Nearing Mathain

Highlands - Dunland <>

The foothills of the Misties spread out before you, seemingly endless in their rolling. A path stretches out over them, showing that travellers have been here before. To the east the mountains rise up ominously and the wind often howls off of them.

A trail, rutted with the marks of well-wagons is covered by crumbling stone and blackened wood. The forest encroaches against its length.

Obvious exits:

South leads to Farmstead - Dunland <>.

North leads to Foothills - Dunland <>.

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Dunland Time and Weather Forecast

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Real Time is: Tue Dec 23 00:18:54 2008

IC weather is: Wind: gale - Clouds: moderate - Rain: moderate

IC Moon is: Not visible

IC time is: Mid Morning

IC date is: Trewsday, Day 4 of October in the year 3045.

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[Finnian(#23897)] A few more days and now the two Hawk messengers are searching through Caerdh, heading on a bearing towards Mathain for a cause that\'s becoming more and more muddied. (At least in Finn\'s mind) The man has been less than social, but after the near disaster with the Stag patrolmen and the bear, he\'s been keeping a far more vigilant watch. The sun is just beginning to peek over the mountains to the east as a new day begins to dawn. Tavish covers a yawn as the weariness of traveling all night is catching up to him.

Brev walks in silence. The man always was jumpy, and these last few days, as their passage through northern Caerdh has forced them to skirt abandoned settlements and, in some cases, blackened ruins, he has been morose by anyone\'s standards. He eyes the path ahead and comments, \"Not much further now.\" His mouth shuts, but after a while he adds, \"Watch out for rockfalls.\" He eyes the trail ahead dubiously as the wind whips at them.

[Finnian(#23897)] \"When you be wanting to find a place to sleep? It be getting brighter soon..\" Finn looks up at the sky appraisingly, noting the lightening above. Then he looks over to the foothills and the rocky ground at Brev\'s warning. \"I hope they be in Mathain, or we\'ll be looking for a long time.\"

[Carac(#32384)] The loud hoot of an owl, apparently wrapping up its nightly hunting, sounds to the north.

Brev shrugs. \"Somewhere. Not here. We could-\" The words break off at the owl\'s hoot, and in what has become an all-too-frequent habit of late he sets stone to sling. Rabbits, a badger and once a wild goat have all caused similar alarms.

Finnian glances over at Brev, shaking his head. \"You be needing to relax, Brev. You will run yourself ragged if you be jumping at every sound.\" Tavish then chuckles, \"Unless you be thinking to take down an owl for breakfast.\" He props the spear he\'s still carrying against his shoulder, waiting for the younger man to take the lead.

[Carac(#32384)] Somewhere off to the west there is an answering hoot to the first owl\'s call.

Brev, still gazing warily about, shakes his head. \"Not good eating,\" he mutters. \"Just want to get away from-\" If there was any more to say, it remains unsaid as the second hoot comes. \"Split up,\" he hisses to his companion. He jerks his head to the left as he himself moves to the right, up into the rocks. One slip could send pebles and boulders tumbling - so far, though, he seems sure-footed as any goat.

Finnian snaps his head around as he hears the answering call, seeming to come to a similar conclusion as Brev as his expression grows hard. He nods sharply at Brev\'s plan and begins picking his way amongst the rocky terrain, holding the spear out wide for balance as he makes a line for a larger rock to take cover behind.

[Carac(#32384)] They are four, those that reveal themselves that is. Dressed in a cloaks that are a patched mix of the greens, browns, and greys of the terrain that surrounds them. All four hold bows, and each bow has an arrow nocked and ready to be released.

\"No use in hiding,\" calls one. \"You\'ve already been seen. What brings two strangers into the sacred land of the Hawk?\" he asks.

At the words, Brev halts his scrambling and turns, still holding the sling. \"Looking for a man,\" he answers. \"Garaig.\" He glances down briefly at the stones beneath his feet.

[Carac(#32384)] The leader of this group watches the one who speaks warily. \"Aye,\" he replies. \"I ken Garaig, but you I do not,\" he gives a wave of his hand and those with him lower their bows, but keep the arrows nocked. \"Just why might you be looking for him?\"

\"Need to speak with him,\" is all the response Brev seems willing to give. \"And he\'ll know me. Saved my life once - though I don\'t think that was intentional.\" He gives a short, sharp bark of laughter. He does not turn his head or look towards his companion his full attention is focussed on the four unknowns.

[Carac(#32384)] The figure upon the ridge says nothing the young man, but leans his head to the side and speaks in a whisper to the others who accompany him. \"I can tell you where to find him,\" the figure replies after a moment. \"Be warned though,\" he adds. \"There be more of us about and you are watched, if you bring trouble you will be dealt with without mercy.\"

\"There\'s always trouble,\" Brev answers, eyeing the lowered bows. \"But I don\'t bring it.\" He hesitates. \"Where is he, then?\"

[Carac(#32384)] \"Near the site where Mathain once stood you\'ll find a small cave enterance,\" he begins. \"They served as the tombs for the Hawk who passed on, but now they house the living as well. You\'ll find Garaig within those caves.\" He pauses once more and then adds. \"I hope you be tellin\' the truth about knowin\' him, if not will be bad for you and your friend.\"

Finnian watches all this exchange quietly, the spear held at his side while his gaze slowly travels around to pick out the archers. He\'s content to let Brev do the talking, he\'s certainly been with the group far longer. As the tension seems to ease, Tavish begins walking slowly back up to rejoin his younger traveling companion.

Brev snorts. \"Should know the both of us, if he\'s not too far in his cups. Depends if the whisky\'s run out yet.\" The words to the unknown Hawk are accompanied by a smirk.

He scrambles back to the road, seemingly ready to be on his way, and does not look back, though as Finnian\'s steps are heard he murmurs, \"Coming?\"

[Carac(#32384)] \"May the spirits keep you,\" the Hawk says. \"I\'ll send word ahead so that you are allowed to pass to the caves,\" he adds. Then he turns and as quickly as they appeared they slip back into the forest and soon disappear.

[<#23897>] \'Aye.\' Finnian answers, but he adds in a quiet voice as he draws closer to Brev, \"Sacred land of the Hawk.. You be remembering my concerns before? Won\'t be much longer before the \'cause\' be something new and different.\" Tavish grumbles.

Brev, already starting to move, half-turns and shrugs, slowing his steps so that he can murmur back. \"And? My brother\'s dead, the village I grew up is naught but ashes .. think you I care what name those who fight the goblins wear?\" His hiss is low-pitched, but still louder than Finnian\'s whisper.

Finnian grows silent, a dark gaze to his face and frown pulling at his lips. After a moment he speaks, \"I suppose.\" Though he sounds unconvinced and casts another wary glance towards where the archers have vanished.

Brev hears the doubt, and tilts his head so that he can regard Finnian, one brow lifted. \"You had a better idea? I\'m all ears.\"

[Finnian(#23897)] \"No.. I just be saying.. This seems to be more and more about Hawk again, and less about helping everyone. You be good friends with Carac, but that still don\'t be making you Hawk any more than me.\" Tavish moves along as well, eager to have the message delivered.

Brev frown at Finnian\'s words. \"Caerdh\'s rotten, can\'t even find one good man to hold it. So I\'m looking elswhere. If that makes me Hawk in someone else\'s eyes, then ...\" He shrugs, and moves on in silence.