Caravan to Lebonwaith (Closed)

[Retuke]

Invite:
[ Erk Retuke ]
[ Malick Varian ]
[ Taj Rahk'on ]
[ Z, the Slayer ]

((If someone else wants to join in, say so in the discussion thread.))

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[Taj Rahk'on]

A Caravan rolled along the muddy 'merchant's highway' that connected Tan Quan to Lebonwaith.. It was pulled by five horse's one of which was Taj's that lead the way in front. The caravan was made to look like a cheap caravan though upon closer inspection was of quailty make.
The passenger's upon this Caravan was a Trader called Mafasa whom's profession was fine wine's & spirit's, Along with him was a guard he had hired for protection, Taj Rahk'on & a mage who went by the name of Erk Retuke they had picked up along the way who was headed for in the direction of the Caravan. The 3 traveller's had been travelling for almost a week & nothing of major occurance had happened except an incident with a small group of bandits who were persuaded to leave them alone in exchange for a crate of wine..

They had just left off from the side of the road were they had camped last night.

"If it gets any colder we might have to break a case of your spirit's to keep our blood flowing" Taj joked with the Trader as the horse's pulled them along at a steady pace..

Taj wore his thick coat for protection against the icy wind's & silently hoped in two day's time they would be gone of this cold weather..

[Z, the slayer (dead)]

Eric saw the wandering caravan and knew this was what he was looking for.
"Hey!"
Eric started to wave at the caravan.
"Give a guy a hand, would'a?"
The driver Malfasa outstretched his hand and pulled the poor traveler into the warm caravan.
"Blessings on your soul!"
"Cold out there, isn't it. You got a name?"

"Eric Vahn. Thanks for the help."
Eric looked around. A mage stood in the corner. A warrior was next to the driver. Eric recognized the warrior from an inn he once went to.
"You may call me Malfasa. Over there is Erk, and next to me is Taj."

"Glad to meet you both."
Eric turned to look out into the snow, and scowled when they couldn't see.
This would probably be more trouble than what it's worth.

[Retuke]

Retuke had been traveling over the mountains from the Mage Guild House in an attempt to reach Lebonwaith. The fact that he was without a horse was an enormous draw-back. Most people would die if they didn't have a source of supplies they could turn to. And yet Retuke took only what he could carry. He found everything he needed along the way. Such was the way of the Mages.

It was a fine, sunny, morning today, which helped to block out the intense cold. He was still high up in the mountains, and the land Lebonwaith could only be seen in the far distance. He still had weeks of traveling to go, if he were to continue on foot.

Eventually, around noon, he came to the summit of a large mount of snow, and saw a moving caravan heading down the Merchants Highway that was cut through the mountains by daring traders. A smile came to Retuke's face and he began hurriedly descending the mountain side. His standing had just improved. If here were to join up with the caravan, the many weeks of walking would be cut down in two. Caravans were slower than mounted horsemen to be sure, but they still beat walking by a great degree...

After about a half hour's hike, Retuke arrived at the Merchant's Highway and waited for the caravan. Finally it came into view. Retuke held up his hand in greeting.
"Good day to you!" he called. "Where are you headed? Is there a chance that I may join your troop? I am Retuke the Mage."

[Z, the slayer (dead)]

Eric needed to appear as friendly and harmless as possible, even if that meant more witnesses.
"The more the marrier!" Eric, as well as Malfasa grabbed his hands and yanked him into the caravan.
"Don't you just love these mountains?"
Even though Eric was here for a target, he still loved the cold bliss of the mountains. He decided that he was in too good of a mood to take out his target right now and relaxed. He will let the driver live, for now.
Besides, too many people to kill him here, now. It would be better to attack him at night and blame it on a wolf or goblin raid.

[Taj Rahk'on]

Taj eye'd the newcomer who called himself Eric suspiciously, he recognised him from a while ago back in lebonwaith asking around about 'death' jobs.. It was more than likely that his arrival here wasn't a coinsidence but he played the ignorant for now..

Taj chatted mildly with the Trader & Eric, Then Retuke boarded.. They greeted & the caravan rolled along smoothly, soon Taj became hungry.

It was becoming midday & Taj got up from the driver's bench & bent over going back into the hull of the caravan.. Making his way around the crate's of wine he found one full of supplies for the trip he pulled out some bread and cheese some other garnishes & a bottle of fine port.

He started eating and looked over a large map that was pinned to the wall of the van..

The road they were on where he judged they were at the moment was coming up to a river ford where they could cross officially over to the Northern BrokenPeak Mountain ranges, Hopefully the Dwarve's still had an outpost down here otherwise they might find some trouble with goblin's or if lady luck was in a playfull mood maybe some trolls to keep them amused.

He drank straight from the bottle to dismiss spillage & thought over things..

He silently prayed to lady luck that she favour him this day for if his suspicions about 'Eric' were true & if his other suspicions about the ford were also true then he was in for a heck of a ride..

He cursed his negative thinking and sat back on a crate finishing his lunch, pushing away the worry's of life untill further notice.

"Anybody want some food?" Taj yelled out towards the driver's bench where the other 3 sat.

[Retuke]

Retuke was pleased with the warm welcome. Mafasa seemed pleased to have another person who was capable of fighting on board, but Retuke suspected he was unhappy of having another mouth to feed. Taj didn't seem to care either way about Retuke, but that was just his impression. The warrior soon disappeared inside the back of the wagon. This Eric fellow seemed pleasant enough, but Retuke still got a strange feeling. Perhaps he seemed a little too happy?

"Anybody want some food?" Taj called from the back. The Mage stood up from his seat, glanced at Mafasa and Erik, then headed into the back where Taj had gone. He nodded a greeting to the human and sat down beside him, reaching for some of the bread and cheese he got out.

"Where are you headed for, once we reach Lebonwaith?" he asked, attempting to start a conversation.

[Taj Rahk'on]

Retuke came below making his way to the back of the van to where Taj sat, Reaching for some bread & cheese the Mage asked, "Where are you headed for, once we reach Lebonwaith?"

Taj looked at Retuke, Taj had quite a few dealings with Elve's and held great respect for thier abilitie's.. He also was fond of Magic folk as he was amazed by thier abilities to wield magic, Sorceror's he wasn't to fond of though for he felt dark power's best left alone..

Taj did have a plan when he got to Lebonwaith though being of some importance he thought the matter best left undiscussed with stranger's, not wanting to offend the magicain with a lie he thought better to just merely not tell all of the truth..

"I have buisness with the Warrior's Guild in Minas Rithes, It seem's a large army of goblin's & orc's prepare war on Minas Rithes so thier is much to do around the city"

Taj offered the Mage the bottle of port & asked in return,
"And you Erk?, What buisness are you in?"

After he said this he heard Mafasa yell out,
"Bring us up some food would you Taj!"

Taj rolled his eye's with a grin, put the bottle down on the crate in front of Retuke & went to taking the Trader & Eric thier lunch, Upon returning back to his seat on the crate he took some more bread and started eating looking up into the Elve's green eye's awaiting his reply..

[Retuke]

"I have business with the Warrior's Guild in Minas Rithes, It seems a large army of goblin's & orc's prepare war on Minas Rithes so their is much to do around the city."

"Ah, the Goblins... They seem to be infesting the lands, these days. I believe we are quite lucky we haven't encountered any of them in these mountains."

Taj offered some the bottle to the Mage, but Retuke declined.
"No thank you, I don't drink."

"And you Erk?, What business are you in?"

"Retuke, actually," he corrected. He had only said his first name when they first introduced themselves out of politeness. "Lebonwaith -" He was cut off when the cheery merchant called for Taj. Retuke smiled understandingly as Taj got up with a plate. He returned shortly, and Retuke resumed.

"I am traveling to Lebonwaith for many reasons. I have just come from the the Guild House of the Mages, and am now heading to Minas Rithes. One of the reasons is that I hear that Minas Rithes has a fine library..."

[Taj Rahk'on]

"I am traveling to Lebonwaith for many reasons. I have just come from the the Guild House of the Mages, and am now heading to Minas Rithes. One of the reasons is that I hear that Minas Rithes has a fine library..."

"Well Retuke, A bit of advice if you havn't yet been to the great city of Rithes is keep a tight grip on your wallet & stay indoor's at night.. As shameful as it is my Guild isn't quite all there at the moment for we are without a guildmaster & the grip on crime is slowly loosening.." Taj let out a sigh and his eye's lowered in thought..

"Though it's still a beautiful place if you keep your wits about you"

He took nother swig of the wine and put the cork back in it placing it back in the supplies crate.

He looked out the back of the caravan which had an opening, The muddy road was becoming more stone as they left the snowy part's of the southern mountains, Mafasa let out another yell this one directed at the horse's the cart tilted slighty to one side as they went around a bend in the 'merchants highway'.

His speech change to a more serious tone,
"We'll be coming up on a river crossing soon, Thier's a Dwarven outpost thier though it's not always occupied.. I suggest you come up front" Taj said this for merely for he didn't know if the Mage was a thief or not.

Taj walked up the small stairs to the driver's bench & stood behind Eric & Mafasa.. He watched the road ahead and surveyed the mountain ranges off to the side's of the dusty road..

A cold breeze hit his face and he pulled on his hood, Not too far in the distance a river ford could be seen coming up & what looked to be a camp site, though they were still too far away to tell if it was or whether it was just a formation of rocks.

"Retuke, you posess far sight can you see anything up ahead?" He asked loudly over the wind

[Retuke]

"Well Retuke, A bit of advice if you havn't yet been to the great city of Rithes is keep a tight grip on your wallet & stay indoor's at night.. As shameful as it is my Guild isn't quite all there at the moment for we are without a guildmaster & the grip on crime is slowly loosening.." Taj sighed, then added, "Though it's still a beautiful place if you keep your wits about you."

Retuke nodded in sad agreement. He had heard of the Warrior Guild's plight. Retuke was personally for allying the mages with the Warriors in an attempt to restore them to their former glory. He didn't tell Taj that he had been to Minas Rithes before, as it wouldn't seem very polite, after he just gave advice. Retuke had lived longer than Taj and had probably been more places.

"We'll be coming up on a river crossing soon, Thier's a Dwarven outpost thier though it's not always occupied.. I suggest you come up front."
Retuke stood up and began following Taj. The wind was blowing harder than before, now, and Retuke shivered, pulling his cloak around him more as the icy cold bit his exposed skin.

"Retuke, you posess far sight can you see anything up ahead?"
Retuke silently looked in the distance.
"There is a Dwarven bunker, but I do not see any sign of activity. .... The bridge over the river is blocked by some sort of barricade. We'll have to stop and clear it away .... Everything else looks quiet enough."
He looked over at Taj, Mafasa, and Eric.

[Taj Rahk'on]

Retuke silently looked in the distance.
"There is a Dwarven bunker, but I do not see any sign of activity. .... The bridge over the river is blocked by some sort of barricade. We'll have to stop and clear it away .... Everything else looks quiet enough."

Taj looked up at the sky a small smile forming on his mouth..
"Haha.." He laughed looking back to the road, He placed his hands on the shoulder's of Eric & Mafasa..
"Stop the van Mafasa" He said calmly..

He looked at Eric, "I hope you can fight" He said with a commanding voice as the van slowly came to a stop a good distance from the bridge..
"Eric & I will ride forth and investigate, Retuke you stay here incase any trouble comes to the van" Taj jumped down from the van to the road and made his way to his horse up front undoing its ties from the caravan.. It was allready saddle'd and he jumped up on it turning it towards the van..

"We will ride double" He said to Eric and trotted the horse up alongside the caravan so it would be easy for Eric to climb onto it..

[Retuke]

Retuke watched Taj. He seemed to see somthing about the Dwarven outpost that Retuke didn't, but he didn't say anything. Taj was a Warrior, and he thought of things that Retuke wouldn't. And Retuke trusted his judgement. He switched his staff from his left hand to his right as he watched Taj and Eric prepare to ride out ahead of the caravan.

[Z, the slayer (dead)]

Eric watched the snow like a hawk. There was definitely something following them. He brushed this thought to the back of his mind. He was studying the mountains so intently he didn't realize he was being talked to.

"I hope you can fight".

"Oh, sorry about that. Daydreaming. I can defend myself." He looked at the sword on the knight's side.
"I see you can too".
Eric jumped onto the horse. He didn't really want to lose sight of his target, but he had to gain these travelers' trust.

He wasn't used to riding horses, he was always a walking person.
Nevertheless he had a little riding experience and rode off toward Taj.

[Malick Varian]

Malick saw two large figures rise from the hill. He drew his bow and aimed at them, in case they were a threat. He saw that they were humans on horseback. Malick lowered his weapon.

"I don't want my attitude to be as cold as this weather, but you two shouldn't be here. Something has been killing the animals in this area, without mercy."

He recognized the rider on the right, but the warrior on the left was someone he's never seen before.

"As much as I like company, you, and anyone else with you should leave this mountain. Not because of me, but because of whatever demons lurk in these peaks.