[center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjY2LmRiMDkwMC5UMllnUW1WaGMzUnpJR0Z1WkNCTlpXNCwuMQAA/beyond-wonderland.regular.png[/img][/center] [@Rune_Alchemist] [right]Falista, 33rd 1100[/right] The waves of mottled golden and red leaves stood before the Orisiri, the trees flowing in cold air as she advanced forward. Her encounter with the scouts earlier had not broken her confidence in her skills, driving her onward to rid the Forest of whatever creature they had seen. Whether this beast was a spirit or some unknown monster was as of yet unknown however there stood no reasoning for which she would stop her course. Even as her companion, Kuri, caught up to her she advanced forward. Following the tracks of the scouts from earlier. Their hastily made exist from the Forest had disturbed much of the moist ground, the hooves of their horses marking the otherwise fresh mud. Even without the mud it would have been easy to track their steps, the brambles and broken branches lying about as the pair advanced onward into the Forest itself. The light dimmed in the undergrowth of the Forest bringing with it a feeling of creeping silence. A silence ruled over the Forest in which no birds chirped, no rustling of deer or squirrel, simply the emptiness of its presence. [hr][hr] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjY2LmRiMDkwMC5WR2hsSUVSbFlXUWdVbVZ6ZEEsLC4xAAA,/beyond-wonderland.regular.png[/img][/center] [@ZAVAZggg][@Dealdric] [right]Falista, 33rd 1130[/right] The pair wound their way through the outskirts of the city, its massive walls looming over them as they continued onward towards its northern side. Eventually the graveyard came into view and its expanse of mottled gray and white stones spreading out across the fields, a lone thatch building standing out in the middle of it. The sound of their footsteps drew the views of a few mourners for recently dead, their tear streaked faces turning to scowls at the trespassers. A lone man approached them from the thatch building, his long black coat marking him as the gravetender. With a single tip of his head he advanced upon the pair, greeting them with a soft smile and stone cold eyes. [b]”How unusual for outsiders to come to a graveyard for those that live in these lands,”[/b] He said as he looked them over, [b]”I’m just a humble mortician by the name of Timothy Walls, nice to meet you lot. May I ask under what pretense you have come to my graveyard? I do hope you have no intent to disturb my occupants.”[/b] Timothy laugh with a hard smile, looking upon the faces of the two before smiling slightly and looking at a mourner. [b]”After all, the recent plague have taken so many people. I do not wish to bring more pain up on the mourners.”[/b] [hr][hr] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjY2LmRiMDkwMC5TVzRnVTJWamNtVjAuMQAA/beyond-wonderland.regular.png[/img][/center] [@Adalea] The silence around the tent abruptly vanished, the sound of birds and winds flowing back into the small bubble which the world had once been in. Without hesitation, the young rouge took this moment of rushing volume to make her way through the winding labyrinth of tents, fleeing from the secret meeting with haste. Her quick and silent steps guided her out to the road which divided the camp, being brought before a wave of merchants heading into the city one way and her Orisiri companion the other. With no sight of the rest of her party she fled onward, catching up to her companion quickly. [hr][hr] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjY2LmRiMDkwMC5UVzkxYm5SaGFXNXpJRWhwWjJnZ0ppQk5hVzVsY3lCRVpXVncuMQAAAAAA/beyond-wonderland.regular.png[/img][/center] [@BlackSam3091][@Aristo][@Lucky] [right]Falista, 34th 0900[/right] The cold air flowed through the flowing hills which the group had made their camps between, the fire fluttering in the sudden burst. Above loomed the massive mountains, its shadow cast upon the nearby forests and valleys which ran near. The long days of travel had worn on the Orisiri and Elf, both of which rose later than the other members of the group and groggily gave notice to the two. With a brief bit of conversation and time to eat their rations, the crew packed up their camp and left, heading onwards towards the mines. Even as they crested the hill they could see the mining town below, its occupants already up and going about their duties with little care for the figures above them. A caravan could be seen loading crates, likely filled with ore, unto their carts as raw ore rolled out of the maw of a large miine at the foot of the mountain. Beyond the village’s outskirts and near to the Eastern edge of the forests stood another grouping of figures, smaller and fewer than the others below. They too had been watching the village yet their attention had turned to the group not long after. With what could only have been a brief argument, one of the figures hopped on a small horse and rode towards the figures. As it grew closer the band could see more about the small fellow, obviously a dwarf of some age however no less hardened than Stravi himself. The man bore an insignia of a wreathed sword and pick, its golden and black threads shining in the early morning light. Any dwarf would’ve recognized it, the insignia of the most infamous band of dwarven mercenaries, the Inspectors. Under the guise of ‘mine inspections’ they traveled through Ghenna often for whoever paid them, forcing mines and their owners to switch between Clans. Sometimes it was through violence, sometimes with more subtle means. [b]”What brings ye’ here, oh envoys of th’ Sacred Flame?”[/b] The man chuckled and looked over the mottled crew before staring at Stravi. [b]”Surly ye’ don’t think tha’ yer here to buy some ore? After all, a disgrace upon dwarves don’t belong in the business anymore. To think that ye’ went ahead and joined the Sacred Flame instead of facing out courts, [i]Sir Stravi[/i]. As much a coward as yer father, eh?”[/b]