The Amulet of Raven's Reach (closed for JudeRodney)

[jainarain]

The gentle mist had given way to a steady rain that rolled off Nydara's cloak. The worst of the storm was bearing down on her and she picked up her pace, trying to reach the next town or village before the weather turned too inclement. In the distance, she could see the flicker of lights giving her hope as her boots sank into the muddy road with each miserable step. Her muscles ached and a chill ran through her body that made her long to rest by a nice warm fire.

Under the best conditions she was still days away from Raven's Reach and her objective. This storm would only set her back even further. She groaned at the thought of having to spend much more time on the road. She had never enjoyed traveling, even when she was able to do it with the comforts her wealth had provided. This, traveling alone and on foot through the rural western lands was her idea of hell, but she had come so far in her training and was intrigued at the power of the artifact her Master had sent her to retrieve. She could not simply walk away now.

Thunder rumbled behind her and she turned for a moment to look back. She could see the trees blowing as the strength of the storm approached and she felt her legs instinctively move faster. As she turned her eyes back to the road, she felt the toe of her boot catch on something hard, twisting her ankle as she fell to the ground, knocking the wind out of her. She gasped for breath as she pushed herself to her hands and knees. Her ankle ached, and as she tried to stand, it buckled under her. She fell back to her knees, the hood of her cloak falling back exposing her long dark hair to the rain. She looked out towards the town again, tears of frustration mixing with the rain that was streaming down her face.

 

[JudeRodney]

Storms like this were nothing to Karg! His body had been hardened through years of braving the elements, and this was no exception. He went where he wanted and how wanted to go. Roads were for the weak. Let the so-called civilized people call him a barbarian! To Karg, he was a true man!

Despite the harsh winds and fierce rains driving right into him, Karg walked across the field as if there was only a light summer. As tough as he was, though, he was not so stupid as to forego wearing a cloak or using his spear to help keep him standing. He may have been a barbarian, but he was no idiot... most of the time.

As he approached a road that led into a small town, the lightning flashed and he saw the figure of someone prone on the road. His curiosity piqued as he picked up the pace. When he reached the stranger he found it to be a woman. What was she doing out here, when 'civilized' shelter was so close?

In a loud clear voice he was able to shout over the rain. "This is a strange way to worship your storm god, woman!"

 

[jainarain]

Nydara breathed in sharply as she prepared to push herself back to her feet, but stumbled again at the sound of a loud voice booming over the storm. Rain was in her eyes and she couldn't tell where the voice had come from. There was a part of her that thought she must have gone mad and was hearing things. On her knees, she stilled herself and calmed her breathing. She began to chant softly but confidently and there he was, a large man off in the field to her left. He would be capable of carrying her to the town, but there was hostility in him, though she couldn't sense if it was directed at her.

She turned in his direction and conjured a wind to carry her voice. Her hair blew wildly and her cloak flapped against the wind of the storm. "I am Nydara," her voice boomed unnaturally, "initiate of the Crushed Violet Order. If you meet me with violence, I will respond in kind. I am in need of assistance, but I am not helpless." She let the wind fade to conserve her strength and resumed her meditation, no longer bothered by the rain that had soaked her hair.

 

[JudeRodney]

Wow! She had a set of lungs on her! Karg smiled to himself as he kept approaching her. She was not in the mood to jest, apparently.

He had heard nothing of this "Crushed Violet Order". For all he knew it could a group of nuns or a fancy name for a whores guild.

Whores. One of the few things civilization provided that he approved of. No convincing women or dragging them to his bed. Just a few coins she was his for a night. Of course that meant doing extra work, but there were always cowardly outlaws and bandits who needed killing, and his skills were not inconsiderable.


With the storm, he could not make out many features, but still, she looked like she had a nice figure about her. Maybe this order of hers really was for whores.

"I'm pretty sure there are nicer ways to ask for help, woman!" he jested again over the wind and the rain as he reached her. The big man towered over her as he looked down and reached his hand out. "I'm not here to hurt you."

 

[jainarain]

Nydara watched suspiciously as the large man approached and reached out his hand. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to take hold of it and pull herself to her feet. Her clothes felt damp and uncomfortable beneath her cloak from the rain running down her hair and neck, and she longed for a drink and a fire. She tested her ankle gingerly, wincing at the pain and finding she could put very little weight on it.

She ran through her exercises to reduce pain, knowing any relief would be short lived. She glanced back over at the large man standing beside her, "Thank you," she said with a still cautious smile while trying to recall one of her persuasion spells. "My name is Nydara. The storm is growing stronger. Will you help me reach shelter in the town?"