Happy trails...

[Viscount FitzChivalry Farseer]

*Fitz looks East as the caravan leaves from his sight. He trusted Wolf and Chunko to get his things safely back to Crimson Moon, but he did worry at the lands they would travel through. Darkmoor was quiet of late, but tales were told of demons and dark forced at work there. There was also the worry of Goblins and the like, whom had been overly active of late. His new position of High Bard, Regent of the Wetlands had afforded him a crown, as well as a few other valuables, which were safely nestled in a chest with the rest of the Red Hand, being escorted home while Fitz finished up his duties.**

"I must not worry after them, there is naught I can do now but trust..."

**as the sun faded under the horizon, a familiar sense of foreboding overcame Fitz's jovial nature, and he tried to push it aside.**

[Master Chunko Char]

- The crisp air took its hold on Chunko. As he rode on alongside Wolf in front of the caravan, wrapped in his pelts and robes, he felt the air around him cool down a few degrees. He looked up from the ground with his weary eyes to the sky. He saw the sky darkening, the warm light fading into blackness and turning the air into a deep frost. He grabbed a torch from his pack and Wolf lit it with his magic. He looked back to the caravan lazily, the cold grabbing onto his muscles, slowing his movements. He saw the Red Hand and the chest. That chest... It was the chest that was going to get them killed, if the cold didn't claim them first. He saw the etchings into the silver chest, the glow from the torches reflecting enough to show the design on it. The chest was not light, not with all the treasure inside. Chunko turned back to look at the trail the group was traveling on. He looked to the sides of the trail, into the woods. -

"We would attract too much attention on this trail at this hour. With the light from the torches causing the chest to shine, no doubt bandits would come like flies to meat. We have to stop, though it is not my call. You are of highest rank, and so it is your decision, Wolf," said Chunko. He waited while the man pondered the idea. Chunko could feel his thoughts using empathy, even through the numbing cold. Wolf nodded his head to agree with him.

- Chunko motioned to the caravan to stop. He turned to them and told them that they were stopping for the night and to make haste with setting up camp, for they were risking a lot for each minute a light was visible. The group moved quietly into the woods with their torches and gear. It was cold and it was dark. Wolf had allowed the group to leave a campfire going, though the rocks were high enough on the sides to hide the flame. As the Red Hand gathered around the flame like it was the salvation to the cold, Chunko sat farther away from the fire than the group. He was thinking, as he always did. He looked at the spot that Wolf had hid the chest, buried in the ground under a rotten log. -

~ That chest, filled with its treasure. That chest, a lure for greedy men. It will get us killed, no doubt. I know the group is strong. I know that we can handle most of anything, but an ambush of greedy men.. Greed can fuel a man worse than anger. No time to worry of that now, the problem at hand is the cold. I am feeling numb. My hands are too cold to cast and my mouth too cold to speak chants. These pelts, as smelly and furry as they are, do not keep me warm. We must survive the night, then we can survive the rest of the ride in the day, when the sun can melt away our numbness. But that chest.. It doesn't seem right. No time for that. The group is talking, passing stories. Maybe I should listen in? Wouldn't hurt to listen to them, I assume. But my thoughts are so comfortable. Like my own fortress where I can hide and live without bother. Thoughts for a different day though. Now, I must survive. ~

((OOC: Any Red Hand member is welcome to join in, so long as they aren't busy elsewhere in RP.))

[Ambellina Farseer]

**after offering food and drink to the Red Hand, Ambellina settled in next to the small fire. She was grateful for the dim light it cast and for the little bit of warmth it offered. Her heart ached to leave Fitz behind, but she knew his reason for staying was just and knew that he would be home as soon as his work was complete.
It took little time for the chatter around the fire to dwindle and to be replaced with the sleeping sounds of weary travelers. Wolf's head began to bob, each time he sat up a little straighter and tried a little harder to fight off the sleep that was soon to overtake him. The young Master Char sat alone, staring blankly into the dark.
Ambellina leaned back against the fallen tree that proved to be an abundant source of firewood, a hiding place for shiny boxes, and a shield against the bitter cold winds. She tried to process everything Fitz had told her about the goings-on of the weeks past. She tried to imagine how the rest of the Red Hand was feeling. She wondered what Chunko was thinking. Most of all, she worried about how soon, with this treasure in tow, they would have to stand and fight to protect it. She shuddered at the thought of those lives that would be lost, and she prayed that the forest would claim all those who would pose a threat to her family here. In this thought, Ambellina found peace enough to sleep. She pulled her cloak around her face and closed her eyes**

[Master Chunko Char]

- Chunko had awoken many times in the night to even the slightest sound. When his life was at stake, he was a light sleeper. As he awoke to the day's first sunshine, he felt warmth. The frost-melting ray of heat lay across his face like a mask. He slowly opened his eyes to observe the members. He saw Ambellina leaning against the log, Wolf laid out on the ground, and many of the others. Chunko unwrapped himself from his warm pelts and did a sweep around the camp. He took the quiet time to dwell in his thoughts alone. After a few minutes of this, he sighed and began the day. It was time to start moving. -

"Alright, everyone! It's time we packed up and left. Make haste! Hurry, stand to your feet and pack everything up!" Chunko was like a guard captain, making sure his men were ready for boot camp or something. He went over to Wolf to wake him from his snoring. "Wolf, it is time to go. You need to open your eyes and enter the day with the rest of the living." Chunko then walked over to the log where the chest was hidden, as Wolf steadily got up and barked orders at the others. Chunko approached the hiding place and grabbed a shovel. He dug out the chest, trying not to fling the dirt at Ambellina, who slept close to the spot. Chunko dragged it out of the hole and into the open, and he asked two others to carry the chest to the horses. Chunko looked back at Ambellina, who seemed warm and quite contempt with sleeping the whole day wrapped in her cloak. "Hey, everyone is packing up and we are heading out soon. Might be best if you awaken."

[Ambellina Farseer]

**Ambellina stirred and opened her eyes. The light of early morning burned her eyes like fire and she cringed. She quickly but clumsily rose to her feet, still adjusting her eyes to the daylight. When she was able to focus, she nodded at the young Master and asked "Did you sleep? Are you rested?"
"Very little, I'm afraid. I am rested enough to travel today," Chunko assured her. "We must make haste."
Ambellina quickly shrugged off her cloak and glanced around, taking a quick headcount. All there. All awake. All hungry. Ambellina smiled and quickly went about pouring the remainder of the water saved from the night before into the empty cups in the hands of those gathered. She listened as the group spoke of the previous days and of their plans upon returning home. She smiled at the thought of being back in Crimson Moon. She didn't realize how much she missed the smell of the tavern and the sound of boisterous men clanging their mugs and slapping each other on the back over a good joke.
She was summoned back to the present when she heard through her straying thoughts "Ambellina, where is the bread?"
She hurried over to the bag of food and began handing out the food rations. Wolf and Chunko had rationed the bread for the voyage home. The group ate meat only when they found and killed wild game along the road. They had not eaten meat in several days.
Chunko and Wolf both refused their morning bread ration, insisting it be put back into the pack so that others may eat later. Ambellina did not argue. She tried days before to ask them both to eat more than once a day, but they, with the welfare of the group in mind, had rationed themselves to one meal per day.
As the camp readied for the day of travel ahead, Ambellina readied herself for home. She knew she must prepare herself, also, for the perils along the way. The group had been lucky so far and no thieves had spotted the treasure they so closely guarded. She turned to Wolf and asked "How far are we from our home, brother?"
Wolf smiled reassuringly "You will see your home soon, sister. Take heart. For now, though, we must travel in haste. This chest we carry will surely draw a fair amount of unwanted attention."
Wolf turned and went about the camp making everyone ready for the days journey toward home. He checked the horses and the treasure they carried. He cinched tight the ties that bound the chest to the horses. He secured the lid and took his position at the head of the group with Master Chunko at his side. The two called for the group to fall into place behind them and the journey was again underway...**

[Valmir Silverwolf]

As the group was traveling along the road weary and cautious a figure amongst the forest canopy followed trying not to attract to much attention until the time was right. He followed a good ways until they finally stop for a quick lunch break but they are running low on food. The figure thinks to himself, " should I be nice today, sure why not everybody gets one hahaha...."
As they sit around the chest that they so desperately guard they here a russel in the brush. "what is that?" master chunko says drawing his sword,everyone else draws they're weapons as well.

Out of the shadows a deer carcass flys from the forest and lands at wolfs feet still twitching from the arrow in it's heart. A few seconds later theres a russel on the other side of the trail and out of the darkness flys two wild pig carcass' that land at ambellinas and chunkos feet. And a voice says to them yellow eyes glowing in the shadows," that should last you all a while, in sure my brothers and sisters could use some more fresh meat. I just killed the beasts so they should still be warm."

[Ambellina Farseer]

**Ambellina sprung backward, away from the flying carcass. Her initial impulse was to locate the man behind the all-too-familiar voice in the trees and thank him graciously for the gift that would soon become bacon. As the group stood, now in a circle, all with their backs to the center facing outward, they could hear the large creature in the canopy above them, moving from tree to tree, laughing at their attempts to spot him.
Finally, Wolf calls out to the figure "Come down from your hiding place boy! Taunt us no longer!"
At that, the sounds from above them ceased and the forest became perfectly silent, but only for a moment. In an instant, a booming growl echoed through the trees and was followed by a ~thud~ that could be heard for miles.
The group immediately turned inward toward each other only to see, in their midst, the face of a dear friend and brother, smiling triumphantly back at them**

[Valmir Silverwolf]

The elf valmir looks at all of the red hand than stairs at wolf and says in a sinister voice that fades into his normal elegant elvish voice.."i find it quite amusing seeing my family scramble around like bugs trying to figure whose 'stalking' them HAHAHAHA.....it reminds me of the old times." Valmir walks to each and shakes they're hand until he comes to ambellina,"m'lady it has been far too long since we've last talked," he kisses her hand." how does the farseer fair? im eager to know what i have missed."

[Master Chunko Char]

- Chunko was not pleased to be toyed with. Chunko did not know this man well enough for him to take this as a simple joke. He walked away from the group before the man could greet him. He went to tie down the dead animals. -

~ If that elf thinks he can play with me like a toy, he is mistaken. I could feel him and I know it was harmless, but that is not the point. Maybe I should just give him a chance, I mean it is not like he really did anything wrong.. But he is a new face to me, and father always said, "Do not trust anything that has a face and can speak." My father has survived this long, creating enemies with every breath he takes. I am getting lost in my thoughts.. A terrible habit. What was I doing? ~

Chunko shook himself from being lost. It was like travelling in woods that you knew like the back of your hand, but can't seem to remember the way out. His thoughts were his escape, his sanctuary from madness. He noticed the knot he tied would not hold. He studied it for his mistake. He untied it and retied it. Much better. He turned to the group as they were accepting the elf into their caravan. He didn't trust him, and probably never would. Elves were deceiving. As were many things, but elves were a certain breed of liars and stealthy thieves. Chunko often envied them. He had to train at his skills as a scout and as an assassin. But elves were naturals when it came to such professions. Magic too. Some breeds of elf were masters of magic by the time they could speak. Oh, how Chunko envied them. But he never trusted them. And so, he watched them as he leaned against the chest.

[Valmir Silverwolf]

After greeting the family he had lost many moons back he looks at the new face that has graced the red hand, valmir pulls ambellina and wolf off to the side and asks,"brother, sister who is this obviuously charismatic boy ((occ: yea this is meant to be funny, as if i was looking at the "charismatic" under his pic lol, its ok you dont have to laugh.)), why does he stare at me with such disgust, he appears vaguely familliar to me as if i knew him in the past?" he looks at his siblings-in-arms

[Vlad na Scrath]

*Vlad stood on the fringe of the party. The rest of the red hand seemed to be greeting a brother not an elf who fancies throwing carcasses for sport, well all but the son of the assassin.*
~what are these people to me they are not strangers or mere acquaintances they had invited me in. But it is so strange...considering my deeds of the past...to be anything but alone wondering as a vagabond. Time shall tell who they are and who I shall be to them. But for the mean time I shall travel with them as shield brothers protecting that blasted chest~

[Master Chunko Char]

It would seem the family would have to cut their reunion short, for Chunko heard footsteps. He was sure he wasn't the only one to hear the disturbance, for the Red Hand were all quite skilled in scouting. He looked around for the source as he gestured to the group to quiet down. Soon, the footsteps got louder and closer. Chunko readied his blade and grabbed his shield from the caravan, staying close to the chest. The others moved carefully and quietly to grab their equipment. Chunko looked at Wolf, awaiting his orders. It could be another Red Hand or a group of Bandits. No, it was bandits. Chunko knew the footsteps were too heavy to be trained men. Although it was day, and the sun was shining brightly, the group could not see the source. Chunko could feel the overwhelming sense of anxiousness and courage from the group. He could hear his own heartbeat as if it were a battledrum, beating to signal the start of a bloody exchange. And he was right, for that was when he saw their enemy.

An arrow flew from the woods, just pass Chunko's knee, and stuck into the tree across the tree with a thud. Men jumped from the cover of the woods and into the caravan, swinging swords and yelling slurs. There were over twenty or so, from the rough counting Chunko did in the split-seconds he had. He changed his focus to the two bandits attacking him, throwing up his shield just enough to block a slash that would have ended him. Chunko had to be calculating and swift, keeping his cool as he moved through the movements. He and his father had practiced in the yard many times before, so these were simple responses to drills. One bandit would chop down left, and Chunko would lean right, keeping his shield between them. He saw his opening in one of the bandits' attacks, and he drove his sword in his chest, close enough to the heart to end him there. But Chunko could not enjoy his kill, for the second of the bandits kicked Chunko to the ground, leaving his sword in the first man. Chunko saw his foe raise his sword, ready to end his prey's life. He had to think, quickly. He kicked the man's knee, sending him to the ground. Before Chunko could regain his footing, he saw an arrow jab through the bandit's neck. He looked over to Vlad, who had just fired off the shot. Chunko nodded to him in thanks, and he scavenged for his sword from the body. Chunko panned the scene, seeing the Red Hand and more bandits pouring from the woods. This was not a random attack. This was an ambush..

((OOC: There will be a quest this weekend. Draw this out until then, please?))

[gremiodeloki]

far off, a scuffy human peers thru a spyglasses, watching our unknowning vict....errr heroes. "bout damned time they moved", he mumbled. the figure quickly got up, and whisted to an unknown acomplice. "send the signal!" he bellowed. within seconds a flaming arrow streaked to the skys. a distance away, a heavily armored man sits in the middle of a run down camp. "there's the signal boys! get off your ends, its time to paid. someone go round up our green skinned dogs. we'll use them to soften up the caravan."

[Lady Artin]

Suddenly, Artin runs up on the caravan. She had heard that the Red Hand was traveling near enough for her to join and in the same afternoon overheard a few of the drunken bandits speaking of killing them all for sport. She quickly climbed the nearest tree and began firing arrows down into the crowd, never missing. It didn't take them long to realize she was there as more of the bandits came rushing in. She began to knock 2 or 3 arrows at a time and firing into their guts. She would make them pay for even thinking of threatening her family.