Spirits of the Earth

Lloyd was tracking that deer since dawn.

That going to make a good meal tonight , he thought , I need to check my snares before night fall or those rabbits gonna feed someone (or something) else than me

Finally, he sees something near some bushes. The Deer. The string of his bow sung for the deer.
Lloyd rested himself while skinning and collecting what he needed.

The rest his for you all, he whispered, looking around him for someone or something in the bushes.

Darius had to have been running through this forest for hours now, or at least that's how it felt for him.

I'm going to have to remember to not threaten a traveling merchant when his guards are right there next time. he thought to himself as started to slow down. Deciding it has been long enough and that his pursuers have given up on the chase. But while he was in his contemplation he pushed his way through a bush, and froze when he looked up and saw a man skinning a deer right in front of him.

The Man (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=17296.0) jumped on his feet, ready for action. The man doesn't seems to be scared though.

«Who are you?He asked, Quite an entrance you made there,hahahaha! Can I help you with something? You look tired.

Darius flashes a large grin then bows in a grandiose fashion. "My name is Darius Balugari, pleasure to meet you...sir. And I could use some help finding a way out of this forest. Preferably in a direction that I didn't just come from."

He then quickly glances behind him. "Did you hear something, that may or may not of sound like a small man-hunting group?" he asks the stranger nervously.

Lloyd raised his hand, waiting for Darius to shake it. "I am Lloyd Orodelo, pleased to meet you. Well the only way out that I know that could help you is two days of walk, I have a place where you could find some rest before going out."He take a pause to listen. "Calm down boy, you're safe, whatever you are running away from!" He then start to laugh loudly.

"While you're there, could you give me a hand? I could make good stew out of that dear. That's what I call a m(ea)ting! Get it?" Then he start to laugh even louder while skinning the rest of the deer at his feet.

Darius couldn't help but chuckle at the horrible pun and reached out to shake Loyd's hand. "That sounds fair, and the least I can do to repay your hospitality is to help you with this deer." ,he said as he reached behind his back and pulled out a dagger.

"So, I'm curious. Why do you live out here?" Darius asked as he cut into the venison.

Suddenly, Lloyd's eyes darkened and his face come back to serious. "You see ,he started, I was born with a gift.  I can see the future and the past... he paused to take his shit off, And that gift gave me trouble and renown when I was a kid. People came to see me for guidance when I was 4 years old... At 8, someone came not for guidance but for murder. He almost got me but my mom, well my Foster mom,may whatever is up there bless her soul, she stopped him before the blade get anything important."

He took off his shirt, letting Darius see the giant scar crossing his torso. "Glad she did or I wouldn't be there to tell you that story. For my safety, Dad declared me dead in all the village around the house we had in those time and then we fled here."[/i]

Putting is shirt on again, Lloyd grinned and said "I still do fortunetelling sometimes though, when will I learn!" He laugh again and start packing the meat and pelts in his bag "Anyway... I won't ask you why you are here kid, its not my buisness! haha!"

He got up, washing his hands in a piece cloth hanging from his belt, looking at what they had. He looks to the sky saying that its time to go before its to dark.

"Well that is quite the blessing, and curse you have there. I'm sorry to hear that your mother didn't survive, must of been hard growing up without her." Darius said as he looked in passive interest at the scar on Loyd's chest, but raised an eyebrow at the comments of continuing the fortune telling. "You must be either a brave man, or a mad man  to keep doing that after your experience." he said with a small laugh.

He let out a small sigh of relief at hearing Loyd had no interest in his predicament and motioned for him to lead the way.

"Some call me insane and some don't care! I hope you are one of those who call me brave!I won't be mad if you don't (laugh for a few seconds) Lloyd had heard the sigh of Darius, say Kid, you look stressed, you could stay at my place for a few day before hitting the road again. I could use a pair of extra arms, since my father is really sick."

As he end his sentence, they emerge in a small clearing with a small river and a small field. A medium/large (like in between) wooden cabin by the river.
        The cabin had two doors and over one of them there was a sign:


Lloyd stops walking, take deep breathe and declare "Home, sweet home! Its nothing much but make yourself home as long as you need, you're safe here. It may even be the safest place in all Serendipity. I got some connection around here." He winks to Darius and invite him to enter.

Inside, there is a table for 8 people (and the chairs as well), a stove, a fireplace, four bed side to side (curtains separating them leaving enough room for some to walk) and a rocking-chair with someone in it.

Darius smirks then replies "How about I call you both?" but then tenses a little when Loyd mentions staying for a few days. "No no, I couldn't possibly do that to you. A day at most is what I'm going to allow you to put up with me." he says with a small laugh.

"Quite a fine place you have here, except the river. Not much of a fan of rivers myself" he comments as they walk into the clearing where the cabin is, then notices the signs and laughs to himself. After entering inside though he looks around at all the furniture, which he thought was very well furnished for a cabin, then noticed the person in the rocking chair and introduced himself to them.

The man in the chair doesn't seem to react...

"He sometimes falls asleep eyes open, whispered Lloyd to Darius. Hey dad! He says trying to wake the man up. Damn you're cold..." He froze...

"I know how that is, I had a great uncle who did the same thing, thought he was dead once." Darius said as he took off his cloak and weapon belt. Then he turned around when Loyd said something about him being cold and realized what happened to the man in the chair.

Lloyd, in tears, said "I'm going to dig is grave... If you want to pay your respect even though you didn't knew him... Meanwhile get some rest, i'll be back at moon rise"
He got out and the grave was three foot deep in 30 mins. The body was in the grave an hour later. Lloyd went to check his snares and brought back 10 hares.

Lloyd looked Zen when he got back.

"I hope you're hungry Darius, because we got a feast!" He said, grinning.

Then he went in a corner of the house, opens a trap door and take a chest out from under the house.

"I'm sorry Lloyd." Darius said, offering his condolences to the man, even though he could care little about someone who he just met. And he wasn't even alive when he met him! But he still hoped the old man found rest in his pacing and did what Lloyd bid him to do and rested while he dug the grave, came back to get the snares and leave again.

He smiles though when Lloyd comes back, close to a dozen hares in his hand and smiles at him. "I am indeed hungry, but I hope you plan on eating some of those. Because I don't think I could eat them all." he says with a small laugh and gets up to help the other man prepare the meal.

Lloyd open the chest reveling half a dozen of bottle of wine and a dozen of spirits bottle.
"Will you say no to a drink, buddy? he asked. Take as much a you want and get that stove heating, we have a few chunk of meat to cook for us and... them"
He start skinning the hares while asking "Do you mind if I sing?"

"I will say no to a drink more than in honor of your father. I'm not much of a drinker. I found it to inhibit my focus, and in my line of work that's death." Darius replied without even thinking about what he said, then widened his eyes in almost horror at what he just said and hoped Lloyd wouldn't question him any farther on that subject. Then he quickly turned around and started the fire in the stove and threw a couple small logs onto it.

He then smiled and replied to the last question simply, "As long as you don't sound like a dog on fire, sing until your heart is content."

"Then prepare to be amazed! declared Lloyd.

Using his Illusion magic, Lloyd enhanced his singing, and using his Divination magic, he reaches into the past learning a song made by dwarves that could honor his father's dead. Thus creating the perfect song sang in the perfect tone and pinch.

Once the hares arranged, potatoes, carrots and such prepared. He stop singing, struck by his *spider-sense* created by his divination. The pause was brief but perceptible to the sightliest cunning person. After clearing his throat, he said "Are you... I don't know how to say it... a bit lonely on the roads? I mean do ever thought to have a friend travelling with you?"

He then quickly got out of the room before Darius could understand the question, going on the shop side to get a barrel. Letting his guest the time to understand what he meant. He then came back carrying the barrel on one shoulder.

Darius could not help himself but laughed and clapped when Lloyd finished his singing. "That was wonderful, even if I did not understand a word of it." he said with a grin on his face as he sat down at the table, but then noticed a slight pause right before Lloyd asked him less than a moment to understand the meaning and waited until he came back to answer.

"I have indeed been lonely traveling the roads these past...four years now I think." he said as Lloyd walked back into the room with a barrel on his shoulder. "But I haven't yet found someone who is...uh...like minded enough to travel with, so to say." he finished as he took a small sip of wine.

'I couldn't agree more with you about that, my friend!" He said with a giant smile."take the painting off the chimney and take the large box out for me, please."
The box was quite heavy.

He then opened the barrel and took out a big bag that looked heavy. He crossed the room opened the drawer and took out a whetstone and a coat, made out of blackened leather and a pair of boots made for long roads.

"Put the box on the bed with the rest of the things. I'll show you all this after supper. Man, I'm hungry!"

With a confused look, he did as he was bid to do and took the painting off the chimney and took the box out for Lloyd. Then gladly, for it was a lot heavier than he thought it would be, put the box on the bed with the other things the man pulled out.

"I'm going to assume you are either planning on leaving with me, or at least asking if I would like you to come with me." Darius asked with a bit of apprehension as he sat back down and began to eat. "This is quite delicious by the way." he commented as he took a bite of everything at once.

Lloyd suddenly look directly into the eyes of Darius for a good 10 seconds and then said, a grim look on his face:
"I can't force you to accept me, so indeed, I was about ask. Darius, I have nothing to lose here and i see potential in you that you might not even know about. Can I come with you? Where ever you will go, i will be tagging along. He finally got his shiny smile and joyful voice back."But lets not ruin this supper with thing that could be discussed around a good fire and a glass of whiskey. I'm glad you like it."

After the main course, he took out of the cabin with a lantern and came back dripping wet carring a small barrel as wet as the giant.

"Want some fruits? I have strawberries, raspberries, blueberries apples, pears and a dozen of oranges!"

"That sounds fair, even the whiskey...depending if it's any good at least." he replied with a smile as he took another sip of wine. I'll probably have to tell him exactly why we met and what I do if he plans on going with me. Darius thought to himself as they continued the meal, then watched Lloyd exit the cabin and come back in with a barrel.

He smiled at the offer. "Well, I think I'll have...a few strawberries if you wouldn't mind." he said with a smile and leaned back into the chair.

"The trick to keep them fresh is to store them in dry and watertight barrels and to put them in the bed a stream..."He started,"...Why don't we go around that fireplace now, hun?"

He grabbed the best bottle of whiskey, "the favorite of Dad" he said. Dragged two chairs and to glasses. Giving one to Darius, he said:
"I know what you are going to say... You want to make things clear with me. That once we are out of this forest, we won't be safe anymore. Dad used to say that to,. You remind me of him you know... Maybe it wasn't random that you are here tonight," He said with a grin. He then drank his glass at once and serves himself another, that follow the first one almost immediately.

"That is quite the ingenious method you have there, except the part involving getting wet." he said with a laugh as he got up and headed over to the fireplace.

Taking a glass of whiskey and drinking it a bit slower than Lloyd and listened to what he said carefully. After the other man finished he shook his head slowly with a smile. "Not quite what I was going to say. I'm more curious about other things." he said, then trailed off while he tossed his dagger up and caught it, almost in a trance.

"Other things?"He repeated, fallowing the movements of the dagger amused.

He then stood up, going straight for the things stacked on the bed, turn is back to Darius, making metal noises and then he came back polishing meticulously a piece of metal shaped like a shoulder-guard. He then opened the box, listening to what his new friend was saying. He took out a dagger shaped like a crescent moon and a sword. He, then sharpens them enough to cut hair in half.

Darius focuses back onto the conversation when he hears the clinking of metal and looks over to see Lloyd holding a strangely shaped dagger and a sword. "Not exactly what I was wondering, but I'm holding all confidence in assuming you know how to use both of those very well." he said with a smile as he tossed the dagger up one last time then started to twirl it between his fingers after he caught it.

He suddenly had a grim serious about him. "The reason why we even met today was because I was fleeing from the guards of a merchant who was refusing to pay me after I completed a...job for him. Needless to say I didn't take very kindly to him trying to swindle my well earned reward so I threatened him...and learned not to do so within hearing distance of one's guards." he bluntly said but with a small self deprecating chuckle.

"A good lesson indeed! I guess you wouldn't got you're money in anyway" He said with a grim grin"I know that type of guy, all mongrels if I can say so." He then displayed a skillful juggling with his own dagger.

"Where does he live, do you know that? Because even with my savings and my hunting skills, extra money never hurts." He got back to the bed, took an item from the box and then came back to his chair, sharpening his battleaxe.

"No I can't say I know where the bastard lives. Met him while he was going to Uthlyn, took care of our business, met him while he was on the road again. You might also might want to know though, that I have more than enough unfinished "business" if we get low on funds." Darius said as he watched Lloyd walk into the bedroom, then his jaw dropped a little when he saw the man wielding a battleaxe of all things when he came back.

"Do you not have enough weapons? What's next, a catapult?" he asked with a laugh.

"Well if you say Don't worry about money, I hope you're right." He said, finishing with his battleaxe.

"My weapons are something I inherited from my real parents, even though I didn't met them. My "Dad" found them in front of our door with a note attached to the box one night. the note said that they knew about the murder attempt and that they wanted me to learn how to wield them. Luckily, my foster Dad, may he rest in peace, was a former military and thought me how to wield the axe. For the dagger... He paused, i learned by myself. I was a hunter even before being one, if you know what i mean?" He said, implying that knew all long what kind of  "business" Darius was into.

"And by the way kid, the only weapon I don't have here IS a catapult," he said in laugh," If only i knew where Dad hid them... I know he dug a hole in the ground and buried them... I guess its a secret he took into his grave." He then said, half trying to make a pun and half trying to look serious while talking about his dad.

"Well that's quite a good thing your father was able to teach you to use weapons, mine had to pay someone else to do it...and it didn't end well for them so to say." Darius said as he tried to discern exactly what Lloyd meant by that last comment, even though he was fairly sure he knew what he meant.

He then cracked out into laughter after hearing about not having a catapult. "Well we're going to have to make one of them and figure out where your father buried the rest of the weapons!" he said trying to lighten the mood a little.

Lloyd got quiet for a moment, thinking where could his father had hidden the rest of the weapons.
"I know", he thought out loud, half screaming of joy and half laughing, scaring the hell out of Darius.

"Sorry pal, I didn't intend to scare you. I sometimes get bursts of emotions. Anyway, I think I know where Dad hid the stash! But for now lets go to sleep, I think that after 20 years, one more night won't hurt. What do you want them to do? dig themselves out and run away!?"

He then went to one of the bed rooms (the biggest of all four) and say "This will be yours, even after all our adventures, when the call of the roads will stop, this room will be yours! I mean it! You can use the space in there as you wish."

He then raise his hand with a mysterious spark in his eyes, hoping that Darius will shaking again.

Darius nearly jumped out of the chair and had his arm cocked to throw the dagger at whatever it was needed, but then realized it was just Lloyd yelling out of a realization and laughed with him. "Oh, it's no problem, just try to give me a bit of a warning next time!" he said as he slid the small blade back into it's sheathe.

"Sounds like a fairly good idea, both of them that is. Weapons can wait and this room..well I can't promise I'd use it much I do really appreciate the offer friend. I'll see you in the morning." he said with a grin and shook the other man's hand yet again.

As Darius grabbed his hand, Lloyd pulled him and gave him a warm hug. "Please don't get me wrong! My mom and dad always taught me to care for everyone else, and I learned that hugging people shows them that you won't slit their throat during there sleep. You are the only person I had in eons that I can consider as a friend. So please, promise me you will come back with me when all is done!" He said shedding hot tears of joy.

Then without further embarrassing his new friend, he let go of him and said with a big children smile"Sorry again, emotions! I'll get you a bear pelt, in case you get cold. Even if we are in the middle of the hot season, its getting cold here at night."

Then he left the room and came back with a giant brown pelt. He offers it to Darius.

Darius was as dumbfounded as one could be when Lloyd pulled him into a hug, and missed part of what this strange man said as he tried to get over the shock of actually being hugged. "Uh, well, uh, I'll at least try to visit, but uh I can't promise anything more than that." he finally stuttered out after he realized what just happened.

Darius continued to stand there with a bit of a confused look on his face after Lloyd apologized and went to go get a bear pelt. What have I gotten myself into? he asked himself after he sorted out what happened and chuckled to himself.

"Thank you, I hope I won't need it but it is nice to have in case." he said as he took the pelt from Lloyd, bowed slightly, then turned around into the room and closed the door behind him.

Lloyd whispered "Yes! If only you knew kid!"

After he closed the door, Darius realized that he forgot his weapons belt on the chair in the main room. Which given he worked in a business of cutthroats, literal ones, he never liked to sleep without them nearby. Even though he knew he was safe, he turned around and exited the room again. "I forgot a couple things." he quickly explain to Lloyd as he walked into the main room, grabbed his belt, and went back to his room.

Lloyd was looking at the dying fire and was whispering like he was talking with somebody.

"...I fear that we might have a problem then, Asmodeus... What do you mean by"he's hiding things from you?" I read his thoughts all night! He's trust worty and you know it."

Lloyd, hearing his friends talk to him, jumped and looked Darius grab his belt and get back to his room. He said good night to Darius and got to his room and felt asleep in no time.

I hate mornings. Darius thought to himself as he stretched and walked out of the room and into the main room expecting to see Lloyd already there. Although was surprised when he didn't, but just shrugged and made a small fire to sit by as he woke up.

The man who Darius thought to be an early bird was actually a bear and, by the looks of it, his new friend was hibernating.

When he actually got up, the giant was all set for a full day. Lloyd went ahead and made breakfast, or like he likes to call it:Breakfeast.

All Darius could do for the first three hours after he woke up was grumble, even after Lloyd finally woke up and made what was far to much food unless he was planning on eating most of it by himself.

"So, what are our plans for today?" he finally managed in a barely understandable tone after the morning meal. Still rubbing his eyes, trying to wake up.

Lloyd was indeed planning to eat 2/3 of what he made. "I need food to keep this engine running you know!"He tried to justify himself.

Lloyds voice was even more impressive in the morning"Today kid, we will prepare for tomorrows departure! Since I won't come back for a while, I got to sorts things out a bit and make special preparations for us."

After breakfast, Lloyd headed out in the wood to check and bring back his snares, giving Darius the time he needed to wake up.

At his return (with a dead boar on his shoulder and 4 hares), he asked his new friend to take the meat out of them and to drop it in a barrel of liquid he made himself. "I make smoke pork jerky, and salted deer. I dropped some lines in the stream, hopping to catch a bunch of fish, that I would smoke to."

Once done, Lloyd grabbed two shovels and asked Darius to follow him.

"Hey, I don't judge. It's a good thing really, I hate wasting food." he said after Lloyd justified why he was eating so much. Then after his new "friend", for he truly didn't know if he could call him a friend yet, told him their plans today and just nodded. Cutting the meat as he was asked, then grabbing the shovel and going with Lloyd after that.

"My dad used to tell me to not go play under that big pine, over there," he said, using the shovel to point a giant tree. "To dangerous he said."

Once under the tree, Lloyd moved a rock and said "Here, sit. I need you to stand gard while I dig for those extras. I don't want you to do this because you already did too much, thank younfor that!" He said with a big smile. And on that note, he start digging.

"Why did you think the tree could be dangerous? Do you have some crazy magical trees that eat people or something?" Darius asked with a laugh as they walked over to the tree. Then nodded and climbed a nearby tree, within just a few seconds, and stood guard while Lloyd dug out the things.

Lloyd took a moment to look around and to take his breath, "I guess this one is special indeed, he sprouted more roots than any other tree. Maybe that this tree was once sick and dad used his healing skills and knowledge to help become big and strong... Just like me! Dad really did good with both of us"

Then he returned in his hole and dug again. After ten minutes, he struck a metal surface."Got it!"

"What's in there?" Darius yelled down as he made he descent from the tree. "Hope it's something really cool." He did manage to trip though on the final branch and fell face first. Nearly landing directly on his nose.

"Hey kid, watch out! Trees are not a playground you know!" He laughed, "And whatever I've found here, it must that load of weapon Dad hidden... It must be it!"

As he dug further, the "thing" appeared to their eyes...

"Well! How about that!" he bursted out in laughing, "I guess my collection is now complete!"

He was laughing even more then ever

"It better be worth it." Darius mumbled as he rubbed his face and moved to get up. Then walked over to where Lloyd was digging, cursing to himself all the way, then looked down into the whole just as Lloyd finally hit it.

Darius was not impressed with the container one bit. "Well I hope whatever is in there is worth all the effort. Hopefully they're light too, because I'm dreading carrying what we already have..." he remarked dryly.

Lloyd looked over his shoulder to see if his companion would be able to help him.

"You're more the brain then the brawn type, right kid? If you worry about carrying our stuff, don't worry, I got everything covered." He said, grinning. "And whatever is in that box, it's mostly one thing than a bunch."

He reached out to take the box. You could see the veins on his shirtless torso inflate. That thing was heavy, but it wasn't a match for Lloyd. Of got out of the pit roaring like a lion, literally steaming out his breath.

"Could you give me a hand here!" he ask, a smile almost separating his face in half.

"Why in the world would someone put just one thing into a box, then go through all this trouble just to hide it?" he asked as he watched Lloyd put maybe to much effort into lodging it from its hiding place. Maybe I should of helped him, and this damn thing better be worth of this effort. Darius thought as Lloyd finally dislodged it.

"Yeah sure, but this better be worth all that effort you just went through. Otherwise I'm going to be really disappointed." he said with a laugh as he moved to help the other man with the box.

"Watch out kid. It's quite heavy, even for me!" He said with a small laugh. "The old geezer sure knew how to complicaet things."

Has Darius lifted the box, Lloyd collapsed and blacked out.

"Thanks for the warning." he said as he went down to move it, but stopped abruptly when he heard a particularly loud thud and saw that Lloyd was on the ground. Well that isn't good. he thought to himself as he went over to make sure Lloyd was okay, and concluded that he just passed out. So Darius pulled to his trusty lockpicks and went to work just practicing on the box while he waited for Lloyd to wake up.

The lock was easy to open. Inside the box was a giant piece of iron shaped like a shield. It was a tower shield.

Lloyd woke up and was oozing excuses, he was really disappointing himself. He then saw the box open and the shield inside.
"Hey! I know that thing, it belonged to my father, the real one I mean. It's the same tower shield my foster mom used to bash the crap out of the assassin!" he said in a deep, sad voice. "It costed her life, she was not strong enough to lift it and the murderer pushed her aside and when she felt on her back, under the shield and unable to move, he stabbed her in the eye."

Easiest lock in a while. Darius thought to himself with a grin as he put away his lockpicks and opened to chest. What he saw in there was far from what he was expecting. Just a shield? Well this is definitely not what I was expecting. he thought as he stared slightly dumbfounded at the shield, at least until he heard Lloyd come back to consciousness and apologize.

"No need to apologize, you did nothing wrong." he said to the man with a hand held up. "Oh, and I managed to open the chest. I ho-" he said but then was cut off by what Lloyd was telling him. The history related to his family with this shield made Darius decide the rest of his comment was definitely better left unsaid.

Lloyd saw the disappointed look on Darius face and understood what was happening in his head. He took the shield out and under was a five moneybags.

"So that's where pops stored the extras!" He said, still panting from lifting the shield."I guess we won't need to visit that mongrel of yours after all! And don't worry, this shield stays here but he must get inside the house. Get the box, i get the shield."

He then took off, waiting for his friend when he was tired.

"Well I was expecting more than just that.." Darius started to say but stopped after Lloyd picked up the shield and saw the sacks of gold sitting there. "That's more like it!" he happily said with a grin. Then picked up the box, which was still surprisingly heavy, following Lloyd.

"So, what are our plans for tomorrow's beginning of adventure?" the younger man asked once they finally made it back inside and took a few moments to catch their breath.

"Do you remember when I said I have connections around here? Well... Horses buddy!!"He explained in a joyfull way," We just need to strap then to the cart outside and we will be rolling out of here. I don't know the outside of the forest to well, so once we're out of here... I hope you have a map." He was more laughing about his lame knowledge then trying to enlight the long face Darius was giving him.

"we still have a few hours of sunlight and when the sun disapere behind the horizon, we go to sleep 'cause we need every last bit of strenght to pack our things tomorrow. And if you think its not safe to travel on roads, we'll tell anyone who want to know that we are a convoy to the watshamacallit town.Sounds good?"

"How did you..actually I don't really care! Horses will definitely make this trip far easier than continuing on foot. Guess I could try to find a few more pieces of gear if we happen across prospective sources..." Darius commented, the started rambling about a list including new weapons, finding a tailor to fix a few things with his tunic, and maybe even buy a hat.

But eventually he realized he had been talking for a good half an hour straight so he let Lloyd finish his thoughts for the plans. "Okay, okay I like the idea about telling people we're a convoy but uhh...I'm not entirely familiar with Serendipity quite yet...oh I know what the capital is called but I just can't think of it right now.." he said, trying very hard to remember it.

"Oh well, I'll think of it later probably...anyway want to learn a Connlaothian drinking song? In celebration of our future adventures?" he quickly asked, mainly because he always seemed to remember things when he didn't think of them.

"Attaboy son, that's the spirit!" he laughed, giving a big pat in the back. "Its settled then, we go for the capital tomorrow. But first, we sing! We shall sing and feast until heaven is filled by our voices!"
Lloyd really liked Darius and if his parents were there, they would see that Lloyd was treating him like a brother or sometimes as a son that he never had.

He made a small supper, too occupied by the singing and the final preparations to be hungry, wich suprised Darius since he saw the giant eat half a deer the other night.

The young assassin would never openly admit it, but he was having a great time that night. Singing songs he hadn't heard for nearly half a decade, eating some surprisingly fine food. Although he did notice that the other man didn't eat nearly as much as he did the night before, but assumed it was because of a nervousness he didn't want to admit to, so he refrained from saying anything.

After a couple hours, and a few drinks, Darius had a wonderfully stupid idea. "Lloyd, w-why don't we, why don't we...just head to somewhere new? I haven't been to Adela yet, have you been there? I hear that they have some nice brothels...and dragons!" he said with a loud laugh and a hiccup as he had obviously a few to many drinks this particular night.

"Dragons you say? I heard about them in stories, I didn't imagined that they were real." He said, admiring the initiative of his friend."I would follow you anywhere, I've never seen the world past the forest borders."

Suddenly, Lloyd stood up and got out the cabin. He was standing under porch, mumbling.

"You haven't been out of this forest?" Darius asked, oblivious to the fact the other man just walked outside. "Why I'm surprised really, you seem like the kind of person who has been out and about so to say." Then suddenly he passed out, his body going limp and fell out of his chair.

Lloyd barged in after earing the noise Darius made falling down, his axe ready for anything.
"Oh kid..." he said when he saw his friend on the ground, he then laughed softly,"Can't you keep a whole bottle down without fainting?"
He dropped his axe and took his friend in his arms, putting him to bed. Lloyd then ate a bit more and got to bed.

He woke up before Darius the nexr morning, prepared breakfast and waited for his friend before eating.

I guess mornings aren't so bad normally... Darius thought to himself the next morning, rubbing his head and grumbling to himself. The hungover man the eventually made his way into the main room, sat down, and rested his head on the table. Occasionally sliding a small bite of food into his mouth.

"You look terrible."Said Lloyd, a little grin on his face."You really drank yourself to sleep yesterday, do you remember something?"

Lloyd finished his breakfast, took a bunch of towels and said
"come with me, I kwon what could help you. A bath."

He then went outside and walked to the stream.

"It's shallow, about knee deep. I know you don't like water but you need it. The cold water will get you back on you feet"

"All I remember is...I don't know" Darius mumbled, his head still on the table. But then he heard Lloyd mention something about a bath, then groaned in protest. He hated rivers, streams, lakes, pounds, oceans, well really any sort of natural body of water.

"I'm not going in there." he stated, arms crossed against his chest. No matter how shallow it was, he was not going into that stream. He was a stubborn man when it came to certain things, this being one of them.

Lloyd looked disapointed, took his clothes off, went in the stream.
"If you are scared of bear, the only one around here...It's me!" he was laughing so hard that fishes around his legs were scared away. "I guess you won't but... You kinda smell like a dead horse, I know its rude, but hey, no wonder there are no birds around with that stemch!" He then threw so much water at Darius that he was already soaked. Lloyd was enjoying his bath.
He suddenly stood still, looking at something unddr the body of water. He swigned his arms at it and cought... nothing!
"Almost had that fish, better luck next time"

"I'm not afraid of animals, I just don't like water.." he started to say before Lloyd drenched him in water, then insulted him! "Okay first off I did not stink, that was you. And second that was not very nice to throw water at me." he said, trying to keep his anger in check.

Although Darius really wanted to punch Lloyd then, but he knew better to let himself act on his emotions. So he just stood there, eyes closed trying to calm down which didn't take more than a few minutes.

"If you won't take a bath, then its time to go! Adventures awaits!"

The man then whistled, so hard that you could hear the echo. Two black horses got out of the woods, came to him.
"Darius, I want you to meet my friends Snow and Fog. Snow, Fog, I want you to meet Darius, My friend. What do you mean, I smell? I just took a bath!". He laughed and look at Darius," You get the cart, under the porch, I get the packing!"

"I hope our adventures don't end up with one of us killed" Darius replied as he turned around to get the cart. After he took a few moments trying to pull the cart out, and after they had the cart hooked up and were on the road within a few minutes.

"So, we're going to have to stop at Seleva at some point. I have some business to do there." Darius  commented casually as he took a bite out of an apple, the climbed onto one of the horses and gave it the rest.

"Get killed? Pff" laughed Lloyd as he locked the cabin, chained the door and nailed the windows shut, "Kid, you don't have much fate in our skills. We will arrive there safe and sound."

Lloyd got in the cart, got himself comfy and said "I can help you in your business if you need some. but for now, lets hit the road!"

"Oh, I don't lack confidence in either of our skills. I just like making remarks like that from time to time." Darius said with a smile as he moved back to his seat. After he sat back down he pulled up the hood to his cloak, and just sat there thinking about whatever happened to wander into his mind as he let Lloyd drive the horses. Throwing out directions when it was needed.