A Land Far Away

An Alliance had been formed, and a pact made. Namalen looked across the table...

Kevan, he was not to sure of. But it was his idea. However, he did trust Kevan, he had tried to hide nothing that he was, which Namalen admired. It would have been much easier for him to hide what he was...

Trent. THe Daleman was an easy read. Most swordsmen are. But his heart was in the right place. He trusted Trent...and knew that he would stand.

Lupaa, there was no doubt. Lupaa was a treebrother. Namalen knew that he could trust Lupaa with his life. THey had both seen the Treant together for the first time, thanks to Azair, and were both kindred in their paths.

Sylvia. She had ducked out early...and seemed to be done with the missions of Ricpeth. But Namalen saw her. Saw inside. ANd he thought he just might be able to awaken the spirit of joy within her again...if he could just get her mind away from the persuit of gold...

Azair, also not of the main four, a treesister...he did not know much of her. SHe had experienced great loss, as he had with his brother and home, but she had been unwilling to talk of it. SHe seemed to know the area well, and was decent on her feet. Perhaps a resource for later.

Rhenn, well, he thought as long as she had enough coin for ale, she would be fine. SHe had seemed to appreciate the killing of orc...almost a little too mcuh...hehe, and Azair had told him to curb his flame...he knew when to back off...

THe Blue Eye Kobold camp was an easy trek to make and find. Too easy. He wondered why one of the guards at the barricade hadn't gone out and checked on it.

THe Black Tooths...were another matter. Found easily enough..there were four killed, including a leader, before they turned back to town...and two still remained that he had spotted...and no tellings how many more within that cave of theirs...but that can be saved for another day.

A circle had been formed...and Namalen was to be their eyes and ears. He liked this, it gave him the opportunity to afford the hide armour in Ashabenford, as well as to explore the land. THe Dales...well, he could care less...human settlements always were a stupid idea in his opinion, practically inviting attack from everything living around them...but it was a worthwhile cause, if only to practice his trade and find like kindred spirits. He smiled... nodding as Trent and Azair said their goodnights. THis was to be a good ending. He hefted his pack laden with three morningstars and leather armor, and strode off toward the inn, scratching slightly at the acid burn on his left thigh.

Keep em coming!

Nicely accounted! Super bummed that I had to run before the second outing.

Namalen walked into the grove, sighing. Nailo had been right, there lay the druids body. He looked up. "What will be, will be" he said to the Treant.

He nodded slowly. "the deathwatch must be performed" he muttered.
He slowly made his way to Weregunds to make his purchases...it would be a long night.

In the close of darkness, right after the sun had burned its last brilliance in the sky, Namalen returned to the grove. He put new pine boughs down, and moved his friend to the center of the lake. He then piled the wood he had gathered, and lit two fires, one for each side. He took out the inscence, lit four and placed them around the body, one for each direction, one for each of earths elements. Slowly he pulled out the knife, and cut his own finger. He then performed the Deathwatch markings...circles of blood around the eyes, connecting to a streak down each cheek, and one streak upon the bridge of the nose. Howls slowly emiited from his throat, as he slowly stripped to his natural state. He then began to paint the body of Luppa...of streams and mountains and Wolves, and Deer, and many other other things he had seen...a fox on his forehead...a bear across where his heart lay, rabbits and deer on his legs...rivers below his eyes. His low howls echoed in the silence. "I will carry you in my spirit, treebrother. I will search for you, as I search for me. A brother is never forgotten. May you find your people in the after, and be welcomed home." WIth that, he began the long night of the deathwatch, to see the spirit of Lupaa home.

A nice read, keep up the good work man.

-Ros

Thank you, for the actions of Namalen, and for the beautiful way you put it into words.