Dec 29, 2021 7:31 pm
Cook raises a hand and points towards the game trail. He stops, surprised, unsure why his arm is up or what his finger is doing.
OOC:
OOC answered PM.Off the Beaten Track
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Dec 30, 2021 12:22 pm
Feeling the attention of Raynor once again, Albert is both overjoyed and fearful at the same time. Stuttering in his prayer as it overwhelms him. Overjoyed that Raynor still acknowledges him even after all this time, yet he knows that he will have to prove himself worthy by conquest. Probably even more so than ever before. Thus fearful of the consequences, might he fail.
He still blesses me with his presence. I'll have to work harder to call upon his knowledge. But what does he mean with 'In due time'? Is this a threat? A warning? A destiny? Maybe it has something to do with this temple I keep hearing about.
When the captain brings up the subject of the temple again, Albert is eager to join the conversation. "Say, Captain.. What is this temple you speak of? I suspect that Raynor may have brought me here for a reason. Perhaps our paths were destined to cross in this bandit camp."
He still blesses me with his presence. I'll have to work harder to call upon his knowledge. But what does he mean with 'In due time'? Is this a threat? A warning? A destiny? Maybe it has something to do with this temple I keep hearing about.
When the captain brings up the subject of the temple again, Albert is eager to join the conversation. "Say, Captain.. What is this temple you speak of? I suspect that Raynor may have brought me here for a reason. Perhaps our paths were destined to cross in this bandit camp."
Dec 30, 2021 8:32 pm
- Albert -
The captain almost scoffs at your suggesting of 'reason', but holds herself back in time. She looks thoughtful.
"I... don't rightly know." She says, mostly truthfully. "Rumours and stories?
"Ask him..." She says motioning to Cook. "if you think it will do any good." Having eaten, she stands, she looks as tired as you all feel but is ready to move on, to follow the indicated game trail to the east.
The captain almost scoffs at your suggesting of 'reason', but holds herself back in time. She looks thoughtful.
"I... don't rightly know." She says, mostly truthfully. "Rumours and stories?
"Ask him..." She says motioning to Cook. "if you think it will do any good." Having eaten, she stands, she looks as tired as you all feel but is ready to move on, to follow the indicated game trail to the east.
Dec 30, 2021 10:11 pm
Rook has been standing back, watching and listening to see what might be revealed, but this was too much for him. "Wait a minute, Captain. We came up here following some bandit map. Back in camp, you said that there was nothing to worry about, that this temple wasn't anything of note. But I saw your face when you saw that tattoo, and since we got here there's been this strange fog, and you've suddenly become intensely concerned with this temple. If you know something, even if it is rumors and stories, you have to tell us."
He points at the Cook sitting in front of the campfire. "As for you, I just figured out where I've seen you before, though it's been a hand of years since then, but back then you were in a Templar's cage, weren't you? The ones they put for witches and warlocks and whatnot. We used to dare each other to sneak up there and poke him, see if he was still alive, sometimes we snuck him bread or wine. You just did that gesture that he used to do, and that's what made me see it. I think you've more sense it than you let on, old man - let's hear your tale."
He points at the Cook sitting in front of the campfire. "As for you, I just figured out where I've seen you before, though it's been a hand of years since then, but back then you were in a Templar's cage, weren't you? The ones they put for witches and warlocks and whatnot. We used to dare each other to sneak up there and poke him, see if he was still alive, sometimes we snuck him bread or wine. You just did that gesture that he used to do, and that's what made me see it. I think you've more sense it than you let on, old man - let's hear your tale."
Dec 30, 2021 10:24 pm
Cook stares at Rook blankly, no sense of recognition on his face but he does shudder involuntarily at the mention of 'cage'.
"...escaped... me and 3 others. Got caught by bandits, bum leg, but others got away...bandits let me stay...helped out cooking, no where else to go...bandits talked about a temple, been looking for it a couple weeks I think...don't know anything about that." He turns back to the stew, one hand stirring with a big wooden spoon, his other hand raised and pointing to the game trail. He doesn't seem to realize he's doing it.
"...escaped... me and 3 others. Got caught by bandits, bum leg, but others got away...bandits let me stay...helped out cooking, no where else to go...bandits talked about a temple, been looking for it a couple weeks I think...don't know anything about that." He turns back to the stew, one hand stirring with a big wooden spoon, his other hand raised and pointing to the game trail. He doesn't seem to realize he's doing it.
Dec 30, 2021 10:55 pm
"I don't know what you are talking about." The captain snaps at Rook with a note of finality in her voice.
"But tell me this." She looks around the camp. "Where are the bandits? Why have the not returned to their camp? Hmm?"
There is a familiar look of distaste on her face when Cook's history is revealed, but she latches onto one point that helps her case. "They are looking for the temple." She says in answer to her own question. "So that is where we need to go to put an and to this." Exactly what the 'this' is she will not say.
"But tell me this." She looks around the camp. "Where are the bandits? Why have the not returned to their camp? Hmm?"
There is a familiar look of distaste on her face when Cook's history is revealed, but she latches onto one point that helps her case. "They are looking for the temple." She says in answer to her own question. "So that is where we need to go to put an and to this." Exactly what the 'this' is she will not say.
Dec 30, 2021 11:50 pm
Albert eyes the captain suspiciously for a moment. Rook has a good point. There's something fishy going on. And what's the deal with this strange old cook? Best keep my wits about me. he thinks to himself. But for now it's probably a good idea to stay on good terms with the captain.
"Right. Well we probably shouldn't head out now. We're already losing sunlight. I suppose we can rest here for the night and head out in the morning. What do you propose we do, captain?" Albert watches the captain's reaction to him saying this.
"Right. Well we probably shouldn't head out now. We're already losing sunlight. I suppose we can rest here for the night and head out in the morning. What do you propose we do, captain?" Albert watches the captain's reaction to him saying this.
Dec 30, 2021 11:56 pm
The captain blinks in surprise. "... here? In the bandit's camp?" She says incredulously. "What if they return while we sleep? What if he slits our throats... or worse." She says, talking about Cook as though he is not there.
"No." She says decisively. "Let's leave this place." While she has not shut down the possibility for rest, doing so here isn't something she would consider.
"No." She says decisively. "Let's leave this place." While she has not shut down the possibility for rest, doing so here isn't something she would consider.
Jan 1, 2022 5:46 pm
"Ah yes, you're probably right." Albert concedes. When the time comes to leave the bandit camp, he heaves his backpack onto his shoulders once again, ties his shoe laces firmly and waits for the captain to lead the way.
Jan 3, 2022 7:33 am
"It's your call, Captain." Rook shrugged. "Lead the way, we'll be right behind you."
Jan 3, 2022 8:51 am
"Thank you, Rook." The captain says. The more she deals with the thief the more she appears to appreciate him, and his support. Rook's endorsement of Albert probably went a long way towards his acceptance.
"Well, we'll leave you to it." She says to Cook and his cooking. She does not bother requesting he not mention their presence to the bandits when they return.
And, with that, she leads you east, out of the camp...
After about a minute of walking you see a fire in up ahead. The captain motions for a careful check, but that is unnecessary: you got turned around in the mist and ended up back at the camp you just left. Embarrassed, the captain ignores Cook and leads you east again.
"Ah," she says as you see your tracks branch north. "That's where we went wrong." And she leads you straight on east this time...
‣ Do any of you do anything before you end up back at camp for the second --or is it third-- time?
"Well, we'll leave you to it." She says to Cook and his cooking. She does not bother requesting he not mention their presence to the bandits when they return.
And, with that, she leads you east, out of the camp...
After about a minute of walking you see a fire in up ahead. The captain motions for a careful check, but that is unnecessary: you got turned around in the mist and ended up back at the camp you just left. Embarrassed, the captain ignores Cook and leads you east again.
"Ah," she says as you see your tracks branch north. "That's where we went wrong." And she leads you straight on east this time...
‣ Do any of you do anything before you end up back at camp for the second --or is it third-- time?
Jan 3, 2022 9:38 am
Albert is a bit puzzled. He would think that a captain knows how to navigate at dusk, heck probably even in moonlight. However he knows better than to go pointing that out right now. At this point he'll follow quietly. She probably just made a simple mistake.
Jan 3, 2022 4:34 pm
The captain finds herself in the bandit camp for a third time. Cook has emptied out the stew pot and is cleaning it with a clock wrapped stick.
"Turn left and continue on," Cook mumbles as he scraps the stick to the left and goes a few circles with it. "Tricky, tricky, need to backtrack and then continue right," he reverses the direction of the stick as he cleans. "Bit of water," he squirts water from a skin into the pot. "Continue on, continue on," he chants as he circles the pot with the stick. Cook peers into the pot and ponders. "Made it," he declares setting the stick down.
Looking up, Cook is surprised to see the rest of you. "Dinner's over. Can't offer you anything. You best be gone before the others return. They're not friendly."
"Turn left and continue on," Cook mumbles as he scraps the stick to the left and goes a few circles with it. "Tricky, tricky, need to backtrack and then continue right," he reverses the direction of the stick as he cleans. "Bit of water," he squirts water from a skin into the pot. "Continue on, continue on," he chants as he circles the pot with the stick. Cook peers into the pot and ponders. "Made it," he declares setting the stick down.
Looking up, Cook is surprised to see the rest of you. "Dinner's over. Can't offer you anything. You best be gone before the others return. They're not friendly."
Jan 4, 2022 3:22 am
- Albert -
The captains turns to you, confused. "You have been here before?" She says, meaning the bandit camp and not really asking. "What's with these trails?"
If she heard Cook's muttering, she show no signs.
The captains turns to you, confused. "You have been here before?" She says, meaning the bandit camp and not really asking. "What's with these trails?"
If she heard Cook's muttering, she show no signs.
Jan 4, 2022 10:10 am
After another few rounds --all ending up back at the camp (even when trying to retrace the way you got here)-- the captain is starting to get frustrated and it is clear to you all that something unnatural is happening.
For a brief moment the captain thinks that she has stumbled upon a way out --by trying things at random-- and you start to see new paths that don't loop back to the camp... but then you hear Cook's mutterings again and it becomes apparent that you have looped round, only this time you missed the camp and ended up at the stream where the strange man is finishing the washing up.
Asha --who had been listening to his mutterings-- starts to say what had become clear to everyone. "I think we need..." But the captain cuts her off with a snarl. "... I know we need him!" She concedes. "But I was hoping... he's crazy..." She sounds like she is more worried Cook might not be crazy, which would be more dangerous.
"How do we persuade him to come with us to the temple?" She sighs, looking round for ideas.
For a brief moment the captain thinks that she has stumbled upon a way out --by trying things at random-- and you start to see new paths that don't loop back to the camp... but then you hear Cook's mutterings again and it becomes apparent that you have looped round, only this time you missed the camp and ended up at the stream where the strange man is finishing the washing up.
Asha --who had been listening to his mutterings-- starts to say what had become clear to everyone. "I think we need..." But the captain cuts her off with a snarl. "... I know we need him!" She concedes. "But I was hoping... he's crazy..." She sounds like she is more worried Cook might not be crazy, which would be more dangerous.
"How do we persuade him to come with us to the temple?" She sighs, looking round for ideas.
Jan 4, 2022 4:35 pm
Albert turns to the captain, clearly as confused as she is. "I've only been here once before, earlier today. Then I hid behind those bushes over there until the bandits left their camp." He points towards a few bushes that the group recently passed a few times. "I don't know what's going on."
When he hears her wondering about how to persuade Cook he replies "Well, I've found that just asking is often a good way to start." and makes his way over to Cook with a warm smile on his face "Say friend, I seem to be a bit lost, do you happen to know the way out of this fog?" he says quite slowly as he's not sure just how much sense is left in the old man's head. "Have a map, maybe?"
When he hears her wondering about how to persuade Cook he replies "Well, I've found that just asking is often a good way to start." and makes his way over to Cook with a warm smile on his face "Say friend, I seem to be a bit lost, do you happen to know the way out of this fog?" he says quite slowly as he's not sure just how much sense is left in the old man's head. "Have a map, maybe?"
Jan 4, 2022 11:21 pm
Cook looks up, equally confused to be at the stream as to be surrounded by a small group of people.
"Dinner's over. Can't offer you anything. You best be gone before the others return. They're not friendly." Cook pauses for a second, more confusion on this face. "Lost? Well you go..." Cook turns three complete circles, a concerned look on his face as he studies the landscape. "This way...," has says with a waiver that does not inspire confidence.
He takes six confident strides, leaving the cookpot behind in the stream, before turning left. He circles a wide tree trunk twice before heading back the way he came. Abruptly he turns right, stumbles down the embankment, landing facedown in the stream. He stands, unfazed by the stumble as if he planned it, and starts up the opposite embankment. He grabs a small sapling to hoist himself out of the water on the opposite side. The sapling promptly pulls loose, once again dumping him back in the stream this time ass first.
Cook stands up and realizes no one is following him at this point. "This way, the others aren't friendly..." he says. He scrambles up the embankment for a second time.
In the spot where the sapling was now stands a stone monolith, only about 4 feet high, impossibly old looking, with arcane marks on it. Cook pats it as if patting a dog on the head.
"Yes, yes, this way....aren't you coming?" As you look incredulously at one another you notice the fog rolling in from behind. The cookpot is nowhere to be seen.
"Dinner's over. Can't offer you anything. You best be gone before the others return. They're not friendly." Cook pauses for a second, more confusion on this face. "Lost? Well you go..." Cook turns three complete circles, a concerned look on his face as he studies the landscape. "This way...," has says with a waiver that does not inspire confidence.
He takes six confident strides, leaving the cookpot behind in the stream, before turning left. He circles a wide tree trunk twice before heading back the way he came. Abruptly he turns right, stumbles down the embankment, landing facedown in the stream. He stands, unfazed by the stumble as if he planned it, and starts up the opposite embankment. He grabs a small sapling to hoist himself out of the water on the opposite side. The sapling promptly pulls loose, once again dumping him back in the stream this time ass first.
Cook stands up and realizes no one is following him at this point. "This way, the others aren't friendly..." he says. He scrambles up the embankment for a second time.
In the spot where the sapling was now stands a stone monolith, only about 4 feet high, impossibly old looking, with arcane marks on it. Cook pats it as if patting a dog on the head.
"Yes, yes, this way....aren't you coming?" As you look incredulously at one another you notice the fog rolling in from behind. The cookpot is nowhere to be seen.
Last edited January 4, 2022 11:24 pm
Jan 5, 2022 2:41 am
"'That way'?" Asha giggles. "I hope we don't have to fall over in the river as well." She jokes.
None of you can see the sudden monolith that Cook pats, whatever he is following, you will need to follow him.
It soon becomes apparent that he is making progress, the landscape changes and the fog thickens, closing in around you, muting the sounds of the forest.
Shortly you will arrive at the temple.
‣ What did you each experience on the way there?
‣ How are you feeling when you get there?
None of you can see the sudden monolith that Cook pats, whatever he is following, you will need to follow him.
It soon becomes apparent that he is making progress, the landscape changes and the fog thickens, closing in around you, muting the sounds of the forest.
Shortly you will arrive at the temple.
‣ What did you each experience on the way there?
‣ How are you feeling when you get there?
Jan 5, 2022 8:04 am
Albert is very anxious in this thick fog and the creeping darkness, which is getting worse by the minute. On a day like this he'd normally be sitting indoors by the hearth. This is taking him way out of his comfort zone. He sticks close to Rook for protection as well as to remind his brain that he's not alone here.
At some point he hears a strange sudden noise to his left and his heart skips several beats, but nobody else seems to have heard it. "Did any of you hear that just now? From our left? A-a-are you sure this is the right way...?" Everyone can hear the concern in his voice. He grabs his broomstick from behind his back and starts to use it as a guide for the 'road' ahead, comforted by the fact that he at least has something to defend himself if need be. His trusty broom wouldn't let him down My trusty broom won't let me down! he keeps telling himself, just to feel a bit better.
As he nears the temple, even before knowing he's almost there, the feelings of fear slowly start to fade. When his eyes fall upon the large structure it turns into something else. A desire to explore... no, it's more than that... a desire to connect with this place. If a man was somehow able to become friends with place, that would be it. This must be what Raynor wanted me to find. Why did I fear his call? He shakes his head as if wanting to snap out of these weird mood swings. Don't get too comfortable... We don't know what's to be found inside. He waits to see what Cook and the captain will do next.
At some point he hears a strange sudden noise to his left and his heart skips several beats, but nobody else seems to have heard it. "Did any of you hear that just now? From our left? A-a-are you sure this is the right way...?" Everyone can hear the concern in his voice. He grabs his broomstick from behind his back and starts to use it as a guide for the 'road' ahead, comforted by the fact that he at least has something to defend himself if need be. His trusty broom wouldn't let him down My trusty broom won't let me down! he keeps telling himself, just to feel a bit better.
As he nears the temple, even before knowing he's almost there, the feelings of fear slowly start to fade. When his eyes fall upon the large structure it turns into something else. A desire to explore... no, it's more than that... a desire to connect with this place. If a man was somehow able to become friends with place, that would be it. This must be what Raynor wanted me to find. Why did I fear his call? He shakes his head as if wanting to snap out of these weird mood swings. Don't get too comfortable... We don't know what's to be found inside. He waits to see what Cook and the captain will do next.
Jan 5, 2022 4:01 pm
Cook's seemingly pointless meanderings grow less and less the farther you go. Eventually, he's traveling in a straight line for some unseen destination. Normally quiet, he starts mumbling to himself as you walk. You can't make much out of it other than an occasional "they're not friendly". His pace begins to quicken as does his mumbling. Faster and faster he goes until he's what passes for running in an old man with a deformed leg.
He makes an abrupt turn, crashing through tree limbs, and stumble falls into a clearing. A building looms across the grassy expanse. Cook falls silent as he rises slowly from the ground. "We're here," he says, a wide grin on his face.
As he turns to face you, the grin disappears to be replaced with a look of terror. He recoils backwards, falling to the ground, a scream of terror erupts from his mouth, a bony crooked finger points at the Captain.
"it's...it's...her..." is all he manages to say in his fear.
He makes an abrupt turn, crashing through tree limbs, and stumble falls into a clearing. A building looms across the grassy expanse. Cook falls silent as he rises slowly from the ground. "We're here," he says, a wide grin on his face.
As he turns to face you, the grin disappears to be replaced with a look of terror. He recoils backwards, falling to the ground, a scream of terror erupts from his mouth, a bony crooked finger points at the Captain.
"it's...it's...her..." is all he manages to say in his fear.
Last edited January 5, 2022 4:02 pm
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