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Callum has now got quite a pile of dead dogheads. Some have more-or-less intact bodies - but there are many dismembered torsos, arms, legs and even heads to add to the pile.. There are a number of spiked clubs and unusual spears that can be set to hold heads clear of the pile. Cursory inspection will reveal a gold earring and a silver link belt on one of the dogheads. He also has a rather nice looking dagger at his belt which he might well use as a dinner knife. Edgar, Rolf and Elsbeth have all inspected Mandrake, but the Gnome will not come around. Flea comes to join you to look at the recumbent Mandrake as well. A cursory inspection of the area will reveal a path to one side of where you woke - and indeed there is a junction close by - the dogheads had chosen to camp at the junction. The ground is still swampy here, and there are areas of swamp to hand. But there is also a beach, and the sea, in sight as well. Jesse waves towards the sky and before long Eddie drops down to join him, after making a quick fuss of the bird - Jesse and Rethe walk across to Rolf and those close to him. "The hunt took us and lead us with it - that is a great honour, and it does great honour to you and your tuath, We will give an accounting to your family when we see them" says Jesse, bowing slightly to Elsbeth, and then turning to Rolf "But we should be on our way, can you sort your self out from here? . Jesse just winks at Edgar. |
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Nodding politely in response to Jesse and Rethe's comments, Rolf speaks up, "I believe that we can manage. My thanks for your concern." Giving some time for the pair to leave, Rolf busies himself with collecting two of the spears, making sure that their shafts are intact. "Edgar," he turns his attention to the bird, "Can you fly up and see if you can spy out our companions?" Meanwhile, Rolf returns to his gristly work. He gathers whatever cloths and straps are available from among the slain dogheads. Knotting them about the spears, it takes him some time, but he finally manages to rig a sling between the two staves. Moving it into position, he gently moves Mandrake over to the sling. He hefts the poles to test the whole thing. Setting it easily back down to the ground, Rolf looks about. "Elsbeth, do you think there might be any clean water here abouts?" |
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Edgar bobs his head to the departing Jesse in respect tinged with chargrin for having deceived him. Then, happy that at least someone is around to look after Mandrake, he considers Rolf's request, his head tilted seriously, as he hops up onto a branch so as to be able to look into the Warden's eyes ... "I will try," he says, doubt evident in his tone, "but you ... we ... covered a fair distance last night - though if any of those who were left behind were skilled trackers, they *may* have been able to follow us ..." With that he launches from the branch and takes to the air, his wings flapping noisily as he gains height, climbing over the tree line to try and spy out Herloch and the rest. |
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Jesse and Rethe go around and take the opportunity to say good bye to all of their new 'Hunting' companions before retiring back to their quieter area over by Eddie. [OOC get your questions in here] The next thing you know both Jesse annd Rethe seem to shrink somewhat and their outline blurs and they become more difficult to see. Then rising from the ground you see a flock of 3 eagles, and as they climb in to the sky - they Screech at you as if in greeting. You watch them cicle upwards for a while and then they set off, roughly , in the direction of one of the paths that join the nearby junction. |
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Before the two druids depart, Elsbeth hugs them both. "Thank you for your help," she tells them. "And if you see my mother, tell her I love her and miss her." As the two depart, Elsbeth takes a moment to tear a strip from her underskirt and binds her side. She turns to Rolf, still not having bothered to clean herself much. Far from the prim girl of their first meeting, she is bloodstained, dirty and bruised. Now, however, she manages a smile. "I'll look for water," she tells him. "Even in a bog, there should be a source. I'll let you know." WIth a sigh Elsbeth retreives her scimitar and cleans it best she can before setting off in a likely direction to search for water. |
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Rolf considers as Edgar flies off. How did the bird know how far we'd come last night? Wait, what did he say earlier, about the Hunt? Damn, the bird hadn't been drawn into the Hunt with them. Meaning that he knew the right direction to take. And now he was winging far and wide, leaving the rest of us no idea what direction to take. His jaw sets in frustration and he breathes deep, holding his anger at bay. But Rolf's irritation is forgotten as Jesse and Rethe blur, shrink, and fly off. His eyes widen and his mouth hangs open. He'd heard of people who could take the form of animals, tales spoken by old wives to young children. Or maybe they were birds who could take the form of people. Watching the birds climb higher, Rolf barely notices as Elsbeth speaks of seeking water. "Sure...." But the words finally penetrate. Looking around, he sees her not too far off, "Elsbeth, stay within shouting distance," he says loud enough to reach her. Turning his eyes back to the sky for a moment, he shakes his head. "Hold," he calls out, "I'll go with you. Callum, keep an eye on things and watch over Mandrake." Jogging, he catches up with Elsbeth. |
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Elsbeth looks surprised but slows down slightly for Rolf to catch up to her. The bedraggled young woman glances at him curiously as he approaches. "Are you worrying about me taking care of m'self," she asks him. "Or had you something else on your mind?" |
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Rolf shrugs in response to Elsbeth's question. "No offense intended to your fighting skills, I'm just being careful. After all, we're lost in the wilds and we're not exactly well provisioned. It'd be a poor time to get careless. But you're right, I do have something else on my mind as well. Since accepting this mission, I've come to feel responsible for all of you. And now I don't know what the state of the others are, I find that I need the distraction of having something to do. Looking for water and getting familiar with the lay of the land seems a useful way to pass the time. Still, if you'd rather be left alone....." He lets the question hang in the air. Having her, or anyone in his charge, out alone in hostile territory doesn't rest easily with him. |
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Elsbeth quickly places a hand on Rolf's arm. "Oh, please don't go," she responds. "Though I'm no stranger to wielding Skarlana, you'd hardly be calling me a warrior! So I'm thanking ye for walking with me." She shivers, clasping her arms to her. "In fact, 'tis better I'm not alone with my thoughts. We're being a long way from the others and I'm thinking they're a might worried at us being gone." |
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Rolf nods at Elsbeth, his thoughts focusing on a particular sundered companion. "Aye, I fear much the same, but we will find the others." His inward turning gaze makes Elsbeth wonder if he's trying to convince her of that, or himself. With obvious effort, Rolf sets such thoughts aside. "But to dwell on such thoughts will do us little good." He forces a smile on his face, "Come, let us seek out what we may." |
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Edgar descends into the clearing, approaching more cautiously as he gets closer to the ground and realises that Rolf and Elsbeth are missing, and he has returned to the unpredictible Callum, the irrepressible Smilo, the demure Flea, and the insensible Mandrake ... He stretches his wings, favouring the left, "Someone is approaching from younder pathway," he says, his beak nodding in the opposite direction to that taken by Jesse and Rethe (though he knows it not), "Too far to see who, but they will be here before overlong ..." Shuffling his feet, he asks, "Where are the others ?" |
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Eyes wide with fear, Mandrake sees the last of his comrades fall to the vicious blades and clubs of the mass of dogheads surrounding them. *All lost, there is no hope any more!* Mandrake looked down at the vicious wounds on his body *Why haven’t they killed me as they have the others?* Moving it into position, he gently moves Mandrake over to the sling. He hefts the poles to test the whole thing. Setting it easily back down to the ground, Rolf looks about. "Elsbeth, do you think there might be any clean water here abouts?" Then the look on the face of the doghead stooping over him said it all; they like their food to stay fresh! "NO!" Mandrake cried as, even in his weakened state he struggled against the creature lifting him. |
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