#( the true question is can a ranger out wit an elf ? & could a ranger catch an elf ? )

[laikehend]

OF HIGH IMPORTANCE: we now need legolas chasing aragorn with soap & a comb.

↢  memeless  ↣  @memorystxrsstatus┆always accepting !

IN REFERENCE TO MY TAGS HERE 

( i honestly hadn’t given much thought to anyone reading my tags , but you know that scenario has to have happened before. give us all the rugged , road weary ranger , but legolas is all for chasing him down with soap for a bath then a comb to brush out his those raggedy locks. even braid the strands back & make his hair nice enough to rival arwen’s own haha ! but watch aragorn muss up legolas hair sometime , dirt or mud to brown his blond hair , maybe tangle it a bit xD boys would be a mess , opposites of their norm & both grumpy as heck )

[nevofthewilds]

Session 16: The Coils Tighten

With bonfires still smoldering from the night before, the Mudwangs rolled out of their tents to prepare for their next adventure. The group finds itself in generally good spirits, and as gothi Temloc arrives he catches the Mudwang deep in discussion regarding the various states of turgidity a male can achieve.The half-elf counts to ten in his head, and then announces himself to the group, who quickly finis their morning meals and follow him to his personal quarters.

Inside, they find two of their new companions already waiting. A paired team from the arena, Naliq and Srokka are similarly garbed with furs, leather, and pointy things. The still-boisterous Taerus attempts to break the ice with some japes, but fails to illicit a response. Instead, the silence is broken by the general grumbling and oaths of pain from Ser Caeldwyn. Stumbling into the tent after the Mudwangs, the well-armored knight falls into a chair, loudly demanding for the briefing to begin. Taerus gave a brief toot of his Silent Alarm horn to help the knight wake up.

The ruckus raised by ensuing yelling and finger pointing roused the final member of the party from his drunken slumber under the meeting table. Kazrik Boom-Axe, loud of voice and devoid of clothes, angrily joined the growing fray before a peeved Temloc brings everyone to heel. Settling the various parties down, the cleric takes the opportunity to have everyone introduce themselves, as well as any skills that could be relevant for a recon mission.

Vax starts by delivering a “savage” list of his various spells and talents, followed by Taerus and Rucker. As the rest of the room reveals some of their various skillsets, from message to darkness to savagery to torture, it becomes clear there is a divide in the room on preferred methods of approach and combat. Temloc keeps order by reminding them that he is in charge, and that Hallehaig himself ordered them to keep attention to a minimum.

Temloc lays out a crude map and lays out his plan of action: they are to locate and gain entry to a Kjollden advanced scouting post along a southern river, expected to house 8-10 soldiers. A handful of Kjollden rangers had been captured, with some intelligence giving them insight into their base of operations. The plan was for a small group consisting of Temloc, Taerus, and Ser Caeldwyn to gain entry by posing as harried travelers. The rest of the group would remain outside to provide support or cover should backup be needed, as tensions would likely be high amongst the Kjollden. 

Naliq, who’d been all but silent up to that point, questioned why a room of hand-selected warriors were to waste time and talent by skirting through the Kjollden defenses. Kazrik agrees, as it seemed clear to all that the Rattlesnake’s message was not one of peace. The half-elf commander invokes Hallehaig’s own words to him on the need for subterfuge, as it was not yet time to show their true force. When Temloc mentions the importance of accomplishing this mission prior to the upcoming Festival of the Fall Equinox, Taerus interjects that he’d heard rumors the Wild Wevir intended to start a grand offensive at this time. Temloc is surprised that this information has leaked to the public, thought Taerus does not reveal how he came across this information from Marshall Trest himself. Before Temloc can press the issue further, a bellowing of horns and announcements is heard from outside.

The team moves outside to find most of the camp assembled at the base of the commander’s bluff, where Hallehaig himself is standing. The group recognizes the giggling man from the night before, and realize the Rattlesnake had been hiding in front of them the night before. They then witness first the oratory talents of the man they’d heard described as “intense,” “charismatic,” and “intoxicating.” His speech builds in intensity as he lays out his intent to avenge the crimes the Wevir have endured. Hallehaig then pivots and introduces Temloc and the group as emissaries of peace, who would meet with the Kjollden military commander to sue for an end to hostilities. Both Temloc and the Mudwangs feel a tightening in their stomachs as this new information sinks in. 

As the crowd cheers for their leader and his promise of righteous justice, Taerus quickly corners Temloc and accuses the half-elf of lying through his teeth. The gothi, himself somewhat shocked at the content of Hallehaig’s speech, composes himself and suggests they speak further in private and out of the eyes of the camp. The Mudwangs and Temloc head inside, while a distracted Rucker takes a moment to himself and begins to explore the camp, feeling drawn by something.

Inside the tent, Shakan and Taerus briefly discuss how much they should reveal to one of Hallehaig’s top lieutenants, honorary though he may seem. Shakan, perhaps the most diplomatic of the tribe, approaches Temloc with an offer of forthcomingness: He reveals that the group had orginally come here with an agenda of their own, one concerned with peace for all and not with genocide. Temloc himself agrees with this sentiment, and promises to try and keep them abreast of developments, admitting that he himself may only have a certain amount of insight into the Rattlesnake’s plans. Coming to at least a partial understanding, they break and move to finish their errands before departing.

As he finished packing his few belongings, Shakan is approached by the enigmatic halfling from the celebration. Understanding his direct questions would likely be danced around, Shakan instead broaches the topic of destiny, and how best to interpret it’s nature and pulls. Eliev the Lesser reveals that their new companion Temloc is a student of Bozhoba, god of fate, and is on a similar journey of discovery. He then cryptically mentions how he can see what Shakan’s tutor, Master Gikandi, sees in him. The impish magician then pulls from deep within his bag a pair of gauntlets designed to protect the sorcerer. Shakan thanked him deeply, and both agreed to continue their discussions in the future, presuming of course neither of them expired in the coming conflicts.

After providing a short list of required items for the upcoming mission to some attendants, Temloc made his way to the commander’s tents. Stopped by Gnaktuk in his protestations, the half-elf is curtly told to follow the orders given to him and ignore the speech given for the masses. Temloc resists pushing harder and leaves without resolution. Leaving the bluff, he spies Reinchen preparing a caravan of meat, offal, and leftovers into the mountains. Reinchen did not see the cleric, as he was clad in armor and antlered helm with his odorous cloak pulled high.

Rucker’s walk through the camp, while slowed by cheers and adoration from fans, leads him to a meditation circle, led by a Wevir shaman, or booghelg. Sensing the power and wisdom from the woman draped in string and horns, the goliath bore his soul to her. She listens, and kindly invites him to her private tent. Inside, she sees into Rucker’s face and soul, which allows her to lead him on a dramatic spirit quest. Booghelg Ahnyyee blesses the grateful goliath, imparting a gift and a warning of the evil he is somehow bound to.

As the moved warrior returns to his camp, Rucker finds Taerus, Shakan, and Vax commiserating with the Ikkidor tribesmen they’d grown so close with. After a week together, they had grown quite fond of the Mudwangs, and gave them several gifts and tokens as signs of friendship between their tribes. Their leader, Kijiwan, usually focused and direct, could not help but give heartfelt goodbyes to each of them. Taerus offered his own promise to come back, as he’d promised to aid her peoples in their plight with the Frost Giants. Kissing his cheek, she promised to hold him to it. 

Gusten, sensing they were departing without him, handed them each a bag packed with food and supplies. Taerus told the youth of his great admiration for his bravery, and how he considered him to be like a brother. The young lad, who had endured so much in the past week, hugged the knight. As Gusten pulled away, Kijiwan led her tribe in a great yipping of respect and good luck for the Mudwangs on their mission.

They traveled to the southern edge of the camp, where Temloc awaited with supplies and two horses. Joined by Kazrik, Ser Caedlwyn, Naliq, and Srokka, the ragtag band began their short journey to the south. As they marched in a lightly swirling flurry, each silently considered the implications of agreeing to work with the Rattlesnake, and wondered whether in traveling away from the Nest they weren’t actually approaching the fangs.