...just another day on Carcosa?

[Alethan]

Gibbering listens to the man and nods, "avoid the skies, most wise, most wise!"

He continues to help carry the man, listening to anything the man says, though he doesn't always appear to be paying attention.

[Grognardsw]

As they carry Body along, Blood Skald speaks: "We were brought to these lands by ways mysterious. Where are we?"

[Merctime]

"A most excellent question, from our mighty Skald, O' Body..." says Sorrows as he treads along his companions.

"I do wonder, now... T'was it from the skies we were ensorcelled to this far away place? These.. Sky Lords... I wonder if they are those who brought us forth?" Sorrow's eye twitches for a moment, and he follows with, "But, yes. I, too, wish to know the name of this place."

[Blackrazor]

Body looks a bit perplexed then nods as his quizzeled look fades, "Yes, you are strangers," he mutters. He shakes his head, thinking then coughs, "This is...," he coughs again covering his mouth. Then another cough shakes him as he spits upon the ground, you note it is thick with blood. "This is the forest. Do you come from a place without forests?"

[Alethan]

Gibbering is quiet a moment, staring at the blood. Then he nods and says, "Yes. Forests. Trees. Sky. Ground. Not this forest. Not this tree. Not this sky... not this ground."

[Merctime]

"I believe," leads Sorrows, "That our good friend here is saying that we come from a place not of these trees. Yes, we have forests... But not like this one. There are subtle differences in these worlds... Yours, and ours. If indeed they even be different worlds... We may in fact be in a part of the same world, in altogether different places..."

In his soliloquy, Sorrows seems to stare off blankly as if he isn't speaking to anyone but himself. Until that last bit, when his words trail off and he shakes his head and regains his senses. At that time, he returns his gaze to his travelling companions. "Do you not have a name for this place, Body?"

[Blackrazor]

Body looks confused and takes a few moments to reply, carefully choosing his words. "This is the forest," he says very slowly stressing each word, almost as if he was talking to a child. Body then gazes upon the three of you and says weakly," You are truly strangers." He seems oddly pleased making that statement, most likely happy you saved his life from a gruesome death at the claws of the grotesque twin bear monstrosity.

[Grognardsw]

Blood Skald of Doom nods at Body. Among shadows and dappled light the norther reaver carries one end of the make-shift stretcher, feet crunching leaves and sticks, eyes watching
for dangers, ears hearing the chittering of insects and tweet of birds, nose smelling the earthy aroma of deep woods.

[Alethan]

Gibbering adds nothing further to the conversation as they walk, instead intently eyeing the sky for signs of danger.

[Merctime]

"Perhaps more answers await us in the community of your people, Body," Mutters Sorrows as he continues along with his fellows.

[Grognardsw]

Blood Skald of Doom wonders how close they are to Body's village. He feels a flicker of hope they may find some answers, but snuffs such thoughts lest the gods be tempted to play more cruel jokes on the northman.



Strange trees here, he thinks.

[Blackrazor]

Your travels following the stream take a turn northwards into the woods proper, and then the daily grind of the routine sets in - rise, march, eat, rest, rise, march, eat, rest. Your journey is filled with odd sights, strange avians more simian than avian, large saurs not unlike those from your lands though different and dangerous, if not for their temperament and teeth, thier size. Conversations with the wounded archer are focused on navigation and what is edible and not, though stable the archer is beginning to lose his color and he still coughs blood daily.

The far distant twin suns rise, the great moon illuminates and the days pass...

Then the forest breaks, the maws leap forward excitedly and storm off. Before you is a strange fortified village surrounded by a wall of the cut trees driven into the earth. The walls just about the height of two men standing on each others shoulders. A wooden gate is open and you see other brown folks, busy with the days work, tending the unkempt gardens surrounding the wall, carrying wood and foodstuffs. Smoke whisps form cooking fires drift into the sky. Rising high above the walls within the village is a strange stone structure, a oddly curved or carved rock protrusion. Gibbering and Blood think it reminds them of a bent hand, Sorrows sees it as a tongue like tentacle. You notice that a small building has been constructed on up on a part where the rock bends back before begins to curve back forward again. ( OOC - If you bend your left arm so your hand is level with your shoulder, and cup your hand into the shape of a C - that is close to how the structure appear - it rises up, curves back and begins to curve forward again. ) You are still a good way off, but you have finally found people.

(OOC- I will entertain questions, if any, in the Banter thread. I hope that OOC description works for you guys/makes sense)

[Alethan]

Gibbering nods at the upcoming walls and asks the man, "Your village here?"

[Grognardsw]

Blood Skald of Doom sighs in relief at reaching the village. The journey has been long. Many thoughts passed through the northman's mind during the trek. Getting home high among them, though he wonders how many are left in his own village after the attack. The strange visions speak of mysteries and larger purpose still shrouded from ken.

"Let us find village leaders," Blood Skald says, carrying one end of the stretcher. "Can you talk Body?"

[Blackrazor]

Body replies with a wan smile and a nod' "Yes, I ca...cah..caff," a fit of coughs shudders him and quickly subsides. Body catches his breath and continues, "We will be together, at last."

[Merctime]

"I've had an ill feeling for days as we have travelled," admits Sorrows, finally, upon viewing this strange, new village. "...And I know not why."

At this, the pale blue man's stomach rumbles loudly, as the odd bits the group has been scrounging has left him sore hungry.

"But ill feelings aside, if those people in yon village have the benefit of fire, I'll skin my own brother alive for a bit of warm soup. Let us seek refuge, return this wounded man, and gain some food, friends."

[Blackrazor]

Your approach is heralded by commotion in the fields. Workers stop, gather, point and chatter as you approach. Two brown men and a older boy, trot up. The trio noticing the wounded archer, stop. One man whispers in the ear of the boy, who nods and takes off at a sprint into the village. The men then approach cautiously. Body smiles to them, and waves them forward. The men nod in thanks you and offer to carry the archer. Road weary, and at the archer's silent behest, you agree.

Entering the fortification, you notice that all of the residents dress in leather and hide garments, stiched with leather. Crude, but functional. They pave the way on each side, gawking, smiling, some in animated private discussions. Many eyes are filled with astonishment, you note. Not quite a hero's welcome, but they are not throwing spears and stones at you, which is a relief.

The homes of these people are spherical or amalgamations of spheres - the hollow tops of the forest's strange trees covered in mud and coated in stones. The warrior types by the gates and scattered amongst the crowds wear heavy leather jerkins, spears with metal tips and odd short swords of a dull red metal - red ire Black ire is stronger and used to make cold blue weapons - like those Blood carries.

You round a gentle turn and see a great sunken visage, leaning oddly to one side. It's gray stone face manlike, but different. It scowls fiercely, its open mouth half buried acts as an opening to the interior of the great structure - it looks like it could hold fifty or more men easily, and is twice as tall as the walls. The other curving tower? pillar? sculpture towers high into the sky off the left and is still a good ways off. It is like a great, tongue or tentacle - with gripping cups. It is a bit unnerving, and it's size is impressive. (To be continued - will answer questions in the banter thread if any)

[Grognardsw]

Blood Skald of Doom smells the cooking fires and hears the sounds of people again. He feels a moment of safety, realizing they are out of dangerous woods. Here there may be answers; if not, at least warm food.

The villages of his north do not have these strange stone structures. Blood Skald wonders what they may be.

[Alethan]

Gibbering walks quietly among the strange browns, wary of being surrounded by so many people he doesn't know. He will be grateful when he does not feel any of the burden of caring for the injured hunter.

[Merctime]

"People. We bare a wounded man of yours. He proclaims his name to be 'Body'. He needs care."

Sorrows speaks in monotone, as if he's describing a broken twig. One arm sweeps down towards Body to illustrate him. As usual, his face is blank; He does not smile.

"Myself and my companions would appreciate food, if you have it. We have travelled afar with this man to bring him to you. What do you call this place you live in?"

As he speaks, Sorrows continues to take in the alien manufacture and habits of these people; His gaze meandering slowly around. It falls momentarily upon the spire tower beyond them.

"Does a wise person, or village elder, live in yon spire?" is his final question to these people.

EDIT: Sorrows glanced at the people, as well as the architecture; To witness for himself if these folks appear to be of the same race as the 'bust building' is. Particularly, the hair. Scales for hair on the people is what he's looking for. But, according to BZ in ooc:

The many brown folk Sorrow's can see all look like him though brown, and have hair, though some are bald - none have scales or resemble the stone head.

"It appears this place is older than the people who inhabit it," Sorrows will say softly so that only his companions can hear (hopefully).