Chapter One: Journey Into The Fey Forest

Overhearing Sigurd speak to Zane about what kind of animal he was made Ashwyn chuckle again. She had been witness to Sigurd's tribes...."special traits"...several times. It would be interesting when it was revealed to the others. When he answered her question about future hunting, she nodded silently before pulling a spade from her pack and beginning to dig a hole to bury the rabbit bones in.

When she heard the buzzing sound, she froze. Her sensitive elf ears told her that something very large was heading their direction. Glancing at Sigurd she could tell he heard it too. She dropped the spade and lowered herself into a defensive stance.

"Be wary. Something approaches." She pulled out her bow and nocked an arrow before listening carefully, trying to decide from what direction the buzzing was coming from.

When the wasp entered the area Ashwyn's eyes widened. She immediately brought up her bow and let her arrow fly, aiming from the creatures large eye.

Sigurd was resting quite happily for the scarce moments before his ears twitched to the sound of the wasp approaching. Fingers still knitted together on his chest he watched for a moment until the insect came into full view. It was large and the buzzing was irritating Sigurd's ears. When Ashwyn graze the beasts giant and assumingly hard to miss eye he gave an indignant groan and got to his feet, taking up his greatsword and broke into a sprint carrying the blade behind him.

Within a few feet of the Wasp Sigurd twisted his body and pulled his sword around him, allowing the momentum to build, his entire body spun on his heel as a pivot point for one full revolution before he swung the great blade upwards towards the bug hoping to find purchace. [Atk roll: 18] [Dmg: 11] (not a bad start)

At Ashwyn's warning, Lopiena immediately runs to grab her quarterstaff but is unable to harm the beast while it in the air. After Sigurd's mighty strike sends it to the ground, she immediately attacks with a thrusting strike aiming at the segment between the thorax and head. "Beware the stinger! There's strong poison in that!" Heeding her own advice, she jumps clear after her strike, holding the staff aloft in a defensive pose.

When Ashwyn warned of something coming, Zane quickly stood and began looking about. When the wasp entered the clearing he jumped up and back as the others attacked. After Lopiena was thrown to the side and Sigurd was attacked, he stepped forward and made an arcane gesture.

"Eldritch Blast!" He shouted, sending a blast of crackling energy towards the wasp.

"Sigurd!" Ashwyn gasped when he was attacked. She nocked another arrow, crouching down and taking careful aim for the already open wound that Sigurd had inflicted on the creature. She let the arrow fly praying that her arrow would strike true this time.

Lopiena rolls up, trying to ignore the throbbing in her side. Running to her pack, she pulls several herbs out if her satchel and grabs her staff while passing the fire to Sigurd. Pressing a few leaves onto his wound, she points the end of her staff at the oozing poison and begins to chant in a low tone.

As the wasp hit the ground Ashwyn moved swiftly to Sigurd's side as Lopiena gathered herbs. She watched as the young druid placed herbs on his wound and it began to close up. She released the breath she didn't realize she was holding in as the wound healed. She turned to his face. "Are you alright?"

Meanwhile Zane was just pushing himself back up to a standing position. "Ugh...well...I never..." He began dusting himself off irritably.

Ashwyn rolled her eyes at him before offering her hand to Sigurd to help him stand if he wanted. "Well, at least we're alive. Though I have to say, our first few hours in this forest aren't going as I intended."

Sigurd got to his feet and shook the girls off “Stop fussing over me like a den mother!” he growled brushing off the herbs. He looked to where the stinger had cut into his exposed skin and it had healed completely “I can heal perfectly fine on my own!” Picking up his sword he clipped it to his backplate and stormed past Zane bumping into his shoulder with his knee.

He walked up to the Wasp and kicked it with all his might. If anything his pride was wounded more than he was. Standing for a moment brooding he spun on his heel and glared at the group “Useless! All of you!” he barked.

Lopiena stands, concerned for Sigurd but not foolish enough to give chase. "Well he seems to be just fine. Mr. Zane, are you alright?" Seeing the gnome apparently unharmed, she turns to the remains of the Wasp and starts collecting stinger poison in a vial. Only after she drops the vial, spilling all contents, does she realize how badly her hands are shaking. "He's right...I was useless back there. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead now." Not looking up, she starts gathering the remains of the ruined meal and starts putting out the fire. "I guess we should get moving...no sense staying here."

When Sigurd brushed her away she held her hands up in surrender and didn't turn to look at him as he walked away. He clearly didnt' want her help. At his shout she closed her eyes and flinched. SHe was ashamed of herself for missing that shot Usually she was far more accurate than that. She didn't say a word as she stood to reteive both of her arrows. The missed shot was still perfectly intact..The other, the one that had ended the life of the wasp, required cleaning carefully as it was dripping with puss.

Zane had just finished dusting himself off when Sigurd shoved into him, causing him to trip over a felled log and fell flat on his butt again. "I have never been in the company of such rude individuals!" He shouted.

A sudden "thunk" sound made him jump and turn. An arrow had landed between his spread legs, very close to his.... Special place.... HIs eyes were wide as he turned to see where the arrow had come from.

Ashwyn approached and leaned in dangerously close. "I'd rather be a rude person than a sage that lets his spells blow up in his face." She glared, then yanked her arrow away and tucked it back into her quiver. She walked back to her dropped spade and began to finish the hole she was digging.

Zane gapped at the place where the arrow had been for a moment longer. "Insane.... They're all insane..." He muttered to himself as he began to dust himself off again.

It was about that timethat Lopiena began to break down. Ashwyn had just finished disposing of the bonesand covering up the fire. She turned to her. She was young. Obviously very inexperienced. SHe walked over to her and knelt down, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Take a breath. Everyone makes mistakes. We're alive. That's all that matters. This journey has only just begun. We can't loose our heads now." SHe spoke softly but firmly.

Fist clenched, breath heavy Sigurd walked from the camp and stood in the path they were following. His back to the group he sighed as he regained his composure “We'll lose a lot more than our heads if we don't get our act together... Think of what a laughing stock we would be if the champions were bested by the likes of an overgrown insect.” He started walking, knowing the others would follow not soon after.

Still not looking at anyone, Lopiena straps on her pack and grabs her staff to follow Sigurd. Swallowing hard, she tries to put on a brave face. "Well at least we know what sort of creatures to expect. It's a good thing Giant Wasps rarely travel in packs, but now that we know they're out there..." she takes another deep breath. "Thank you, Sigurd, Ashwyn. You knew that thing was coming up before I even realized what was happening. I will be more vigilant from here on out."

Already on edge, Lopiena is hesitant to trust this small break in the forest, but the friendly manner of the apparent leader calms her fears. Not wanting to be viewed as the leader of the group she chooses to stay quiet, but bows respectfully at his greeting.

The walk through the forest was awkward enough without being drawn to walk closer to the others. Ashwyn was used to being alone so she was very aware of being closer to others. It also didn't help that she was feeling rather embarrassed for missing her mark earlier. It wasn't that she'd never missed before. It happened to the best of marksmen, after all. But for some reason Sigurd's ire upset her more than she expected it would. She didn't like upsetting people in general, which is partially why she was always alone.

However, she didn't have time to worry about it as they entered the new village. She had never come across centaurs before, as they didn't exist in this area except for in the Fey Forest, and they didn't venture out of the forest often. When the centaur approached them, she made to step forward, but Zane pushed his way in front of them all.

"Greetings, sir! I am Zane Morningfall and these are my companions! We are here seeking shelter and rest. Can you direct us to the local Inn?"

Ashwyn rolled her eyes at Zane before stepping away from him. "We're sorry for intruding on you. We have been sent by the villages that surround this forest to learn what we might do to help in the struggle against the fire beasts that plague us all. Is there anything you can tell us about the coming war?"

Sigurd did a quick scan of the village as they entered, they seemed peaceful enough. His mind wondered to thoughts of how Centaurs could be utilized in battle. Surely they had armor and weapons for themselves, he imagined they'd be like mounted cavalry only with the benefit of not being knocked from your horse.. but with the negative of being a bigger target...

When Tinnur spoke Sigurd snapped back to focus on him. He took a brief mental inventory of his supplies and stepped forward “He's right. We don't want to stay here long. I refuse to sleep in a barn. The rest of you, pick up what you need and meet me back here when you're done.” He walked over to a felled log near the watering hole and took up residence there, opening a leather pouch on his hip and removing some dried meat, taking a bite and chewing on it thoughtfully as he stared off.

Lopiena, still hesitant, steps forward. "Thank you for your generous offer. My supplies are full, and I also would like to move on before too much time passes but if you have information about the forest I would be very interested in trading knowledge." She smiles in what she hopes is a friendly manner, and indicates a patch of blue flowers under a spreading tree near where they are standing. "I have never seen these flowers before, even after studying forest plants all my life. Do you know what they are?"