Nothern Shadows

[Aegis]

The Dale was always a quiet place in the spring months, aside from the bandits. Most of the more dangerous creatures had moved to other feeding grounds, or cooler climates in some cases. The people of Bryn Shandar profited most during this time of the year, as the trade routes were open to Luskan, and the lakes were free of ice, and the people could fish for the knuckle fish. It was the time of the year where few really had worries, and could focus on tasks at hand, instead of dodging the biting cold, or creatures of the tundra. It was also the time when the fishermen, and traders would swarm the taverns, swaping tales, and downing ale.

Anduin sat in one such tavern. He was surrounded by a small crowd, one that seemed to be enraptured by some elaborate tale being weaved by the old warrior. His adventuring days long over, the man now wore a grizzly looking beard, flecked with a few remaining patches of brown where the grey of age hadn't yet over taken. He was leaning on the table, his mug of ale resting between his elbows, and his long, matted, grey hair drapped over his shoulders, hiding most of his from the crowd. To his side, his sword still rested, one made of the finest Dwarven steel, by the Clan Battlehammer in the caves nearby. It wasn't on his hip, as it was years ago, but instead it stood esting against his chair. His dulled clothing betrayed the adventures and riches this once had, but no one in the crowd cared about the appearance of this grizzled old man, all were taken in by the tale he spun to them, each taking it in like a hungry dog.

"And there we were. The four of us, surrounded by a group of tundra yetis!" His face contorted, as if trying to show a mock fear, and he raised one hand. "And the damned beasts, they charged us all. So, stop this mound, which we made our stand on, the four of us battled valiantly. Chaltle swung that massive axe of his, and cleaved the first yeti right in too. I can still remember the smell of the foul creatures innards to this day. Endar, and Brethwyn sprang towards the creatures, an insane battle fury dominating their souls, and they attacked the dumb beasts. Stupid fools. Brethwyn was torn asunder before even getting in close. Berk didn't know better. He was young and impetuous. This sent Endar into a deeper frenzy, and the man literally tore the yeti apart, limb by limb. Well-"

"But what about you, old man?" interupted one of the listeners.

Anduin tilted his head towards the youth, the man becoming lost in the deep blue eyes of the old warrior. "Some things are worth waiting for, laddie." Anduin smirked, and turned back to the rest of the group, and continued his story, after taking a sip of his ale. "Well, as I was saying. That man was full of blood lust, killing two of those things on his own! Me, on the other hand." He paused to chuckle. "Well, one of those damed things snuck up behind me as I was cleaving the head off another. The first sign of it was that massive paw of it's deciding to swat me in the ribs." He smirked again. "But, it took more than that to take this old man down. I turned to it, shaking off the meager blow, and drove my sword right through it's throat!" He made a stabbing motion with his hand, immitating the thrust of his weapon. "And I'll tell you this." He raised his hand, his index finger stretched out, and shook it slightly. "There is no smell more rancid then that of a tundra Yeti's breath that close." The crowd erupted with laughter, and Anduin chuckled. "By the time I drew my sword back out, the five yeti's that decided we would make a good meal were good and dead. Poor Brethwyn though. We had to bury him there. Cairn is still there, to this day, the five skulls of those yeti's resting on it." he took another sip of his ale. "It took me a damn week to clean the stentch and blood of my sword, too. For a long while, no other person would come near me, not even the serving wenches here!" This brought forth another bout of laughter, and as soon as the crowd knew the tale to be woven, they slowly dispersed, leaving the grizzled man to himself, and his drink, smiling pleasently.

"Always one fer the dramatic, aren't ye Anduin?" said a soft voice from behind him. Anduin placed his mug on the table, and spun in his chair to face the woman behind him. "Or, are ye jsut spewing forth from yer arse again?" The woman smiled pleasently, and dropped a plate of meat in front of him, and refilled his mug.

"Ah, Kara. You know I'm good for every word." He smiled, and gave the girl a pat on the rump before digging into his food.

Kara smiled, and turned around, heading back to the kitchen. she loved his stories, and like the others in the tavern, she hung on to every word. Though, she would never give Anduin the pleasure of hearing her say that.

Anduin was about to wolf down another peice of his meal when a tiny figure burst into the room, paniced. It was gnome, if Anduin had ever seen one. It made it a few steps inside, and then collapsed...

[Craig]

Is this the new roleplaying topic?

[Aegis]

@Craig: Yes.

[Craig]

Wow Won' be long, making entrance

[Craig]

How long, he thought? How long to the Icewind dale? Well head better off; he waved fare well to his grieving foster parents. He almost laughed at the thought, a lone Halfling, falchion on back heading to survive in the wild, but with the sombre mood he couldn’t, it wouldn’t be right, not with the loss of his brother and friend Jhual. So what if he had teased him in front of everyone? He had helped him behind the back of his teachers; he had never let anyone push him around; sighing Vren looked back to the dreary village and left.

Nesme seemed so shadowed with loss! It was only just recovering. Jhual had been a valued member of the community, he would go out in patrols and kill of the troll that where too close; now though he was gone, savaged by a troll that had not died; what Vren couldn’t work out is how? Jhual had killed the troll, he had told the whole village, bit-by-bit how he had severed its head, how he’d splashed the opening with acid. All this was believable, because he had taken the trolls head back with him, there could be no doubt it was dead, not now any way.

Thoughts, painfully, churned in his head, every thought being mulled in his head, then it came back; like a dream of reality, a nightmare. It was only yesterday but he could have swung the sword on his back the same way when he fought it. It’d come raging out of the house, probably mistaking the sleeping boy as dead, Jhual woke though, he drew his falchion, passed down by his father, and swung. He could have swung it all day never harming the beast, although the reverse wasn’t so true. Near the start of the battle it had grappled his arm, then his head, Vren hadn’t seen the rest, he hadn’t of wanted to. He shivered involuntarily, unable to stop the painful memories; all that was left was a half-skinned corpse, with several ribs missing, he didn’t know where the head landed, then the strangest feeling; even now, it was hard to now what it was, it’d called to him, and he had come.

The sword felt so light to him then but now he was struggling under its weight; he drew it no feeling of partner ship with the sword now, he held it for a while, then it plunged, not of his own will struck the stump and stopped, only digging in a small amount; he pulled. Nothing. He pulled lighter now it came. He put it in his back-sheath and thought on. He didn’t know why it was easier to draw that strange sword in combat then elsewhere, it’d come so easily, and so had the swings, he hacked at the vile skin, stretched over those taut, monstrous muscles; it had swung back, flailing its arms, striking him on the shoulder. Dazed bruised and battered he lay on the barn wall; not missing the chance for a meal, the troll stalked closer. The eyes on it pointed head, shallow and hunger, he was sure troll couldn’t grin. That was when he saw it the torch, almost on instinct he flung it, the flames lick the skin on the troll for a while, then crack, it had been incinerated, left smoking, a charcoal black lump of bone, skin and muscle fused together, smouldering.

Thinking it was best not to live in the past, however hard, he trudged on watching the small mountain peaks on the horizon, growing slowly closer.

OOC: Wow, I wrote all that!

[Arcane]

The tavern roof was cold and trying to gain footage was near impossible. He crouched on the icy wood. A casual observer would have noticed nothing...perhaps a flicker in the dark....
Gylderon waited until the watch was looking the other way...he ****ed his arrow and fired into the air....not at the guard....but in a way so that the guard turned and Gylderon was able to sneak off the roof and to the tavern. As he entered....he saw a great commotion:a gnome talking to a wizened warrior, a great crowd was listening....he paid no attention, as he was on the bounty list of the Red Warders and one of these men might be Warders. He withdrew a pouch and placed it infront of the counter...."Blue Bell's if you have it sir...."the bartender poured him a mug and didnt even take the money, as he was so engrossed in the conversation between the gnome and the warrior. Gylderon
's elvish face relaxed for the first time in seven months.....he was paid and safely away from the Warders....his latest assasination brought in the next year's bounty.....life was good.

Still, he couldnt help listening to the conversation the gnome and the knight were having......

OOC:this is my first RP post, if its wrong plz tell me thx

[Aegis]

@Arcane: Welcome. Don't worry, as you learn our writing habits, your own writing will adapt to fit in. It's good though.

*****

Anduin helped the gnome back to his feet, and walked him back to his table. The old warrior had never seen a gnome look this frightend before, at least not in the Dale. He led the gnome to the chair across from him, and pushed his mug of ale forward, so that the gnome could take a drink. The gnome seemed to be in some sort of daze. He didn't quite register his surroundings, but seemed to be aware. It was odd, and it unsettled Anduin.

"Do you have a name, gnome?" Anduin asked causally, ignoring the crowd now forming around him again. "Or shall I call you 'Gnome'?" He smirked, hoping he would maybe lighten the gnome's mood.

The gnome titled his head up, and looked to the old warrior. His eyes suddenly flared open, as if waking from a dream. He scrambled out of his chair, throwing it to the ground in a fit, and began to back into a corner. "N-NO!" h stammered, covering his face with two grubby hands. "You may've gotten Uncle Biltswigger, and Gunge, but Gheve Gestap isn't as old!"

He seemed truly frightened, and Anduin ****ed an eyebrow. At least he knew the gnome's name now, he thought to himself. He carefully approached Gheve, his hands outstretched, shwoing his held no weapons. Gheve seemed to cower even more, looking off into a corner of the tavern, near the door. Anduin dismissed it, believeing that Gheve's was seeing no more than just hallucinations. "I am Anduin. I'm not going to hurt you." the grizzled warrior began. He put his hand forth, towards Gheve, but the gnome just looked at it.

"S-skined! All of them!" He stammered, covering his face even more. "And hanging... Hanging from the trees, upside down. All of them were skinned! Skinned..." He trailed off, to scared to speak coherantly.

Anduin was taken aback. He replayed those last words in his mind for several moments. What in the Dale killed, skinned, and then hung victims upside down, and gnomes no less. He placed a hand on the Gheve's shoulder, trying to calm him down. Gheve jumped, but when he saw the old man's hand, seemed to relax a bit. "Gheve." He started, looking right at the gnome. "Is there anything else you can tell me?" He looked right into the frightened gnomes eyes

Gheve froze, and looked up at Anduin, obviously scared. After a moment, Gheve worked up the courage to speak. "From the trees... Out of nowhere! It appeared!" Gheve had calmed enough to reveal his full face. Anduinhid a snicker from the gnome when he saw the scraggely begining of whiskers on his chin, and let him continue, perturbed by this tale. "It had claws! Big ones coming from it's wrists! And it's face..." He stopped, and gave a whimper before continuing. "I'll never forget it... It was like that of a reptile! With flaps for a mouth! It was horrible..." As Gheve was finishing his sentence, the feared seemed to become too much for him, and he dropped to the floor again, his eyes closed, and his breathing becoming steady. He had passed out.

Anduin stood up, and turned to Kara. "Take him to my room. When he wakes up, give him whatever he asks for, and I'll cover him." Anduin walked past the woman, and from the gnome and crowd. He stopped next to his chair, and picked up his weapon, and placed on his hip, and turned for the door. He then left the tavern, quickly making his way to the closet grouping of trees in the Dale...

[Arcane]

After hearing the conversation and watching the gnome be escorted to the warriors room, Gylderon finished his ale and checked his bow and quivers....he also checked his vial of poison and his short sword....he wanted more information about these skinnners...but the gnome was in a state of shock so he would have to play it out with the warrior....

Gylderon stepped out into the cold and up the rooftops...hidden.
He followed the trail of the warrior and saw him leave the gates of the town. Gylderon leapt from the rooftop to a wall, the perfect vantage point for arrows because of its close vicinity to the forest. He waited for a few minutes and decided to follow the warrior.

A few moments into the dark forest, Gylderon ****ed an arrow and followed closely behind the warrior. Something in his vision flickered. He looked to the west and saw a swiftly moving shadow..........the warrior noticed it too...

[Nippy]

OOC: Aegis, I've had a change of character if it's ok. My characters name is Kilden and he is a Lawful Neutral Fighter. I want to try something different...

***

The tall guard stood near to the bar with a drink in front of him. It had been slow for work recently and his rent was stacking. The local militia required no temporary guardsmen. Private work was no easier to find, he was new to the north, fresh from Baldurs Gate he had retired from a life of working as one of the Dukes guards. There was no money and life was expensive there.

To be honest to himself, he had no idea why he came to the Savage Lands. A trader was hawking his stores in the market and he had bought a new two-handed sword from him. A thief tried to steal the mans wares and Kilden had caught the child and stopped him. The man thanked him and offered him a job as a caravan guard. Some kind of strange feeling had come over him and he almost jumped at the offer. So he had guarded and travelled north. He had been in the place for a little under a month and nothing had come up for him.

He rubbed his eyes and drew his hands down his face. He looked into his drink and picked out his dark blue eyes and blond hair. He drained his drink and asked for another one. The bartender had begun to get to know him.

"Are ye sure you want another one Kilden? I don't mean ta pester ye, but your tabs ran for a little while now..."

"I know, I know, but give me until next month. If I can't find work I will work at the bar for you, I just need to find some damn work!"

The bartender left a drink and went to serve another customer. Kilden's drink was interuppted when a small gnome burst through the door. He feinted and many patrons returned to their drink. When the man recovered and was carted off after speaking to the grizzeled out veteran, Kilden finished his drink. He considered calling it a night but his curiosity got the better of him.

Anduin? Was that his name? Had left the tavern, and was followed by a shady looking character.

Kilden felt a twang in his concience and followed the pursuer of Anduin He was never a good tail, but he hoped the man wouldn't know he was being followed. He kept to a good distance and his good eyesite allowed him to see the man quite far off. The mans head snapped to the left and Anduin followed suit.

Kilden called out.

"Look out! There is something non-wholesome in this wood!"

The cloaked man looked at Kilden in disdain for his loudness and he had lost the site of the shadow. Anduin too had looked at Kilden...

[Craig]

OOC: Balls!Now i have to wait a while, Vren can't get upto the north THAT quick can he?

[Aegis]

Anduin turned sharply towards Kilden, his gaze going right past the stealthy elven assassin. Though the distance was fair, the old veteran cleared it quickly, his sword drawn, and held towards the younger man's neck. Gylderon melded back into the shadows of the forest, quickly, and nimbly picking his way through, making ground behind the two men. Though he was a good at what he did, he did not wish to confront to warriors on his own. Not now. It wasn't what smart assassin's did.

"Who are you!" Anduin demanded, his sword steadily held, the tip almost touching Kilden's throat. The two stood only a few feet apart from each other, but none made any move, until Kilden slowly raised his hands, palms up, showing Anduin he didn't mean to fight.

"Kilden. From Baldurs Gate." He started, the only hint of how nervous he was was the slight gulp. Years of training though, kept him from running, or moving for his own weapon. Instead he ramined calm. "And your Anduin." Anduin quirked an eyebrow. "I over heard your conversation with the gnome, and watched you leave." he said, watching Anduin relax slightly. "Well, I saw an elf follow you out, and thought that he might not have the best intentions."

Anduin thought about the words for a moment, then after some careful consideration, he lowered his weapon, and turned away from him, sending his gaze back out towards the undergrowth. He began to scan the forest, using the eyes of a veteran adventurer, looking for any sign of either the elf, or creature Gheve told him about.

Kilden sighed thankfully, and lowered his hands, and steped up next to Anduin. "What are we searching for?" He asked, his own gaze scanning the forest.

Anduin turned to Kilden, an incredulous look on his face. "We? Listen lad. We aren't looking for anything. I'm looking for something." He looked down at Kilden's sword. "Besides, I don't want you to be waving that thing around me like some babe fresh off the farm." He turned back to the forest. "Best you go back to Bryn shander." He added.

Kilden turned to the veteran warrior. "I assure you I know how to use this weapon. Besides, the only reason I'm out here, is because I thought you might need help."

Anduin turned to Kilden, and gave him a once over. For several moments he thought about what was said. Too his dissappointment, he was unable to refute that logic. He might need help. He nodded to the youth, and Kilder smirked, and went back to scanning the forest, follwing Anduin as he began to march forth again, loooking for anything.

*****

It watched from the upper boughs of a tree. It watched as the two humans shot back at each other, and as the elf left the scene. It crouched on the bough, it's arm outstretched, leaning against the trunk. Though foilage blocked part of it's view, the heat signatures both men gave off were distinct, and strong. It could see them. It opened the flaps it used for it's mouth, and gave a quiet clicking noise. It watched the elder with more interest. It had another target....

[Arcane]

Gylderon stood stunned when he heard the male voice behind him. As he stood, the warrior, Anduin, turned and, sword out, began walking towards another warrior. Right past Gylderon he walked. Gylderon disappeared into the foliage. The two men conversed and almost started an arguement because the warrior, the old one, criticized the young ones boasting of his skill with the sword. The elf cloaked in black turned towards the forest and slowly began walking again. He decided he should scout and, if possible, report back what he saw to the two men. Through many a bush and root he walked, not making any sounds. His proffesion required just that. Somehting else flickered on the edge of his eyesight; something...closer....more sinister....darker in a way. Gylderon decided to move faster, the voices of the men were far off now. Another flicker...Gylderon pulled the string on his bow tautly. This creature would move in his eyesight and disappear a second later. Even his keen elvish eyes were no match against the speed this creature moved with. His mind dwelt on several possibilities for this creature. A mist perhaps? No, to solid looking...a sort of undead. The gnome clearly spoke of a skinner. Most undead did not have any skin...no. No undead moves thatfast, he decided. Whatever it was, he hoped he would kill it or wound it to beat it off because he was no fencer. Although his short sword would be sufficient for a while, he only used it when he had surprise on his side. Gylderon stopped dead. Something was hanging on the next tree. He was too engrossed in his own thought to notice. He approached it slowly. Limp it was. Hanging upside down. Gylderon carefully undid the cord that bound it and saw that the cord was wet with...blood. He slowly unhitched the form from the tree and laid it on the ground. It was wrapped in some type of skin. He cut a fissure into the skin and unwrapped the form. He gasped at what he saw. The form was a humanoid....possibly a human or gnome from the village. And it did not have skin. Gylderon looked at the gift wrap that encased it and matched it with the body perfectly. This creature, he thought, was disgusting. He found a fissure in the ground and buried the body and its skin.

Gylderon shuddered. He now knew what the creature could do to him......he continued on......not hearing the heavy panting of the beast twenty strides behind him.

OOC:Hope this works...although i hope Gylderon wont get stamped.....thx

[Aegis]

Having moved on from observing the two humans, it began to stalk Gylderon. It watched the small elf quickly work his way through the forest, making little to no noise. It stayed in the trees, watching, and stalking the elf. To the side of the elf, travelling paralellel to him, was another heat signature. A larger tundra yeti had worked it's way into the forest. It gave a deep chortle, heard only by the creature. He tailed Gylderon for only a few minutes before he saw the the creatures latest prey. The elf stopped, cutting the victim down, and crudely burying it in the ground. Before moving on, it saw the elf stop, his bow notched and ready, being aimed into the underbrush before him.

The creaure what could only be called a smile, and quickly leapt from the bough's of the tree, to the forest floor. Moving quickly, it closed in on the yeti, making no sound. Gylderon registered nothing more than the blurring movement. Gylderon was begining to feel something awry, and he tensed his grip on his weapon. He turned it to face the movement, but the creature was gone. He looked around the underbrush, trying to find something to give away the creature, but found nothing. He felt a shiver run down his spine. He jumped suddenly as he heard loud roar, followed by a creature screaming in pain. The tormented cries lead Gylderon to the source. When he saw what was left of te tundra yeti, the elf almost wretched. In his time on this plane, and being used to te delicate nature of life, he had not seen such a sight. What remained of the yeti was no more than the bare muscle, still pulsating with the last bits of life moved through it. It was slick with the life blood. Gylderon couldn't focus on anything but the steady sound of the remaining blood drip out of the yeti, and to the forest floor, as it swung listly from a tree. Gylderon felt a rim of sweat form on his forehead, and hands, and had to tighen his grip on his bow again. He snapped his vision in the oppsite direction, trying to find something. the only hint something had even been here, was the omnious clicking sound that followed his discovery...

[Arcane]

Its Gylderon not glyderon...lol sry thx

[Durwyn]

Darn walked towards the tavern, he had been lucky to convince the guards to let him in, let alone not kill him on site. As he entered the tavern he was met with a stare. He ignored the suspicious people and went to the innkeeper and asked for a room. The innkeeper said "al..right, room 16" and handied him the key. He went to the bar and asked for a beer. He overheard a conversation about a gnome who walked in and had been visibly shaken. Intresting thought Durn, perhaps that means adventure...


(I did a short post because I am within computer class right now. I will post a longer one later. Hope this doesn't mess you up Aegis.)