Searching for Druids

[Azathoth51]

Next to the trading post message board is what looks like a strip of bark nailed to a post.

On the bark are inscribed runes which baffle most who glance over it.

((This message is in druidic. If you arent a druid or know how to read druidic your PC would just end up puzzling over it.))

"I am searching for the ones who know this land. I am a recent arrival, though I plan to linger here a time. If you are willing to show one such as me what you know of your land, you would find me a willing and grateful learner."

"Leave your mark below if you would meet with me."

"-Calek"

Below the message is an empty space.


((I am primarily looking for a PC who can teach Calek how to be a MoMF. But any other druids who would like to meet him are welcome to write their names down. It will result in a fun RP conversation between them in either case. And I DO want RP conversations... Calek tends to be antisocial to a degree... possibly because of his view that most city goers are ignorant, uneducated, repellent brutes. ))

[sharringtonm]

*Snow Hawk wanders by it, looks at the chicken scratch, puzzles over it and then leaves scratching his head in confusion and wonder*

"I thought my handwriting was bad, I can't even read that guy's."

[Verrath]

Annie happens by on her way out and frowns at the message in vague recognition.

"Wow, aren't those the ruins us druids use? Us Druids.... hey, I like that..."

She smiles to herself.

"I wish the Keeper had gotten around to teaching me those... I think that one means 'Land'...."

Scratching her head, she wanders off.

[Dark presence]

Serena wanders by and notices the post in one of her spying forms, reading it in quickly.

She thinks to herself, "What a foolish place to put this. Looking for a druid in the middle of civilization. Ironic he actually found one. I'll just watch for the owner to wander back to check his message."

A small bird sits in one of the trading post trees, quietly watching the sign for those who come to read it, carefully watching their reactions to see whether they puzzle over it as gibberish or nod in comprehension, watching for the one person who would read it with a bit of disappointment as it yet lacks any druid's reply.

[Azathoth51]

Sometime later a tall, wild-looking man wearing leather armor decorated with bone walks into the Trading Post, a wolf at his heels.

He walks straight to the message, glances at it, and sighs at the fact that no one has replied.

He mutters. "Not surprised... maybe I should have carved it on that oak by the stream..."

The wolf whines at him, he turns around and addresses it. "Dont you start on that again. This is the only place I know of that is well-traveled and also open to the air and grass. If I knew a better place oft frequented by druids I wouldn't need to put up a damn note." He seems much more confident when addressing the wolf than he was just a moment ago. Anyone watching can get the sense that this argument has been going on for some time.

Of course, most people watching might think he is insane for arguing with a wolf...

Eventually he sighs again and looks around. Spotting a campfire near the edge of the Post he walks over to it, clicking his tongue to hurry the wolf behind him.

He sets down next to it and takes out some leaf-wrapped packages of meat, which are soon sizzling over the fire. Handing one raw to the wolf, he gets settled. His back to the edge of camp, the fire in front of him, and beyond it, the Trading Post.

Its clear he isn't wary of anything that could come at him from behind.

[Dark presence]

The bird watches the sight at the druidic sign and then turns her sights to the man, watching him move and sit, and when he eventually leaves, she follows, flying overhead and through the trees. When she is satisfied no one else is around, she lands on his shoulder, pecks him once to get his attention, then flys off again, low and slow, toward the west. She waits and circles to see if he will follow, and if he does, she leads him into the Viridale forest.

[Azathoth51]

Despite some misgivings, Calek follows the bird... He had nothing better to do at the moment, and he wondered if it might be a messenger from the ones he sought.

He follows it into the forest, ducking under the dark branches. He sighs as he moves through it, still following the bird... at least one thing he was searching for had been found.

[Dark presence]

The bird leads him through the forest for a while, into a secluded, quiet part of the woods, before it flies up into the canopy, disappearing in the trees, leaving him there with no further direction.

A few minutes later, a tiefling steps out from behind a tree, with a pair of horns above her head, pushing beyond her red hair. She watches the man for a moment, not sure if he saw her yet or not.


She breaks her silence, speaking common, "You are the one searching for druids aren't you?"

[Azathoth51]

Calek nods as she speaks, he is about to respond when a short low growl comes from behind him. It is the wolf that had been following Calek, it seems to have followed him still.

The growl holds a message. "This girl's scent smells infernal... be careful. You might have just been led into a trap."

Calek's gaze dose not waver from the tiefling, and after a pause a heartbeat long he continues as if he didnt hear it.

"I am... have I been successful yet?" He smirks slightly.

[Dark presence]

She watches the wolf calmly, listening to its bark, seeming to regard it almost as if it were someone speaking. She turns her attention back to the man.

She ignores his question, posing several of her own, "Why are you searching for druids? Are you someone seeking some sort of revenge against them?"

She continues asking, ignoring and running over any attempt he makes to answer, "Was it you who wrote the message and placed it in the trading post? If it was, how did you learn the language? I'm told it is quite secret, told only to druids by druids. Any others who know it would be traitors to nature or friends of those traitors. Is that what you are?"

Again she continues without letting him get a word in, "Or maybe you are a druid. Are you? But then what sort of druid are you? A bringer of disease? Of storms? Of blood and hunts? Of balance? Or something else?"

She looks over the man again, then lets her gaze wander off into the forest to one side.

"Answer then. And take your time. There is no rush."

[Azathoth51]

Calek waits as she lists off her questions, seeming content to wait until she is done, then speaks.

"I was the one who left the message... and the fact that you could read it tells me the same about you." He nods towards her.

"No I am not searching for revenge, and no I am not a traitor. I suppose you could say I am a druid of the hunt. Yes, that should do for now."

He pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "And I left my intentions in the message... This is a new land, and I know little of it. I would like to remedy that."

He stops there, seemingly wary of giving out too much information just yet. The wolf continues to watch her from behind Calek. It lets out an annoyed-sounding gruff.

"Sure... ignore me. When things go bad I am the one who has to save your tail. Someday, I might get tired of it..."

[Dark presence]

She listens quietly as he talks, giving a little smirk at the wolf as he 'speaks'.

"You assume too much too quickly, dear druid. Who is to say I was not given this task by some wary druids, who may watch us right now? Would it be so wise for a druid to confront such an unknown entity alone?" She glances around the forest once more.

"But, hunter you have claimed, and hunter you shall be branded. Know, though, that balance reigns in this land. Even now the forest watches you. You may not know the land, but it knows you.

"I will offer you a fair warning. Do not disrupt the balance with your hunts, or you will become the next prey. You will be watched. I rather suggest you open yourself to learn and understand the balance, that any potential for conflict might be avoided.

"However, I cannot speak for all the druids, only for myself. But I do know they will be wary, and perhaps even agitated. Since you wish to learn of the land, I'll explain this simply."

Serena points deeper into the forest as she continues her monologue, "Follow the heavy scent of death that way. Follow it and you will see a scar unlike any other. You would find it eventually, but you should see it sooner than later.

"Blight dared to rear its head in the forest, blight brought by the Blightmistress and her servants. Blight that was defeated, but has left its scar. It will regrow and the balance will be restored. The perpetrator is still at large, but his damage to the forest is being reversed. Distance yourself from him, from those that would harm the balance of the wilds. As the blight has been fought, so too will any who give in to wanton bloodlust."

She takes a deep breath, regarding him calmly, "Perhaps you can easier understand why this meeting is as it is once you see the damage wrought by the blight. But please, do allay my concerns and those of the druids, speak your mind."

[Azathoth51]

Calek smiles, a small half-smile.

"And it would be wise for a lone druid to claim the position of messenger, telling the outsider she is not alone and that he is being watched..."

Then the smile is gone and he is serious again. "But let me ease your fears... as much as I may. I came here not for conflict... I know I am the outsider here, so I will be cautious not to upset your 'balance'."

"My hunts are a part of my faith... and they draw me closer to the land. I would no sooner give into meaningless slaughter than you would let an animal under your charge go berserk. A hunt without a meaning, a kill without a purpose... these are pointless. And abhorrent to me."

"I hope we can come to understanding... but that may take time. If you have any more to ask, speak. Or I will walk the path you have chosen for me."

The wolf gives out a huff almost like a sigh. It pads up beside Calek and waits there, still watching the girl. Calek glances down at it for the first time and speaks to it quietly.

"Dont worry, Kotake... I know what I am doing. Be a good girl and bear with me a moment longer."

Then his eyes are back on the unnamed messenger. Kotake lets out a growl-like sigh and nods.

"I will... sometimes I dont know why though."

[Dark presence]

Serena watches him carefully, staring at him a while after he is done speaking, before speaking again.

"I have little more to say at this time. Be mindful of how you conduct yourself in this forest. I do not know, nor can I imagine what the druids will say. But I am certain you will hear from them again. May our next meeting be as peaceful."

She turns and begins to walk away, then stops, and turns to look at the wolf, and then speaks again to Calek, "Your companion doesn't seem to have the greatest opinion of you. You might want to remedy that."

She then barks a few animal sounds at the wolf, speaking so it can understand her, "For your information, my scent is Abyssal or Demonic, not Infernal."

With that she conjures a cloud of darkness and disappears into and beyond it, her step silent to all but well trained ears as she leaves the area.

[Azathoth51]

Calek watches as she disappears, then turns to Kotake with a smirk.

"Abyssal or Demonic, hmm? I suppose you were close enough."

Kotake growls. "Not as if I smell demons every day..."

Calek shrugs, then turns to the direction the girl had pointed in and sets out without another word.