For weeks the people in the northern villages of the mountains Lyncaea have reported a sighting of large creatures in the woodlands around their homes. Local patrols have been sent out to find the monstrous creatures described by witnesses but only one has ever returned. A man with his leg half bitten off claimed to have been mauled by a giant bear, larger than any he had seen on the mountains before.
The Crown Prince has called for volunteers - hunters willing to take on the beast and bring back its head to ensure the safety of the people of Lyncaea.
Quest Posting Order
Unlike with all other threads on the site, a Quest operates in a strict order (think of it as turn-based gameplay. First, each player will post a single post for their character, starting them off in the Quest. Then... after each IC post, the Head Admin account will post a new decision or choice to be made /or/ the outcome of the last choice made. The Head Admin account will then post after the next person responds. For example:
Player 1 Post Admin Posts "Decisions" Player 1 Post Admin Posts "Outcome" Any Player May then Post. If it is NOT Player 1, the Admin Account will repeat the cycle.
Only after all other Roleplayers have been given a "Decisions" post by the Admin account respond to Player 1 again.
Participants List
Below is a list of all characters who have signed up to participate in this Quest, through the sign up sheet. Sign Ups to join this Quest are now closed. Please note that the below are listed in the correct starting order.
Technically, it wasn't as if Nike had a choice. The crown prince called for volunteers. She was not only his commander and his bodyguard, she was also his best friend. On the one hand, she was honor bound to go if only to watch his back. On the other hand, she was never going to say no to what technically was a friend's request for help.
So there she was, twenty year's young, newly inducted into her position as head of guard duty and at what was basically a hunt to kill. Now, see there was one tiny problem. People usually hunted with bows. Artemis and her hunters were reknown to be good with bow and arrow, and their aim was deadly. Nike was... deadly, that for sure she was. She was a military officer, she had to be deadly or she would be dead.
Deadly with a bow and arrow? Now that was a questionable topic. Nike had trained her whole life with hand to hand combat, her dagger or her longsword. These were perfectly legit weapons which had kept her alive in her last six or seven years in the military, on top of her skills in speed and cunning. Nike had had to have earned her reputation as a commander somehow.
On a hunt? That, she wasn't too sure. But the commander was nothing if not willing to try.
She had grabbed a few extra, smaller throwing daggers - at the very least, her aim was true when it came to throwing, as long as it didn't involve a bow. The smaller ones she slotted on the belt around her waist, the one that held her tunic and pants against her body, but left loose material at her chest. Her usual dagger was slid in to her right boot as usual - Nike was unwilling to use that unless situations was dire. On her back, was the sheath to her longsword. The weapon in question was currently in her hand as she gave it one last lookover to ensure she had thoroughly polished and sharpened it, before the woman finally took a deep breathe, and swung it over her head to slid it back in to its sheath strapped on her back. It's now or never.
When the call to arms reached Eubocris, it was only natural that the Valaoritis family would send one of their own to stand at their prince’s side. After all, they were known for their unwavering loyalty to their liege house. If the Kotas family required assistance, the Valaoritis was there in an instant, lending any spare hands they could muster.
And this time, that set of spare hands just happened to be their sixteen-year-old son, Timaeus.
As the middle child of three boys, young Timaeus had been the only one who had both qualified for the task at hand (namely his little brother, Silanos, missed the age cut off by three years -- poor kid) and who wasn’t an essential part of running the province like his father and elder brother, Nicomedes, were. From the moment the missive arrived, it had been no question that the family would send the newly appointed Captain to aid the prince.
The logistics didn’t matter too greatly to the young lord as he knew that even if his father hadn’t told him to go, he would have volunteered himself anyway. After all, the boy was just teeming with the young foolish bravado that most boys his age were. His eyes shone brightly with the promise of adventures worthy of the gods and dreams traveling the known world, the latter being something that Timaeus desperately wanted to see be turned into his reality. He could no longer stand the sight of the same rock walls that surrounded his home and penned him in any longer. He yearned to expand his borders, to see the places he’s only heard stories about. He had promised himself years ago that he would do it. By hell or high water, there was no way that Timaeus would stay in Eubocris a day longer than he had to. Not if he could help it.
So, for now, Lyncaea was a nice breath of fresh air even the gravity of their situation weighed heavily on the rest of their meager group. Only three men were there so far, Timaeus, Prince Vangelis, and his Commander Nike. The boy had vaguely known them before this from seeing them at various events and feasts, but he doubted that they had known him before he showed up with his longsword, a small pack of supplies, his bow and a sheath of numerous arrows that would all probably be lost in the forest by their journey’s end; if Timaeus was going to truthful. Archery had never been his strength, that was what the longsword was for, but he knew he was good enough to hold his own against this bear if it came down to it.
No.
When it would come down to it.
They were on a bear hunt, after all, it would be pretty shameful if they had come all this way to never even see the creature. That just wouldn’t happen. The Lord refused to believe it, just his teenage gusto refused to believe that either of the two other men would be the one to take down the bear. In his mind, that honor would be going to him.
Timaeus looked over his hunting partners from his small perch upon a large rock they had all gathered around at the mouth of the forest. It wasn’t too high up, overall he was probably only a foot or two above the others, or as Nico would call it, still within swatting distance. However, they wouldn’t have a reason to with him just silently watching as he sat perfectly balanced on the uneven surface, ensuring he was safely out of the prince’s and commander’s way. If they had been paying attention to when Timaeus had scrambled up the rock they might have already realized that this was probably going to be the skill he was superior at on this venture. He was born and raised amid the highest peaks Colchis had to offer so it wasn’t that far of a stretch to say the boy would be able easily to outpace the others up and over any obstacle in their way. It was just an innate part of him like running or breathing.
Little did he know that would also probably make him the de facto scout of the group. So much for highly esteemed adventures if he was stuck with that duty.
Though who really knew what they would end up doing. That was the best part of what was going to come. The mystery, the danger, the excitement that could only come with hunting down a near-mythical beast. It was all just one big happy adventure for the boy.
Now if they could only get this bear hunt underway…
When his friend and the Prince of Colchis, Vangelis, calls, of course Lazaros will answer. He had called out to all those capable to help to rid Lyncea of a horrible beast and because he would want the same if Almosis was having an issue with something as well. To Lazaros, standing united as one made sense to him. However, this might just be the commander in him.
It did not take him long to have himself in his armor and grabbing his longsword and sheild. Sure, this was not a 'war' thing and he could probably dress differently, however, his armor seemed the most justified in fighting a wild beast whom has removed the legs of men. Just the thought of losing a limb sent chills down Lazaros's spine. Yes, even he got an uneasy feeling just thinking that going and helping find and kill the beast could also have much dire outcomes. But alas, he could not think of such things. He was going because he felt it his duty as both a soldier but also as a man who would ask for such help if it was his home, his family at risk.
Lazaros rode hard to reach Lyncea, to the forest entrance where the group of the few brave people would meet and gather themselves to take down the beast. As he neared, his steed covered in sweat from the trek, he finally saw a few figures near the tree line. As he expected, not many had shown. I did not surprise the commander in the slightest however. With the risk weighing much more than the reward, he only expected to see the most daring and those most loyal to the Prince. As he got closer, Laz saw just who was there. Nike, another commander and the bodyguard to the crowned prince himself and Timaeus, a fellow militant and from one of the noble houses here in Colchis.
He rode up to the two of them and slowed his horse, sliding from his back. The ebony steed stood proud, glistening with sweat but still proud, his nostrils flaring and his breath quick. He was a warhorse and was used to being on long strenuous journeys. A ride like this was not something he was not used to. Patting the stallion, Lazaros turned to his company, "E'lo." He gave his normal greeting and a nod to each. Both men he had come to know in one way or another.
Vangelis of Kotas was the last to arrive at the hunting party. Not because he was slow in his journey but because political matters had retained him at the capital longer than he would have liked. It had been several hours passed dawn when he had finally been allowed to leave the Dikastirio and make his way to the appointing meeting place at the bottom of the Zofos Forest. Where the river broke through the southern trees and wound its way downhill to the nearest settlement in Lyncaea.
Knowing that he would be unable to ride through the mountainous forest ground, Vangelis pushed his steed Windrunner as hard as his name might pray-tell. Making most of the journey at a trot in order to maintain the animals stamina and general speed, Vangelis reached the edges of Lyncaea within three hours of leaving home. Then, kicking the horse into a higher speed, he completed another two hours of travel at full gallop, before he was able to see several of his volunteers standing at the edge of the forest in their pre-arranged spot.
Already sweating a little from the exertion of covering such ground so quickly, Vangelis paid the exercise no heed and swung a leg over the flank of his horse and dropped to the ground with a spring to his movements.
At twenty-four years of age, Vangelis had long since grown into his full size and shape, his shoulders filled out and his legs long and powerful, but he had fewer scars and his skin looked a little less toughened than it would in future years. He was also wearing his hair longer, the top layer of his thick, ebony stands tied back into a small knot on the back of his head.
Sliding to the ground, Vangelis unloaded his horse, transferring his equipment to his own back instead.
As usual, Vangelis was dressed in knee high leather boots, his riding pants covering him his thighs and waist. A biege tunic was fastened around his upper half, a leather breastplate fitted around his chest. In protection of his main combat arm, he wore metal plating over his right shoulder and down his bicep, followed by a leather bracer that wrapped around his forearm and down the back of his hand to encapsulate his first two fingers. The bracer was marked in the Kotas and Dimitrou House sigils and was a gift from his mother a few years past.
His customary dual swords at his hips, Vangelis also sported a pouch of bow strings at his waist and a quiver strapped to his back that contained his arrows and an unstrung bow nestled amongst the shafts. Daggers were hidden amongst most of his clothes - as was his standard apparel - and Vangelis removed from the side of his horses tack a large halberd that he immediately spun to an upright position with a deft twitch of his wrist and had the end of its hilt hit the ground with a firm strike. As well as a weapon all its own, the spear-like blade would also help him hike the woods and rubble that created the Zofos Forest.
Looking over at the men who had been brave enough to volunteer for the mission Vangelis nodded to each in turn and then headed forwards to join them and then move past them.
"I'm not one for speeches." Vangelis told them as he passed between the different rocks they were sitting on or leaning against, and led them into the forest. "Let's go hunt a bear."
The first to arrive after Nike was a young lad - could he be more then a teenager, really? When the sixteen year old and shown up with a longsword and his supplies, Nike had been half-pressed to ask him to turn around and return home from whence he had came from. For a moment, Nike forgot that at sixteen, she too was training with weapons and thrown in a war, and all she could see was the young boy all eager and filled with young bravado. Until she had watched him scrabble his way up a fairly tall rock and perched there like he was a bird of sorts.
A small smile had appeared on Nike's face then, but was distracted when another soon loomed on the forest entrance - a commander Nike knew to be named as Lazaros. He was one of the few who, while had not seen kindly to Nike upon the early days of promotion, would eventually be a friend in later days. Nike had fought hard and long to prove her worth even despite her size being of no comparision to the rest in her campaign. Lazaros was a friend to whom Nike greeted in return with a smile and a nod of her own.
Turning around, the woman used her teeth to snag the leather band off her wrist, quick to wind it around her hair. She tied up her locks which had grown longer then she'd like, making a mental note to have it cut again once she could return to Midas after this hunt. Winding it so the knot was tight and her hair would not get in her way as she hunted, she finished just as the sound of hoofbeats made her turn again, smiling when she saw Vangelis approaching. Grabbing the leather breastplate that would form the last part of her clothing for the day, the woman strapped up, tying them where the straps were.
The gruff words from the general were not unexpected. Six years in his campaign and she knew better then to expect flowery words of gratitude and expressions of thanks from him. He was a man of action, and of little word. But she has come to know how to read his actions well. It was perhaps that very reason that allowed Nike to react well as she fought by him, as well as ensure he stayed out of danger's way just by keeping an eye over him.
And like him, she too had picked up on his habit. With one last nod at Lazaros and the young Timaeus, Nike unsheathed her own longsword, and with watchful eyes and careful steps, the woman commander followed behind Vangelis's lead into the forest.
It is winter and the ground is frozen. As the band of hunters make their way through the forest there are two potential paths - a rocky terrain to higher ground and denser forest or A lower path comprised of smoother, well-traversed stones that are now icy with frozen dew, that lead down to lower caves.
Options:
1. Take the higher route. 2. Take the lower route. 3. Take a third option, so far unpresented.
Things to consider:
- You are in a forest with tall coniferous trees. - You are hunting for a bear who is supposed to be hibernating at this time of year. - Streams of water are running downhill and are wider and more powerful the further up the mountain you go.
The cold was biting, even with the multiple layers they had on, but winter was perhaps the most comfortable season in which someone like Nike functioned. Having to perpetually wear her bindings beneath her clothings, unlike her male comrades, the commander could never take off her shirt in the hot summer months. Therefore, the woman was always thankful for the cold of winter, and the crisp air invigorated her as they trekked on their way through the Zofos forests, alert for any sign of movement.
By all logical sense, the bear should be hibernating by now. As to why the creature was up and around terrorizing the people of Lyncaea, that was the question that was likely on everyone's heads.
But that was why they were here.
Her booted feet crunched the frozen ground, and she was thankful the heavy footwear gave her a firm grip on the otherwise slippery ground. The rocky terrain was tough to navigate in softer shoes, but the military trained woman had cut her teeth on rough and rocky terrain. Trudging along, she drew to a stop when the pathway diverged to two. One led to higher ground, where weather got colder and the trees would thin out. Should they take that route, it would definitely be easier to spy their quarry without all the dense foliage blocking their sight.
On the other route, was one that led down instead. From where they stood, the hunters could possibly already hear the rush of the streams from uphill going downwards. Presented with two choices, Nike's brows furrowed as she quickly calculated their chances with either or, the same way her brain quickly made decisions on a wartorn battlefield.
"Down." she murmured, a suggestion to the remainder of the hunters. Her eyes gave a look around, before she explained. "The bear is supposed to be hibernating - but it isn't. However, it would still seek warmer places, and a bear tends to make its den in hollow trees." Using the tip of her sword, Nike pointed it at the tall trees and the upward pathway. "If we head up, the weather will be colder, the currents stronger - no condition a bear in winter would face." Nike did nothing without giving it though first, and it showed in the careful way she explained her decision, and watched for the rest of the hunters decisions before trudging onwards to their chosen pathway.
You land heavily in the opening of a dark and dank cave, the roots of the trees growing in and out of crevices. The landing is mostly soft due to the dense impact of leaves and moss coating the ground at the bottom of the path. But you are now severely damp and covered in foliage.
As the last few members of the hunting party arrived at the meeting spot with Nike and Tim, the young boy slid off the rock to hurriedly follow them into the woods, taking up the rear. His eyes drifted to the blond commander, Lazaros, who he was also familiar with, but it was only vaguely. The boy knew that like him, his family was of noble blood and if he remembered correctly Laz was the heir to his household. Though he wasn’t too sure on that. Nicomedes was the one who was good at remembering all the names and ranks of the Colchian nobility. It was just Timaeus’s job as the younger Valaoritis to know the Men of the Heights. One brother handled the politics, one handled the military. It was a simple system and what allowed the sixteen-year-old to already be a captain in his own right.
He trailed behind the rest of the group as they made their way into the forest, staying quiet until he felt as if his opinion could be of some use when the paths diverged into two different options.
“He’s right,” Tim said, supporting Nike’s decision as the group’s de facto expert on winters in the mountain worked, “There’s no way it would be spending his time up on the mountain when what it needs is down here.” Although Tim didn’t say it aloud, the implication hung in the air. There were no established communities up the mountain and no easy sources of food, the probable reason as to why this bear was causing everyone so much trouble in the first place. It would probably stick closer to where the humans were.
However, there was another concern that the boy had with the group hiking up the mountain. “The air is also a lot thinner up there. It’ll be hard to breathe.” He said simply as he eyed the larger, more muscular men of the group, “The cold only makes it worse.” If the group had to travel upwards, the teen expected that Laz and Vang would take the worse hit from the change thanks to the fact that they probably needed the most oxygen. As foolishly brave-hearted as Tim was, he still recognized that the pair of them would be the might behind this endeavor. It would be best for everyone if they avoided situations that may weaken them if they wanted the best chances of actually taking this bear down.
With that being said and not really being patient enough to wait for the others to toss in their opinions too, Timaeus moved past Nike and the others to the rock path that sloped downwards. He expected that the others would follow suit given that half the party was openly in agreement, but as soon as Tim took the first step, a little nagging doubt crept into his mind.
“Careful,” He called back as he cautiously kept walking down, eyes glued to his feet, “There’s ice.”
The rock path was absolutely covered in it, slowing the group down as they all focused on making sure they could have some sort of traction and stability on their descent. Luckily the path was lined with little saplings and other low hanging branches they all grabbed to steady themselves. For the most part, the journey down was silent, save for the occasional hitch of someone’s breath as their boots slipped and the rustling of branches as they clutched to whatever was in reach. Tim needed to do this himself a few more times than he would care to admit, his cheeks growing red not from the bitter cold, but the perceived embarrassment that came with each frantic grab. He was a child of the mountains. Rough terrains and sloping descents were in his blood. But ice? That was something he wasn’t as sure-footed with and it bothered him. It dug under his skin and it mocked him. Tim already knew he was probably going to be the weak link on this team because of his age and his lack of experience compared to the two commanders and the general. He had seen the slightly annoyed look in Nike’s eyes. He didn’t his slipping feet to confirm what he knew the commander had been thinking; that he had no business here. He would prove that notion wrong, just you wait.
In an ironic twist, thanks to his accidental focus on the volatile thoughts swarming in his head, Tim stopped paying as close attention to where he was stepping. So, it wasn’t a surprise that once the teen reached a point where the rocks began to curve, moving to wind along a steep hillside rather than just heading down, he didn’t think to avoid a clearly thicker ice sheet. If he had been paying attention, he would have realized it would be impossible for him to find any sort of traction on it.
But he didn’t notice these things.
Not until it was too late.
The moment he stepped down onto the ice, his foot slipped out from underneath him. Knocking him off balance, Timaeus tumbled backward with a strangled gasp of shock. Luckily for him and the group, he fell at an angle away from the rough stones as well as the people behind him. Instead of causing a bunch of reverse dominos with his fall, he only briefly brushed against the person directly behind him, Nike, before landing on the thick snow next to the path.
No harm, no foul, right?
Wrong.
What Tim and the rest of the group didn’t realize that this part of the mountain must have had a recent frost that settled on the snow beneath it, creating a thick icy-crust-like layer on top that glittered like a polished gem that would continue down the large hill. A surface hoar. Back home, this was the kind of conditions children wanted for their sledding games as the surface was slick and the impressions left by their descents would be minimal. There was no getting stuck or slowing down with this kind of snow. It was ideal for them, but it was the last thing Tim wanted as he found himself now suddenly flying down the slope… as if this couldn’t get any more embarrassing.
On the way down, his arms scrambled out for the small trees he passed and luckily missed, but he zoomed by them too quickly for them to slow his descent. It was all a blur until it petered out at the bottom and he found himself caught by a pile of exposed leaves and soft moss, protected by the snow from the overhang of a cave entrance.
With a small groan of pain, Tim pushed himself onto his elbows, now very aware of how the fabric on his back was now soaked through, drawing a few shivers from the boy. Beyond that though, he seemed to be unhurt. Thank Zeus, he silently thought to himself as he pulled himself to his feet and started to pick off the stray bits of leaves that had clung to him. Glancing back up the mountain, he could see the clear figures of Vang and Laz, still on the hillside… but where was Nike?
A small noise drew his attention to the other side of the leaf pile where he could see the commander, just as dazed as he was, “Commander Nike,” He said to grab his attention as he moved over to them and helped his comrade to their feet, “Are you alright?” Physically they seemed fine, but Tim knew that they probably weren’t out of the woods yet.
After all, how were they going to get back up to the others?
You stand in the entrance of a deep and dark cave. Water running down its walls and dripping from stalactites. The echoing sound of running water can be heard from within its depths.
Options:
1. Wait for the others of the party to climb down to join you. 2. Tell the others of your party to wait up where its safe and explore the cave.
While the commander pulled himself up off the ground, Tim glanced back up at the two members of their hunting party still up on the hillside. Knowing that it would take the two of them a bit of trouble to get back up them. So was it worth possibly waving them down, especially since the two at the bottom of the hill had an easy landing?
The two of them were bigger than Tim and Nike, so there was a greater chance that they could get hurt if they decided to take a tumble down like they had a moment earlier. It also didn’t hurt that one of the two safe people was the crown prince. If Timaeus called them down and he hit his head on some tree or rock… well, it wouldn’t be the bear’s hide Laz and Nike would be leaving the woods with. No, it was much safer if they stayed up there for the time being. Plus there were plenty of caves in the area, it wouldn’t make sense to risk injury over this one, no matter how deep it seemed to be as Tim heard the distance drip-drip-drip of water falling from a distance away made louder by the cave’s echo. It just wasn’t worth it to him.
Though, would they listen to a captain much younger than the rest of them?
Cupping his hands over his mouth, the boy called up to the others, “Wait up there! We’ll take a look around and then make our way back up.” He motioned towards the cave, hoping that the men understood that he wanted him and Nike to take a look around and see if there was any sign of this bear they were chasing after. Bears liked caves, right? If there were some sort of signs like scat or footprints, that may tell the group that they were heading in the right direction.
Though, it may just bring them face to face with a hibernating bear.
Or even worse… they could run into the bear.
But even still it seemed to be the best decision. If the two of them got hurt, well it wasn’t like they were the heirs to kingdoms and baronies. Their loss wouldn’t be as devastating. So, turning to Nike with a small shrug he shrugged his supply bag off of his shoulder and pulled out a half-burned torch, it much easier to carry one in than to fashion one on the fly, and a small flint stone. “May I?” He said asking for one of the throwing daggers at Nike’s side, which they handed over to the teen.
With a few strikes of the stone, a small flame danced at the end of the torch. The pair now had a viable light source. That would make searching this cave so much easier. “Thanks.” He said, passing the knife back before he readjusted the bag back over his shoulder.
The orange light illuminated the kid’s face and made the sense of adventure in his eyes seem just a bit brighter. “Wanna go see if we can find signs of this bear?” He asked as he turned to Nike, but the clear sense of glee in his voice made it clear that regardless of what he said, he was going in.
The speaking of the sixteen year old surprised the commander, who turned to him, and then gave a satisfied smile, almost like a teacher watching a student getting the right answer. Nike had not meant to undermine the younger one, the Gods knew she knew exactly how it felt like being the one who other's thought to be a deadweight to a team effort. But perhaps her worries for their younger member was misplaced, for he seemed knowledgeable, if a little over eager. Nodding in support of the other's words, what she had not expect was for Timaeus to skip forward, much to her surprise.
With the slippery grounds and uncertain terrain, Nike was quick to follow, unsure of what would happen to the other should he be left bounding ahead like an overeager buck. His warning came as no surprise, considering the cold weather that was turning colder by the hour.
Her muscles tensed as she more or less grinded her feet to the ground with every step, almost forcing the grip to hold in her heavy boots, breaking the ice in certain parts. One hand holding her sword, the other sought out tree trunks and branches for firmer hold - she was a commander and a smart tactician, but she was no egoistical fool who thought she would be able to navigate the icy grounds without some assistance or hold. The commander moved as fast as she could, trying to keep the young boy in view as he got to the rocky bend of the downhill climb.
What she had not expected was for the boy to fall back, knocking the hand she had held out to catch him off, and in the process knocking off her whole center of gravity. Nike fell backwards, grunting when her shoulder hit a particularly frozen patch of ice, before she found herself sliding all the way down, at a speed too quick to catch hold of anything.Not that she could, with the odd angle her shoulder had taken a hit.
By the time her world had stopped whizzing past her at an alarming speed, the commander's mind cleared enough for her to realize that for one, she was now damp and shivering, the extra cloth beneath her leather vest and bracers seeping with the dampness. For another, her shoulder now throbbed, although thank goodness it was not her sword-wielding arm. Even so, to have one shoulder out of comission probably did not bid well for them, and as the commander groaned and shook her head, she winced as she tried to lay weight on the throbbing shoulder, only to fail.
Making a mental note to keep off that one, Nike turned when she heard a voice, and a small part of her mind heaved a sigh of relief when she saw the teen peering at her and moving over with his question. She nodded, shifting so she now sat upright instead of face down in the pile of leaves they had fallen in. With one glance, it was clear that they had fallen into some sort of cave, and thankfully as Nike looked, the other two did not face the same fate as they did. With her mind still spinning as it tried to block out her shoulder's odd angle, she did not react as Timaeus told the others to wait, and left it as that. The commander agreed with his judgement anyway - it was better for the other two to stay up, for who knew what was in this cave? Had Lazaros and Vangelis came down, they would all be in an unknown area with no way out.
Besides, they were looking for a bear. And this was a cave.
With a final groan, Nike pushed herself off the ground, grabbing her sword and pushing it back in its sheath with a flinch as her shoulder shifted again. When asked, Nike merely pulled out one of the smaller throwing knives and handed it to the younger one, grinning as he used it as a flint. Deftly catching the knife back, Nike slotted it in its place again, chuckling at the way the teen seem to seek for adventure. He was alright, a sort who wanted to work hard and eager to prove himself, if a tad young and green around the edges. Someone who Nike would watch out for in all honesty, because he'd be someone she wouldn't like to see dying.
Nodding, she winced again as she rolled her shoulder, before motioning her head in a way that showed she would be right behind him. "Let's go."
There was little to be said when it came to the task at hand. They all knew what they had come to do, to hunt down a kill a bear whom was terrorizing the people of Lyncea. Now that it seemed the party was finished and this would be all it would be, Lazaros new they would outnumber the mighty bear but those creatures never went down without a fight. Already, this beast a created quite a name for itself.
Looking around, Lazaros noticed the young that surrounded them. He and the prince were probably the eldest among the lot. This normally would have bothered the young man, but after he thought about it, he too was trying to prove himself at such a young age. Lazaros respect the other young man for being here and wanting to help. A man in his position needed things like this prove that he was a worthy son when his family had other elder sons. Laz didn't know about that however, as he was the eldest of the family.
The other which was joining them was Nike, a fellow commander. He saw the greeting that he sent his way and returned his as well. In earlier days, Lazaros was secretly jealous of the younger man. He felt as though he worked longer and harder for the position in which he held and that now the man before him now held as well. In the beginning Lazaros would make Nike's life a struggle. He wanted to know that this new commander deserved such a title. In the end, the two finally ended on the same page.
Unsheathing his longsword and grabbing his sheild that was still strapped to his steed, Lazaros joined the group as they made their way into the thick forest, their boots crunching against the cold hardened ground. There was a heavy chill in the air and he was thankful for wearing extra layers under his armor.
Coming upon a split in the round, the group paused, wondering which way would be the best for their search. They all thought for a moment and then Nike spoke. His reasonings for choosing said route was very smart. He nodded as he agreed. Lazaros agreed that the bear would probably be looking for a warmer place and to get out of the chill. The fact that the bear was not hibernating was still lost to him but this was a good idea. His gruff voice spoke a one worded agreement, "Aye." And it seemed as though all in the party were in agreement.
Before he could have said or done anything else, the youngest man, Timaeus, pushed past them and started on down the path but soon called out for them to be careful, warning them of the ice that he was now trudging on. It seemed as though the young Timaeus was still trying to prove his worth here with the rest of them and pushed onwards. Part of him wanted to push the young man back but also wanted to allow him to lead them, as this was probably a proud moment for the young man. However, as they pushed on, the terrain was getting worse, the ice thicker and more slippery.
Before anyone could have done anything, Timaeus and Nike fell through the ice and landed far below. "Nike!" He called out as they fell. Lazaros backpeddled a little to get clear of the area and pushed Vangelis back a bit as well, not wanting either of them to fall down into the hole either. "Careful Sire. Let's not join them in a tumble." Trying to keep the mood light, however, he wasn't all that great at being sarcastic.
He did hear the young Tim call up to them, telling them to wait up there and that they would look around and make their way back up. Lazaros looked around, trying to find a way around this ice trap. "Do you wish to continue on? Or shall we stay up here for them to find their way back?" Lazaros didn't want to risk either one of them finding another ice trap that would end up with them in a similar situation. Luckily the position they were in, the trees and bushes that surrounded them gave them some cover.
As the hunting party's tanks debated whether or not to disregard Timaeus's decision; the teen and the commander seemed to be in agreement in regards to their next course of action.
They were going to explore the cave.
Under any other circumstances, this would have been labeled as a stupid decision made by a foolish kid, barely old enough to call himself grown. After all, who in their right minds would willingly go into a cave, knowing that there could be a sleepy bear who would not take kindly to intruders? Timaeus and apparently Nike, that's who. He grinned at the commander when they silently approved the plan, quite honestly, he had expected them to shake the leaves off of themselves and retake control of the situation. Yet they didn't...
Tim really appreciated that.
With a nod in response to the commander's words of affirmation, Timaeus was the first to enter the cave, thanks to the fact he had the light source. Their footsteps echoed off the stones lining the walls. At first, the entrance to the cave was narrow as the firelight from the torch danced on both edges of the cave, but as they advanced further it widened out until the glow could no longer reach either side. The daylight from the entrance behind them did not reach them anymore, leaving them reliant on the torch. It was a dangerous situation to be in, but even if the torch went out, they should be fine. Just as long as they stayed together, Nike kept a hold of her throwing daggers, and he didn't lose the flint.
After seeing no sign of this bear, Timaeus considered the possibility of turning back, but the distant sound of running water piqued his curiosity. He wanted to continue moving forward, driven by an innate need to explore what was in here. Yet, he also recognized that this may waste precious time that they didn't have. After all, this was only one cave and this one didn't seem to have signs of the bear or if it did, they hadn't seen it yet. It might be wiser to turn back, but oh how he wanted to see more.
Turning to Nike, he left the decision up to him, "Should we go check that out?" He asked the commander, the firefight illuminated the eager expression on his face.
Oh please, say yes, He silently thought, please for the love of Zeus, say yes.
You venture further into the cave, following the dull hiss of running trickling water... As you move deeper into the cavern, it grows darker and you're thankful for the torch. You head forwards, surprised you have not yet found dampness on the walls or any other sign of water within the cave despite that noise...
As you grow closer you realise it's more of a hiss than a trickle.Waving your torch downwards, you realise you've walked into a giant snake's nest.
What appear to be hundreds of the creatures are slithering around the cave floor and around the branches that have broken through its rocky walls. Several trail down near your faces, unnoticed until now, others rear up, their tongues flicking and their gazes focused on your ankles. Many are vipera ursinii's and highly poisonous...
She was not one who did foolish decisions... but then again, how bad can this decision get? They were in a dark cave, but they had a light source at least. He was a young kid sure, but as a soldier, Nike trusted he had some sort of sense and plan, or she would be the first one to give him a piece of her mind if he slipped up. Yet the young captain was showing that he could make sound decisions so far, as he had been the one to use her knives as a flint so they did not go wandering around blindly in the dark. So for now, Nike followed behind him, almost returning his grin with one of her own. Instead, the commander managed a lopsided smile before stepping after the younger one into the cave.
The echoes were foreboding, the shadows cast by the torch which Timaeus held adding on to the unnatural way in which the sounds bounced off the hard granite walls, every little thing magnified, down to their lightest of footsteps. With one arm out of commission, she threw up another thankful prayer at Athena for the fact that it was not her sword-wielding arm and gripped her weapon tightly in the other whilst the injured one hung limply by her side. As they ventured further, the cave yawned to a larger opening, and the running water piqued Nike's interest further. Where there was water, there was life was there not? And this would prove to be a comfortable spot for a hibernating bear, with a water source nearby.
When the question was posed to her, Nike scrunched up her face as she looked forward thoughtfully, an uncertain glance thrown over her shoulder. But then again, what could they do just waiting around? She was never one who waited for something to happen.
"Move on."
In the end, Nike agreed, a wry smile surfacing again when the eager young one obviously delighted at the chance, scrambled ahead. The elder commander followed closely behind, following the sound of the trickling water, as many of them were trained to do. The darkness seemed almost engulfing as they ventured further in.
The first sign of a problem that Nike sensed was a prickle in the back of her neck. And that was what pushed her to notice more things. The frown was immediate on her face, as Nike held out a hand to hold Timaeus still, stopping his trek forward. The cave was cold. She could hear the hiss of... wait if the water was nearby, how was the air not damp? Why were they not splashing in dampness yet? She strained her hearing, her throat tightening when she grabbed Tim's torch from him, and swung it downwards.
Her heart jumped into her throat.
Immediately, Nike jumped backward, pushing Timaeus behind her as she shoved the torch back at him, and waved her sword at the rearing snakes who had just now begun to realize that their nest was being invaded by humans. "Nest!" she called out in a strangled voice, arm swinging upwards to slice off the nearest ones who had been hanging down from the vines that crawled abovehead. A slight sense of panic engulfed Nike at the sight of so many of them. She was not one who was easily terrified - but she had no love for the slithery creatures.
One hand flung out to try and hit another stray snake rearing at them, their beady eyes staring straight. Nike flinched when her shoulder in its oddly dislocated position, made its protests felt, and she buckled backward, managing to push Timaeus back slightly. "Go and get them, quick. You'll be faster than me at this point." she said over her shoulder at Tim in a slightly strained voice. It was obvious Nike was barely managing to keep her rising anxiety at being surrounded by so many of the hissing creatures. She barely looked at Tim as she had spoken, hissing when the moment's distraction of speaking to the captain resulted in a pair of sharp teeth managing to sink itself right at her calf, just above the leather boots she wore.
Truly, Timaeus was a billy goat living in a human’s body. The way he bounced ahead with such gusto, such brave-hearted naivety, once Nike gave him the approval he sought after made it clear that he was a greenling after the thrill of an adventure. He barely looked over his shoulder to ensure that the commander was following closely behind. Of course, he was. Somebody had to make sure that Timaeus didn’t get too eager and accidentally hurt himself and figuring that it was just the two of them, it was Nike’s turn to play babysitter for now.
An almost childlike sense of adventure and excitement took over him as he marched forward and it was so consuming that failed to notice the little things that Nike did. So, when he was stopped by the commander and found the torch wrenched from his hands, nothing seemed to be amiss.
That was until Nike swung the torch downwards and Timaeus came face to face with hundreds of small beady eyes.
“Oh Fuck” He quietly said, almost under his breath, as a sense of panic gripped his chest, only heightened by the rough shove from Nike as she tried to convince him to leave the cave without them. “With all due respect Commander,” Timaeus managed to hiss back through his own quickening breath as his eyes darted from snake to snake, rightly terrified that they were all about to bite, “I’m not leaving you.” One snake? That was easy. Even a child could handle that with one good swipe from a kitchen knife, but hundreds? They may be trained in the art of swordsmanship, making them forces to be reckoned with, but even they could realize when they were staring death in the face.
As if to confirm his fears, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a snake lunge at his friend; drawing a strangled cry of “Nike!” from the boy. The warning came too late as the teeth sunk into Nike’s calf. The commander reacted instantly, swinging the sword in such a way that saw the snake cleanly be cut in half in a matter of seconds. Timaeus didn’t have a chance to make sure the commander was alright as his noticed that there were snakes drawing closer to him. His heart pounded in his ears. He didn’t have time to draw his sword.
Not when one of them lunged at him.
Without a weapon to defend himself, Timaeus left back. Although he was now out of the snake’s striking range, he wasn’t quite able to stick the landing. Stumbling back, the hand with the torch in it swung dangerously close to the ground as Tim struggled to right himself, knowing full well that if he went down, he’d be a goner. He was able to stay on his feet, but he noticed something strange. The snake had moved back.
Huh? He silently thought as he replayed what had happened and eyed the torch, suddenly aware that he now had a weapon. Oh yeah. Fire.
Spurred on by his not-so-brilliant discovery that the snakes did not like fire, he immediately jumped into action. “Go!” He yelled at him, trying to jolt them out of the shock and anxiety that was forming from the bite. Tim roughly pushed Nike forward, desperate to get them out of the cave. Not checking to see if his comrade had actually listened, Timaeus turned back to the threat chasing them through the cavern. Crouching down, he sent the flames twisting this way and that way as he moved the torch to face whatever snake was within striking distance. This kept them back to the point where Tim felt that there was enough distance between them for him to suddenly turn on his heels and make a break for the exit.
The harsh echoes of his footfalls rang in his ears, almost as loud as he propelled himself out of the cave. He moved so quickly out of pure mortal fear that he seemed to almost leave his body. He couldn’t feel his own legs moving and his thoughts became hazy… almost dreamlike. Tim was harshly pulled back to reality when he caught up to Nike, who had been right, he was faster than his fellow soldier. Without even slowing, the captain reached out and grabbed her good arm, dragging them along with a cry of “Come on!” that echoed through the cave. If he had stopped to listen perhaps he would have noticed that his shout was so loud that the cave carried it all the way up to Vangelis and Lazaros, but there was no time to stop. Tim didn’t dare to check. They didn’t have time.
With him dragging the commander along, they quickly made it to the entrance of the cave where Tim finally released them. Spinning around with the flames in hand, he stood ready to keep back any of the slithering beasts that were giving chase. Finally having a moment to do so, Timaeus moved the torch to his left hand, the non-dominant one, and drew his sword with the other as he never took his eyes off of the cave entrance. His eyes scanned for any sign of movement as his mind swarmed with concerns for Nike’s condition as their hurried run gave no indication of how they were faring and his own ragged breath prevented him from hearing them as well. However, Timaeus was ready to protect Nike from any more dangers. Even if he had to behead a hundred of the creatures. They were soldiers. Loyalty to each other to each other above all else.
But that didn’t mean he would have to do it alone.
“Vangelis! Lazaros!” He screamed over his shoulder, desperate to get the men’s attention, “Help us!”
Timaeus could only pray that the two of them could hear him.
Lazaros did not like waiting. Not knowing what was happening down there after Nike and Timaeus fell was starting to really weigh on his mind. He knew that it would be foolish of him to jump in after them to try and get them out. The hole was deep and then it would be three if not all four of them down there. No, himself and Vangelis needed to find another opening. Getting their commrades out was his priority now. He could no longer stand there and wait. "We must find another way, Sire. There has to be another way in or out." He waited a moment and then pushed forward, paying attention to how the terrain felt under his feet, careful not to find another patch of ice that he or the Prince may fall through.
Walking gingerly along, Lazaros could hear some commotion and very faint muffled voices. He took this as a good sign, maybe he was getting closer to finding a way to them. But the word he heard was not good news. A nest? There were a few possibilities but most of them were not good. Judging by the reactions inside, it was not good. Lazaros could only imagine what was going on inside and that made him nervous. He wanted to help, he needed to help. Feeling this helpless was not something he ever wanted to feel again.
He must have heard Timaeus's voice. It was less muffled now and yelling for his and Vangelis's names. He was yelling for help. This made Lazaros jump into action. He needed to find them. Paying mind to where the voice came from, he changed his direction and started heading that way. The snow was thick but at least the ice wasn't also causing issues.
Looking around, he finally saw them. But something was wrong, off. "Tim! Nike!" He called out to them and began his trek down to them. Lazaros was careful and made sure he went first in front of Vangelis. When the two older man reached their other pair, Laz spoke, his voice full of worry. "What happened? Are you guys okay?" It was clear that something was wrong with Nike though. They needed to act quickly.
