Camp Bon Fire Rumors and Stories
-
_Romany and Gali alike gossip of four walking trees that stalked north and east through the Camp just before the burning began, escorted by Will, Raver, Mecizq, and a female elf in black.
Some whisper that there were originally five, but one succumbed to disease and madness…_
-
*Smoke and flames rise from the western spider pass, as the woods and everything in them burn with a terrible heat. When the flames burn out, the entire area from the wall and gate going south into the spider pass, south to just beyond the cat cave is burned to ash. Nothing remains of the animals, trees, or vegetation but a fine gray ash over scorched black earth.
A charred rope marks the southern extent of the burning, which ends suddenly, giving way to normal vegetation.*
-
_After a talk with Mecizq and Kara inside Jonni's tent, Aelthas is seen packing for a trip.. he gathers his men and tells them that Mira is now in charge, he isn't sure when he will be back, just telling them he needs to leave for a bit, to guarantee the safety of the camp.
With that he walks off to find Lycka and Raver before heading north to the city._
-
Even though Lycka was recently spotted at the heart fires kicking Aelthas in first one and then the other shin, quite forcefully too, a quiet talk between the two seems to have successfully smoothed out whatever burr caused such a cruel treatment. The young woman continues to spend her evenings at Ael's fire, regardless of whether he is there or not, sometimes falling asleep inside the tent with her arms around the scruffy, smelly dog. With the recent outburst of mysterious disease in the forest, Lycka also appears to keep a watchful eye out for the dog, even to the point of spoiling it with fresh water and meat taken from inside the camp proper.
-
_For several days now, it seems like the dogs of the camp are gathering near the spider pass, howling out into the pass, their tails between their legs as if there is something out in the spider pass they don't like.
A few small animals have appeared in the pass, sometimes even a stray one wandering into camp, their fur or feathers almost completely gone, skin blackened as if diseased, parts of their bodies literally rotting away.
Small black spots of grass are seen throughout the pass, where the grass has withered away. Even healthy appearing animals avoid those spots, even running into the camp to meet the arrows of the Warriors.
Patrols have been sent out, but except for a few rotted trees, or the pile of black mush that remains of diseased animals, there seems to be no sign of what may be causing it.
Whatever is doing this, it sure has all the animals of the forest spooked, even the trees seem to stand still in the wind, as if afraid to make a rustling sound._
-
_Whispers circulate around the Camp of dead trees, foul spiders, and dead and rotting animals in the southern spider pass.
A large circle of blight is said to surround a large, seemingly healthy tree…_
-
_Over the past couple of weeks, William and Z have brought a number of bodies, and sacks with contents that turned out to be human heads, to Jeni.
Word is they were found in the Cold Caves, and there are whispers of sacrifices and portals…_
-
In more unimportant news, Ael seems to have kicked Asha from the Gypsy Warriors. Asha herself seems unbothered, almost even as if a weight was lifted from her shoulders.
-
Sam is seen walking swiftly through the camp smoothing his mustache down as he goes straight back to his cave. Moments later his waitress is seen gathering as much help as she can and soon wagons are being loaded with wine barrels, all with different labels marked on them, and each personally overlooked by Sam himself, making sure that each is properly stored, sorted, and safely secured. A small detachment of the Camp's Guard have been asked to be ready to help the caravan pass out to the road when Sam is ready. Over an over he is heard to mutter.
You can't just have one bottle of Frost Wine for something that big.
Rumors spread that Selene had much to do with Sam's agitation and sudden packing.
-
That following night while everyone retires to the fires, Kara joins them and then speaks up after a few moments of quiet thought. With the flickers of the fire, the bruises she gained two nights previous are still quite clear, although they've lost some of their swelling. After a few moments, she gathers the attention of whoever will listen and speaks.
I would like to thank everyone who came to the rescue of our little group….without the timely intervention of everyone that did show up, a journey that turned out badly may well have gone worse.
I believe I speak for all of us that were a part of that group when I say thank you for your aid.
With that said, she returns to her seat by the fire for a few hours.
-
_After a night of rest by Aelthas's tent and then bathing in privacy in one of the forest's shaded little alcoves, the red headed knight has once again returned to keeping guard dutifully over the camp entrance, although the telltale signs of battle still dog her in the form of deep bruises.
Throughout the day, she engages hobgoblins when they stray too close to the hills, however for the most part, she remains in contemplative silence as she appears to be considering the last few days._
-
_Driders in the pass! That is what was heard throughout the camp one night, apparently Aelthas and Kara defeating a few of them, later heading into the woods to find the rest.
Then word begins to spread of drow.. the next day, Kara was seen entering camp. Aelthas and Juster's bodies being brought to Cera's tree. Several burns and slashes covering them.
Aelthas hasn't been seen in camp for a few days now, his men report he is at the Sisterhood if anyone asks for him._
-
_Lycka can be overheard repeating the tale in a sing-song manner, the spider growing larger with each retelling and her gestures ever wider and more dramatic. The story ends in a spectacular manner, Lycka thrusting a branch into the ground with full force, simulating Asha's final spearing of the monsterous spider.
Ragnhild appears mightily proud of her daughters latest exploits, and Asha's use of the spears in particular brings a wide grin to her face. She'll often spar playfully with her youngest, showing her a few of the tricks she's picked up over the years.
Whether due to this current mood of good-will or for some other reason, the blonde warrioress makes no move to stop Lycka from spending her nights in Aelthas' tent, just as long as he remains outside it. One cold, early morning before the first grey light of dawn creeps across the sky, the commander even wakes to find himself covered by a warm polar bear fur._
-
Around the fire a story is told of the Daring Gypsy Girls and their exploits in the spider woods. Asha claims that she went with Rhistin and Lycka into the deep woods, apparently looking for ways to try out a new set of spears. They were swarmed by legions of spiders, or so the story goes, and when they did return Rhistin and the otherwise healthy if plump Asha looked deathly pale and barely alive. They claim they met like a giant spider deep in the woods, that tossed a web over them and froze Rhistin in place. It almost killed Asha with poison and could only be cut down by the combined effort of Lycka and the other two young women. In the end, the dashing trio overcame even that horrifying threat and returned victorious to the warming fires.
-
_Aelthas seems to be tired of late, maybe due to the undead attacks and the extra time he spends outside in the pass with Kara waiting for them, or the even later patrols into the night he has been taking his men on.
Of course it could also have something to do with the fact that Lycka seems to fall asleep inside his tent most nights, studying her books and Aelthas sleeps just outside his tent on the cold, wet ground, after he covers her up with a blanket.
No matter the reason, he is rarely seen in the camp itself until late at night near his tent sleeping, even getting up well before sunrise and heading into the pass again_
-
*Rumor has it that a motley group of young bloods seems to be always surrounding a man in black leathers. The reason why the man in black leathers seems to always be surrounded by the young bloods remains a mystery. Whether they are generally concerned about his almost always wounded nature or perhaps the hint of prosperous dealings is anyone’s guess. One thing is for certain that the chuckle that is rumored to be heard so commonly from the man in black leathers seems to be having a ragged tired tone of late. *
-
_After months of absence, since the first weeks of Aeltha's missing, Cherry literally just walks out of thin air, magical energies forking over her form until it is no longer transparent. She aparently was truding through something, as she leaned heavily into every step until her last twosteps made her fully opaque.
This ocuring near the Heartfires,, she took a deep breath and smiled. Giving a chirpy and cheery greeting to anyone around or near the fires at the time, Cherry strolled off to her tent, uttering nothing else._
-
_Some even whisper about a hell hound killed and a knight of Torm tossed out of camp by Aelthas, but amid all the other more deadly and exciting undead attacks happening, the whispers don't last long.
Most people seem to be talking about the red haired knight guarding the hill outside the camp with the Warriors, she seems to be getting a lot of pillows, food and wine to make her stay comfortable.
Also, Aelthas is the newest merchant in camp. Anyone interested in some nice wands, rings, boots, cloaks and armor are to come see him. Suited for the woodsy, sneaking and mage types. Although no one will be turned away._
-
_Trouble seems to indeed have presented itself to the knight, as the skies over the Nars pass again grew dark and stormy. Near the bridge, several powerful undead warriors, mummies and skeletons emerged to fight a small group of defenders, the red-headed knight the most prominent of these. Gypsy warrior trainee Lycka and a hin wearing the colours of the Black Sails could be spotted hurrying to Cera's tree, soon thereafter leaving with Jeni for the pass. The three returned a while later alongside Kara, Jeni looking tired and drained.
With a tone of clear admiration, Lycka will readily describe how the valiant lady Kara stood her ground against the numerous foes, all but single-handedly defeating them all._
"There was Kara, surrounded by undead, her sword a blur, a flash of shining light as she struck them down! It was totally -awesome-, and meanwhile me, Aalaril and Elenwyd were trying to fight just the -one- skeletal warrior, who near killed us all! Well, they were trying to fight it.. I mostly ran in circles, screaming at the top of my lungs to be honest."
Lycka smiles a bit sheepishly to her listeners, but adds that everyone from the camp should be wary of travelling alone in light of recent happenings. In the company of her mother, she then leaves for Peltarch and her studies at the Bardic College.
-
On the hill overlooking the camp, a lone knight appears to have taken up a watchful eye in light of the recent troubles the camp has been seeing. Armed with both Bow and a Sword, The Redheaded knight appears to be waiting for any trouble that might present itself.
