Hunting for the source part 4.
Michael James Watson
The ogres straighten out at the gun shot. They look armed but rugged and rough... they seem the have a couple drakes being torn apart and eaten, some raw, some cooked. One of their group come walking out. He waves a heavy club made of rows of rock. "Talk!!?? Fight!!??? I Vazxka. Kill me tell others I Vazxka. Talk. Tell others talk Vazxka"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex looks up at the Ogre Vazxka. "Hello Vazxka, i am Alexandra. Here to talk. I want to make a deal with you and your group. We are on the road and passing through. " Alex nods to the road ahead of them. "I do not know why your group camps here but i see no need to attack each other. Do you agree?"
Michael James Watson
"Fight. Fuck. Swap. All good. Here good. Lizards run to the sunrise. Spike beasts to the sunset. Spike beast come soon. Want to fight first? Then swap or fuck?" Karieena looks behind to the group, yells , "Hannah! Come up here . We have something for you to do!"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex takes a moment to orientate herself. If one group of beasts go one direction and another the opposite, it might have to do with both groups searching for the spike. She first needs to find out if they are from the sunset or sunrise direction. "Those spikebeasts are they with many? If they are here soon, then yes first fight. After that i am sure we can make a deal, trade or something. Is there anything you are in need of?"
Michael James Watson
He snorts, "Fight! Yes. Fight spiky beasts soon. We want stuff to make safe in fight. Thumpers for fight. " Hannah comes up, Karieena says, "So.. you were talking the other day...Care to take one for the team?" Hannah looks horrified. Karieena laughs
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex shakes ehr head at Karieeena "oh don't tease Hannah so, sure she can take one for the team but what would that teach her?" She looks at Hannah and winks "Don't worry though an extra mind on this helps." Alex looks up at Vazxka "So you want protection for you and your group against bodily harm from fights? and weapons? That is quite alot to do for just passage. If we would provide such for you what can you offer back?"
Michael James Watson
"Huh? uh... fight? Then swap? Sun right. spiky come""
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex nods and turns to Karieeena and Hannah. "Well lets first fight off a spiky beast group. We'll discuss other matters later." Alex nods to the ogre Vazxka "Talk to you after fighting." With that she turns with the two others back to the group .
Michael James Watson
The ogres saunter over and spread out over a few hundered yard. Vazx points to his spot. Points to Alex next to him, then indicates her tropus along a line continuing his. He swings his maul mace excitedly. As the rangers line up Calsall comes over on a run. "THere is a huge trail here. Over grown.. but huge several hundred yards wide.. Herds have run through here..Do we have any idea how long we will be..." Dalt yells, " COMING IN! A HUNDRED AT LEAST!!!!"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex gets ready herself she of course will start with bow and arrow. It is her most comfortable weapon. Hearing Dalt she lets out a few strong words under her breath. She hopes the Ogres will take down most of them. "Well this ought to be interesting. " Since she is fighting next to the ogre Vazxka and not in her own group she'll not call upon her mark right away, how eager it may be.
Michael James Watson
A thunder slowly builds. A burst ahead shows Manticore following a shadow trail start flowing in quickly. As they come in something odd in their arrival is noted. While hundreds come into view, arriving by shadow path, many turn left, right, or even fade away while coming forward. While the ones disappearing lessen the number a group of nearly 50 of the great beasts hit the formation. Vaz wallops one, spinning its head with a wicked snap. A dozen flow over the frontage to fight the ogres. A small ogre leaps on one's back, grabbing its ears and attemps to break it as a mount. Ogres laugh at what is clearly a common trick of his but the battle goes on. 25 turn to fight Alex's cadre.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex inhales deep seeing the group of manticores one could give a big fight but around 50. She allows herself a moment to breath to think and to plan a tactic. She nods to Calsall, Dalt and Bronze to take lead of their group. Not that ghey need permission from Alex for that. Alex tries to recall any knowledge she has on Manticore if they have a weakspot and how to fight them. She wishes she had a longer spear now or something. Alex fires a few rapid shot arrows. See what their effects are to the beasts. If that doesn't seem to do enough she'll look over to how her group is doing if they do need a boost she'll hurry over there to spark some flames.
Michael James Watson
She remembers Manticore being a common beast for Rangers and a common hunters prey. They are usually taken down with archery having no particularly thick armor. A ranger almost always has Manticore spikes as tools and Castle Arden is supposed to be filled with Manticore trophies. Usually they are solitary but they are known to be in groups of two or three. She had not heard of groups larger then 10 but she hadn't heard all teh stories from thousands of years. She shoots 3 arrows and drops one. The archers are doing good work and the war beasts of dalt's seem to take one each and wrestle. Looking out she sees another group of manticore fade in at the shadow point, almost as if they are being driven. Beside them appear a similar collection of a hundred drakes arrive. She notes quickly that both group split off as the first did. She realizes this si a shadow hub and the manticore and Drakes are being funneled to many different shadows where they arrive in groups of 1, 2, or 3. Behind her she sees Xandra, Random and their group rushing on the far left flank to sweep around and pull the drakes away from the manticore.
Amber Bronkhorst
If her arrows are plenty and those of her rangers as well she won't boost the attack better safe that for when the need is high. Alex keeps an eye on her group and stays active fighting herself. Seeing that this is a shadow hub kind of place this fight could just as well be never ending as the reinforcements could be keep pouring in. She moves back to her group to speaking range of Dalt. When in audible range she tries to talk to Dalt. "Chance are they will keep coming here. It seems a sort of hub point in shadow. Or we need to travel further while fighting or the supply needs to be stopped. Suggestions?" Alex does keep an eye on what she is doing and of course continues to shoot of arrows to the beasts. A short salute to Xandra and Random as they take over the drakes.
Michael James Watson
Xandra and Random come over quickly, and she yells, "What the galloping fuck is going on here?!?! Where the hell are all these things coming from? " Random stands in his saddle and looks over the battle, "Its a nexus! Its like the PNB's out of the Hitchhiker's universe! Creatures forced to stampeded into a shadow path.. "
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex nods "Yeah it keeps pouring in. So any of you experienced with how to deal with this shitshow? Or do we have to fight and move at the same time? " Alex keeps her attacks going trying to keep an eye on herself her ranger group her command team and trying to talk to Xandra and Random. "If you guys move the drakes away at least it will divide the trouble a bit. But we can't stay here like this. I think exhaustion will hit before the stream of beasts stops. "
Michael James Watson
Dalt yells, "Retreat! Fighting at the tip of the nexus is just making it messy!!!"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex nods in agreement "Agreed, Calsall, Bronze, retreat! Keep watching your backs and move back to the open field. " Alex looks at Xandra and Random "I suggest to do the same. " Looking up at Vazxka "The stream of beasts will not stop here, we have to move back to get order back in the fight. " SHe leaves it up to them if they move back with them or not, her main concern is her own group's safety. In her mind she starts to sort through people who she might have to contact for information on a shadow nexus like this, Arlo is a safe bet, though her father knows alot as well. ANd might be happy to be able to teach her something again and help out. It adds to hsi score.
Michael James Watson
The fighting moves back to an open field almost a mile away. The ogres looks confused but pull back as well. The battle ends, in a manner of speaking, when the forces have pulled back enough to get a full idea. Dalt and Random2 stand together, next to Alex and Xandra and the lines form. What they see is hordes of Manticores and hordes of Drakes rushing into this shadow and running hard. As the mile progresses one Manticore or drake makes a turn from the pack and disappears into shadow. Eventually the fighters are far enough to watch the whole phenomonom and the manticore and the drakes ignore them. Random says, "Fuckall, its a nexus for sure. " Looking to Xandra and ALex, both with equally unsure looks on their faces. He goes on... "Whatever their shadow of origins the manticores and drakes are being compelled to stampeded. When they reach here they toss off into other shadows in small numbers. The mile ahead has hundreds of shadowpaths. I can feel the tugs.. " Dalt says, "So Julian knew it was happening and decided a few manticores showing up every so often wass better then all of them showingg up. Whats in their realm of origin?" Ran says,"Fuckall if I know but this has been going on for centuries.. Lots of them.. If we backtrack that path we might find out"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex looks at Xandra then at Random and Dalt as they speak. Her eyes move back to the nexus clearly she is deep in thought on their next move. "If we backtrack we might find out, or die. The stampeding herdes won't be split then it will be the full force meeting us on our paths. Are we ready for that? And willing to try. " When she asks she mostly looks at Dalt, from stories she had heard he was a great tactical mind and what she has seen she trusts those stories. "What do you say, find what sends them? or leave it be for now? " She looks at Xandra and Random "Seems the source of the spikes are the same afterall. seems to be all coming from one area. We can join forces. Make a deal with the Ogres. travel in full force along the path. What do you say Xandra?"
Michael James Watson
Xandra nods, "Ya. I was tasked with hunting them down not fining out how conveniently they are sent"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex nods to Xandra "Dalt. How do you think we should best approach this situation? The moment we get near that nexus more beasts will come our way. Have to keep that mind.... If we do this have to keep moving and attacking. Personally i am willing to take the step in that direction as well see what is sending these beasts. "
Michael James Watson
Dalt says ,"Make a wedge, ogres in front. warbeasts if they won't. Rangers on either side. Split them like a river. " Xandra say, "Ill take the right. My Kar and han can manage the stranglers. " As everyone starts to go Random says, "Geez...I'm traveling with wargods and fanatics. None of the 3 of you are thinking like an Amberite. If this nightmare is a river of Manticore and Drakes why not walk on the bank instead of swimming in the middle of the river? This place is lousy with shadow tugs. We navigate shadow using the tugs to keep us in contact with the central flow. Search your pattern imprints. Feel the tugs. They are like little current influencing the river in its course. Not surprising i guess. None of you are sailors and I am the only one who did any time laying down sea lanes across shadow. I'll lead you around them but focus in on me to feel what I am doing so you'll know what to look for and see if I go astray....." He stands there looking at his kin and kinish people.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex lets out a chuckle. And to Xandra she says "Well for the annoying uncle he does have a good point. " More to the rest as well she continues "Though i would still ride in formation like Dalt says. A river can go over its banks and they are being send. So once the source or whoever is doing this notices, they might redirect the river." She then turns to Random and in a matter of fact like tone she half jokingly says "I wasn't raised with the idea i could shadow walk, thank you ver much. And not fanatic just really devoted to duty." Looking around she then shrugs "But sounds like a plan to me. Anyone something to add or comment? "
Michael James Watson
Random looks at Xandra, "You're the expert....If I get her to sign my book, and you get Dalt to sign yours, hell, Alex could sign your card I suppose too, do shades count or do we need someone to make us trumps of them before they can sign them?" Xandra chuckles, "Thats what you are thinking about? I don't know. I don't make Trumps and I doubt Dalt or Alex here do now lead on, Joker, and lets find out who wrangles these damn monsters.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex frowns and looks slightly confused. " alright i am missing something, what is Random talking about? About signing and trumps? " She then shrugs "If you are talking about those collectibles lets worry about that later if that is somethingso very pressed on your mind you have to bring that up now." The last she says with a wink. Then a short nod to Xandra and Random. "Lets get going. " She calls up "Oi Vazxka! We are going to where the beasts are send from! Instead of waiting for them to attack. Feeling like moving with us to bash some more spiky beast's heads in? "
Michael James Watson
Vazxka looks at the Amberites and their crew. "Food? Lots of food? Always sooooo hungry....this more food then we ever had...all eat... you know for more? yes. We go and eat. Give us leather beast, spiky beast, some weapons. some stuff" he thumps his odd armor, "Then we follow..." Taking that as a yes Random starts walking. The river as such continues. Even shifting nearby it occasionally sends beasts into the group but not in numbers that can't be handled. After a day a small block of drakes hits the group but as Vazx andhis people skin and eat, Random comes to the royals. "Ok, this isn't a nexus of some kind but its like a its own river. The main River is wider. This group of drakes went off on its own river. Feeling down it It breaks off too. Look...." He conjures papper and starts drawing.. "You have a main source somewhere up the line. As the main river flows in drakes and manticores it splits off in big branches and the branches split off and the river delivers drakes to our shadows and Manticores to yours, Fair Haired Alexandra of the Shade with a Dalt who isn't the Desecratix..." HE points upriver. "The thing is... I can sense the river of monsters ahead..There are Aligots and Kresh ahead.. I have hunted both so I know their psyche.. They are mixed in with the Manticore and Drakes but they don't go further down river.. My point is..The river is going to get wider, and include more beasts. Now I can keep us out of the bloody water of them, but I sense more are to come....."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex looks at the paper she stays quiet for a bit thinking. "If this is only a small branch i dare not think of what we will encounter further up the river. Though on the other hand so far we seem to be managing. Perhaps continue on. See how far we can get with combined forces. Heh perhaps even more shades have set themself on a mission to find this place. Combine forces with them and we might have the strength to paddle upriver. Though an escape plan is important if we need to retreat we need to do that quick. " She looks at Dalt, Karieeena, Bronse and Calsall "What do you guys say?"
Michael James Watson
Dalt says, "Might not hurt to have a Trump open on us for a quick get away but a quick get away is tricky with this many people. Backing off in shadow might be safer"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex nods "Sounds good, you got a place in mind? And can you keep it open or shall i keep my focus on that? Or maybe keep contact with a person open while we try and escape by shadow." She turns to Xandra and Random. "Best you have an escape route ready as well. In case we do get overrun. Whatever way you find workable of course. "
Michael James Watson
Dalt says,"No offense meant but Alex,you should keep the Trump open. Vilsar Base maybe?
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex raises an eyebrow. "Why should i take that as offense? But sure sounds good Vulsar base, i'll keep it open. " She flicks through her trumps to get the right one on top. "Vance will be so happy with that." A light chuckle. Before she makes contact Alex looks at the rest. "Ready to get moving again?"
Michael James Watson
The next month is a trial for the patience of everyone. Jax shows the technique of side trailing a shadow trail. Its merely a matter of being shown where the trail is. This trail get easier and easier to follow. Wider. Trod on more frequently. After a few days it become hard to avoid the river of Manticore and Drakes. They seem little interested in being hunted or hunting themselves. After a week something new happens. The Twisted Red way suddenly includes giant snakes. These beasts are 10 meters long and 1 across and have huge biting fangs. But a round or two show them close to as difficult to kill as a manticore, meaning challenging to be best hunters. But Rangers are the best hunters in both Ambers so they do well. A day later giant spiders 5 meters across join the river. Jax comments that at least the menu is getting diverse. Of course he does not volunteer to cook. Next week starts with giant precarious looking creatures with bodies like ogres, but albino white, long fragile looking spidery stiff legs. When the ogres see them they flee into the realm far from the river. They return a few days later but seem shaken seeing the creatures. They name them Ixvads, ogre killers. They have never seen more then two at once and seeing hundreds terrified them. They turn out to be very hard to kill, especially since the ogres won't go near them. At the beginning of the second week Xandra calls for a halt. Rest for three days to recover from the road, heal wounded, import healers and provisions, fresh horses and advice. Dalt agrees and urges Alex to halt. The cause for the halt was the inclusion in the river of a type of horse, mostly black, with fiery hooves and fiery eyes, that breath a short fire breath weapons. Dalt says he has seen their like, called Nightmares. Hard to kill, not good eating. All along the month more creatures join, the river gets wider, the branching rivers get harder to avoid. At the end of the month easily a dozen different creatures are in the river, all branching out into their own Ardens. Dalt ask Alex to call the halt this time and Xandra eagerly agrees. At the fire that night Dalt poses the question; What the hell is with the river of beasts?
Amber Bronkhorst
In silent contemplation Alex was staring into the fire. It has been a month further and it just seems to get more and more Nightmarish every step they take. She looks up at Dalt lights a cigarette and takes a big drink first from her flask before handing it over to Dalt. " i have absolutely no clue what this stream of monsters is. And why only the most hard and nightmarish are along this river like path. And who what or why is at the start of the river. " She takes a stick she was poking the fire with and mindlessly draws in the ground before her. "But call me stubborn i want to find out now what is at the start. And at least learn why this thing is here. For i think we can speculate but if we do not know and noone of either our shades know.... i think the only way to find out is gojng there.... if it doesn't kill us first that is. " Taking a long pull from her cigarette she sighs. "We can ask people back in our Amber perhaps somr might have heard of it. Or know a bit more.... tasted a rumor... but who would know such thing?"
Michael James Watson
Asking your Random, Duncan and a few others no idea what this river is. Without going to Adagalasck, Julian is refusing contact.
