MORIAS was crouched beneath the shadow a large tree, when the cleric felt a powerful glancing blow at the back of his neck. Despite the physical attack he was slightly still conscious, and sensed his body being dragged through a leaf strewn forest floor.
ORATH came up to Morganne then, releasing his captured prize. The thief examined the figure, who looked semi transparent. "Hmmm looks like he's only partially substantial" the rogue said, yawning he crouched low and stuck something to the nostrils of the spy, who stirred back to consciousness immediately.
MORIAS saw a black clad thief hovering over him, who hoistered you up onto both legs with a stronger than would seem strength. Two elves were nearby, and they regarded you with startled saucer like eyes. MORGANNE saw that this man was clad in the attire of a Lorian priest.
ORATH, the black clad thief says to you (Morias) "Now, priest please explain to us why you're playing thief in the shadows? Are you following us? What business does the bookworm clergy have with House Succundus affairs? Surely you're not meddling in our mission"
HETHRON interjected, said "Nevermind you, trying to glean answers from a Lorian is like pulling teeth out of a half starved lion. Asides, he is no threat to any of you...this is my forest, I would have been informed by my own spies if he was trouble"
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Morganne remembers in the recent past several attempts on her life at the hands of the Lorian clergy. Morganne draws Asp, a wickedly black short sword and points it at the stranger "..this may be your woods Hethron, but I for one am not so trusting as of late to disregard any intursion! Orath, Stip him of his armaments and especially his holy symbol and bind him..we'll decide what to do with him later!" Morganne never takes her eyes off the cleric "...there was a time when I would've accepted the word of a Lorian on faith and trust alone but too much has happened and too many of my comrades have fallen because of the silly whims of your order!...I wise person decides when discretion is the better part of valor and knows when the odds are against him..." Morganne puts her hand to her clasp for a moment and looks to Orath then nodding her head. walks a few feet away to speak with Garrosh via the Cloak clasp.
MORGANNE returns and regards Hethron for a moment. "...no offense but your forest isn't as secure as you'd like. We will find out soon enough what answers he has for us.. Orath and myself have gotten our share of teeth from many hungry lions!"
Walking over to the man Morganne stoops down, still holding Asp in her hand, her strangely amber hued eyes boring into the supposed theif..."..you will be a good librarian wont you and tell us what we want to know?" she says softly to the man "..our hosts here seem to think that you're no trouble at all, that a lone Lorian scribe isn't worth the trouble. You see, I have spent much time among your kind, i've fought along side and fought against you as well, most recently a Lorian assassin tried to do his best to sheathe his blades in my bosom." Morganne lifts up her gorget to show the priest her bare skin "....I would say that one lone priest of Lor, travelling alone in these woods is either a very foolish man....or a very dangerous one...now which one are you sir?"
Morganne points her demon blade at the man who is obviously recovering from the blow Orath used to incapacitate him. The vipers on the hilt and cross guard seem to writhe on their own as if they are alive..anticipating their next meal.
"Morias. My name is Morias. I am scholar and cleric of Lor; as you know already by my garb. I pursue a deadly quest."
Morias closes his eyes and inhales deeply. A look and a feeling of calm comes over him. He stares up at his captors faces, reading them.
"I am no enemy of yours, nor this forest. Of this you must believe me. Weigh it by the truth of your own hearts. In time you will learn to trust my use as your ally. It would be foolish indeed to dispatch me now, before the time."
Morias sighs.
"For the actions of my brothers, I am not responsible any more than any man is responsible for the actions of another. Nor do I understand the errands for which my brothers were sent. Only my own small part in all this. My mission is for Morganne - I am her designated protectorate."
The clerics voice is stern and authoritative as he continues; "As such I demand that you unbind me now and return my artifacts!"
Orath smiled at Morias, and lazily says to Morganne "Eh? I can't lay a hand on him you know that! I'm still in deep with the priesthood they've bought my gambling debt. And I've seen you before cleric, at the Gilded Goblin Inn I think. Weren't you were spying on me while I was playing at the craps table against the lords of larceny? Hah you stood out like a sore thumb, but I can see now you wear the cloak of nothingness I 'appropriated' for your high priest. Wear it well, cleric it took me a great deal of personal danger in its theft"
Hethron slid a dagger's edge beneath Morganne's chin and said calmly "You'll sheathe that daemon blade and keep it thus in these woods, lady ere Mielikki herself enact her own fury on your head for such wanton audacity and impertinence"
Celestria: "Enough!" the beautiful lithe raven haired elf said, removing her hood. She spoke: "It is discourteous and a waste of time declaring a friend as foe merely to err on the side of caution. If said friend is indeed foe then their treachery will reveal itself well ahead of treacherous acts, for their heart is easily revealed to the discerning. This man I have seen in my dreams, and has some important role to fill though I have seen a dark aura around his head before. He has been blessed by the hand of Lor and as such is not to be touched or manhandled in any fashion less you earn that God's wrath. You yourself venerate Wrath and are not even allowed to do so, friend Morganne"
Impatiently, Morias growls; "Unbind me then, fools for friends. And thank ye for your trust at last. That one sees True as an elf would. And you varmint, as ye may be, I owe a thanks for providing me such fine garment. There be plots withing plots here and many yet unbinding. Writhing like blades." He chuckles.
"The Gods seldom err when paths are bound as ours. I have followed thee, Morganne for some while now and beg of your patience in revealing why; lest things made in haste be broken before their right telling. Greater peril than I by far is stalking ye. Although there are yet ways to make amends and soften such a path as ye be threading."
The black haired thief Orath sneers at Morias, "Blah blah blah, your cryptic prattle is most irritable, priest. And trust? Hahaha what rot! You're going to have to earn it real nicely, and that comes with time" the rogue said with a smug air.
Celestria said "Let us make camp here, friends. The grandfather tree's restoration will enable it to mask our presence and protect us now that its been cleansed of its drow infestation. Brother please take the dark haired rogue there and gather us some water and fuel for the night. Hethron please lend us the fruit of your bow and find our guests some fresh game. In the morning we will head out and rejoin you with Daynar. Tell me, friend Morganne does the swordsman Garosh Graysoul journey alongside with your captain?"
Unbound and with his affects restored to him, Morias claps Orath heartily on the shoulder. "Well then; lead the way, fellow. Water best collected in soothed spirits. And then to kindle, logs and smoulder." He grins widely at Celestria's wisdom and her acceptance of him into the group this day.
The black haired man grabs Morias by the wrist as it was about to lay on his shoulder, and out from beneath his wrist sprung a concealed spring loaded blade that might have claimed the cleric's eye, "Don't touch, fool. I told you, trust isn't a given. Don't you know I've just saved your life from the one you claimed to have come to protect? Don't speak less spoken to, and don't counsel unless asked, priest. Now go and fetch some water, if you can manage. I've got more important things to attend to like sharpening my daggers" he said crossly, moving over towards a burly and very tall muscle bound northerner nearby. The barbarian didn't say anything or engage in talk but stood as a silent sentinel nearby, attuned to the forest surroundings. Several uniformed soldiers stood near him, clad in dark leather. They started to drop heavy packs and get comfortable in their own fashion, and seemed to be very tight knit amongst themselves. Some were whispering betwixt themselves, and three of the men had sparkles in them when they regarded the impressively beautiful Elf Celestria or Morganne.
Wide eyed, Morias exhales through pursed lips. He blinks at the thief momentarily. "Then I owe you my gratitude." The priest stumbles away to fetch water, muttering a prayer to his God in the form of a blessing for the thief who has indeed recently saved his skin.
"And then, firewood. I see now how I am to earn my keep amongst these folks." He mutters to himself as he goes about the tasks, keeping a watchful eye always on Morganne and grateful for the cloak of nothingness worn tied around his waist lest he be needing it.
"Hey, er, Woodsman!" he calls to Hethron. "Am I to assume that all of these sticks alright for burning or are any of them sacred to you in some special way?"
MORGANNE sheathes Asp...and simply nods to Orath...before turning to Hethron "...you have this one chance to draw steel against me.." She chides him sternly before soften her features now let us make camp.." Morganne walks over to Celestria "...Garrosh...what do you know of him?"
to Celestria "...let me guess, you've had some...dealings with the infamously handsome Succundus sword slinger?" Smiling Morganne almost forgets for a moment where she is and what deadly business she's supposed to be dealing with. clearing her throat "... Never mind, I don't need or care to know. Garrosh is,...close but for security reasons, we don't know exactly where" Morganne puts her hand to her clasp and thinks to Garrosh, letting him see exactly who is asking about him and to get his reaction. If Garrosh decides to make an appearance then that's his prerogative as mission leader.
This business with Morias however, was another matter and an all too common one with her. Morganne had long given up counting how many had crossed her path saying that they're there to help her or had some silly notion about protection her. "...I'll be damned if anyone's going to lecture me about covenant my order has with the Lorians! It's fine when they want my head on a pike but it seems to portend a great cataclysm if i even look at one crossly!" Morganne thinks to herself, forgetting that she still held onto the clasp and projected her thoughts directly to Garrosh and Aronis.
Morganne goes to her pack and pulls out several nondescript bottles and walks over to the other scouts and speaks with each of them, handing them a bottle or two no bigger than the palm of her hand and offers some kind words to them and a friendly smile before moving on to the next group of men. Before long begins to remove some of her armor to relax under a tree and to check on all of her weapons.
Her smooth alabaster skin seemed to glow in the failing light as she methodically began sharpening first Corvus and Bone-Breaker then inspecting Asp and their scabbards for wear or damage. Morganne sniffs the air and leans back against a tree to meditate for a few moments, sitting legs crossed and palms facing skyward.
Hethron didn't respond to Morganne's statement, sheathing his dagger the ranger said "If I wanted to draw steel against you, I'd not have put a mere dagger at your throat but to restrain your unchecked overreaction to this man, and mayhap spare you regrettable actions later. Still, you act bizarrely for a warrior who venerates Wrath, I'd be less lax about pissing off the God's…they're not so apt to forgive such frivolous disregard for their servants"
Morias: the ranger regards your question with a shrug, "Why do you concern me with such frivolous queries? You may burn whatever the tree's have discarded at your leisure. I'm not a druid, a true cleric of the learned one ought know the answer without bothering with such simple lines of questions"
Celestria smiled a subdued smile and nodded affirmatively, "He rescued my niece's village from a horde of trolls once, five years ago. During that assault, he was badly wounded and I was the healer there, tending to the wounded elves that fought bravely against the kobolds of the dark elf lands. Despite his grievances he left before I could thank him properly for saving my life"
Morganne: when you attempt to contact Garosh you sense he's in the middle of battle against several score of Hobgoblins, but it looks as though the Succundus troupe has taken these goblin-kin totally unawares judging by the decimated carnage in the forest clearing. The fighter says "I'm kind of busy at the moment sweetheart, rendezvou with us in Nubrea village. Those 'children' you helped are helping us now, and forewarned us of this band of humanoids preparing an ambush for unsuspecting travelers. You ought to be able to tie into their reports when you draw further north-east from your present location. Oh and don't dilly dally with any foes along the way but try to avoid entanglements, time's crucial in this not how many kills you rack up"
Morganne opens her eyes after a few moments and stretches. her armor discarded and wearing just a simple leggings and undershirt made of some animal hide (cured manta ray) Morganne rejoins the others
to Celestria "..ah yes..Garrosh, ever the gallant handsome savior. 5 years ago was it? hmmm I've been back an froth between Lor and my Order's citadel so many times, the years seem to merge into on big event. There's always some evil maniacal tyrant plotting to take over the world or some Demon who's got it in for someone else and weaves intricate plots to throw the world into chaos." Morganne muses as she begins to help one of the Succundus scouts make a fire pit.
"...My path in the service of Wrath is my own, Wrath knows my heart and has let me decide how to best serve his will. I too have had dreams of things to come. Many have happened and some have yet to occur. Wrath demands that those in his service not grow complacent and continually test ourselves and those around us..." Morganne puts her hand to her cloak clasp, now worn around her neck on a chain.
She smiles as if she's just heard a particularly amusing joke "...Garrosh you Are too much for any one woman to handle" she blurts out loud "...pardon, private conversation.." Morganne continues to walk among the other scouts and speaks with them privately. Joking with some, speaking sternly with others before returning to Hethron and the others.
Morias returns with several armfuls of sticks and sets a small fire next to a few choice logs. He places the water container in a place where all can see and reach for it, and also close enough to the fire that it can be dowsed at a moments notice.
Then he sits, his body language focusing entirely on Morganne. It is obvious that he wishes to speak with her. When he gets her attention for a moment, he says;
"Morganne, we here have spoken of trust this evening and evidently it is an issue at large. I have words which thus for the greater good, should not be openly shared. And yet they are words that you must hear. It may help you to understand the actions of my brotherhood toward you. And beyond that, also. With your ready, I beseech thee; may we speak? I have traveled far and through hardship with this information that is destined for your comprehension. And in such pursuit..."
The cleric trails off but his face continues smiling sincerely, friendly toward her, his heart evident upon it.
Morganne sits puzzled for a moment, Garrosh and the rest of the main party were able to get the upper hand on these brigands but there must be more of them somewhere. Celestria said that they were safe but as Morganne just witnessed, these woods aren't as safe as these elves liked to believe. Morganne finally catches Morais who looks to be so intent on speaking with her that he obviously has no idea about what it means to allow for some personal space.
Pulling her Ox-bl;ood hair back into a pony tail, Morganne only half listens to the man as he goes on about something or anohter. It is just then that Orath steps in and intercedes, leaving her free to Don her armor once again and speak with the other scouts about what's happened with Garrosh. Looking over her shoulder, she could see Orath was being his usually harsh self with the newcomer. "hmph.." she snorts and continues to walk towards the fire pit to get some dinner.
Morias eats and as he does so, jests; "You know, for seasoned adventurers you lot have some serious sharpening up to do. I am astonished that within a single breathe ye had me both bound captive and straightaway had me fetching water. I ask each of you to look within and seek whether this man dressed as a priest did not poison yer drinks." With this Morias laughs.
Morganne looks up and smirks "....Had you been deemed a serious threat...we..seasoned adventures would've ended your story in an eye-blink! Sure you managed to get close to us but without that fancy robe around your waist..." Morganne lets her comment hang in the air "....you've spent too much time in the halls of the vaults of the great library haven't you? You're no rogue, and for someone who has spent their life..studying, spare the judgement about those who spend their lives DOING!" Morganne quips. "....from the moment you were discovered, you were being watched, your actions and words noted. Morias, you've forgotten what Orath here told you about us?"
Morganne smiles..."Lorians spend their time studying, We Wrathians our time testing and doing! You wouldn't have even gotten three eye-blinks to poison our water, and I don't poison very easily!"
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