Vengeance of the Heart

[CM]

"Oh no you dont" Running after the Barbarian, Mursalin caught up with him at the door and yelled for some rope. Pushing the whimpering man to the wall, Mursalin tied him up with the rope the inn keep brought. The man sat still has he was being tied up and had stopped crying. Seeing that the man was secured and could do no harm to anybody, Mursalin told Vaudal a farmer to watch over the barbarian, while Mursalin went back in and hoisted a body over his shoulder with a word to the men he fought with, he walked back out.

[Tybaltus]

Acolytus, noticing the battle was well over, motioned for Greppun to come to him.

“Well I can plainly see this little skirmish is out of the way. Was this really worth an ale? You silly city dwellers,” Acolytus says while shaking his head. “Can anything you people do, end in peaceful matters?”

Acolytus quickly and angrily attaches the spear into its slot on his leather belt. He then picks up his cloak and dusts it off.

“Well you city dwellers can continue your brawls and hoo-haws…or whatever you call it. But know this, you people have great strength. Don’t abuse it, friends.” Acolytus slowly makes his way to the door with Greppun closely following. “I guess that ale will have to wait.”

[Rob-hin]

Leaning over to his beaten foe, Gurney went through the dead man’s pockets. A few golden coins were his mere spoils of battle.

The Inn was a mess, but with only a couple of broken tables and chairs; the damage was less then one would expect. The smell of blood will be noticeable for months though, and the stains on the wooden floor will remain visible until it will be replaced or covered up.
A couple of broken windows caused a draft, but the fresh air was welcomed by most people, not including the innkeeper Harnan though; since he had to get the place fixed up..

When both Harnan and the mysterious fighter who came to their aid, started cleaning up, Gurney decided to help them out. He has partially responsible after all.

Dragging a body behind him, Gurney made his way towards the door when suddenly the man with his wolf indicated that he was leaving. “I guess that ale will have to wait.”

“If it’s an ale you want… how about an ale to celebrate our victory? Gurdio here is buying. He owes us that much!”

When the last body was removed from the Inn and the barbarian got taken care of, Gurney picked up a chair and sat down next to Magus.
“You’re a quiet one ain’t ya?” He laughed and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. “I see you haven’t even finished your wine yet! I’ll join you. Harnan, give me an ale!”

[Aegis]

Ae'siir leapt off the boulder that was on the side of the path. HE climbed up initially to see what was ahead, if it was anything more then just woods. He took a couple steps forward, towards another elf who was slowly striding towards him.

The forest was alive with sound. Birds and other animals went about their business as if nothing was wrong with the lands, and as if existence was perfect. It was odd, Ae'siir thought grimly to himself, that the creatures conflict affects directly, were none the wiser of the danger in everything. His thoughts were ripped back to reality as he heard the quiet shuffling noise of Lilth stopping a few feet in fron of him. He glanced back.

"We are no more than a days walk..." He glanced behind him, and towards the trail, then back to Lilth. "We will be in Umar by nights fall, I would imagine."

Lilth shrugged, and flashed a small smile towards Ae'siir, then continued her stride forward. As she walked, she purposly swayed her hips, and allowed her body to flow in a graceful manner, even though only Ae'siir was about to witness it. As she passed the elven man, she ran her hand along the edge of his chin, and across his neck, looking at him out of the corner of her eye. As she passed him by, her hand dropped back to her side. Ae'siir let her gain a few paces lead on him, grinning to himself as he watched her walk.


He shook his head, then turned around, and went to catch up with the smaller elven woman. The two walked for a bit longer, before something stuck Ae'siir's attention. The tip of his ear twicthed somewhat, and he turned his head sharply towards the side of the trail, and to the bushes that littered the edge. He raised his hand, and placed it gently on Lilth's shoulder, stopping her slowly. He motioned with his head towards the bushes as he dropped his hands to his waist. He deftly unlatched the leather straps keeping his twin, deadly, Kukri's sheathed, and began a steady walked towards the bushes. Lilth seemed unconcerned, and she dropped her hands in front of her, holding each one casually, staring into the sky above.

As Ae'siir neared the bushes, something new caught his attention. It was the sound of a dull grunt, and a sharp intake of breath, followed by the shuffling of loose dirt. He spun sharply around, and grimaced at the sight. A man had sprung from the other side of the road, and grabbed a hold of the complacent Lilth. He held a sharp dirk to the base of her throat, and occasionally tugged her backwards, as if showing he was serious about the threat. Ae'siir quirked his brow, looking at the man casually, and to Lilth, who in all her peril, remained calm. Behind Ae'siir, he could hear two more men come out of the bushes.

"Ye done good this time, Callik..." The first man said, as he licked his lips, while looking lustfully at Lilth's slender form. "Reall good... I'm gonna be wantin' her at some point..." He smiled, and chuckled. Lilth quirked her own brow at the man.

"Well, yer gonna have to wait..." Callik leaned his head toward Lilth's cheek, and licked it with his rough tongue. Lilth grimaced at the feeling, and made a small flicking motion with her wrist. Ae'siir grinned. "She'll be min-" Callik's words were cut short, and replaced by a low gurgling. His hand suddenly went limp, and the dirk fell the to the ground, and he stumbled backwards, a small throwing blade dug fiercling into his gut. As Callik took another step back, a flash of metal shot through the air, and another dart found it's place into Callik's forehead.

Before the two men behind Ae'siir could react to what had befallen their comrade, the elf had turned, and flashed his Kukri's swiftly into his hands, tracing a thin line of blood across both men's chests, crossing each other. Before either even began to slump, Ae'siir forced the blades back across, cutting another line of blood across their throats. The two men hit the ground before the blood even began to flow from their bodies.

Ae'siir spun the blades in hands, catching the hilts at the tips faced back towards his sheathe, and replaced them in their cases, staring girmly at their would be assailants. Fom behind him, Lilth cropted herself up on his shoulders, and drapped her arms over and across his chest, and playfully nibbled Ae'siir's ear. Ae'siir smiled, and glanced towards her briefly, before turning her around, and continuing on. Lilth followed almost instantly...

[Tybaltus]

“If it’s an ale you want… how about an ale to celebrate our victory? Gurdio here is buying. He owes us that much!”

Acolytus, though hesitant at first, realizes that Gurney is appreciative towards the actions in battle and should at the very least share a few moments of thought and ale.

Acolytus gives a sigh. “Oh very well.” Acolytus makes his way to the table that the small group has gathered around and pulls out a chair and sits. “Truly, you people are skilled in battle. These may have been but simple thugs, but we dealt with them with such haste and voluminous might. Certainly you city dwellers have some fighting background and are disciplined in certain fields. I only wish my grove had such abilities when we went under siege.”

Acolytus stares at table at which they sit at, with his head looking straight down at it. Acolytus brings his hand up towards his forhead while looking down. He brings his hand back through his thick brown hair, as if struggling with memories. Promptly, he bangs with a fist the table in pain. He then stares into space. People around him could tell he was seeing something beyond the visible nothingness, rather a memory was that which was brought Acolytus’ eyes….a painful memory. Acolytus quickly brings his hand back to his forehead. “Where’s that ale?”

[Magus]

Gurney picked up a chair and sat down next to Magus.

“You’re a quiet one ain’t ya?” He laughed and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. “I see you haven’t even finished your wine yet! I’ll join you. Harnan, give me an ale!”

Magus gave him a weary smile. “Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, my friend. Especially when you’re a wizard without a spellbook.” He nodded when Gurney quirked his eyebrow. “Yes, I was robbed during the night a couple days ago. I woke up and chased off the thief before he could ahold of most of my possessions, but he grabbed my spellbook on the way out.”

Noting the calm in the wizard’s voice, Gurney looked at him strangely. “Well, aren’t you going to go after him? I mean, isn’t it important to you or something?”

Magus just smiled and shook his head. “No need. As removing curses is a bit of a talent of mine, I know a thing a two about the reverse process. Let’s just say I’m expecting an old acquaitence to show up any day now.” He grinned, and soon Gurney found himself grinning as well.

The druid from before sat down at the table. “Truly, you people are skilled in battle. These may have been but simple thugs, but we dealt with them with such haste and voluminous might. Certainly you city dwellers have some fighting background and are disciplined in certain fields. I only wish my grove had such abilities when we went under siege.” Magus watched as the man wrestled visibly with the pain of the traumatic experience. “Where’s that ale?” he finally said, composing himself.

Magus decided that a change in topics was in order. “Greetings, friend. It was indeed quite the one-sided fight. But I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name. I am Magus. You might call me a traveling wizard. I go here and there, wherever my services are required. And you?”

Suddenly there was the sound of a bottle shattering on the floor behind the counter. “I’ll be damned, but it’s a flyin rat!” the barkeep bellowed. Magus’s bolted to his feet, but it was too late. Deciding that such a thing had to be worth a fortune, the barkeep lunged for it. There was a whir of movement, and then a crash as the barkeep plunged headlong into a shelf stacked with assorted bottles of ale. The surprisingly human-looking “flying rat” stuck it’s tongue out at the figure lying stunned on the floor, then nonchalantly returned to Magus and landed on his shoulder. Standing about 10cm tall, with shoulder-long light blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin, and wearing a light blue skirt, she looked like a miniature elf, if not for the clear gossamer wings folded behind her back. Magus grimaced as the barkeep rose angrily to his feet, eyeing the half-elf menacingly. The little pixie glared back indignantly.

“You’ve really done it this time, Celestia,” Magus mumbled.

[Tybaltus]

Magus decided that a change in topics was in order. “Greetings, friend. It was indeed quite the one-sided fight. But I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name. I am Magus. You might call me a traveling wizard. I go here and there, wherever my services are required. And you?”

Acolytus opened his mouth, ready to respond, when a flying rat shot across the inn, causing a wake of havoc. Magus grimaced as the barkeep rose angrily to his feet, eyeing the half-elf menacingly. The little pixie glared back indignantly.

“You’ve really done it this time, Celestia,” Magus mumbled.

Acolytus shook his head, trying to hold back the laughter. “Ah, I see you have a friend. I’ve heard of such creatures. That is a familiar, correct? I have a friend of my own too, though he serves for a different purpose.” Acolytus threw one of his hands up in the air, motioning “come”. Greppun, who was still admiring the fight his master and friends put on, charged over in a mad rush towards his master. Greppun ran up to the table and held his paws up to Acolytus.

“Ah, Greppun,” Acolytus said with a smile, “Always a true friend.”

“Oh,” Acolytus exclaimed, “almost forgot to answer your initial question, Magus. I hail from the druid grove to the south, near Trademeet. I am Acolytus, an avenger druid. This is Greppun, a friendly dire wolf that I have had since I was but a boy. I go where I am needed, and where the balance is being disturbed, so that balance can be restored. Recently I have been forced to keep the grove on its feet, as there have been barbarian sieges from time to time. I have come to Umar Hills because another friend has been around these parts and I was visiting her. While I was around, I felt I needed something to ease my nerves.”

“I am sorry to hear you have been robbed, Magus. I am sorry, but not surprised. There seems to be so much conflict in the cities. I can go on for a while on it, but I chose not to. I see everyone else has a story to tell, why should I dwell too much on mine?” Acolytus looked in anticipation towards Gurney or Gurdio for their introductions as he gently waved his hand through the soft, warm hair on Greppun’s back.

[CM]

As Mursalin walked back in he saw that the others had sat down and business had returned to normal. "This went well, very little bloodshed and barely any destruction" he thought to himself. He grabbed the other two bodies and walked back out again, dragging the larger one on the floor and the other was hoisted over his shoulder.

Once he was out, it was time to bury these fools. Finding nice soft ground near the old ranger hut, Mursalin started to dig a large pit for all the 4 bodies, of which one he had to get. It took him a good 40 minutes to get a 4 graves that he was happy with and large enough to fit the bodies.

Without breaking, Mursalin placed the first body of a larger barbarian into the grave giving the man respect he didnt deserve and may have not gained in his life. The process continued for the other two bodies and then Mursalin filled their graves and tried to make it appear that the area had not been dug up.

With one body left in the Inn, Mursalin walked back towards the village feeling quite content. He had aided in saving a gnome but then his thoughts darkened, "but who had said that the gnome was innocent and in the right".

Mursalin's pace quickened, he didnt want to miss the gnome and his friends.

[Rob-hin]

Leaning back on his chair in a lazy way, Gurney was enjoying both his ale and the stories told by his drinking buddies. Though the wolf Greppun, was a nice creature; the pixie Celestia really caught his interest. Never had he seen such a creature before and he wondered about how to classify it; was it more elfish or more a wild creature? Either way, he was determined to write a song about her sometime.

When Acolytus finished his story, Gurney thought he had best introduce himself to the newcomers.

“It’s nice to meet you all. As some of you already know, I am Gurney. Born in a small farm near great Baldur’s Gate, I had a pretty easy life. Helping out on the fields my father owned and playing my ballist was about all I did. When I got older I decided to travel and see all of the Sword Coast… and sometimes even further. My skill in playing the ballist sure came in use.”

He relaxed for a second and took a sip from his ale. “Ah, Harnan always has good ale…”

“Anyway, after a couple of years on the road I met her… The most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. Samantha was he name and she worked in an Inn where I had a room. Hah, I stayed there longer just for her; we grew quite fond of each other. We were good friends for some time, then we became even more.”

Quickly he finished his ale and ordered a new one. “We could have had it all. I settled down with her in a nice cottage by a lake. But then she got sick, I sent for the best healers, but none could do anything for her…
One week later she died. Thus I travel alone once again.”

Harnan, who had been listening from a distance, brought him his ale. As he reached over to place it on the table, he patted Gurney on the back. ”This one is on the house.”

“Thanks”
Gurney picked up his ballist and tokkled a few notes, thinking about the idea he had for a song. “Loyal, shy… nah nah…“ He muttered to himself.

[CM]

Mursalin sheathed his sword as he walked into the inn and made a bee line for the table with the ones partly responsible for the damage. Arriving at the table Mursalin asked curtly "I have a few questions for you, all of you."

[Rob-hin]

As Lilth and Ae'siir made their way towards Umar Hills, the weather changed for the worst. The sun went into hinding behind the clouds and small raindrops announced that here was more to come. In the distance, loud thunder could be heard and it was moving their way. Speed was of an essence if the travellers were to make in to their destination without getting soaking wet.

When they went through a bend in the road, they saw someone sitting on a rock hidden by the bushes in the berm. It is a young woman who is resting from a long trip; she looks exhausted and doesn’t seem to take notice of the arrival of the two elves.

The two travellers got closer and closer; they had to walk passed this strange woman, who was remarkably pretty, if not for a dark look in her eyes. Ae'siir noticed that he was looking at her longer then he found necessary. And both of the travellers felt uneasy due to the presence of this strange woman.
They were only a meter removed from her, when she suddenly looked up and stared straight at them. Even though they weren’t easily scared, something about this woman made them wish they were somewhere else right now.

“What makes you think you can stop me?” Her voice had something cold in it and they felt a chill running up their spine. Unwillingly they had stopped walking, even though they knew it was best to keep going.

“They deserve it you know… all of them.”
Suddenly a flash of light blinded them, it seemed like lightning had struck right in front of them. Right were the woman sat only a second ago. She was gone now.

Confused Ae'siir and Lilth were alone again.
And when they started realising what had just happened; the rain started falling.

[Rob-hin]

Even though Gurney liked people who were open and honest, the bluntness of this question surprised him. Openly he responded while pointing to a chair; “Come sit with us my friend. Have an ale or something! What is it you’d like to know?”

Before the man who, judged by his armour and colours appeared to be a paladin, had responded; Gurney continued. “I suspect you have the same question as I have? Why were these guys after the gnome?”

[CM]

"Yes that is what i want to know" Mursalin replied curtly as he took his seat. Nodding to the bartender, his usual was brought over. "So anybody care to answer the question?"

[Tybaltus]

Yes that is what I want to know" Mursalin replied curtly as he took his seat. Nodding to the bartender, his usual was brought over. "So anybody care to answer the question?"

Acolytus replied, “I know naught of the story of this gnome. I only know that he had 5 foes, and now they lay dead. Why has blood been drawn on this day?” Acolytus asked with concerning eyes, towards the gnome, Gurdio. “Who are you, gnome?” Acolytus asked with a firmness in his voice. “Speak.”

Acolytus looked on to the gnome with interest and yet dissatisfaction, while he tightly grasped the spear at his side.

[Rob-hin]

Black clouds had gathered above Umar Hills and the rain had made the roads muddy and covered with puddles. Luckily the centre of the storm was far enough away to keep the small town safe of lightning, but residents had taken preparations none there less. Shutters had been closed and few people ventured onto the streets. It made the town look abandoned and gave it a ghost-townish look.

Struggling against exhaustion, hunger and thirst; a woman made her way into the small town. She looked up through her blond hair which hung in front of her face all wet and soggy from the rain. “This dump had better have a good Inn, if I don’t sleep and eat soon, I won’t even be able to stand anymore.” For days she had neglected her own physical needs, driven by her desire for that she had been looking for. But when she found it, she new it was time to rest, and Umar Hills was closest by.

She continued struggling towards the centre of the town, hardly even feeling the rain. The weather suited her state of mind, dark, gloom and restless; it made her feel at ease. Her clothes were covered with mud and the rain had made them even heavier, but she refused to give in to the exhaustion.

So she kept on struggling further into the village, and even though some people saw she was having problems, no one would help her. It was as if they knew there was something about her, there was nothing that could reveal the thru horror she had planned though.

In the near distance she saw a sign. “Umar Inn”