As the fog rolls in due to the recent warming of oncoming summer heat, a light mist and warm breeze centers around a lone keening howl. The howl sounds eerily desperate, yet seems to fill the night air throught Jastrey from the road, through the tavern, and out to Baumgarten Farm. As the breeze dies down, the howl intensifies and seems to be answered by more, from all sides surrounding Jastrey. Night owls answer in short bursts of hoots, and animals small and large alike can be heard skittering and dashing through the forest floors.
Richter exits the hospital, having spent most of his time there recently. Drawing his latern, he focuses energy through, making a white light appear at its center. Richter shakes his head and peers into the night. "It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
Fuchu walks through the night yawning. He had been working in his workshop for far too long and walked through the paths listening carefully hand on his katana. He closed his eyes as he walks, 'Darkness betrays the senses' he thought back to his training and carefully walked listening to the rusteling.
The howl sent one of Jastrey's own creatures lurking. Binx left the gaveyard, mask on, bow and arrow in hand. She moved of deft feet, occasionally dissapearing entirely between trees as she headed towards the tavern. The Uordeq navigated brush and rocks with ease, avoiding the main path.
As the Angori hears the growing vegetation behind him, he is startled but tries not to panic. Instead of heading right toward town which would probably lead whatever is coming after him to the other townsfolk, he curves his path away from the residential areas and towards an open area with less trees.
Richter, noticing the shifting fog and vegetation, calls after Desiderio. "No damn it! Come into the light! Let us confront it together!" Richter runs towards the walls, lantern in hand. He pulls a small bead from his pouch and imparts the Prime within it, preparing to throw it into the field.
Hearing Richter's voice, faintly saying "Come into the light" he unsheaths his blade and heads into a better lit area, realizing how great an idea that likely is. He comes to a sliding stop next to the Paladin and attempts to catch his breath as he turns to face the threat.
hearing all the noise Nobody decides to investigate what the new bright light in the shadows was and theh noise invading his terratory, As Desiderio moves closer to the light he can hear some footsteps moving ever so slightly and silently behind him as if following more then hunting, realinzing whos voice he was moving twords Nobody begins to stay at home in the shadows not getting to close to the light.
Akon was about the edges of Jastrey as was usual per the night hour, working her way amongst the tall trees in the gentle soft glow of the evening star. But she paused, cocking her ear to listen to that unusual howl. "Hmn...." She merely pondered, sharp red eyes scanning the horrizon. Then the other howls and scurring came. Feeling it best, she decided to make her way towards the center of town at the unusual sounds and feeling about the air.
Akon rose a brow as the foilage parted way, gently keeping her pace. As she walked, her red eyes burned a slight shade hotter as her words darkly whispered from her lips. "What causes you to part and bend...." She asked. She passed an open palm about her at hip level, feeling for any energies that may be unnatural to the area. (Inspect magic).
The rustling of leaves and unnatural silence of the nighttime critters was at the least, unsettling. The far-off shouting of townsfolk reached Binx's bat-like ears as she grew nearer to the groups, slowing to a walk as she listened more intently to the other sounds of the forest.
As Richter turns his light towards the rustling, a small baby bunny hops out into the stream of light and begins grazing on a clover patch.
Meanwhile, as Binx slows her pace, the sounds of the night animals intensify. A lone bat screams past her and swoops in an elegant circle in the moonlight.
Akon's fingers reached at the air about her, as if gathering any energy that may linger there. She smiled slightly, and took in a deep breath. "Hmn..." She then paused in her step and closed her eyes, lifting her chin to the sky. In the still of her movements she let her senses fall into the realm of the unseen, listening for the voices of the restless between realms. (Commune spirit).
She paused in that quite for a long moment, before letting her chin fall level again, burning eyes opening and sharply looking towards the center of Jastrey. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the light source, seeming to take a moment to adjust to the harsh light, her calm demeanor hardening slightly. She set her visage stern then walked towards the rest of the citizens, glancing down as the foliage still parted about her steps. She then walked towards where everyone was gathered, pulling her hood lower against the light's rays to shield her eyes, other hand going to loosely rest upon the hilt of her blade.
As the howl breaks the night's silence, Barbaal is jarred from his sleep. He quickly jerks awake and grabs his trusty Choppa. His nerves calmed down after the initial awakening and he groggily drags himself out of the hut. Murmuring something incohesive, he let's his eyes adjust to the night. Not noticing anything suspicious around the Quarter he thinks to himself, "well might as well 'ead to da Corna and see if anyone's dere." Barbaal beings his march to the Shady Corner.
Binx paused long enough to watch the bat before continuing on, still avoiding the path. Soon enough, she began to see lights flickering through the trees ahead. She emerged with a pale hand shielding her eyes against the lantern light, eyeing the group and the rabbit among them.
Akon's cloak and hood ruffle as the wind tugs upon them from behind, tussling her hair that flowed freely from below her hooded cowl as she stepped nearer. "Hmn...let me ask....when something natural seeks that which is unnatural, what would it look for?" She asked, eyes resting on Ritcher as she finished her question, seeming to bore into him for an answer.
Richter glares right back. "Ask me questions, riddles, what have you. I don't care enough to bother with such things right now. We can have our moral debate when there aren't hellhounds around us. This is not natural and its easy to point in your direction when such things occur. Regular dogs and wolves would have fled by the light by now."
Desiderio waits till Akon walks closer and then goes out to stand guard toward her back facing the forest, unsure what is going on. But his ears perk at the words "hellhounds." To which he echoes, "Hellhounds. What have you figured out? I'm sure you know something by now too, Akon? Any ideas?" Des grips his blade tighter, being alert to anything that comes for them.
Akon keeps her focus on Richter, seeming amused at his galantry. "Ah, but there you're missing the point...your precious light is pointing directly towards -you- and everyone you wish to protect. A light in the time of night...is quite...unnatural." She said, red eyes flairly slightly with that last word, lips creasing upwards in a smirk, her glance daring towards the paladin. "Were I someone or something wishing to destory anything unnatural in my woods...I would look for exactly such a thing as your light."
"Always bickering..." Binx muttered from behind the mask covering her mouth to no one in particular. Her irritation was obvious as she stepped away from the group and the light that interfered with her night vision. Her owlish eyes roamed the trees, scouting the treeline as the howling rose again.
As Akon and Richter bicker amongst themselves, Binx turns towards the woodline, scouting for any signs of anything amiss. She sees what appears to be the large shadow of a bear darting past deep in the woods. The forest grows peacefully still, thehowling stops completely, and the breeze dies completely out.
Akon chuckled darkly. "Ah yes.....because your latern is most definitely akin to the stars which do light the night sky. It doesn't glaringly give your position away at all....my mistake." She mused, her tone clearly laden with sarcasm. She then turned to see Binx's keen eyes scanning the horizon, speaking to no one in particular. "What is occuring is natural. It is not caused by any foul magic nor spirit.....nature itself is causing this uproar...or something within it."
The movement caught her eye and without a word the Uordeq left the group. She knocked an arrow as she headed for the treeline, eyes darting after the rapidly moving figure. She cast a glance over her shoulder to the others before heading into the woods after it at a wary stride slow enough for the rest to follow. The bear was too quick to chase, but the scout would try to track it regardless.
Binx began to pick up the pace to a slight run between the trees as she attempted to keep her line of sight on the figure. She stopped abruptly in front of the group, pointing off into the trees with a black-nailed finger and raising her voice. "That way." She spoke just loud enough for the others to hear. "It's headed that way."
The clinking of armor as Richter dashed out of the hospital woke Shadra from her slumber in her little room on the second floor. Hearing the odd attunement of the forest's inhabitants, she arose from her cot and put on her cloak and belt, ivory dagger in its frog. She opened her door, slipping on her skirt over her pantaloons as she entered the She made her way swiftly through the dark hallways, checking to see if anyone else was still awake. Something felt amiss. She whistled her secret whistle, like that of a bird, that she and Richter used to find each other.
Richter whistles back and finds the source of the original call. "Yes Miss Shadra. You called? If you want to get involved in this, a group of citizens headed that way, lead by the scout Binx. If you hurry, you may be able to catch up." Richter yawns. "I, on the other hand, will pass on this one. Good luck and let me know if you need anything." As he enters the hospital, he turns back toward the Ixifar. "If you want it take this too. Keep the light close against the darkness." He tosses her the lantern in his hand, still gleaming with Prime.
"Really? What is it?" A look of concern and hesitancy crosses her face. "I really don't know... It's not like me to... Then again, I don't want to be a coward anymore..." Debating, she takes the lantern, then hands it back. "My eyes have already adjusted to the dark. You'll come if I give the warning whistle, won't you?" She looks up into his eyes, gives the whistle, and turns in the direction he pointed toward.
Akon glanced back and gave Shadra a nod as she joined, then looked forward, squinting her eyes at the creature. "There...if it's a bear, there -must- be something amiss with nature itself...last time they stired the treants were reacting against dark magic. But they are also known to dislike that which is unnatural...how many times have we taken harvest of their trees to rebuild our damnable tavern? They don't tend to like it when we murder their kin..."
Recognizing Des, she tugs at the tall Angori's clothes, and opens her mouth to repeat the question, then notices the bear coming out of the tree not far ahead of them. Slightly taken aback, she closes her mouth and then waits for any direction from either of the two female uordeq.
"..."
"..."
Desiderio grows very, very cross.
"If we have to kill it... I'm wearing it's flesh." Des calmly makes his way to a tree, and scrapes as much crap off his boots as he can, quickly, then in an agitated voice snarls, "WHERE DID IT GO?! FREAKIN TIRED OF FREAKIN BEARS!!"
Binx cast a dirty look in Ohren's direction, despite recognizing it as Barbaal's shouting. The Uordeq placed her free hand on her hip, holding her bow in the other with an arrow between two fingers. She didn't meet the warlocks eyes, but the irritation in her tone was unmistakable. "Do you realize how many bear tracks there are in the woods?" She muttered.
After recognizing Ohren's voice, the Angori marches into the woods to find him. The night did not provide suffiecnt light for his eyes and he struggled navigating the thick underbrush. After a few moments, he is met with more members of Jastrey than he is expecting. "Well den, seems like a bigga comotion than I 'fought to get all of you out 'ere. " Barbaal walks closer to Binx and Akon. "What are we at den?"
Akon signed then followed suit. "OHREN WOULD YOU MIND COMING OVER HERE A MINUTE? I'LL GET YOU FOOD." She looked to those around her. "We need a druid with this matter...and Binx, try checking those tracks again? Something still..isn't right." She said, looking again to the parameter.
The Uordeq nodded to her Angori ally, but her quiet acknowledgement quickly turned to an aggrivated sneer behind her mask as he yelled out from beside her. A quick jab to leather covering the Barbaal's ribs with the metal tip of her bow was her way of letting him know, holding a finger over her lips to quiet him. "We are hunting something." She chided. When Akon joined in she sighed heavily, lowering her head to inspect the tracks further.
Barbaal frowned at his companion and pointed a slightly less than threatening finger at her. He spoke in a lower tone as he asked, "what are we huntin' den? Somefing big and nasty? You know I love a good hunt." He noticed a foul smell as he finished speaking. " By the Immortals, does someone need ta change their britches?"
An expression to the likes of which doesn't seem possible by mortal men appears to be sculpted in place of the face that of which originally belonged to one Mister Phearvorne. This face has a visage of hatred and anger so fierce that you can feel the aura of contempt just by standing next to him. He paces back and forth, being wary of the excrement on the ground. Then when he reaches his boiling point, knowing that he shouldn't attack "everyone's beloved bear" in front of everyone, he lashes out with a mighty roar at a tree away from everyone's direction. [Breach if needed]
Then he pauses, and chuckles before making his way toward The Shady Corner, scratching and rubbing at the back of his neck, and dragging the slimed foot across the dirt to get any deposit left off his boot.
OOG- Leo, they've been standing in this area for quite some time discussing what they've seen and heard. Please read before posting.
As Des begins to take his attack out on the tree, the tree itself seems to sway quite violently. The breeze turns into a sharp wind, whipping through the group. The forest floor begins thickening as they stand.
Being careful to move away from the site of Desiderio's accident, Binx crouched as she tried to discern one set of tracks from another. She quietly traced some of the footprints with her finger, looked off in the directions that they led. Her brow furrowed with discontent as she stood, fixated on the ground. She didn't go far before stopping yet again. "There are many different sets of footprints, but these tracks disappear."
Akon watched Des quitely moment, her calculative gaze seeming to take particular note of his sudden outburst, more curious than anything. As the wind picked up and blew her cowl down to rest at her shoulders, she looked to Ohren, speaking plainly as the wind tussled her hair about her face. "Ohren, the forest is in an up roar. Can you commune with it and see what is causing the disturbance?"
The sounds that can only be a determined and angry dwarf walking through underbrush can be heard as Taklinn walks towards the group, torch in hand. His hastily donned armor grates and clangs as he rolls on. His shield is strapped to his arm, and his axe hangs at his hip, he stops every few moments to gauge where the sounds of voices are coming from. as he finally gets close to the group, he surveys all around him, finally settling on Akon. With a sigh and a shake of his head, he walks over toward Shadra to stand protectively next to his guildmate..
"Another of the Onyx Rings "Secret" meetings mistress Nivarian? What sacrificing goats got dull and ye decided to start with hounds from the pit, or even good citiz-----" his tirade is cut short as he finds another present left by the bear in the woods and falls to his back in it. His kilt flies up a bit to high and he sniffs the air about him, wondering what caused him to fall. "By Githal's fartin' Arse!!" he yells as he gets himself up.
Akon's even gaze greets the befuddled dwarf only with amusement, and no disregard. "Why yes, we were just holding our initiation ceremonies by dousing our newest members in bear excrement. Shadra here was next in line after Desiderio, but it seems you beat her too it. Congratulations." She said, amusement in her tone, but enough seriousness to make one question as if she actually -was- being serious.
"But in other matters, the forest is in an uproar. Binx said she saw a bear out here, but that it moved swifter than any bear she's seen. Then...we found Ohren..who is also a bear. Could have been slight of eye, though the Keeper of the Grove also favors the form of a bear..and quite an intimidating one." She glances to Ohren. "Not that you aren't intimidating...."
She returned her attention to Taklin, assuming he was still floundering about like an overturned turtle. 'I'd offer you a hand up, but I'm sure you would refuse. Dignity and Uordeq Scum and all that. Regardless, do you think you could commune with the earth and see what's got the woods stirring so uncannily? Afterall, you're down there already." She asked, still seemingly amused.
Taklinn finally getting up and noticing his hands have some of the leftovers of Ohren's planting philosophy, looks to the Urdek and says "Nay Mistress Nivarian, ye are a hero to the dwarves don't ye doubt. Aid from ye would be most appreciated, but not needed!" he walks to the warlock and checks to make sure not to kneel in another Ohren Land Mine and kneels low to the Earth.
Noticing his soiled hands again he adds, "On second thought..." and absently wipes his hands on the warlock's robes "Thanks Hoot!" . He then focuses into himself and begins whispering to the ground, putting his ear close to hear the return call if there is one (Commune Earth)
Ohren looks to Akon as she speaks to him.
"Oh I wus talkin wif dat tree dere."
He points to the tree that he had tumbled away from.
"It said dat unnachul stuss is makin nurcher sad. Da trees doesnt liked you Bacon... You might not want to being here now..."
He looks around side to side cautiously before chuckling at Taklinn
"Look like Tackyclin finded my udder seeds."
He grins a wide bearish grin.
"Anyone gots any foods?"
Akon sighs. "Wonderful. Now I have tree haters. Not that I blame them. Some trees are actually rahter fond of me....but regardless. Is it just the dark arts they are against? Or is it all things unnatural? What of the Prime, and the Arcane arts? Are they merely hell bent on destorying all dark arts or just magik use in general?" Akon asked curriously, trying to piece things together.
Taklinn finally looks up from his trance, stands up, and with a serious look on his face says "We're in trouble. The Earth says that a blight walks these lands, and the blight must be removed from the area. A perversion has entered this Shard, and has grown as the years pass. It has grown to a point that the Earth and Nature can no longer sit idle. We must find a way to perform a ritual." he says, looking directly at Akon.
"I fear that we are going going to have to work together. Th' Land about Jastrey, nay all of nature on this shard 'as been infected with hootism. The land demands that we remove all the urdeks back to the Shadelands, or find a way that the feet of the hoots dont contact the land anymore. Powerful magic, I say, must be found to keep all yer stinkin' feet from touchin' the land. Perhaps a mighty spell to keep all of ye levitated, or a Gnomish contraption perhaps, that will serve to grant ye all the ability to fly as the faeries do?"
Taklinn again looks to Akon, this time with the hint of a smirk on his face "What say ye Mistress Nivarian, how can we make this happen?"
Akon took the dwarf what seemed to be very serriously, though her tone hinted at jest when she spoke. "Hmn....most troubling indeed...." She said, folding her arms about her chest, and struming her fingers along her forarms in though. "Mmm....." She said, seeming deeply pensive, then her eyes lighted. "Ah! I've got it, Taklinn. How could it be so simple? It won't take magic at all. Only dwarven shoulders and a good strong arm. It is indeed time the people of the rock did pay homage to their great mother earth, and carry the Uordeq upon their shoulders so that their soot doth not soil nor taint the fair ground. Brilliant, don't you think?" She smirked, jibbing at the dwarf. "You didn't learn a damn thing, did you?" She sneered, clearly in good humor.
Binx watched the Dwarf and warlock exchang less-than-pleasantries and scat in silence, grimacing at the smell surrounding them. She listened intently to Taklinn and Ohren's explanations of what was happening, but her interest waned when it digressed to talk of 'dirty hoots.' They caught her attention again when Akon suggested that the Dwarf carry her, not able to surpress a snicker behind her mask.
Starling, taking a walk through the night as she was wont to do from time to time, stumbled upon the outskirts of the gathered group she paused to listen. In her ears, the conversation sounded cluttered and incoherent. Cuption? Trees disliking bacon? A Dwarf suggesting rituals and an Uordeq mage suggesting a Dwarven solution... never mind something about Uordeq on stilts. She cringed and shook her head. She turned away back toward town muttering, "You know what? I just... I don't want to know. Not even gonna bother..."
Smiling, Taklinn accepts the hankercchief from Shadra, and nods to Akon. "Ye were correct in one thing, The earth ain't spoke ta me on the matter. Course this ain't rightly stone I'm tryin' ta speak with. And if it would rid me from having to see or hear from ye, I would carry ye all the way, Course I'd have ta burn off the top layer of me skin after ward.
As the night goes on, stretching towards dawn, the forest seems to right itself peacefully. The howling holds quiet for a time, and the forest floor stands unmoving but lush. The fluttering sound of birds returning to their perches high in the treeline is evident, and the forest animals begin to wake a mill about.
From the tree that Desiderio sleeps in, he is awakened and alarmed at the sounds. Silently he moves and unties the harnesses keeping him from falling. Then waits for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Of course with the fog this means little to nothing. Since venturing out further into the woods would likely be harmful towards him, he collects his gear that isn't on him, and vigorously but silently leaps from tree to tree closer to town toward the cabins of those he knows.