[IC] Fantasy - War of the Burning Sky

[sheldrine]

It might have been the largest caravan any of you have ever seen. It wound both in front and behind group of wagons you were in almost to the limits of sight in some places. Fourteen separate caravans joined together to create this massive caravan -- at least half were elves making their way to Shahalesti, the rest Gate Pass citizens and a few Dassenites. They were all hoping to reach home before war broke out, and by joining into a massive caravan, they thought they could get through the Ragesian line.

It was no surprise to anyone in Ragesia that the Ragesian armies were mustering for war. There are several thoughts on why this is happening (the death of Coaltongue forcing the Ragesians to prove they are not weak, or perhaps internal politics pushing one or more players to consolidate power through conquest), but there is no doubt that at least two armies are on the march. Everyone in and out of Ragesia hoped that war would not have to come -- the common thought was that the Ragesian army would threaten Gate Pass with an overwhelming display of force and after a short siege the city would submit willingly. Those of you from Gate Pass, though, knew that would never happen. You, more than anyone, knew that war was inevitable.

The group of you are part of Drodoc's caravan -- neither the largest nor the smallest of the caravans joined up. Several of you have been travelling with Drodoc for some time -- Straton Tenches and Talus Ryn have served as merchant guards under the command of your guard leader Faoldan. While you each have had better and worse assignments, you are generally pleased with your current situations. There is a fair amount of amicability among the guards, Faoldan is a good leader -- although he is young and talented, his ego isn't a problem (he routinely discusses minor problems with the guards at large -- paying particular attention to Straton's opinion as the elder statesman). The rest of the guards (Sevoin, Lelikin, Bowin, Kaohar, and Sevit) complete the eight-man unit that has fought together and worked together for several months now. In an area with such a high mortality and turnover rate, the stability of this unit is unusual.

In addition to your typical goods, you are carrying more than you share of passengers (almost certainly because of the hostilities). Since balancing shipments is nearly impossible, and it is foolish to abandon wagons and teams, Drodoc would routinely fill extra wagon space by hiring out for transporting travelers. The price would vary depending on where he was going and how much extra wagon room he had available. But on this trip, the wagons were full, and yet Drodoc still took on dozens of travelers -- they were given a small amount of storage on the wagons, but they were all obligated to walk or ride -- again a first in your experience.

There is the traveling merchant, down on his luck, that they picked up in southern Ragesia. A skinny fellow, who looked haunted (as if all of hell rode after him), he introduced himself as Angelis. Before long, however, the reason for his haunted look became apparent. Though he tried to hide it, it was clear that he was a mage -- and being a mage in Ragesia is a dangerous proposition. Still, Drodoc took him in and allowed him to travel with the caravan without question.

There is Aaori, the young girl the caravan picked up in the monastery outside Dassen. A remarkably sweet girl (no more than sixteen), she has the ability to see instantly when someone is having problems, and it always there with a hug and a kind word. Still, most don't enjoy her company, as her eyes have the disturbing capacity to make you feel as if she is looking at your soul.

There is the bizarre elf, Cahald Robert, that the caravan picked up along the side of the road. Just as the lead wagon on a narrow stretch of road began to have problems with one of its spindles, he happened to be sitting there. What's more, he happened to be carrying a hacksaw (why in the world was he carrying a hacksaw?). Still, he traded the hacksaw for passage, and with the saw's help the spindle was repaired and the caravan lost no time.

There is Rhody Cottar, the elf from Gate Pass. Many of you knew him as a key force in the resistance when Gate Pass was invaded several decades ago. He wouldn't speak of why he was in Ragesia, but most of you assumed it was on some mission for the Resistance. Still, Drodoc accepted him and used his woodsmanship to assure safe passage for the caravan.

There is the self-proclaimed greatest wizard at Gabal's School in Gate Pass -- Ellory Milgamar. Although he appears to be a decent enough fellow, no one wants to spend much time talking to him -- or else they will hear (ad nauseum) how the four elements are really just one element and magic, energy, and matter are all composed of the same material.

There is the gnome, Rivereye Badgerface, who was a former servant in Ragesia. The gnome is blindingly ugly, and based upon the way he flirts with every female of every species completely unaware of it.

There is the man they picked up in southeastern Ragesia, James von Muench. He looked more likely to attack the caravan than get a ride, and several of the guardsmen had their hands on their hilts as they saw him in the distance. He was waiting on his horse for the caravan when it arrived, and Drodoc greeted James like an old friend. He joined the caravan without the wheels of the wagons stopping from rolling.

There is Vuhan, a hulking brute of a man. He boasts, loudly and long, about his time as a pit fighter -- and from the scars and the giant blade at his back you are left with no reason to dispute it.

Then there is the mute. He wrote out his name as Régnier Alevi, but he didn't mix with the caravan as a whole. His behavior was skittish, as he kept his back to the wall and his eyes on the horizon constantly. Several times, he appeared to be having episodes of some kind, but although his mouth would open his screams were silent. Regnier never wrote what they were, despite the obvious concern by several of those around him. He too rode a horse.

These, together with twenty more, were part of Drodoc's caravan. The caravan began its long trek in the beginning of November, and steadily picked up passengers until late in the month. Now, the caravan has been in its current condition for nearly a month. The caravans were set to arrive in Gate Pass by December 5th, but it is now December 21st -- and you are still at least a week out of Gate Pass. Several brutal (and unseasonable) snowfalls have slowed the caravan's progress to a crawl at times, and the weather is getting much colder. As the caravan climbed to the higher elevation, this problem only became worse. Those of you that come from Gate's Pass still hold out hope that you may arrive before January 1st because that is the day of the Festival of Dreams celebration. But it is beginning to look more and more unlikely.

It is in these circumstances that your caravan reaches the picket lines of the 2nd Ragesian army.

[Hannes665]

Angelis covers his staff with a old blanket and the hides away in the caravan. Trying to be as unnoticeable as possible. Pulling his blanket up to his neck and pretend to be a sleep.

[ErhnamDJ]

Straton fights back against the icy wind as he makes his way up to the front of the caravan.

[sheldrine]

Originally Posted by ErhnamDJ

Straton fights back against the icy wind as he makes his way up to the front of the caravan.

The wind whipping snow from the ground up to obscure his view, he makes his way to the front of Drodoc's caravan. There he finds Drodoc and Faoldan, both looking ahead at the first part of the joint caravan making contact with the lines some 100 yards ahead.

[ErhnamDJ]

Are the wagons stopping?

[sheldrine]

Originally Posted by ErhnamDJ

Are the wagons stopping?

The wagons have come to a stop. A long line has formed, as the first caravan in the group came into contact with the military lines. The rest of the caravans coming to a stop behind them.

Drodoc's caravan (the one you are all a part of) is the second caravan company in line. The first has perhaps 15-20 wagons, and it is clear in front of you (what little you can see with the snow being blown) that the head of the caravan is in conversation with someone from the Ragesian military. The army is (at least temporarily) blocking the caravan, but is otherwise not engaged in any hostile actions.

[ErhnamDJ]

"Wrong time of year for this kind of thing, isn't it?" Straton mutters. "They'll freeze their own army."

[sheldrine]

Originally Posted by ErhnamDJ

"Wrong time of year for this kind of thing, isn't it?" Straton mutters. "They'll freeze their own army."

Faoldan looks at Straton and says, "That's why you are too smart to ever run an army. Of course, there is never a good time for war, but the generals will find one anyhow."

[Epic Kobold]

Squidslayer Bob was walking alongside the second wagon to the front of Drodoc's caravan (on which he stowed his backpack) contemplating the vivid dream he had the night before...something about beings traveling among the stars in great vessels and dueling with brightly colored glowing swords. Many of the details were lost but there was definitely some sort of political struggle and a powerful villain dressed entirely in black with some sort of respiratory problem...

His attempts to call up the lost details were defeated entirely when he saw the picket lines. His smooth temperament betrayed, he grimaced at the warriors and pulled his cloak tighter around himself being sure to cover the ink in the skin of his left arm and hand.

His mind went to the spell slingers in the party and tried to take an account of their current locations from memory. He observed the scene for a moment before moving forward with his old friend.

"That's Ragesian troops for ya," Bob added "If brains were taxed, they’d all get refunds."

[Skullcrusher]

Talus leans on his spear as he walks through the snow and the wind. He follows the veteran warrior to the front of the caravan. Keeping quiet while trying to endure the cold. He nodds in agreement with Straton's assement of the Armys situation as he keeps an eye on the army ahead.