"I am sorry there, small elven girl," the big man covered in armor from head to toe. All I could see were his eyes, said to me with a booming voice.
"Oh it is ok do not worry," I say a little nervously as for the last time a giant man like this was around he almost killed me.
"Dear are you ok, you seem a little shaken?" an old woman's voice came from the one side of the giant man.
I didn't even notice there were two others. They were standing by the man, but hidden partly by his wide demeanor, and bulky attire. The old woman was frail looking, with a little hunch. Her hair was long, and prue white. She wore pretty blue robes with golden trim. It looked soft to the touch. I wanted to touch them, but I stopped myself. I had not seen a high elf in a long time. She somehow kept a beauty to her, for being an elder.
"Oh yes I was just a little startled by the run in, but I assure you I am as good as I can get."
"This is why you should be watching where one is walking Rak," the other person said in a deep monotone voice. He was a wood elf for sure, slender, but he had a nice build, dark shaggy hair, and a nice sculpted face. He had green eyes and copper skin. He wore long pants, a fur cloak, and had on moccasins.
"Um well ok then. I guess I will be on my way then," I say with a smile.
I start to walk away before realizing I did not actually finish looking at the board to see if there were clues or not. I turn back around and they all are looking at the board as well.I just stand next to them awkwardly as they turn their heads to see me, and I see them I smile, and just look back to the board. As we are standing there a beautiful tiefling woman purple skin, with a tight form fitting dress her boobs barely fitting inside of it. Her hair black as night laying nicely on her shoulders, comes walking over. I turn to give a friendly hello. She just looks me up, and down then back at the board. I turn my head back to see out of the corner of my eye a symbol of a circle with three stars. My eyes widen, and I go to grab it at the same time the big armored man also reaches it for it. I smile at him, he just looks at me with both our hands on it.
"Sorry but I need this more than you do. Please pick something else," I say in the nicest way I can.
"Sorry little girl, but this has the biggest reward so I need this more."
"I really insist that I have this so let go," I say trying to tug it out of his large hands.
"I said I cannot do that. Now give me the paper miss or I will have to force it out of your hands."
"Give it to me I need this please."
He yanks the poster out of my hands, and walks off with his two friends by his side. I watch them walk towards the forest clearing. That is when I notice the tiefling following them as well. A poster in her hand. I decided to follow them as I needed that poster with the symbol. I follow quietly behind them as they head to their first stop.
"We know you are following us so no need to sneak around." said the male wood elf.
"Look I know we do not know each other, but I really need that poster. If not can I go with you all. I am more than willing to split or just let you have the reward. I just need to know why that symbol is on that poster."
The large man looks at the poster then back at me then back at it again. He then sees the symbol, and hands me the poster.
"Here you are. I do not mind having extra people tag along for a long time. We clearly have another woman tagging along with us so shall we maybe introduce ourselves before continuing on this journey," the large man said in a friendly manner.
"Well I will start," said the old woman. "My name is is a pleasure meeting you."
"I am Faeranduil Eilrora, but you can call me Fae for short if you would like," said the wood elf.
"May I introduce myself as the loyal warrior of justice, and light Rax, at your service," said the large man with confidence, and a strong stance.
"I am Meize. I just followed you all because you seemed like a fun bunch to go with, and I need some money after spending it all on the ladies in the brothel. I need to get more so I can get myself pleasured more often. The women in there are wild," she said with a sultry yet appealing way.
"My name is Drusillia. It is nice to meet you, and thank you for giving me this poster, and helping me hopefully with my search for this man… I mean the hound they are looking for?" I say in confusion as I finally read what the bounty was for. Why were they looking for a hound? As my mind wandered for a few moments, the old high elf touched my shoulder to signal we were moving out.
The first thing we did was go and stop by the local apothecary Treasures of the Wood. As we approached, the place we spotted a large dog lounging outside the establishment, though clearly of a different breed than the one that was described on the poster. The one named Illyria approached the golden-furred hound, it vanished into thin air. As we all entered the shop, we saw the dog dog beside its owner, an elderly wood elf named Savin.
"Welcome come on in, I have lots of goodies for you to buy, and see," he said in a rather eerie, but nice tone.
"This is my hound named Ovad. He is a blink dog which is how he can vanish and reappear so soon," Savin explained to us.
He showed us around his shop of all the positions he sold, along with somehow Rax being able to secure us a 15% percent discount on all future purchases. The thing was we needed to help him with an issue he was having.
"Could you by chance help me reclaim the cavern from which I have been able to harvest pixie slippers, a rare and valuable fungus. The cavern had recently been overtaken by a pair of ogres, and I am unable to get the things I need for potions, and whatnot," he exclaimed in a pleading tone.
"Of course old man we shall help you. You are willing to give us a discount on your goods, we can help with killing these orges for you no problem," Rax said in a confidence staring Savin right in the eyes.
We chose to do the hound search first before the ogres. I was ok with this, but also a little uneasy as to not sure how long my brother would be ok or if he even was. I led them carefully into the forest, using the survival skills I learned from my druid training, to find the location where the dog had last been seen. After a few hours of searching, we happened to stumble upon a seemingly-empty campsite in the middle of the forest. A rabbit roasted on a spit above a small campfire, and a bedroll was laid out under a lean-to. Moments after our arrival, a man with shaggy black hair and a thick beard appeared from the nearby treeline.
"Uh hello there. Can I help you all. Is there something you are trying to take from my little camp here, or were you trying to attack me?" the shaggy man said.
"Oh hi um no we were not. We are looking for a hound that was described in this poster, have you by chance seen him?" I hold up the poster for him to look. As he glances down he makes an odd face then looks back to me.
"So sorry dear I have not heard nor seen an animal like that."
"Oh I am sorry for disturbing your campsite. Might I ask why you are out here? Also what your name might be?"
" Finn LaDarreon, and I am a hunter. Anything else you need to know?" he said, a little annoyed. He stared at us grabbing onto his two shortswords ready for anything.
"Sir we do not want to fight, but I would like you to answer some questions. Hopefully there will not be a problem. You seem a little defensive," Rak said, stepping closer to him.
Finn drew a pair of shortswords from beneath his cloak and held them in a defensive position. "I do not want any trouble so please leave now!"
"Why are you so scared sir we only want you to talk. Now I do not want to get rough with you, but you seem to be hiding things, and we need those things to come to light" Rak said in a demanding tone.
"Haha you can sure try you big oaf, but trust me on that this fight will end with me walking out of here, and all of you dead or on the brink of it," he snarled at Rak.
"Rak I think we should let him go. He seems dangerous, and very confident in taking us on. I do not trust we can win this as we are right now," Fae said with a stern, and little nervousness in his tone.
Rak looked at Fae, and then at the rest of us. He stood down letting Finn feel at ease to not attack. That day I had no idea I could have gotten some answers I truly needed. As for when FInn left, Illyria noticed that his shortswords were of fine quality, and that each of them had a small ring encircling a trio of stars near the crossguard. I wonder how much he would have known about my brother. Upset with not noticing until he was gone, I chose to just push on, and hope to find help later down the line.
We decided to continue searching for Vethek, but could not seem to locate the creature despite leaving offerings of food and calling its name into the forest. We soon gave up on the prospect of finding the dog, we made our way to the hillside cavern described by Savin.
"So um what exactly is our plan of action now that we are here? How will we get the ogres to come out of the cave? Do you think we can take them?" I ask, scared, but also excited. I have not fought much, but I guess I have to train somehow.
"Frail one we will bring them out by calling them out of course," Rak said this as though he had done this before. I just looked at him unsure if he really thought about what was going on, or the people he was with.
"I might be able to help with the sound of your voice with a tiny spell I know Rak," Meiz called to Rak. "All I have to do is amplify the sound to a point where they will be scared enough to come out."
Meize used her thaumaturgy to amplify Rak's voice in order to lure the ogres to the entrance of the cave. Sure enough, they emerged and we readied ourselves for combat.
"Lets get them now!" Rak yelled forth. It really was quite the thrill to start charging.
Fae leapt up into a tree bow pulled arrow ready for aim. Mieze formed these sparks of energy preparing for a spell, Illyria got out her crossbow kneeling onto the ground looking for the perfect shot, Rak charging in sword ready for the strike, and I stood there pulling out my scimitar for a strike. I rush forth with Rak to give him extra back up. My legs just took me. I was not expecting it. I really had no control over my legs; they just kept pushing forth. Fae flung his arrow forward the same time Illyria did as well. Their combat was so insync of each other it was amazing. Both of them hitting the ogre in its body. He did not seem to really mind the arrows as they looked like toothpicks to him.
"Hey pay attention girly we are in a fight right now," Rak shouted at me bringing my mind back into focus enough to dodge out of the way of a flying boulder the orge threw at me.
This is my moment to prove myself to the world and this group of people that I am a force to be recon with. I look up at the ogre with determination to get back at him for throwing the rock at me. I rush towards him to slice my weapons into him. As I go for the swing I trip and miss him completely. I cannot believe I missed this giant thing of flesh. I turn to see him looking at me as he swings his arm hitting me right into a tree. It hurt like, and knocked the wind right out of me. I fall to the ground trying to catch my breath. I look over to see Rak blast him with a spell I have never seen before, then flinging his sword right into the orge. Then Meiz blasted him with acid, and bolts of energy. I just kneel there staring at these people as they fight like they have been doing it all their life. As I on the other hand again get defeated so easily. It is upsetting. I get up to stand as they defeat the ogre. As soon as I start walking over another orge comes out. A female. Seeing that her mate has been killed she starts charging towards the group.
"Watch out!" I shout over to Rak as the ogre woman goes flinging her club at him.
He gets thrown off his balance for a quick moment then plants his feet sternly back on the ground gearing up for a counter attack. I look over as everyone prepares for the next fight against this giant foe. I cannot get lost in the dust again this time. I have to fight to get stronger. I think hard about what to do, and a battle strategy. That is when it hits me. I cast my thorn whip to wrap around the orge woman's neck and try to pull back with all I had.
"Rak hurry and slice her head off! I cannot hold much longer!" I say as i struggle to keep her in place pulling tight so the thorns dig deep into her neck.
Rak jumps up onto the ogre woman and swings his sword right into her neck chopping it right off. The body starts spraying blood everywhere soaking the grass and dirty. It was a horrid site to be seen. I had never seen someone get their head chopped off, only heard stories.
"Is everyone good? Drusillia was it? You took a beating, are you going to be ok?" Illyria asked.
"Yea I am good. I can mend my wound later." I looked down to see a gash in my side, probably from a branch or something when I went flying.
We tried to loot the ogres in case they had anything of use,but sadly found nothing of interest in the ogre den. There was however a sealed passageway that revealed a chamber dimly lit by luminescent moss, with interwoven rings of delicate pink fungi traced across the ground.
"Wow this is so pretty," I say in amazement.
I had not seen anything like this before, and was stunned by it. I helped pick some of it for the shopkeeper to bring back to him. He was happy with it for sure. He ended up keeping his word, and giving us the discount for bringing him back the pink fungi and pixie dust to help with his positions.
"Ok well I do not know about you two ladies, but my team and I are going back to the inn to drink, and rest," Rak said as he turned to leave.
Me and the other girl decided we would go back for a drink, and some rest. We enter the inn/tavern. We all sit at a table together, and drink, talking about the battle, and the cool things that happened during it. We all got pretty drunk to the point I started to get drowsy. A thought of my brother crosses my mind, making me feel sad. I get up telling the group I was heading to my room. They wave bye, and I head up the stairs.
I enter the room taking deep breath tears filling my eyes. I walk over to the window looking up at the sky, the wind drying my face from crying.
"Hang in there Sy please I am coming to find you."