Getting the band back togeather

Aust stood a few feet away from Rayne, partially hidden by the trees, with the rest hidden by shadows, but close enough to strike at a moments notice. His cloack was off, revealing his armor and sword.

While he didn't like the idea of meeting the croup headed for the cappital at the edge of the forest, it also worked to his advantage. He watched Rayne as the three of them -and the cat- waited for the group from Coral.

In the distance, finally the group from coral became visible. Caitrin, her blond hair tossed gently in the wind, Kytair the only elf of the group, Nathaniel in black from head to toe, and Nellwyn, smiling. Riddel met them, and explained quickly that they would stick out in their primitive clothing, and she lead them quickly to their house. "We'll go through introductiosn there."

Once inside, Riddel introduced everyone to eachother, Kolt purring against her legs.

Aust walked in, having entered from the back door. He quickly surveyed the four newcomers. "So I need to escort these four kids and you and your brother to the capital? Reminds me when I had to guard the riverboat full of two hundred people from the bandit birgade and the local green dragon." He said with a smile as he sat down wher he could keep an eye on all of them.

Nellwyn, looking thoroughly impressed, ran over to Aust. "200 people?! Wow, are you like a hero or something?!?!?"

Aust smiled. "Sort of. I'm an adventurer. Or course, I can't take all the credit. I had my friends backing me, so we had two fighters-including myself-, a ranger, a wizard, and a cleric/thief. All of us are half dragons to boot, so it wasn't as hard as you'd think. But that's enough about me." He turned towards Rayne. "When do we get this caravan moving? The sooner we head out the better chances we'll have of missing anybody who is trying to track the group."

Nodding, Riddel agreed. "Very true, though I doubt anyone would be tracking us at this point...."
Looking moody as usual, Nathanial muttered, "Great, we're travelling with two goths and a overenthusiastic-"
"Shut-up!" Kytair snapped angrily
(ACK too many chcracters >.>)
Picking up his and Riddel's bad, Koan nodded. "Alright. Let's get going."

"It's never too soon for someone to try and find the group." Aust said standing up.

Ten minutes later, the group was outside of town, riding in a wagon that Aust had built in his spare time pulled by a pair of Oxen Aust had bought.

OOC: not much has happened to them in story past this point XD

Riddel, sitting and reading, looks up at the group. "We've all been summoned to a aevalyn Council, witch is a very big deal. I'm assuming you don't know much of the details, as we don't either, but I do know it has to something to do with the experiment girl 5152, and possibly the fallen race of the Kiouling, but besides that, it's a mystery. So I suggest you all keep very mentally alert, because something that may seem unimportant now may be of key importance later on..." Then glancing behind her shoulder, she seemed troubled for a moment.

((OOC: No problem. Advance the story at YOUR PACE. Do want you want to do. I'm just here to help.))

AUst listened to Rayne with interest. Information was vital in his line of work, so any he could get was good. He noticed Rayne glance over her shoulder. "Rayne, is there something wrong? Do you want me to stop the wagon and check the perimeter?"

smiling faintly, she replied< "I... I don't believe that is nessasary... Just a bad vibe is all. But no need to worry everyone, I'm sorry." Though her voice was happy, she looked a little concerned

Aust could tell how she felt by the tone of her voice, but if she was going to be strong for the sake of the group, it meant he had to be even stronger. Without his support, he feared the worst mght happen. "So, anyone up for a game of 'Name that monster'?" He said as they continued on.

cairtin looked very interested. "name that monster? never headr of that game, though i dont think we'd be the best for it. maybe name that fisg" she ended with a faint laugh

"It's a game the young kids played in my village." aust said with a smile. "What's a fisg?" he asked.

"sounds like something you could eat," Nellwyn said with a giggle. Then Riddel glanced over her shoulder again, and they could all see a figure approaching very swiftly in the distance.

(I'll give aust a chance to react, but no killing XD)

((I know.))

Aust turned to see the man approaching. He was a tiny guy, cloaked and had an evil aura about him. Aust drew his sword, which chilled the air around them and glowed like the ground after a fresh snowfall. "If anyone knows a barrier spell or a field force spell, now would be the time to cast it over the wagon so if he gets past me he can't get in." Aust said with a tone of command that he adn't used in a long time.

He started to breath out slowly and steadily. If someone had looked closely, they would have seen the ground turning to ice for a good twenty foot radius between him and the oncomer.

Riddel nodded and cast a protection spell, but when the figured neared, she smiled.
"Oh, hello!"
Toshio smiled up at her. "There you are little one." Then he turned to the group. "Didn't mean you scare you, but I saw Rayne here leaving and I though extra protection would do you all good."
Smiling, Riddel said, "Oh, thatnk you so much!"
Koan didn't seem to be happy, but he wasn't going to argue with riddel XD

Aust clenched his teath. "Rayne, don't lower the spell. Keep it up until you can't anymore." He pointed his sword towards the nowcomer. "You reek of blood and poison. I've dealt with men that make poison and bllod their profession before and most of them couldn't be trusted."

riddel, assuming that Aust must have made a mistake, explained, "No, it's alright. I met him shortly before we left, he even bought me tea."
Toshio, standing so Riddel could not see him face but aust could, smirked arrogantly. "You hear that? She says I'm safe. Blood and poison may be my lovers, but she trusts me. Are you going to second guess her instincts?"

Aust put his sword away and walked up to the man and grabbed him by the collar. "You can stay, but you're going to be walking next to me the entire time you're with us. you don't get near the wagon unless I say so. Got that?" Aust said showing the new guy his fangs.

ooc: woah xd

toshio, still smiling, shrugged. "what ever will make you feel better, i'm happy to comply. but-" he glanced over to Riddel, "she might have something to say about it."
Koan, glaring, muttered, "you're staying next to aust"

"Brother trumps sister in cases like this." Aust said lowering the guy to his feet. "You got a name or do I just call you punk?"

((OOC: I like to think of Aust a chivalrous warrior. All the good points without the draw backsof a knight.))

Riddel, frowing slightly, gave Koan a look, but remained silent.
"My name is Toshio of the Shadou clan," He said with an exaggerated bow that was slightly mocking. "And may I have the honor of your name, my fanged friend?"

"Denji. Denji Shangrir of the Dangeki clan." Aust sighed. He hated dealing with ninjas. If they got your real name they could preform all sorts of weird majic using your name. Aust knew from firsthand experience. He turned towards Rayne and winked, trying to get the point of 'do-not-tell-him-my-real-name' across.

((OOC: I read in an issue of Dragon Magazine about magic using names for power or to affect the target. Really nasty stuff.))

Toshio, smiling, nodded. "Heh, I guess you're smarted then I gave you credit for?"

aust looked back to him. "What do you mean by that?"