Quest For Drymera

"I'm not quite so sure," said Ril. "Much as I agree that an established camp in a more sheltered location could be useful, takin' over the bandits' camp means more fightin', almost certainly. Sure, we got a good number of them, but with that many there's bound to be more. And we let some escape--where d'you think they went to? If they weren't going for reinforcements, it was back to the camp. Now I don't have much experience with land-bandits, but pirates protect their ship to the last man..eh?"

He did retain his suspicions about their wayfinder, but...why bring that up when it would profit him nothing? Certainly better to argue about their present needs. His fur was weighing him down a bit, would have to be wrung out...and he was wondering how Gilgear planned to build a fire in this much rain anyway.
 
"Theeey would not fight us agaaaain..." Gilgear steps forward from his deed in sending the dead off to their final resting place, holding a bundle of wood under one arm. "Theeeey did flee... they are noooot stupid, they are huuuman... we have shown greater skill than theeeem despite our loooow numbers..." He nods solemnly. "I am assuuuured that many of them now reconsiderrrr their lives as baaaandits... many may have nooot stopped running yet..."

"The baaaandits of land are cowards... deserters... they will noooot return. Maybe, with the mercy shown to them, they will repeeeent their actions."
He shrugs. "Oooonly time will tell. Whateeeever is chosen, I will wait, or continuuuue my search, in order to preserve the hooonor of my kingdom." He salutes, before turning to look at Bria. "If you are tired, I wiiiill take the waaaatches... I no longer sleeeeep..."
 
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[dash=#000088]Cisk sighed. "You don't know that, Moldyguts. Not all bandits are the same, and the Buttsniffer has a point. They could come back with reinforcements. No, staying here probably isn't safe, and trying to find and co-opt their camp is a fifty-fifty chance at best. I say we keep going. This was originally a shortcut," he gestured at the trail, "And we're only four hours or so away from the next town. We should be able to get horses there like sensible people and spend the night under a good solid roof. Sleeping in the rain is overrated."[/dash]
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[dash=#6C9189]Bria No'el

"Then that is what we will do. To the next town, then and acquire a dry place to sleep." Bria replied primly. She made no comment about horses, he wasn't there when they discussed if it were a good idea to have them. In fact, she was more than happy to hand over this entire expedition for him to take over if it weren't for the fact she very much wanted to prove she could walk the distance! Why did he have to be so mean!

Bria took Annalilly's hand and marched in the direction Cisk had pointed back towards the trail. Four hours didn't seem like it would be too long. The rain was miserable, but they would be in a new town quickly enough! Though she was frowning deep as she past Cisk, she did cast Gilgear a wide smile. For a scary looking undead creature, he was a very honorable individual!

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Gilgear lets off a slow sigh, walking ahead of Cisk. For a while, he walks in silence, before an idea strikes him. He takes off his shield, putting it upon one arm... walking closer to Bria, he raises that arm, holding the shield over her head, 'defending' her from the rain.

He walks in silence a bit further, before stating. "...It's nooot much... buuuut it'll make the hours mooore beeearable..." The rain falls on his wounded head as he walks - stoic and kind. "It taaaakes a looot for a scholar to go on a quueeeest like thiiis... goes foooor Lady Anna as weeell... so I caaaan respeeect thaaat..."
 
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[dash=#000088]Just under six hours later, the party arrived at Balraheen. They would've been there sooner, but the ladies in the party didn't move at Cisk's idea of a reasonable marching pace.

Balraheen sat at a three-way crossroads, flanked to the south by heavy forest and to the north by a thick marsh that extended for some miles to the east and west. There had at one time been a road south to Halantown, but the popular route had become infested with bandits during the war years. The town itself, as well as the surrounding farmland, had seen some heavy fighting early in the war, but nearly a year solidly at the rear had done wonders; most of the town was rebuilt and a brisk trade was starting to reappear. As had a hefty town militia, in order to deal with those pesky bandits.

As the party emerged from the woods, Cisk chuckled, shouting through the now-pouring rain back at the rest of the party.

"Ha-hah! Here we are, Balraheen! Godsdamn, it'll be good to get a decent meal!"[/dash]
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[dash=#6C9189]Bria No'el

Bria was so very grateful for Gilgear's attempt to keep the rain from her. It was such a sweet and chivalrous gesture that it was very hard to connect it with the very gruesome looking man that did it. It was really altering her entire thoughts about what undead zombies were supposed to be like.

But after several, several hours of walking, it very quickly became a dull aching blur. They had said four hours, but four hours quickly turned in to forever. She had never walked so much in her entire life. Bria was so tired that she couldn't even think of food. All she wanted was dry clothes and a warm bed. ...and to never wake up again!

Still... tired or not, there was no way she would complain or pout. She would not give that man the satisfaction! So despite her aching feet, she was still walking. The sight of the town had given her a second wind. They were SO close!

"Hurry, hurry, hurry! Let's find an Inn!" A few stumbling hops, and Bria was marching for town!
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Gilgear had been enthusiastic and indefatigable about the walking up until the point they reached the town... Placing on his helmet and lowering the visor, he followed swiftly after Bria. He hadn't felt more than the small, nagging hunger he's always had since his 'death', and not having blood or feeling did wonders for running.

He wasn't looking forward to sleeping, nor was he looking forward for town at all. The urge to camp before was in effort to stall the progress towards town... but he didn't voice this, following in silence... he did, after all, have a job to do.
 
Cold and wet were two things a pirate captain, almost constantly on the sea, was quite used to, and knew well how to handle. Walking a long while while cold and wet, not so much. His feet were tough enough from plenty of standing on rough, splintered wood barefoot, but marching along was another thing entirely for his legs. Now, Rilikan was certainly not one to complain, but he still showed a smile of relief now that they were close to town.

He moved toward Bria, holding up an arm as if to catch her from falling. "Careful, lass. Th'path's still wetter than the sea, it'd be a shame to slip and get dirty after havin' a shield cover for so long." He still had his share of suspicions on this woman, reinforced by Cisk's assessment. He would never...probably never call her out on it in front of the others, however. Not unless he felt it necessary or profitable. Right now it would be better if he could get a few minutes alone with her, ask a clever question of the sort that would make her admit something unconsciously or, should she be quick enough to catch it, let him slip out easily.

But that would have to wait. The party was exhausted on the whole, perhaps with the exception of Gilgear, and nobody was ever interested in intrigue while tired.
 
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Annalilly Hawkins




Annalilly was walking with eyelids half shut, relying on her sensory ability to stay awake and out of harms way, but it wasn't working too well. The party was rather unpredictable, Gilgear with his honorable shield, Bria's stumbling steps of fatigue, & Ril's glance at her were all too painfully sharp in her mind. She was on high alert only because it was the only way she could stay awake. The rain continued to pelt down upon them, only making her slightly irritated with their fate. She blinked a couple of times, looking up at the sky as they reached some kind of town. Annalilly tried to join in Bria's happiness, but found it quite difficult. She couldn't hop skip and jump right ahead in search of inn with a sudden burst of energy like the woman had suddenly conjured up.

We're finally here. We can rest now... Annalilly reminded herself, trying to create the will to keep walking. It was only a short distance further, right ? But Annalilly had already exhausted the last of energy in past hour. She wasn't used to such brutal conditions. She was finding it more and more difficult to push onwards. In fact, Annalilly realized in horror, at this moment, erupting from their forest trail, she she couldn't move at all. The stunned young girl stood still as her companions continued to walk ahead. She tried to keep walking, but she couldn't. She felt frozen under the rain; unable to feel her legs. Her eyes felt heavy, her shoulders stiff, as if they were weighed down by some great burden.

I can't....I...have to... Before she could even finish her train of thoughts, the girl crumpled to the ground weakly, unconscious.
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The day was bright and the temperature outside was more than bearable. Caid leaned back in his chair lazily and propped his feet on the table, pulling his hood down over his eyes a little more so he could properly rest after just finishing his meal. A weary restaurant worker scurried up to him and presented him with his bill.

"Sir, your bill. And um..." the nervousness in the man's voice was all too obvious. "The owner requested that you kindly remove your feet from the table, it's distasteful and might turn people away from our services. Su...surely from a business standpoint you understand, yes?"

Caid let a playful grin stretch across his lips. "No disrespect intended, but I'd prefer the owner come out and say that to me personally, I actually find it rude that an owner of a poor establishment such as this would send one of his servants to request such a thing of me. Surely he is capable of dealing with me himself, is he not?"

The nervous servant simply looked back towards the kitchen with a doubtful look. Shortly after a short pudgy man waddled over to Caid.

"*cough*Ahem* Clearly my servant here lacks the fortitude to make you understand that we don't 'preciate your dirty boots plopped over our good table. And-"

Caid raised his hand in a quieting gesture and calmly interrupted the owner, "Clearly my pudgy friend, it is YOU who lacks the fortitude to come to me yourself in the first place, and your 'good' tables as you call them, are hardly what I would cons-" suddenly Caid found himself interrupted by the noise of a large mob outside causing some commotion. He quickly got out of his seat, slapped some coins on the owners chest and eagerly made his way through the crowd to see what was going on.

To Caid's surprise he found quite an interesting group at the impending mercy of an angry mob, the cause being the awkward site of an undead member in the group. Caid's interest peaked when he saw the rotting fellow take a swing at a fully armored Dragoon. He continued observing as a young woman of the group stopped the possible brawl and got the group moving again.

"Interesting group indeed..." Caid thought to himself. He saw he needed to see and was convinced they'd be worth following. He sank back into the crowd and watch them leave town and headed straight into the forest. After watching their silhouettes be swallowed by the thick tree line, Caid decided now was a good time to play "catch up".

Upon entering the forest, he found he was getting closer to the group and even more so, realized what path they decided to take, so Caid quickly climbed the nearest tree and continued until he heard the all too familiar sounds of battle. He let loose another small grin as he managed to continue hopping from branch to branch. Eventually he watched as the group dispatched the bandits efficiently. Even the smallest of them, by the looks of her, a mere child, held her own quite well with moderately powerful magic. Caid watched impressed. His attention then turned to a couple bandits that decided to flee from the battle. "Cowards..." he thought to himself. Caid quickly positioned himself at a branch above them in a single motion, he threw down both his arms and from his sleeves out flew two uniquely shaped daggers attached to thin chains, each one quickly wrapped around both bandit's necks and with a quick and subtle tug, their feet flew out from underneath them and they landed with a hard *thud* against the ground, knocking them unconscious. Caid gave a slight twirl and a jerk with his chains and the daggers flew right back up into his hands, where he began wrapping them back around his forearms under his sleeves.

Caid eventually managed to follow the group out and into the outskirts of Balraheen. He kept a watchful eye on the youngest girl as her steps quickly became more drawn out and sluggish. He knew she would not be conscious for very much longer. With the group already well ahead of her, Caid knew this was his time to be noticed and possibly join in their journey.

As soon as the girl collapsed, Caid was already halfway to her. He knelt down and gently scooped her up and began a light jog towards the rest of her group. His loud footsteps surely would gather attention before he got too close but just to be cautious he slowed his pace and shouted out. "Hey there! You dropped this!" slowly he managed to get within a reasonable speaking distance but not close enough to arouse a great deal of suspicion towards him

"I'd like to explain myself real quick, so just to keep this short and sweet,
I'm sure you've noticed already but I've been following you for sometime now and I know an interesting group such as yourselves does not just band together for no reason, and I want in if possible...but i think it best we get the little one into that Inn you're all looking for."
 
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[dash=#6C9189]Bria No'el

Bria had stopped so fast, she nearly tumbled face first in to the ground in front of her. Turning around to see who was calling out for them, she blinked wide eyed. Poor Annalilly! She knew that girl was far too young to be out in the world like this. What were her family thinking? Bria had her skirt in one hand, hopping back to the stranger oblivious to half of the words he was spitting out.

Bria brushed her hand over Annalilly's forehead, giving a worried huff. "She's completely unconscious. Can you carry her all the way back to town? We can discuss what we're do-"

"HALT RIGHT THERE!" Came a loud shout through the rain. Approaching were a couple of men dressed in full armor, holding up their weapons and some covered lanterns to help them see. They must have been the town guard! "We don't allow bandits in our town. So turn around and get back to the forest."

"We are not bandits!" Bria replied with some offense. They were all soaking and miserable, couldn't they tell the difference between tired travelers and thieves?

"Oh YEAH? You got your zombie already summoned and ready to eat brains. Look like a bunch of bandits to me!"

Eat brains? Bria couldn't help but cast a side-look at Gilgear, but quickly huffed and stomped an aching foot in the mud. "An unfair assessment! Had you any sense you can clearly see we've been traveling forever. So long that this child has passed out. We've not eaten in hours, covered head to toe in every dirty thing imaginable! If you don't step away or escort us to town, I swear I'll speak to your head Captain and make sure you're reassigned to something... very unpleasant!" The lady was small and hardly impressive looking, but she spoke with that confident authority suggesting she really could speak with superiors and make good on her threat.

The lead guard shuffled uncomfortably. "...Our mistake, Miss! But rules are rules too. No Undead are allowed in the town. Scares the villagers, y'see. He's got to go back to where he's summoned or... uh... stay outside the town walls."

"But he's with us. He can't stay outside in the rain where bandits can get him!" Bria wouldn't allow it! It was so cold and wet, and very uncomfortable! No one should stay out in weather like this.

"You can ask the Captain directly about it, if you must! We can't allow him through, no matter what!"
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Gilgear turns to the man who first appeared, a sorrowful look on his face. He should have been keeping a closer eye on poor Annalilly... He offers a soft sigh, opening his mouth to thank the newcomer...

...When the guard came along. He lowers his helmet in shame, quietly listening to the conversation. "...Laaady Bria..." Walking forward, he places a hand on her shoulder. "While... I am... honooored... that you'd think so muuuuch as to defeeend me... there isssss no time." He points to Annalilly behind them. "Taaaaake her to the inn, where it is dry... I will manaaage out here...." He offers his best smile. "I will stiiiiill be here come morrrrning... youuuu can talk to the guards then..."

Giving a respectful salute to Bria, he turns, calmly walking away from the lot of them in the direction of the entrance of the town, completely willing to get away from the townsfolk who would fear him... stoically walking forward, the tatters of his cape hanging low and wet from the rain.
 
Ril was stuck scratching his head during nearly the whole conversation. Once Bria was finished with the guards he had his go at them, coming a little closer and expressing his confusions:

"Pardon, sirs, but I'm not quite sure what sort of things they teach town guards these days. Since when does a single undead equal bandits? At worst it would indicate a necromancer, or do you just happen to have necro-bandits all around this town? Though I can assure you none of us are necromancers any more than bandits...

"And who thought up a no-undead law anyway? It seems a bit like a racist move if said undead is clearly sentient like Gilgear over there. And even in the event of a necromancer trying to get in, you'd be dealing with a symptom instead of curing the problem, hm? I'm taken to believe most mages are not idiots, and any necromancer intending trouble surely wouldn't enter with an undead escort already raised, you think?"
 
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[dash=#6C9189]Bria No'el

The guard gestured back at the road they came off from. "That back there is a bandit trail, and nobody is dumb enough to go down that road unless they're bandits. The whole thing is lain with traps. We still can't let the dead guy in, though. Rules is rules! You gotta take it up with the Captain. We let one in, we let others and then the whole village is crawlin' with zombies and brains are spillin' everywhere!"

The guards were pretty dead-set on saying no. And if anyone tried to force it on them, they weren't going to hesitate to pull out their weapons and take people to jail!


Bria had no desire for a fight, and if it were the rules - well. She wasn't happy about it at all. For the moment, though, Annalilly needed to get inside somewhere warm and dry. Then she would be able to handle these guards!

"You bring her quickly! Before she gets anymore chilled!" Bria motioned towards Caid and motioned a finger for him to follow.

Bria had picked up her skirts, hastening her pace to pass the guards and enter on to the main street of town. With the Village Inn clearly marked, it was simple to find even in the dreary drizzle of the rain. Making sure to acquire enough rooms for the entire party (and not seeming to have any issues in paying the bill either!), with keys in hand she had Caid tuck Annalilly away in to a bed where she would be warm and cozy.

So concerned with the small girl first, she wasn't sure if Captain Ril and Mister Cisk had gotten themselves comfortable in their rooms or if perhaps they went to reason with the Captain of the Guards. Drat it all, she should have asked!

"Huff. Will you please stay here and watch over her? Order some food to be brought up if she wakes. I have to be sure Mister Gilgear is all right and see if there is a way to let him in town. If Captain Ril or Mister Cisk return, you can tell them I will be right back!" Bria instructed Caid, not giving him much room to refuse as she bustled out of the room. Leaving Annalilly alone with a stranger didn't cross her mind (he couldn't be a wicked man, he was nice enough to help rescue the girl!)

Bria was exhausted, but she couldn't in good conscience leave Gilgear out alone in the dark wet and miserable while the rest of them were able to have a room. Hurting feet or not, she had part of her cloak pulled over her head as she run quickly down the street to see if the zombie was still shambling about outside of town gates!
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Gilgear did not pace, simply stood there, sopping wet - soaked to the bone, as it were. Arms folded across his armored chest, it would have taken several passes of one's eyes to see him were it not for the tattered remains of his cloak that still fluttered in the cold, cold wind. He stood there... eyes closed, reliving the moment of his death over and over in his mind, attempting to figure out what made him stick around... as he had done every night since he died, when he had nothing better do to...

He wished he had a book to read. Or a library. The thought of becoming a great, timeless scholar after this was appealing. After all, people sought out ageless beings all the time for advise... elves, dragons, gods... if they could safely do the same for undead... the thought brought a small smile to his face. He had no real head for books, at best he'd be some sort of timeless swordsman, imparting the techniques he masters upon younger generations... which didn't sound so bad, actually.

He was snapped out of his thoughts as he sees Bria run out from the gates... inhaling quickly in a gasp, he runs over. "M'laaaaady Briaaaa... whaaaat are youuuu doooing out hereeee...?" He stops a step before he reaches her, a concerned look in his eyes. "It's coooold, and weeet, and soooggy... ooour traaavels will be haaard enough if Laaaady Annalillllly is siiiick... if yoou are too, it would be deeevvvvaaassstaaatiiinnnng..." He nods solemnly. He raises his shield once more over her head, shielding her from the rain.

He offers a smile with what remained of his lips. "Yooou don't haaave to worry about me, M'laaaady Bria... I will not abaaaandon yoooouu... I will be here to proootect yooou as I am aaaable... thooough if yoooouuuuu caaaatch something... well, it would be touuuugh for a man of actiioooon to protect from sooomething I don't understaaand... medicine waaas never a strooongpoint..."
 
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[dash=#6C9189]Bria No'el

Bria waited patiently as his words drug out, tilting backwards only a slight bit when he cast (tried to cast!) a smile. Though she had a wide-eyed stare for a brief moment, it was quickly replaced with a genuine grin in response. He was smiling. It was hard to tell, but despite being barred from the village like some sort of animal and drenched to his bones he still offered her a smile.

"You are a part of our party too and just as important as Annalilly. I have her tucked in bed, but I don't think I could rest knowing you were out here alone in the rain." She glanced around again, trying to spot those guards or perhaps even Captain Ril or Cisk. "If I catch cold I can just give the map to someone else to read. But, I thought that we could speak with the Guard Captain if the others haven't already. Otherwise I will remain out here with you."
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"Cooooold, yes... buuuut there areee worseee thiiings in theeee cooold of niiight thaaan a coooold..." He shakes his head, obviously worried. Slowly, his arm creaks as it places a sodden hand upon her shoulder. "I wiiiiill hoooope for theeee beeeest wiiiith the Guuuuuard Caaaptaaain... foooor if yoooou haaaave yooour heaaaart seeet ouuuut hereeeee... yooour goood looooks miiiight go to waaaaste on theeee mudddy grouuund... yoouuuu deserve a reeeeal, hot baaaath..."

He creaks his shoulders a bit. "Woooouldn't miiind some sheeelter, myself... I thiiink I'm rooootting faaaaster ouuuut hereeee..." He reaches for his own arm from her shoulder, taking the shield off of his arm. "I wiiill noooot breeeak theee laaaws aaaand eeeenter oooonce more... but I can stiilll shieeeld yoouuu... I apolooogize if it's heeeavy, buuut if you carry it over yoooouur head, yooouuu will be safe frooom the raaain..."
 
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[dash=#6C9189]Bria No'el

Despite the chilly air, she could feel her cheeks warm. Compliments and stubbornness. Were she not afraid that dragging him through the gates would spur on a bunch of angry villagers, she might have done so. Rotting faster, indeed! Bria supposed that had to be horrible! Slowly rotting away bit by bit!

Bria took the shield, giving a soft huff at the weight. It was a little heavy. She had to fumble with it a bit before she lift it over her head. Then, standing on her toes she was shifting closer to Gilgear so she could hold it over his head too. He would not out stubborn her.

"I am not going inside until we figure out a way to take you as well. And since you will not break the village law enter town and haul me to the Inn, you cannot argue!" she tilted her head in thought, the simple motion almost having her tilt backwards with the shield she was attempting to hold over them.

"If the others cannot do something, then we will have to get creative!"
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The smaller female seemed intent on holding the shield, and he really had to force himself not to give a good-natured laugh at the effort. Instead, he made a small motion, lowering himself onto one knee before her. He didn't think much of it - he had done it all the time as a squire. He did suppose, however, that it must have looked... interesting, to an onlooker. Either a zombie 'proposing' or a young female about to bash a defeated zombie's head in with his own shield.

He hoped no one saw and supposed either.

"Cleeeeveeer thiiinking waaas neeever my strrrooong poooint, either... haaad it beeen, I woooould haaaave been a Paaaladin than a Kniiiight... and be able to heeeal woooounds... and be a poooompouuus jeeerk..." He chuckles, attempting humor.

He stops, thinking about it. "Piiity I can't beee maaade to loook huuuman... aaaand yooou're not reeeally strooong enooough to caaaarry me in your paaack..." Then it clicked. "I knooow... I'm nooot alloooowed IN the toooown, riiiight...?" He points to the wall, then to a nearby rooftop. "If 'in' the toooown constitutes of the tooooown streets, theeeen I can goooo over the rooooooftops to the inn and come in throooough a window - never once 'entering' the tooown..."

He thinks about ita bit more, shoulders slumping. "...Noooo, I'd feeeeel baaad... Not dead fooooor a moooonth and aaalready thiiinking like a criminaaal..." He lowers his head in shame, physically distraught.