Bellamie: "Kaeranne! Hence!" Bellamie catches his vassal by the shoulder, dragging her off the path into a gap between a fallen pine and a boulder. On the other side, she can see, if not a path as such, at least a trail somewhat clearer of underbrush than the rest of the forest. And the denser trees along it might hide them from the treants or impede the large creatures' pursuit. As he shoves her past him to begin breaking trail with her woodcraft, the baron turns, his eyes searching for the Archduke as he shouts for his liege to follow.
Osoer: Osoer is close behind.
"Wait, Kaeranne, the others!"
"Caine, this way!"
OOC: Can the others make it, Bjorn?
Bjorn:A black oak appears out of the half-darkness of the shadowy forest, crushing one of the celestial guards with its might foot, while picking up one of Kaeranne’s men with a gnarled fist, hurling him screaming into the air. Kaeranne fires two arrows at the thing, and as they strike they burst into flames, setting part of the oak on fire. The three-thing goes completely berserk, but at least it no longer focuses on you.
Definitely not; you cannot see them anymore. If you tarry any longer more oaks will appear – you can even see some of them moving towards their fiery companion. You must run!
Osoer: "Lead the way," Osoer is ready to go.
Bjorn: You make good time and though you see more treants on occasion, they do not notice you. When morning comes (everything is greyer and things cast longer shadows) you are all exhausted but safe – sitting near a small stream, miles away from where you were attacked. Only three guards remain to you, as well as one of Lord Tshalen’s manservants. Of the others you know nothing.
Osoer: Osoer looks that the group.
"I don't think we have much choice but to continue. Tristan, do you concur?" He looks at Kaeranne.
Bellamie: Tristan's expression is just short of a glare. Scratched, dirty, and exhausted, he is clearly struggling to retain his composure. "Continue? Continue where? My lord." He gestures wildly, but keeps his voice low. "We are miles from any signs of the thieves' trail. If we do find tracks of any kind, we have no way to know if they are of those we seek. We have no priests to detect the Book or call upon Haelyn for guidance, and the very forest turns against us. And worst yet, we clearly stand within the thieves' very domain. We entered here with a hundred men-at-arms - we have four now. When we catch our thieves and find ourselves surrounded by wargs, shadow-beasts, and twisted once-men, what exactly do you intend we do then?!"
Bjorn: Countess Vanadaere supports Tristan; she’s not even sure she can find the place you entered the Shadow World, let alone find the tracks.
Osoer: "I am not advocating recklessness. But, if we move forward on our original objective and keep in mind that we are also looking for the next possible exit, we can leave then. This stream is as good a course as any other, unless someone else has a better direction to go?"
Bellamie: "As good as any other is scarcely something to bet our lives upon, my lord - not within the Shadowed Lands. Finding another portal would be sheerest luck, and we would have no control of where it might release us to. If we find our way back to our entry point, we can move swiftly through the portal there - before anyone can respond to our presence and level another assault." Tristan shrugs. "It's not a certainty we will manage to do so, but our odds are better there than crashing randomly through the woods here. And I cannot think that even if we somehow picked up the trail of the thieves that there is anything we might accomplish now."
Osoer: "If we backtrack, we cannot assume that the Trees will not be awaiting us, Tristan -- we cannot tell which will mean us ill or not. Therefore, I think the original portal is closed to us and that our fortunes would be better seeking another exit. Nonetheless, if you and Kaeranne believe we should backtrack, so be it -- we shall do as you advise."
OIT: The Cardinal and his men charged through the forest, trying in vain to keep up with Countess Vanadaere. They ran as quietly as they could, hoping and praying to Haelyn that the small group would go unnoticed by the pursuers. Whatever fearsome things that followed spured them on ever faster. But in the darkness and the confusion, before they knew it the voices ahead grew fainter and the path they chose seemed to drive them further away until all they could hear was their own ragged breathing. When they could almost run no more, with the blood pounding in their ears drowning out all other noise, the group tumbled down an steep slope to a boulder strewn ravine. They cast about, for a place to hide, perhaps a small cave, to gather themselves.
Bjorn: Salvation came in the form of Baron Tshalen; when the old baron could go on no longer he gathered a few of the most valiant (and foolhardy) guards about him and made a stand. Investing these brave men with some of Haelyn's divine fire and wrath, the Cardinal and the Maester reluctantly continue on with a handful of guards and servants...a cave you did find, and hide you did, even though your conscience told you otherwise.
Haelyn must have taken pity in you then, for he sent guidance in the form of an old priest of Ruornil, Patriarch Leman Loevan, who explained that he had spent a lifetime here, watching the servants of the shadow at work - and fighting them when he could.
He also told you that the Book had indeed been taken here, and carried far to the north, to the rocky crags of the Grey Hills, where the tomb of Manethander, the Gray Duke of Elinie lies hidden. Or at least that is what he assumes, since the Book was carried by vampires, and there is only one lord to which all vampires answer...
He also tells you that you have two choices; you can go east, towards the cool clear waters of an enchanted pool guarded by the fey, who MAY decide to help you leave the Shadow World. Or you can continue north, the Hangman's Hill, where you will most likely find other survivors of
your group - if there are any.
OIT: Perhaps it was foolish to have stepped into the shadow world so ill prepared, but the Cardinal knew it was past time to act. Could it be that the Fey would lend assistance? Although the thought of seeking such creatures filled him with trepidation, he resolved to do it. A chance at help was better than no chance at all.
But he would not go on without those that had so willingly joined the quest, so first he would set off for hangman's hill, carefully through the woods, to see who yet lives. The Cardinal thanked the Patriarch for his advice and asked whether he might come with him for a time, so valuable would his knowledge of this dark place be and knowing something of what lay ahead. Whatever his decision, the small group then left their shelter, ever watchful of the darker places around them, and followed the directions to the hill.
Bjorn: The Patriarch declines – God has called him elsewhere – but agrees to follow you to the Hill. A while later you are reunited with your comrades.
OIT: "I cannot say how relieved I am to find you here. We could all have been lost. I see that many men are missing, is there any hope for them? It may be their sacrifice could be the only reason we made it here alive, may Haelyn bless them all."
After describing the flight through the forest and the guidance Leovan provided, Narvelon lays out the few options. "We know something of where the Book is being taken, but by vampires which we are ill equipped to face. The Fey may provide succour, but I have no idea what sort of reception they may give us. And we could wait here a while longer, should anyone else have survived the forest."
"Although they are an unpredictable lot, or so I've heard, I believe we need help from the Fey. We can hope to persuade them we have a common enemy, and see where that leads us. But should we wait for survivors?"
Bellamie: Bellamie nods, slowly. "If allowed to concentrate, I believe I could give warning should any dark magic approach us here. I cannot promise nothing could evade me, but," he shakes his head, grimacing, "I cannot countenance leaving any behind in a place such as this, if we have choice in the matter."
Osoer: Osoer listens to the Cardinal but then speaks.
"I do not believe that we can or should continue, Cardinal,” he says.=2 0
“In order to continue, you need sword, faith and magic in far greater supply than you have now. You need to know the enemy you are facing, and whether or not he has any weakness or means to be destroyed, you need the way to be prepared by magic and through ingenious planning,” Osoer continues.
“Frankly, we have been toyed with, Cardinal. Each and every move that has been predicted and actions taken to thwart you. Furthermore we are unprepared to face this foe, particularly with so little knowledge. It is time to retreat … and regroup,” He says.
“It is better to be prudent than merely courageous; discretion is the better part of valor,” he says.
"Nonetheless, if the others would continue then you shall have my blade for what it is worth," he says.
"Patriarch, can you see too any survivors and possibly see them home? And perhaps the Fey are indeed a place to start for this Duke has no love for them either." Osoer says.
Bellamie: "Then let us go quickly, and seek to be done with this place 'ere night falls, if possible. And perhaps as we travel, we can hope to find some sign or trail of others who have survived." Bellamie stands, stretching carefully. "I shall endeavor to watch for signs of detection or magical ambush, Countess, if you would do the same for matters material."
OIT: "I cannot argue with your reasoning. Though my life in our world may well depend upon recovering the Book, we are outmatched here and I cannot ask you to throw away your life. We should head to the enchanted pool and see what sort of welcome we receive. That, and what the Fey have to say may yet give us hope. And one more thing, our enemies may have considered us already dead. It might seem a small advantage, but we can hope it is one nonetheless."
Osoer: "Cardinal, at each encounter where the forces of Shadow we aligned against you, they could have thought you dead. Invariably, they did not. It is apparant that their eyes and ears are far more extensive than our own -- and while they may think us dead or not pursuing for the moment, we cannot know when next they shall detect us. Let us go to this pool and see what the Fey shall say."
OIT: As the group travels, the Cardinal shares his thoughts. "Our best hope is that the Book will soon reach a destination, and allow us time to assess the next step - if we make it back into our world. If it has been taken to the hidden tomb of Manethander, the Gray Duke of Elinie as the Patriarch said, we could make our way near to there, and seek transit to the shadow world, saving ourselves a trek through this deadly territory. Now that we know we face vampires, we will likely rally more aid and the tools to combat them. Though had we been joined by the Pontiff and other heroes would we have fared better against what seemed like an army of dark treants? Avoiding traps carefully laid will be half teh battle. I also wonder what they intend for the Book, if it is not simply to weaken the faith of mankind for some foul purpose."
Bellamie: Bellamie barks a laugh and stares at the Cardinal incredulously. "Cardinal, of all men, you should understand that the Book of Laws bears power like few objects in the world of men. Touched by divinity, an object of reverence and worship to men throughout the centuries... the focal point of religious faith for a large segment of the world! To tap that power, turn it to new uses, would require skill and ability that no mortal man could muster - but it does not lie in the hands of mortals, does it?"
His hand cuts the air sharply, gesturing. "Manethander is ancient beyond our understanding, bears secrets worth more than our short lifespans could ever accrue. If he truly has the power to turn the Book aside from its intended path..." His eyes look out into the woods, but seem to see something entirely different. "The Book was written to guide the hearts of men into righteous paths. What if he could turn it to his own purpose, his own paths? He could steal men's wills, twist their hearts. He could gather divine power to him through the channel of faith the Book represents. Make of himself a creature as much divine as flesh. Who knows? Such a thing has never been envisioned before... perhaps only his own vision and will would limit what he could accomplish with such power?"
He sighs, then stumbles over a tree branch, swearing sulfurously, and returns his attention=2 0to his footing and the trees around the party. "The possibilities are nearly endless. What you must ask yourself is not what he might do, but what he might wish. Whatever his powers, his mind is still that of a man. As Men are made to do. he desires, then acts to gain the object of that desire. If you would contest with him, now that you know your foe, you must seek those who understand what he wants. Only with that understanding can you begin to anticipate him, as he has so ready anticipated us."
Osoer: William Osoer seems to accustomed to moving about the forest, though clearly not as adept as Kaeranne.
"The Baron is more than right, Cardinal. Once a man is duke, it is only by his death that such is taken from him. Suffice to say, I doubt Manethander has given up his claim of rulership. And truthfully, whatever he plans, it will be soon -- probably by the end of next season, Cardinal. Until he acts, I suspect he shall boolster his defenses and the act of reclaiming the book will only be made more difficult," he says.
"You will need a plan to retrieve the book, the location of the Book, which Manethander will likely provide himself simply by acquiring it, and a party capable of withstanding him. Osoerde has cast its die, and I would see this to its completion. But I am wary to speak of this matter here any further -- for who knows what eyes be watching."
Bellamie: Before heading for the pond, Bellamie insists an effort be made to locate his fellow Baron. The distance involved seems much shorter now, with certain knowledge of the destination held firmly in mind. Kaeranne's skills in finding paths and easier trails might also have something to do with it, though....
The trip is far from a gentle walk in the woods, though. The trees here are enormous, looming over the party in a way the forests of Osoerde never had, and the impression is only heightened by the fear that lurks in the back of everyone's minds at the memory of those massive oaks wrenching free of the earth and giving chase. And keeping anyone from pushing that fear aside are the occaisional remnants of the men-at-arms of Osoerde and the OIT. It is fortunate that each wears his patron's colors - the bodies are smashed and trampled into complete unrecognizability. Some seem torn... the phrase "limb from limb" seems horribly inappropriate, but accurate. Others are sunken into solid earth or rock, as if pulled down into mud.
Despite the darkness and madness of the night's memories, the Cardinal easily recognizes=2 0the area where he separated from Tshalen, and the old Baron's final stand is quite evident. No sign remains of the treants, but the bodies of armsmen and templars lie thickly, scattered around a clearing of bloodied earth, torn as if by the claws of giants. Strange earthen mounds rise up at its edges, and boulders seem to have been ripped up and tumbled about. Bodies - whole, and in pieces - are everywhere. But none of them appear to be the Baron's... a fact that, after some consideration, reassures no one at all.
Bjorn: As you walk you realize there are no more survivors…only corpses…you are the only ones left.
The treants are still there, but dormant. The magic that created and controlled them is still there…but not active. Controlled! That is the key, their master’s attention is not directed towards you anymore. You also notice that the oppressive sense of being watched or followed that has been with you since you arrive is gone…another indication that you are ‘safe’ for now. Safe as long as you do not go near the well and the dead fey…then it will all begin anew.
Of the Baron there is no sign.
