[Adventure] Spring Showers (Theying, open)

[Aviator]

OOC
Players beware, this is an adventure thread with some puzzles and plot twists involved! It is only open to three people, Theying being one and the other two can be absolutely anybody! Please only join if you intend to stick it out to the end! (It may be a long, wild ride, so sit back and enjoy)

IC

26th Brightening of Immanis, Spring, Era XIV (pf)

Outside of the gates of Aelyria Prime the air smelled fresh with a gentle spring breeze from the west. Merchants were hauling wagons in and out and the city seemed to be waking from a winter's slumber. Taking after the revitalization of the city, the trees surrounding the main road were already gaining tiny limbs where in only a few cycles, leaves and flowers, fruits and nuts would be sprouting. This was an inviting time for travelers as the activity in the forest picked up and the sights and sounds would relax anybody passing through it all.

Everything seemed perfectly in place this spring, midway through Immanis and it simply felt good to be here. The bustling city immediately gave way to a beautiful wilderness road to the southwest this time of year and most who exited the gates were caught up in wildlife and flora offered by the countryside. However, a weary eye keen enough to take in their entire surroundings could see a very small puff of light gray skies over the tree line to the west. Even to the most attentive of travelers, this could have easily been taken as a small rain cloud heading towards Prime. After a longer inspection, however, the cloud seemed to rise instead of travel through the atmosphere as most clouds do. As it rose, the cloud got darker and more puffs could be seen. It was no spring shower on the horizon, it was smoke.

Judging by the size of the smoke and how far above the trees it was seen, the origin would either be very close or a good distance from the gates and unusually large. This was not the time of the era for farmers to be burning their lands, however. They should have already planted new seeds and would soon be seeing the fruits of their off-season labor. Nobody seemed to notice it yet, though, but it certainly would not take long to gain attention at the rate the smoke was rising.

[Theying]

Things had been busy, really busy. Between leaving home for the the first time in five eras, the complicated events in Paxia, and the trip to the capital to determine exactly what happened to the master herbalist's property there after the Feeble Pox locked it out of reach and behind an obscuring wall of silence and myth. It was good to just relax, he really had to do that more often or he would some day burn out entirely. That would be really bad.

The best part of being out of Paxia was that there were no signs of incredible fire damage and the death that can cause. Yes, it was quite refreshing that there was nothing burning that wasn't suppose... wait a second... is that?

Theying sighed deeply, and headed off after that smoke cloud at his unusual but rather fast gait. He checked his large first aid kit to make sure that it was where it was supposed to be. If that was an uncontrolled fire he might need it again. While the young man was primarily a herbalist he did learn just enough healing to get by in an emergency, herbs alone could patch someone up but only if the victim lived long enough for the herbs to take effect.

[Aviator]

OOC: Well lets press on here and hope a few a couple more join now...

IC

Things always seemed to go wrong when the moment was peaceful and quiet. Theying dutifully shook the thoughts of getting away from things from his mind and checked his kit before heading off in the general direction of the smoke. It was too difficult to determine exactly how far off origin of the plume was, but at the pace he was moving, it could not take too long to find.

As Theying moved down a merchant path, the open space slowly narrowed as the tree line on both sides of the path merged. The path was relatively busy with just enough people traveling on it that a man running down the side would not catch the attention of everybody passing. Most people would see the man and go back to their conversation about the economy or the latest bounty sighting. Rumors came and left the city through this and many other roads but Theying was too concentrated on his task to hear what any of them were saying.

The smoke plume was slowly moving towards him as he moved. The path, however, was not turning towards it. Looking far down the road, it was difficult to see if it branched off or curved in the right direction to get where he needed to be. Theying would need to make a decision about where to go and he would need to react quickly as the gray smoke grew darker as it rose above the trees.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Holding his spear and his shield and wearing his Legionnaire armour Eyvind was outside Aelyria Prime patrolling the merchant path. His orders were simple: "Make sure no problems show up, if they do solve them." That was better said than done. Eyvind had already been forced to punch a merchant who was trying to steal the other's wagon in plain sight. Some people simply didn't know how to behave. Luckily for him since that incident the only trouble he had seen was that of another merchant trying to speed up and leaving the path to reach the city before the others. A single nod and a fierce look were enough to calm the man down.

When Eyvind thought everything would stay calm for the rest of the brightening he saw a man running down the path in his direction. Stepping aside so he would be right into the man's trajectory Eyvind raised his spear as if motioning an alt.

"Serale citizen. Why are thee running like that, where is the fire?"

Eyvind hoped the man would stop, if not they would collide and the Vagaran wouldn't be the one with pains.

[Lilly LeFey]

Lilly was wanding outside the gates of prime. Not really too far from her little camp. She was excited about the new friends she had made recently in the city and the little "trip" Eyvind had been talking about planning. City life and it's people and bustle easily got to Lilly and as the Crown had gotten more crowded, she felt the need for space.
Now, out wandering the coutryside, and contemplating where life might take her, she was enjoying the peace around her.
She really wasn't too far from a main merchant road, just off it enough not to be seen and bothered. Lilly was enjoying the sunshine in the trees. The day was clear and bright. A small cloud caught her attention. "Rain?" She thought to herself, it was hard to get a good look from her position, but somehow the cloud seemed out of place. "Best get to the road and get a better look." She said to herself. The last thing she wanted was to get caught by surprise by a sudden spring shower.
Lilly turned and headed for the road. A smile crossed her face as the spotted Eyvind not too far ahead. He was obviously working. Lilly figured a quick hello wouldn't hurt. She stepped onto the road just a bit behind him and headed his direction. He seemed to have taken a stubborn stance. Lilly looked beyond Eyvind and saw a man on a dead run straight at Eyvind. No weapon drawn, but in an obvious hurry to get wherever he was going. Lilly could see the potential collision coming, problem being, she wasn't sure the man did. Eyvind called out to get the man's attention, as Lilly came running up the other direction, curiosity getting the better of her.

[Theying]

Theying wasn't running, he was just walking fast. Just because he had a funny way of walking over long distances never meant he was doing anything nearly so tiring as running. He had always walked in a distinctive way, no matter how much he disliked it.

About that time something unusual happened. Theying could normally pride himself on "situational awareness", he normally saw things coming and could avoid them. He was, however caught off gaurd by the figure who popped rather suddenly out of nowhere. Theying recognised the kind of armor as belonging to an Imperial soldier, which was good. He had weapons but he didn't quite like to use them, but more importantly he had no problems working with authorities. He came to a stop with plenty of space between himself and the armored figure.

He gestured to the plume of smoke and simply explained. "My name is Theying," he started by way of introduction. "And I am a herbalist and healer. I was going to find out exactly where the fire was, and judging by that smoke cloud over there it looks like a big one. Someone might be hurt."

[Lilly LeFey]

Lilly reached Eyvind about the same time as the stranger. She mentally noted his unusual gait she had mistaken for a run. Mistaken she must have been, for the man was unwinded and quite calm as he responded to Eyvind. "Pragmatic." summed him up quite nicely in her first impression.
At the mention of fire, Lilly remembered her "storm cloud". "That cloud is what brought me to the road to get a better look." she interjected. "My name is Lilly. I am neither herbalist nor healer, but am willing to learn, and am willing to help if you think you could use it."
Lilly was a bit ashamed of herself. She recgonized that an herbalist and a healer, even on a temporary aquaintence basis, could be a step toward her own personal goals. She certainly wished noone hurt, and truly did want to help if she could, yet somehow it seemed horribly immoral to recgonize a potential personal gain in this too. She hoped the struggle and shame didn't show in her face.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

Eyvind saw the man stopping and speaking to him, something he wasn't seeing was the smoke the man spoke of. Following the direction of Theying's eyes Eyvind turned his head and saw a smoke cloud rising high in the sky, growing ever bigger as if everything consumed by it was turned into smoke. Indeed it was, that's where the smoke comes from. As Eyvind saw the smoke cloud he also saw the woman behind him. What was her name? Lilly it was he remembered. A member of the group that would probably follow him into the mountains to do Aslan's bidding. Giving her a nod he turned back to the man.

"It seems you are prepared to a rescuing mission mister Theying and I am glad we met otherwise I wouldn't be able to help you. I will follow with you to whatever the fire is and help you out in whatever means I can."

Eyvind stepped aside so the herbalist could carry on. Looking to Lilly the Vagaran said "Duty calls miss Lilly." and then followed Theying. After a few steps he looked back and continued "You may come along if you wish." winking Eyvind followed Theying.

[Lilly LeFey]

Lilly almost missed that wink. That wink that said she was welcome to join. Eyvind had been so brusk and business-like in his address of both Theying and herself that he had left her feeling summarily dismissed.
Forcefully pushing her fear and insecurity to the back of her mind, violet eyes stern, black hair flowing loose, Lilly determined to prove herself useful and capable. Echos of childhood whispers "Unfortunate product of an unfortunate encounter...." reverberating in her skull, Lilly hurried to follow after the men.

[Aviator]

The rather odd trio set forth and continued down the path in the same direction Theying had been originally traveling when he was stopped. A healer, a legionnaire, and a tag-along girl was not the most typical gang of people a merchant would discover on their road, but nobody paid much attention. All those passing by seemed like they were in their own words and too wrapped up in their own business to notice the three who were apparently on a mission.

As the three moved down the merchant road, the smoke plume grew larger. It was still difficult to tell if that meant they were nearing the origin or if it was simply getting bigger. Keeping an eye to the sky and one to the path, they almost missed a young woman emerging from the thick trees. She wore a gown which would have been most beautiful any other day, but this brightening it was covered in soot and dirt. She seemed scared and lost but when she saw the three approaching, she ran towards them and pleaded, "Please please! You have to help me!" When she realized she gained their attention, she continued, "My house and my farm, it's all on fire! There were men, they came, destroying it all!" Here sentences were broken, but it was difficult to blame her. What little they could gather from what she was able to say seemed like an emergency. The woman, or girl as she really appeared about 17 years old, was already heading back into the trees, not looking behind her.

[Theying]

Really, what was there to do? Theying had to follow. Though I did sound quite a bit like someone may well be quite hurt. Besides, the master herbalist really identified with farmers, the professions weren't much different, now were they?

Theying took off after the young woman. He wasn't quite sure of what to expect and he wasn't all that certain of where he was going. Yet he was at least doing something, and that was better than doing nothing. It would just be nice to know what, exactly, he was doing.

[Eyvind Redbeard]

The young woman had almost disappeared in the middle of the trees when Eyvind realized what he had heard. A house on fire, men coming and destroying it all. As if time stopped and then came back Eyvind remembered the Brightening before he left to find the road to Aelyria Prime. He remembered the brigands running in the direction of the village where he lived carrying torches, he remembered when he grabbed his spear and joined his militia companions to repel the onslaught. The battle was fought in the middle of a burning village, cattle running back and forth without knowing where to go. The screams, the blood and then the enemy's retreat, the pursuit and the ambush he had suffered, then all went red he remembered. The next Brightening he was on his knees in the middle of a blood pool, the remains of his adversaries spread across the forest path. He knew he had gone berserker that day, he didn't know when that could happen again so he left the village. The Legion would give him the discipline needed to avoid it happening again.

Then he was back. Looking around he followed Theying.

[Lilly LeFey]

Lilly was rocked on heels at the sight of this young woman. Truly not much older than she herself appeared, she was clearly distraught. Lilly found herself horrified, that such "men" could exist. "Who would want to burn a farm down?" she wondered to herself. "Who, and why?"
Lilly shook her head and then realized she'd been left on the road, as the others had already headed off after the woman. Lilly set off quickly, hurrying catch up. She found herself desperate to help this girl, and determined to find out exactly what had happened. Something felt very wrong as Lilly continued to hurry after the girl.

[Aviator]

The three adventurers followed the girl who was frantically rushing through a path she apparently knew well. The three following the young woman had a little more difficult time maneuvering through the trees and over logs while doing their best to keep up. The trek through the tightly packed trees was short, though, as the tight confines of the forest suddenly opened wide into a huge clearing.

The girl was standing there in here long off-white gown. The breeze blew the tattered ends around here knees almost elegantly which offset the black and gray tint covering the silk material in spots here and there. Her natural beauty was quite easily overseen by the scenic devastation that lie before her. She was barefoot and her long black hair blew as easily as her gown, but considering the view, nobody would hardly notice, let alone give it a second thought.

Past the young girl, the group finally discovered the origin of the giant smoke plume that had drawn them in the first place. From all over the clearing, fires great and small were engulfing the entire farm the woman was so concerned about when she first caught their attention. Each patch of farmland around the entire edge of the clearing was going up in flames. The fires moved swiftly and there seemed to be no possibility of salvaging any crops that had yet to be burned.

Centered in the ring of fire were three whitish buildings. Two smaller shacks or sheds stood on each wing of a taller, three story building. The two smaller buildings did not seem to be on fire, yet the possibility of the breeze changing that status was great. The larger building was on fire, however. In fact, it was difficult to determine exactly how much of the structure was engulfed and how much was still stable. The bottom floor which stretched from one of the smaller structures to the other had bright orange and yellow flames pouring from the windows. This, in turn, turned the upper floors black where the fire was not currently at work. The second floor and smaller third floor were completely shrouded in a fiery mask which was destroying the structure from the inside out.

The scene made for a tremendous sight. The heat could be attributed to the beads of sweat rolling off all four of the faces staring at the fatal pyre, but other factors surely contributed. The young girl said nothing. She simply stared. Hers was not a face of defeat, however, as she watched on blankly and without emotion.

[Lilly LeFey]

Lilly's mad rush to follow her companions came to a skidding halt, as the narrow path opened into a large clearing. The heat backed her up a step, the horror caused her mouth to gape open. A situation she quickly corrected as the acrid smoke seared her lungs causing a coughing fit that doubled her over.
As Lilly stood and wiped her eyes, the totality of the damage was evident. Every field, every crop sytematicly burned. The house itself a total loss.
Lilly eyes came to rest on the young woman. Even amidst hell's fires, the girls inner strength and beauty was evident. How much she had suffered and lost!!!
"Beauty? A band of rouge marauders that doesn't rape? Systematic distruction and carnage?" Lilly wondered if there was something deeper to this situation, or if her imagination was just running wild. Maybe the girl just wasn't home at the time. It appeared as though these fires had been burning a while.
"Were you here alone? Was there anyone else in the house? Where's your family?" Lilly asked as she approched the woman standing so forlorn amid the destruction. While Lilly couldn't quite put the pieces together, she couldn't deny her sympathy for this young girl. This pushed her toward a need for some action. Standing and watching this inferno would do noone any good.