As the flames consume Isuzu Sylries eyes go wide, his mouth opens to yell out in anger, frustration, fear, but nothing comes out. His voice is empty, hollow, as if it were burned to ashes alongside his compatriot. Some part of his mind however is still actively trying to protect him despite his loss and pulls hard on the reigns leading Aurala's Pride away following Percival's call for a tactical retreat. His head stayed turned though, his eyes watching the flame dance through the space where Isuzu used to be.
OOC: Wow, so Sylrie will dash with the other members of Grey Wind.
As the party retreats, you swear you can hear cackles in the crackles of the flames. Further down the road, you go as fast as your horses will allow you to travel. The wind picks up as you make it further and further down the road towards Delthorn, the warmth of the druid's fires long gone.
After an hour of pushing the horses, LT calls the unit to a halt. As your horses gather around, you are surrounded by a sparse forest. Pines and bushes populate this area. As she calls everyone to a halt, her eyes dart into the woods and Sarge takes his horse into the trees, scouting around.
She is silent as all of you gather around, her lips are pursed and her voice cracks as she starts to speak, "Today, I los...we lost a comrade to senseless violence. Isuzu was an oddity, quiet and never one to appear vulnerable." A tear rolls down her face as she continues. "It was the Ashbound. Fanatics. Maniacs. They want to see the civilized world burn and revert back to some fire-born natural order. The power they just showed us can not be underestimated. They are a threat to all of Aundair, a threat that we may not..."
She takes in a deep breath, "...that we may not be able to go up against. But, we are soldiers for the crown, and we will do what we must. What our Queen has asked of us. This is OUR country, our home. We will not run and hide from these forces. And we can not leave her behind. I dare not to risk another life needlessly. We will make camp and I would like to ask for one volunteer to ride back with Sarge to...recover her. She does not deserve to be a feast for crows on the side of a dirt road."
The gnome officer dismounts her ride and walks towards the woods. "Take a breather, get some food and drink. We ride out in five (5)." She leads her mount into the woods and ties the reins against a tree and sits with her back against a large rock. Pulling out a small waterskin bag she takes a long pull and sits silently.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Percival takes a few moments to catch his breath and fight back tears as he attempts to process what just happened back there. After those tense moments have passed, he speaks up. "I apologise. I recklessly charged in when I saw what appeared to be two Innocents being attacked without waiting for your orders. It was a foolish mistake and I can't help but feel responsible for what happened."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
Sylrie sat hollow eyed, his fingers wringing the reigns of his horse. He would volunteer to retrieve her body, of course he would. They had been warned about these Ashbound, but he never thought they'd be that powerful, a creature made of fire...as he thought on it Isuzu's screams began to crackle through his mind. She was his partner, his responsibility. His head hung low his hair shielding his face as he lifted his gloved hand up and wiped a tear that formed at the corner of his eye away. 'How can I protect the queen, if I can't even protect my friends'
"Aye, a mistake we would all make if we had the chance. We're not barbarians. We're Aundairain soldiers, we are the Queen's example. Ye did what was right, boy. No one could imagine such abandon from what we saw. Don't blame yerself, there's plenty of that to go around." Sarge says as he walks out of the trees and starts leading your mounts into the woods.
He then looks at Sylrie, "The Queen would be glad to have you. And don' think twice about that."
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Kora has been silent this whole time, her jaw firmly clamped, white hair loose from the headlong flight. As Percival takes the blame, her eyes flash white again, and she rounds on the group, ready to say something, only to hear Sylrie's doubts and Sarge's compassion. The light fades from her eyes, and she turns again, seeing to Mustard with tight, controlled movements.
Sylrie looked up to Sarge, the sorrow still in his eyes, but he took what Sarge said to heart. They all knew the risks coming out here, and Isuzu had discussed her view on it. He hoped she'd find peace in the beyond once they brought her to a place and buried her. He nodded to the Sarge and then dismounted and lead Aurala's Pride into the trees to where they were tying off the mounts.
"We should have done something....." and a large earthen fist rises up out of the ground, grabs an innocent bush nearby and crushes it in to little bits before melting back in to the dirt. (Maximilian’s Earthen Grasp)
Kash then snorts and goes about busying himself with Maple Stirrup
I’m just confused. That whole situation was out of control. Those Bloodhawks had to be edited somehow, that Archdruid was acting strange, unless that’s just normal Ashbound behavior. And, while I am sad that Isuzu is now gone, it wasn’t your fault Percival. If anything, we all are to blame. We all charged in, after all. While Johnothon looks saddened by the loss of Isuzu, he speaks calmly and calculated. I volunteer to gather her body. She doesn’t deserve to be left out there alone, even dead. He walks to Midnight, and brushes his hand on the horse’s mane. Good horse.
Sylrie overhears Johnathan saying he would volunteer to go get Isuzu's body and he spoke up quickly but calmly, "I will go, she was my partner, I did not have her back then, it's the least I could do now" he then finishes tying off Aurala's Pride, then begins looking over his saddle bags to make sure they were not damage, and did not come loose during the fight.
Well then, LT, you seem to have 2 volunteers. John looks at Syrie. It is a good thing to have other’s backs, both in life and death. Because, trust me, there are worse things than dying.
"Aye, everyone ain't going. Johnathan, your knowledge of these foul beings would be most useful if we ride upon them again. Sylrie, she was your partner. I will let ye ride with. Kash, stay here with Grey Wind. We need to be fast and need to be smart about this. This is dangerous and we still have our orders. If we do not return by morning, ride to Delthorn without us. As Queen's soldiers, we know the risk. This is the life of a soldier. Training is over."
Sarge saddles his mount and pulls back onto the trail, he looks back at Grey Wind. "We'll have time to dwell on our mistakes later. Right now, watch each other's backs and stay alert! Lieutenant... we'll get her back."
"Thank you, Sergeant. Thank you for everything, be careful." She says as she stands up and walks towards Sarge. "Bring her back to us."
"Aye, aye ma'am. We ride!" he spurs his horse down the trail a bit and waits for Sylrie and Johnathan.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Johnothon hops onto Midnight. We have to go out once more. Come along. He speaks in a soothing voice to Midnight John. He then has him follow Sarge. We ride, to recover whom was lost. Onwards!
Sylrie undid the tether that held Aurala's Pride and climbed into the saddle, then with a light pressure to her ribs he goaded her forward onto the trail behind the Sarge. He wasn't looking forward to seeing her remains, if they'd left any, some part of him wanted to catch those Druids unaware, still there. Placing a dagger between their ribs would feel so good. The other part of him, the sensible part, knew that if they saw them they'd do better to be afraid, stay hidden, and let them move on without incident. Sylrie let the two mindsets wrestle as they pushed forward on the trail.
After GW2 leaves to retrieve Isuzu, LT walks over to her mount and slowly dusts herself off. She removes the bridle from her mount and pulls off the saddle and its bags. She moves with purpose now after taking a moment to herself. After removing the equipment, she stores it close by next to a tree and starts brushing the horse. Swatting away stray fly's that come close to its face.
When she's done she will walk over about 20 feet away and start digging a fire pit. "Set up camp, keep it small. Keep it close. We don't know who is watching or who may come upon us." She digs down a little deeper and calls out to Kash, "He strong warrior, mind giving me a hand?" She asks with a smile that is deceived by her hollow eyes.
GW2: Sarge, Sylrie, John
The ride down the road is slow, paced to keep a watch to the road ahead and its borders. Sarge leads the way but stays silent. The sky above shines brightly, the sun starts to wane in the sky and the grasshoppers and birds singing loud songs of life. After about fifteen minutes Sarge slows to a cant and pulls back to Johnathan and Sylrie.
"John, what can ye tell me 'bout the Ashbound? What do ye know? This wasn't right. Who attacks someone so, but does not give chase? What kind of madness is this?"
Johnathan:
((OOG Okay, so this is in fact what you would know about the Ashbound. Being an Aundarian druid, you have heard of these fanatics.
The Ashbound are a tiny, extreme druidic order, who consider all arcane and divine magic (outside of druidic magic) to be "unnatural". They seek to protect all wilderness and consider even common agriculture to be outside the natural balance. They prefer to avoid bloodshed, but the more severe elements within the order are not above using terrorist attacks to make their point.
This sect is small in number (around 1,700 members) but compensates in its sheer fanaticism. Not for them, the careful balance between nature and civilization—all that is artificial or unnatural is dangerous, with arcane magic at the top of the list. Nature’s purity must be defended at all costs.
Most Ashbound are humans or shifters. This sect attracts more shifters than any other for its devotion to the harsh laws of nature. They see the Wardens’ attempt to balance nature and “progress” as foolish, and most do not hesitate to destroy anything they see as unnatural. What constitutes the unnatural varies from one individual to the next, but they are united in their opposition to arcane magic, unnatural beings such as fiends and aberrations, and the ravages of civilization.
Ashbound, in general, do not wear armor, even if they belong to martial classes, scorning it as a civilized crutch. They might use manufactured weapons, but many are drawn to unarmed combat styles (especially shifters). They eschew woven cloth, worked leather, and crafted jewelry, and they use no dyes to alter the natural colors of the hides and furs they wear. They survive entirely by hunting, fishing, and gathering, for they believe cultivation wounds the earth.
While going about their vital tasks, the Ashbound wear only what they need to survive, unadorned except for the emblem of their faith. They do take trophies from their campaigns, however, such as the horns of demons or wizards’ staffs, which they fashion into ornaments for use at major ceremonies. The most senior members have accumulated the most trophies— they have fantastically ornate headgear, cloaks, and the like, made from dozens of their greatest foes.))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Sylrie Caldamus
As the flames consume Isuzu Sylries eyes go wide, his mouth opens to yell out in anger, frustration, fear, but nothing comes out. His voice is empty, hollow, as if it were burned to ashes alongside his compatriot. Some part of his mind however is still actively trying to protect him despite his loss and pulls hard on the reigns leading Aurala's Pride away following Percival's call for a tactical retreat. His head stayed turned though, his eyes watching the flame dance through the space where Isuzu used to be.
OOC: Wow, so Sylrie will dash with the other members of Grey Wind.
As the party retreats, you swear you can hear cackles in the crackles of the flames. Further down the road, you go as fast as your horses will allow you to travel. The wind picks up as you make it further and further down the road towards Delthorn, the warmth of the druid's fires long gone.
After an hour of pushing the horses, LT calls the unit to a halt. As your horses gather around, you are surrounded by a sparse forest. Pines and bushes populate this area. As she calls everyone to a halt, her eyes dart into the woods and Sarge takes his horse into the trees, scouting around.
She is silent as all of you gather around, her lips are pursed and her voice cracks as she starts to speak, "Today, I los...we lost a comrade to senseless violence. Isuzu was an oddity, quiet and never one to appear vulnerable." A tear rolls down her face as she continues. "It was the Ashbound. Fanatics. Maniacs. They want to see the civilized world burn and revert back to some fire-born natural order. The power they just showed us can not be underestimated. They are a threat to all of Aundair, a threat that we may not..."
She takes in a deep breath, "...that we may not be able to go up against. But, we are soldiers for the crown, and we will do what we must. What our Queen has asked of us. This is OUR country, our home. We will not run and hide from these forces. And we can not leave her behind. I dare not to risk another life needlessly. We will make camp and I would like to ask for one volunteer to ride back with Sarge to...recover her. She does not deserve to be a feast for crows on the side of a dirt road."
The gnome officer dismounts her ride and walks towards the woods. "Take a breather, get some food and drink. We ride out in five (5)." She leads her mount into the woods and ties the reins against a tree and sits with her back against a large rock. Pulling out a small waterskin bag she takes a long pull and sits silently.
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Percival takes a few moments to catch his breath and fight back tears as he attempts to process what just happened back there. After those tense moments have passed, he speaks up. "I apologise. I recklessly charged in when I saw what appeared to be two Innocents being attacked without waiting for your orders. It was a foolish mistake and I can't help but feel responsible for what happened."
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
Sylrie Caldamus
Sylrie sat hollow eyed, his fingers wringing the reigns of his horse. He would volunteer to retrieve her body, of course he would. They had been warned about these Ashbound, but he never thought they'd be that powerful, a creature made of fire...as he thought on it Isuzu's screams began to crackle through his mind. She was his partner, his responsibility. His head hung low his hair shielding his face as he lifted his gloved hand up and wiped a tear that formed at the corner of his eye away. 'How can I protect the queen, if I can't even protect my friends'
"Aye, a mistake we would all make if we had the chance. We're not barbarians. We're Aundairain soldiers, we are the Queen's example. Ye did what was right, boy. No one could imagine such abandon from what we saw. Don't blame yerself, there's plenty of that to go around." Sarge says as he walks out of the trees and starts leading your mounts into the woods.
He then looks at Sylrie, "The Queen would be glad to have you. And don' think twice about that."
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Kora has been silent this whole time, her jaw firmly clamped, white hair loose from the headlong flight. As Percival takes the blame, her eyes flash white again, and she rounds on the group, ready to say something, only to hear Sylrie's doubts and Sarge's compassion. The light fades from her eyes, and she turns again, seeing to Mustard with tight, controlled movements.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Sylrie Caldamus
Sylrie looked up to Sarge, the sorrow still in his eyes, but he took what Sarge said to heart. They all knew the risks coming out here, and Isuzu had discussed her view on it. He hoped she'd find peace in the beyond once they brought her to a place and buried her. He nodded to the Sarge and then dismounted and lead Aurala's Pride into the trees to where they were tying off the mounts.
"We should have done something....." and a large earthen fist rises up out of the ground, grabs an innocent bush nearby and crushes it in to little bits before melting back in to the dirt. (Maximilian’s Earthen Grasp)
Kash then snorts and goes about busying himself with Maple Stirrup
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
When Kash comes near, Kora glances his way, and then turns back to her work on Mustard.
Spoiler for Kash (and DM, I guess):
In his head, Kash hears Kora say, "We should never have engaged. We should have been more cautious. Percival should have been more cautious."
As a Bonus Action, Kora enables Kash to reply in her head if he wants to.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
I’m just confused. That whole situation was out of control. Those Bloodhawks had to be edited somehow, that Archdruid was acting strange, unless that’s just normal Ashbound behavior. And, while I am sad that Isuzu is now gone, it wasn’t your fault Percival. If anything, we all are to blame. We all charged in, after all. While Johnothon looks saddened by the loss of Isuzu, he speaks calmly and calculated. I volunteer to gather her body. She doesn’t deserve to be left out there alone, even dead. He walks to Midnight, and brushes his hand on the horse’s mane. Good horse.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Sylrie Caldamus
Sylrie overhears Johnathan saying he would volunteer to go get Isuzu's body and he spoke up quickly but calmly, "I will go, she was my partner, I did not have her back then, it's the least I could do now" he then finishes tying off Aurala's Pride, then begins looking over his saddle bags to make sure they were not damage, and did not come loose during the fight.
"You will not ride alone....." and Kash jumps on the back of Maple Stirrup
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword
Well then, LT, you seem to have 2 volunteers. John looks at Syrie. It is a good thing to have other’s backs, both in life and death. Because, trust me, there are worse things than dying.
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
"Aye, everyone ain't going. Johnathan, your knowledge of these foul beings would be most useful if we ride upon them again. Sylrie, she was your partner. I will let ye ride with. Kash, stay here with Grey Wind. We need to be fast and need to be smart about this. This is dangerous and we still have our orders. If we do not return by morning, ride to Delthorn without us. As Queen's soldiers, we know the risk. This is the life of a soldier. Training is over."
Sarge saddles his mount and pulls back onto the trail, he looks back at Grey Wind. "We'll have time to dwell on our mistakes later. Right now, watch each other's backs and stay alert! Lieutenant... we'll get her back."
"Thank you, Sergeant. Thank you for everything, be careful." She says as she stands up and walks towards Sarge. "Bring her back to us."
"Aye, aye ma'am. We ride!" he spurs his horse down the trail a bit and waits for Sylrie and Johnathan.
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Johnothon hops onto Midnight. We have to go out once more. Come along. He speaks in a soothing voice to Midnight John. He then has him follow Sarge. We ride, to recover whom was lost. Onwards!
Extended Signature! Yay! https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/3153-extended-signature-thread?page=2#c21
Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
Sylrie Caldamus
Sylrie undid the tether that held Aurala's Pride and climbed into the saddle, then with a light pressure to her ribs he goaded her forward onto the trail behind the Sarge. He wasn't looking forward to seeing her remains, if they'd left any, some part of him wanted to catch those Druids unaware, still there. Placing a dagger between their ribs would feel so good. The other part of him, the sensible part, knew that if they saw them they'd do better to be afraid, stay hidden, and let them move on without incident. Sylrie let the two mindsets wrestle as they pushed forward on the trail.
While the others go to retrieve Isuzu's remains, Kora will stew on her own for a bit, then offer to stand watch. She will keep an eye on the LT, too.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
After the Sarge responds to Percival, he merely nods respectfully in response and returns to contemplating everything that happened today.
Xenophon: Topaz Dragonborn Fighter (ixi's Dragon of Icespire Peak)
More
GW1: Kash, Perci, Kora, LT
After GW2 leaves to retrieve Isuzu, LT walks over to her mount and slowly dusts herself off. She removes the bridle from her mount and pulls off the saddle and its bags. She moves with purpose now after taking a moment to herself. After removing the equipment, she stores it close by next to a tree and starts brushing the horse. Swatting away stray fly's that come close to its face.
When she's done she will walk over about 20 feet away and start digging a fire pit. "Set up camp, keep it small. Keep it close. We don't know who is watching or who may come upon us." She digs down a little deeper and calls out to Kash, "He strong warrior, mind giving me a hand?" She asks with a smile that is deceived by her hollow eyes.
GW2: Sarge, Sylrie, John
The ride down the road is slow, paced to keep a watch to the road ahead and its borders. Sarge leads the way but stays silent. The sky above shines brightly, the sun starts to wane in the sky and the grasshoppers and birds singing loud songs of life. After about fifteen minutes Sarge slows to a cant and pulls back to Johnathan and Sylrie.
"John, what can ye tell me 'bout the Ashbound? What do ye know? This wasn't right. Who attacks someone so, but does not give chase? What kind of madness is this?"
Johnathan:
((OOG Okay, so this is in fact what you would know about the Ashbound. Being an Aundarian druid, you have heard of these fanatics.
The Ashbound are a tiny, extreme druidic order, who consider all arcane and divine magic (outside of druidic magic) to be "unnatural". They seek to protect all wilderness and consider even common agriculture to be outside the natural balance. They prefer to avoid bloodshed, but the more severe elements within the order are not above using terrorist attacks to make their point.
This sect is small in number (around 1,700 members) but compensates in its sheer fanaticism. Not for them, the careful balance between nature and civilization—all that is artificial or unnatural is dangerous, with arcane magic at the top of the list. Nature’s purity must be defended at all costs.
Most Ashbound are humans or shifters. This sect attracts more shifters than any other for its devotion to the harsh laws of nature. They see the Wardens’ attempt to balance nature and “progress” as foolish, and most do not hesitate to destroy anything they see as unnatural. What constitutes the unnatural varies from one individual to the next, but they are united in their opposition to arcane magic, unnatural beings such as fiends and aberrations, and the ravages of civilization.
Ashbound, in general, do not wear armor, even if they belong to martial classes, scorning it as a civilized crutch. They might use manufactured weapons, but many are drawn to unarmed combat styles (especially shifters). They eschew woven cloth, worked leather, and crafted jewelry, and they use no dyes to alter the natural colors of the hides and furs they wear. They survive entirely by hunting, fishing, and gathering, for they believe cultivation wounds the earth.
While going about their vital tasks, the Ashbound wear only what they need to survive, unadorned except for the emblem of their faith. They do take trophies from their campaigns, however, such as the horns of demons or wizards’ staffs, which they fashion into ornaments for use at major ceremonies. The most senior members have accumulated the most trophies— they have fantastically ornate headgear, cloaks, and the like, made from dozens of their greatest foes.))
"...Debts must always be paid, sometimes in more than blood and gold. But this is Ordo Ursa," Ren places his hand on Erakas's chest, right where the Dragonborn's heart is. "Right here. And it always has been and always will be. Don't ever forget that. Because I won't."
Serandis Mendaen (Aereni Elven Rogue/maybe one day Wizard)- Project Point Playtest
Kash summons his mage hand to dig the fire pit.
Skameros - Bugbear Barbarian - Out of the Abyss - By Kerrec
Follow your Arrow where it Points - Tabaxi Monk - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
Citron Pumpkinfoam - Fairy Monk - Project Point: Team Longsword