Pathwalker - RP

[Kinslayer]

(Meanwhile...)

Anyan decided to stay put and calm. Ragnar wouldn't take long to come back to the group, he was too experienced to die like a fool...

So, he decided to focus in something else... the dead creature... It seemed as if it was eaten, Alziel was right. So that meant that there was something else roaming at those lands...

Something else worried him, something he had noticed in the last battle.

The eyes of the human fighters and the sprite that attacked him... they were plain white, as if they were dead.

Besides, the sprite, the dark sprite, she knew of his deepest secret... she knew he was a Resurrector...

"When things are more calm, I'll explain to them..." thought Anyan, as he rested.

[Emerates]

Saine watched quietly.  His mind was split in a dozen different directions at the moment....  The fire, the beast, Liara, the level of trust the group had for him...

Saine felt his heart jump slightly in surprise as he saw Raganar's shape become a silhouette against the fire in the distance.  Either he had just been forced into a trap, or the other figure in the ring of light was not a foe. Certainly not an ally yet, Saine thought darkly.

He sidled over to Alziel and Liara quietly.  Anyan kept his gaze fixed on Ragnar; it was obvious at that point that the two men had some connection to each other.

"I've been to some very strange and dangerous places, but these lands...  I think we may need to adapt, if we wish to survive."

Alziel nodded.  They conversed in low voices the next few minutes, half their attention in the conversation and the other half on Ragnar.

[Ben]

Rangar Gestured a nod of approval only slightly masking an inquisitive eye at the prospect of Monty's existance

"...I have seen you all....he travel with you...."

An uncomfortable silence deafened even the crackling fire

" He left.... Very.... honorable...to kill a Kh'ala-ad takes much....skill"

Rangar gave her a puzzled look....And pursed his lips to try and mimic the word Abell had just uttered


"The winged demons here... they are Kh'ala-ad. That is their name.
And reason for me following you. You all are lost. And you all are prey for Kh'ala-ad...If prey for  Kh'ala-ad wanders here, the Kh'ala-ad......" Abelle paused as if trying to remember an appropriate word          "Hive......." Abelle stil wasn't sure if it was the proper word but continued none the less "The hive  wake up....And more come....and then the Illithyd will return"

Abell had begun raising her tone, and abruptly sped off into a language far from Rangars knowledge....

After remembering that she was no longer speaking in a familiar tounge to the Man, she, in frustration itereated "Your friend all watching us. They think I see them not. They safe at this fire. I burn Special Wood and Kh'ala-ad stay away....tell them to come"

[Red XIII]

Ragnar felt worried. He had understood Abell's speech, and what he had understood had proven his worst presumptions.

First, Monty was dead (Either by her or a Kh'ala'had (for Ragnar "Kalahad")).
Second, there was something far worst than those creatures going around, and the adventurers were atracting them somehow.

Ragnar watched Abell as she told him to go look for his group.
Could she be trusted?

"Well... I could trust her and tell my mates to come to this camp..... Or I could go away." Ragnar thought "But the creatures will probably hunt us and destroy us during the night. I guess I'll have to trust her"

"Ok, I'll tell them to come. I'll just ask you to stay in sight, at least for a while. i don't mean to be rude, but we've had some problems, it's would be foolish to trust completely a stranger on the first meet."

Abell nodded. She seemed to understand the meaning of Ragnar's words, rather than the words themselves.

Ragnar quickly returned to the group and said
"It's only one, an elvenish woman called Abell. Listen, she is burning some strange wood that seems to keep the Winged creatures away. I've looked around the camp, there is no one hiding." Ragnar stop to take a small breath, and continued "She wants to have a few words with us, and I think we should trust her for a while. We could really use her help, after all she knows this lands. You decide what to do, I'll follow you."

Everyone in the group looked at Ragnar... doubting.
A decission had to be made

[Moosetroop11]

Liara stood up gingerly, disturbing Alziel's arm which had been around her, although neither of them had noticed, and felt the cool night breeze toutch her face. The sky was a beautiful one tonight, she decided, and it had taken away some of the fear that had gripped her during the day. Her wound had stopped bleeding and she was able to spare some magical energy to heal it.

"We haven't got a plan and we're going no-where" she said. "I want to trust her."

[Dragonium]

Alziel sighed. Liara seemed sure about this, and he had become confident by now that what she was sure of was the better path. But the arrival of this woman seemed to be too convenient, too sudden after the attack and the by-now-obvious loss of Monty...

They were out of earshot from this woman. Alziel spoke.

"I don't know", he said finally. "She doesn't look trustworthy. Look at her, she's too... shifty. You must all be able to tell she's hiding something from us".

"She has knowledge", Saine murmured. "No disrespect to you, Alziel, but if we use this woman we are much less likely to run into trouble".

Alziel looked at Saine, and then to Liara. She was looking at him with a solemn, resigned look, as though what Saine had said summed up what she felt.

Alziel fought for words, and after a moment came to a decision.

"Alright, we'll let her come with us, but on two conditions. Firstly, she tells us exactly - exactly - what she thinks our destination should be, if she knows this place better. After all, this is a contest. We have to get some mapping done eventually. But I think for a while, we should find the safest place we can and set up camp there. This woman, if she's trustworthy, can take us there".

Everyone was silent and thoughtful. Saine raised his head. "And second?"

"And second", Alziel said, "I want her hands tied. If we can trust her, then no harm done, but if not, then I'd rather she wasn't able to demonstrate how much she means to harm us".

He stood silently and waited for a response.

[Kinslayer]

"I second that too..." said Anyan.

"She must know the terrain better than us... we can only base ourselves with the eastern knowledge... We've lost people here... the rest of the contestants have gone by their own. Beisdes, Monty is dead, and Shell dissappeared... possibly dead too." he said.

He held the Viper by the hilt and said: "I'll keep my eyes on her..."

[Moosetroop11]

Liara could see the sense in Alziel's plan, but it had some obvious flaws. On the offchance that this woman wanted to hep them purely out of good will binding her hands was the very worst thing the group could do, turning a willing ally into a captive. But then, Liara was learning that goodwill wasn't generally cause for motivation out in the world. Everyone wanted something.

"What... do you think she wants?"
Everyone turned to Liara again.
"If she says she can protect us then she doesn't want our protection... What else can a group like ours do for her? She obviously wants something.

Alziel pondered this question.

"We should ask her what she wants before we tie her up or anything" reasoned Liara. "I don't want to be taking innocent captives. We're better than that."

[Kinslayer]

Anyan rethought what he said. Was it really necessary to tie the unknown elvish woman up?

Maybe, but maybe not, as Liara said, they were better than that...

Still he wasn't sure about to trust her... so he would be extra careful, for once. He would watch over her, with the Viper in hand as well.

"I'll try to talk to her... I'll see what she wants. Worry not, I can take good care of myself..." he said. Anyan walked towards Abell's position, slowly. He didn't know if the others were following him, still he wouldn't care, he wanted to make sure that Abell could be trusted.

He reached Abell's position, letting her see him.

Anyan was a bit shocked on the inside, by the looks of the tall woman, still he was as cold as ever.

He smiled a little bit, as he kept his left hand on the Viper's hilt (the sword was inside it's sheath) and said: "So, you met with my friend Ragnar there... my name is Anyan, and the group is coming along... but first I need some answers..."

Abell stared at him, like studying Anyan and searching for a hostile move. Of course, she noticed his left hand over the sword, but she noticed that he would not draw it for no reason...

"You say you can protect us from those winged things..." said Anyan.

"Kh'ala-ad" said Abell, smiling, and pointing to the sky: "They are very strong... Not too good to face them."

"Tell me about it..." said Anyan with a low voice. He then remembered what was he talking about, and said: "If you can survive those 'Khalad' or whatever how you call them... then why would you need us...?"

[Moosetroop11]

Liara silently walked up behind Anyan, smiling at Abell and listening to the conversation. Anyan was a fine warrior, but she wasn't sure how well he'd handle diplomacy. He tended to speak with his sword.

[Ben]

Abelle smirked in the light of the compfire, and let a slight chuckle out to herself....

"My birth mother was half demon blood. The Kh'ala-ad no attack me unless Abell provoke them. abelle not stupid, Abelle not provoke. The Kh'ala-ad not cannibal....."

Abell blew into a silent whistle hung around her neck, a gesture almost indectable to those around her, and stood up

"But you all are their food. Living or dead, it no matter. Most of rest of you who landed in Waterships are dead at the talon of Kh'ala-ad. But most of them go other direction from you. You, wandered into my home. these feilds....this mountain....
I am......what you call...ranger.....    If the Kh'ala-ad are drawn here, then another beast come, to hunt the Kh'ala-ad and anything else with smart brain. That mean Abelle....Kh'ala-ad.....You, if any live long."

A lean, toned beast emerged from the trees near the fire, and stooped low beside abelle, greeting her with a friendly brush of the head.

    "I can show you a town...it hidden, but not far. It small town. A hamlet. But there you can buy maps, and provisons...it town of gnomes....but one there, he speak your tounge fluent..."



Abelle could see the mistrust in the eyes of her conservator

"Look, if you no believe me, i will give you directions....but you mst leave overworld. The Kh'ala-ad and the Illithyd.....I must protect these fields, and life inside of it. If you are here, it not safe. I mean you no harm, but if you dont leave, you just bring the plight to a new place. If you underground, the Kh'ala-ad follow you not. I want not your treasures, I want safe. I will take you to the village, Gromland, if you wish....or i will simply point out way to you....but if I point out way, I must follow. and if I follow and you stray, I will not be kind."

[Dragonium]

OOC: Just out of interest Gem, is it Abell or Abelle?

Alziel frowned. It was indeed a difficult decision; Liara was right that this woman - Abell, she called herself, though he was skeptical if what she said about herself was true - should not be needlessly taken captive... But then again, he was sure that this woman could do them some harm if she wanted to.

He thought about what she had said, that most of the other contestants that had gone in other directions had been killed, and he managed to hide the smile that came to him as he thought of Leyland's note. Leyland had done his homework, had obviously asked in town for any rumours regarding the Western Lands, and had calculated the safest path for Alziel to take.

Still, there was business to be done.

He extended his hand and muttered "Alziel" to Abell. She did not take his hand; instead she looked at him strangely before smiling. "Not custom in these lands", she said quietly.

"Just out of interest", Alziel said thoughtfully to Abell, who listened intently, "You speak of these Kalahad things and whatever an Illithyd is, but surely there are more predators in these lands?"

"Oh, yes", Abell replied quickly, nodding profusely as she did so, "But many of them very... what is word in your tongue... scarce? Rare? Many not live around here, this close to sea. Many prefer rocky ground. Mountains have many beasts. Abell has not seen all of them yet".

Alziel nodded. He had gambled back at home, and he could tell when a person was lying. All signs seemed to point to Abell telling the truth.

There was silence as everyone thought. Saine mumbled "gnomes" thoughtfully under his breath, and there was silence again.

After a moment, Abell looked Alziel in the eye and asked him the one question he hoped she would not.

"You trust me, Alziel?".

He recoiled and tried quickly to think of something else to say to change the subject, but Liara nudged his arm and he was cornered.

"Not yet", he said apprehensively. "Nothing personal, but I don't normally trust people I meet right away".

Abell nodded. "I understand. Will you let me come with you?"

Alziel sighed and looked around the group. All eyes were on him. Liara was smiling encouragingly.

"If everyone else agrees, then all right", he said at last. "We have no reason to distrust you, yet". He thought. "But if you wouldn't mind, Abell", he added, "I'd rather you walked at the front of the group. I'd like to keep my eye on you, at least until we get to know each other".

Abell nodded again, and repeated, "I understand".

Alziel sighed in relief and waited for anyone else who wished to speak to say their piece.

[Kinslayer]

Anyan smiled a bit and said: "Tch... fine. I'll trust you until you prove me wrong, and I have a good eye for traitors."

Abell stared to Anyan with a look full of respect, but also smiled back.

Anyan wasn't too worried. But he would keep an eye on her.

"And that village... Gromland... is teh people going to welcome us...? Or are they foreign haters or something?"

Although he was used to the sword talk, Anyan's education allowed to speak before killing sometimes.

He waited for Abell's response.

[Emerates]

OOC: Gem, if you have any complaints if I kinda answer to speed this up a bit, just tell me and I'll edit it.

BIC: ...

"The gnomes are not... outside people.  They cannot tell strangers from my people," Abell answered Anyan.

Saine was in a kind of silent awe towards the strange woman, Abell.

He had heard her brief history, of her mother's bloodline...  Even before that, though, he could tell she was unique.  She had that look in her eyes, a kind of glint caught by the fire, much like the one in his...  demon's eyes.  To add to his awe, he found her somewhat attractive.

He recovered quickly, though, and could vaguely sense that Abell could see what he was thinking.  She glanced at him once, between Alziel's and Anyan's introductions, somewhat knowing.  Hmm...

When Abell had finished talking, Saine stepped forward slightly, a motion to show the others, 'My turn to talk.'

"Saine, wanderer of the Northern lands and son of the Western world.  A pleasure to meet you, Abell."  He bowed slightly as he spoke; he had not used the Court Proper speech in quite some years, but now seemed as good a time as any.  He straightened again.  "The others talk of trust, how you must earn it.  However, trust goes both ways.  Thus, I will strive to earn your trust as well.  I believe that would be fair."  He smiled kindly down at her as he spoke.  She smiled back, more out of geniality than anything else.

"I am glad to meet you, Saine," she replied.

[Red XIII]

"Well, you already know my name."
Ragnar said to Abell.
"I'm old, rough and not used to nice words. Though, I agree with Saine. I'll try to show you I can be trusted. Oh, and I have a good eye for traitors too."
Ragnar turned to Anyan and said: "By the way, brat, you gave me a strange look the other day.... What are you up to?"

Anyan looked at Ragnar surprised. When he saw that the old man was joking, he laughed, along with the rest of the group.

After the joke, Ragnar sat down close to the fire, and waited as he watched the rest of the group talk. He felt that Abell could be trusted for the moment, and he felt curious about her.

However, Ragnar had learnt in his life that curiosity had to be satisfied little by little, and that long questionings rarely turned to have good results. Being so, Ragnar decided to ask Abell things about her and the West... when the time was right.