[IC] Godless Ichor (Dark Fantasy/Action)

[CadenGallic]

"Very good choice, my friend." Curtis quickly pocketed the coin and then in a flourish, downed the rest of his drank and smacked the tankard on the table. "It's best if we go now. I'll be far too drunk in the morning to be of any use." He joked, rising from the table and unraveling the map before them. It was an unimpressive work, mostly scratchy penmanship and sketches, but there was a certain feverish detail in it that brought it out. The inn was marked on it and in the upper left corner of the map, a line had been drawn. That line was marked as 'Galothiel border.'Curtis was making for the door, waving them to follow. The rain outside was starting to die down.

[Sir Avita]

Wegnus stood from the table, and followed Curtis, saying something to himself which sounded along the lines of: " Adventure~! Damnit, Wegnus, shut up, " but he did say it childishly and enthusiastically. He checked if he still had his things, and he still did have them. A part of him still did hope that Curtis was really going to lead them to the ichor. Hopefully.

" That damn map looks so damn cheap, though. " Wegnus thought to himself.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin nodded and quickly followed Curtis outside, leaning a few coins to pay for his meal. Luckily the weather was calming down so it wouldn't be too horrible and he was mostly dried off. He wondered how far it was and if Curtis would really lead them there, for all he knew this could be an elaborate trap and Curtis could be leading them to an ambush. Oh well, life was nothing if you didn't live a little.

[CadenGallic]

Curtis led them along the wet land, hopping over puddles and keeping ahead of them. The land was fairly open, consisting mostly of hills and muddy paths, so chances of an ambush were unlikely. They walked for a good 20 minutes before finally, something appeared before them in the distance. A forest, tall and thick, its trees bound tightly together, making an almost natural barrier of wood and leaves. Individuals could slip through, but an army would have trouble moving through it all at once. As they approached, Curtis waved them over and pointed at the trees.
"There it is, boys. That there is the border of Galothiel."

[Sir Avita]

"So, Mister Curtis, are you sure this is the actual border, and not just any... ambush point? I-I'm really sorry if I always sound like I doubt you. Because I do. I mean I don't. Sorry. " Wegnus said, sounding slightly nervous, but apologetic, at least. But it was that older part of him that doubted Curtis. But of course, Curtis wouldn't do anything villainous to them, would he? Hopefully not.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin shook the mud off his boots and looked at the intimidating forest. "Is this as far as you go?" Eldarin asked suspecting he already knew the answer. It seemed the robed kid echoed his thoughts earlier, pointless to speak them out loud though. If this was an ambush he wouldn't tell them and besides that it just degraded what little trust they shared.

He could see why it was hard to find this place, the terrain was decidedly aversive and it would be difficult for a group of more bigger than five to travel anywhere through it. "If you're leaving then you do have any final words of advice, or will that cost my already dearly wounded coin purse more?"

[CadenGallic]

"Indeed, this is where I part ways. I dare not tread in the borders of that place." He reclaimed his hat and popped it back atop his head. He smirked at the younger of the two. "No ambush, my friend. Why would I call am ambush when i've taken enough coin from you already?" He then turned back to Eldarin. "My only advice is... keep your wits about you. And don't drink from the river." And with that, he turned on his heels and made his way away from them, waving slightly as he made one final remark. "Hey! If you make it back, i'll treat both of YOU to drinks!" and with that, the mapmaker was gone from view, walking into the distance.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin shrugged, a fair enough response. He waved at the mapmaker as he passed from view then Eldarin turned to face the imposing wood. Well at least he had a flask of water, hopefully that would be enough to make it through the forest without needing to drink from the river. "Well no time like the present." he muttered and set off into the forest, his sword out but he refrained from cutting the foilage. For some reason it felt like the plants wouldn't like it very much and he wanted to get through the enclosed space as quickly as possible, hopefully without getting attacked. Keep his wits about him hm? Well not getting lost would be good, he'd have to make sure he kept going in one direction, no point in keeping track of where behind him was, just keep moving forward.

[Sir Avita]

Wegnus had been following Eldarin, keeping the distance between them relatively short. He did heed Curtis' advice; keep your wits and don't drink the water. And he also took note of the free drinks if they come back alive, because he supposes they would need it. But hey, at least they aren't gonna get ambushed by anything. Hopefully.

He did prepare for the possible thirst problem, but he didn't bring water. He brought alcohol, yet he still wondered why they shouldn't drink from the river. Maybe it was ridden with parasites? Who knows.

Well, if something did ambush them, he'd be prepared.

[CadenGallic]

The barrier of trees marked the cut off point. Once they passed through, there would be no turning back. No retreat. Their first steps into the kingdom of Galothiel were taken.
The forest itself had a thick foliage, blocking out any possible light from above. The grass was wet and the earth loamy, the trees thinning out from the border, but still towering over them, creaking slightly in the wind. A well trodden path snaked through the trees ahead, marking a clear way forward in the dark woods.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin looked around at the woods curiously, it was very foreboding and ominous, fitting for where they were going. His sword was at the ready and he ignored his companion for the most part, focusing on moving forward on the path as well as keeping a keen eye out for any source of danger.

[CadenGallic]

The path twisted onward through the leaning, creaking trunks of the trees surrounding them. Eventually, the trees opened into a small clearing of patchy grass and small boulders. Sitting in the middle of the clearing, upon a rock, was a man draped in a shabby cloak, hunched slightly as he sat there. In his hands, which were noticably gnarled, he held a battered looking scabbard, complete with a sword handle sticking out the top. They could not see his face from where they stood.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin noticed the man and carefully observed with suspicion. "Hail friend, would it be too uncouth of me to ask your purpose?" he said with perhaps overmuch politeness. The man seemed quite aged, yet he also looked like he had plenty of experience using that sword of his. While Eldarin relished a challenge he also didn't favor unnecessary danger.

[CadenGallic]

"Nay, sir... but I have no purpose to give. Not anymore." The figure replied, half turning his head to look at them forlornly, before turning back again to observe the ground some more. Neither of the two travelers seemed particularly important to him.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin looked at the man curiously, "Not anymore and why is that?" The man seemed quite capable, perhaps he had already visited the land of the gods. Maybe he could ask for advice, he was less wary of the man now. He seemed uninclined to do anything much less attack them.

[CadenGallic]

The man let out a wry chuckle as he kept his gaze from them, patting the scabbard he held so close to him.
"My purpose has been relinquished... for if I still had it, I would not be here. I would be looking for a solution to the problems in this kingdom." He continued to speak cryptically.

[Sir Avita]

He kept his eyes locked on the man, looking for any sudden movements. Hopefully he wouldn't attack, but the chances of that would be slim, he supposed. Judging by the scabbard, he might have been a swordsman.

" Purpose? Mind if I ask about this purpose of yours, sir? " he curiously asked the man, hoping he wasn't a bandit of some sort. Hopefully he wasn't.

[CadenGallic]

"I believe words will not do it justice... instead, you should see for yourself." he moved one hand from his scabbard and lowered his hood, revealing a bald head beneath and a nasty looking mark on his cheek. It was a circle with four spikes poking out of its corners. The two of them recognized the symbol. It was infamous across many kingdoms, a mark for knights who betrayed their king. It was the Brand of Disloyal Banishment. Those branded with it were forbidden to remain in their home town or even their own kingdom, they were a heretic who disgraced their lords and would forever bear that shame.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin viewed the symbol with narrowed eyes, given this man's behavior he didn't seem like the kind to do so. And what king had he betraying? Perhaps someone in this kingdom of the gods? "Well that answers one of my questions, you spoke of problems in the kingdom. What do you mean?"

[CadenGallic]

"The kingdom is beset by the return of the ichor. The Godless are prowling... and even now claim victims. We're in a sorry state and then some..." he smiled wryly as he seemed to stroke the scabbard affectionately, a twinge of nostalgia creeping out of his eye and staining his cheek. He turned to them now, a look of scrutiny upon his face.
"And what of you two? Why are you here in this godforsaken place?"