Marching Through|Beastlands

[Kender Bard]

After a hard march with the Mind elementals flanking the Earth types, and Avani and Thelon at the head, they manage to make it to the heart of the Beastlands by the time night falls. Thelon holds up a hand and orders for a halt, then turns towards Avani. "While I doubt anyone would be stupid enough to attack us, we are in the middle of Beast territory. We can press on, and make camp the next morning, but I don't wish to exhaust our people that much. If you think it worth the risk, I say we camp here."

[adris]

Avani sat upon the horse she broght, her continance as distant and stiff as when she first started the ride out from Humontis. It took her a moment to break her trance and answer the mind type.

"It is fine we camp here, the earths get along well enough with the beast types, as we are neighbors. And I trust that our forces are enough to parry any threats that do approach us."

She turned about and went to tell Tzilil what the plan was. Tzilil nodded in agreement and gave the forces of the earth to make camp and rest for the night, but to never fully let down her guard. She went over camp procedure and the like as this was the earths first true campaign and after she concluded they began to get to work.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon just lifted a hand, snapped his fingers, and pointed down and the message spread quickly enough. The Mind types retained their positions on the perimeter of the camp, though a few randomly teleported away. Thelon didn't wish Avani to think they had deserters amongst them and so explained, "Our home is very close to here. Some of my men might disappear tonight to go say their goodbyes to the few we left behind."

[adris]

Avani didn't even think of those that teleported away, and her gaze never left the North-West, almost as though that was where her soul was and her body longed for it.

"Thats fine, I trust you would have your armies in check. Besides, I wouldn't blame anyone from wanting to leave this endeavour."

She didn't mean to sound so rude and distant... it really wasn't her personality. Through her mind rung the words of war, death, violence... everything against what she was taught when she was a little girl. She was taught that all life was equal... she couldn't hardly fathom the idea of one human enslaving another, much less the violence that it is leading to.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon tilted his head, ever so slightly, and looked at her closely - the scrutinizing gaze of his people; the look that made the receptive end wonder if he was reading their thoughts or not, which he generally wasn't. "Would you like to talk about what's on your mind?"

[adris]

Avani nodded, her voice when she spoke was kind of broken, but it was much more 'here' then it was a moment ago. Even Tzilil didn't take it upon herself to ask, so Avani was actually joyous when someone, anyone volunteered to let her speak her mind.

"There is a reason that the people of Earth have been pacifists. It was not fear of losing, nor political reasons, nor is it we are even some crazed bunch of peace pushers. It is the beliefs deeply ingraved in the minds and hearts of every child born of us. Our system of belifs says that there is one grand force that is greater then them all and she resides in the earth itself. All life is born of the earth and as such all life has equal right to live in freedom. Enslavement by the clears, enslavement of elementals by others, war, violence... we are walking into something that represents everything we are against I feel and to be frank with you Thelon... I'm scared, I am not afraid to admit it."

She looks towards him with soft eyes, ones that have seen more in their days then someone could have twice her age. She knows that this war is more about winning in losing, the future of the planet might be altered drastically by the outcome.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon's own gaze softened in somewhat understanding. "Then rest assured that you are doing the right thing. Bravery is not an absense of fear, it is an embrace of it along with a willingness to overcome it. You are very brave, Milady." He reached out and touched her cheek very softly with his fingertips in a gesture of understanding.

[adris]

Avani tried a smile, but it failed terribly. The only reaction she gave in direct thanks is a soft touch of her fingers over Thelon's hand. She reverted her gaze to where it was at first but it was not so distant this time around.

"I do not understand these cultures and their need for superiority over others. There are two completely seperate types of us but there has never been talk of one being greater then the other... you should actually see how those of the soil brag about those of the plant and the other way around. The clears should learn that their ability is a gift from the forces and as such should be used responsibly... Yes... I will fight my hardest, to make sure we do not have to fight again."

She actually did find a smile with this newfound confidence... yes it masked her fear, yes it was rationalization... but in something as irrational to her as war a little rationalization was about all she was going to get.

[Kender Bard]

"I am glad to hear that," Thelon said gently. He was going to continue, when his head snapped up and towards a group of Minds. "I'm sorry, but duty calls. Will you be okay on your own here?"

[adris]

Avani nodded a slight nod then turned to show Thelon she would stay close to her army for safety sake.

"I will be all right, stay safe and we will be here ready to go whenever you are ready to leave here."

She led her horse on foot back to the camp where she was welcomed directly by Tzilil, who showed her to the special tent set up for her personal usage.

[Kender Bard]

Thelon nodded, and swiftly teleported to the area of trouble. He tilted his head slightly and frowned to show that they had better mean business. "What is it?"

"Something's coming," one of the Mind's whispered, his eyes glowing. This man had the specialized, and rare, ability to see further than his eyes would normally allow by using both his signs together.

"Something isn't very descriptive," Thelon criticized. The other Mind paused, squinted, then took in a sharp breath.

"It's an Aranea sir," he whispered. "Three of them. Small colony I'd guess." Thelon rubbed his eyes.

~Avani, there are three Aranea coming this way. In case you're not familiar with them, they're mean, man-eating, large spider-like creatures. Do you want us to take care of it or shall we move our people further?~

[adris]

Avani thought to herself... perfect, now there is trouble... maybe she should have thought twice about coming. No, that is no way for her to think, not after having given Thelon her word.

Coming to you or coming to us? I will prepare a proper defence here if you need a place to hide behind for a counterstrike of some sort... some of our better herbalists told me that something was disturbing around here, I should have listened.

Avani told Tzilil to allow the monks to start the hymn for medium-scale defence. When the order was given by Tzilil all of the monks sung together in near perfect harmony touching their respected signs, Tzilil herself joined and Avani would have if she didn't want to keep full contact with Thelon. When released out of the ground would be produced the proper barrier for this occasion. (OOC: in this case imagine the barbed part of a barbed wire fence streached to larger proportions, then several of these firing out of the ground in several directions making mobility itself the danger).

[Kender Bard]

Talon looked at the defenses forming and nodded approvingly. He looked to his farseer man and grinned as the other Mind type nodded enthusiastically about something. ~It's all clear, Avani. Your people scared them off. I must say, I'm impressed.~

[adris]

Avani's eyes sprung wide, for the first time there was life in her lungs and happiness in her heart. Her people... scared them with no casualties... this was like a dream come true.

I serisously am surprised Thelon... I am almost speechless, I believe in my people but were we really that effective? The strength of our army lies in it's ability to do large scale things as a unit, strategem introduced by Tzilil's father. So instead of several individual symbols attacking... it is a group of 20-30 working coherently. It obvously works... again, we have never acutally seen action so the use of our tactics was purely hypothetical.

Avani turned and looked towards Tzilil and with a smile in both her face and soul she showed her approval of her. She was never so proud of her people then upon this moment, and hopefully she could feel this pride again when they have to fight on the battlefield.

[Kender Bard]

~Well, I don't mean to deflate your joy, Avani. However, these creatures were not overly intelligent. They're renowned for their cleverness, but I think they saw what they were up against and changed their minds. You realize you'll most likely have to use force against the Clears,w hen we reach them. Right?~