Exploration Phase Cards Drawn:
[K♣, 5◆, 9◆, 10◆, Q♥]
She could see nothing at all from her vantage point, no movement now from where her ears had told her to expect it. Bea could also see nothing and the mental link to Thud had not had enough time to bed in and become constant so Brer actually wasn't sure what he saw or even where exactly he was.
Captured! (10◆)
A hand grasped her free wrist from behind, then another went across her mouth so quickly she was not even able to gasp let alone scream. Her mental shout caused Bea to scoot up out of reach and slip away unnoticed into the darkness but as more hands grabbed her, threw her to the ground, and efficiently tied her arms and legs with a thick cord Brer knew that she would have no such luck.
Finally her hidden assailants were satisfied the there was no way their prize would escape and Brer was lifted and flung over a large man's shoulder and carried out of the skull, down the hill she had so laboriously climbed just that short time ago, and then off to the right a short way until finally she was deposited unceremoniously onto the ground and could take a proper look around. The land here dipped slighly to form a depression that was deep enough to prevent the glow from a small fire, burning in the centre, from illuminating the surrounding vegetation. Sat around the fire, all of them looking at her, were five ragged looking men with straggly beards and ripped clothes. Further back, in the shadows, the wide eyes of a few children glinted in the firelight and their mothers were stood protectively nearby dressed no better than the menfolk.
No word was spoken. Brer watched her captors and her captors watched her back.
The silence lengthened and still no one made a move.
Just as Brer was starting to wonder if she had been captured by a group of mutes one of the women stepped forward from the the shadows and into the fitful light of the fire. She walked over and stood in front of Brer, looking down at her with haunted eyes. "What business did you have with the Skull Gang?" Her voice was low but had a modicum of force behind it.
Brer looked back into those haunting eyes and considered her reply. Finally she decided honesty was the best policy "I do not even know who they are? I was merely passing through, an innocent traveller looking for shelter".
The answer, spoken with conviction and a quiver of fear, triggered no outward reaction. Once more silence reigned with The Questioner standing still and just watching. Brer looked back, not sure what to do next.
"There are few innocent travelers in these parts." The voice came from by the fire as one of the men stood and strolled over very casually. "Mostly because they do not survive for long. Your arm; what happened to it?" This man was tall and wiry, he looked strong but was not well fed. Once again she considered honesty was best and explained how she had been beset at the ford by a Rumble Rook and had stumbled up the hill attempting to get away from its body. This story drew a few muffled gasps from the surrounding crowd and Brer saw some respect enter the first Questioner's eyes.
With her story told once more there was quiet however it did not last long. "Untie her, bind her wounds. I believe her". This from the lady and immediately Brer felt her bonds cut and she was drawn to the firelight where an old lady, appearing out of the shadows where the women hid, chewed up some herbs and tied the smelly mixture very tightly to her wrist. "In two days, your arm will be healed" she croaked, and hobbled away before Brer could do more than mutter thanks.
From then on the night was a blur of introductions and conversation. Brer learned that this ragged group of individuals was all that remained of the free people who had populated this land before the Skull Gang had arrived and destroyed everything. They lived now as nomads returning to this spot only rarely to see if the gang had left and they could return to their homes. Brer told them of the land on the other side of the Coral (which these people called The Rush).
When morning came and the light of the brazier woke Brer from her slumber by the fire she felt part of the clan. Their entreaties for her to join them and help them rebuild their homes (the disquiet at meeting her had been caused by this being the fourth year in a row their return revealed no evidence of Gang activity only for them to discover her right at the heart of the outlaw camp) were tempting but her quest drew her on so after saying farewell and accepting the gift of a roughly drawn map, leading her all the way to a Doorway several days further South, Brer departed promising to visit on her return.
Giants in the Distance (K♣)
Brer made her way back up the slope, followed by Thud and with Bea buzzing around her head, and considered the plight of those kind people. Something should be done about the brigands, she thought, it isn't right for innocents to be displaced like this. She determined that on return she would help them.
Mid morning saw her still climbing, having left the Skeleton far behind, and the terrain was changing from smooth slopes with scattered fir trees to a much more broken ground, rocky crags and cliffs stretching off into the distance. As she topped one rise, this one covered in short grass and quite comfortable to walk up, she froze. There was a huge shape moving along the next valley, a massive Rook, the size of ten houses stacked on one another. Brer readied herself to fight or to run but the creature had other purposes and didn't even appear to notice her, continuing on its way until it went into a ravine that was deeper than even its leviathan height.
Brer sighed with relief and sank to her knees. The drama and stress of the past 24 hours finally catching up with her. Bea buzzed over and landed next to her, projecting images of a willow tree just down the next slope beneath which would be shade and cover. With a shudder Brer hauled herself upright once more and followed the loyal Rookling while Thud continued in the position it had made its own during the morning walk; slight behind and slightly to the right of Brer.
The glade with the tree in it had a spring of fresh water which Brer splashed into her face, drank a little, before crawling into the safe space and falling straight into a deep and dreamless sleep.
