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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 2, 2020 2:45:08 GMT
Where the elf-raiders practice and train, this compound is in a small stand of trees and avoided by most of the locals. At any given time twenty to thirty elves can be found here, preparing to venture inland.
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 7, 2020 2:51:25 GMT
Herneiros lead his two companions towards the camp. It was a struggle to not outpace them. This was the closest thing he could compare to home, and the only people he could call family. The tall human was eager to share and boast of his exploits, and talk of the world he had seen across the ocean. He missed the fireside and chatting in his native Elven.
"This way, my friends!"
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 7, 2020 3:54:38 GMT
Leuninmorgh's camp is in a small former park, a bubbling brook running through the grounds, fed mostly by hobo piss. The trio see fifty or more elves in the camp as the entire band is present for the first time in many years. A few human visitors can be seen, warriors and the like who train with the raiders or have different skills to learn or teach. There's an archery field and a few cabins. Incongruously, Moira's Hill with its clearly visible metropolitan look and the governor's castle are both quite visible.
As they approach, there's plenty of activity. Elves are bartering loot with merchants to prepare for another expedition, and then they see Leuwinmorgh himself, showing a few of the younger elves some sort of Mist creature board with ways to attacks the various beasts.
Leuwinmorgh ap Rhys ap Llefellyn is a genuine giant of an elf. Most top out at eight feet or so at the absolute maximum. Leuwinmorgh is more than nine, and he has the bulk to match. Herneiros looks like a small child next to the colossal warrior, and the spear stuck in the ground next to him is easily fifteen feet long and must weight forty pounds. He sees the new arrivals and bellows out in a voice loud enough to wake the dead. "My son! You've returned!" His tone is very very low, like Ving Rhames singing Barry White. He approached them with the gait of a pouncing lion, so much faster than they would suspect that he is on them before they've taken another dozen steps. "And you've brought...more humans. Don't tell me you've gotten married." He peered down at Justine. "Although I guess I wouldn't blame you."
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 7, 2020 4:31:31 GMT
Justine was speechless when she met Herneiros' elven father. He was twice her height and probably six times her bulk and fiercely intimidating in spite of his pleasant tone. His ringing baritone raised goosepimples on her skin. She could only glance at Herneiros and back to the gargantuan elf at the last, cheeks gone faintly red as she her mind conjured a distinct image of the huntsman's lack of modesty on the ship. Herneiros could do the honors of introducing them.
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 7, 2020 4:49:47 GMT
"Father!" Herneiros grinned like a dog returned to its family. He responded in Imperial for the sake of his friends. "No, these are Justine and Demetrius. Justine traveled with me on an expedition across the sea right after I arrived in Valgard, along with several others. This other one is a local friend of hers. But more pressingly, I banished a demon sorcerer only half an hour ago, and then last week, I rescued dragon eggs whilst attempting to not throttle the supposedly greatest hero in the Empire. It has, I think, been a good month!"
It was his first real adventure away from his family and friends, so of course he had to boast a little.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 7, 2020 5:12:27 GMT
Leuwinmorgh listened and regarded the little trio. "Hm," he grunted, in a sound like rocks falling. "Good," the laconic chieftain said. "A dragon?" He chortled in a deep burbling laugh, "you've been in human lands too long. You've relearned the ancient art of hyperbole. One of my least favorite of the human foibles." He squinted at Demetrius a second then waved a hand. "But! That can all be for another day. My sister is making roast pig with truffles, pink salt and Innurian deathbee honey. Go, go, prepare for a feast. The lady doesn't want to smell like sulfur anymore I'm sure." He turned and looked at the cluster of elves then turned back. "And of course there's Bloodgrape liquor." He grinned at the two newcomers. "It'll have you awake and partying until the second you aren't anymore!"
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 7, 2020 5:25:31 GMT
Justine regained herself enough to speak up. She wasn't sure if her voice would even reach the giant elf's ears. "There really were dragon eggs, sir. We can tell you more about it later. After the feast, I suppose." She hadn't expected such a large gathering at all. With a quick glance at Demetrius to make sure he was alright in such a crowd, she nodded. "Thank you, Master Leuwinmorgh. We're really looking forward to it." It seemed this little side trip would be much longer than they had expected.
Turning to Herneiros, she murmured, "What are we meant to do to prepare for the feast? Is this some kind of specific elven protocol? And is the bloodgrape liquor...safe for consumption?"
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Post by Demetrius on Sept 7, 2020 5:32:25 GMT
Demetrius shied always from the large elf’s stare. People often looked at him like that, like he was different and didn’t belong. You’d think after all this time, seeing that expression day in and day out, that he’d be used to it. However, it wasn’t something he was able to build a tolerance for. Every look stung as hard as the last, and every time he felt like a phony, striped naked and shown for what he truly is.
“I’m Demetrius,” he said forcefully, overcompensating for his nerves. “You have a lovely... camp,” he said again, this time under compensating to make up for his overcompensation.
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 7, 2020 5:37:36 GMT
"And it will be lovelier soon enough! Come, there is a nice pool of water this way! Don't be shy, this is an elven camp, not an Imperial temple!"
Herneiros lead them towards it, making no distinction in gender as they reached the waters where he tossed his shirt aside.
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Post by Justine-Juliette de Vair on Sept 7, 2020 5:59:09 GMT
Justine followed him to the water, carefully avoiding staring into its depths. There were other elves there too, which made it less intimidating. She shrugged and with the slightest glance toward Demetri, a deep breath, and the lack of personal modesty from years in the asylum, began to tug off her leggings beneath her dress. She tossed her clothes into a pile and dashed into the chilly water in a hurry, churning the shallows and gasping from the chill. She dunked her head under and waited for the men to join her.
"So...was that really your very first time away from your elven family?" she asked the Huntsman when they were all in up to their necks. "Why would you ever have left? You seem to be far more comfortable here."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 7, 2020 6:33:08 GMT
Demetrius shied always from the large elf’s stare. People often looked at him like that, like he was different and didn’t belong. You’d think after all this time, seeing that expression day in and day out, that he’d be used to it. However, it wasn’t something he was able to build a tolerance for. Every look stung as hard as the last, and every time he felt like a phony, striped naked and shown for what he truly is. “I’m Demetrius,” he said forcefully, overcompensating for his nerves. “You have a lovely... camp,” he said again, this time under compensating to make up for his overcompensation. The giant elf nodded. "Nice to meet you....Demetrius." He seemed a bit confused as Justine ran off to get naked. "Does she do that often?" He shook his head as a female elf brought him some wine. "Drink up!" she said. "Just handle it better than they are!" |
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Post by Demetrius on Sept 7, 2020 6:53:18 GMT
Demetrius tried not to blush when Justine took her cloths off, stealing a short glance but only for as long as his abashednsss allowed. This was in no means unexpected, but he had no plans to join in on the fun, water wasn’t his thing.
“She does what she does,” Demetrius said to Leuwinmorgh, “Can’t always say it makes sense.” He took the wine that was offered to him, despite not having a taste for it. “Your son was kind enough to invite us along, saying you may be able to help us with some questions we have. He said you were an abjurationish, though I’m mostly ignorant to the practice.”
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 7, 2020 15:53:13 GMT
“Training’s over!” The giant elf barked so loudly that Demetrius felt the vibration in his teeth. “It’s time for a party!” He peered back down at the man as the other elves started bathing or washing in the water basins as well. “Abjurer,” he agreed. “Whatever have you all gotten into that requires abjuration magic?”
A half dozen other elves from the band get in the water. It’s not particularly deep and the tallest of the raiders can sit co platelet down with his whole head and neck still above the surface. “Had your first adventure, eh?” Gwynphear asked rhetorically. He winked at Justine with his large topaz colored eye. “That’s the longest he’s been away from elves in twenty five years. I hope he behaved himself. I more hope that he didn’t!” He laughed. Gwynphear is the weapons master of the band, who had taught Herneiros archery. He was large and strong enough to use a two hand sword one handed and a normal sword in his other hand. He splashed his face and washed the sweat off. “I always thought we should make this stream a proper swimming hole,” he added. “Your mother thought it would look silly.”
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Post by Geoffrey Ravenhurst on Sept 7, 2020 16:53:26 GMT
Herneiros blushed very lightly in evidence that he had indeed misbehaved a bit, and wiped his face to hide it...
"Aye..." He finally responded in Elven. "I do miss her scolding."
He wiped the sulphur off his torso as he reflected on his mother's face before explaining, "Justine is just a friend, but I grew close to a human bard on the voyage. I meant to bring her too, but my new friends got themselves involved in some chronomancer's nonsense almost immediately. I think they're good people but... burdened."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Sept 7, 2020 17:26:10 GMT
Gwynphear looked at Justine a moment then nodded. He replied in Elvish at the start. “Burdened seems overly diplomatic. Humans love trouble. It’s what makes their blood hot.” He switched back to Imperial. “So Justine, I am glad you brought my friend back in one piece. I don’t know if you noticed, but he can be quite rash.” He chuckled. “If you say you didn’t notice, I’ll know he was just in Valgard gambling at that gaming house there.”
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