Dreadlords Echoes of the Animus

[Blake]

Southern Falwood​

---

Deep, lush greens crept over every surface within the dense and shaded canopy of the rainforest the group now traveled through. The sound of rushing water was nearly ever present, the numerous streams and rivers that coursed the land a winding network of fingers that grasped at the earth. Sunlight dappled through the leaves above, tracing lines of possibility across the unknown path ahead of them. Yet, despite how wild the territory clearly was, this was indeed exactly that: a path. Someone--or something--had been here before, perhaps very long ago, and they had left a semblance of civilization in their wake.

The expedition had been dispatched to explore the deep southern reaches of the Falwood near the dawn of the Anirian Republic. Progress had been slow for the humble archaeologists whom had been assigned to the task, their security forces meager and the Falwood still a treacherous place despite how far from Fal'Addas this was. It was only recently that the commission in charge of funding the expedition had received word of a major discovery, and that warranted extra aid from the Guard. And of course, by extension, the Dreadlords.

"A fine learning opportunity," Proctor Snicket had called it. The funny old bastard had been involved with the original organization of the search and was privy to news when it came. So it was that volunteers were selected from among the older initiates at the Academy to travel southward for a few weeks and be given the opportunity to pioneer the unexplored regions.

For Blake, this had been a no-brainer. The Academy was stuffy, and she'd heard tales of how beautiful the rainforests the expedition had encountered could be. A chance to experience that wasn't going to come along very often. So it was now that she trudged along as part of a little group through this mystic jungle, her sandaled feet splashing in the cool water beneath her with every step.

The total group hadn't just been initiates, of course. There were Dreadlords of all types that had come along on the ships, but they'd all split up after being briefed by the academic types back at the base camp. Impromptu exploratory teams were formed and off they went, with only the news of some mysterious, moving, stone ruins to go off of. It all felt like a bit of a wild gryphon chase, but Blake was loving every moment of it.

Now, at the front of her little troupe, she paused and drank from her canteen.
"You all doin' alright back there? It's fine if you need to take a break!" she shouted back before peering along the sunken stone path in the direction she'd been walking. "Something up ahead looks different; looks like ropes? Might be a bridge or somethin'."

 

[Saderzaine Vult]

Sader had never been to a rainforest before. He had surely read about them in books, but they did this place no REAL justice. Of course, they were here for a mission more than a walk among the trees, but he couldn't find a single reason not to appreciate their surroundings in the meantime. The water provided a faint backdrop that pleasantly hummed in his head as he marched in pace with the rest of his brethren, and the ancient river soaking his boots seemed to stretch ever onward.

The contested parts of the Falwood were rather spoken of in the academy, so Sader jumped at the chance to join an expedition to visit part of a place he might be fighting for one day. Proctor Snicket was a slightly laconic fellow in his old age, so any expedition mentioned by him must have been noteworthy anyway. He was no traitor, but for a moment he understood exactly why the elves fought so hard to protect what they had. It was likely more picturesque than anywhere within the territories of Vel Anir.

Besides, the Academy was an acquired taste. What with all the important things going on and the rogue crisis and senior year, it was an environment as tense as ever. He had most definitely acquired it, but every so often enjoyed taking a break. It wasn't as though he was even the lone initiate, which was further comfort. He hadn't seen much of the list, but there was a raven-haired girl named Blake who seemed to be about his age. He knew he was deserving of his place on this mission, but another like him certainly helped cement that.

Their task was to locate stone ruins that were reportedly moving and never in the same place twice. It all felt like a bit of a fairy-tale, admittedly, but having already come this far nobody seemed keen to make the trek back empty-handed. Suddenly, there was a bit of pain that distracted him from his thoughts and he smacked at it, glaring upwards at the certain culprits. Mosquitoes. Their presence alone degraded the entire experience, and he looked back sympathetically as a soldier behind him was bit in turn.

"Something up ahead looks different; looks like ropes? Might be a bridge or somethin'." he registered being said from farther up. Given he was near the front anyway, he simply pushed up a bit to stand slightly behind Blake. "Your guess is a bridge? Maybe. We've been in pretty shallow water, though." he replied, putting his hand up to shade his eyes and trying to see further.

"You're Blake, right? What say you we keep walking a bit farther?" he asked, shaking his head a bit to indicate he had found nothing much else.

Blake

 

[Kael]

Kael continued through the forest in far better spirits than the mission of 'Silly Initiates, go find the walking ruins' would have implied. Such mysteries made Kael curious, but the truth was in his inner skin the goblin couldn't be happier in the swampy environment. He preferred caves, but the marsh, mosquitoes, fog, frogs, all made him feel very comfortable. If he could only find a warg, maybe spit roast a hog, then life would be perfect.

It was somewhat difficult to contain his excitement, but he would have to manage. Kael continued to follow behind Saderzaine Vult, glancing around and making sure the environment was secure. Blake 'Bad Bitch' Farand, or just 'Bad Bitch Blake' as some were keen to describe her, had spotted something ahead. Something that might have been made of something that might have been rope. Such descriptions didn't give Kael a lot of confidence, but you had to start somewhere. Kael readied his bow, knocking an arrow.

"Could be a trap. I've seen rope bridges built with thicker cords on the outside than in. Collapse when you get too much weight on them and let you fall to a swath of Kobolds or other hunters." Kael said. He'd also set such traps, and been part of such swaths. But that was a life nearly forgotten. "We should keep an eye out."

 

[Takoda]

Takoda of the Irouqqi had a barely perceptible smile on his face as he looked down at the rest of their traveling party from the trees above. He had considered it a miracle when the Academy had approved to go forth on this mission, as he was rarely let outside the boundaries of the Academy. He assumed this was allowed because it was all the way in the Falwood.

Even so, Takoda was not one to miss an opportunity, not only to stretch his wings but to see a part of the world that he would never have even considered seeing without the intervention of the Dreadlords.

He could just make out the words spoken down below. Yes, Takoda currently stood on a large branch in one of the trees, his feet have not touched the ground ever since their arrival in the heavily wooded forest.

"Don't forget to look up. Do the elves of the Falwood not make their homes up among the trees?"

It was a reminder he was quick to point out as was his own experience that people very rarely remembered to check above themselves when being on watch.

 

[Blake]

Blake stood, hands on her hips as the others caught up. Three other initiates came forth first, one after the other. All three of them a little stuffy for Blake's tastes. One of them addressed her directly, and her slate-colored eyes turned to focus on him.

"You're Blake, right?

"Yep, that's me," she replied, remembering that now was as good a time as any to get a few stretches in. She raised her arms straight above her head and bent from side to side. "Headin' onwards the idea, isn't it?"

It was around this time that the portly Proctor Snicket arrived from the rear, huffing and puffing away. The gent's mutton chops had held up fine in all the wet, but his mustache was drooping, whatever substance he'd used to keep it coifed having apparently been washed out of it by now.

"Elves are far more rare in these parts of the Falwood, my boy!" the proctor huffed as he hobbled up behind the group. He came to a halt as he moved to the middle of the pack and placed his hands on his knees, panting. "The fair folk don't like to come this far south; the land is too treacherous for their tastes, too untamed even for them. BUT! That is not to say that you should not keep an eye above you! And below you! Young Kael is correct, there are other creatures living out here that will gladly ambush and devour you, should you allow your diligence to waver...oh good heavens..."

Proctor Snicket promptly collapsed onto his hindquarters, drained. A pair of Anirian guardsmen that had been assigned to the team now joined from behind as well, apparently confident that the rearguard was free of threats.

"Uhh...Proc, are you...y'know, well? You're lookin' like you're about to have a heart attack," Blake observed. Snicket was known to be a good fighter, but well past his prime. Proctors became proctors for good reasons. Snicket's just happened to be that he was a fat old fart pushing into his sixties.

"Yes, yes my dear, I am...bollocks...fine! Or, at least, I shall be. Hmmph," Snicket grumbled, clearly frustrated with his own limitations. He ruminated for a long moment, arms folded and chin rested on his fist before at last a finger was struck into the air. "Inspiration! Or perhaps a test, if you will. Children! If you lot are comfortable, I will remain here and establish a forward camp with the aid of these fine guardsmen. I will rely on you four to scout ahead and report back your findings. Bully, I say!"

Blake stared at the man a long few moments and blinked slowly, then turned to the boys with a shrug.
"I mean, I'm fine with it. You guys wanna go exploring?"

 

[Saderzaine Vult]

When Blake turned to meet his words he was momentarily taken aback by her physique. She certainly cut a very intimidating figure, what with the impressive amount of muscle. He thought back for a moment, though, and realized that this lady was not quite as unfamiliar to him as he had guessed. Blake apparently disliked combat with weapons, from what he had heard, and had a reputation among the class as one of the better hand-to-hand fighters.

"I just think it would be easier to figure out what we're dealing with if we get a better view of the bridge." he said, a slight and imperceptibly quick quirk at the corner of his mouth emerging and dying as Blake chose now to do some stretching. Turning back to hear the new sound, he nodded at Kael's remark. They were quite an ally to have in case of traps and such, so Sader was glad for his presence. Suddenly he heard a bit of sloshing coming closer and turned again, waiting as Proctor Snicket popped out of the crowd and began speaking.

The proctor was in quite the condition, with his normally notable mustache now wilted like a dead flower. It was rather admirable that their teacher would come along with them, but that didn't make what he had to say any more pleasant. Oh, so we're in a part of the Falwood too treacherous for its own inhabitants? That's comforting, Sader thought sarcastically to himself. He took a moment to look up and noticed Takoda up in a tree, slightly jealous of his fellow initiate's ability to escape all the bug bites.

Mind moving back to Snicket, he joined the conversation just in time to hear their instructor say "other creatures living out here that will gladly ambush and devour you, should you allow your diligence to waver." I guess it's better than nothing. he thought, at least grateful all they would deal with were animals. Predators brave enough to attack humans were usually smart, but they surely had patterns like anything else. Blake then asked what everyone was likely thinking, given Snicket's state.

Ever the proctor, he denied any sort of trouble and got to thinking. For someone collapsed on the floor, he sure was quick about finding an answer to this issue. When the idea of the four of them going was proposed, Sader was immediately on board. If the rope structure was a trap, better that only the four with powers potentially fall for it than a large group of guardsmen. Besides practicality, it would be nice to have a little extra space, for walking in rank was...cramping to say the least. Necessary, but not fun.

"That sounds smart. I'm ready when you are." he said to Blake before turning to Kael. "Feel like coming along, friend?"

 

[Kael]

As the sexagenarian planted his rump on the ground Kael pulled his arrow back, feather kissing his cheek. The arrowhead darted west, east, north, then south before he released the tension and brought the arrowhead down. They were, for the moment at least, away from any predators. The ranking member having a spell was a perfect time to pounce, so it was good there was no one to capitalize.

His solution was too close to efficient for the purpose of a Proctor for Kael to dismiss it as pure sloth. The thought still crawled in his mind. Since the formation of the Republic Dreadlords were part of the guard. In a way the quartet of initiates were cadets, unranked members of a military. Yet it was they who would do what exactly? Find something that might be useful information to Vel Anir and report back? No, Snicket wouldn't review them favorably for playing the scout. They were trained to deal with problems, not find them.

"Yeah. I'll just get a few supplies." He said, then headed off to see the quartermaster, in charge of a large backpack carried by him and his reports. Kael signed for some arrows, throwing knives, and waterskins. He then took a stop by First Lieutenant Cortado.

"If you encounter trouble get him out. We'll catch up." Kael whispered. The officer sported a look of 'I want to be anywhere in the woods with these fething kids', but looked over at Snicket. He then looked at Kael and gave a knowing nod. Kael didn't want to have a dead Proctor on a field assignment anywhere near his record. Certainly not before graduation.


"I'm ready." Kael said, returning to Saderzaine Vult. His gaze went upwards to view their gravity-altering companion. He didn't know Takoda or Blake very well, but he knew of their skills. As he walked he kept an eye out, but also began thinking of what creatures might lurk in the fog.

 

[Takoda]

A quick flash of disgust passed on Takoda's face as their proctor arrived. For any warrior in their tribe to be in this man's condition would be a shame on his family before he was customarily removed from outriding parties. Of course, many in his tribe could not wield magic with such ease. He had only run into a few Dreadlords during his time fighting them, but each one wielded incredible destructive capability, no matter how out of shape they may be now.

Then again, the man's time as a Proctor had clearly dulled his senses. His words directed at Takoda demonstrated that. The elves fought much like how his tribe preferred to engage, which was guerilla warfare. As soon as the enemy started saying that they would not be around the area then that is exactly where he would look to attack.

He would still take advantage of the opportunity to go scouting, at the least, it would be a good chance to stretch his legs.

Takoda shifted his grey eyes to the surrounding area before taking in a deep sniff to see if any scent sat on the wind that might give them an idea of what was near them. He did smell a slight dampness in the air, so that was likely water beneath that bridge at some point.

"I'm ready when you are."

His body suddenly flew forward before he landed on another branch several yards ahead of them.