Orlin seeks out allies.

[gbbishop]

Orlin tries to contact all members of the druidic circle and anyone else who happens to listen. He comes off as one of those doomsay prognosticators only slightly.

He says to each of them something like this.

"We 'ave a threat loomin' now Oi don't know tha details, but Oi have been in to the belly of the beast so ta speak. Tha earth under our feet is tainted. Oi have seen it."

"Be on yer guard always, but specially at noight. The dead have awoke frum dere slumber an' dey are hungry. Oi recommend ya get yerself some silver'd weapons and some holy water, maybe even garlic."

"Oi 'ave been speekin wif dah priests an' holy warriors in the city. A number of them have agreed ta help in this cause. Some of ya heard of their bravery in vanquishing the Bargest that was preying on the forest's denizens. They are true of heart and hold reverence for nature. They are not wise to the ways of our kind so they will still need guidance."

"We must gather all possible allies, cuz tha presence that is now awake in our midst is most powerful and most unnatural."

"Oi believe it to be linked to the legend of Colibrus. If any know of such matters please present that knowledge to the council."

[Thief Of Navarre]

Falmari isnt present at the grove ~ nor has he been for the last few weeks. Whatever the reason it is surely strange that one of the grove's most stalwart druids isnt around for Orlin's proclaimation.

[Verrath]

Annie hugs her daughters tighter as she hears Orlin's summons. Kissing each of them on the forehead, she gently sends them off to play, before heading to check the state of her forest gear.

[TheBrogueadier]

“If the ground beneath our feet is tainted, then we will deal with it.”

Sulfur demonstrates his many-toothed smile as he responds to Orlin

“Those of the city chose their path long ago; they chose to stand away from nature, they chose to fear it and attack it. Do not be fooled by their so called desire to help, you may as well bend over, spread your arse cheeks and wait for the city to fill your colon with its corruption”

“Perhaps whatever this thing you fear in the night is can be used to eradicate the Legion outpost and Exigo scum before we send whatever it is away from this plane. We must remind any and all who are not of our grove WHY they must fear the dark, and how sweet the great trees of the world find their flesh.”

“No outsiders should be tolerated here, and I will brook the presence of none. We have given supplication to them for too long, and they have taken advantage of very offer we have given. What do we have in return? More lumber parties? More miners come to hack at the lands guts? Asking the city for help is nothing but a nail in our coffins. I swear on the heart of this grove I will butcher any city dweller I find in this place, invited or not.”

Happy that he’s made his thoughts vaguely clear he takes a seat near Annie, offering her a smile.

“And how is your city dwelling husband? You should bring him here...”

[Verrath]

*Annie growls at Sammal*

Firstly, he lives here, with me. Secondly, you'd regret trying to lay a claw on ANY of my family.

And now, let's just focus on this new threat. We're on the same side here after all.

*she gives Sammal another look* ... sort of.

[Silas North]

The bard looked long into his own reflection, not as an act of vanity but of study to the various changes that have come over him in such a short time. Each joy and experience had left its mark upon him in some shape or form. Though he still easily passed as a man of 25 years, soon 26, the dark markings beneath his eyes had shown a man bearing the weight of various thoughts and concerns.

He had a family now, a loving wife and three children. To keep them safe and with a smile always marked upon their faces, he would do anything and face any foe.

The forest was considered far more safe than before. Given the sacrifices made, this was the least fate could spare them. However, the talk of the growing taint had spread amongst those of the Viridale and even beyond. Orlin may not have been the first to speak of it, but he certainly seemed like one of the most determined to do something about it. Osclow was happy for this, and happy to see him bring about fire in the souls of many druids and rangers, a task that not many could do for those that perfered to watch more often than act.

Colibrus......

The name brought a burning hiss over the tongue every time he spoke it, or even thought about it. What did the stalkers of the night want with this valley precisely, and was it true that they were now allies of the Black Hand?The savage criminal Clive was one of them, and supposedly so were others. They bore the steps of the bloodsucking monsters, and claimed glory in the name of their dark god. The Black Hand had always resorted to desperate measures when threatened with their extinction, and this time it seemed what little shred of humanity they had remaining was little more than a bargaining chip.

From his darkened eyes, his fingertips lowered and soon trailed over the mark of shame that lay burned within his chest, an image representing the very god he had come to despise over any single being. The black-colored hand, though not in possession of any sort of mouth, seemed to echo a deep thundering laugh that the bard was certain only he could hear, as such was meant only for him, a mockery of the freedom he claimed to hold over the Tyrant King.

Despite his determination and resolute standing, he could not deny the difficulties this accursed mark had caused him time and time again. The last hard press into the Bane-bowers territory was as fresh in his mind as the day it occured. Leckith yelled at him, screamed for him to continue on.

But on that day, he could not. The mark would not 'let' him.

If the vampires were really in an alliance with the Bane-bowers, how useful would he truly be? Would he be able to wield his sword and strike down those that threatened this land, or would he cower and quake in fear as he did that day?

The bard, pulled back his long hair into the typical ponytail fashion he bore, placed his wide-brimmed hat where it belonged, then stepped out into the world after forcing a smile to the surface.

Orlin awaited, and if he had a plan, Osclow was not about to miss it. The druids had been kind enough to allow the bard to live amongst them, and he was not about to turn his backs on them or his homeland.

[gbbishop]

Orlin's eyes narrow at Sulfur. "Foolish proclamations will NOT be tolerated in my presence." His voice begins to echo in the varied tones of dragon speech, and his features take on a hard edge.

He looks to others gathered. "As it stands now, we know little, an' yet each of us has seen evidence. Gather what yeh know. Seek that which is new. Leave nothin' ta guessin'."

Orlin looks to Osclow. "Our friend," Orlin emphasizes the word friend with a glance to Sulfur, "Is extremely adept at piecing together puzzles. Os, can we count on you in this? We need the whole picture. There can be no mistakes."

[Kaizen]

Kaizen laughs softly to himself at the assembled group.

Some things never change.

... Some things do.

He decides to speak, his voice still hurt, his soul still wounded. The essence of the Storm had been ripped violently from him, and it showed.

"I can tell you everything. Clive, Banites, Colibrus, Vampires." He taps two massive puncture wounds on his neck and laughs.

"I remember. I've been there from the beginning."

He tilts his head.

"Yeah, I can tell you everything."

[TheBrogueadier]

Sulfur barks a laugh as the dwarf goes stony-faced.

“Don’t start a pissing contest dwarf, I’ve already got two foot of rise on you. Consider my words a promise, not a threat.”

He dismisses Orlin from his thoughts and turns his attention to Kaizen.

“But, Son of Storms, if you know everything, then I am sure we’re all keen to hear it.”

[Kaizen]

He laughs softly.

"I am the Son of Storms no longer. I am the Storm. I am with Akadi now." He taps his chest.

"But.." He waves it off. "Those are minor details. If you are willing to listen, I will tell."

And he does so.


/// for fear of metagaming/ooc knowledge. ive sent a pm to involved parties -brog/silas/bishop/verrath - as i cant be in game to tell them within the privacy of the grove. who they choose to tell is up to them, naturally.

[kuscotopia]

Dryn listens as he lounges upon some of the glade's more ancient stones. There is already too much noise with Sulfur running his mouth, and he knows it best to simply listen for the time being.

(( Kaizen any chance you can include me in on the PM chain? Thanks! ))

[gbbishop]

Orlin steps in front of Sulfur.

"Tha fact that yah even mention size onla further illustrates yer foolishness. Now as Oi am tha one who called this council you will submit to my will. If ya don't loike tha way Oi run shite, yur welcome ta go out an' treat wit dem Suck Children. Oi wull have no qualms destroyin' yer tainted spirit along wit theirs. The fact that ya even entertained such folly seriously undermines moi willingness ta include you ena further."

Upon finishing his reprimand he turns to address Kaizen. "The Storm may continue."

[TheBrogueadier]

Sulfur smiles down at the dwarf.

“Of course I mentioned your size, it’s one of your defining characteristics isn’t it? I mean, if you could talk without that outrageous accent and were six feet tall you wouldn’t be a dwarf, would you.”

He smiles and turns away from the dwarf, nodding at Kaizens words.

“Maybe that fourth point... Mmm... I suppose it depends on the type of person he is. Is the kind of power hungry idiot that wants a virgin, or a realist who wants someone with a reasonable schooling in filth?”

He rolls one hand vaguely.

“I mean, classicly I suppose you’d choose a virgin. But where’s the fun in that? After the first use the virginity is all gone and all you’re left with is a pathetically inexperienced woman who you’ve got to teach everything to. No, no-one with their brain in the right place wants a virgin. It’s like going to an art gallery and having to draw all the pictures yourself.”

“What we need is someone attractive, a bit worldly, and bedly, wise. Maybe a bit naive in some ways, a little spark of innocence to add a touch of flavour.”

He offers Annie a brief smile.

“Or we just use hazel stakes to nail every one we find out in the sun.”

[Kaizen]

He laughs and tosses a sidelong stare in Sulfur's direction.


"Didn't take you for subtelty and traps, shifter."


He pulls out a silver spear, ignoring Glade protocol in favor of embelleshing his next statement.


"Fuck traps. Fuck subtelty. We find them. Then we kill them. We kill them all. And this time, I make sure they stay dead. Or as dead as you can make a vampire." He chuckles. "Third time's a charm, and all that noise."


He smirks at Annie. "Of course, if we had an 'innocent' volunteer to draw them out, well then, that would just make things easier..."

[Silas North]

The bard gave a mildly annoyed stare between Orlin and Sammal, illustrated further by the tones of his voice.

"Both of you desist. There is no point in squabbling and wasting our energy against each other. Despite the different viewpoints of those that work to maintain balance, we have all managed to come together in the past when it was necessary for the greater benefit of this land."

The bard took in a deep breath before continuing. It was not his place to lead any charge or be the figurehead in whatever force was to be mounted against this threat.

"Whether all of us here are willing to agree upon it or not, now is one of those necessary times for all of us."

To the former stormlord his attention diverted to next. It was difficult not to hate this man, especially after his suggestion of using his beloved wife as 'bait'. But, the bard had found himself taking in far more unwanted allies in the past. The druids and rangers spoke of him being a changed sort, and he was willing to believe them.

"I thank you for this information Kaizen. It verifies a great deal of what we already suspected and reveals a few things I believe none of us expected. As for using my beloved as a sort of lure for those bloodsucking bastards, I would thank you to make OTHER suggestions."

The bard rose from his shaded corner, arms unfolding.

"I do not know whether or not Kaizen is expected to have revealed this information to us, but I believe it is best he be watched carefully and remain here in the safety of the grove til he can regain entirely what was lost. I would not put a vengeful mindset past the Black Hand, but even they cannot tread here freely, unless of course you feel still 'capable' Kaizen."