Outracing the Flames RPG

[Undómë]

Bregoware

Meghan


‘Why exactly are we waiting here?’ Meghan readjusted the battered leather pack that held the most of her belongings, lashing it more securely to the back of her saddle. Let’s ride out and meet him.’ She mounted up and rode toward the center of the village, not caring who or if anyone followed after. She’d already seen the burned bodies in the moonlight and there had been no Orcs about then – even less chance that they would be a problem now. But just in case, hung her bow at the front of her saddle, close at hand, and nearby was her quiver of arrows.

Sythric had said he would be at the southwest corner of the town. ‘No need to go near the main square,’ she said as they entered the town proper. ‘Unless of course, you want to see where the dead were put afire.’

‘If not, then let’s head directly to where Sythric said he would meet us.’ Meghan kicked her mount lightly in the flanks and urged her on.

[Folwren]

Wulfham

Athwen went to where she had slept when they arrived at the camp. Having nothing to fill her hands with, she stood with them clasped behind her back, looking out across the gently waving grass. Unconciously her eyes were drawn in the direction that the village had once stood and in a moment, she became aware of it, and a wave of grief passed over her suddenly, catching her unaware. She caught her breath against sudden tears and clamped her mouth shut firmly.

Abruptly, she turned away, dropping her eyes and bowing her head as she did. A moment of perfect misery passed over her as she struggled hard not to break down under the utter feeling of loss and sorrow. It was over in a minute, but it left a shadow that she could not shake. She looked up and walked to Leod. Laying her hand on his arm, she asked quietly, though not quite in his ear as she was several inches too short:

'Where are the horses? I would like to check on mine.'

He glanced at her briefly and she knew by the expression in his eyes that he saw right through her feelings. But he didn't keep the gaze for long. He looked up and to his right. 'Over there, lass,' he answered, nodding in that direction. A brief, shadow of a smile crossed her face.

'Thank you,' and without another word she let go his arm and walked quickly towards them. In a moment she caught sight of one horse's hindquarters and tail behind some bushes and rounding them, she came upon the entire group. Her horse gave a low nicker when he saw her and walked rather lazily to her at once.

'Sorry, my little fellow,' she said, extending her hand as he sniffed at it eagerly. 'I don't have anything today. Do they treat ye well, lad?' And as she put the question to him she began to run her small, expert hands quickly over his body and legs.

Anything to keep my mind off it all, she told herself, pursing her lips as she felt his knee and then slipped down to the hock. Anything. But even as she thought it, she leaned forward into his shoulder, screwing up her face and begining to cry softly.

[Naria]

Wulfham


"Wonderful," she said as the group of fishermen approached camp, "this shall surely tide us over for a few days to come." Incana still wanted to put her rock thrower to use, so she and Vaenosa agreed that they would mount up and test their hunting skills. Incana brought her right leg over Starlight's back and settled into the saddle that was made to fit specifically for her by her father. While the mare's feet shuffled anxiously side-to-side, Incana declared "Vaenosa and I are off to test our skills. We will return before you could even begin to miss us!" She gave a squeal of delight and leaned into Starlight giving way to a full out run.

The wind in her hair and biting at her cheeks, it was all so exhilarating. Incana caught Nay out of the corner of her eye and slapped the reins against Starlight's neck advancing the couple into the lead once more. The two women did this kind of playful exchange for a little while longer until they felt that the horses had had enough. Incana brought her horse to a trot and then slowed to a walk. The woman was completely out of breath, this had always begged the question:Why am I out of breath? It is my horse that has done all of the work whilst carrying me.

Vaenosa and Incana were riding slowly beside each-other with only the sound of their horses hooves crushing the dry grass under them. Incana kept her eyes and her ears open with a regular turn of her head to scan in all directions for possible prey. She suddenly picked up a different sound, it wasn't in tune with the horses hoof beats, it was something smaller and quicker. Incana motioned to Vaenosa that she had heard something behind them. She brought Starlight to a halt and quietly pulled out her rock thrower readying herself for whatever was following them. The sound of rustling grass was drawing ever near and closer still, until out came none other than the dog. The dog was no longer the colour that he was back in the village, he actually had a very light colour to his coat; almost the same colour as the wheat fields back home. "Well hello there, you have followed us a long way my friend. You must have found that little stream a bit to tantalizing and decided to take a swim." He needed a name, but that thought would have to be set to the back of her mind for the time being.

The dog kept two strides ahead of the horses not wanting to get behind them for fear of receiving a rear kick, one that he surely would have got earlier if he hadn't been so noisy with his approach. Just then the dog gave a sharp yip and Incana immediately saw what he had flushed out. The woman glanced over at Vaenosa with a look in her eye as to say 'ready, let's go.' It appeared to Incana that it was a smaller deer, not a baby for it had already lost it's white spots, no it was an adult just smaller than she had known them to be.

Incana held her rock thrower in her right hand and Starlight's reins in the other and gave chase. She kept her horse in a straight line as the deer dodged back and forth across her path. As soon as Incana noticed that the deer was tiring she let go of the reins altogether and steadied herself in the saddle. She reached into the satchel that was used only for rocks and put one of them into the leather hammock of the thrower. Incana twirled the crude weapon in the air above her head and just when it looked like it was a sure kill, she snapped the wooden handle back to stop the motion and watched as the rock flew threw the air and hit its mark. The deer collapsed in a swirl of dust and grass. The two women got off of their horses and took measures to ensure the animal was completely dead. They were in the process of bleeding out the deer when Starlight and Nay began to whinny like they had seen or smelt one of their own. Incana lifted her head and looked in the same direction that the two horses were looking, "this grass is too tall for me to see through." She stood up and put her hand over her brow to block the sun and what she saw was frightening and panic immediately set in.
Incana felt the blood drain from her face and turned to Vaenosa, "We--we have to go Vae-no-sa, we have to g--go now!" She didn't wait for Vaenosa she just leaped onto Starlight's back and gave a loud "Ye-Ya" and headed for the camp as fast as her horse would run.

The dog arrived first and did not stop yipping and barking until Incana came into view. She barreled around the corner of some trees, bringing the mare to a dead stop. Incana jumped off and ran towards Brand, Dorran, Leod and Athwen. Trying desperately to catch her breath so they could understand what she was about to say, she inhaled deeply and said, "There are people out there in the grass--no, no riding through the grass" she paused to collect her thoughts. "While Vaenosa and I were bleeding out the deer we killed, I saw people off in the distance from where we were. It looked like there were two riders, but they could have others with them that we didn't see. I couldn't make out what they looked like, whether they were human or not!"

[Valier]

Wulfham

Vaenosa had enjoyed the race with Incana and Starlight.She had, had no childhood friends to race with, they all thought her odd and avoided her at all cost. She had always raced with just Nay. It was almost nice to think for a moment that she might find a friend in Incana. She was almost sure she recognized her now from Wulfham. She was one of the children who never teased her, but had ignored her all the same.She was almost too nice to her sometimes and it made Vaenosa a little uncomfortable. Why would she want a friend like me? But it the back of her mind Vaenosa longed for a friend who would like her no matter what her attitude may be. She had been very impressed with the weapon Incana had used to bring down the deer. It was effective with a small deer, but what other capabilities did it have? She would perhaps ask Incana later, if she could see it to examine it.

Suddenly Incana was speaking to her, but her mind was on the deer and the weapon, she had not heard what she said. Standing, clearing her mind she asked, "Huh? I did not catch that?" But Incana had mounted her horse and was speeding towards the camp. Confused Vaenosa muttered, "What have I done now? Great ! That is all I need another emotional woman in camp! Fine I care not!" She said plunging back to skinning the deer. Then she heard it.It was an unusual sound. This must have been what Incana was warning her about. Slapping her palm against her forehead Vaenosa felt foolish for not paying attention. She parted the grass and peered over the tops. There not far off, were two figures on horse-back. Vaenosa's first thought was to reach towards Nay for the large blade she had found in the village,I shall wait here in the grass, then when they approach..Wham! but she hesitated. There could be more of them. She decided against her rash plan, but she would not let the deer be wasted. Pulling Nay's riding blanket from his back, Vaenosa covered the carcass of the deer, they would have to come back for it later.

Hopping quickly on Nay's back she rode back to camp. When she arrived everyone was present as Incana told them of the men. "It is true!" Vaenosa piped up. " I have seen them as well. I say we surround them on horse back and ummm question them." I covered your deer Incana, we can go back for it later. What say you all?"

[Eowyn Skywalker]

Eostre followed silently, perhaps a bit reluctantly after their now decided leader. Though she supposed to herself it didn't matter, perhaps it was better if Meghan took momentary lead. She had no desire to, after all. At least, not through the village. It was a place unfamiliar, partly destroyed, if only for the emotions that trickled through the empty houses.

It could be destroyed, she thought to herself. It could be different. And Bregoware could be just like it...

She had no desire to see where the bodies had been burnt. They were just a reminder of what had gone on. "I have no great desire to see the location," Eostre said; voice a murmur, but not the sort of respectful murmur grieving the dead—the tone of grief was there, but overwhelmed by the simple need to remain quiet if she had to be. "Lead on, then."

It would be better, the sooner they reached Sythric and could carry on...

[Tevildo]

Dorran's heart thudded dully against his chest as he listened to the report that Incana and Vaenosa brought. Could this all be happening again? And so far from the smoking mountain? Did the hand of darkness extend out even over his beloved Rohan? How many slaves would it take to fill the plantations of Mordor?

Alarmed to hear about the men who were now in the vicinity of the village, Dorran had pressed the women with questions, trying to get a better idea of what the strangers looked like and how many there actually were. Unfortunately, neither Vaenosa or Incana were able to supply any more details, and Dorran felt he had little option but to speak out and say what he knew.

The young man glanced over at Brand, wondering if he should pull his friend to the side, but then decided it would be better to share his ideas with the whole group. Clearing his throat, he began speaking in a calm voice, "I must tell you. I am afraid. I lived once in those same lands from which these Orcs come. A great lord dwells there, one whose name is never spoken but whose soldiers bear the insignia of the eye, an eye shaped just like the ones we have seen in that village. My parents told me stories....."

Dorran hesitated, uncertain how to continue. He did not want to talk about what had happened to him. He would try to explain the real danger they were in but leave out the parts that had to do with his own village and family. Choosing his words with care, Dorran continued, "My parents told me stories they had heard. They knew these stories were true. This dark lord would send out bands of roving Orcs to bring havoc and death to the villages that lay to the south and east. Not a day behind them would come raidiing parties, plundering men who would strip away any remaining wealth from the town and drag off those few who were still alive. I think these human raiders were called Easterlings. The poor wretches they found were, were ...." He shook his head, stared pointedly at the ground, and lowered his voice. "They were sent to work as slaves in the great plantations along the far fringes of Mordor. I don't know who these men are that Incana and Vaenosa saw, but I am very afraid."

"I hope I am wrong. But I felt compelled to say something. I could not just keep this to myself."

[Arry]

Wulfham

Incana and Vaenosa had both been certain that they had seen only two riders coming towards them. ‘I’m worried though that if they did not see Incana flying back the camp, did they see you, Vaenosa, as you headed this way.’ He shook his head. ‘And how far behind them are others of their foul Easterling sort?’

What Dorran had said about the men who took other men back to the Dark Lord’s land to work as slaves made his skin crawl. It was one thing to kill an enemy, but to take another man into captivity and deliver him to be a thrall was quite another. Slaves to be worked to death if needed or beaten at their master’s whim . . . the thought sickened him.

‘They will surely have seen our fire and be coming this way already.’ He glanced to where the fish were spitted and cooking near the fire. ‘Let’s draw them in and ambush them; then ride like the wind away from here. Get your packs on your horses. Leave the fish by the fire.’

‘Incana’s good with her rock thrower and Vaenosa’s an able archer.’ He held up his net and his stout oaken club. ‘What say we three take our horses and position ourselves on the perimeter of the camp . . . say you two on one side and a ways from each other; I’ll take the other side. We can take cover behind those rocky outcroppings, there and there, and there. We should be hidden well enough by the tangles of bushes.’

‘It’s most likely they’ll come in over there . . . see our fire and what will look like a hasty retreat.’ He looked toward where Leod and Dorran stood. ‘And we’ll need some of you to make it look as if we are fleeing from them. It will keep their attention on you as a target and let us take them by surprise. Can you two do that? Be riding away from camp and let them sight you?’

It was a hastily devised plan, but they hadn’t much time before the two Easterlings would be upon them. He asked if any had comments or further suggestions.

Brand frowned as he finished speaking. He looked about, realizing the other woman was not there with them. ‘Where’s Athwen? I think she should be with the decoy group.’

[Folwren]

Wulfham

Having finished her short cry, Athwen roused herself sufficiently to set about completing her task of running her hands and eyes over her horse to make certain that nothing was out of place and that he was completely well. Her next thought was to attempt to hide all signs of having cried, and she quickly made her way down to the river.

There, she had hardly finished rinsing her face when she heard hoofbeats of a galloping horse. Athwen turned, hastily drying her eyes on her sleeve, and looked towards camp. She watched as Dorran grasped Incana's bridle rein and the woman swing easily from her horse. Where Athwen stood, she could not see clearly their faces, nor hear the words spoken, but a strange aggitation seemed to push its way into the small group. A few moments later, Vaenosa cantered up in haste. She dismounted quickly.

'Strange,' Athwen muttered to herself. 'I though they'd gone to hunt, or something. But they didn't bring anything back.' She shrugged slightly. 'Had better go and see what's up. . .' She bent and used the hem of her skirt to finish drying her face. She snorted at disgust with herself as she dropped it. 'Completely unlady like. If Mum saw you. . .well, yes. Go and see what's going on.'

She quickly trotted up the slight embankment and walked towards the others. As she drew nearer, she could finally begin to hear what they were saying, though it didn't make sense to her. Brand was speaking of some sort of ambush, she thought. She wondered what good an ambush would do with hunting. She had never taken much interest in that sort of work, but she hadn't thought that it had to do with ambushing. But then he asked where she was and she hurried forward the last several yards.

'Here I am. What do you need a decoy for?'