The people of this strange village seemed to do their best to ignore the shouting, cheering, the threats and the sobs as members of each party were placed into peril. The Ebonstryfe laughed as Clyde killed his man and began hurling insults about the god of peace though the Sylirans simply prayed and silently plotted. Several of the scholarly looking fellows were trying to reason with the treefolk while the rowdier group either sobbed in anguish over their presumed fate or used every curse in the book to try and incite a reaction from their guards. The ones near Sayana kept a close watch on her as she waded through the outburst but they seemed disinterested for the most part. Even the one who had appeared to be intrigued by Faradae wandered off once she sank to the ground though it didn’t stop him from looking back just once.
In the cage, Clyde found himself standing over a dead knight. One of the short people ran and retrieved the stick that he had thrown out and waited near the cage’s door. The Ebonstryfe soldier was brought forth and given the weapon then jammed inside. The woman drew back her hood to reveal that she was quite beautiful with caramel skin, green eyes and brown hair. Everything about her was cold from the piercing way she stared at the mage to the chiseled lines formed by her cheekbones and jaw. With a practiced hand of black mail, she twirled the club against her palm repeatedly as her feet crossed and uncrossed in a sideways arc that lead the warrior around the dead body of the knight. All the while, her eyes and grin never strayed from Clyde.
“I do know you.” The bright alto chimed. She broke her perfect posture to lean forward as if to push the whisper across the space between them. “You’re one of us!” Her idle hand touched her black armor but before she could say anything else, the woman froze and looked around outside the cage. A cadre of the villagers had formed around the cage with bows drawn; the leader ad returned and he was looking more like a tired old man.
“Cast out your weapons and exit peacefully or we will kill you. It has been deemed that no one else needs to die.” The wind whipped through the huge trees and for a moment –there was calm. Clyde and the warrior woman would be returned to their respective groups and bound once more. There seemed to be a lot of activity going on in the town center and a group of women dressed in clothing woven purely from foliage appeared. This group was given wide berths from their own but also deep bows of respect. One by one, these important individuals broke off from the main group and stood before each of the different search parties. Each woman produced a plate with some kind of pile of items upon it at the feet of the captives.
The trio from Sahova was approached by a young woman with red hair and freckled skin. She was adorned in vines of deep green leaves that were woven into a tunic that had been adorned with nuts, flowers and small animal bones. Her face was placid like a frozen lake but she bowed to each of them before setting down a large semi-round dish made of petrified tree bark. On it was a set of nine pieces of wood. For the most part, these pieces were square logs but some had right angle bends and some had holes while others had round pegs. It was clear that they fit together to create some kind of object but there were no markings to indicate alignment. The old man spoke as these plates were being distributed.
“One of you will be unbound from each group to complete the puzzle. The others may help you but only one can touch the puzzle.” The tree warriors came to stand closer to the groups as more of them filtered into the main square. “The group to complete its puzzle first will be fed and will decide if the other groups will receive any food as well.” He did not seem happy about this but his vivid eyes flew up and into one of the massive trunks as if to communicate with another being but the gaze didn’t last long.
The attractive blonde man came up behind Faradae and blushed as he gently began to untie her wrists. His big, strong hands would help her to her feet but he would hold her arms until a signal was given. The breath he allowed to fall on her neck was almost ragged as he struggled to maintain his composure with the pretty kelvic. His hands suddenly let go when the old man’s voice rang out.
“Begin!”
In the cage, Clyde found himself standing over a dead knight. One of the short people ran and retrieved the stick that he had thrown out and waited near the cage’s door. The Ebonstryfe soldier was brought forth and given the weapon then jammed inside. The woman drew back her hood to reveal that she was quite beautiful with caramel skin, green eyes and brown hair. Everything about her was cold from the piercing way she stared at the mage to the chiseled lines formed by her cheekbones and jaw. With a practiced hand of black mail, she twirled the club against her palm repeatedly as her feet crossed and uncrossed in a sideways arc that lead the warrior around the dead body of the knight. All the while, her eyes and grin never strayed from Clyde.
“I do know you.” The bright alto chimed. She broke her perfect posture to lean forward as if to push the whisper across the space between them. “You’re one of us!” Her idle hand touched her black armor but before she could say anything else, the woman froze and looked around outside the cage. A cadre of the villagers had formed around the cage with bows drawn; the leader ad returned and he was looking more like a tired old man.
“Cast out your weapons and exit peacefully or we will kill you. It has been deemed that no one else needs to die.” The wind whipped through the huge trees and for a moment –there was calm. Clyde and the warrior woman would be returned to their respective groups and bound once more. There seemed to be a lot of activity going on in the town center and a group of women dressed in clothing woven purely from foliage appeared. This group was given wide berths from their own but also deep bows of respect. One by one, these important individuals broke off from the main group and stood before each of the different search parties. Each woman produced a plate with some kind of pile of items upon it at the feet of the captives.
The trio from Sahova was approached by a young woman with red hair and freckled skin. She was adorned in vines of deep green leaves that were woven into a tunic that had been adorned with nuts, flowers and small animal bones. Her face was placid like a frozen lake but she bowed to each of them before setting down a large semi-round dish made of petrified tree bark. On it was a set of nine pieces of wood. For the most part, these pieces were square logs but some had right angle bends and some had holes while others had round pegs. It was clear that they fit together to create some kind of object but there were no markings to indicate alignment. The old man spoke as these plates were being distributed.
“One of you will be unbound from each group to complete the puzzle. The others may help you but only one can touch the puzzle.” The tree warriors came to stand closer to the groups as more of them filtered into the main square. “The group to complete its puzzle first will be fed and will decide if the other groups will receive any food as well.” He did not seem happy about this but his vivid eyes flew up and into one of the massive trunks as if to communicate with another being but the gaze didn’t last long.
The attractive blonde man came up behind Faradae and blushed as he gently began to untie her wrists. His big, strong hands would help her to her feet but he would hold her arms until a signal was given. The breath he allowed to fall on her neck was almost ragged as he struggled to maintain his composure with the pretty kelvic. His hands suddenly let go when the old man’s voice rang out.
“Begin!”