, as if warning him of some inheirant danger in the area. He never took his eyes off his weapon.

*****

It hung Gylderon from one of the branches outside what he had made it's den. Using a series of vines and wreathes, it hung the limp elf upside down. It wasn't going to skin him, yet. It had other plans for the elf, specifically for bait. It wanted the Older man. It wanted the hunt.

Durwyn · #51 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 07:44 AM

Durn sat drinking his ale, knowing how his heritage kept him apart from all the other people in this bar. They feared, even hated him. That would set him apart from almost all people, because he was diffrent from them, born of an evil race. He pushed those thoughts out of his head and went to bed, knowing he had a intresting day tomarrow.

(I'll post later today, gotta go to my gym class, i post in multimedia often)

Rob-hin · #52 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 03:17 PM

After pondering about what he should do next for a while, Casan decided that warning the people of Bryn Shandar was the right thing to do.

It was a long walk before he would get there, and who new what he would find in his way. He had better keep an eye out for whatever was in these woods. Lucky acted nervously, Casan couldn’t blame him.
Suddenly, something startled Casan. Something up in a tree, in a flash it dived from a branch into the air. In a reflex, Casan jabbed at it with his staff but he missed. Trying to avoid whatever was coming, he dived to a nearby tree. When he looked up he saw a small bat flying of into the darkness.
At first Casan felt pretty stupid, then he started laughing. “That was pretty stupid of me” he thought.

So he continued his travel towards Bryn Shandar. On his way he skinless bodies hanging from the trees. “I’d better hurry, lets hope it doesn’t go for the town, or hasn’t done so already.”
He was deep inside the beast’s territory now. Casan was afraid to make even the smallest of sounds, he even held his breath.

Rail · #53 (**permalink**) 03-12-2002, 06:49 PM

Sedgemon Traft opened the door to the inn, glad to get out of the chill morning breeze, and wearily made his way to the table. He'd had a rough night full of haunting dreams where he was selling wines to dead gnomes who were all skinless save for a frantic Gheve, hung by his feet from the center of the village, screaming hoarsely as if he'd been at it for hours. Sedge woke up early and decided against further sleep. He frowned as he thought of the many uncomfortable nights he'd spend in his bedroll laid over rocks and lumps as he was on several adventures as a younger man. He sighed as he realized sleeping comfortably would be far from his greatest worry.

Walking to the bar, he noticed the large kegs tapped and ready to consume. He thought with fondness of the work that had gone into those kegs and the effort he'd put in to perfect the recipe and the brewing process. He'd learned much since his adventuring days. At least this time, he thought, I won't have to worry about a shortage of good wine. He smiled at the thought of the choice selections he'd packed to take with him. The winter grapes were especially sweet a few years ago and they've made an exceptional vintage which he saved much of for his own collection. The frostberry wine from last year had reached it's fullness as well, and he thought to bring some of that for lighter occasions.

Though lighter occasions seemed so far away at the moment.

Sedge reached the bar and took the small handbell from it's resting place. Jalen came within a few breaths of ringing the bell, cleaning his hands from the flour of the morning baking. "Good morning, Sedge! What brings you out here this early in the morning?"

The old mage smiled wistfully to himself as if at some private humor. "I'm here to meet Anduin. We're departing at first light." His voice was tense and to the point.

Jalen raised an eyebrow as if he were taking the brewer's garb seriously for the first time.

Sedge smiled to himself again. "Do you have any of those fried potatoes ready, yet?"

Jalen nodded and mumbled something to himself as he went back to get Sedge's breakfast. The mage sat down and waited for his traveling companions to assemble.

Nippy · #54 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 01:29 AM

Kilden woke feeling better than the night before, his nerves had dissipated with sleep, as they always did and his body felt strong and quick. He got dressed in his armour with his weapon and readied his pack so they could move quickly. He thought he would be the first one up and was surprised to see Sedge already awake and ordering breakfast.

"Jalen! Another of whatever my friend is having here, if you please..."

Sedge looked around, starteled from his deep thought.

"How are you my friend?" Asked Kilden, "I trust you sleeped well? You look a little tired to me, my friend..."

Kilden had never thought otherwise of Sedge not being his friend. He was a likeable person, and he got on well with most everyone. He hoped that he wasn't intruding on an established friendship. He sat down next to Sedge and turned to him.

"Sedge, I wanted to ask you something, do you have any problems with me going on this? I could see that you and Anduin are old friends and having me come in and disrupt things is not an ideal thing, do you want me not go on this quest? If you have any qualms, please tell me...."

Kilden smiled at Sedge and waited patiently for him to answer...

Durwyn · #55 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 07:19 AM

Durn awoke, realizing he should get ready for his exploration of the woods. Before he went downstairs though, he thought about what hewould bring with him. His medical kit could prove invaluable, and he knew he would need his sword. He looked at a small necklace, given it to him by Garthas. He had always said that Durn would find someone who would accept him but those words semed so distant, as if it had all been a dream. He went downstairs and walked out the door. He just watched as the sun was rising. He walked back into the inn and saw two of the men talking. He didnt interupt because he was a polite person. He sat down far enough away to not overhear their conversation. He started to plan how he would go into the forest.

Rob-hin · #56 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 12:25 PM

Since Casan lived on the other side of the forest, it took him the rest of the night getting too Bryn Shandar. On his arrival, he noticed the town was up early, normally, townsfolk didn’t get up so easily.

He went straight for the house of a friend, but he wasn’t awake yet. Casan knocked on the door hard . At first nothing happened. After a couple minutes he heard somebody stumbling, cursing came soon after it. He couldn’t help smiling.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming already!” The door opened with a quick pull, it was still dark inside. A frown looked out irritated “Who dares wake me so early in the morning?” after a second of silence, the frown disappeared. “Casan! Good friend, what are you doing in the Bryn Shandar? You hardly leave the woods.”
“Coutal, it’s been to long. How are you?” The two men walked in, when Coutal opened the windows, the house looked pretty nice.

When Casan sat down, a mug of ale was placed in front of him before he could refuse. “Isn’t it a bit early for this?”, Coutal smiled. “You came here for a reason, and since you travelled by night, it’s probably urgent. I reckon you can use it.”

“You know me too well, it is urgent indeed. There is some sort of creature in the forest. It has killed a lot of gnomes and a couple of yetis. It has hung the poor gnomes in the trees, without skin! I came to warn everybody about it”
Well, Coutal started, “I’m glad you made it here safely, but we already know about it. Some adventurers are going to leaving this morning, searching for it. … And hopefully kill it.”

Casan grabbed his ale, and drank it at once. He slammed on the table, “Then I’ll join them, they can use someone who knows these woods, besides, I’m a good hunter”.

Coutal wished him luck; he knew he couldn’t stop him even if he tried. “They are in the tavern. You know who to talk to.”

He knew who to talk too alright, there was only one in this town with the courage to go out and hunt for it. Though he didn’t really know him, but he knew who he was and he knew his stories. “Let’s hope he lives up to them” he thought.
He entered the tavern and went straight for Jalen. “Where is Aduin? I need to talk to him”.

Durwyn · #57 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 04:04 PM

Durn saw a man carrying a staff talking to the innkeeper, asking for Anduin. He's probaly going out into the forest also he thought. Well, it doesnt matter, im still going to the forest, but what is that creature out there. I have never heard of a creature that skins creatures and hangs them from trees. I dought its native to the north but i might as well try and find out. He got up and left to go meet Shardalon, a mage he had helped before. Unfortaly, the mage was out. Luckly, the mages apprentice Saeril was in. What can i do for you Durn he asked with a voice that convoed the message he had been up all night. I need to look at the library said Durn. alright, since i know Shardalon would let you, but come in and tell me why he said. alright said Durn as he entered.

Rail · #58 (**permalink**) 03-13-2002, 05:38 PM

The old mage was a bit taken aback by Kilden's question. Well..., I uh... No! That's not it at all. I just..., uh. Well, I just wasn't expecting anyone else, that's all. I haven't done this sort of thing and it never occurred to me that I'd be a stranger to some of my companions. That's all." Sedge looked a bit embarrassed, perhaps a tad nervous as well. "The truth of the matter is, I really appreciate all the help we can get on this. If it's gotten Anduin shaken up, we'd all better be very careful. I don't believe we can be too prepared on this task."

Kilden nodded, looking slightly relieved. "I'm truly glad to hear that. You are right on what we're up against. You should have seen what we saw yesterday in the woods," he said with a shiver, but then paused, carefully looking at the older man. "Well, perhaps it's better that you didn't."

Sedge looked up at him in surprise, but laughed. "You probably right about that! It's enough to hear the stories and see poor Gheve." The old mage shivered as if a chill had gone through the room.

Jalen returned to the table with two steaming plates full of fried eggs and spicy potatoes. Sedge's mood brightened considerably. Jalen also set down a mug of leatherleaf tea for the mage, but turned to the young warrior. "You'll have to pay, though!"

Sedge shook his head, not looking from his plate. "He's with me," he mumbled past a mouth full of food.

Jalen grumbled to himself, but walked away without argument.

Nippy · #59 (**permalink**) 03-14-2002, 01:06 AM

Between mouthfuls of food Kilden managed to grunt something out.

"Free food... always taste... sweeter!"

Sedge nodded sagely and continued piling the food into his mouth.

"Thanks for relying on me Sedge, I think it's important for us to trust each other implicitly, otherwise, well who knows what will happen..."

Durwyn · #60 (**permalink**) 03-14-2002, 07:22 AM

Saeril said no ive never heard anything like it. Are you sure its real. Two warriors, Anduin and Kilden i think saw the bodies, hanging from the trees. said Durn. Saeril just sighed and said thats not good then, as you know i will do what i can but i cant leave the village to help you battle it. He thought for a moment and said, have this necklace, say the work Ashadalon and it will protect you from evil creatures but it only works once. Thank you said Durn. Now come have breakfast with me before you go said Saeril i really need to get started said Durn. it's free said Saeril, okay said Durn. Saeril smiled, knowing Durn couldnt give up good food. But Saeril knew that the time was not a good one for jokes and such. This creature was deadly and he didnt know how to help Durn. He didnt know enough magic to help Durn, he just would get in the way. He hoped Durn would find what he was searching for, both things, the beast and his god's true identity. Durn left to go to the tavern to get the last of his stuff he wanted to bring when he went into the forest. He entred and saw the young warrior and the mage talking and eating. I'll wait and get an ale first he decided. He called the barkeeper and asked if he could have an ale. Sure said the barkeeper and walked over to get a mug.