Demon Tracks
H01: Waystation
<OOC> Urso says, "Question, where is this a waystation between? Include in your set if ya like ;)"
<OOC> Ga'Elian says, "Um, between the city Alexandria and the outlying villages in the larger countryside of the nation of Alexandros. Also, the dark and foreboding Felwood, where monsters roam and the tree grow black and twisted isn't far."
It's Tariday, Bernfleur 03 11:51:22 1020. The full moon isn't up. The tide is high and rising.
The sky is blue and cloudless, the sunlight is bright, and a cool wind blows from the northwest.
Today is a bright, sunny day with a chilly wind to temper the radiant heat of the direct sunlight. Traffic along the Kultari road sees a steady trickle of ranchers driving their herds and flocks to pasture, merchant caravans wending their way to fairs and markets, traveling entertainers heading toward hopefully paying audiences, aristocrats traveling upon holy pilgrimage or social visits with their guards and entourages, and military or knightly units patrolling the area. In short, there is traffic, but this is the countryside. Traffic here is considerably lighter than so very near or in the city. Off the side of he Kultari Road, not far from the foreboding Felwood forest, a travelers' waystation lies, welcoming the weary traveler, giving a place to rest, socialize, provision one's animals, and feel safe under the protection of the rangers who guard this rustic place. It has a covered picnic area heated by an iron stove, a little outdoor amphitheater with log seats arrayed before it, and places where travelers can set up camp.
It is here that Urso, the Sunblade of Daeus has been invited to meet with a known contact of the Iron Book, a secret interfaith organization housed at the Alexandrian temple of the sun-lord with a mission to fight the hells and the demons that spew into this world from those cursed realms. The contact is described as a wild elf that rides a griffon whose talons have iron claws and whose beak is silvery with a mirror polish. Exactly such a creature is descending at this moment through the sky, bearing upon its back a rider that could easily be a wild elf. As it touches down in a grassy area beside the covered picnic area, it furls its majestic wings. The rider, now clearly visible as an elf, looks around the area, evidently scanning for something, or someone.
The creak and rumble of iron-shod wagon wheels can be heard clattering over the few stunted roots that manage to make their way into the trafficked path. The click and 'whoa' of a carter calling his two draft horses to a halt. The large human sitting on the buckboard grabs a long handle that sticks up behind him. Pulling up a greataxe that he straps with ease upon his back, he steps down from the wagon, its springs flexing and rocking as he shifts his weight down. He speaks to the man, shaking his hand and then walks around to the back of the wagon where he pulls out a travelling ruck. He moves over to the waystation, lifting a hand to shade his eyes as the driver of the cart can be heard clucking to his horses, and the snap of the leather reigns on their rumps gets them moving the creaking rattle of the cart settling into a steady rhythm once again.
Urso glances up at the sky, hand over his eyes as he watches the small black speck outlined against the knockout blue sky. He nods to himself as if confirming something, then moves toward the low building. When he gets there, he turns and drops his ruck on the ground, hunkering at one corner of the building for a time as if waiting. He seems relaxed enough, but his eyes continuously scan the area for movement, constantly vigilant.
The griffon's rider hops lightly off of his mount, and pats it affectionately on the rump. He tells the beast, "Go get some water, my friend... and try not to scare the horses." in Sildanyari. The elf then looks around again, then strides with graceful tread and determined pace toward the covered area.
The wee Goblin woman appears along the road, in her studded leather armor and bearing a full backpack. She pauses on the road, peering at the waystation. Then something catches her eye and she starts down towards the building. Ending up with the horses, and the griffon taking its fill of water. "Erithamiel!", she calls cheerfully to the beast, walking up to him if he so allowed. "Does this mean Ga'Elian is nearby?"
Urso stands when Ga'Elian approaches, "Daeus' light be a blessing upon you, traveler." he glances around at the sound of a familiar voice. A smile plays across his features when he spots Murder over near the griffon. He turns back to Ga'Elian and studies the elf for a moment before hooking his thumbs in his breeches and leaning against the wall, propping one foot on the wall behind him. He says, "I take it you're the one that sent me the cryptic instructions?" his voice is deep and pleasant, and he seems affable enough.
Ga'Elian glances toward Murder when she speaks to his steed, and waves to her. At Urso's greeting, re smiles and replies in a mild voice with an exotic accent, "I suppose I am, in a way, although I knew not who would come in answer. I simply mentioned to a friend of mine in the Iron Book that I had found some demon tracks that I wanted to report, and asked that they send someone to meet me before the next rains come. I gather that they sent you. Did they not tell you why you were to come meet me?"
Murder hugs the beast and then glances around, spotting the two men in conversation. Rummaging through a side pocket on her pack, she offers up an apple to the griffon. The Goblin woman offers a wave when Ga'Elian waves to her, but she moves to a spot near the horses to sit. Removing her pack, she begins to look through her things.
Urso shakes his head to Ga'Elian saying, "No, one of the priests pulled me aside and simply handed me a message saying that I was to meet a griffonrider at this place. I thought it a nice enough day to see what it was all about. Demons, eh?" he glances around at Murder as she moves near to the horses and says, "I've never had truck with demons, so this should be educational. Whereabouts were these tracks?" If the oddity of getting a request for help out of the blue is unseemly to Urso, he doesn't show it. Instead he stands and shifts his greataxe back into position.
Ga'Elian says, "They're not far from here as the griffon flies. You're not afraid of heights are you? Oh, wait. You're as immune to fear as I am to sleep, aren't you?" He chuckles. Meanwhile, the griffon snatches up the apple and purrs. If Murder can see him and if she understands Handspeech, Ga'Elian signs to her, "About to fly off and look at some demon tracks with this human. Wanna come along?"
Sadly it seems the Goblin woman does not understand the subtle movements of Ga'Elian's hands, though she does look at him curiously. She looks to Urso then a moment, and then back to Ga'Elian. For the moment, Murder remains mostly out of earshot, obviously not wanting to intrude on what looks to be a rather private conversation. She glances to the griffon, and grins as the beast seems to rather enjoy apples.
The large man shrugs a shoulder and says, "It'll be a new experience, assuredly. I suppose as long as I follow instructions, there's little danger of the beast unseating me?" he glances over at Murder and says, "Will my weight be a problem?" as he begins moving with Ga'Elian toward Murder and the Griffon. He doesn't appear to pick up on the elf's Handspeech, either.
Ga'Elian walks along toward the gobber and the griffon. He replies, "Not at all. It was a bit on the uncomfortable side, but at one time during the Rune-Dran War he had to carry four riders at once, and quickly, too. He did fine, but it was a bit of tight quarters on his back. Still, it was a matter of life and death." As they arrive at the watering hole, he says to Murder, "Spoiling Erithamiel again, are you? How do you feel about another flight? We're about to go look at some demon tracks I found last night near the road."
Murder's eyes widen at the prospect of a flight, and she nods in reply. "Yes, Erithamiel loves apples it seems. And I take them along on journeys because they keep decently well enough. Hello Ga'Elian. Hello Urso!" She moves over to stand beside the griffon. "Are we going to Felwood, or a place closer to Alexandria?" The Gobber fidgets a little, seemingly anxious and excited at the same time.
Urso smiles at Murder's enthusiasm. He seems slightly relieved at Ga'Elian's reassurance that the griffon can safely handle the load. He stands, waiting for Ga'Elian and Murder to decide on the riding order since he's never done this before. "I did not even think to ask if it was in the Fel or not. S'a good thing Murder's coming along, she has a keen mind."
Ga'Elian says, "Let's sit in order of smaller to larger. That is, I'll mount, then Murder can sit in front of me, and the Sunblade can sit behind. As I don't have reins or a harness on the griffon, Murder and I will hold onto his fur (or Murder can grab the end of his Mithral shirt), and you, Urso, should hold onto my torso. He flies smoothly most of the time, but there are gust of wind, especially today, and take off and landing can be a bit jarring. The tracks are near the Felwood, but not deep far enough off the road for comfort. It should only take about 10 minutes to fly there. In the meantime, I recommend keeping your eyes open. If you've never seen a bird's-eye view of the world around you before, it could change your whole idea of the lay of the land. Before we take off, I also have a spell to cast on Erithamiel and one to cast upon the three of us. His will strengthen his wings, and the one on us will make sure we are comfortably warm and suffer not from the thinness of air if we are, for some reason under need to climb very high."
GAME: Ga'Elian casts Strong Wings. Caster Level: 16 DC: 14
GAME: Ga'Elian casts Life Bubble. Caster Level: 16 DC: 16
Murder grins at Urso's praise, but shakes her head. "You flatter me. Still, your height is a key advantage here, you have a better perspective than I do." She looks to Ga'Elian then when he speaks of how things will proceed, and the little woman nods when he is done. The griffon gets some attention from her, a gentle petting along his side while she waits for the appropriate spells to be cast. "Erithamiel flies very well, Urso. You'll be safe. And it is a humbling view."
Urso nods to the Elf and says, "I thank you for the clear instruction." he stands patiently as he casts his spells, then nodding to Murder says, "I can imagine it is. I should be fine though, heights do not normally cause me an issue." he grins at her and once she and the elf climb aboard, he gently climbs the side of the griffon and seats himself behind Ga'Elian. Gripping the elf's torso firmly he says, "Alright, I think I'm ready.
Ga'Elian says, "Alright Erithamiel, take us up!" in Sildanyari. The griffon runs along a straight bit of lawn that is unobstructed, the power of his lionlike hindquarters visceral under the riders, then spreads his wings to their full 25-foot span and catches the air as he literally jumps into the sky. Soon the waystation is left behind as the open country spreads out below. The rhythmic beating of the beast's wings mark a cadence as the road passes below. Ga'Elian speaks into the wind, "We'll be heading there," and points as the griffon already shifts from his climb to the start of a controlled descent.
A grunted exclamation can be heard from Urso when the beast launches itself into the air, but the only concession to the nerves he must be feeling on his first flight, is a slight tightening of his hands on the elf's torso. Finally after a few moments, he feels secure enough to push himself slightly back from the Elf and relax his grip some. He makes a noise of assent, only heard slightly over the sound of the wind. He listens as Murder asks her question, but he seems intent on watching the landscape unspool beneath them. The view is, indeed, entrancing, and he even leans out slightly to get a better view of the rill of the road, like a brown river through the landscape as it twists and turns to follow the natural lay of the terrain. His face isn't visible but if it were, the expression of delight on his face speaks of a deep satisfaction at finding out what it is to fly for the first time.