Belelmund: The Folly of Sitanest

[KingOfDoma]

Kobakk's eyes opened wide. He had hoped he would never be asked that question, not because he had not thought of something to say, just the opposite; he knew EXACTLY how he would answer. He just felt shamed at the response.

"I... I..." He quieted again, and broke eye contact with his master. "Do not make me answer, Majesty. Please. I would dishonor you and myself with the answer..."

[FF Fanatic 80]

Trevor closes his eyes for a moment, sighing deeply. While Kobakk did seem to regret his actions, there was still another problem. Opening his eyes once more, he doesn't take them off the orc as he speaks.

"Kobakk... what you're doing now is just as bad, if not worse, than your actions earlier. You know what Charles did was wrong. But you said nothing. Even now, you know I want to hear why you did this. But you still wish to say nothing. There are few things I can imagine being worse, than a man who won't speak up."

Trevor cannot help a slight glance over, toward Daniel and Charles, before his gaze returns to Kobakk.

"So if dishonor is really your concern, I'd think for a bit on remaining silent. Personally, I'd hate to think anyone was blindly trusting my judgement alone. I would hope that any man or woman working with me, would point out my mistakes. Because those mistakes can be costly."

Trevor stands, leaving Kobakk with the remains of his ration bar.

"When you're ready to talk about this again, let me know."


Without saying another word, Trevor gets up and moves away, leaving Kobakk to sit alone once more. He wonders, as he crosses the campsite, if he's being too harsh on the orc. He seems to be feeling genuine shame over his actions, after all. But after another passing glance over at Charles and his companions, he feels much less guilty. Kobakk needs to understand what lead to this, and what he must do to prevent it from happening again. All he can do now, is pray that the orc will realize this for himself.

As he crosses the camp, Trevor becomes painfully aware of the lack of things to do. He's still uncomfortable with talking to Charles and his companions right now, due to lingering ill feelings toward the monarch. The holy woman and her female companion also seem taken up in their own conversation, which he's not about to interrupt.

Then he notices the third man from their group, sitting alone on a rock watching the darkness. Perhaps now would be a good time to speak with one of them, and find out a bit more about one another. With a new goal in mind, Trevor walks over toward the man. He comes around the side of the rock, until he's easily in view.

"....Leothe, was it?" he asks, leaning on the rock and extending a hand, "I don't think I've had a chance to properly thank all of you."

[Kelne]

Although not caught unaware by Trevor's approach, Leothe did seem surprised at the sentiment.

"No thanks are necessary, Majesty. If anything, I should be thanking you for coming to our aid as you did." He shook his head, "I don't imagine the encounter would have ended well."

[FF Fanatic 80]

Trevor smiles, moving to lean against the rock as he speaks with the man.

"Probably not. And I suspect the same for my group, had we run into them first."


He glances over at Neb and Annetta for a moment, then turns back to Leothe.

"Though I must admit, you seemed a bit more prepared for trouble than we were. Were you also expecting some... 'issues' in your travels?"

[Kelne]

"More a deterrent than anything," Leothe said, "There's always that element out there that will prey upon a few travelers, and Neb has some rather valuable things stashed in the wagon." He somehow doubted that this would instill in Trevor the desire to rob them all.

"I suppose this demonstrates the lengths people will go to if they decide they really want someone dead."

[Besyanteo]

Engaged as they are in conversation, or in some cases avoiding conversation, most of those gathered are well distracted at the moment. Neb however, isn't one of these. For Kobakk's park, maybe it was the simple need to focus on something else hard at work, but he notices it as well.

(Neb:

Spoiler:

There's something moving beyond the edge of camp. She can't make out just what it is, though.

Kobakk:

Spoiler:

There's a man (or a woman?) approaching the camp. He can't see anything specific about this person; They're not being particularly stealthy.

)

[FF Fanatic 80]

How are things?

Horrible.
Absolutely bloody horrible.
Few things in recent memory seem quite as horrible as this situation.

...is what Daniel would say, if he wasn't careful about his choice of words.

However, given that the source of said 'horribleness' is sitting right in front of him, he's not comfortable with talking about it. The only other thing he can think of talking about, is something better suited for private discussion.

So, what does that leave. What can he possibly say, without hurting either person's feelings? What can he possibly talk about, without outright lying to either of them?

"...I've been better?" Daniel says half-heartedly.

[KingOfDoma]

Wrath boiled within the orc. His fists were clenched so hard he nearly drew blood. He was so mad at himself he... he...

Well, he was very mad.

He almost wished, right then, that he had never been torn from his own people. Not only would he never have had to apologize for this, this situation would have never have presented itself. His people never quibbled over feelings, or morals, per se... if you had the strength to do it, you did it, no questions asked. It was a simplicity that seemed almost refreshing in such times.

... but the realization of the horrors his people visited upon the world pushed that wish away very quickly. There was no room for him in the lands of Gwa'AAG, and there never would be.

"Hmm?" Kobakk's eye was drawn to someone approaching the encampment. Well, that's no good, was his only thought as he drew his weapon. Calling out in a loud voice to simultaneously alert his comrades, he said, "You there! Announce yourself or be cut down!"

[Besyanteo]

Kobakk and anyone who looked up at the Orc's challenge can now see a figure, just far enough beyond the firelight to be obscured, raise it's hands to the sky. the voice that calls out is deep and rich, almost melodious. It's also familiar to the ears of both Kobakk and Trevor, though maybe only passingly so.

"Jethro Miller! I mean no harm."

The name is even more familiar; They met him at the Tanascus Archives, in the company of Sheila Hyral, Tassi Wells and Taiar Valcrist. They'd only just fought off the New Government's guards that day, saving both the archives and those within it.

[NebulaQueen]

Anita's response wasn't exactly satisfactory, but the merchant would have to wait before pestering her some more; something - or rather, someone - was afoot. Neb stood up and walked closer to the rest of the group, and to the stranger.

"And what's your business here, if you don't mind me asking?" She crossed her arms and looked Jethro straight in the eyes, and waited patiently for a response.

[Kelne]

Leothe watched the newcomer for a few moments, before turning his head back to regard the night once again. He could hear the questioning well enough, and it wouldn't do to let their guard down.

[Besyanteo]

Jethro stepped into the firelight before answering. He's about six feet tall, with longish black hair that's tied back into a ponytail, has a well trimmed mustache and beard, and hazel eyes that reflect the light well. His face is creased with lines that make him look like a slightly older man; late thirties, early forties. He's wearing simple black pants, brown boots, a white jerkin and plain looking dark brown vest over top of that. What looks like a very new short sword hangs from his belt, kept in place by a loop of leather rather than a proper case. Finally, he's wearing a slightly overstuffed backpack, a tightly wound bedroll strapped to the top and a sitar hangs off the back of it, held in place by only a few leather straps. He stands with hands on his pack's straps, moving slowly.

"Well, I was just passing through... Roads in Doma are still free, aren't they?"

[FF Fanatic 80]

Deciding he should keep an eye on things, Trevor speaks briefly to Leothe.

"...I guess I should see what's going on. We'll have to talk later."

He then heads over, intent on seeing who this is, and why they've arrived at their camp.

[KingOfDoma]

Kobakk's mood cascaded through three emotions. The first feeling was elation at a familiar face. Underneath that was relief that someone may not look upon him with shame, at least for a little while. Then curiousity rolled over him. How did he find out their route? Was it so well-advertised that anyone could just walk up and say hello?

The third emotion, the one he despised to own the most, was suspicion. He hated to suspect Jethro of any malice or wrongdoing, but it was odd and convenient to have him arrive.

"Last I checked," Kobakk answered. "Good seeing you, Jethro. How go things at home?" He extended his hand to shake, but made a point to keep the other fastly attached to his weapon...

[Besyanteo]

If Jethro noticed Kobakk's apprehension, he didn't give any sign of it.

"I'm on my way to find that out, actually: I'm headed back to Baron. What are you doing out in the middle of-"

He stopped short, seeing Trevor approach.

"Ah. I guess that answers that. Who are these other ladies and gents?"

[Kai]

Myrnal watched silently as the others turned their attention to another traveller on the road. Either he was here to assassinate the royals and kill them all, a neat trick if he could do it alone or even as part of an ambush, or he was using the road. Like people do. She ignored Daniel's answer to her question and watched the others negotiating terms of... of acceptable road usage with this man. Jethro was his name. Dark eyes followed him in the warm flickering light of the campfire.

She watched as the orc greeted Jethro first, and as Trevor came out to see for himself. For a cloistered royal it was an odd move, but Trevor Harvey was a grown man and could do as he pleased. She guessed that hiding behind a lot of strangers because a threateningly-bookish gentleman was in the vicinity would have been more than a little emasculating. Again. He could do as he pleased. He wasn't any business of hers except for his importance to Daniel and frankly Myrnal might have been more concerned about Trevor had he been Dan's dog and not his former ruler. At least dogs were approachable and generally pretty easy to appraise.

But no. This was a great and important man, and Myrnal was obligated by her presence here to at least respect that other people gave a damn about him. The throwing knife Myrnal had been sharpening when she'd begun talking to Charles was still in her lap, and her fingers traced the handle as she pondered the question of Jethro's relevance and, following that, the threat he posed to Daniel. Noting that he was carrying some sort of exotic musical instrument, Myrnal wondered what he was going to do, sing poorly written songs? No, there was no reason to sit around staring at him with everybody bristling with weapons.

So she didn't stand up to join the crowd surrounding this Jethro Miller person. He already probably felt surrounded and the fact that it was true left Myrnal much less worried.

Fuck it, she thought. Protection missions are nine parts boring-as-fuck and one part splitting terror. Stephan owes me dinner for this.

"Myrnal Shalienza," she answered Jethro from her spot by the fire. "Pleasure to meet you," she said with a dismissive wave.

[FF Fanatic 80]

As Trevor walks over, he notes the reaction from Jethro. One of recognition. He can't help a silent curse at himself.

He is being sloppy. And horribly so. He normally did a much better job of it. In the past, disguising his true identity allowed him to walk amongst his people, in order to gauge their state of mind in secret. But with the current situation, and his travelling companions, he is having a difficult time hiding his regal attitude. He suspects his outburst at Charles was the massive tipoff to their current company. Once things settle down, he'll need to speak with everyone about this. If they're to continue travelling together, he needs to figure out how to keep his identity under wraps.

As he gets closer to the pair, Trevor finds himself reacting with recognition to Jethro. He vaguely recalls the man's face from back home... but where exactly he's not sure. For now, he simply stays silent, as the young woman with Charles is currently speaking.

[Besyanteo]

Jethro offered Myrnal a nice smile, but the continued tenseness of the camp soon saw it falter and then fade completely.

"I suppose I'll just by on my way then... See you down the road, maybe?"

[NebulaQueen]

"I'm sorry about this," says Neb, with a shake of her head. "It's just been a long trip for all of us."

She holds out her hand to Jethro, and smiles shakily. "Neb Nueva. You're a friend of theirs, I take it?"

[KingOfDoma]

Charles, feeling uninvolved for the time, went to get a skin of water. His throat was parched, and he figured someone else could do the talking for now. As he entered the tent to receive the bladder, his mind started to fix on something. He wasn't sure what, at first, but whatever it was, it would not leave him.

For a brief, fleeting moment, he wished he had his complement of maids at his beck and call, as his tent was an utter nightmare. The bedroll was all akimbo, his blanket was strewn to the opposite side, and his bag was bulging and overflowing out the top. When he was young, he was rigidly taught the way in which to make up a bed, how to tidy, things like that, in an effort to teach discipline. It had turned out, however, that the discipline stayed, but the tidiness left, as he had let his castle help take over that facet of his life. As he began the search for his water, the ungrasped thought entered the fingers of his conscious mind, and took form.

Poker.

Poker... with his wife, Hakaril, and Architect Snide, that was it. Jak was disallowed from bringing his hat, as no one could spy his tells if his entire head was obscured, and the general would have a downright uncanny knack for acquiring straights. All through the friendly (though sometimes insanely high-stakes) games, and despite Hakaril swearing up and down that money wasn't important enough for him to do so, Charles could not shake the thought that odds for Hakaril's fantastic hands were incredibly improbable... that...

Oh, that's it... Charles realized. THAT was why that image came up in his mind. When the odds against you are that high, like the odds that someone involved in the Baronian underground would up and come upon his party by complete accident, there was only one way you could surely win.

You had to cheat.

Finally finding his skin, he left the tent, opting to stand by the tent and enjoy the chilled liquid. It also put him in striking distance of his blade, which he had also found, and placed at the tent's entrance. There was a chance that this Jethro person was legitimately lucky, yes, but he'd rather hedge his bets against such odds. He would prefer that much more to going bust...

[Besyanteo]

Jethro takes Neb's hand in his own and shakes it gently. The hint of a smile returns as he replies:

"A pleasure, Ms. Nueva. And I'd like to think so, yes. We each had a hand in saving the other's lives a few months back."

He glanced over Kobakk again, still next to him and still holding a hand on his Swak. Then he looks back to Neb.

"Long trip, you say?"

[Besyanteo]

At length, the majority of those gathered still paranoid and mildly hostile, Jethro moved on down the road. Everyone bedded down, and the as per the plan the entire group moved out together the next day. They passed Jethro on the road, though this time neither side pretended to offer the other and perfunctory greeting. The day wore on and they rested the same way the next night. Dan and Charles made a few more attempts to get Myrnal to open up, which she danced around or flat out ignored just as well as the previous night. Neb questioned her hired men about what had happened, but apparently Anetta and Dan had sworn them to secrecy as well, and they would rather terminate their contracts than budge on the matter. Kobakk kept himself busy, performing tasks around camp that allowed him to avoid speaking to anyone; Chopping wood, foraging for anything they might have forgotten to bring. Leothe continued to be quiet around the strangers, and Trevor seemed more withdrawn as he reviewed revised his 'character'. Annetta remained silently taciturn as ever, unapproachable and seemingly idle. They did not see Jethro this evening.

The next day wore on much as the previous, and the night that followed. And the next night. And on and on for a fortnight. In this time they crossed the Shumans, and carefully skirted Orc territory on the other side for as long as they could. However, it eventually came to a choice between the sands of the Barren Desert and that same territory. Entering the Desert would mean giving up the carts, and going through on foot. Left without much choice, the ad hoc caravan turned south and into Orc territory...

[Shinigori V2]

Annetta busied herself with removing the scarf from her face, dusting it out, and replacing it. In doing so, one may notice a small scar on her cheek- Though certainly not enough to warrent covering the entire lower side of her face.

"There shouldn't be much to worry about." She began. "Although the orcs are, usually, savage and vicious, they're usually not too smart."

She paused for a minute, nodding to Kobakk. "Usually."

[Kelne]

"Savagery and viciousness are often more than enough to get people killed," Leothe remarked. He'd been decidedly on edge since they crossed over into orc territory. Elves and orcs did not, after all, have an amicable shared history. The two races had very different outlooks on life, and clashes between Gwa'Aag and Kalshana had been, well, vicious.

The sooner they were beyond the limits of their range, the happier he'd be. For now, he kept his eyes busy watching for movement on the plain.

[FF Fanatic 80]

The past two weeks had been interesting, to say the least. Both Daniel and Trevor had a lot on their minds, much like the rest of the group. The tension from actions weeks ago still lingered somewhat over all of them. The closest analogy either man could think of was smoke. Before it was thick and heavy, clouding their thoughts. Now, the smoke had subsided somewhat, allowing them all to concentrate on their journey ahead. But despite it clearing up significantly over the past few weeks, there is still the faint, lingering smell of that smoke. However, that is something everyone is dealing with in their own ways.

While he still feels some doubts about his ties with the Doman Monarch, for now Daniel gives him the benefit of the doubt. Charles had spent a lot of time to himself, which to Daniel signified some genuine regret over his actions. So, for the time being, he is back to his overly zealous self. Probably to the partial annoyance of Charles. If anything, Daniel is keeping an even closer eye on the monarch. If, Goddess forbid, something should happen again, he refuses to remain silent this time.

Trevor, meanwhile, kept himself busy improving his illusionary appearance and character. Recent events demonstrated the failure of his previous disguise. His actions toward Charles a few weeks ago didn't help either. So for this go around, he figured it might make more sense to play someone closely tied to someone in the group.

With their common ancestry, he decides to ask Daniel if he can pretend to be a relation of some kind. Trevor figures this will help in two ways. It'll help him to stay in-character much better, and it may help Daniel to finally start relaxing around him. After talking with him about his family, Trevor's first attempt makes their hair very similiar in appearance. To look somewhat different than Daniel, however, he gives himself the same green eyes and thick eyebrows he remembers Shelia posessing.

This version of the disguise doesn't later very long, though. Daniel and Myrnal both react in complete shock, silent for a few moments. Charles just immediately bursts out laughing for several minutes. Soon after, he's followed by Myrnal herself laughing like crazy. After having the reasons explained, Trevor can't help but laugh himself.

Deciding that would be far too much of a distraction, Trevor keeps the thick eyebrows and green eyes, but opts for differently styled short-black hair instead. He will be playing the role of Gregory Ricone, a cousin of Daniel's. Given the family's place in the nobility back home, it also provides a convenient excuse for slip-ups into regal-like behavior. How ironic, that the attitude he detested in the aristocracy may help him now.


~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~


"I wouldn't assume anything." 'Greg' tells Annetta, walking along with her and Leothe, "There's something I always hear from soldiers stationed near the orc lands. The day you start underestimate them, is the day you quickly find yourself face-to-face with Odin."


Daniel, meanwhile, feels somewhat guilty about their current situation. Despite his fairly good knowledge of Igalia's geography, he can't think of any alternatives to their current path.

"I wish I knew of an alternative... but the only other option probably isn't much safer." he explains, "Unless you happen to know of sources of water out in the desert."

(( Normally wouldn't put this in an RP post, but I just want to emphasize for everyone that Trevor is trying to hide his identity. So keep this in mind please. =x ))

[Kai]

As the days passed it became clearer that Myrnal didn't have to worry so much about the inquiries of the others. Charles and Daniel made only scant inroads, and the others had no reason to be interested in her. This was gratifying in a way that was in itself somewhat depressing. It meant she was succeeding.

Wrapped up in her own bizarre love of making herself invisible, it took Myrnal a moment to realize what Trevor was doing. The result looked like some sort of bizarre mix of Daniel's hair and Stephan's eyebrows with... with a little mixed in of an older gentleman who frequented her grandparents' tavern. When she was working there he had an amusing and surprisingly endearing habit of proposing marriage to Myrnal's grandmother to get free cookies out of her.

This was too much, and the combination of all these factors overwhelmed Myrnal's usual grim and sullen demeanor. She stared silently for a few quiet moments, and after an initial irrepressible snort of laughter she had to turn away to laugh into her hands. It was probably the first real opportunity she'd had to smile in days and fortunately it came by surprise before she could supress it for no good reason.

Trevor wasn't wrong, though. Myrnal might have to think of a better reason for heading to Baron than 'I'm with those guys.' It was actually true that she was hoping to get in touch with relatives in Baron, but even though it was the truth... the others were already claiming that.

Whatever. I'll think of something. Maybe tell the truth as a last resort.

[FF Fanatic 80]

'Greg' looks over at Dan, making an very audible sigh.

"Don't beat yourself up, cous. Seriously, it's bloody annoying. It's not like you can magically change the lay of the land here or anything. I mean, unless it's some kinda special power Ishtar grants. Now that would be pretty neat."

As he had several times at 'Greg' over the past few weeks, Daniel starts glaring at him. To himself, he wonders if he's getting just a little too in character. As much as it's annoying him, however, it's definitely working. It's hard to worry about him being King, when he's aggravating you to the point of getting ready to punch him.

"...fine. So, orc lands and much danger it is." Daniel grumbles, looking around at the others, "But we need to be more careful, then. I'm not sure the way we're travelling right now is the best idea."

[Shinigori V2]

"What would you suggest then, Daniel?" Annetta asks, honestly.

[KingOfDoma]

Gwa'AAG. Home...

Kobakk's mood was dour from the moment he heard that they were travelling into orc lands. The prospect of him meeting, even for moments, any "true" orcs was unsettling to say the least. For him, it was like having his dark side manifested in an entire people group, unfettered, raging id unleashed upon the world. As usual, the other side of the coin was that they repulsed him and attracted him at the same time. The whole idea of the id was that it was driven purely by lust, desire, whatever it can get its hands on. The intellectual and the pious would both dismiss such desires as base and beyond civilized culture, but at the end of the day, such impulses WERE what you wanted, whether you liked it or not. Only liars would say that no part of them wanted that.

In any event, they were going, and he had to deal with it. There was a chance they wouldn't encounter anyone, and just being on their land was no reason to get bent out of shape. But, if he were a local chief, he would be VERY familiar with the word "patrol"...

Even if he couldn't spell it.

[FF Fanatic 80]

"Well... uh.... we.... we could.... um..."

As Daniel tries to answer, his mind suddenly goes blank. He looks around at everyone watching him, feeling a rising sense of panic. The truth is, he's not entirely sure on the best course of action. Despite helping to protect several people over the years, it usually involved enacting someone else's plan. He rarely came up with the plans himself. In fact, the only recent time he tried, it simply involved supervising several young children of the castle's staff for a picnic. This is hardly comparable to protecting royalty and civilians from organized savages. Daniel finds himself paralyzed with doubt due to his inexperience. The stares from the rest of the group are not helping to ease that paticular feeling either.

"...I... don't entirely know." Daniel finally answers, blushing heavily with embarassment.

[pd Rydia]

The open land is before them. They can see the cover of trees in the distance, but there's miles of open plains before that, only the rolling hills to offer the briefest protection from unfriendly eyes before that. The question of how they'll begin their approach still hangs in the air.

[Kelne]

"We could travel by night," Leothe suggested, "Going to ground by day. Of course, the journey would take longer, but it would be our best chance of avoiding notice. Even so, I'm not sure how much good it would do. Our trail would still be visible, after all, and there seem few places to shelter through the day."

[Besyanteo]

No one having suggested a better plan, Leothe's idea is quickly adopted. Those who can spend the day resting, and when the light has gone the wagons begin to roll on out again. Only in the utter quiet of the night and the blackness broken only by the stars and the smallest sliver of moon light does the problem with this plan become apparent. Horses and chocobos alike make the occasional whinny or wark, the wheels of wagons and carts grind or squeak as they pass over bumps, grind the occasional stone. In the absence of waking wild life, they're the only source of sound on the plains apart from the wind.

(you've got a few days for CI stuff before I move on.)

[FF Fanatic 80]

At the time, Leothe's suggestion made sense. After all, Greg is familiar with the need to be covert himself. Cover of darkness is always an invaluable tool in remaining unnoticed.

In practice, however, it is obvious that the plan doesn't work quite so well in this instance. The animals and equipment added to the equation just don't add up to being quiet. Even if they can't be seen as easily, they're making enough noise to draw attention to themselves.

"...I'm starting to think this is not a good idea." Greg mentions to the others.

[Besyanteo]

Trevor's words, to the possible chagrin of all concerned, proved prophetic. A noxious, heavy purple mist suddenly rolled over the tiny caravan with startling suddenness, blinding and choking everyone. Even the royal carts quickly filled with the stuff, the protection they offered against a wind borne attack being negligible. The party had some time to struggle, trying to find a means of escape, but for most the attempt was fruitless. A single figure escaped the mist that night: Kobakk, at a full run, burst through the mist's edge and kept going, holding an unconscious figure in his arms, praying that his feet would find solid footing as he went, his eyes being wholly useless. Those left behind began to feel light headed and drowsy, losing motor control just as dark figures loomed over them... Myrnal and Annetta both managed to just make out odd devices over their faces, and then they all succumbed to hard, dreamless sleep.

---

Leothe, Annetta and Trevor all woke together to the sound of surprised screams. They had time to register the pain of ropes bound tightly around their ankles and wrists before a sensation of weightlessness came upon them. It was bright out, midmorning likely from the pink hue of the sky... and then suddenly black, a patch of light faster fleeing upward away from them. They were falling... somewhere. Then, just as suddenly, impact. they fell hard against something flat and rough, wood. It hurt abominably, but they suffered no injuries. Most of the screams stopped suddenly when they hit. A few of them continued.... and continued... and then were no longer audible. small clumps of dirt fell lazily around them, tapering off quickly. This place they were now in was cool, was silent, was still. They couldn't see it well, it's stark darkness too great a contrast to the severe light shining in their eyes. They could move, though only just. Something clattered suddenly nearby, a brief sound like metal slapping against metal. It was likely their equipment they realized, feeling that they were now in only their basic clothing and underthings. The wood shifted back and hit earth again with a dull thud. The sounds echoed a long time in the darkness. Eventually, silence reigned once more, save for the sound of their breathing. A male voice sounded beside, shattering the silence. Leothe recognized the voice as belonging to Anthony, one of Neb's bodyguards.

"OoooooooOOOH SHIT!"

---

Dan, Neb and Myrnal woke inside a hut, made of sticks and hay and small stones, mortared with compacted and baked mud. The work was crude but sturdy. They were sitting, bound around a pole, shoulder to shoulder. Their armor and weapons were missing, but the women would be pleased to note they they didn't hurt in any strange places and their clothing was all still in it's right place. Myrnal was faced towards a doorway leading out of the hut and out into an orcish camp, bustling with activity at mid day. Dan and Neb could see this almost as well if they turned their heads. From the door they could see a dozen other, similar huts of varying size and shape, and the open plains beyond. Orc men and women went about their business, ignoring the prison hut for now. They didn't appear to be guarded, but their field of view was very limited. They could hear a groan just beside them... Neb recognized it as being her youngest bodyguard, Paul.

---

Kobakk had eventually run to exhaustion, and collapsed on the ground. He slept fitfully, and woke early, as did his charge. However, to his dismay he discovered that he had not rescued to Ex-Monarch of Baron. Instead, he had rescued the current monarch of Doma, whose memory of the previous night was fuzzy. He had a bump on his head of unknown origin, and was now in the middle of nowhere with Kobakk. The situation was, to say the least, awkward.

(The party is now split, and all of them are in a very bad situation. Except Chuck's characters, who are now out of the RP. Don't disappoint me now.)

[Kai]

It took Myrnal several seconds to realize what was going on, or at least what must have been going on. Upon waking in a strange place Myrnal's first impulse was to find her weapons or--failing that--any weapon. Only then did she realize she'd been restrained and so had the others. In fact, the others weren't all here. There was a brief spark of panic until Myrnal reassured herself that the only person she actually cared about was still with her. That was one anxiety alleviated, though she was still faced with the responsibility of seeing that he got out of this unharmed.

But what could she do that no one else could? No one could move. They couldn't fight, they couldn't run, they couldn't--

Well. Perhaps she could. She might not be able to do much to their captors, but she could at least surprise them. From dealing with goblins Myrnal had no expectation that orcs would have any respect for cowering prisoners. Maybe there was another way.

She jolted Dan with her shoulder to make sure he was conscious. Then, after seething for a moment and trying to talk herself out of this, Myrnal took a deep breath. Toward the door before her she yelled angrily in Goblin, "Was machst Du da für Scheiße?"

Probably the last thing they expected from helpless prisoners. 'What the fuck are you doing?' Still. She wanted an explanation for this bullshit, and she wasn't going to get that until she distinguished herself from the average prisoner mewling in Common.

"Komm hier! Setz deinen Arsch in Bewegung!" Perhaps they'd heard a prisoner demand her captor get his ass in gear and come talk to her, but it couldn't have been recently. Maybe then they'd find out if this was more than a simple raid.

[FF Fanatic 80]

The nudge from Myrnal jogs something in Daniel's head, who slowly starts to move. He struggles to open his eyes, still feeling lingering effects from the gas on his conciousness. When he tries to move, however, he is quickly aware of the bindings around his arms and legs.

Then the adrenaline rush of panic kicks in, snapping him out of the haze.

"We're captured. Dear Goddess, we were taken captive.
Where is Charles? Where is Trevor? Where the bloody hell are the others?!"

The only recognizable people he can see are Neb and Myrnal. Neb seems to be slowly coming around. And Myrnal...

...is apparently screaming at someone in a weird language.

"...Myrnal, what the bloody hell happened to us?! Where are the Kings?! Where are the others?!" Daniel shouts, the panic obvious on his face.[/i]

[Kai]

"I don't know," she snapped. "But shut up, Dan. No one else needs to know our business if they don't already. So shut up. We're not going to find out what's going on until we find someone to talk to."

Myrnal wasn't certain how much good a casual conversation with the orcs was going to do, but they weren't total savages, right? That just didn't fit with what her mother had taught her but then again... her mother had been party to some strange dealings with other races, too. Myrnal was damned lucky her father hadn't been a goblin, that's how close her mother had been with them. While she couldn't expect to call on those connections now, she could at least use what she'd been taught.

Namely kick up a fit and sound authoritative. At the very least it got attention. When she had that attention they'd either kill her for being a nuisance, or come figure out just what this uppity human thought she had to be so righteous about.

She cursed a couple more times under her breath in Goblin before starting up again. "Hey! Komm hier entlang!"

[FF Fanatic 80]

Shut up?

Shut up, when he was in the middle of quite possibly the biggest clusterfuck of his entire life?

"HOW THE BLOODY HELL CAN I BE QUIET ABOUT THIS?!" Daniel shouts, the stress and anger at the situation coming forth, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT HAS HAPPENED?!"

...now to a normal person, the answer to this is obvious. However, logical thinking is not the foremost thing on Daniel's mind. Freaking out over the fate of the others is fair game, though.

[Besyanteo]

A few faces turned in the direction of the hut, but most turned away again just as quickly. Most, save for three. These, all large males, approached the hut. Two of them only wore simple hide kilts and elaborate hair dressings, while the third taking up the middle wore proper leather pants and boots, along with a mixture of face paint, something that look suspiciously like markings in blood and some dangly feather decorations around his biceps and temples. He was obviously the leader of this little band, but it was hard to say if he lead this camp or not.

They spoke to each other in a language that humans didn't recognize, wearing nasty smiles and staring at Myrnal all while they did. The orc on Myrnal's left reached out with a meaty hand for her, slowly, only to have it smacked away by his leader. Meanwhile, the orc on the Right was budy kicking Dan in the gut to silence him. He was completely winded. The other two didn't even take notice. Both orcs withdrew a step, and their faces turned serious again. The lead orc spoke in Goblin:

"Pretty human girls should keep their mouths shut.."

He bent down and rubbed her bust openly, squeezing now and then as he spoke, contempt oozing from him almost palpably. His smug smirk drew back into a snarl as he suddenly his hand shot up and gripped her jaw. He squeezed harshly, if powerful fingers digging into her cheeks and tendon. It didn't break or tear anything, but it hurt like hell.

"Or pretty girl won't be pretty for long."

He let her go, and stood straight again, already turning away dismissively.