coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
|
Post by coomer on Mar 23, 2021 18:44:13 GMT
The fact that Dayne could smile brought a wave of relief to Simeon - he sat up without showing too much pain and mentioned about getting some rest. Simeon shook his head slowly however, reaching to his calf and pulling out a blade. The crest of his church was emblazoned on the hilt, and the steel glinted in the waning light. ”Not yet - we need to tend to the kill first. We can’t leave a carcass like that lying around. It’s time that you learned how to deal with a fresh kill.”He flipped the dagger in his dexterous fingers, extending the hilt for Dayne to take. They would have to skin it and harvest whatever they could of its flesh and bones, and then Simeon would take whatever remained and bury it away from their makeshift camp - he didn’t want it to attract any other predators this night.
Rolls:
|
|
Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
|
Post by Balial on Mar 26, 2021 13:25:36 GMT
 Dayne was reluctant at first, his eyes barely able to remain open as the toll of the battle washed over his body. Letting out a single sigh he nodded, if there was work to be done first, then rest could wait. Simeon began to twirl and spin the short dagger between his nimble fingers. The steel glistening with the light of the small fire they had built. After a moment he pinched his thumb and index around the blade, offering the hilt to the child. " Me?" Dayne said with a puzzled look on his face. " I don't know if I am good at this kinda stuff...." He muttered, barely able to stomach the lingering stench of the blood that was still present. Dayne's eyes slowly traced over the lifeless body of the bear. Studies from past books he was forced to read as a child spoke to him, just as the whispered voice had done. Take the blade. The voice said, the words lingering through the eardrum of the child to the point where goosebumps had crawled across his arms. The warrior let his right hand lead, gripping the knife tightly as first, as if he was going to stab the carcass of the bear. Gently, like a dancer at one of those plays your family force you to go. Slice the throat to drain, c ut skin from muscles, keep the furs, preserve the meats. The voice was strange, a mix between an outside force lurking in the darkness, but at the same time almost a familiar memory running to the front of Dayne's mind for assistance. He exhaled a single time, his eyes falling shut as he took the time to prepare himself. As the guidance had suggested, Dayne lifted the chin of the beast and delivered a single slash across the neck, allowing the blood to drain for a moment. Lacing his left hand around the stubby tail, he began his incisions. Like a surgeon he began to masterfully work the sharp steel under the fur. Hide pulled itself off with ease after a few cuts around the hind legs and Dayne could rip the fur off with a quick jerk. All that was left was the meat and Dayne began to become the butcher. Hacking away at the joints where he knew they were weakest, and avoiding the spots where wounds were flesh. He gathered enough food for both he and Simeon to last well over a week. Fine furs were gathered to use as blankets on a cold night or as means of trade when they would arrive at Neverwinter " That's about it," Dayne said as he wiped the sweat from his brow, careful to not smear any of the blood on his face. Rolls Survival: nat 20 |
|
coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
|
Post by coomer on Mar 26, 2021 15:03:01 GMT
At first the boy seemed hesitant, but once he had taken the blade and started his work he moved like an expert - almost like a man possessed. Simeon waited, intending to point out any errors that th eboy made to attempt to guide his hand, but there was no need. Each cut was calculated, perfect, experienced. Before long the boy had stripped the carcass back, removing anything that could be of use to them. ”You did well, Dayne,” he said, clapping a hand on the boy’s shoulder. ”Go, rest. We should try and get some sleep before morning.”He grabbed the useless remains of the bear and moved off into the woods. Fortunately the rain had left the muddy ground wet and malleable, so the shallow grave he dug wasn’t too much of a hassle. He deposited the body within before covering it again, placing several leaves and bits of foliage on top. Hopefully that would prevent the rains from washing away the mud if the downpour continued - and hopefully it would stop any other predators from being attracted to the smell of flesh. Once he got back to the camp he carefully wrapped the meat and placed it in the back of the cart, as well as the heavy bundle of fur. No doubt it would fetch a high price back in Neverwinter.
Rolls:
|
|
Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
|
Post by Balial on Mar 29, 2021 14:48:25 GMT
|
|
coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
|
Post by coomer on Mar 29, 2021 15:35:40 GMT
The days passed quickly since the bear had attacked their camp. Fuelled by the combined strength of both warriors, Dayne had recovered from his wounds after only a few days. Since then their journey had been quiet, and the excellent conditions hastened their journey along the seldomly-travelled road. Bird song was the first sign to Simeon that something was awry. As the skies began to darken, he held a hand out to pause both Dayne and the mule in their tracks. Above, strange figures started to circle their position - but even from this distance, Simeon could recognise what they were. ”Keep quiet, and keep your blade sheathed,” he said quickly to Dayne, just as one of the figures broke off from the pack. It landed in front of them, its huge wings kicking up a cloak of dust from the path as they settled behind it. It was an Aarakocra, one of the birdfolk that were said to guard the forests around the mountains. Simeon stepped forwards, hands extended slightly from his body with his fists un-clenched - he didn’t want this creature to suspect he was holding some sort of weapon. ”Greetings, sir. My name is Simeon Stagspeak, and this is Dayne Zedar. We are travelling through your domain to bring supplies and donations to the church of Milil in Neverwinter - we took this trail because of the cart, passing from Waterdeep to Triboar and then to Neverwinter. We beg your blessing to continue through your lands in peace, my Lord.”He paused after he spoke, lowering his head slightly to the Aarakocra. It would leave him in a weak position if the birdman tried to attack, but from what Simeon could remember of these people that was unlikely to happen - if they believed his words, that was.
Rolls:
History: 16
|
|
Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
|
Post by Balial on Mar 29, 2021 18:32:17 GMT
Dark shadows began to block out the light of the sun as the cool wind bit into Dayne's skin. His head tilted back and his arm lifted, trying to peer into what seemed to be a flock of birds. Simeon barked orders toward the child, commanding him to not brandish his weapon, and remain silent. " They're just birds?" The small warrior said back in retaliation just as one began to descend. " Oh... fuck," he muttered, seeing the size of the birdfolk continuously growing. Eventually it had landed, large claws digging into the sand and powerful wings dusting the cloaks of the adventures. It spoke, what shocked Dayne more than anything, but Simeon seemed to have knowledge on the creatures. The paladin took a few steps forward with palms to the sky and arms out slightly. A sign of peaceful conversation for sure, Dayne took the time to look into the air once more. Counting each of the shadows that he could manage to make out, a total of twelve. As he looked down Simeon was wrapping up his request and the eagle crossed its humanoid arms over its chest. Its unexpectedly deep voice bellowed out from its diaphragm with such bass that the child could feel his chest shake. "We need no such title, if you are only traveling, we can assist. From the skies we will watch, only until you pass the edge of the forest. Once you are out you will no longer have our aid, for we are bound to this land and protecting it." " Woah..." Dayne said in awe as the birdfolk took to the skies. As it began to speak to the others the language quickly changed, from common to a strange song like sound that he could not interpret. " Well, looks like we have a few more days of safe passage." He said wide eyed and face twisted with a grin. " The wonders that lay beyond the walls of Waterdeep, I never would have thought..." Rolls |
|
Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
|
Post by Balial on Mar 29, 2021 22:27:18 GMT
DM Note:
|
|
coomer
Experienced Creator
Posts: 82
|
Post by coomer on Mar 31, 2021 23:10:11 GMT
The Aarakocra were a blessing from Milil himself. Through their guidance they found rest for three full days, and Simeon found himself slipping into a sense of security that he had seldom felt since leaving Neverwinter many, many weeks before. It was too good to be true. The paladin sat up quickly as he heard a snapped branch nearby, his light sleeping rousing him quickly to any disturbances. The crying Aarakocra, however, was enough to fill him with panic and force him to his feet. He grabbed Dayne, lifting the boy bodily to his feet before pushing him towards the cart. Together they grabbed the small number of supplies that they had removed, throwing them into the back of the cart before Simeon slapped the donkey’s behind. It was dark out, but that was no concern to Simeon. His eyes darted back regularly, but he sat little but the warriors flying up and down around the shadow of some beast with the face of an owl and the body of a bear.Although the road was clear, Simeon wasn’t going to take any chances. His armour was in the back of the cart, leaving it heavier than usual - so he needed to help. He grunted as he threw his broad shoulder at the back of the cart, reprieving the mule of some of the weight and allowing them to move slightly quicker along the road. Then he heard a second branch snapping. Simeon turned instantly, but there didn’t seem to be anything in sight - grunting to himself, he rushed to keep up with the cart and, jsut as he had pressed his shoulder against it once more, something leapt out of the forest behind him. He gave out a yell as he noticed another of the owlbears, his shoulder stinging as he pushed it against the cart to force it forwards. Thoughts turned to his ward, and he turned to the side to see where the boy had run to - noticing as he did that he was off track. Of course, a human wouldn’t be able to see in the dark - something he had overlooked during their flee. He grabbed one of the torches from the back of the cart and lit it quickly with a flint, sending light sparkling into the area around them. And the owlbear let out a roar, his stampeding feet moving even quicker behind the paladin. ”Keep moving!” he shouted, pushing with every ounce of his strength against the cart while holding the torch for Dayne to navigate by. A few times he almost slipped, but he kept himself up by strength of will alone - he wouldn’t let himself and the boy he had brought all this way succumb to a beast like this. For a moment his thoughts moved to his sword - the beast was approaching, and if he was going to die here then he would at least give Dayne a fighting chance of escaping with his life. But, just as he came to his stalwart conclusion, the stampede behind him stopped. The owlbear had turned around, looking now towards the shadows that dropped in and out of the treeline, leading bombarding attacks against its fellow - perhaps a mate? For a second it too seemed to consider things, and then let out a strange half-hoot half-roar and turned its back on the pair. Simeon seized his chance, turning back to the cart and pushing harder. They caught up with Dayne after a few seconds, and with the weight of both of them behind the cart they made good progress for several minutes. After being sure that nobody was following them they resorted instead to a light jog alongside the cart. It took hours, but finally the woods broke around them. The path beneath their feet became more fully formed, and the sun overhead cleared the horizon like a newborn baby bursting free from the womb. Simeon dropped to his knees, breathing heavily - and also muttering words of thanks to Milil. ”We’ve made it,” he said with a wry smile at he pushed himself back to his feet. ”But we were lucky - if it hadn’t been for the Aarakocra, we wouldn’t have made it out alive. I just hope that they managed to get out after we were clear…”
Rolls:
|
|
Balial
Experienced Creator
Posts: 113
|
Post by Balial on Apr 9, 2021 13:55:12 GMT
Darkness, that is all the child could see. Not because it was the dead of night, not because his eyes failed to process the silhouettes around him, but because of fear. The owlbear bear was something to be fear, quite horrid the beast. Beak snapping femurs as if they were twigs. Claws raking across flesh as if it were a hot knife through butter. And oh the roar, the roar that could shake the very ribs that protected the fragile heart. Frightened, shaking, weeping, the froze for an instant. Run fool! The bodiless voice shouted into his mind, sparking enough adrenaline to cause Dayne to do that very command. His feet began to pound against the less traveled road, one after the other without any heed to look behind him. Like a war drum his heart could be felt beating out from his chest, the surroundings around him fading with each passing moment. Darkness, that is all the child could see. A slightly beaten road began to become more difficult to traverse. Branches snapped under his feet with loud enough crunches to reveal his position. Fear had blocked his other senses, unable to hear Simeon's calls or even the hoofs of the donkey. Run fool! The voice said once again, another roar echoing into the night. Breaking his state of being the second owlbear was locked onto Simeon, a torch somehow lit in the midst of it all. With the light calling out like a lighthouse to a stranded sailor, Dayne began to bolt in the corrected path. The bottom of his feet were gashed and cut with the twigs and other foliage that he had ran through, but the pain wasn't enough to stop him. His breathe seemed nonexistent as he continued his dash, over and over he finally caught up to the cart, and in the next instant he had passed it. Time, such a fickle thing, seemed to just breeze on by. Who knew how long it had been, one hour, two, maybe more or less? However, as Dayne broke through the threshold of the path onto the solid street, his adrenaline subsided. Keeling over as his heart began to slow and exhaustion set in. His mind went blank, fading from the exhaustion and just no longer able to keep up with the strain his heart had been put through. A part of him tried to stand, tried to move to the cart so he would be of no burden to Simeon, but he was not cognitive enough to realize if his actions found success. Rolls |
|
