Into the Wild

~Ralean heard the roar, recognizing it instantly for what it was, as he knew the others would: dragon.

He stepped further into the shadows, back tight against a tree, on hand slowly creeping over his shoulder to the hilt of the blade strapped there; one designed and enchanted specifically with the intent to slay dragons and their ilk, the blade he had once shared a name with: Wyrmslayer.

He knew Verran had by then melted comfortably into a position where he could attack or flee as needed. He just hoped now that the beast would pass, and would not spot them.

He gave a subtle movement of his free hand, relaying to the others one word, just in case: dragon.~

~~Gil heard the roar as he entered the treeline, instantly crouching his large frame into the surrounding shrubbery, hands resting on the hilts of weapons that would be ultimately ineffectual against a dragon. He saw Ralean stop and gesture, and he took a deep, slow breath, slowing his heart rate. He hoped the beast moved past: if he came close, or low, he would most assuredly smell the blood from the horses and dead men.~~

// The almighty and opposing figure of the powerful Dracolich was about to turn and fly away as he flew overhead and past the firepit - when he noticed something. The scent of the flames.....burning flesh. The skull bone of his head and nostrils, fueled with the magical essence that kept him alive taught him to use his senses. He growled, low and rumbling in his throat. Who was eating his elves?

Doing a U turn, he flies and soars back around, his wings fluttering faster. This time he decided to be more focused on the fire pit and the scene below. //

~ As the massive shadow of the dracolich passes over head the fire rises in Verran's throat. One of his father's twice damned breed, and this one an abomination even among its own wretched kind. His bow is drawn and readied in a moment, an arrow of blessed silver resting on the drawn string waiting for the right moment. As he prepares to looses the bolt at the monster's eye he see Ralean's signal, a reminder that he was not alone on this hunt, and the fact that the Wyrmslayer had stayed his hand reminding him that there would be time enough for this hunt when their task was completed.

He shoulders his bow and prepares to move again as the beast circles back toward the camp. He stops in his tracks and draws his blades, a tomahawk in one hand, his longblade in the other as he crouches among the trees. He signals to Ralean and Gil:~

" We fight here, or we run. The forest will hinder him if we fight from the trees, but the clearing is certainly death against the beast."

~Ral nods to verran, and makes sure to catch his attention, and Gil's before signalling:

We run. This is not our mission. We may need the extra time if we are found out

He turns to Verran, signalling so he and Gil ca see: We move as fast as we can: lead on. I'll take covering action

He ML's Verran: "If we can't keep up, we'll catch up. You know the mission."~

// The Dracolich swooped low, his wings outstretched and gliding above the treeline as he approached the fire pit. His nostrils snorted and flared, his eye sockets flashing blood red as he surveyed the area below. He did not see anything of worth to be further concerned about and so he continued in his flight, moving away from the group as he flew out of sight.//

~ Verran nods, moving through the trees like a shadow shot from a bow. The idea of leaving the stinking best behind him "alive" making him feel sick, but Ralean was right, the target was not here. This was a recon mission, not a dragon hunt. In only a few hours, according to the scout's map, they would be at the walls, then the real trial would start...making their way into the elf city undetected to hunt the Baron's children and ascertain their motives...and if needs be, execute a member of the royal family.~