Spine ((open))

[Mithiel]

As if in asnwer, a screeching cry came from above as Daros winged his way into view, trailing the two from above. "He probably just went away for a minute..." Mithiel said as she spurred Caleb towards the rocky terrain of the Spine.

((now what? An ambush? AN attack? Or something else??))

[Damien]

((Ambushed by who, though? Does Mithiel have a private army after her neck? Or is there an NPC we can meet?))

Rory clung onto the reins even tighter when his horse started to gallop, and pretty much let it do whatever it pleases. He was only lucky that the horse was well-trained enough to follow.

Butt in saddle at all times, keep hands and feet on the ride, do not wriggle in the seat, eyes on the road, do not let go of reins . . .

He accidentally kicked the horse’s side and it galloped away, intent to cutting straight across the Spine and back into the capital.

I’m gonna die . . .

[Mithiel]

((eh... Is your horse running away? Cos if you do, i have sommuat i can do. And maybe... Hmm... a bunch of slavers? Or some Varden people? You make the decision. XDD))

[Damien]

((It's running, alright. And with Rory still on it, too. We could A) run into a bunch of slavers, as you said; B) run straight into a camp of nomads/Varden people/refugees/runaway soldiers/bears/other wild animals; C)end up completely lost in the middle of the Spine or D), which is Other. Take your pick! And Mithiel would probably have to calm the horse down first, by going into it's mind or something like that.))

[Mithiel]

Spurring Caleb, she turned the roan horse towards the runnaway horse, and took a whip off from her waist. Snapping it in the the air, she arched it towards the horse and with a snap, coiled it around its belly, pulling it to a stop. The horse struggle, and started neighing wildly, but from where she is, Mithiel reahced out a mind tendril, and with a soothing feel, camlmed the brute down, before snapping off the whip, the horse trotted docilely back to Mithiel.

"Learn how to control your horse next time, or you'll probably fly off the craig of Farthen Dur-without wings." Mithiel snapped sarcastically, coiling the whip back and hanging it around her waist again.

((i'll pick choice B or A, cos Mithiel has a very well sense of direction, and i have no idea what Other is supposed o be. I seem to be seeing a dead end. But A and B is quite well, now you choose. ))

[Damien]

Rory picked himself off the ground for the second time that day, and sighed.

“You know, this is actually an improvement. Most of the time I can’t even get on the horse . . . and when I do, I fall right back off. Maru tried tying me to one of the horses once, and I panicked and started kicking. After that, well . . .”

He glanced at his horse, and left it alone.

“I’ll just walk, it’s less stressful than riding. I think there’s a stream . . . thattaway.” He pointed to the East. “Wanna go there?”

((I think . . . B. What would slave traders be doing in the Spine? Maybe coming into contact with deserters from the Empire, either one of our characters recognizes them and starts the kill? People that have escaped from Carvahall is fine, too, and so are Varden spies/hunters/people/etc. They’re all pretty similar, so any would be fine. If there is any other ideas you have, feel free!))

[Mithiel]

((Hmm.... I know!! Let's get to the stream and then have Caleb tread throgh it to the other side, and then we meet the Varden spy camp. They recognise the Empire mark on your shoulder band and on Caleb's chest strap, and starts attacking us. It'll be quite a hubbab, cos even for Mithiel, she can't handle 10 attackers at oonce. ))

"Get on Caleb, He won't let any of his riders fall, and it'll be faster anyway." Mithiel said, pulling Caleb to a stop and offering a hand towards Rory.

[Luna Castrel]

Luna wandered in the woods deep within them, searching for game. Exhausted, she was about to go home when she heard people nearby. Curious, she went near and watched.

[Damien]

((Great! Just make sure there aren't too many Vardenies, or we are gonna get scolded for decimating the Varden's forces. Not that it matters, since they're kinda like fleas. You kill a bunch, and a bunch more appears. They breed like bunnies, I swear!))

Rory looked a bit worried, but decided to trust Mithiel. With her help he managed to get on, and made himself confortable as he possible could on a horse. Glad he didn’t have to control Caleb, he simply sat straight (sit back and fall) and hung on as Caleb trotted towards the stream.

((Luna, do you want to come in now or later? You might want to come in when we’re fighting the Varden . . . help-your-enemies-and-then-stab-them-in-the-back or something. You risk getting shot by Mithiel, but . . . It’s your choice, and I’ll be fine whichever way. And I’ve just realized that Luna and Mithiel are both born in Carvahall.))

[Mithiel]

((Yeap. I love killing those stab-in-the-back people. But its entirely your choice. *grins widely*And hey look, i'm seeing an old village mate!! XDXD))

Digging her heels in to Caleb's side, Caleb started on towards the river, and Daros screeched, swooping down, flying alongside Mithiel. I'm going off for a minute. Saw something that interests me. He said.Mithiel nodded, and a single thought, Take care Came from Daros,before he angled off to the left, and then dissapeared over the horizons.

Pulling Caleb to a stop, Mithiel let the tired horse drank his fill,before turning towards her passenger. "I'm going across the river. If you want to follow, hold tight, if you don't fall off." Mithei said, coldness seeping through every word as she eyed Rory from the corner of her eyes.

[Damien]

((Eh, Mithiel and Luna could have been friends from a long time ago, before Rory was born. Or just after. Maybe . . . though it’s more likely they don’t know each other at all.))

Rory cringed. He wasn’t really affected by her tone, especially since his magic teacher tended to speak with similar disdain in his voice. Call it built-up immunity, if you will.

He didn’t like water, getting wet, or horses. As the whole is greater than the sum of its parts . . . I’m gonna drown!

The river wasn’t that deep, and Rory can swim, even if just a little. That isn’t going to make the river crossing any easier, however.

“Does your horse have webbed feet, by any chance?”

[Mithiel]

Rolling her eyes, Mithiel ignored Rory's naive comment, and dug her heels into Caleb's side. With a whinny, the chestnut horse started forward, and his hovves treaded into the shallow creek,the water level hardly higher then Caleb's ankles.

**Writers block!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't think of anything, sorry Damien!!))

[Luna Castrel]

(ok the friends thing sounds cool but apparently she's a rider who has yet to find her egg. i'll stay in the background for now and watch until things get a little better with the battles and such. just lemme know where to go and they may have some kind of battle. thanks for asking first

[Mithiel]

((Hmm... how about, Mithiel doesn't really remember Luna, but LUna vaguely remembers her, and does...something? I dunno. I ain't makin sense. ))

[Damien]

((Chances are, when Luna and Mithiel met Luna would be four or five and Mithiel two or three. I'm not too sure at the moment . . . If Luna hasn't found her egg yet, then she's not a rider. Where do you want to find it, back in the Varden hidey-hole or . . . ? And seeing as both Luna and Mithiel are decent magic users, Luna could hide the fact that she supports the Varden. Unless Mithiel tries to force her way in and their minds implode, while Rory is happily oblivious.))

((And don’t worry about the writer’s block, I’ve been on artist’s for the past three days and really hate it.))

Relieved that the water wasn’t deep enough to swim in but still deep enough to drown it!, Rory relaxed his hold on Mithiel’s clothes. And then Caleb stumbled on a loose rock, jolting his passengers. Rory went back to hanging on for dear life until they’re safely on the other side of the stream.

“I smell smoke . . . probably from last night or something. There are people camping around here.” He pointed southeast.

[Mithiel]

Mithiel gave a small giggle at the tight hold Rory was keeping on her tunic, and held back the reins on Caleb, guiding him gently across the pebbles and the rushing water of the creek, till they reached the other side. Stopping him, Mithiel allowed Caleb to get a moments rest as she glanced over the horizon, to where Rory was pointing.

Seeing a spiral of smoke rising from above the trees, Mithiel frowned. She knew the Spine like the back of her hand, having been here often enough, and there wasn't any villages nearby, aside from her birth place, Carvahall. "lets go check it out." Mithiel whispered to Caleb, and the horse obliged, and cantered over to the place where Mithiel wanted.

((I sense that Rory has a slightly naive aura around him, doesn't he? >.<. He acts cute though. ))

[Damien]

((Yep . . . he’s had a messed up childhood with no mom, an oblivious dad and a brother who was stuck raising him since the brother was four, I think. A clueless man, a kid brother doing all the raising, and a baby. Whee. Rory can be quite serious sometimes. Very rarely. Only when his or a friend’s life is on the line.))

They rode quite deep into Spine, and when they heard human voices, Caleb stopped. Rory hopped off easily and stood back, wary.

“Shall we check?”

((Sorry, my Maths tuition teacher’s here. I’ll be back in two hours.))

[Mithiel]

"Alright" Mithiel replied, slipping off. She dug her hands inside the saddlebags and took out two sugarcubes, handing them to Caleb, she patted his rump before walking towards the bushes. Crouching down, she fingers her sword warily,before parting the leaves aside, but he sight that greeted her was not one which she expected.

Camp was set up, and in the middle, a big bonfire, now put out, once stood, the source of the smoke Mithiel had seen. People were bustling aroudn with their own business, and womenfolk could be seen trying to keep their kids in order. On he flag raised high above the head, the Varden sign.

((enjoy your class!!! ))

[Damien]

((*spontaneously combusts*))

“Is this a Varden hideaway or something? It’s too deep in for most people to bother going through, and the trees keep it hidden from Empire riders . . . they must be pretty stupid, though. The smoke would attract anyone, and the Varden flag . . . wow. I’m surprised they’re not all dead yet, but this might be a new camp.” He whispered, and considered another possibility.

“They might be luring in Empire soldiers with the whole ‘innocent little safety camp’ thing, but it’s doubtful. The Varden do-gooders would never agree to stick defenseless people into the line of fire. Or they might be a gang of fire-worshipping, cannibalistic crazies who’ve just eaten through a Varden soldier and have stolen his flag.”

He shrugged, and pointed to a woman. She seemed to be scolding her son for something or other.

“Can you go into her mind? See what you can get out of her . . . we might have to get to a safer place first, though.” He hopped onto a low branch, and climbed up. He stopped when he was high enough to get a good view, but anyone looking in his direction wouldn’t see him unless they knew he was there.

[Mithiel]

Mithiel looked as Rory climbed into his hiding place, and nodded at him, before focusing her attention on the berating woman. Releasing her energy, she slowly let a mind tendril encircle the woman before gently prodding her mind, glad to see no barriers up.

Sifting through the thoughts, of recipes on roasted chicken, to ways to take care of the house, finally she chanced upon a prettyful thought. An image flashed across Mithiel's mind eye, where groups of people, coming out from what seem to be the Surda gates, and Lord Raylborn instructing some guards to bring them to the Spine's borders, for these children could be future Riders of the lost eggs.

Pulling her mind tendril from the woman, she closed her energy vault, and placed barriers upon her mind again, before signalling to Rory to come down.