[Raliric Ered`Gard]

Timestamp:
Solaria, Brightening I of the Third Cycle of Cryxatum
Summer of the Third Era of the Pax Imperialis,
Second Era of the Celestine Mandate,
Fourteenth Era Post Fractum in the Regency of Milo L’Evienne.

Cavernous orbs of darkness surveyed the downhill path of the road he, and his companions, travelled upon; noting the lightly forested slope which rose up on his left to become the towering Khardran Mountains. His scanning of the area was not born of a conscious need to ensure their safety but rather a force of habit given his profession. Moving from the left to the right those keen orbs took note of any part of the road ahead which could be used as an effective ambush point, not that he was planning an ambush himself, but rather to ensure he was subject to one. No such location was apparent as yet, though his current position would have made a fine point given it was on a road cresting a hill in a forested area; however his scouts had already made sure this location was free from attack, just as they were currently ranging on ahead to ensure the same.

The orbs broke off their habitual scan of the surroundings when the sounds of his companions joining him became consciously recognized. Those orbs turned first to the right and then left, noting the human and dracon who were also mounted, then with a shift in the saddle he twisted to look behind him at the column of mounted soldiers who were now approaching the crest. The men were all dressed in the uniforms of their organization, the Knights of the Argent Sword, and though they had travelled for some brightenings they still appeared only the slightest of travel dirt; hinting at their disciplined care of weapons, armour and clothing, but even greater their respect and pride in who and what they were.

Another twist and the orbs were focused ahead again, though this time they leveled higher than the road and forest noting the travel of the sun and the approaching darkness. They would need to find a suitable campsite for the night before too much longer, and once that had been decided and put into action they could decide in more detail how to proceed; though truth be told the owner of those orbs had already come to his own conclusions about what action would be taken. A gloved and mailed hand rose, paused and then motioned forward. With that the mount upon which he rode was squeezed slightly with his thighs and knees and they were once more proceeding forward; companions following to either side.

”Ral, do you remember the first time we travelled this way? What was it? Three eras ago? Four? We visited Pala in Taralon.” The words came from his right, out of the mouth of the lean human casually riding and taking in the countryside. ”Countryside has changed somewhat since… or at least that’s the feeling I’m getting. Suppose a war could do that, eh?” The human paused in his surveying the countryside to glance at Raliric (who had decided upon his natural form for this particular venture), a slender brow raised with the question asked.

”Aye, Ged, your right. Seems a lot more… deserted. Wildlife noises aren’t particularly as loud as normally they should, especially when we are surrounded by trees. My guess is that the Orks patrol this region pretty frequently. Scaring off the wildlife and humanoid inhabitants alike. Wouldn’t be surprised if stumble onto one of those patrols within the next brightening or so.” He shrugged, not much concerned with the prospect of an altercation with an Ork patrol. His men were numerous enough, skilled enough and equipped well enough to handle anything short of an army, and even that they could probably do quite well against.

The brown scaled dracon to Raliric’s left spoke up, ”I’m surprised we haven’t hit one yet, we did move into their territory mid-brightening and since then the scouts have only reported their tracks, some of which were as fresh as a few candlemarks. Either they are terribly bad at patrolling, or we are just incredibly lucky to have not come across one yet.” The dracon’s speech was deep and hollow sounding, like wind through a cave.

Whilst Raliric’s speech, also deep, was more resonant, ”Or they are following us, Barth, seeing what we are up to and don’t want to engage us until they know they can win?” Lips peeled back slightly into what could only be a slight dragonic grin, ”Probably have alerted other patrols ahead and some main outpost nearby as to our presence. We’ll get company soon enough…” The human smiled at the prospect, always eager for a good fight. The brown skinned dracon on the other hand was more concerned with the idea of getting attacked by, potentially, an Orkish army. Concerned more for the well being of the men and what he might do to ensure they all got out of such an attack with their lives; such were the concerns of the thaumaturgic master.

Truth be told, Raliric felt much the same as Barthanes on the subject, whilst he was also aware of the feeling of anticipation for the thrill that came with such heated combat. However regardless of what may befall them they were on a mission of sorts and the objective would need to be reached regardless of the obstacles in their way. If those obstacles happened to be Orkish Armies, then so be it. It would give them ample experience in their new method of warfare, even if they had yet to be supplied with the necessary equipment to make that method a definite reality.

The three companions who led the column noticed a mounted figure emerge from the forest onto the road and turn to ride toward them. They were unconcerned for the figure was identifiable to them from a considerable distance given their familiarity. The rider stopped a few meters ahead of them and wheeled their horse around. Gedriwyn’s horse opened up some space between he and Raliric without being directed to do so and the three companions met up with the rider who matched their pace. A leather gloved hand pushed back a dark leather hood to reveal the features of a female elf. ”Raliric, the scouts all report the same as they have been since mid-brightening. There are signs of the Orks but we haven’t seen them yet. Not surprising given this is their land and they know it better, but disconcerting to think they can elude even the scouts so thoroughly.” She pulled a water skin from her saddlebags and took a long draught of the liquid, a little spilling from the side of her mouth and running down her jaw line. This was wiped away before she replaced the stopper in the water skin and continued her report, pointing at some unseen location further ahead with the hand that still grasped the water skin. ”Found a campsite a little further ahead. Its off the road a ways and on a small hill, we should be able to defend it quite easily should our unseen Ork friends try to make trouble for us.”

A black scaled head, Raliric’s, nodded at the report, ”Excellent, just in time too. Alright, Sorrow, show us to the campsite and then notify the rest of the scouts to keep up their vigil until sundown and then to come back to camp.” The elf woman inclined her head in simple reply to the orders before securing the water skin to her saddlebags.

It didn’t take them long before they arrived at the campsite; it had only been a short ride down the road before they turned off into the light forest, travelling down a slight incline before rising up into an even more lightly forested hill which had a small clearing at its’ crest. As soon as they arrived Sorrow wordlessly departed to confirm the orders Raliric had given, even though they would have done exactly that anyway even without being ordered. Raliric gave the order to make camp and to set up temporary defenses; tasks which only took a candlemark and still with perhaps another left to start the cooking fires before the sun was completely set.

It was only then that Raliric reached out mentally with his bond, the mental link to his animal companion, Arminius. Conveying thoughts, feelings and images to communicate with the Frost Wolf, he asked, ”Where are you? Where are the Orks? Do you have a scent? Seen tracks? Are they close?” Then he proceeded to send images of landmarks that would assist the animal in finding the camp. He then waited for a reply from the beast, and waited for the sun to set and his scouts to return before beginning the next phase of his plan.

Secrets : NPCs Involved in this thread are as follows. More information regarding these NPCs can be found in the Knights of the Argent Sword faction forum within the thread named NPC Library. NPC's Number in Total: 77 Gedriwyn, Knight Bachelor Barthanes, High Templar, Master Thaumaturge First Squad ~ 7 Units Secrets : Nydilaba, Champion, Squad Leader Etheli, Knight, Marine Diewyth, Knight, Heavy Infantry Braradon, Crusader, Journeyman Thaumaturge, Squad Mage Sorrow, Vindicator, Squad Scout Ariraa, Chevalier, Heavy Infantry Nysis Honotia, Corporal, Elite, Sapper Second Squad ~ 7 Units Secrets : Cilawin, Champion, Squad Leader Cralican, Knight, Marine Milaron, Knight, Heavy Infantry Areabwyn, Crusader, Journeyman Thaumaturge, Squad Mage Mohejo, Practicos, Initiate Elementalism, Squad Mage Adriewyn, Defender, Medium Infantry Koriko Garitia, Corporal, Elite, Sapper Third Squad ~ 7 Units Secrets : Belaw, Knight, Squad Leader Iberrap, Knight, Heavy Infantry Mirohannon, Defender, Heavy Infantry Abilagan, Dedicated, Apprentice Thaumaturgy, Squad Healer Synithyn Taithan, Spellweaver, Journeyman Elementalist, Squad Mage Adwodric, Defender, Marine Lyrer Tulankni, Corporal, Elite, Sapper Fourth Squad ~ 7 Units Secrets : Cilebeko Kagun, Sergeant, Elite, Sapper, Squad Leader Ibieth, Knight, Heavy Infantry Diabaen, Inquisitor, Apprentice Thaumaturgy, Squad Healer Oemaenga, Lieutenant, Journeyman Sorcery, Squad Mage Adwirid, Defender, Marine Aralinn, Ward, Squad Scout Girin, Ward, Medium Infantry Fifth Squad ~ 8 Units Secrets : Sasot Jokoch, Sergeant, Elite, Sapper, Squad Leader Silarin, Defender, Medium Infantry Agriand, Dedicated, Apprentice Thaumaturgy, Squad Healer Siorril, Wizard, Apprentice Elementalism, Squad Mage Criradfrid, Defender, Squad Scout Aronler, Private, Heavy Infantry Rihryn, Private, Marine Danbelkin, Private, Marine Sixth Squad ~ 8 Units Secrets : Nobunura Synle, Sergeant, Elite, Sapper, Squad Leader Leguth, Defender, Heavy Infantry Etiralath, Defender, Medium Infantry Lotherra, Dedicated, Apprentice Thaumaturgy, Squad Healer Tourdan, Wizard, Apprentice Sorcery, Squad Mage Atrad, Private, Marine Enth'raye, Private, Marine Horemos, Ward, Light Infantry Seventh Squad ~ 8 Units Secrets : Taseren, Sergeant, Medium Cavalry, Squad Leader Eowilawyr, Dedicated, Apprentice Thaumaturgy, Squad Healer Gitas, Practicos, Initiate Sorcery, Squad Mage Ightris, Private, Heavy Infantry Inaight, Private, Heavy Infantry Qym, Ward, Marine Sayir, Private, Scout Hizuty, Private, Scout Eighth Squad ~ 7 Units Secrets : Ojara, Sergeant, Marine, Squad Leader Zohakor, Dedicated, Apprentice Thaumaturgy, Squad Healer Cihicu, Practicos, Initiate Sorcery, Squad Mage Aceamond, Ward, Light Infantry Andredrik, Ward, Marine Afilind, Ward, Squad Scout Warosorm, Private, Heavy Infantry Ninth Squad ~ 8 Units Secrets : Ledole, Sergeant, Marine, Squad Leader Rheid, Dedicated, Apprentice Thaumaturgy, Squad Healer Gruldan, Inquisitor, Initiate Druid, Squad Mage Ageun, Practicos, Initiate Elementalism, Squad Mage Tirep, Ward, Light Infantry Gleildan, Ward, Marine Abun, Ward, Squad Scout Hintia, Private, Heavy Infantry Tenth Squad ~ 8 Units Secrets : Vedania, Sergeant, Medium Infantry, Squad Leader Thaut , Dedicated, Apprentice Thaumaturgy, Squad Healer Ounde, Practicos, Initiate Elementalism, Squad Mage Rayal-ves, Practicos, Initiate Sorcery, Squad Mage Tigoldan, Ward, Medium Infantry Ulelarin, Ward, Squad Scout Dar'unti, Private, Heavy Infantry Olddar, Private, Marine