The Ranger

The man recovered from the northern fields during the fey spider attack lays in one of the cots at the makeshift hospital in central Shadowdale. He is quit for the most part occasionally mumbling in his sleep. His cloths are in taters, his bow broken, armor in ruins, and no sign of his sword. His appearance and the wounds he suffers from give a hint at the long weeks he spent constently on the move and battling those creatures. Some of his wounds look weeks old. Luckily the healing spells and antidotes are slowly helping his body recover.

After a good washing he seems to be a tall lean man with deeply tanned skin of someone used to the out doors. He has silvery white hair and two small horns they are common to those of fey blood.

The day after he is brought in, after his old cloths were taken and his body washed a woman in a Hood and cloak arrives to see him. She sits quietly with him for a while. She takes out a harp and plays a soothing tune. After a bit the man wakes. She continues to play while they converse. Anyone around only hear the gental music she plays, even if standing close. When she finishes she puts away the harp and leaves as quietly as she arrived. The man stares out the window in deep thought.

Upon hearing that the Ranger has awoken, Hawkley would rush to the hospital.

He would enter the room nervously, before moving closer to the man and dropping his voice to a low whisper. “Your friend is alright.. He is healing in the nearby grove.. I’ve been tending to his wounds with herbal salves and watching over him .. When he awakens and you can move.. I would.. I would like to bring you to him..” A lop-sided awkward smile is offered afterwards.. “If there is anything I can do for you.. Please let me know…”

With that, Hawk would go silent.

Sa'Kage wrote:

Upon hearing that the Ranger has awoken, Hawkley would rush to the hospital.

He would enter the room nervously, before moving closer to the man and dropping his voice to a low whisper. “Your friend is alright.. He is healing in the nearby grove.. I’ve been tending to his wounds with herbal salves and watching over him .. When he awakens and you can move.. I would.. I would like to bring you to him..” A lop-sided awkward smile is offered afterwards.. “If there is anything I can do for you.. Please let me know…”

With that, Hawk would go silent.

With Hawkley being the one communicating as the ranger rose from his slumber, Lhanir would have remained in the Grove, having carried Rufus there to lie beside the Great Oak and to keep a personal eye on him as he too rested. Only on occasion would she approach the bear, checking his wounds and vitals to ensure that they were indeed healing on schedule. Otherwise she would wait, anticipating that the ranger would eventually wish to check up on his friend.

The man turns to reguard Hawkley with his gold-speckled hazel eyes and smiles. "You have my thanks Sir. He deserves a good rest, we've been fighting hard for a while now. I owe him a mountian of trout for his help, he deserves it. I look forward to visiting the grove, it's been years since I was last there." He then glances at Kendra and nods politely. "I hear I have many to thank for the help when the Vuk Kutae finally caught up to us. I should warn you the worst is yet to come."

She tilts her head to Azalar.

"Vuk Kutae? I'm unsure I've heard of that term, forgive me." She looks a bit embarrassed, smiling sheepishly. "There are quite a number that did what they could to aid you and your companion. I can compile a list of names if you wish. But I have to ask...what is it that is coming? I know that the mother of the spiders will break through soon, but we have done research and have found little to strengthen the barriers that hold her. I was hoping you may be able to help us with this matter."

She regards him for a moment before continuing.

"It is known from your own wounds as well as your bear companion's wounds that you have obviously fought these spiders, thus protecting Shadowdale for many weeks. It is also known that you have fought the Zhentarim. I think you are a wonderful ally and are a man of great respect, Azalar. This being said, there are a few things being done for you. Your armor was broken in the battles you sustained. Another set of armor is being crafted for you. I have also heard that you use a longsword. Unfortunately, we were unable to find your longsword in the battle that took place when we found you."

Though she seems sad saying her last sentence, her voice grows determined.

"I assure you, however that there is a sword ready for you when the time is right and you are well enough for things. I will present it to you when it is time. Until then, Azalar, I do hope that you continue to rest well. Please let any of us know if there is something we can do to make you more comfortable. If you have any questions...anything, please do not hesitate to ask for me. My name is Kendra. One of the Deputy Mayors of Shadowdale. As someone who regards the Silverhands and Falconhands with high honor, know that I will do anything to aid you. Your mother and her sisters are actually my childhood heroes."

She smiles softly as she looks down.

He smiles warmly to Kendra as she speaks. "'Vuk Kutae' is the name they use for themselves. It means 'cold death' in the common tongue. We were battling the Zhents for a while after the invasion. Rufus and I worked with the Knights of the North attacking caravans and out posts to the north of the Dale. I received a sign from my Goddess to travel to a spot deep in the forest where the walls between our world and that of the creatures was thinnest. We entered to try to see if we could stop the creatures from breaking through." He chuckles "not my best plan I admit. I didn't expect to find intelligence completely corrupted and evil creatures. They have no goal but to kill and devour everything. Their realm was a dark shadowy version of our own. We managed to destroy a large number of them by using stealth and luck. I am not sure how long we were in that place. Weeks, months, years...the time bleeds together. I do know there is no way to stop what she has started. We can only prepare. Arm yourselves with cold iron. For she will soon arrive with a great hunger and great numbers."



//Vuk Kutae (Sylvan-Vuk:Cold/Kutae:Death D&D Sylvan translator)

She listens carefully as he speaks.

"A dark and shadowy version of our own? It sounds as if it is the Shadow Plane. That would explain why they are able to attempt to cross to the Material Plane so easy...unless the spiders really were just in a shadowy pocket dimension. Hm..." She appears in thought for a few moments before she continues. "Cold Iron then? Tymora's graces are upon us then, as many have already taken up cold iron weapons due to a recent invasion of other creatures from a distant realm that just so happened to be weak to the metal. Do you know if these spider are weak to any elements?"

Taking a step back, the young man would remain in the room unless told otherwise. His gaze would flicker between the two speakers. Upon the mention of cold iron, he would take an arrow from his quiver, and look at the metal.. Muttering under his breath about how he will now have to find Cold Iron arrow heads.. Afterwards falling silent, and toying with the amulet around his neck.

The man looks at the arrow head with a slight smile, "A shadowy version..think of this place now as you see it but a bit colder. A ever so slight chill that never seems to go away. The colors just a bit dimmer like the very essence of the color has been drained from it. The sunlight is distant and unfeeling. It's not that the shadows are stronger or more so, but that the world is a colder harsher version. It's a prison and when you arrive it seems to drain the hope from you." he sits quietly for a while. "I can't imagine if I were alone how I would have survived. Rufus was by rock. The webs burned well and the spiders had a hatred for it, but I noticed no real weakness."

Her eyes trail over the man's old wounds as she listens quietly. As he mentions the plane being like a prison and draining the hope from someone, her eyes soften. "It may have felt as if the hope was drained from you, my friend, but as you stated, Rufus was your rock. You had hope the entire time, right by your side. We all see hope, happiness, and the will to fight in many different ways. Many different shades of colors. Many different tones of music." She smiles brightly to him. "One thing is for certain in my mind: through the hope that we look to, to lead us to our future, I believe we can all gather it together as if a bright, shimmering light in the darkness. The shadows may fall over those hopes at times and attempt to make our minds and hearts ache from the weariness, but when we all gather as one and fight those shadows together, even through the heart-ache, we can triumph in the darkness."

She has a soft, but determined look in her eyes. "The people of Shadowdale have come to know this heartache and misery more than they should, but they are a strong people. If we all can help show them just how strong they can truly be when they stand together as one and lean to each other for support, they can triumph through the darkest of times. Once this threat of the Vuk Kutae is dealt with, I believe we should speak a bit more about this and what your future may hold."

Dropping the arrow back in to his quiver, Hawk subconsciously pulls his carved amulet out from under his armor and begins to toy with it.. Quietly murmurs under his breath to no one in particular... “Is there a way to track their next opening?..”

Justin arrives at the hospital. He nods to the man but does not speak to him. He would then speak quietly to one or two of the staff (Jonah if he's around) and then would loiter about. He would use some of his stealthing skills to avoid much notice. He would do this from time to time as his other duties permit.

If anyone notices this activity, it would seem to them that he is keeping guard at the hospital, although the reason would not be apparent to a casual observer.

((( OOC Guard duty arranged in-game with Kendra. )))

Jonah welcomes Justin, and sees to it that he is comfortable.

"You are most welcome here, my friend.  There are a few unused beds left, if you'd like to rest.  The kitchen is in the far corner; help yourself to anything there.  If you don't mind, I have a few things for you to do as you carry out your other duties..."

He gives Justin a few simple tasks (airing out the laundry on the lines, carrying water from the well, getting meals to the Ranger, etc.) that mesh with his patrols and guard-posts, but with the aim of disguising the patrols as simple chores around the hospital.

Jonah goes back to his rounds, always keeping a sharp eye on the goings-on in and around the hospital.

Later the ar'tel'quessir would aproach the ranger. Nadin is dressed in his usual mithral breastplate, and its cloak looks much with the ones used by lord Seiveril captains during the elven crusade. A sea-blue cloak with a red bird.

- I heard brief talks of your impressive journey mr. Azalar, and thanks to all the good Gods you cold make your way back, dispiste the many injuries, and fortunately in one piece. I'm Nadin Moonbolt, current Keeper of our Grace, the Coronal of Myth Drannor, Lady Ilsevele Miritar. I came as a representative of the lady Coronal, and I would like to express Myth Drannor satisfaction in see you alive and recovering.

*Jonah continues to check in on the health of his new charge, and helps the Ranger get back on his feet as quickly as possible*

"I'm sure you miss the wilds as much as your companion... let's get you to both of them as quickly as we can, mm?"

Seeming weary and road worn, Ahri would seek out the Ranger, inquiring mostly to guards and some others in Shadowdale. She tells them it is of the utmost importance that she speak with him immediately.

*** Justin leaves a note for Jonah at the hospital. ***

Quote :

Jonah, my friend,
I must speak with you as soon as possible. It is about my duties at the hospital.
Justin Jarias

Letters are delivered, one by one, by a distractable farm boy.