The Caravan

[Drakkon]

In the world of Kil'al a Caravan of merchants and mercenaries enters the outskrits of the town of Brim. As with most hero's of old, their fates are hidden from them. Although none can say wither they shall succeed, or freeze from the creeping frost of despair, and death. As the fates of these people have been unintentionally intertwined with one another.

Dexter pulled on the reins of his Oxen, Mort, and Grim. Bringing his wagon and cart to a halt. They were perhaps ten minutes walk from Brim, a simple town with simple people. Populated mostly by Dwarves the rules here are perhaps modified versions of the Moain'gal Kingdom laws. Hopping off his wagon he rolled his shoulders. "Alright, you can run off to see the new sites immediately or you can be cautious and set up your part of camp in case it starts raining before you get back." He called out to the others of the Caravan.

While he himself had little to do, he pointed at Shiv, one of his Shadow Knight bodyguards. "Shiv, I want a CAMP fire, With WOOD. Understand? And if you can't find wood do not steal any from some random house again." He explained. Shadow knights were good warriors, but not the best thinkers. If anything Dexter was more annoyed with them then proud. Although with the occasional group of bandits they're usefulness can outweigh the unintelligent. Especially in Velin, the most troubled part of the world.

"Isis, do an inventory check, see what we have to sell. Gregor get back on the cart. Your still in trouble for almost letting that little thief do away with out goods last week when you tried chasing that squeaker." He snapped, pointed at the cart and speaking as one would a dog who tore up the furniture.

With a sharp turn he pointed at Grim. Who was simply standing there. "The second smartest minion I have is a blasted Ox. I'll catch you doing something yell able one day." He vowed, it was an on going game for him. As he had yelled at every corporeal minion he had save for the ox. As of last month he almost obsessed with trying to catch it doing something stupid to no avail.

Dexter leaned back on his wagon, watching everyone either leaving or setting up. The group was small, and an odd assortment. Mostly half elves and a human. He wouldn't mind the money wise Dwarven type, but he always accepted what he had. Right now what he had was a good bunch of traveling companions.

More or less.

[Lost Goddess]

Anahlie heard Dexter give permission to leave the caravan, but they needed to be cautious. Anahlie however was on her stallion Lurana and dismounted. After her feet touched the ground Anahlie began setting up her medium sized tent, and once that process was finished she sat down outside of her tent, but kept her eyes wary of her surroundings. She had felt a sense of protection for Dexter ever since he allowed her to join his caravan. She was a sorceress merc for hire, but her loyalty to dexter came first above all.

(hope this is ok)

[andrinaandug]

The blond elf was hidden deep within the green shades of the bushes and leaves of the many trees whom covered through the forest. His back was leaned against the wood of the tree whom wasn't the most comfortable thing to lean on but he had no choice. His knees we're bent down just enough to not sit down on the ground but just lean there hiding within the shades as his prey has not yet taken notice of him.

Xephos's grip onto his wide arch tightened as his ears perked up to listen to every little movement going on in the forest. Being an elf gave him an advantage of being able to hear better than others and he slowly little by little he decreased his focus from the forest itself until it was targeted only onto his next victim. Hearing its every breath it took out from its lungs, every foot step it took, every little movement with its head while it ate.

Slowly Xephos leaned his head backwards and forward to get a quick glimpse of his prey; it was a very large and beautiful grizzly bear who would be Hell to put down but it was just enough challenge to get him stirred up. Going back to his former position Xephos looked over at his mate for this hunt; neko. Neko was the best option for this hunt for though he would handle the huge grizzly bear best.

Neko had a special ability of being transparent and so none could see him at all unless they really focus and notice a bit of movement. He was waiting for his masters cue to attack and as Xephos slowly and quietly pulled an arrow out of the bag of arrows that was lying down next to him he aimed the arrow towards the bear shooting it through till it hit him right in the chest. And that was the cue for Neko to attack and bring that huge beast down to the ground.

[X]

Azkharad laid quietly in his hammock, above the trunks containing his wares, staring up at the wooden top of his wagon and wondering how he could combine a ward undead enchantment with a projection spell, because who knew when you might need to block off a tunnel from zombies. He was immediately kicked from his thoughts when the wagon suddenly ground to a halt and the front lowered slightly onto its legs.

"The caravan has stopped master... We have reached our destination..." Durus' deep, slow voice sounded off in his mind, he could hear the large knight moving around to the back of the wagon even as he thought the next command. The single door on the back of the wagon lowered, and there stood Durus, looking stern and menacing as usual. Az started shifting into his dragon form as he crawled out of the hammock, the transformation complete as soon as he leaped out of the wagon and onto Durus' shoulders.

The pair circled back around the wagon, intently watching as Dex ordered his minions around, the process always at least slightly amusing to him. "I suppose we should at least set up the wagon, then we can head into town and advertise a bit..." Durus began pulling slim posts from the sides of the wagon, and holding them up so that Azkharad could charge the crystals attached to them. After that was done the four posts were planted in the ground at the four corners of the wagon.

When the last one was placed a shimmering dome of what seemed like water was visible for a moment, then vanished. This was one of Az's most practical creations, a fusion of ward-pylon theory, a ward water enchantment, and a force-field spell. Durus turned to face Dex, still obsessing over trying to catch Grim messing up. A bemused look crossed Azkharad's snout at that, the necromancer had made it his goal to find something wrong with the ox for at least a month now. "Is there anything else that needs doing, or can we go and set up some fliers?"

[Drakkon]

Dexter raised an eyebrow at Az. The Enchanter was one of those more or less fellows. He fit in more with Dwarves then Elves, which actually suited his being in the town just fine. "Well you can make a fire for cooking later but you can leave now if you wish. As I said I don't care what you do it's your health." He stated, motioning off to the town. "You should have good business, another smallish town probably lacking with a decent enchanter, or any at all. Just keep your prices fair is my one rule besides no stealing for this Caravan. Some of us may be..." He paused, looking over at Isis telling Gregor not to eat some of the cloth. "..questionable." He sighed. With a short flick of his wrist the Shadow Knight's head jerked back violently. "Listen to the specter!" He yelled at it. "But we don't need witch hunters and the like having a reason to think we're all corrupted and spike our heads outside their houses now do we?" He went right back to the topic at hand.

As Az began walking to the town Dexter moved almost ghost-like to the horse Xephos had tethered to the back of his cart. "Blasted half prince-ling." He mumbled under his breath so no one could hear him. It was something of those odd dealings Dexter makes off side. Most weren't legal per say. But this was an exception to that. The Xephos brought in some money with his hunting, Dexter didn't spread it around that the half-prince of Luna was traveling around with merchants and Mercenaries. Or freelance warriors as some of the self-claiming professionals countered. Xephos wanted to be seen in a different light, and Dexter needed a living companion for the long roads. So it all worked out, mostly. However, the hunting trips did annoy him slightly as it usually had the boy's horse tied to the back of his cart.

He turned back to the camp. "Ana, Lauriel. There may not be too too much mercenary work in a town this small, if you want you can stay here or if you prefer just walk around. Who knows maybe some king in hiding needs an escort." He told them, rolling his shoulders. Shiv had managed to get a fire going, a little bigger then what Dexter wanted but good enough. "Also it looks like I'm sharing a fireplace tonight." He commented, going back to his wagon to get his Merchant cloths on. He didn't want to freak the townspeople out, Isis did that enough if someone tried touching her.

[Lost Goddess]

Anahlie stood as Dexter spoke to her and nodded. She walked over to her horse and mounted the stallion. Then she kicked her heels into the horses' side and the stallion took off at a full gallop. Her hair flowing behind her along with her dress. While Anahlie was gone her tent always glowed a strange yellow color, the runes on the canvas lighting up. What most in the camp didnt know, is that it was a way of Anahlie knowing if the camp would be in danger. She had set the spell up on that tent long ago when Dexter had first accepted her into the group.

She was nearly halfway to the town when she stopped sensing something or someone watching her. She dismounted her horse and whistled a clear and magically enhanced sound that carried for miles, all the way back to the Caravan camp. The whistles intent was to warn Dexter that there may or may not be trouble soon. She had devised this a few days after she met dexter when her life was almost taken by an assassin hired by the city guards of the humans city.

She closed her eyes and opened her senses to the world around her. She was sure there was something out there, and it was coming closer. Whatever it was it was frightened and running towards her. The wind picked up as Anahlie prepared to fend off whatever was coming towards her. She opened her eyes and they were glowing a silvery white tint.

Back at the caravan, Anahlies tent flew around wildly as the wind rune was taken of the tent and flying towards where Anahlie had taken off to. The Golden rune zoomed past Dexter and his minions and swept through the ghostly spectre causing her to fade a little then return to normal. There was no wind around Anahlies tent now.

[Car'mael]

Lauriel rolled his eyes at Dexter's comment about escorting a King. Being more a Healer than a mage, who'd want him to guard them?

So he finished setting up his own tent as well as tethering his donkey, Tap. Unlike the others, he had no massive horse or wagon to carry what little he owned, and often walked the roads to relieve Tap of extra burden. Besides which, most recognized the trademark green scarf of a Healer around his neck and hanging from the donkey's bridle, sometimes flagging him down to make sure a broken bone was set right and healing or a deep cut wouldn't get infected. His small tent he tended to set up by Az's wagon, to share the fire and sometimes talk shop, though he had a thin ten-foot green wood pole he set up in front of his to let the donkey's scarf fly like a banner from it.

It advertised for him, but that business sometimes spilled over.

Lauriel didn't grudge others getting the bigger piece of the magical pie, so to speak. His own services were simple, cheap, everyday items and concerns, while they in turn took on the deeper and stronger magics. So while Az and Durus set up the wagon, he helped with Dexter's minions on establishing the main fire and a second cooking one closer to himself and Az (hey, it let him establish his tent so that it kept the side warm).

"Is there anything else that needs doing, or can we go and set up some fliers?"

"I'll lend you a hand," he offered the Druid, brushing dirt off his robes from kneeling to set up the two fire-pits. He set off with Enchanter-Druid, wrapping his neck-scarf closer about his ears. "Who knows--someone might want my help in the village."

In return for helping the others with bringing water and dealing with small stuff, he earned a small share of food. That was enough for him. Others might wish for wealth, power, or reknown. So far, he was happy just staying alive. Maybe eventually he'd like a less tenuous existence as well, but just being alive was a good start, in his opinion. It beat being murdered back home.

[XShy_OrchidX]

At Dexter's orders, Rowenna pulled the reins in her hands making Brina stop. It was time to set her tent. She got off her mare quickly and started to unpack, in a few minutes her small tent had been raised. It was nothing flashy, but large enough that her small 5'5'' frame fitted in comfortably.

"Well Brina seems that we still have some things to do before resting" She said to her animal friend. Looking around Rowenna decided to go into the closest town, maybe someone around could use her talents and abilities. Rowenna's abilities were more limited to telekinesis, but if she tried hard enough she could also conjure small illusions. Her services consisted, mostly, of moving big heavy objects that people couldn't simply move, like boulders or construction materials. Her clients consisted mostly of elderly widows or women who didn't have a man that was chivalrous enough to help them, but that didn't mean that men didn't required her services either.

She urged her mare to move towards the town, Rowenna was ecstatic to see what new challenges and experiences the new town brought on.

[X]

The dragon Azkharad looked down from his rather lofty perch on Durus' shoulder at Lauriel, they were from the same city and in somewhat of the same business, though Lauriel perhaps had chosen a more practical branch of magic. "I am sure you will find customers here, these small towns don't get to see magical healers very often, so I'd wager there will even be those wanting old wounds checked out." Durus held his right forearm horizontal to the ground now, and Az almost slithered down his armor to rest on it, now almost level with Lauriel's head. "Besides, these dwarves are always hurting themselves trying to.save a bit of coin." Az tapped his snout knowingly with one long, scaly finger.

They were nearing the town now, almost at the gates, and it dawned on Azkharad that he had not yet created the fliers he planned to use. "What do you suppose we should put on the fliers anyway?" He asked before climbing back up Durus' arm and withdrew a small stack of parchment from a small tube on the knight's back. Az began to absent mindedly draw patterns in the corners with a clawed finger, trying to come up with something creative.

[Drakkon]

Dexter raised an eyebrow at the increased wind, Azkharad, his Golem, and Lauriel were already gone. Rowenna was a bit ahead of them. Xephos as usual was off somewhere else. But they were heading the same direction so hopefully, they'd notice.. if not. "Isis! go tell Az and his blasted Golem to round up everyone as best he can and be quick about it!" As she was flying over to town he blinked a bit. "Try not to give dead giveaways about being.. dead! And when I say be quick about it both of you be quick!" He called. Although as they were walking, it did not actually take long for Isis to reach Az and his Golem. She smiled in the sad way she tended to do.

"Azkharad.. Dexter requests that you round up everyone you can. It appears something is amiss and it worries my master." She spoke softly, and carefully. She was a pale form of an elven juvenile. Perhaps cute in appearance but not beautiful. Her dress was something merchant daughters wore about a decade ago. However shy she seemed, or timid she always smiled. A Dexter once explained it ghosts look sad no matter how happy they actually are, something about being dead. They were also fairly limited, being only able to affect objects and never people.