Dreadlords Hammer and Anvil

[Tinker Smithe]

The carriages trundled on. Ever ever on. That endless cycle. The wheel. A circle supported by spokes jutting from a smaller circle. Cycles within cycles. Parallel yet nearly separate. Never truly apart. One moving the other in time with one another. Circular. Winding. Logical. Predictable.

Perfect.....

Tinker's mind had wandered off. Thoughts moving about. The mission. The wheel. One circle turning in time another. One moving the other.

Atropa liked these little games. Messing with his head. Always been this way since the proctor found him. Brought him. Enrolled him. Trained him. Molded him. Fostered him. Watched. Watched. Watched. Watched....

The first carriage began to rumble off the side of the road into an open meadow. Violently it bounced about with each uneven clump of grass and unseen rock. Holes randomly hidden about beneath the brown and green.

Tinker snapped back to reality with the jerking. He glanced about and let them get a short ways from the road then stopped. Some time had past. He turned around to face his carriage mates.

"Rest."

And then he got off his seat. He went to tend to the horse. The guard in the back stood up and left the carriage. The bed sprung back up savagely threatening to launch any left in it out. The guard moved to the back and took up a vigil of the road.

Kristen Pirian Drastus Tal'deneshaar Everleigh Ebersol Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

A big ugly stretchy thing? What the hell did that even mean? No, he did not want to find out. Alistair shook his head as he tried to shake out whatever image was beginning to form in his head. "I'm going to choose to ignore your ominous threat, for now," Alistair warned as he turned to focus on Evie.

The question that she had brought back up was one that had annoyed him for quite some time. He had even bothered doing some reading on the subject to better inform his decision.

He tried to lean back and relax in the carriage and look at the surrounding scenery that they passed by. "I think I prefer destiny...I want to believe my choices matter."

Around that time, the carriages pulled off the road for their first break. Felt a little early, but regular stops was a good way to maintain the best condition for all involved, including the horses. "I guess we can discuss this over a drink now."

He moved to get a little stretch in while they stopped.

Everleigh Ebersol Tinker Smithe Kristen Pirian Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen pondered the question as it was turned back upon her, and her mind was all too ready to supply her with memories for consideration. Vel Acan, breaking Noel's arm, that one fight with Henk, witnessing Edric kill the nomads and the Inquisitor, the horrors of the Canal, Vel Numera, the ogres at Sentinel's Home. Goodness...it felt as though she had been born again into a new life, wholly distinct from that among her family.

At last, she settled on an answer, vague and unsatisfying as it surely was. "Yes and no."

There was trouble aplenty to disquiet her spirit. But, as Drastus said and as Kristen herself knew deep down, this was what was required of her. Not what the Academy required of her, no, not exactly that, it was only by coincidence that it was so. Kristen wanted something for herself. Something Selene and Zana and Evangeline had and that she had wished for herself as she was held captive on the island of The Blades.

They chatted for a while longer.

At least until the carriage started to rock and jostle about, pulling off of the road. Kristen was startled at first, her mind going immediately to the most disastrous option: that a wheel had somehow popped off. But no. Nothing so dramatic.

Kristen hopped off of the carriage before the Soldier did (she might have went for a ride otherwise) and took a look about their surroundings. A sloping hill to one side. The forest floor awash with the faded brown of fallen leaves, their crunch and the snapping of small twigs and branches accompanying nearly each step. Sunshafts speared through the gaps of the swaying branches above. Somewhere in the distance was the rhythmic sound of a woodpecker drilling into the trunk of a tree.

She sighed. "'Tis such a lovely day to be attending to such grim business. Alas, for what can we do but enjoy the small moments when they—"

Bull had dismounted from the second carriage and gone not too far off (unconcerned with much privacy) and had started to take a piss on a small bush, the rapid wet dribble of his urine interrupting Kristen's musing. It kept going, as if the man had drank a full gallon of water.

Kristen frowned, looked to Drastus, and shrugged.

Everleigh Ebersol Drastus Tal'deneshaar Tinker Smithe Alistair Krixus

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Her answer was about as expected, though he wondered if she hated who she was becoming, at least deep down. They talked some more before the ride sifted into silence. He even so much as got comfy enough to threaten a quick power nap.

He wouldn't be so lucky. The first bump robbed him of his comfort and he cursed silently as it happened. He then rose to his feet as they came to a stop and hopped down from the wagon first, being the closest to the back. He offered up a hand to help Kristen down, just to be polite.

Once she disembarked, he would pull his flask free and take some pulls from it, he couldn't tell if it was for the taste or the effect. That would he an issue resolved at a later date. Kristen started talking before he felt the ground shake as either the large toy or Bull disembarked.

He tried to focus it out until Kristen stopped mid-stream, ironic as Bull started his. He shot Kristen a grin and he would aim a finger gun at Bull and shoot him in the back with a little zapper of necrotic energy. It wouldn't be lethal or affect him in any way, but it would be enough for that dribble to perhaps paint his boots.

God he hated Bull.

Everleigh Ebersol Tinker Smithe Alistair Krixus Kristen Pirian @PeePeeShoesBull

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh nodded her head at Alistair’s reply and was honestly quite happy that he had changed it from fate to destiny. Because much like her, she’d much rather believe in destiny. Especially after the revolution. Seeing it through the lenses of fate was a rather depressing affair, but more importantly it was a stifling and stagnant view.

“Yeah, me too,” Everleigh said softly. She paused. “But sometimes, it’s really fucking fun to just flip a coin just because.” A impish little smirk had appeared. She was sure Alistair knew exactly what she was talking about and what she was referencing.

Following Tinker’s lead, Everleigh began to pull her horses over as well, although because she was paying attention, the ride was far less bumpy for those in her cart. She pulled the horses to a halt. It felt good to stand up, to stretch her legs out roll her shoulders back as she jerked her head quickly side by side, a couple of satisfying pops could be heard. She let the horses graze at the grass. Bull may have weighed who knew how much, but Everleigh was the lightest initiate there, and Alistair’s weight wasn’t obtuse in any sort of way.

Needless to say, the pair of horses the second group had didn’t needed much tending or care, at least not at this point in their journey. She looked over, wanting to say something to Alistair but instead getting an eyeful of Bull and his— oh dear Kress, why did his look like that or was that normal?! Everleigh quickly brought her violet gaze away and stared hard at Tinker and Kristen and Drastus.

Her face was beet red.

She then brought her hands up to her heated cheek and lightly patted them, calming herself a bit before walking over to the group that was forming.

Tinker Smithe Alistair Krixus Kristen Pirian Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Tinker Smithe]

Disgusting. The dumbest of them all just began to relieve himself right there in full view of everyone instead of giving them the dignity of his absence. A foul disturbance that had caused the chatty one to stop her speaking. Already his form was the most grotesque of them all with its revelry in the organic, but now he had to also stink up their little open area with his loud mess.

Tinker didn't need to do much for the horse. He was done seeing to it before Bull was even done pissing away his chances at respect. So he did the most obvious next thing: he walked away into the trees. In their muffling depths, he began to look around. A study of the ecosystem they would be walking into. A diverse mix. All that preferred the hotter and more temperate weather of this part of the world. Not yet the Falwood but the early signs of it were there.

At one of the trees, he found its bark was easy to strip off. So he did. His knife was drawn and he began to etch out his thoughts into it. The ones that had distracted him before from his driving. One interrupted by this break. Thoughts best left to continue unhindered.

Perhaps he should have let one of the other two drive the carriage.... No. No they might not follow the path properly. Begin to chat and take them to the next town over where they would need to ask for directions. Or perhaps they might even need to ask for them from a traveler.

No. He would not allow such events to take place. The way had been memorized. Each road sorted out in advance. He would get them there with no need for approaching others.

And so Tinker returned. His bark journal finished in hand. His knife still held in the other. As he approached everyone he just simply said, "Leaving."

The large guard was already moving back onto the carriage even before their proctor appointed leader had spoken. The carriage dropped back down to where it had been when the initiates had first climbed aboard. Tinker was back up onto the driver seat. His knife back in its place. His bark journal tossed into the back with half care and half none.

If he cared if anyone looked at it was unknown. All that happened was he was getting the horses moving again once he was settled.

Everleigh Ebersol Kristen Pirian Drastus Tal'deneshaar Alistair Krixus

Spoiler: Bark Journal

Pictures of a big circle with a small circle inside of it. A symbol associated with the Elves, the symbol of Vel Anir, and the symbol used by Anirian frontier towns sat equal distances apart between the two circles. Outside the big circle the words "One moving the other" over and over and over and over again leaving no space for anything else.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair could only chuckle and nod in agreement at Evie's mention of a coin flip. Yes, sometimes the best decisions came from a coin flip. He walked next to her, while she checked on the horses. Mainly, wanting to avoid Bull.

Sure enough, the large bulk of a man could not have that. He followed Evie's gaze for only a moment and was quickly scarred for life. "C'mon, have some class, you blockhead."

This guy seemed to have a superhuman power to not read the room, or maybe he was just actively trying that much. Either way, it meant that they had to suffer.

He turned to focus on the others, trying to get the image out of his mind.

"Well, glad we could increase the difficulty a little bit. Now, we can all do the mission while blinded." Alistair would have continued making conversation with others when Tinker came back from wherever they had disappeared. He only spoke a one-worded command and Alistair rolled his eyes.

"A please can go a long way." He said with a smirk showing that he wasn't to serious about the matter. He began to move back to his carriage.

Tinker Smithe Everleigh Ebersol Kristen Pirian Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen watched with a minor fascination as Drastus launched the discreet bolt of energy. Bull finished his business, his stream slowing and, as it so happened, there was a little splatter on his boots—though the big Initiate hardly seemed to notice.

C'mon, have some class, you blockhead.

"Get over it," Bull said curtly. These idiots were going to slow them down later, now that they each had the same chance to relieve themselves and didn't take it. With his great, striding steps he made his way back toward the second carriage and simply leaned against it, arms crossed, and waited there, the harsh look ever-present on his face.

The break didn't last long. Kristen had barely gotten through the start of another conversation with Drastus when Tinker returned (at least he had the decency to attend to nature's call out of sight from the rest of them). Still, before Kristen climbed aboard the carriage again, she did resolve to ask Everleigh something. She couldn't say that she and Everleigh were overly acquainted, but, and perhaps she was wrong on this, she understood that Everleigh knew more about Tinker Smithe than any other Initiate at the Academy.

Tinker spoke his terse command. And Kristen approached Everleigh, glancing Tinker's way, and asked in a low voice, "Is he...always so succinct?"

When the answer was given, Kristen would indeed take her seat aboard the first carriage. No time for dallying, as they say.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar Everleigh Ebersol Tinker Smithe Alistair Krixus

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Drast smirked at Kristen. "Wonder which gross flappy bit eats the ears." He mused aloud. He couldn't wait for when he had to pee, because it would be atop Bulls body after they had ashed his remains.

Tinker left to pee, Kristen went to ask Evie something, and Drast just prayed for the opening to kill Bull. Hell he wanted to make the toy fight Bull. Two mindless golems fighting to the death.

When Tinker returned, it was time to get back in the wagon. So, Drast would wait for Kristen to return, then help her up into the wagon and climb in after.

This time, however, they had a new companion. Tinker didn't look like he washed his hands, so this was essentially pee bark. Nudging it with his boot, he managed to flip the notes over and read what was written.

"One moving the other..on repeat.." he would read softly just so he could hear. Dammit, they were being led by two toys and a pee bark plan that proved Tinker was just insane.

Everleigh Ebersol | Tinker Smithe | Alistair Krixus | Kristen Pirian | @PissBull

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh was the only initiate who seemed used to tinker’s quirks, and there was a small part of her that enjoyed that fact. Tinker was, first and foremost, her anchor. He was consistent— even if the things he was consistent in were things such as ignoring her or insulting her. But that consistency, especially in the academy, was a sort of saving grace for Everleigh. Because while everyone else shied away from her or labeled her as too dangerous to touch, Tinker was her perfect opposite.

The poison eater craved touch, not that she fully understood what that meant. Yet, Tinker despised touch, shrank away from it and other interactions. They were an ironic pair, but they were a pair that worked remarkably. All of this was due to Everleigh’s god-like patience and Tinker not fearing Everleigh in the slightest.

So when Everleigh looked at Kristen Pirian, she only smiled. Something more benign and less devious than her usual smiles, but utterly Everleigh nonetheless.

“He’s actually on his best behavior right now. Must be in a good mood or something. I really hope it stays that way.” Everleigh responded and then not long after went back to her wagon, getting back in the driver’s seat to follow after Tinker.

 

[Tinker Smithe]

The carriage was driven back onto the road in a considerably smoother fashion than when it had left. It was almost as if the driver was paying attention, which he always was. Always. Soon enough they had returned to their path and continued on their way to the border town.

Soon enough Tinker's mind was back onto the problem at hand. Truly it had never left but was now the main focus yet again. Atropa knew what was going on. Had to have known. Atropa always knew. Scouts sent to observe and report back. The mission devised from their report with all the key details missing. Missing to test them. No, not them. Him. This was a test solely for him. One Atropa no doubt expected him to fail. To fail and mule over and over and over and over until he got it right. All the while the Proctor standing there waiting and watching. Watching and waiting. Like a buzzard circling in anticipation of death.

Tinker would not be Atropa's carcass to feast upon. He could pass this test. Find the missing pieces to the puzzle. Stitch it together like the parts of a doll. Then life could be breathed back into it. True, Anirian, life....

An hour or more had past. He was unaware of the true passing of it. Actually a lie. He was aware of the time to the exact second since they had left their stop. It was more that odd sense of the passage of it. That vague, formless enigma everyone unique felt differently. One of those annoying states of being ruled entirely by chaos and unique to the organic.

"What you think of mission?"

His own thoughts were clear to him. Their's were not. Best to sort out his hammers from his knives now before he needed them. As well as to figure out if he had any nails.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar Alistair Krixus Everleigh Ebersol Kristen Pirian

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair decided to take the passenger seat next to Everliegh, so he could ultimately just ignore Bull. As they got closer to their mission, Alistair was beginning to enter the correct mindset for such endeavors.

He still did not have much idea of exactly what they were running into, but Tinker seemed to have a better understanding of that. The only one that really knew Tinker well seemed to be Evie, but he was an unknown factor to Alistair. He understood how the others would operate. Hopefully, he could understand how this guy would operate before things went to far.

"Evie, is Tinker always like this? So...wired?"

Everleigh Ebersol Drastus Tal'deneshaar Kristen Pirian Tinker Smithe

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Everleigh's answer was...mildly concerning. Perhaps it was merely Kristen herself making dire something that truly was not, but, what precisely did that mean, that he was on his best behavior? Furthermore, what did it mean that Everleigh "hoped it stayed that way?" Blessed Aionus, was...what happened when Tinker was not on his best behavior? Mayhap it was a stretch to think there was a Charon, Ignatius, or Jaxan lurking within the reclusive Initiate, but with what little Kristen knew of him could she truly say otherwise?

So mildly concerning, yes.

She accepted Drastus's helping hand into the wagon and took her seat next to him. Curiously she regarded...what was that?...some bark? The manner in which Drastus held the bark and read what was apparently a message writ upon it suggested that it was not his. Which left the Soldier, and Tinker.

Kristen shared a look with Drastus, one of perplexed bends and arches and just a hint of worry. 'Twas safe to say that what Drastus held was not the product of a sound mind.

And then Tinker asked his question, catching Kristen off-guard in that very moment in such affecting a manner that she nearly flinched. Goodness!

I really hope it stays that way.

Kristen too! What to say, then, in response to his question? Mayhap, in this specific instance, less was more? Less certainly seemed safer.

"It's..." she hesitated for a moment, "...fine?"

And she smiled in the exact way a nervous student would to her teacher, guessing at an answer she truly did not know and hoping she had gotten it correct.

* * * * *​

Bull glanced over at Alistair when he brought up Tinker, how he was like. Stared for just a second. Then shifted his gaze forward again, having something to say perhaps but keeping it to himself just for now.

Tinker Smithe Drastus Tal'deneshaar Everleigh Ebersol Alistair Krixus

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

They were on the crazy wagon train and Drast's companions were a Tinker, spitter, solider, nobles... and Bull. There was some joke in there that he couldn't quite locate the punchline for. Either way, they were on the move again.

He exchanged looks with Kristen and he perked a brow with a shrug. Hopefully that would share his current state of mind with her.

The conductor then asked them a question and for once, she kept her answer concise. Drast would take a sip from his flask before answering. "Itll be great if Bull dies."

Everleigh Ebersol | Tinker Smithe | Alistair Krixus | Kristen Pirian | @TheQuestionableMassNamedBull

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh glanced back at Alistair. She thought, and while she couldn’t place why she assumed this, that Alistair may actually enjoy Tinker. He didn’t talk much sure, but he also didn’t make a lot of unnecessary jokes. He was on the serious side, sure, but so was Alistair. But she did take note of one thing, and she appreciated it, because Alistair had used the word ‘wired’ and not ‘weird.’

“Tinker’s mind is different than ours, sure.” Everleigh said, looking back ahead, wondering what on Kress’ name was going on in that wagon. Based off of what Kristen had asked, it seemed like Tinker was actually talking. Her lips twitched. She wished the others could understand how monumental that actually was.

“He usually calls me lazy. Or tells me how I talk too much or that I’m stupid. When he first came to the academy he didn’t fear me, everyone else stayed far away but if I stood next to him he would flinch away just like how he did with everyone else. So I’d say he’s different than the majority of initiates. What he values isn’t what I value, so he calls me stupid. What he’s good at, which is making dolls, versus what I am good at? That’s lazy. I talk in full sentences and he doesn’t so I talk too much.

“I think others miss out on that, or don’t care to think about it. He likes to hide out in the forge and honestly if it weren’t for me or a proctor, he’d never eat much less sleep or bathe.” She cracked a grin. “And when he gets hyper-focused on something, even if it’s a snail, it’s like there’s nothing else in the world. It’s kinda cute. Like a child.” Everleigh shrugged. She was getting off topic.

“And while he acts like he doesn’t like me, I know that’s wrong. Because when push comes to shove he has my back. And, actually, Tinker can do a lot more than just making dolls.” This time she turned her head all the way around to look at Alistair, violet hair whipping all around her face. “I think even you might be impressed with it, Al.”

 

[Tinker Smithe]

The ones in his carriage had little to say. The answers he had gotten though were lacking. The talkative one had finally been brief and precise yet lacked any form of opinion or thought. The quieter one spoke more but only spoke what all of them wished for. Neither truly dealt with the mission. Hammers. Both of them. Perhaps nails. Sad outcome. He would rather have knives.

"Bull no die. Can't. Too worthless."

That was his only reaction to that one. His gaze shifted over to the likely nail. That one had such potential. Disappointing how quickly it was lost. "Thoughts on mission. Not feelings."

And with that his eyes drifted back to the road. This speaking was tiring. These people were tiring. No thoughts. No useful thoughts. Chatter chatter chatter. About this one. About that one. None of them focused. None of them disciplined. They would die if he were not here. They would die and Bull would claim their ears.

Everleigh Ebersol Kristen Pirian Alistair Krixus Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair was silent as Everleigh went on about Tinker. His eyes were looking ahead to the carriage in front of him. He rested his elbows on his legs as he brought his hands up to cover his mouth in a thinking position.

From what Evie was telling him, Tinker was a messed up version of what Alistair could have become, or Alistair was what Tinker could be with an off switch. That wasn't exactly a good or a bad thing. Alistair did some amazing things when he hyper-focused on his own things. However, he also knew what dealing with himself could be like when he ignored the world around him. It was difficult to completely imagine what that would be like if he never turned it off.

"Yes, I suspect I would be."

Alistair was vaguely aware of the work that Tinker had been a part of, although, he was the most reclusive of the craftsman of the Academy.

A lot about of person could be determined by the people around them. That was especially helpful with someone like Tinker who said so little. If Evie vouched for him like this then he would also trust him. Even if he thought he was a little annoying.

Everleigh Ebersol Tinker Smithe Kristen Pirian Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen's response caught in her throat for a moment. She instead turned a puzzled gaze with an equally puzzled up-ticked brow to Drastus.

Bull no die. Kristen was having a difficult time getting beyond that structure of that sentence, and in looking to Drastus she was looking to see if he, too, was as puzzled as she was. How...insular was Tinker's life? It seemed to Kristen that his reclusive tendencies had led to ghastly diminishment of his ability to communicate, where he seemed challenged even to relay basic ideas. Was...was it truly a sound idea to have him leading this mission? Alistair had incredible intelligence, Drastus was quick-witted and unflappable, and Everleigh—even though Kristen knew personally little of her—had a reputation for being highly cunning.

She, admittedly, was having a hard time trusting in Tinker's ability.

At the same time, with the echo of Everleigh's words in her ear, didn't want to upset him.

So she looked back to him. Again faltered at the outset for how exactly to respond, and again settling on the less is more approach.

"It's..." she hesitated (again) for a moment, "...routine?"

* * * * *​

Bull finally did speak up.

"The Proctors treat him differently." He spoke without looking to either Everleigh or Alistair. "They treat him special."

The word "special" was laced with cold disdain, and a brand of hatred that was almost envious. Weak though his peers might be, they couldn't be blind to it: how, curiously, the horrors visited upon the rest of them in the old way had skipped over Tinker somehow.

"He isn't a Dreadlord, and he'll never be. He's a fake."

Tinker Smithe Drastus Tal'deneshaar Everleigh Ebersol Alistair Krixus

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

Drast wouldn't voice his real opinion on the mission. The Revolution was a joke. Power changed hands to those who wanted it more. What new benefits were there for the people? They had to evict people from their homes to make room for the elvish quarter. Its not like it was all magically built in a year, they watered down the Academy (which could be good or bad), gave more power to the Guard who seemed extremely incompetent. They maybe took two very small steps forward in civil rights, but other than that? Likely just smoke and mirrors.

He was sure Kristen and members of the Houses that were true believers definitely thought what happened was necessary, he just wasn't sure if it was. An undead horde washed over Vel Anir, he found it hard to believe there wasn't a massive loss of innocent life. And ultimately, he hoped this mission was to quell an actual Revolution, not serve as an excuse for government to crack down on the elves once more and re-ignite the war.

He felt a pair of greys on him and his thoughts were pulled back to the moment. He would catch her look and offered a reassuring nod. She wasn't the only one who doubted Tinker's ability. He wasn't even sure Tinker would be useful in a fight. The toy maybe, but he was questionable.

Everleigh Ebersol | Tinker Smithe | Alistair Krixus | Kristen Pirian | @BullShit

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh spun around, one hand still holding the reigns. With precision and agility that could never seem human, the poison eater was set in a stance as quickly as if someone had asked her to open her eyes, and all that would be seen was the fact that her heavy boot, the special one made with spikes underneath like a pair of pointy cleats, was only a few centimeters away from the side of Bull’s face.

Really, it was more impressive that the control she had of her body was such that she could stop without her foot impacting the other initiate’s face already.

Her face was stone-cold, entirely unreadable, although by the slight lift of her dark brows she looked rather bored other than what her reaction suggested.

“There. Now you’re special too, Bull, since you’re feeling jealous. Because before the revolution I’d be burning the skin off your face and choking you with your slimy intestines.” With a dulcet, utterly saccharine smile that didn’t match the cool, indifferent mauve eyes of hers, Everleigh then began to position herself back to sitting normally onto the wagon, holding onto the wagon with both hands again.

“Let’s get one thing clear, anyone that thinks they can attack Tinker, whether with words or by physical means, you’re dealing with me first, because I’m not letting that shit fly.” Ever so slightly her hands tightened on the reigns, knuckles turning white. Despite her voice sounding relaxed it was clear that her body was ready to move in any way necessary: whether to evade or attack.

Tinker could have stood right out in the open, with Bull charging at him ready to punch. Tinker’s face would have been unflinching, distinterested, with a deadpan stare. Because the moment Bull thought he could take another step forward, Everleigh would be there, counterattack ready and prepared to push Bull away from her friend. Her first friend. And perhaps the one friend that would really never leave her side no matter how disgusting she became. A toxic dynamic— enjoy the pun— but one that managed to survive.

Although this could be the mission that would shake everything up.

 

[Tinker Smithe]

The chatty one was definitely a hammer. He would sigh but it wasn't worth the effort. Calling it routine. No mission was routine. Not for them. Not from Atropa. This was a test with no lecture before. All the answers had to be hunted down and deciphered. A knife would be able to cut them out. A hammer was only good for smacking them into place.

The quiet one might yet be a knife. Tinker doubted it, although still possible. The Proctors at large had a bad habit of making far, far too many hammers out of their dreadlord initiates. Perhaps that was why there was so few? No point having too many of the same tool lying around being worthless.

So Tinker's mind went back to the mission. To thinking over what had been revealed to them going in. Revolt. Frontier settlement. Elves. Revolt. Frontier settlement. Elves. Revolt. Frontier settlement. Elves. On and on and on and on and on. A circle turning a circle. A wheel rotating down the road....

Hours had past. The sun was going down.

Tinker pulled the carriage off the road into a clearing on the side. There was fewer of them as they grew closer to Falwood. To the settlement. To the elves.

This time it was far smoother. Only a couple big bumps as the wheel hit the ditch. Back far enough away to stay somewhat hidden, although there was no true hiding with their carriages.

Tinker stopped the horses. He got up. As he stepped off he said, "Set up camp." For once he was somewhat loud so everyone could hear him. He didn't look at any of the companions from his carriage as he spoke in his normal volume. "Care for horses."

He walked out into the trees. There was business he needed to take care of. Business that didn't concern the rest of them.

Everleigh Ebersol Alistair Krixus Kristen Pirian Drastus Tal'deneshaar

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"Alright, let's save the killing for the elves...for now."

Alistair looked between the two as he felt the tension build, but now was not the time for that. "Bull, we are all initiates. Success is all that matters, so save your criticisms for after the mission."

The carriage descended into an awkward silence for the next few minutes, but thankfully it was not meant to last forever. Tinker must have decided to set up camp as he saw the carriage in front of them pull to the side.

"Alright, Evie and I can you handle the horses Bull can you get started on the camp? You can do that right, Bull?"

He meant the last question as a bit of a dig at Bull, but also a little bit of genuine curiosity. He could set up camp right, or was he literally just a weapon, only knowing how to fight.

No one could be that bad, right?

As the carriage came to a stop, he quickly grabbed the camping supplies and pushed them into Bull's hands while he tried to get him as far away from Evie as possible. Let them both clear their heads a bit.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar Kristen Pirian Tinker Smithe Everleigh Ebersol

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Her answer seemed good enough. What could she say? Tinker stayed on his best behavior and kept his good mood, at least so far as Kristen could tell, and that was all she truly wanted. She wanted everything to go smoothly. Though it did feel terribly as if she were walking on eggshells in something which should have been so very pedestrian—simply talking. Perhaps it would have been better if she and Everleigh had switched places from the outset? Everleigh knew how to handle Tinker...gosh, that was an awful way to phrase it, as if he were a particularly unwieldy hound which needed special attention from the resident houndmaster. But, clumsily phrased or not, it was the truth.

The wagons pulled off the road, came to a stop, and Tinker called out some curt commands before disappearing out into the trees to do...well, only Aionus and Astra and the rest of the pantheon might have had any idea.

Kristen exited the wagon. Smiled at Drastus. She was most certainly starved for social interaction. "We could set up our tents next to one another."

She glanced to the other carriage, then leaned a bit more toward him and whispered with a sly, conspiratorial tone. "Don't tell anyone, buuuuut~...I brought along something special. It's quite the treat!"

Reaching back into the wagon she dragged her travel pack forward and undid its top flap. She reached in and produced a pouch, and within the pouch was something wrapped in a special paper, and she then folded back the paper to reveal—

"Chocolate, so the confectionaries call it. Have you ever tried it before?"

* * * * *​

Bull scoffed at Everleigh and Alistair alike. This was why he hated most of his peers. One of the many reasons. Taking up for that weakling Tinker (and that weakling Kristen too). Taking up for any weakling. He was the only real Dreadlord here, and this proved it.

And when the wagons stopped, Bull dropped down and took only what was his. He growled out his response, "Set up your own tents."

He went to the edge of the clearing they'd stopped in, separate from the rest of them, and got to work on his own lot alone.

Drastus Tal'deneshaar Tinker Smithe Everleigh Ebersol Alistair Krixus

 

[Drastus Tal'deneshaar]

They had finally arrived and were able to set up camp. He descended the cart and helped Kristen down, after all it was dark and the ground was uneven. Tinker went off to do Tinker things.. again. Hopefully he cleaned his hands this time.

There wasn't much time to think of anything else because a certain smiling face pulled his attention back. "That sounds like a great idea. Or, we could share. Mines good for two or three." He replied with his trademark grin.

Now it was his turn to look around conspiratorially, after all, this was extremely sensitive information. "Something special you say?" He inched closer. "I'm sure it will be."

Have you ever tried it before?

He looked to the chocolate then down at himself, then to her. "No.. but I basically am chocolate." He laughed before scratching his jaw and mouthing 'confectionaries'. Had no idea what it meant but it would make a fine addition to his vocabulary.

Movement caught his eye: Bull. He was setting up camp away from them. Good. That meant Drast could light the tent on fire and not harm anyone else.

Everleigh Ebersol | Tinker Smithe | Alistair Krixus | Kristen Pirian | @BullintheTinkerShop

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh had pulled over, still following Tinker. She looked at Alistair then at Bull, her face blank as she watched their interaction. She was quiet as Bull walked off and looked over to only see that Tinker had left the others to their own devices as well to go into the woods. A big part of her felt compelled to go in after him and to finally be able to speak to him.

She remained still and instead looked back at Alistair, proffering up a devious grin.

“Wanna prank Bull tonight?” She asked, pulling the tenting supplies among a few other things that Bull had left behind. “I already got a few ideas on how we could make him shit his pants.” She said in a sing-song voice, walking away and letting Alistair take care of the horses for now. Besides, she was quite good at setting up tents, and she wouldn’t mind setting up Alistair’s.

Tinker Smithe Alistair Krixus Kristen Pirian Drastus Tal'deneshaar