The Sole Survivors

[MelissaB]

Elivia sighs and shakes her head before looking at her companions and the elves they had run into. "You five should hurry, I've treated your wounds but this isn't our village and an army is catching up every second we spend here chatting about something that won't even be relevant until night fall." She shoots a stare at Tasht before she begins to walk on, allowing her companions to either catch up or spend more time waiting for Isgar forces to catch up to them. "And if you want to be the fool that goes hunting in these woods when an army is coming up behind us that's your business but starting a fire? might as well start screaming where we are. We're on the run we're not simply traveling between villages and towns and so we have no way of cooking the meat you so foolishly want us to hunt." She remarks as if speaking to a child notching an arrow in her bowstring as she advances.

[cryosabre]

Tasht's eye twitched in frustration as the elf spoke down to her in a fashion she simply had no right to and it took everything she had not to yell her response in a rage. Instead she simply took a deep breath and replied in as calm a voice as she could muster, but even then it was through gritted teeth,

"It might not be relevant elf, but its still better to plan ahead now and figure out a plan of action ahead of time so were not wasting time qhwn it comes to taking care of those in our group. And as for food, what would you suggest we eat now that we have to split our rations 8 ways instead of three? Twigs and berries? Are you going to conjure up some sort of feast for us? I don't think so. Regardless of how much you might not like it, it's a task that needs done. And where the hell else am I going to hunt? On the road where the army is marching behind us? You tell me what the better option is for trying to keep a low profile! Out in the open or an area with miles of cover and hiding spots I've spent the vast majority of my life? Don't presume to think you're able to talk to me like I'm some dimwitted student you can push around. I promise you, it wont work out in your favour." sneering at Elivia as she finished , Tasht pushed past the elf as she tried to quell her rage before calling over her shoulder, "Oh and I'm surw such an illustrious leader like yourself could manage to come up with some sort of plan to hide firelight from scouts, a fire pit covered with a shelter perhaps, or do you plan to sit out and be cold as well as starving tonight?"

[Lorielle]

Rayne looks at the two bickering woman and sighs, 'these people are counting on us.' She says to herself. "The two of you need to stop this instant unless you intend to act like a pair of infant worgs I suggest we just get a move on. I have enough rations to last another day, we'll figure out the hunting once we've put some real distance between us and the invading army." Rayne tries her best to sound commanding and in charge, if her companions wouldn't listen to her though she'd hopefully renew some of the survivor's confidence in the situation.

"For now let's find a safe place to rest after a long day's march," looking at the tiefling she asks "do you think you could find us a cave? You're free to scout ahead of the party I think that's the biggest priority. "

[cryosabre]

Shooting Elivia a last glance, Tasht simply nodded to Rayne's request of scouting ahead, alone, and finding somewhere to a cave or somewhere similar to stay the night. She couldn't disagree that needless bickering was entirely not what the group needed right now, but she also wasn't just going to sit back and let herself be talked down to by anyway in the way Elivia had talked to her. Puffing her cheeks out, Tasht wasted no more time hanging about as she quickly ran forward ahead of the group, making sure to once again keep a close eye on the crests of the surrounding hills and woods, watching for any sign that she herself was being watched, but also looking for a place to spend the night. Preferably somewhere out from under the night sky that would provide some sort of cover in case of rain as well as be able to house all 8 of the group. A large cave would be perfect, though if need to a dense thicket that could be fashioned into a shelter would also suffice.

[Alaena]

(Survival Roll: 15)
(Encounter Roll: 17)

The group decides Tasht should go look for shelter. In the mean time, the Elven refugees will talk about how they escaped the town, what they saw, and how many soldiers were around. Their information runs closely with what your group experienced, so no new information is learned from this. Vashiel, their apparent 'leader,' will share that he has some training with a weapon, though he's never been in real combat.

Tasht spends an hour or so scouting through the woods, looking for some more shelter. It was clear there wasn't much to be had, but you do find a rather thick copse of trees. It would be difficult for anyone to see through them without getting very close. A campfire at night would of course be a beacon in all directions, regardless. However, it does provide you enough cover to be considered suitable for safety reasons.

You return with this information and likely share it with everyone else in the group. The group is free to make their way to this campsite, and at about sunset, you all finally settle in for the night. The Elves are fairly quiet and don't do much in the way of talking. Overall, the morale of the group seems pretty low, especially after the arguments, combined with everything else.

Elivia Whitecrow (Mel)

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Elven
Age: 130
Class: Sorceress
Level: 1
HP: 5/5
XP: 0/100
Corruption: 0
Skills: Equestrian +8, Archery +8, Innate Casting +8.
Spellcraft: Transmutation +4, Evocation +4, Conjuration +4.
Attributes: STR 0, DEX 4, CON -2, INT 4, WIS 0, CHA 4
Equipment: Longbow, Quiver (20 Arrows).
Description: 5'2, 100 lbs

Rayne Brunswick (Lorielle)

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Aasimar
Age: 80
Class: Knight
Level: 1
HP: 15/15
XP: 0/100
Corruption: 0
Skills: Heavy Armor Training +7, Battle Strategy +5, Jousting +7, Equestrian +2, Knowledge (Nobility) +5.
Spellcraft: Abjuration +2.
Attributes: STR 3, DEX -2, CON 4, INT 1, WIS 2, CHA 2
Equipment: Half-Plate, Lance, Longsword, Horse(courser) Explorers pack, Silver necklace(gift from father).
Description: 5'8"ft 150lbs C-cups

Tasht Androsar (cryosabre)

Spoiler (click to show/hide):

Tiefling
Age: 80
Class: Hunter
Level: 1
HP: 14/14
XP: 0/100
Corruption: 0
Skills: Archery +8, Tracking +6, Woodwork +6, Survival +6, First Aid +6.
Spellcraft: Conjuration +2.
Attributes: STR 2, DEX 4, CON 3, INT 2, WIS -3, CHA 2
Equipment: Longbow, Quiver (20 Arrows), Leather Armor, Dark Green Cloak, Backpack, First Aid Kit, Rations, Dagger.
Description: 5'9, 155 lbs

[MelissaB]

Elivia shakes her head and remains silent, perhaps she was too harsh but her nerves were on edge and she couldn't keep her nerves from showing. Sighing she notches an arrow and heads forward, leading along side Rayne. Still she kept quiet for most of the journey, she didn't want to relive the village's ruin over and over and the elves along with them weren't helping with all of their own details and views of what had happened to them. Still when Tasht returns with the news she nods. "Well done." She comments it's all she could muster at this moment and she heads to where Tasht had located their place of rest for the night. Sighing once she reaches the place within the thicket of trees. Taking a spot on the floor she tries to summon a guardian to watch over them.

[cryosabre]

After, of course, telling the group about the thicket of trees a distance up ahead, Tasht did what she could to ease the travels of those within the group who still weren't quite feeling fully recovered, offering to carry any sort of baggage they weren't comfortable holding that wasn't already piled up onto poor Kal.

When they finally arrived, the teifling took but a few moments to herself to stretch her stiff limbs after a long trek before getting up and cracking her her neck. As much as it pained her to admit it, a fire would be a terrible idea with just a few trees surrounding them, their position would be visible for miles around. Still, it wasn't like she was going to tell Elivia that any time soon after both of their outbursts, the camp morale was already low enough right now and another argument would only work to worsen the situation.

"Alright, I'm going to go out on patrol and look for provisions for us to last the night. If I find anything noteworthy or run into trouble, I'll let you know as soon as possible. Anyone who wishes to join is more than welcome to." she said before turning her back and talking out into the dark forest, making sure to keep low to the ground and her eyes open for any sort of consumable that could be eaten raw such as fruits, vegetables or berries (Not twigs though) as well as any sign of movement around her...fully aware that if there was any, there was equal chances it could either be prey or an Isgar scouting party.

[Lorielle]

It wouldn't be her first instance of dealing with low morale, but it'd be the first time she had to deal with refugees rather than soldiers suffering from such a blow to their will to live. She looked them over wondering what she could say or do to inspire them. As they all walked along to the campsite that Tasht found Rayne tried her best to recall a story about her father that her mother used to tell, speaking about how he was used to be able to brave even the most insurmountable odds, not because he was an angel but because he he believed that even in the darkest times, light would always prevail. After that she tried her best to recall tales of his victories hoping to maintain a light hearted mood as even she had a hard time believing all would end well.

Once at the campsite Rayne does her best to help any of the wounded taking the time to make splints from fallen branches with some of the rope she had on her. She wasn't the best medic, but she had to at least try. After all of that was done she saw how the tiefling and Elivia were getting ready to go on watch and use their own methods to protect the camp.

"I won't be much good out on patrol, my heavy armor would just be a dinner bell to any creatures lurking about, Elivia you could take the second watch and I could take the last one." After that Rayne walks up to Vashiel, "I'd like you to join me on my watch, if you don't have any combat experience we're going to spar. That sound okay?"

[Alaena]

Rayne does her best to improve group morale with some stories, but it just seemed like everyone needed to rest more than anything else. Tasht options to go scouting and hunting in the night, hoping to bring something useful back for the camp, whether it was useful information or food for everyone's tummies.

Elivia attempts to conjure a guardian for their camp and the best you can summon right now is a celestial hound or celestial owl, something that would be able to fight a little bit, but at the very least, would alert you and camp if anything went wrong.

Rayne asks Vashiel to spar with her and he says, "I would, but I would prefer to sleep, haven't done so in a full day... and the noise might wake some people up, but tomorrow, I would be happy to."

-------------

[Encounter Roll: 10]
[Survival Roll: 10]

Tasht heads away from the camp for about a mile or so, looking for game and anything else of interest close enough to the camp to worry about. You easily find a small rabbit and hunt it with ease. It would be enough food for 1 or a lean serving for 2. As you decide to return to camp, you hear a grunt and a groan from behind a nearby tree.

You approach and see an Orc, bleeding out in the grass. He wears hide armor and has a battleaxe on the ground next to him. He was unconscious, and dying. You could leave him to his fate, however it was wrought, or attempt to stop the bleeding and save him.

[Lorielle]

The day's been rather grueling given the long march everyone had to suffer through and the generally low morale. She was even finding if difficult to keep herself in high spirits surrounded by so much death and destruction. For now though she had to try and remain the stoic center.

Once camp was set up Rayne felt more comfortable, shedding some of her armor assisted with the that definitely as she revealed her curved, but toned figure to the group. Due to the nature of her birth though she came off as unnaturally beautiful, human but somehow too perfect. When she trained as a squire this usually left her in an awkward position when she was courted or assumed as unfit to be a knight. She was happy in the company of her order though, the other members of the Chalice respected her and treated her as they would any other knight.

Though she was ready to train with Vashiel it was best he wasn't pushed too far. Given he and the other elves had simply lost everything letting him rest was for the best. "I understand, get the best rest you can, but if everyone is to survive we'll need more hands." She smiles at the young elf hoping to encourage him.

[cryosabre]

As she continued to stalk through the woods, Tasht's singular kill so far swung from her belt, lightly tapping against her leg with every cautious step. It wasn't enough however, not evem almost, and she desperately needed to find more to food the whole group. Figuring out how to cook them would come later.

The real challenge came for her when Tasht heard an interesting groan come from behind a tree shortly before she came face to face with a rather large and rather deathly looking orc. Instinctively her first though was 'trap' and her body reacted naturally to that thought as she lowered herself even closer to the ground and scanned around for any signs of danger or mischief.

As long as there wasn't anything suspicious enough to point towards ambush, Tasht would cautiously worked her towards the orc before letting out a heavy sigh and pulling out her first aid kit as she began to work on his wound. There had been too much death already and Tasht's conciousness couldn't take potentially another innocent loss.

Alternatively, if it did become apparent this was a trap, Tasht would quickly and quietly, hopfully still unseen, hurry back to the camp to warn the others of potential attackers closeby.

[MelissaB]

Elivia conjures forth a celestial hound to guard the group, petting and stroking it's soft fur before nodding. Hearing the request to spar she smiles and chuckles softly before holding the hound to guard her and keep her warm with it's body heat as she curls up to rest and get some much needed sleep. She also needed food but with it being thin she struggles on with only having one meal from this morning and falling to sleep relying on her summoned companion to guard her and the others that are resting.