Post by zipp on Feb 18, 2009 8:33:08 GMT
Bonnie woke at around 11:00 in the morning. She was surprised, then pleased, to see that she was the only one left in the room. The others were all up already which meant they might be able to get on the road before noon.
The house felt completely different from the night before. Sun poured in through the windows and whatever evil force had hung about the house seemed to have lifted. Bonnie could almost imagine Meldorac sitting at the table downstairs eating his way through a breakfast of eggs and toast.
She didn't find that, but she did find the rest of the companions milling about in some kind of chaotic order. Two of the horses, the ones belonging to Aram and Owain (they'd tied them all to the railing outside of the house), had disappeared, tethers and all. There was no blood or sign of a struggle. They were simply gone with no tracks to be seen.
The other companions had gotten the rest of the horses together and presently everyone was saddled and ready to go with Gregor and Sherri sharing a horse and Bonnie and Owain sharing a horse. Fortunately, both Bonnie and Sherri were light enough that it didn't over burden the horses.
There was one final task to be performed before they left. With a casualness that seemed appropriate the house was put to flame using the still burning wreckage of the stables. No one wanted to stay and watch the burning. With little fanfare, they put the house to their backs and set off across the hills. It was about midday.
The journey was much easier then the previous day's. The fog was all but gone. The hills stretched ahead of them into the horizon, and they followed them south, while the sun shone over head and the birds sung around them.
As the distance between them and the Mason house increased, so did their mood. They were, most of them, still tired from the ordeals of yesterday, but the pleasantness of the day helped invigorate them.
So the day passed with calm.
At around 6:00pm, they reached the the beginning of the end of the hills. 50 miles more, and they would reach the mountains that made up the Moytura range. As they crested one rise, they saw a valley open up beneath them. The valley was bowl shaped, it's only opening to the west: a man-made path cutting through the hills. Nestled on the slopes of the eastern rise of the valley was the city of Oasis.
Oasis proved to be an impressive sight. Built up the rise of the hill, the ground had been leveled in steps, eight in all, so that the highest point of the city rose many yards above the rest. The whole city was encircled by a great wall with a single entrance. This entrance was a gigantic gate. The highest step was also encircled by a gate, and in the middle of the step rose a huge tower.
"Citadel," Sherri said, pointing.
Getting to Oasis was more than a simple matter of descending the hills and strolling up to the entrance, however. Movement at the western end of the valley betrayed an evil sight. An army had entered the valley, an army numbering in the hundreds, if not the thousands. Even at this distance, there was no mistaking the predominating blackness of the armour nor the cries of foul voices that carried on the wind.
The army of the Darklords had crossed the Durncrags, one way or another, and was here... at Oasis' very gates. And they seemed prepared for a siege at least, if not an all-out assault.
If you need more information, just ask.
The house felt completely different from the night before. Sun poured in through the windows and whatever evil force had hung about the house seemed to have lifted. Bonnie could almost imagine Meldorac sitting at the table downstairs eating his way through a breakfast of eggs and toast.
She didn't find that, but she did find the rest of the companions milling about in some kind of chaotic order. Two of the horses, the ones belonging to Aram and Owain (they'd tied them all to the railing outside of the house), had disappeared, tethers and all. There was no blood or sign of a struggle. They were simply gone with no tracks to be seen.
The other companions had gotten the rest of the horses together and presently everyone was saddled and ready to go with Gregor and Sherri sharing a horse and Bonnie and Owain sharing a horse. Fortunately, both Bonnie and Sherri were light enough that it didn't over burden the horses.
There was one final task to be performed before they left. With a casualness that seemed appropriate the house was put to flame using the still burning wreckage of the stables. No one wanted to stay and watch the burning. With little fanfare, they put the house to their backs and set off across the hills. It was about midday.
The journey was much easier then the previous day's. The fog was all but gone. The hills stretched ahead of them into the horizon, and they followed them south, while the sun shone over head and the birds sung around them.
As the distance between them and the Mason house increased, so did their mood. They were, most of them, still tired from the ordeals of yesterday, but the pleasantness of the day helped invigorate them.
So the day passed with calm.
At around 6:00pm, they reached the the beginning of the end of the hills. 50 miles more, and they would reach the mountains that made up the Moytura range. As they crested one rise, they saw a valley open up beneath them. The valley was bowl shaped, it's only opening to the west: a man-made path cutting through the hills. Nestled on the slopes of the eastern rise of the valley was the city of Oasis.
Oasis proved to be an impressive sight. Built up the rise of the hill, the ground had been leveled in steps, eight in all, so that the highest point of the city rose many yards above the rest. The whole city was encircled by a great wall with a single entrance. This entrance was a gigantic gate. The highest step was also encircled by a gate, and in the middle of the step rose a huge tower.
"Citadel," Sherri said, pointing.
Getting to Oasis was more than a simple matter of descending the hills and strolling up to the entrance, however. Movement at the western end of the valley betrayed an evil sight. An army had entered the valley, an army numbering in the hundreds, if not the thousands. Even at this distance, there was no mistaking the predominating blackness of the armour nor the cries of foul voices that carried on the wind.
The army of the Darklords had crossed the Durncrags, one way or another, and was here... at Oasis' very gates. And they seemed prepared for a siege at least, if not an all-out assault.
If you need more information, just ask.