04.16.2132 - Gone Camping

[Chassic]

"Soon as we get there we take inventory. If we need anything we'll pick it up in the village. Then we'll head out. We'll travel south for a day and set up our first camp. From there we hunt for food and get a feel for the land. This first camp will be our fallback in case we run into any difficulties, Karh'Thul or otherwise. Once we've worked up enough supplies, we head further south. We've got to leave the first camp supplied with a couple days food and water. We should also fortify the area and ready some deadfalls, just in case." Xavier's eyes were unfocussed as he related his plan. It was as if he were looking ahead into the future and watching the actions he described take place.

"We make a second camp closer to The Rim. This is where we need to be really cautious. First order will be to find a secure location, preferably a cave or old animal burrow. If we're really lucky we might stumble on an old guard tower or abandoned waypoint. We'll need something with an entrance that we can secure. With only the two of us we won't be able to set watch, so lots of trip wires and a barred entrance is our best option."

"Once we've got our secured base we can start exploring the land around it. We'll need to find high ground where we can set up spotting platforms. Another important task is locating kill zones that we can lure a Karh'Thul into. Securing escape routes is something that we will consider if the terrain allows. If we can build a temporary bridge over a narrow ravine or river gorge we might be able to cross the bridge and destroy it behind us. Or even fight at the bridge and destroy it while the Karh'Thul are still on it. Things like that we'll have to think up as the opportunity presents itself."

"We'll stay at our forward camp until we get low on food and water. Then we will fall back to our first camp. Once we replenish our supplies we can head back to our forward camp and continue the search for Karh'Thul." Xavier seemed pleased with his plan. He lay back on his knapsack with a satisfied grin. "We are going to kick ass! Hell, even if we don't find any Karh'Thul we're still going to learn a lot out there. At the very least we'll get some good hunting in, deer, wild boar, maybe even a bear! That'd be cold. I'd love a bearskin cloak with the head attached."

"Say, we never really talked much about your, um, abilities. You know? Just what exactly can you do with your...," Xavier wiggled his fingers in the air. "Sometimes I think I'm the only one without that particular talent."

[Dray]

Jared sat and stared unblinking at Xavier, obviously still trying to absorb the War Plan put before him.

[Chassic]

"What?" asked Xavier. "You don't look very confident. You didn't think we were just going to go wandering around out there until we stumbled into Karh'Thul did you? Did you?" Xavier shook his head. "This is why I asked you to come with me. Someone needs to teach you how to survive out here. You'll see, we're going to come back in the end of summer and we're going to be warriors. Real, experienced, Karh'Thul ass-kicking warriors." Xavier punched his fist into the palm of his opposite hand for emphasis.

"Now, tell me about your ... skills."

[Dray]

Jared had come out of his daze and appeared excited at the prospect of returning to Our-Commons a hero.

"Well, although I am not as accomplished as you with the blade, I can perform..."Jared stopped speaking and looked up, as if he suddenly remembered where he was. He continued on with a more hushed tone, "I can do a few arcane spells that got me noticed by Renee a little over a year ago."

Xavier raised an eyebrow, waiting for the punch-line.

"I can cast a fan of flame from my hands for one," Jared proudly answered Xavier's silent query.

[Chassic]

"Great 'Thulian dung-piles! Are you serious? That's matin' awesome!" exclaimed Xavier in an excited whisper. "Can you just do that anytime you want to? Oh, wait! ... " Xavier glanced over at J's pack. "Yeah, you should probably be really careful about the particular skill while haulin' around all that stuff."

"Any other tricks? What about your pack? Just what can you make with all that stuff?"

[Dray]

"Well, I can make an alarm or two with them. I was thinking that we could setup some trip wire around the perimeter of our camp," he said and started to see Xavier's eyes widen in appreciation, so he enthusiastically continued. "Although I don't have enough material to blow them up, it sure would make a nice bang to alert us of their presence!"

[Dray]

(OOC: Thulian dung piles? Wish I had thought of that one! heh)

[Chassic]

"Now you're talkin'! I knew you were going to be into this. Tell you what, I'll work with you on your combat skills and tactical planning if you teach me a bit about ....," Xavier wiggled his fingers around in the air again "that stuff and teach me about blowing things up." Xavier reached out to shake his friend's hand. "Deal?"

"Oh, and one more thing. There's a reason why we're headed south." Xavier paused a moment and looked directly at J. "I figure Karh'Thul ain't the only demons down here that we can deal with. If you want to stop in and see your dad we can do that. You tell him whatever you want to tell him and he won't lay a finger on you. He tries and he'll be swallowing teeth with his ale."

[Dray]

Jared's smile faded and he looked away. After a moment he looked at Xavier for a moment, almost said something, and then looked away again.

[Chassic]

"Say it, J. What you were thinking just now. Say it!" Xavier reach over and grabbed J by the front of his tabard. "Your mom's not gonna be in jail forever. When she gets out you want HER to deal with him? You talk to him, I'll make him listen. Maybe you say something that gets him to clean up, maybe he don't. Either way you got to start thinking about what's gonna happen to your mom when she gets out."

[Dray]

"He's not worth our effort Xavier. He is a traitor and a drunk," Jared said quietly, not able to look at him in the eyes.

"My Mom is in prison because he became a coward. Instead of facing his fear and standing beside her, he instead ratted her out along with the entire resistance group," Jared finished, obviously full of shame.

[Chassic]

"So he turns in an entire resistance group including your mom, breaks up your family, sends you off to an orphanage, and then spends the rest of his life a lazy drunk? Does that sound right to you? Every life he's touched is suffering every day while he sits on his ass and drinks. Not right ... no way, no how." Xavier looked to see if his words were riling up his friend as much as they were intended to.

"He should suffer, too. Don't you think?"

"Maybe not hurt him physically, though I'd be more than willing to do that. You could tell him what you think of him. You know really tell him what you think of what he did and what he has become. And, you know, then maybe work him over with an axe handle."

[Dray]

"When it happened, I was only 11, just a kid (OOC: heh) and that day my entire life was ripped apart. I wouldn't see my Mom again until I was fifteen years old!" he almost screamed, his eyes getting wet as the emotions prompted by Xavier flared to life.

"Yeah, I haven't seen the bastard in 2 years. Not one letter or attempt by him to apologize to me," he said, his fist beating into his open palm. "Yeah... so roping his ass down and beating him for a bit wouldn't hurt my feelings at all," he said in a low growl. The stare he gave Xavier was one full of fury, but also one that sought acceptance of his rage, justification for his anger.

[Chassic]

"Finally!" exclaimed Xavier, almost in relief. "You've finally found your anger. You were doomed to be a mousy little kid until you found it. Now you are ready to unleash it. It's the only way to move on after you've been hurt so badly."

[Dray]

Jared didn't appear to know how to respond to such a revelation. He instead asked, "So what's your story then? What happened to your parents?"