Interlude: On her own

Story by Alexia Symeonidou (Gwpe)

 

 Art by gwpe

All was still inside the tavern.

It was to be expected, one supposed, at such an ungodly hour; dawn was still just a thought behind the horizon. What air managed to push through the cracks in the wood and the stone of the worn and tired building was cold, and the elf’s ears and fingers were thoroughly numb. Not that she was dressed warmly – a few scraps of leather stitched together in what barely constituted a top and a skirt, open-toed boots, and a thin cloak she had scavenged from someplace or other. The rough hide bracers and bands on her arms were little more than decoration and adolescent whim.

With a last careful look about the room, Evelyn slowly opened the door and snuck out. She had expected Ser August to be in his room at such an hour, and sleeping soundly; she had been fully prepared for the quiet maneuverings that getting in and out of his room undetected would entail. He had not been there.

The bed was made, and everything was neat and tidy as it always was when he had left for the day. But there was no Chantry nearby; would he still have risen for morning prayers? Evelyn had been briefly concerned at his absence, but then shook the thought away. Ser August was more than capable of taking care of himself. And in any case, it made her task easier. Much easier.

She had left two pieces of paper – one a note for Mari, who was still sick and recovering in the Alienage, and another for the templar – and more than half of her current share of coins on the table by his bed. She hoped they would understand. 

It was impossible for her to stay here any longer, Evelyn reminded herself as she picked up her weapons and her pack from the hallway, and strapped them on.

The place had been getting far too crowded for her. She hated crowds. Well, except for those out on the streets and in the squares, where you could pick a pocket without being seen and could easily lose the guards on your tail. Some crowds had their uses. But there were so many people living here permanently that she could barely think anymore.

It was one of the reasons why she and Mari rarely used their room in the orphanage – it was much more preferable to find their own spots on rooftops and in alleyways, where there weren’t all these bodies around you, hemming you in.

Not to mention the noise. The walls of her room were so thin, it was impossible to use it as any sort of sanctuary. And it was the first place where people would look for her, if they wanted her for something. The incessant knocking on the door had been driving her mad. All she wanted was some time to herself; some privacy.

She tried the common room during the hours when everyone else was supposed to be in their rooms – but there was so much traffic at the tavern that there was not a single hour when the common room was unoccupied. Then she tried the private backroom. And then the cellar.

One night found Eve on the roof of the tavern, her back pressed against the chimney in an attempt to get as warm as was possible out here. Huddled against her neck was Fox, whose noises of disapproval at being outside at such an hour during this time of year Eve tried to ignore, as she watched her breath form and curl and fade in the weak moonlight, over and over again. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.

But it was the furthest she could get from everyone, without actually traipsing down the road and through the fields in the dark, unarmed and alone. And she had not brooded quite enough to do that. Yet.

Form, curl, fade; form, curl, fade. If anyone had asked Evelyn what exactly was wrong, she most likely would not have been able to answer. It was simply progressive annoyance towards everyone, even Ser August, for no apparent reason. Form; curl; fade. It had reached the point where everything about everyone had been irritating her – the way they walked; their breathing; the sound of their voices. She knew she was being unreasonable. She should not have felt such anger at people’s laughter, or the desire to hurl a chair across the room because someone was chewing a fruit too loudly.

So, what was the point in staying, she reasoned with herself. Her sister was in the Alienage, since she needed proper care and rest, neither of which was possible at an establishment like this. Ser August was busy all the time with this mage, or that templar, or some mercenary, or a representative of the Chantry – he was almost never there during the day. And as for everyone else … she did not really feel comfortable with them. At all. And there was nothing to do. For weeks she had started her day by going up to Ernie and asking him whether there was any job, any news, anything; and for weeks, the answer had been no.

There was nothing to do but to sit on the left side of the common room in the morning, switch to the right side of the common room in the afternoon, run to one of her hiding places when the hordes descended in the evening, and then crawl to her bed at night and try to block out the shouts and the voices that drifted up the stairs. She was just wasting her time here, and being miserable on top of it.

No sooner had she resolved to go back to Denerim and Mari than all of the unwelcoming faces in the Alienage swam before her vision; and the guards; the smells; the uncertainty of food. Almost a full year out in the countryside had spoiled Evelyn for city life. The thought of going back to stay at the orphanage was enough to make her nauseous.

The only thing she looked forward to there was her sister, and she was quite certain she would not be allowed to see her. If Mari was as sick as rumor had it, visitors would be denied for fear that it might be contagious. It happened every time someone fell ill. The last thing the Hahren wanted was an outbreak of disease in the crowded elven quarters of Ferelden’s capital.

That was when a small voice whispered to her that the road led to more places than just Denerim.

She had quickly dismissed it. It was a ridiculous notion after all – she had no idea how to survive on her own, travelling, outside of a city; she could fend people off, but only so many. She was not that experienced of a fighter, and there were bandits out there; and wild animals. And what of food? It was absurd. And yet, the thought would not let up. It haunted her movements, and dwelt in the shadows she cast. It kept her company day and night, and only fell into a slumber when she relented and began making serious plans and preparations.

It was the first time that she had been so long without Mari – no, actually, it was the first time she had been without Mari at all. Perhaps that was why she had been feeling so strange lately.

Evelyn ended up planning to … well, she did not know. Go off, somewhere. Wherever the road went. She had no idea how far, or for how long. Maybe just a few hours’ walk, maybe her head would clear by then. Maybe for days or weeks …

Evelyn was half-way down the stairs when she heard the sounds of a whetstone against a blade. She closed her eyes in frustration.

People had taken to caring for their weapons at the oddest hours imaginable, due to fear of Doctor Opos – that miserable quack, as she called him. He had developed the habit of approaching everyone with this oil and that “tonniq” and his fantastical fabulous potions that battled rust for greater justice! Right. Evelyn thought them much more likely to ruin good, sturdy weapons. She didn’t trust that … man, as far as the Dalish mage could blast him.

Turning around the corner of the stairs and taking care to stay in the shadows of the wall, Evelyn saw that it was Azdad, sitting in the corner by the door that led to the kitchen, sharpening his array of knives. Of course, it would be Azdad.

She doubted that even the quack would risk the qunari’s wrath. His attention seemed to be completely on the task at hand. She padded softly down the last couple of steps, and eased her way towards the exit.

A floorboard creaked. 

Evelyn froze.

Art by gwpe

Azdad had seen her, of course. Looking at him warily, she thought it must be painfully obvious to him what she was up to. It was common knowledge that, beyond their packs, their weapons, and the clothes on their bodies, the Lyns did not have any belongings. She was clearly dressed for travel and sneaking out. He would call Ser August – never mind that the templar did not seem to be about, the qunari had an uncanny ability for making the impossible happen – and it would all be over. And not only would she get a harsh talking to, she would also have to face the hurt that would undoubtedly appear in Ser August’s eyes once he realized that she was running off.

Azdad looked at her, for a moment, and then stood up and went into the kitchen. Evelyn debated about sprinting out, but decided against it. It was probably better not to make it worse than it was. With a sigh, she resigned herself and waited for the cook to return with Ser August in tow.

When Azdad appeared a minute later, he was alone. He simply tossed a pouch at her and sat back down at his table, without a word, and continued his work.
Evelyn caught it, and opened it, utterly confused.

It contained a generous amount of waybread and some copper bits. After her initial shock passed, she chuckled a little under her breath. Softie. She glanced at Azdad and gave him a smile, though, after weeks of scowling, she probably managed nothing more than a grimace. Then she turned the handle of the door and walked out.

It was autumn, closer to winter really; the air was chill and, when a slight wind blew, it bit even her unexposed skin.

Evelyn was about to step on the path, when she heard a shuffle. It was Garrett, playing around in the grass. She knelt down and pet the ferret tentatively, looking around for his mistress. Not seeing the dwarf about, she snuck him a treat from the pocket where she kept tidbits for Fox, picked him up, and shoved him back inside the tavern through a half-open window.

She turned and walked down the short path in front of the tavern until it reached the main road.
One end of the road led to Denerim. One led further out into Ferelden.
“Let’s try this whole ranger thing, shall we?”

A stranger would have assumed that Evelyn was talking to herself. But there was movement in the black pouch she carried on her side, and she adjusted the flap a bit to allow better flow of air. A small rodent’s head popped out. Anyone who saw his face would say that he carried the expression that any rat carried.

To his companion’s eyes, Fox appeared skeptical, questioning her ability to survive out in the wilds alone. Sure, she and her sister had scraped by in the city on their own for years, but they were street rats. City dwellers. She barely knew how to light a fire. She did not even have a map.
“Don’t give me that look.”

Fox produced a small squeak.

“We’ll be fine. And there’s always bound to be a farmstead or lone hut or a small hamlet somewhere where they won’t notice a few apples and bits of cheese missing.”

Another squeak.

“And leeks, of course. You shall have your leeks.”

Forbidding herself to cast a last look back or to the right, Evelyn pulled the hood over her head, and set off on her own.

Empty Return

They almost kicked me out of the alienage when I was healthy enough to get out of bed, but I must admit I wouldn’t have been able to stay a single day more. I missed Evelyn so much! And… I couldn’t wait to see Mihitu again. I just hoped nobody had jumped on him during my absence… I remember that beautiful Orlesian girl around, and even if she told me it was not her I should worry about, I still was jealous. Who could resist her… charms?, I think bitter, remembering how she filled her cleavage much better than me. I’m sure Mihitu wouldn’t say she’s a teenager, as he said to me.

And that’s what’s crossing my mind when I approach the inn and see the knight feeding the cats. So at least someone took care of Stripes. Good, now I feel a bit better.

I didn’t mean to talk to him, but he raises his head for a moment and waves. I have no option but to wave back.

“Hi … Thanks for taking care of the cats”

He blushes a bit and mumbles “I love cats. But i don't dare to say it aloud”. Then he turns at looking awkwardly at the ground as if that were very interesting. I smile. That guy always manages to make me want to hug him. How can he pretend to be a brave warrior if he is such a cutie?

Then I notice his bandaged leg and the stick by his side, and I stop smiling.

“Are you all right, ser Kyle?”, I say, walking a bit towards him.

“It’s nothing… Just a fight against some bandits…”, he dismisses, but for the way he’s crouching, I have the feeling it has been a bad wound. It seems well cared of, though, so I suppose it is not that recent. Well, he obviously hasn’t been inactive while I was away, why shouldn’t he? Life continues without me. Or death. Or whatever.

“Seems I can’t leave you alone”, I tease. “Did they attack you?”

He shrugs. “A friend needed help. And when that happens, whoever dares to harm my friends or my love will have to beware my rage”. He looks at me, trying to look fearful. “You wouldn’t like to see my rage, mylady. You would probably never want to approach me again, scared. I become a rude brute”.

If he wants to scare me with that, it doesn’t work. I somehow find adorable that he becomes a brute to defend the ones he love. I sit by his side and smile, waiting for Stripes to allow me to pet her head.

“I don’t think fighting for your friends is scary, ser Kyle” I shrug. I needed to sit. I still feel tired if I stay up for too long.

“I’m not lucky” he sighs. “People I want to make my friends usually take advantage of me, or betray me. But I don’t judge them. I just don’t understand why. I just want to do something peaceful in my life”.

I hug my knees and glance at him. He seems so lonely… same as me. I should rush to meet Evelyn, but I feel guilty for having taken advantage myself of this honest man, when I looked for his company only to get invited to an ale.

“Maybe it’s just my Fate for not having been able to avenge my love”, he says, his eye lost in the distance. “Or for all the bad things I did”

“If that helps…” I say awkwardly, “I’ll be the one to invite you to an ale the next time”.

He chuckles, bitter. “Don’t blame yourself… I don’t mind”. Then his face softens. “I happy to have your company, my lady. As a friend, I will always be there if you need me. Feel free to call me. I will try my best to go help you. Always at your service”. And he smiles like an idiot. “I won’t mind to pay anything for a friend. To make my friends happy. I will be happy for they too.”

I can’t help but chuckle. He seems so clumsy, so in need of a friend. Silly one. They will stab you in the back, and you know it. But you keep trying, and that’s what makes me want to be your friend too, I think. Then I tilt my head to see him better.

“So which friend were you saving from bandits, if I may ask?”. I’m curious to know who he was willing to give his life for this time.

“Mihitu”, he mumbles. “He… could have dead”

My heart jumps. “Mihitu!!! Is he safe?” I’m about to get up, but my legs don’t obey me. He puts a hand softly on my shoulder, and I think his eye is sad for me this time.

“He is…Don’t worry…. somebody is caring for him…”

“Is he… with Lorelei?” I ask. I knew it. This month away. I missed my chance. But he shakes his head.

“No. Not Lorelei. The hunter. Hart”

And now my legs surrender completely and I fall sitting on the ground, my head spinning.

A man.

It’s unbelievable how my world has collapsed in seconds, how everything was related to a man I actually hardly knew. Rage and jealousy mix in my heart, but there’s a third feeling, a feeling of defeat. I could have competed with another woman, as gorgeous as she could be.

But I can’t compete with a man.

“I’m sorry. Maybe he wasn’t the one for you”, Kyle says, softly. Of course. He knows. I had told him. I nod, not able to look him into the eye, and try to reach Stripes to pet her and avoid pouring the tears I feel coming to my eyes.

Finally I manage to get up, stumbling a bit. The warrior tries to help me, but I don’t allow him.

“No, stay… I’m all right… it is just… I’m still dizzy…”, I mumble. “I just need… to get inside…”

Back to my room, back to the safe company of my sister. The only one who will never abandon me.

The only one I can trust.

…or so I thought…

Winterbollocks on the run

RP log turned to prose, Story and words by Pau Norontaus

The say she was a nasty bitch

She'd dump your ass in some damp ditch

She'd rob you dry and take your life

While drinking wine with your ex-wife

They swear she knew a hundred ways

To kill a man - he'd cry, for days

She'd feed him juice, of poisons rare

And leave him dying, buttocks bare

Devil's hair and skin so pale

Her beauty is a thing of tale

With looks like that, a figure fine

They say, beware! The Moonshine

(An excerpt of a song often heard in the Free Marches)

The guard rubs his temples as he counts the money in the coin purse. Four whole sovereigns, just to catch one escaped prisoner? Well, she WAS a bitch. Great looks for her age. But still. An utter bitch.

The man sighs as he takes a sip of his whiskey. That might take the worst edge of the pain away. Ever since she had…managed to get the poison in his system (and yes, it's on a need to know basis, as to how it all happened) guard captain Harris of Denerim had suffered from severe problems with his… Well, you don't need to know.

Harris sets the glass on the table and looks sharply at the young soldier in front of him. 

"Got the tracker, Cane?" he asks, with a raspy voice. The lad nods.

"He the best you could find?" Cane nods again.

"He going to find her and bring her back?" Cane shrugs.

"Well, if he won't I'll just arrest you both." Cane frowns.

"Now, piss off!" 

The guard captain keeps counting and recounting the money. 

"Eulalia 'Moonshine' Winterbollocks…" he mutters under his breath. "May the Maker piss on your poisonous heart."

Art by Pau Norontaus

WINTERBOLLOCKS ON THE RUN

Odelia Mydwnn stretches and yawns, waiting for the others to show up outside the Inn. Soon people start arriving… Melissa Ildrai, the tiny Rivainni. Kyle Mallory, the tall, one-eyed warrior. Lorelei Renard, the beautiful Orlessian half-elf. Amaris, the blond elf. Time to go the meeting point, then.

It's a ridiculously early autumn morning at the Merry Mabari. They’re off to track down a wanted criminal, one infamous thief, known by the name of Eulalia "Moonshine" Winterbollocks. They were hired for the job by the halfbreed hunter. He mentioned being called by the Denerim guards, and that there would be some gold involved. Easy task. Hunt down and capture a prisoner. No biggie. They were the ones who decided to join. Soon they see Mihitu waiting for them, leaning on an old stone wall near the inn, his great gray hound sleeping next to him. Paws notices them and sits up, yawning. Mihitu stretches his lean muscles and nods a short greeting.

"We've been waiting you… There'th no reathon to wathte any more time," Mihitu frowns and spits on the ground. He looks at you and shakes his head. "Can… Ah… Doeth ANY off you even know how to track?"

Melissa shakes her head.  Odelia gives a half-wave to Mihitu. "I do. Been learning from you, actually."

Kyle says "Not me"

Lorelei shrugs "Since when 'ave you 'eard of a mage tracking anything?"

Mihitu looks surprised, and nods. "Anyone elthe?"

Amaris shrugs. Why does a mage need to know how to track?

Odelia looks around and pales slightly - she's the only tracker? Oh, Maker.

Mihitu laughs. "I have no idea why you joined thith trip, then."

Melissa says "I'm thie.. er, mercenary, sorry."

"Well, I guethh I could uthe a few thwordth, anyway. I bet thhe'th utterly lovely," Mihitu grins. "We head to the woodth, follow me…" He starts off with a brisk pace. Paws leaps after him, after a quick sniff around the group.

Odelia takes rear guard, watching for danger or traps, keeping an eye for tracks.

Kyle runs along, Amaris follows, and Lorelei follows along with the others. Melissa looks around and watches everything curiously

They walk on a rarely used road. It's more like a well kept path, really… The rising sun begins to warm their backs, but it's still quite cool. They can hear birds rustling in the bushes. They see a rabbit. Mihitu leads the way, humming an obscene tune.

Odelia turns to Melissa and sees her confusion. "Into the woods, and he could use a few swords anyway." She smiles and follows last, keeping watch

Amaris looks around nervously. Mihitu laughs at the man "No need to be that jumpy.... YET." Amaris shrugs. "The forest doesnt really like me."

Odelia recognizes the tone Mihitu is humming and snorts. "The tale of three Orlesian sisters gone wild, Mihitu? Really? Wine, dwarves, and a mabari?"

Mihitu winks at Odelia, and continues humming the melody. Lorelei chuckles at Mihitu's tune and shakes her head. "Really Mihitu?"

Melissa says "It's fine! I'm just watching those fancy plants."

Odelia follows along watching carefully for traps or tracks

It's a regular road near the tavern, nothing to be scared of.

Mihitu snorts as he watches the people jump around. Scaredycats.... USELESS.

Melissa smiles at Kyle . "I've never seen you before, you know?"

Amaris says "In my case of tracking down people they always go to the forest."

Lorelei continues on wondering why everyone's so cautious.

Paws does a little happydance. It's great to be outside! They can see it's going to be a beautiful day. Flowers, white clouds, kittens...

Odelia watches the area and listens to everyone's conversation. There's only one here she doesn't know, Kyle, so she's a bit wary. Odelia laughs at Paw's happydance, wishing she'd thought to ask Terrion if she could bring Marcus along.

Odelia calls out to Mihitu, wishing to talk to him but not quite willing to leave her rear guard. "Hey, do we know anything else about this Winterbollocks?"

Mihitu nods. "Thhe'th a real nathty bithh, or tho I hear.

Melissa looks at... kitten? "Aww! Fluffy!"

Lorelei spots something furry running about. "Oh a kitty!" she gasps

Amaris sighs and looks at all the happy things around him. "Why do i feel like we just walked into a children's book?"

Odelia says "Well, I could be called a nasty bitch too." She deadpans, waiting to see who'll laugh first at her lame joke.

The kitten disappears as quickly as she came.

Lorelei chuckles "Oh really 'delia?" her brow raises

Odelia says "Hart called me a bitch, the first day I met him."

Mihitu snorts at the comment, but keeps walking ahead.

Odelia says "It was a real bonding moment for us."

Lorelei says 'Were you drinking?"

Odelia says "No, I think I'd only had a glass or two of whiskey."

Paws runs after scents and sounds, then returns to the group, leaping out of the bushes, almost landing on Amaris. Amaris jumps back. "Easy boy. Id prefer if you didnt land on me."

Kyle says "okay, I'm lost in thought, sorry all"

Melissa seems sad for a while when kitten disappeared, but she recovered her optimism almost immediately

Lorelei says "Ah, forget I asked then." she smiles

Paws drools all over Amaris, and continues jumping around. Amaris laughs and scratches Paws under his chin. "A bit excited there?"

Melissa says "Hey, many people would like to drink before quest, not everyone is brave enough to bear such adventure when sober!" Melissa giggles

Odelia laughs at Lorelei. "Really, it was quite amusing. I thought I'd hate him. Turns out he was an ok kind of guy, eh?"

Odelia raises a brow at Melissa possibly drinking on the job - or at least before it - but lets it go. It doesn't seem to be impeding her anyway.

Lorelei looks at Odelia like she knows something. "...I suppose." she brushes off the statement but smirks afterwards

Art by Pham Ngoc Trinh

Kyle looks at Melissa.

Melissa grins at Kyle "I've never seen you before."

Kyle scratches his head . "sorry, I alway catch miss and lost in woods, so that"

Odelia smirks at Lorelei. "Oho, you..." Tries to think back to the first few days of Hart's presence, and remembers Lore flirting with Hart, but Hart and Mihitu hanging out together. She gives Lore a sly grin and a wink. "I see.'

Mihitu shivers slightly, but walks onwards. Odelia sees Mihitu shiver, and wonders if it's cold for him, or what. She sweeps her gaze around, maintaining a watch

They finally reach a crossroads. One way leads to the larger roads, the other is a mere opening in the thick wall of trees. Mihitu stops and turns to face them. "We're near the plathe thhe wath latht thpotted. Iff thhe'th been here, I can find her."

Odelia nods at Mihitu and watches him, looking for any tips to better her own tracking abilities.

"You'd better thtay behind, I don't want you to methh the trackth. I'll leave you markth to follow." He takes a few steps, then turns back. "You can keep Pawth, tho you won't get lotht in the woodth," he smirks wickedly and winks his one good eye.

Amaris says "My fear is not getting lost in the woods."

Kyle confused because he doesn't understand so much about slang. Odelia see's Kyle's confusion. "Winterbollocks was last seen here; Mihitu will be able to find her if she was. We're to stay behind so we don't mess up the tracks. And we get to keep Paws."

Lorelei says "Well guess we're somewhat on our own."

Melissa grins. "This dog is awesome!" Tries to pat Paws. Paws barks. Kyle bows his head. "I see" "here boy! Food for you"

Mihitu nods and disappears in the shades of the trees without a trace. They'd never know he was there. Paws whines as he sees his master go, but stays behind.

Odelia looks around for any clues of Winterbollocks tracks, though she knows she's nowhere near Mihitu's skill.

Lorelei looks over to Amaris. "Yes it's just everything else in the woods."

Amaris sighs. "Why is it that everyone always runs to the forests? Why can it be a nice like cottage by the lake?" Paws snorts at Amaris

Lorelei says "Where's the fun in that?" She smirks

Odelia chuckles at Amaris. "Well, that's not much of a challenge. Though it is unexpected. Could be useful."

Melissa says "Hm. Anyway, by Andraste's tits, what are Winterbollocks? I don't know such things in Rivain, huh."

The dog goes to Kyle, searching for food. Kyle says "good dog!" Kyle continues to find some meat for Paws

Odelia says "It's a very sad surname, apparently, Melissa. Poor girl, no wonder she turned to a life of crime." She giggles at the name.

Amaris shrugs. "It not like my surname is any better and look at me do I look like a criminal? Never mind don't answer that."

Lorelei says "That's only an excuse, you should find strength in you name not turn it into something threatening."

Odelia laughs at Amaris. Kyle just looks at all people and stays silent

They continue their talk, as they enter the forest. They feel the calming green cool surround them. The woods are silent; most animals have heard them miles away and vanished before they had the chance to see them. The path is too narrow for them to walk in pairs.

Odelia says "Oh, I was blessed with a good family name. Some of the ones I hear... how did the come about? It's terrible."

Odelia is unsure if she should take rear guard as an archer or go first as a tracker.

Lorelei says "one by one? Goody.." she shivers a bit. Kyle says "Go ahead" Amaris says "Well who would like to lead?"

Paws sniffs the ground, curious… then snorts and goes off to lick Lorelei's hand.

Lorelei smiles at paws. "'ello puppy." she muses as she scratches his ears

Melissa raises her eyebrows. "Okaaaay, I have no more questions."

Odelia says "Um… Maybe I should go first? Who'll take rear guard?" Odelia takes point and leads them through the forest, watching for Mihitu's signs. Amaris follows behind Odelia.

The ground is not easy to walk on. Melissa trips on the roots, falling on her butt. Melissa says "Ouch!"

Kyle helps Melissa. Melissa says "Ouch! Thank you!" Kyle says "no need to thank me"

Odelia takes careful steps and calls out behind her. "You okay, Melissa?"

Amaris says "Oh the quite of the forest. No nice so peaceful. Until something roar and tries to chew your arm off."

Odelia rolls her eyes. "What optimism, Amaris." She shoots him a friendly smile to soften her words.

Melissa says "Sure, sure! It's just a road, it won't eat me. At least I HOPE SO." Melissa said last words looking at the sky, like talking to some gods.

Lorelei says "You ar' being so 'elpful right now."

As they chitchat they can see, that Paws looks alarmed. Odelia slows and watches Paws carefully, looking to where his attention might settle.

Amaris stops and looks at Paws. "What wrong?"

Kyle sees Paws and draws his blade. Lorelei notices Paws and reaches for her staff. Odelia draws her bow and nocks and arrow, watching Paws.

Suddenly they begin hearing it too. Wailing. It's almost like a melody…. but sounds more like a dying moose. It goes up and down, sideways, backways… The horrible sound travels to their ears from the narrow path before them.

Lorelei says "What is that?" she winces at the sound.

Odelia steps slowly forward towards the wailing melody, keeping quiet, arrow half-drawn back.

Kyle says "Hmm... terrible sound"

Melissa looks around to find any tips. Amaris looks around. "That sounds like when I sing.....or so I imagine."

They hear a hiccup, followed by some cursing. "Ssssshhod it! Shhon of a tied down whooore!" …and the melody continues.

Odelia snickers at the curses and continues towards the singer.

Paws looks at them and shakes his head, rolling his eyes.

Melissa says "Well, at least he has nice lyrics!" Melissa giggles and follows the team

Lorelei looks confused. "I almost don't want to know what we're walking in on."

Amaris follows Odelia. "This is going to be interesting."

Odelia smirks at Lorelei and whispers back. "But think of the stories!"

Lorelei says "true, that's the real prize!" she smiles back

As they walk closer, they can see the path opens to a small field in the middle of the forest. There's a large stone, and on that stone sits a drunken man. He's about 70 years old, wears a blue cape and holds a sack in his arms.

Odelia 7loosens the draw of her bow, keeping her arrow nocked, and strides to the old man. "Ho there, stranger!"

"Ho? WHERE?" he looks at the wrong direction.

Melissa says "Oooh, party! Well, not big, but party!" Kyle says "indeed!"

Amaris leans on his staff. "Just what we need a drunk."

Lorelei chuckles "Well not anywhere around here I can assure you."

Odelia giggles at the man. She likes him. "Just saying hello. Might I ask what brings you to these woods?"

Kyle says "A drunk can spit some information to you "

The man finally notices them. "Aaaaaha!" He stops singing and tries to concentrate his eyes on them. Not successfully. "Cusssthomerssh. I BID YOU WELCOME! To my humble… eh.." he looks around the field. "Humble premisshesh."

Lorelei says " 'umble indeed"

Odelia is thoroughly amused by this man and curtsies, though it doesn't have quite the same affect in pants.

Amaris looks around. "Yes very lovely place you have here."

Odelia says "Well, met, good ser."

Kyle says "Nice to meet you ser"

The man bows back, almost falling off the rock.

Melissa says "Hey, it's still better than some other places! Nice to meet you, good man! Do you have any tips for us?"

Odelia lets her eyes dart around the premises, looking for potential danger, just in case this was a trap. She steps forwad as the man almost falls. "Are you all right there, ser?"

He looks at them, then stares at Lorelei lewdly and licks his lips. "What'sh your name, honey? You can call me Rat, honey…. Ssshod that, you can call me ANYTIME."

Kyle shakes his head . "Oh no, not again"

Odelia's eyes widen at the old man's words and gives Lorelei a laughing smile. "An admirer, Lore. How lovely."

Lorelei scowls at the man "And you can die in a fire."

He smiles at her, then turns to face the others, and looks like he's counting. "Ssho, the sheven of you. What bringsh you here today? Thissh LOVELY morning, blesshed by the Maker himself? Looking for my goodsh?"

Amaris looks around the area expecting a bear or a wolf to show up. Kyle look at him and  says "there's nothing"

Odelia looks back at the man. "Ah, well, actually, we're doing a bit of tracking."

Melissa says "We? We're just wandering arou... Ah, okay, she's right."

"Tracking? That makesh you money, right?" Rat opens his sack of goods and grins with his nearly toothless mouth. "Feel free to browse!"

(you can buy items  Bottle of vodka 60 cp / Silver bracelet 30 sp / Leather gloves 5 sp / Old bone 2 cp / Ring 10 sp )

Amaris shrugs. "Id rather be looking at nothing than something wanting to eat me."

Kyle says "nothing can eat you, at least I'm here"

Odelia gives the man a curious, wary look, her eyes darting around the area. "Well, I'll take a look then..."

Melissa says "Oooh! Shinies! I'll take vodka, gloves and bracelet!" Melissa looks for money in her bag and gives it to the old man

"Thank thee kindly, young missh!"

Lorelei says "Hmm." She eyes the ring. "if no one else want it, I'll take the ring."

Odelia looks at the ring and the bracelet, wondering if it might be silly to buy Terrion something like that... Maybe they were too feminine? Maybe he didn't like jewelry? Or the attachment it indicated?

Odelia can't decide, and waves off the ring. "It's yours, Lore, if you want." Odelia fingers the bracelet again, wondering if... maybe it was manly enough? She doesn't want to make a fool of herself. But... Mihitu and Hart wore matching bracelets. But Mihitu had made them.

Lorelei is trying her best not to touch the man, gives him her money in exchange for the ring

Rat makes a kissing sound at Lorelei and takes the money. "Ugh" she grimaces.

Melissa looks at her new bracelet and grins happily  "Shinies! So pretty!"

Odelia she sighs and returns the bracelet to the man. Better she not make a bigger fool of herself than she already had.

Amaris keeps and eye out while everyone shops. "I'll be damned if i get attacked by another bear." He mumbles to himself. Kyle pats his back. "Don't worry"

Odelia buys the old bone for Marcus and hands over the 2cp for it. At least there's one man she knows she can please with her purchases. She hopes.

"Wash that all, young onesh? LOVELY. An absholute delight!"

Odelia returns to her duties as tracker, keeping an eye out for possible danger. Maker help her she won't be ambushed again if she can help it.

Lorelei says "So, ar' we done 'ere?"

Amaris says "Unless the man has information."

Odelia turns to the man. "By chance, have you see a woman in the area, or a white-haired man?"

Rat smirks like he has no information, and continues his drunken signing. Wailing. The impersonation of a dying moose.

Odelia cringes at the mans singing and asks again louder. "Have you seen a woman or a white-haired man?"

Amaris says "let's just go I want to get out of here as soon as possible."

"If I did it wash a dreeeam, with HER in it," he points at Lorelei.

Odelia laughs, then shrugs and curtsies a goodbye to the delightful old drunk, ready to move on. Others follow her.

Lorelei sighs hand pressing the bridge of her nose. "Can we just move on."

"But I DID shaw a tall gentleman passh by earlier. Odd bird." He shouts after them, then passes out.

Odelia stops and turns back around. "A tall gentleman? Odd? Can you tell us more?"

As they leave the field, they can see there are three possible paths to take. Paws sniffs and sits on the ground, turning to stare at them. He knows where to go, but he's feeling far too mighty to tell.

Melissa facepalms. "Wow, this guy was worse than dying hedgehog"

Rat's passed out, not able to answer.

Odelia sighs and stares at Paws. "Where too, boy?" Odelia cannot believe she entered a staring contest with a dog.

Amaris looks at Paws. "Why do i get the feeling you know where to go."

Paws stares at them, thinking  "Runs without feet, flies without wings, reaches hundreds of ears in one day. It can be wicked or white. Some see through it, some can't see at all. Some do it openly, some on the sly. What could it be?"

Odelia raises a brow at Paws. Did she just see a riddle pass across his eyes?

Paws nods, like a boss.

Odelia thinks, then smiles vaguely. "Runs without feet... some can see through it... Is... is it a river? Rapids, maybe? Running water?"

Amaris sighs and reaches into his pocket to pet Nip who was sleeping. "Great well this is just getting better by the second."

Odelia turns to the others. "What do you think it could be?"

Lorelei tries to think but nothing really comes to her. "there ar' a few things you can do out in the open or on the sly." she smirks "Yet I doubt its...that"

Amaris leans back against a tree. "Hmmmmm."

Odelia smirks with Lorelei.

Melissa looks around thinking.

Lorelei snaps her fingers. "Lie?"

Paws barks happily! He chooses a path and motions them to follow.

Odelia nods approvingly at Lorelei. She knew she liked her.

Kyle has no idea and follow Paws

Odelia follows the path, keeping an eye for Mihitu's - or anyones - tracks, and any danger.

Lorelei smiles, surprised she actually got it right.

Melissa raises her eyebrows and keeps following the team

They continue their journey on the shady, crooked path. As they walk in the woods, Odelia and Kyle get stung by some nasty insect. Not lethal. But very annoying. And itchy. Terribly so.

Lorelei says "That looks bad, ar' you alright?" she asks

Odelia huffs at the stings, wondering how in Void they got through her clothing and bits of armor. She tries not to itch them, but won't take the time to stop and apply some healing balm to them. Plus, she wasn't going to strip in front of these people. Not unless drunk, anyway. Utterly pissed.

Kyle says "whatever it is, it looks bad"

Odelia grinds her teeth and clenches her fists, trying to concentrate at the task

Amaris says "It just a bite they will be fine just really itchy."

Suddenly Paws barks! They hear rustling in the bushes in front of them.

Odelia draws back her nocked arrow and aims at the bushes, stopping. "what is it, paws?" she whispers.

Kyle says "oh that what I expect" He draws his blade

Melissa moves back and takes out her two daggers, ready to stealth.

Amaris turns to look bushes ready to fight whatever comes out of there.

A frightened rabbit jumps at them. They can see one of it's feet is red with blood, but it seems to be otherwise fine. The animal dodges quickly around them and disappears in the forest. Paws looks frustrated, but more interested in the path before him.

Amaris says "Blood..."

Odelia watches the bunny hop away, wondering about the feet covered in blood, but takes Paws cue and looks to the path ahead. "Do you smell more blood, Paws? Let's go."

Lorelei sighs "Great a bunny, but was that blood on it's feet?"

Melissa hides one of her swords and looks at rabbit, which disappears quickly. "Oww, poor fluff."

They hear a familiar, angry voice behind the trees. "Damn! Thhave my back and call me an elf… Come here."

Odelia looks up and hesitates before calling out. "Mihitu?"

"Yarrp..." He doesn't sound happy. At all.

Odelia moves forward, looking for Mihitu, wondering what had happened to the hunter.

As they come closer, they see that Mihitu is kneeling down on the ground, holding a rusty trap. It's defused, but they can see a few white rabbit hairs on it. He looks mad. "Thomeone hath left the plathe full of bad trapth. They won't kill the prey… Jutht TORTURE it."

Amaris follows thinking about if he should had just cooked the rabbit for spooking him.

Kyle looks angry. Melissa frowns.

Odelia grimaces at what Mihitu was showing and telling them. "Maker, that's cruel."

Lorelei says "That sounds nasty"

Mihitu stands up, still frowning. "I'll take out ath many ath I can, but wathh your thtep." He pets Paws head, and the dog snuggles closer. "…make thhure Pawth thtayth out of them, will you?" He smiles a little.

Melissa says "Andraste's tits, they should land in those traps themselves, uh." Kyle agrees.

Odelia nods warmly at Mihitu. "I'll do my best."

Mihitu nods shortly, and fades in to the shades.

Amaris says "Some how i dont feel like the traps were left torture animals."

Odelia watches the man disappear before her eyes, and sort of wishes she could learn that trick. Seems useful for embarrassing situations. Odelia turns to Amaris. "Mihitu will disarm what he can, and I'll try to find the ones he left or missed." … "Not that I'll find what he missed, but... yeah."

Lorelei says "Comforting." she sounds a bit worried

Odelia realized how lame she sounded, and blushes a bit.

Melissa giggles. "Chill, girl, there's nothing to blush about"

Amaris shrugs. "You never know."

Kyle says "Keep calm!"

Odelia calls for Paws to stay close and be careful, determined to keep everyone safe. Paws comes closer to her.

Amaris looks at Paws. "best not to wonder off now."

Paws snorts. Like he doesn't know that.

Amaris chuckles. "I wouldn't put it pass me if you did."

Odelia rubs her neck at Melissa's words. She's the only tracker - if she or Mihitu miss something, it could cost them. "Right, let's get on."

Lorelei says "True enough."

They go on and soon arrive at yet another crossroads of narrow forest paths. One goes up a hill, the other downwards. Paws yawns and sits on the ground, looking like he's sneering at them.

Amaris says "Another riddle?"

Paws eyes clearly say  "Speaks without tongue, hears without ears, knows all the languages in the world! Answers you quickly, but you'll never see him, and you'll never get to him. What is he?"

Odelia gives Paws a stern look. "Let me guess, you know, but won't tell us without making us answer a riddle?" "Ah Maker, I should have paid better attention to the riddles grandfather set me."

Lorelei says "Another riddle Ser Paws?"

Melissa says "By the Maker, or whoever, give us some tips dog!"

Paws closes his left eye five times. Could it be… the amount of letters in it?

Odelia says "Um… Echo?" "No...."

Paws barks

Odelia says "Yes?"

Kyle says "of course"

Paws counted wrong, just to harass them. Paws chooses the path uphill.

Odelia claps her hands like a child, excited to get one right, then blushes, and hurries after Paws, her head down, keen for any traps.

A small bird flies over them, startling them. Suddenly they hear a loud snapping sound! Amaris has his foot caught in a trap.

Amaris falls down and cries"DAMMMIT!" Kyle turns at Amaris  "Are you ok?"

Odelia hears Amaris cry out and curses herself for not seeing that trap. She rushes over to inspect it, apologizing profusely.

Lorelei is shocked and goes to Amaris. "Help me get the trap open."

Kyle tries to defuse the trap clumsily

A swarm of mosquitoes surrounds them. They draw their blood, and make that really annoying noise while doing so.

Amaris bits his lip making it bleed. "Just.....get the.....trap opened."

Odelia fights the temptation to swat at the mosquitos, positioning her hands to pry open the trap without further hurting Amaris or herself.

Melissa says "Uhhh! Stupid pseudo-wasps! Fly to someone, now!"

Lorelei tries to wave off the bugs. "Gods , theses things are persistent!"

Odelia bears her weight on the trap, attempting to pry it open enough for Amaris to get out of it.

Paws looks at Amaris and whines a bit

Odelia succeeds after a few futile attempts. The wound in Amaris's leg is nasty, but didn't do any severe damage. He'll limp a bit.

Amaris moves his leg out of the trap.

Odelia turns to Amaris. "Maker I am so sorry, I should have seen that. Are you okay?"

Amaris grinds his teeth. "I am fine"

Lorelei examines the leg. Kyle sighs and feels useless

Odelia shifts uncomfortably, berating herself and swatting at the annoying bugs, watching as Lorelei kneels to examine Amaris' leg.

Melissa says "Well, next time we all must look around." Paws nods.

Amaris says "I walked into this trap...dont feel bad about it was my mistake."

Lorelei says "Wait a moment." She places her hand on Amaris's leg and starts to softly whisper a green glow flowing around her. She hopes a healing chat can fix the wound.

Odelia looks at the others. "Maybe it might help if you all try to step where I step, because that would mean my path were clear. It might slow us down a bit, though."

Kyle says "as you command"

Odelia smiles, a bit taken aback by Kyle's words.

The healing works, and Paws looks eager to move on.

Amaris slowly gets up. "I am fine with what you choose."

Odelia looks at Amaris a moment, then nods at Paws. "Onward, then." Amaris follows limping a bit. It was healed but it still hurt.

<br><br>

They walk for awhile, guarding their every step. They dodge every trap they spot. Once they reach a small curve on the path, something hits Melissa in the head. It's a pinecone. "Hey!" a low voice whispers from up above.

Odelia half-raises her drawn bow, looking for the source of the pinecone and the whisper.

Lorelei looks up "What the...?" Kyle raises his blade. Melissa looks up. Amaris looks around.

Mihitu is sitting on a tree branch, looking for the path ahead. His expression is grim, as he leaps down from the pine, landing gracefully in front of them. Then, falling over. But lifting himself up again in a manly manner.

"There'th a campthide ahead… I couldn't thee anyone… But it might be a trap."

Melissa says "Hey! Nice targeting."

Odelia hides a snicker behind her hand and turns it into a cough

Mihitu frowns at Odelia. Odelia looks at Mihitu with an overly innocent look on her face

Amaris says "More traps?"

Mihitu snorts. "Me and Pawth will thircle around the camp and back you up. You go from the front.... Keep your guard up. Underthtood?"

Amaris nods. "Yep no more walking into traps for this one."

Lorelei says "walking straight into a trap? Lovely." she smirks

Odelia says  "Shhh, Kyle!" as Kyle shouts a loud "YEAH!"

Odelia nods at Mihitu, then turns to the rest of the group. "Mages in back, warriors up front and flank them. I'll try to climb up a few limbs of a tree and help flank ranged."

Kyle whispers  "oops, sorry"

Amaris says "Understood lets go."

The hunter grimaces at the loud noise and motions silence. The man and the hound move swiftly on separate directions, circling the campsite unnoticed. The path ahead of them is clear.

Odelia gestures for the warriors to lead the mages along the path, and takes for the underbrush, keeping up with them as best she can while remaining quiet, looking for a good vantage point to snipe if need be.

Lorelei takes her staff, ready for a trap and moves on. Kyle prepares for a battle and takes his shield. Amaris follows ready for a fight.

Odelia keeps an eye on the ground before the warriors for any traps, her attention spread thin now

They walk closer, and spot no troubles... Judged from a far the camp seems to be empty. They see a cold fire, some tree trunks around it and a pile of branches and rubbish, forming a shape on the ground.

Amaris looks the the pile of branches. Amaris sees It's about two meters long, and half a meter tall.

Kyle whispers  "there's something wrong… what's that?"

Melissa doesn't trust such places.

Odelia keeps an eye on her group and the ground ahead, looking for her vantage point and covering the warriors and mages with her bow, cautious of the shape on the ground.

Lorelei says "What's this now?" she tilts her head

The pile moves a bit. They can hear it snoring.

Lorelei says "O.k tell me you all saw that."

Amaris looks curiously. "It someone asleep there?"

Odelia half-draws an arrow in preparation, finding a low stump to perch on for better visibility.

Melissa says "What the…?" Melissa frowns and looks around still holding her daggers. Kyle looks around

Amaris shrugs and kicks the pile.

As they kick the branches off, they see a familiar face. The man is gagged, bound and apparently in deep slumber. He wears a dandy red cape, has scars on his tanned skin and… Yes. It's Hart.

Odelia winces as Amaris kicks the pile of snoring and wonders where the man learned tact.

Amaris says "Hart?"

Hart startles to waking, and struggles against his bonds with wide eyes

Kyle says "Errrr…"

Amaris unties Hart. "What happened?" He shakes Hart. "Wake up."

Odelia starts at seeing Hart in the clearing, then rushes forward to the group, sweeping the perimeter with her arrow drawn, on alert. "Maker, Hart, I would have thought you asleep back at the Inn."

Lorelei looks at Hart in shook but then grins "So he did tie you up afterall."

Melissa says "Okay. That's not exactly what I expected but hey, we can use this situation...! What? Okay, okay, nevermind."

Odelia snorts at Lorelei's comment and rolls her eyes at Melissa. "Not if you want Mihitu to rip you apart limb from limb." She smiles, remembering Mihitu and Hart at the inn.

Kyle shrugs  "more company is good"

Hart rubs his wrists and jaw, and opens his mouth to speak for a moment. But instead gains a nauseous look, and turning to wretch into the firepit

Hart gasps and gags for a minuet, "yes, well, I would've rather been asleep at the inn as well. But today does not seem to be my lucky day."

Odelia watches the perimeter, wondering where Mihitu and Paws are, and if they know about Hart. Everything about Hart, especially lately.

Amaris pats Hart on the back. "Why are you here?"

Lorelei smirks "I guess not. So what 'appened?"

Mihitu and Paws come closer, as they hear and see the group relaxing. "Hey… What'th goin on here?" the hunter frowns, confused, still tense and wary of his surroundings.

Hart winces at their voices, "Maker. Not so loud. Your voices feel like little knives against my ears." He whips his head to see Mihitu, "Mihitu! Ah, aren't you a sight for sore eyes."

Odelia steps back to show Mihitu that Hart was here, keeping an eye out for danger.

Mihitu says "Hart! Are you alright?" He runs to the man, amazed. "What… what are you doing here?"

Melissa says "This is getting more awkward in every second."

Lorelei says "Is seems your deer has been a little tied up." she smiles

Amaris shrugs and looks around the camp. Amaris finds 50 silver, 2 health poultices and three apples from the camp. Kyle remains silent.

Hart chortles, "Well, I thought I was meeting up with an old friend for some tea in the forest. But the bitch tried to poison me instead."

Odelia snorts at Lorelei, sharing a wicked grin with the woman. "Tea in the forest? Is that common?"

"You don't mean... my prey? What did thhe do to you…" Mihitu squints his one good eye and sniffs the man, to gain knowledge.

Hart raises an eyebrow, "Prey? No, just an old coworker. She isn't much for cities, but I heard she was in in the area and went to go take a visit."

Lorelei says "Yes 'art. What did she do?" said with growing interest

Odelia raises a brow at this development, but keeps her eyes on the perimeter for anything out of place, letting the others talk.

Amaris finds the stuff and pockets it planing on sharing the loot later. "Hart what was the last thing you remember?" Looks at the apples a bit suspiciously.

Hart folds his arms, "The bitch poisoned my tea, like I said. Isn't the first time she's done that, either. Just this time she did a remarkably shitty job of it. Used the wrong poison."

Mihitu looks annoyed and confused. What's the man doing here, on his hunt? "Moonthhine."

Lorelei says "If she's done it before why accept it again now?"

Odelia says "Wrong poison? Sounds like she does this often, a poisonmaster wouldn't mix up her poisons." "That's just lazy. Also - way to go taking tea with someone who likes to poison tea."

Paws licks Hart's hands.

Art by Pham Ngoc Trinh

Hart raises an eyebrow at Mihitu, "yeah, her name is Moonshine, why?" He scritches the ears of Paws. "Hey, don't judge me. The lady and I have had a long history together. She didn't try to kill me ALL the time, just some of the time."

"I agree," Mihitu nods at Odelia's words. He then shakes his head. "He'll tell the tale another time." The hunter spits on the ground as he turns to face the rest. "We're here to finith a job. We go on ath before, you follow my markth. Pawth thtayth with you…"

Odelia says "I imagine he will." Odelia nods at Mihitu, then jerks a thumb at Hart. "What about him."

He starts jogging towards the woods, annoyed, then he stops, turns back and smirks. "You'd better take that kitten with you. He'd jutht get lotht on hith own. Jutht make thhure he doethn't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Actually… don't let him do ANYTHING. The gold ith ourth," he laughs wickedly and disappears in the shadows. Paws snorts and stares at the group. He'd rather run with his master.

Hart sputters and coughs a bit, throwing up into the fire pit once more for good measure. "Eugh. Enough of that shit." He wobbles to his feet.

Odelia laughs and gestures to Hart to join them. "Care to take rear guard, Hart? I'm on point as tracker."

Hart looks around, "anyone see Anna?"

Melissa looks around. Listening team's talk.

Odelia's eyes widen at the mention of Anna. "She took Anna? Your one true love? That you haven't told Mihitu about? Maker, no!"

Amaris looks around. "Cant say I have."

Hart snarls under his breath, "oh that bitch. I'm gonna gut her myself." He rifles through the pile of sticks and leaves he'd been sitting in.

Odelia just barely manages to keep a straight face. Why was she having so much fun on this job? Jobs normally weren't fun.

Hart pulls out a dagger from his belt. It was too small, but it'd do for now. "Let's just get going."

Melissa smirks slightly. "Problems, problems everywhere"

Kyle grins  "Always"

Lorelei looks at Odelia and tries not to laugh with her. This job was indeed getting interesting.

Amaris tosses a sheathed shortsword at Hart. "here try this a bit more length."

Hart catches it from the air. "Still puny. You elves and your tiny swords." He shakes his head and spits on the ground, trying to get the taste of vomit out of his mouth.

Amaris says "Better than the dagger you have no?"

Lorelei starts to chuckle, she just couldn't help herself anymore.

Odelia says "Ah. Then in the middle, eh, Hart?" Motions for everyone to move on, again keeping an eye out for traps.

Paws leads the way, running to the woods, waiting for them to follow.

Hart nods to Odelia, then mutters to himself just what exactly he has planned for his "friend."

Odelia follows after Paws, watching for traps and tracks. Amaris follows. Kyle slowly walks after Paws, Melissa sighs and follows too. Lorelei follows the others, trying to remain on the task ahead

After awhile they arrive to a small river. There is no way over, and it's over three meters wide. However, they can see that a certain hunter has kindly left them a rope tied over it, from one tree to another. It will not be too hard to cross.

Amaris chuckles to himself wondering if Hart realized he was the one who kicked him and if he even realized he was kick..

Odelia looks at the rope, then at the water, then puts away her bow and arrow. "Well, only one way across here."

Hart chuckles, "So you all are hunting for Winterbollocks? Bout damn time someone did. I'm surprised the old hag lasted this long without getting herself killed. Well, I shouldn't say hag. She aged better than a fine wine."

Melissa says "Well, we shouldn't be afraid of being wet, should we?"

Kyle leans on the tree  "of course"

Odelia turns and smirks at Hart. "You speak highly of a woman who likes to poison you."

Paws leaps over the river easily. He then turns to look at them, with a canine grin.

Lorelei looks at the rope. "Let's get to it shall we?" Kyle agrees.

Amaris looks at the rope. "I say it will break."

Lorelei looks at Paws "Show off." she smiles.

Hart grins, "well, she's a very attractive lady, Odelia."

Odelia grabs onto the rope and swings her legs up to start hand-over-handing over the river. "Well, I have more rope in my pack if we need it."

Odelia looks back at Hart upside down. "And what about me? Aren't I attractive too? And I don't even try to poison you." She grins at him and continues over the river.

Hart eyes the rope suspiciously, "I'll go over last. I'm probably the heaviest of you lot, so if it's gonna break, it'll break on me."

Lorelei follows Odelia's lead and begins to cross

Amaris sighs. "I've already stepped into a trap falling in a river would be a welcomed alternative."

Odelia drops down on the other side just as Lorelei Renard gets on the rope.

Kyle tries to help. Melissa would rather go first as the lightest one, but having no other options she followed her teammates.

Lorelei says "Gods, this is a bad time to be wearing a dress" she mumbles reaching the end

Hart picks up a stone and tosses it absentmindedly into the river, trying to see how deep it is. The water is around waist-deep.

Odelia chuckles at Lorelei. "At least it's only me on this end."

Amaris wraps his arm around the rope trying to get a frim grip since he can only use on arm than swings across.

Hart shrugs, taking off his cape and boots, then walking into the water, holding them up above his head. Hart gets thoroughly soaked in the process. The water is freezing.

Odelia sees Hart check the depth of the water, and muses aloud. "I wonder why Mihitu left the rope bridge if the river wasn't very deep or fast-running?"

Hart reaches the over side, shivering like mad, "because it's fucking freezing, that's why."

Lorelei says "True." she smiles finally making it to the other side.

Kyle mumbles and needs something to wake him up

Hart says "But I figure, it's better to just walk into the cold water than crash into it from maker-knows-how-high in the air."

Odelia hums at Hart in agreement, but is happy to be entirely dry, just the same.

Hart puts his socks back on, grumbling. "well at least these stayed dry..."

Odelia says "Really? I thought they'd be soaked through with feet sweat. Ew."

Amaris stumbles as he lands on the other side.

Lorelei shakes her head at Hart. "Just 'ope you don't get sick."

Paws sneezes mockingly.

Hart grimaces, "it's a nice day outside and I'm hardly a delicate flower. Don't you sass me, mutt."

Kyle smiles at Paws. Odelia snickers at Paws

Melissa says "Uh, very well then." Melissa tries to get to another side. Melissa slips, but stays on the rope.

Hart wraps his cape tightly around himself. That'd managed to stay dry too, from him keeping it well above his head. Today hasn't been that great of a day.

Hart gets to his feet, eyeing Melissa, hoping he doesn't have to chase into the river to save her. Once was enough for today

Melissa slipped, but stayed on the rope, thank the maker or whoever. She finally got on another side mumbling something to herself.

Kyle look carefully at Melissa

Paws takes the time to relieve himself against a nearby tree. Halfmabari dominance is now active.

Lorelei sighs and waits for the others. "Is everything alright?'

Odelia says "Kyle, your turn on the rope. Come on!" He crosses.

Hart looks over himself, then back at Lorelei, "Well, my pants are rather soggy at the moment, but past that I'm smashing."

They have now all crossed the river and have two alternatives; follow the riverside north or south. Paws scoffs once again, and sits on the ground.

Odelia looks at the rope a bit sadly, wishing she could have brought it with her. "Ok, Paws, what's the riddle."

Paws eyes gleam  "I live from the beginning of the world to the end of the world, yet never see my fifth week. What am I?"

Hart gives Paws a look, "don't you even start with that riddle shit." Paws scoffs at hart.

Odelia turns to Hart. "Too late. He's been at it all day. Won't lead us unless we answer them."

Amaris says "I say we just play along. If just to amuse him."

Hart shakes his head, "You gotta be firm with the dog. Don't take his shit."

Odelia says "I'll just call it a learning experience." "Um... is it the cycle of the moon?" Kyle agrees.

Paws barks happily and chooses the North path.

Melissa looks at Paws and sigs. Hart grumbles and follows after paws.

Odelia says "Plus it seems faster than argue with him." She grins and follows after Paws, watching for tracks and traps

Melissa says "It's scary that this dog is smarter than some humans, really."

Amaris follows Paws, he was starting to enjoy these riddles.

Lorelei looks at Odelia and smiles "Hmm you're good at this."

Odelia shrugs, keeping her eye on their surroundings, but smiling. "Sometimes. Other times I get utterly stumped."

Hart scoffs, "I ask the sodding dog where Mihitu was, once. He lead me on a wild goose chase through half the forest before we finally walked back into the inn and there he sodding was..."

Amaris says "Well what else is he going to do to entertain himself?"

Odelia chortles at Hart's story. "Maybe Paws wanted to keep you to himself for a bit." Paws belches.

Lorelei says "I take that as a no." she smiles

Melissa says "…He even behaves like human!"

Odelia applauds Paws' belch absently, keeping alert on the path ahead.

Suddenly they hear an angry scream from their side! Three bandits attack them, shouting swears and curses, each wearing rugged armor and sharp swords. "Maker's hairy arse!" the ugliest one shouts.

Odelia is alert enough to dodge the first blow. "Kill the buggers!"

Amaris jumps back. Kyle swings his sword at the bandit. Kyle hits the bandit, but he still stands.

One bandit attacks Hart, roaring obscenities. Hart jumps to attention, unsheathing the small sword and attempting to duck out of the way of the bandit.

Odelia pulls her bow out, cursing for not having it drawn. She backpedals a bit for distance, taking aim at the slowest bandit and shooting at his leg.

Melissa tries to block attack with first dagger while stabbing one of the bandits.

Lorelei grabs her staff and concentrates a lightning strike at one of the bandits.

Kyle slams his sword into the bandit's chest

One bandit hits Melissa in the left arm, she gets a nasty wound. She manages to stab the bandit

Hart snarls, "first you bitches try to poison me now this? Where the hell is ANNA!" He lunges towards the nearest bandit, and swings the pitifully small sword.

Amaris focuses energy at one of the bandits trying over power their minds and stun them. Amaris succeeds. The bandit is stun.

Kyle manages to slay the bandit, who looks pretty annoyed by it. "Maker's pisssss...." he hisses. Kyle attacks again with his shield.

They overcome the second bandit.

Odelia draws another arrow, aims, and shoots at the bandit attacking Melissa.

Last one fights with Melissa and Hart. The bandit is pinned down for a moment, but rips himself free.

Hart drops the pitifully small sword, and instead just lunges his full weight at the bandit.

Lorelei throws a bolt trying not to hit Hart or Melissa

Melissa hisses "Shit!" and tries to do not move left arm a lot. Having no real choice she tries to stab absolutely pinned bandit.

"FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF" The bandit screams. Paws growls and bites the last bandit in the... behind part.

Amaris is about to cast a fir spell at the stunned bandit then thinks fire and forest bad idea.

Odelia says "Bugger." Odelia draws another arrow, attempting to aim, but cannot through the confusion of her comrades.

Kyle puls his sword out of the dead bandit

Hart grabs for the bandit's throat, pushing his weight against him to topple him over

The last bandit tries to run away from the mad people. Hart snarls, "Not so fast mother-fucker!"

Kyle shouts  "Hah! Coward"

Odelia aims at the bandit running away. The shot succeeds, and the bandit turns back, shouting "Ya limp sworded bastard!"

Hart charges towards the bandit, leaping to tackle him.

"Well kiss my arse and call me a demon!" he shouts, as he falls down under Hart.

Odelia rushes after Hart, another arrow nocked as she sweeps the area for more possible ambushes or traps

Melissa moves away from battle trying to steam bleeding. Amaris stands back letting everyone deal with the man. Kyle follows Hart, grimly.

Paws nods at Amaris. Good call.

Hart pins down the man, placing a hand on his throat and gaining an evil look. "Start talking, orI start squeezing.

Odelia lets Hart deal with the bandit and keeps an eye on the perimeter of their little group.

The man spits on Hart's face. Kyle punches him.

Amaris pats Paws. "All I can do at the moment would be to start a fire. Not the best idea now is it?" Paws nods again.

Hart grimaces at the spit, and gives the man's throat a warning squeeze. "STart. Talking."

Lorelei keeps her distance, but watches closely.

"Ghhhhhh....." the bandit wheezes. "The... what the... ff do you wanna know, bastards?"

Odelia motions Lorelei to attend to Melissa's wound while Hart works on the bandit.

Hart looses his grasp on the man's throat a bit, "that's a good start. Keep at it. Where is Winterbollocks? And Anna."

Amaris looks at the dead looking for clues as to who these men were. Amaris loots 30 silver, a knife, and an old shopping list.

Melissa whines. "Dammit, dammit, dammit!"

The ugly man looks confused. "Anna?"

Lorelei looks to Melissa. "Is it bad?" she asks

Odelia rolls her eyes at Hart, asking about Anna, but does it behind the man's back.

Kyle glares at the ugly man  "Spit it out."

Hart glares, "She's thin, about 5 feet tall and beautiful."

The men appear to be regular bandits. Nothing of interest. Amaris laughs. "A shopping list?"

Odelia snorts at Hart. "And what about Winterbollocks?"

Hart rolls his eyes, "so you're truly the only bandits this side of Thedas with no connection to winterbollocks? Lovely."

The man coughs. "I know where she is! I know!" "Just... let me go... I'll be good... I swear!"

Kyle smiles wickedly.

Melissa smiles. "I'll be alive, huh. But If you can do something with this, please, do this."

Hart gains a sinister grin, "tell us first."

"Promise me first" he squints his eye

Amaris read the list. "Hey ask him if he knows something about a Maria!"

Hart looks back at the group, "We got anything to leash this dog?"

"Maria? Errr... no idea..." he looks confused again.

Odelia pulls out a length of rope and hands it wordlessly to Hart.

Lorelei nods and places a hand over Melissa cut. "It should be better in a moment."

Kyle  evilly says "really?"

Hart takes the rope with a grin, "I hope you don't mind being tied up first."

Paws sniffs the man... and belches over him. Dirty bugger. The man frowns, but offers his hands. "I guess it's my best bet..."

Amaris walks up to everyone. "So whats the plan?"

Kyle glares and lowers his blade

Odelia slowly paces the area around her group, keeping watch and letting Hart do what he does.

Hart ties the rope around the bandits wrist. "Alright, you can live. For now. First sudden movement, though, and we hang you with this rope. Clear?"

The man looks bloody annoyed. But he likes living. So he nods.

Kyle says "make sure he does not escape, or he's dead."

Melissa looks at her arm. "Thank you." she says smiling at Lorelei

Hart takes a finger and lowers the collar of his shirt to show off the scars on his neck, "And I know an awful lot about nooses. So don't even test me." The mans eyes widen.

Odelia huffs a bit but doesn't complain aloud. It's their best bet, at the moment, though the bandit will hinder them if they come across more enemies.

Hart leans off the man a bit, standing up and forcing the bandit to his feet the rope.

"That way..." he mumbles, and points the path onwards with his ugly, moody head.

Odelia eyes Hart's neck scars, but says nothing. That is a story he will share on his own time, if he does. "Shall we move on?" Kyle agrees. "aye! Let's go"

Amaris says "Are you sure this guy wont lead us into a trap?"

Odelia looks to Paws. "What do you think, Paws?" Paws sighs. Where the heck is Mihitu?

Lorelei returns the smile and then turns to the others."Should we trust him?"

"We can get better friends, if you wish... to gain trust..." he grins at Lorelei, despite the situation.

Hart pulls the bandit in closer, retying the knots so his hands were inthe back, "start leading, dog. If he wants to lead us into a trap, he's walking into it first."

Kyle glares and watches over team

Odelia looks surprised that Paws isn't playing with them. "Paws? Do we continue on the path?" Paws nods.

Hart strikes the bandit with the back of his hand. "You weren't asked to speak." The bandit coughs and walks forward.

Melissa says "I like the way he thinks. Even if he's stupid bastard."

Odelia steps just behind Hart and the bandit but to the side, watching for traps.

Lorelei says "Ugh…why me?" she shakes her head

Amaris follows, not sure this is the best idea. Kyle snorts

Odelia looks back at Lorelei and smiles. "Because you're beautiful, honey. And that outfit doesn't help."

Paws looks at Lorelei, knowingly.

Hart smirks evilly, holding the leash tightly, wrapping it around one of his wrists. Today certainly was a walk down memory lane.

Odelia sees Paws knowing look to Lorelei and smirks to herself, watching for danger

Lorelei shrugs. "What? It's comfortable." she smiles then looks to Paws. "Oh don't you start."

Hart growls a bit, but turns his head briefly back to the party with a smirk, "You have to be firm with these types, I've learned. They don't respond to kindness."

Kyle nods and agrees with hart

Odelia smirks with Hart. "Hmmm. That is a lesson well learned." Blushes when she thinks about Terrion... ahem. Not the time. She shakes her head and concentrates on the task at hand.

Melissa looks around curious if there's something to take. Kyle is impatient, close to her.

Amaris looks at the bandit. "Do we search this guy to make sure he is not hiding anything?"

Hart pulls at the bandit's leash, "so were exactly are you taking us?"

"To the bitch herself..." he spits. The man leads you through a maze of paths and crossings. The forest grows darker by the minute. They sight no trouble.

<br><br>

They find themrselves standing over a hill. Underneath them spreads a small valley, fenced with wooden walls and covered with small tents with one larger in the middle. It appears to be the headquarters of the local bandits.

Odelia does not like how the forest is darkening, but refuses to let it get to her. Paws was with her, after all. She watches for danger as best she can.

Hart pulls at the leash again, "have you seen a man with white hair and scars?"

The bandit knows nothing of the sort, and he tells it kindly. "There she is. I done what I said. Now let me go." The man spits his words.

Odelia lowers onto her stomach and creeps to the top of the hill, eyeing the lay of the camp for the best tactical way in. "Get down or get back, we aren't exactly guests."

Melissa raises eyebrows. "Nice place. So... COSY."

Kyle mumbles  "too hot for me"

Amaris gets down trying to stay hidden. Paws lays down, too.

Lorelei cautiously looks down from the hill. "Huh. So do we 'ave a plan?"

Kyle waves to make some wind at him, his armor is heavier than normal

Odelia looks at the lay of the camp, trying to find weaknesses and also this Winterbollocks. "Hart, do you see her?"

Paws looks at Hart holding the bandit

Amaris says "Perhaps getting rid of the bandit would be best."

Hart unsheathes a dagger, stabbing int between the bandit's ribs while cover his mouth to stifle the cry, "not a problem."

"GAH!" The bandit's eyes widen

Kyle smirks  "Nice!"

Odelia watches Hart with a vaguely amused look. "Huh. So, do you see Winterbollocks down there?"

The man slumps against the rope, already dying. Hart lets the bandit drop, glaring over the area.

Amaris sighs and slits the man's throat to ease the pain he is in. "No need to be cruel." The bandit dies with a grim sigh.

Hart shakes his head, "Can't see anything specific. Too sodding far away."

Odelia looks for any tracks Mihitu might have left, but knows she's not good enough to see them - Mihitu is a far better hunter than she.

Paws approves of Odelia's actions.

Melissa 's thief sense forced her to check if bandit has something valuable. Melissa finds 2 silver and one carrot.

Odelia looks at Paws. "Is Mihitu down there, Paws? Do you know?"

Paws whines, shaking his head.

Hart chuckles, "we'd best find Mihitu before we storm the castle...he'd be disappointed to miss the action." He unties the rope from the bandit's wrist and hands it to Odelia. "We can us the bandit as a place marker."

Odelia says "No you don't know or no he's not there? 1 shake or 2?" Paws shakes once.

They look at the camp. They count 12 men and women, each in some sort of fighting gear, wondering in and out of the tents. Two of them are guarding the gate, but they seem to be deep in thought. Or, just plain drunk.

Odelia looks back at Hart, taking the rope, then frowns at Paws. It wasn't like the dog to not know where Mihitu was.

Hart runs a hand across Paw's head quickly, "Can you smell him at all, boy?"

Odelia says "Hart, Paws doesn't know where Mihitu is. How the hell are we to find him if he can't?"

Paws looks at them, like he's some wonder dog? What? Can YOU smell shit from so far?

Amaris pats Paws. "I bet you know where your master is at. You are smart like that."

Lorelei says "This looks like a problem."

Hart rolls his eyes, "I mean in the sodding area at all. Not "is he he in the camp.""

Kyle laughs a bit  "Believe"

Odelia sighs. "I'm sorry Paws. You're a good boy. Well, I think we need to make our way into the camp. What do you think Hart?"

Paws snarls a bit and stars walking towards the camp, keeping low.

Melissa says "Well, I suppose we must lure them out of there."

Amaris says "well lets just get things done. Sitting here will do nothing."

Kyle agrees  "sure"

Hart holds an arm up, "we're outnumbered. I don't have my sodding sword. If we charge in, we're all dead."

Odelia looks around. "I'll try to shoot the guards from up here, maybe pick off lone wanderers in secluded areas?" "Take out what I can before we go in."

Hart rubs his jaw, getting an idea, "If this is her camp, how about I go in alone? Seeing the dead walk would be enough of a distraction for her."

Amaris says "No not charge in we have to play this smart. We need to draw the guards away."

Kyle looks worried, but ready.

Odelia eyes Hart. "You sure? I'm not a fast enough shot to take two guards down without one at least shouting."

Lorelei says "I don't know "art"

Hart wraps his fingers on his breastplate. "I trust my armor. I'll bring Paws."

Odelia looks sideways at Lorelei, getting an idea for drawing the guards away from the gate.

Lorelei says "What?"

Amaris says "If she want to kill you its best not to go alone.....we could always tie you up and give you to her."

Odelia says "Lorelei.... care to take down some men for looking at you? And following?"

Melissa shakes her head "I can sneak and stab one if there's need, it's my specialty"

Kyle turn back at Melissa  "Are you sure?"

Hart says "Don't worry about the poisoning. She's kind of fond of me, really. Don't worry about me, just pick off the guards at the gate."

Melissa says "Yes, I am. I'll be fine, when we must be sure that there will be no screaming."

Lorelei crosses her arms at Odelia then sighs. "really?"

Kyle still worries about melissa  "but your wound…"

Odelia raises her hands in defense. "Sorry, just a thought." She grins at Lore. "Well, Melissa, you stealth one down and I'll shoot the other. Fair?"

Melissa says "Works for me."

Amaris says "Walk into the belly of the beast. Not the best idea Hart, not alone anyways."

Lorelei looks herself over "Gods maybe could cover up a bit." she mumbles to herself.

Melissa replies  "Don't worry Kyle, it's healed." Melissa smiles at him and looks for some good way to sneak to guard.

Odelia says "Hart, I think this is the best we'll be able to do. Once we get the guards out, I can pick off the loners."

Amaris looks around. "Hey where did Paws go?"

Melissa sees the way to the gate is wide open, field with low grass. Paws growls, he can hear commotion from within the camp

Hart stands up, kicking the bandit's corpse out of his way and begins to walk towards the camp, head held high.

Odelia watches as Melissa slowly, stealthily makes her way to one of the guards. Odelia aims for the other guard, having taken position in a relatively safe nook that afforded a clear view of the camp.

Amaris sighs. "You dont want to go in together because we are out numbered but you'll gladly face them alone."

As Hart walks closer, he can hear sounds of fighting… shouting… screaming…. Paws follows the man.

Kyle keeps silent and pulls out his blade carefully

Melissa shakes her head and moves down attentively, ready to stab one of the guardians.

Hart tenses, putting his hand near his dagger but keeps walking towards the camp.

Odelia whispers low to Amaris. "Get ready. I hear a commotion down there." Watches, waiting for the second before Melissa strikes to loose her arrow at the other guard.

Lorelei stays close to Odelia "If any get out of your sight I'll kindly zap them." she smiles, electricity forming in her hands

Amaris nods. "Okay."

The other guard dies, without so much as a sound.

Odelia nods at Lorelei without looking. "Get the ones that are alone and preferably out of sight of the main tent." Odelia shoots just as Melissa takes down the guard.

Someone shouts in the camp, "Catch the bloody knife ear!"

Amaris gets up. "looks like we were late for the party."

Odelia says "Blast. Could it be Mihitu? Look out for him!"

Hart takes the guards deaths as an opportunity to walk into the camp, tensing at the mention of "knife ear." Mihitu?! He quickened his pace, drawing the dagger and moving lower to the ground.

The other guard lies now dead, too. Not a smart move to be drunk on the gig, eh? Paws runs after Hart, growling lowly.

Melissa searches the guardian as any thief would do. She raises her eyebrows - is that Mihitu? Melissa finds 5silver, 2 copper and a sandwich

Kyle squeezes his blade and rushes towards the battle. Amaris heads towards the camp.

Odelia draws another arrow back and sights down it, looking for a new target that won't draw attention when he/she dies."

Hart holds his arm up at the party behind him, gesturing for them to stop, mouthing DON'T

Odelia watches Kyle rush forward and curses, covering him from behind in case he draws attention. Kyle stops and quickly hides

They can hear shouting again, then a delighted female voice saying  "Bring him to me, and tie him down."

Hart walks further into the camp, not to look phased by the battle around him, scanning for Mihitu and Winterbollocks. He paused, hearing a familiar voice and grimacing.

Melissa hisses and tries to sneak to the camp few steps after her team.

Amaris starting to worry and runs after Hart.

They arrive to the camp, sneaking, unnoticed.... they can see a clearing between the tents.

Hart turns his head again to look for his party, still mouthing "DON'T" as loudly as silence would let him.

Odelia finds a lone man drinking and aims for his jugular, straining to hear what is being said, and hisses for the others to stay still and wait, dammit. Odelia kills the man, silently.

Amaris stops and waits. Kyle is still waiting. Lorelei steadies her hand and concentrates, searching her surroundings.

Hart takes a deep breath, puts on a smirk, and walks into the clearing, hiding the dagger.

<br><br>

As Hart walks out, he can see that Mihitu is being held against the ground, hands tied back. He growls at the men pinning him down, like a fierce animal. Nine bandits and one dashing woman are gathered around him, near the largest tent.

Odelia draws another arrow, sighting to the clearing. Dammit, Mihitu. She nods for the others to move slowly and as quietly as possible to surround the clearing.

Hart puts on a falsely confident grin and walks further into the clearing between the tents. "Aaaah, Mookums. It's been so long."

The woman turns to look at them, surprised. They can see she's nearly 50, but still as beautiful as anyone ever was. Her dark red hair is tied to a knot over her head, and her pale skin is covered with ornamental tattoos. She's quite tall, and well dressed. She looks at Hart and lets out a wicked chuckle. "Now why am I not surprised? What MUST one do to get rid of you, dear Tummybear? I thought we said goodbye back at the camp, darling."

Odelia attempts to pick off the bandits outside the clearing as her group attempts to infiltrate and surround the bandits in the clearing.

Hart grins, "Ah, you can't kill me that easily, Mookums. I'm very resistant to death." He holds up a hand, to wave at Winterbollocks and to stop his party members. "So I see" she laughs.

"Tummybear?" Lorelei whispers.

Paws follows after Hart, growling ever louder. Hart eyes Mihitu on the ground, "I see you have a new toy?"

Melissa tries to sneak to the closest bandit and tries to break his neck

Odelia slowly lurks around the camp, finding a good vantage point where she can see Mihitu and Hart and her people can see her, on a wagon to the side.

Kyle slowly goes. Amaris waits for a signal from Hart. Lorelei stays close to the others but waits for the right moment to strike

Mihitu growls even harder and struggles against the bandits. The woman, apparently Moonshine, glares at him and motions one of his men to deliver a sharp kick in his ribs. The hunter coughs, as he fights against the pain. Paws barks, but knows better than to run to him.

Odelia knocks an arrow, waiting for some sign from Hart or Mihitu to attack. She aims a pinning shot at the woman, ready to loose when the signal comes.

Hart suppresses his gut reaction to rush to Mihitu's aid, and turns back to Moonshine, with open arms, "come now, you've tried to kill me so many times before, and we've gotten past it."

"You get past it, when I want you to pass" She smiles at Hart. The woman suddenly notices Odelia. "Who's your friend? You'd ALL better come down here, or the knife ear gets it."

Amaris stays still. Hoping she cant see all of them.

Odelia sighs and jumps down, hoping the others don't move as well. Kyle stays put.

Hart keeps up a facade, gesturing towards Odelia, "Oh, her? Don't worry. Just a friend." He places a hand on the small of her back.

Lorelei says "Shit." she whispers, watching Odelia step out

Odelia keeps her mouth shut, letting HArt handle the woman. He knows her better than she does.

The woman frowns. "Yes... as if Tummybear would march in with a DOG and one measly rogue?" "You were never THAT stupid, darling."

Hart laughs, "No no. The dog is her's. I'm not marking in on you, I'm coming to make up. See, I've gotten rather sick of Fereldan already."

Odelia whistles to Paws to come to her side, hoping the dog figures out the ruse. Paws does the deed, staring at Mihitu.

Moonshine grins and motions the men to kill Mihitu. "Just in time to see the show, then, aren't we?" "The little rat sneaked in to my tent and killed two of my men! Who were they, Frank?" she asks of the bandits.

Hart grimaces, but regains his smile quickly, "Now now, love. No need to be rash. Just another hunter. He can be valuable to us."

One of the bandits shouts  "Spike and Lil Joe!"

Melissa watches woman with anger. Uh, what a bitch.

Odelia fights a smirk at the names mentioned

Moonshine nods. "Yes, he killed my Spike and Little Joe. Someone has to pay for that. Come on, it'll be fun, darling." Her smile is evil.

Hart takes a step towards Moonshine, "Wouldn't he be all the more valuable to sell?"

Hart he holds out a hand, "If you really want to punish him, let him suffer forever and make a bit of coin."

Odelia maintains a blank, almost haughty look on her face for show, but inside she's screaming to herself for not talking with Terrion before coming on this job.

Moonshine comes closer to hart, with a knife in her hands, chuckling.... "Do you really take me for such a fool, darling?"  "Either you bring ALL of your friends down here, or you're ALL dead meat."

Odelia folds her arms, fingers touching hidden dagger hilts, but not drawing them. Yet.

Hart grimaces, eyeing the knife dangerously close to Mihitu, but making a signal for the rest to enter the clearing.

Amaris stands up and walks into view no point in hiding now. "You called?"

Odelia hopes only the warriors step out, with the mages still out of melee danger

Melissa hisses and walks out of the shadows. "Someone needs me?"

Moonshine smiles widely. "Guests! Welcome!"

Lorelei continues to wait, feeling helpless

Hart looks around, "You were always so paranoid, Mookums."

Amaris says "Yes quite the nice place you got here."

Melissa says "I'd say it's very cosy here!"

"Sit down and have a drink..." She motions them to join her in a toast. A table next to the tent is filled with wine.

Amaris looks around and grins. "So do you always do jobs like this? must say better than sitting at a tavern waiting to find someone's cat."

Kyle looks and can't believe his eyes

Hart smiles at Moonshine, "Ah, but wouldn't you rather we be alone? It's been awhile since the last time we met proper you know."

"Yes. Five hours, was it?"

Odelia still feels Hart's hand on the small of her back, waiting for his signal. She won't leave his side if she can help it.

Mihitu growls again, struggling. Moonshine turns to face the hunter. "So. Who is he?"

Amaris smiles. "Yes you are much more interesting than I thought."

Hart shakes his head, "no one. Just another Fereldan dog."

Melissa says "As far as I can see some elf. That's why you needed us there?"

She smiles, with a bloodthirsty look. "Lovely. Off with his head boys!"

Hart yells "No!" and lunges towards Moonshine.

The bandit pinning him down lifts Mihitu's head and... "Stop."

Lorelei fists clench in annoyance, tries to remain out of sight.

Amaris chuckles. "That is not fun nor torturer just kill him?"

Odelia is about to draw her daggers but doesn't, keeping them hidden

"My, my... it's getting interesting..." she grins and winks at Amaris.

Kyle takes his dagger and prepares to throw

"You want him back alive, Tummybear? We can play a game." Moonshine's face turns into a feverish grin. "And I know JUST the one."

Melissa cursed Moonshine in her thoughts and spit aside.

Hart scowls, "Fine, bitch. I'll play your sodding game. Just let the rest of them go."

Amaris sighs. "I always liked the idea of burning some one alive and you just want to chop off his head? Not very artistic."

The woman chuckles and sways her hips at Amaris. She motions one of the women towards her tent. The bandit goes inside and returns soon, carrying a tray of three silvery goblets. They are identical, with the same amount of deep red liquid in each. Moonshine stares at Melissa. "You, girl."

Odelia watches Moonshine, the bandit holding Mihitu, and the others, looking for weaknesses and openings, ready to strike at a signal from Hart.

Melissa raises her eyebrows. "Yes. Me. What?"

Hart growls, "leave them be, Winterbollocks."

Paws snarls, but holds still.. he won't take any risks.

Amaris says 'Ah poisons much more amusing."

"You, girl. Choose one. The killer-elf here will drink it. If he's lucky, I let him go. If not… well," she smiles, hungrily, offering the tray to Melissa.

Hart tries to get the desperation out of his face with limited success.

Odelia curses to herself, her face still a mask of haughty indifference. Do any of them know a lick about poisons? She resolves to begin remedying that as soon as they got out of this mess.

Amaris says "Let her choose the fate of him. I like the way you think." "But you cant start off with just killing him. You have to make him suffer then kill him."

"If you're not willing to play, you can all die here and now..." The bandits point their weapons at them.

Hart glares at Amaris. Not. Helping.

"Oh, I know my poisons, boy..." She smiles at Amaris.

Melissa shakes her head and snorts. "Anyone ever told you that you're bitch? I wouldn't be surprised. Nevermind, I choose this one." Rivaini points at third goblet.

Amaris chuckles. "not as much as you would think you did not kill Hart. Perhaps poisons is not the best way to go?"

"Very well, girl. I thank you." She offers the goblet to a bandit, who takes it to Mihitu. They lift him up, so he can drink it. "Perhaps I wish to keep my toys alive..."

Amaris says "unless you have someone who knows what they are doing."

Odelia watches the scene unfold, breath held. Lorelei curses to herself, but can only watch for now. Kyle curses impatiently.

Hart glares at Amaris, mouthing the words 'shut the fuck up'.

Melissa moves back watching whole scene.

Mihitu stares at the goblet, sniffing the bitter scent. He closes his eye, and laughs quietly. What a day... He then turns to them, smiling wryly. "I'm game. But if I won't wake up, the kidth can have my thhare of the gold…" He looks at Odelia. "Terrion can take care of Pawth." He then stares Hart for awhile, before sighing. "You can keep all the retht… Deer."

Hart watches Mihitu with wide, sad eyes.

Odelia grimaces at the mention of Terrion, but nods, her veneer of indifference cracking slightly

Mihitu nods at the man holding the goblet, and drinks the red contents.

Amaris says "Poisons, torture, killing as you choose. What a nice life you have I envy you."

Moonshine just smiles.

Odelia shoots a nasty glare at Amaris. It isn't helping.

Almost immediately the hunter starts coughing, violently. The men around laugh, as he squirms in the ground, in agony. Paws barks and growls like mad. After a short moment Mihitu finally falls silent, motionless.

Hart closes his eyes, choking slightly on his own spit. This was a bad idea from the start, getting attached...He whispers, "maker...no."

"Too bad." Moonshine smirks.

Odelia feels a tear drop for Hart and Mihitu. It wasn't fair. She vowed to make it up to Terrion if she got back, for them.

"Oh, I DO have the antidote, right here…" She picks a small, clear vial from between her breasts.

Lorelei starts to feel sick, but then a rage begins to build within her. "How long must I sit here?" she mumbles to herself.

Hart hangs his head, "...what do you want, Moonshine?"

Amaris chuckles. "A woman who likes to get even fantastic."

Odelia 7eels anger take over her sadness, and her hands form fists over her hidden dagger hilts. Kyle growls

Hart says "You've obviously won. Just...just tell me what you want."

"But I think… a life for a life? You get the hunter, and I walk scott free. I know they're after me. If we fight, we just all end up dead," she nods at the nine bandits behind her.

Hart says "Deal." The words leave his mouth before his mind has a chance to think about them. "But--you have to give him the antidote first."

Odelia lowers her head and whispers below her breath. "Do it."

Moonshine smiles "I knew you weren't such a bad boy, Tummybear..."

Hart scowls, "You've had your fun, bitch. Just give him the antidote."

Odelia curses under her breath but waits for Hart to make the first move.

"Nnnnnnno…….antd……jutht…….grab…th…..bithh….nnng…" Mihitu mutters, unable to move. He's apparently still conscious, almost. Moonshine tuts. Paws barks happily!

Amaris says "Still alive? You are not a good with poisons as you think."

Kyle just hopes amaris shuts up. Odelia growls under her breath, wishing Amaris would shut up.

Moonshine frowns. Her poisons are usually top notch. Legendary, even. "The deal is STILL on. He won't survive the night," she shouts, frustrated. Damn knife-ear!

Hart opens his eyes, looking at Mihitu and gaining a slight, hopeful smile.

Melissa disbeliefes. That damned elf was alive! She wasn't sure if she is happy or angry, but she knew one thing - she went to Amaris and slapped him in the face. "Shut up you son of a bitch, or you'll land there too!" She hissed and went back on her place.

Hart takes a step forwards towards Moonshine, shifting slightly and then jumping to tackle the woman.  "Deals off!" Hart manages to top her, and she kicks him fiercely.

Odelia isn't sure it was the time for Melissa to slap Amaris, but likes it. Kyle approves of it too.

Amaris stumbles back and chuckles. "Well now that was not very nice."

Odelia lunges at the man holding Mihitu as soon as HArtDarzi moves. She draws her daggers mid-lunge and aims for his kidney and his neck.

Paws attacks two bandits in the side, biting them all around.

Kyle throws his dagger at the bandit. Kyle's dagger hits the bandit woman's throat, and she falls dead. Kyle take his blade and jumps in.

One bandit lands a hit on Amaris, making his head spin. Amaris falls back and grumbles. This is what i was trying to avoid.

Hart grabs at Moonshine's neck with both hands, pushing his entire weight into the woman's body

Lorelei comes out of hiding and launches a lighting strike. Lorelei's attack hits three bandits, who are hurt, but still alive.

Kyle hacks and slashes the bandit nearby. "Watch out!

Melissa holds her daggers and try to stab some bandit in a kidney. Melissa succeeds, but someone trips her afterwards.

Odelia manages to beat two men holding Mihitu. A bandit hits Hart in the back, trying to free Moonshine. Moonshine squeezes... "ghhhhhhhh"

Kyle bash at the bandit and removes the dagger. One bandit stabs Kyle in the leg, making him stagger. The wound is quite severe.

Odelia dodges a sword, barely, and aims a dagger at the mans unprotected underarm (pierced heart attempt, GM)

Hart groans at the impact, but refuses to let go of Moonshine, "You messed with the wrong man, bitch."

Lorelei changes to her spider form and jumps on a bandit trying to tear at him

Amaris growls. "Enough." He stands up and cast a fire blast at the nearest bandit.

Kyle growls at the wound and turns back at the bandit. "I will cut you damn throat!"

Odelia manages to make the kill, but someone pushes her to the ground right after. Paws rips one bandit's throat open.

Melissa tries to get up and stab bandit attacking Hart. Melissa succeeds in the stab.

Odelia lands on the ground with an oof and kicks out at a passing bandit. Odelia fails, and they both roll on the ground.

Hart leans in harder on the woman, tightening his grip, trying to get her to at least pass out.

"Stoooooop" Moonshine wheezes

Hart snarls, "What was that, bitch? Stop, eh?"

"Ghh... You can have him... Ghhh....you can..."

Odelia rolls with the bandit, trying to get the upper hand and attempts to cut the bandit's throat. Odelia manages to hurt the bandit badly, he staggers back, landing on a tent.

Kyle pants and spits on the ground.

Hart looses his grip a bit, but still keeps his hand on her throat, "call off your guards and THEN we'll talk."

"m....MEN!" she waves her hands

Melissa fights the closest bandit. "What are you doing? You want to save her after all this shit?!"

Odelia finds herself out of the main melee and sheaths her daggers, pulling out her bow and drawing an arrow

Lorelei returns to human form and sees to Kyle.

The remaining few bandits still up, lower their weapons and stand back from the enemies.

Hart turns his head to his allies, "kill them." Kyle smirks wickedly.

Odelia rushes to Mihitu's side, Paws already there and standing guard. Odelia sees that Mihitu has lost consciousness, but he's breathing. Paws licks his masters cheek, whining.

Amaris growls frustrated and walks over to Mihitu. "Dammmit I am sorry."

"Bounty.....aa...ahliveh..." She coughs.

Hart grins evilly, "The bounty is only for you, Mookums."

Odelia nods once to HartDArzi and turns on the closest bandit, shooting at him in the eye.

Hart roars, "WHERE IS THE ANTIDOTE?!"

Melissa runs and tries to help Kyle with bandit. Kyle shouts  "I can deal with it!"

The last few bandits fight back, but aren't much of an enemy now... after a short battle they kill them all.

Odelia hears HartDArzi and scrambles in the dirt, dropping her bow and arrow to palm the ground for the antidote

Amaris says "I doubt she even has the antidote."

Odelia says "It has to be around here, Winterbollocks was the last to have it."

Moonshine points weakly at the vial, now lying on the ground.

Odelia says "Hold on, Mihitu!"

Kyle says "come on, mihitu"

Odelia grabs the vial with shaking hands and rushes to Mihitu's side, pulling him up to drink.

Hart looses his grip on Moonshine's neck, but not letting go, keeping his weight firmly pressed on to her.

Melissa moves to whole situation's place and pats Paws watching. Paws licks melissa's hand.

Amaris says "If he's unconscious you need to give it to him by mouth." "He cant drink it."

Odelia struggles for a moment with the stopper but gets it out and pours the liquid down Mihitu's throat, angling his head to swallow it.

Mihitu is forced to swallow the antidote, almost choking him, but he won't wake up.

Kyle says "not good"

Odelia ignores Amaris as she works, shaking Mihitu slightly, hoping it'll work. "Come on, Mihitu!"

Hart glares back at Moonshine, "it's not sodding working." "If he dies I swear to you, this will be the last breath you take."

"Idiot! It will take some time... Happy now? Would you get OFF ME?" she swears.

Amaris sighs. "Tell us how to help him woman or i will burn you alive."

Hart glares, "Not until he wakes up, bitch."

"Then you're going to wait the whole night!"

Lorelei looms over Moonshine lightning in her hands "He better make it or you won't"

Hart snarls, "I. can. wait."

Hart he turns his head to the rest of his companions. "Back off. This one is mine."

Mihitu mutters weakly.... "am.....no........elff......"

Amaris grins "Then I'll just burn bit by bit until he wakes up how does that sound?"

Odelia laughs in relief. "Did you hear him? He's awake, Hart!

"That elf is not normal," Moonshine looks at Mihitu in horror.

Hart grins, "sodding right he's not normal."

"No.....el...ff......." Mihitu is sleeping now, sickly, but alive

Odelia begins sniffing as she pulls out rope for HArtDarzi to tie up Winterbollocks.

Amaris walks up to Moonshine and grabs her arm. "Want to start with the arm?"

Odelia says "Tie her up quick and hard, so you can be with." She wipes some tears and maybe also some sobbing snot with her sleeve.

Kyle looks at mihitu and is happy to see him alive "aye"

Lorelei says "We can still kill her right?" She asks a little to hopeful for an answer

 "No bounty for the dead meat!" She hisses. "I'm worth a LOT, kid."

Hart scowls, "I have a better idea. Get me another rope, Odelia."

Amaris says "But damage goods is still available."

Lorelei sighs "FIne." she rolls her eyes

Odelia scrambles around and finds some rope on the wagon, bringing it to Hart, still sniffling.

Hart ties Moonshine's arms behind her back, but then takes the second rope and ties it in a noose, putting it around Moonshine's neck and pulling it close. "We're going to lead her into town by this. First attempt to get away, she's strangled."

Melissa looks around - again - and searches bodies. Melissa finds 97 silver from the bandits, a bow, 5 arrows and one lyrium potion.

Moonshine spits, but obeys. She loves her sleek, pale neck. Paws stands by the hunter, guarding his sleep.

Lorelei goes to Odelia. She places an arm around her and gently squeezes. "Hey, it's alright now..for the most part. O.k?"

Odelia nods in approval, barely able to look at the woman. Though she wants to take a look at those potions. SHe turns to Lorelei and nods with a sniff. "Yeah. It's over."

Hart jerks the rope a bit, to let Moonshine get an idea of just how rough the rope was. "Don't test me."

Kyle sighs with relief. Amaris kicks a rock. Dammit for not keeping his mouth shut......

Hart looks up at the party, "Someone take the rope."

Odelia stares at Hart for a moment, then gives him a brief, fierce hug around the waist - not jostling the rope in his hands - before taking the rope from him. Moonshine glares at Odelia.

Amaris says "Dammit for even trying to help he should had just stayed back and watched."

Odelia motions to Lorelei to see if she can heal Kyle

Hart pats Winterbollocks down quickly for any stored weapons. Hart finds 4 daggers, 2 poison vials, a needle, a small set of darts and a chain

Melissa looks at her new bow. "Woah. Seems that i found new additional weapon." Tiny rivaini grinned and tightens bowstring just to check. "Awesome!"

Kyle staggers and  before he leaves says "I feel sick and will return to the inn…"

Amaris walks on head not really caring that he may get lost. "Please lets leave this place."

Odelia glares back before punching Moonshine in the face without a word.

Moonshine almost falls to the ground, but manages to stay on her feet... "Bitch...." Melissa says "Says who."

Hart pockets them for later, but moves over quickly to Mihitu, gingerly placing a hand on his face.

Lorelei looks over Kyle , but feels to weak to heal him

Odelia looks appreciatively at the array of goodies on Moonshine, particularly at the poisons. She doesn't look at Moonshine but says, "Indeed."

Melissa laughs and puts on her new bow. "Bitches, bitches everywhere. This world is soooo full of love!"

Hart carefully pulls Mihitu up into his arms, and begins to scan the camp for his sword. Anna is set near the largest tent, lying on the ground.

Lorelei says "You ar' an... interesting person." She smiles to Melissa

Odelia says "Hey Melissa, grab Anna the sword?" She points towards the tent where Hart is headed.

Hart smiles and rushes over to it, fast as he can without bumping Mihitu around too much, and picks it up, putting Anna in her sheath.

Melissa grins at Lorelei. "I always wondered why people keep telling me this. Sword? Ah, yes, sure, but I see that Hart is quite well." Rivaini laughs.

Paws follows Hart, never leaving the hunter's side. Moonshine looks mighty annoyed. "Let's get this over and done with, then...." she spits.

Melissa says "Is it just me or you want to kick her too?"

Odelia pushes Moonshine along, a dagger to the woman's side for good measure, and always vigilant for traps and danger.

Lorelei says "Well, pride an joy recovered, reason to live saved, bad guy getting taken in. I say job well done" she faintly smiles

Hart smiles a bit, "Aye. Let's turn this bitch in." "Make one last sweep of the camp." He finds one green silk scarf.

Melissa smiles and follows rest of the team. Odelia smiles softly at Lorelei, then looks back at Mihitu in Hart's arms.

Mihitu looks very manly, despite the situation.

Having delivered the prisoner alive they receive 4 sovereign from Captain Harris. After a few days they hear a rumor saying the poisonous thief known as Moonshine has once again escaped from the clutches of the Denerim Guard.