Waking Up the Wolf

[MaruChan]

Maru sat, gazing at the night sky remembering his fallen comrade Donnatella...remembering one thing, that it was his fault.  He told his friends that he wanted to go alone, almost begged them but they came anyway.  He was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if it came to it, his life wasnt his own ever since that night in Little Boy Mountain, the night he died.  He really was a lucky guy in some ways, he was brought back from the dead thanks to the priestess Daria.. that type of thing only happened in stories!  But here he was alive and well, and ever since then he had done what he could to honor Daria's wishes, protect Meadstead, now Wolfsboro.  Maru grunts in dissatisfaction upon thinking of the towns new name, he didnt ask for any of this, he just wanted to do the right thing, be a better man than he once was.

Maru wanted to do good by Daria, instead he watched her apprentice brutally slain in a filthy pit at the hands of an abomination.  He sat there and watched as Donnatella was killed... a part of him wanted to turn his head and not watch the sight, the part of him that honored the Hobgoblin laws, the part that was scared for Wolfsboro's future, the part of him that was a coward.  What made him watch was the wolf inside... the wolf wanted to go to help a member of the pack, it wanted to tear the throat out of the abomination, and save its sister.  Maru could feel the wolf inside wondering why we would let this happen, why let a member of the pack die... Maru then remembered the wolfs wonder quickly turn to disgust... You are letting sister pass because of these things laws? rules?  They should not live, kill them, save her!  Maru fought off the primal urges and in the end he watched Donnatella fall then was dragged off to be dumped off in a pile of refuse, but better that than being worn by that foul hag.

Maru could sence the wolf, his spirit awaking at the thought of Donnatella...
  Better to be thrown in a pile of shit?  You let sister die and be discarded like old bones because of those foul ones laws?  You fought for your pack in hell itself killing demons, nightmares, and worse and you survived just to watch sister die in a filthy pit for entertainment?
  Maru annoyed fires back, " You dont understand, I had to obey their laws, we killed one of theirs, and it threatened the safety of Wolfsboro, I didnt have a choice!
  The wolf responds in kind, Killed one of theirs?  Good! Kill the foul ones, they deserve no respect, they deserve no honor, you care for their rules?  are you a foul one too?
 Getting further annoyed Maru barks back, " No! I'm not but they are in power here, i cant fight them, we have to settle things differently for peace, its my responsibility as Lord of Wolfsboro"
  Strangely an image of a wolf laughing was what Maru sensed next, Lord of Wolfsboro?  when did you stop being a warrior and start being a clan chief?  You are no diplomat, you are a warrior, trying to be one makes you a bad at both... you feel that Wolfsboro is yours  because of that cub you trained for a few days.  They fly the banner of the wolf but they are not the wolf... just a shadow of what use to be... wake the warrior to kill the diplomat, see that Wolfsboro is just Meadstead in wolfs fur, and finally realize that sister is dead because of your foolish ideas.

The realization shocks Maru like an icy wave, he let Donnatella die, then promised the leader of the hobgoblins that he was going get some mace for them, and for what? a town that he slightly knew where they called him "Lord"?  The wolf was right, that town wasnt his, and trying to be a "Lord" is what got Donnatella killed.  Maru grits his teeth, no more playing lord and no more playing by hobgoblin rules... be true to your soul, the wolf, be true to your pack, and you'll have no regrets.

Maru stands, takes a deep breath and takes into his hand his wolf medallion.  He focuses a portion of his soul through the object (at least that's how he views it) and a ghostly wolf appears with its back to him.  Maru frowns, "I'm sorry, sorry that it came to this... sorry that it took the death of sister to awaken me.  I swear to you, and myself that i will not sit back and watch another brother or sister perish when i could have done something to prevent it.  I wont shy away from who i am, i am no lord, i am a warrior who will die for his pack."  The spectral wolf turns and grins, Its time to hunt Lord Maru.  Maru frowns at spirit, "You are right about the hunt, i will find this item that the hobgoblins want and destroy it, then i will kill their leader and whoever gets in my way... (sister deserves at least that much) but please, i reject the title of lord.  Being a lord has brought only pain and weakness to me..." The wolfs grin vanishes, Thats exactly why i use it, dont forget what being a lord has gotten you... and if you really have an issue with it you dont have anyone to blame but yourself, i am you after all"

Maru spends the rest of the night hunting small game, clearing his mind to prepare for the future

[Liqcrys]

She heard the prey moving through the forest long before she saw what had caused the commotion. By the time she spotted him from her perch amongst the lower tree branches, it appeared that Maru had seen her long before.

      Joff had retreated from the tavern, Akron's slurred cries of "Spider People" had grown to loud even for her tolerant ears. She had found a quiet spot on the forest's edge to sleep off her ale, but the sound of small animals running scared through the underbrush had awoken her.
She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and half-drunkenly fell to the forest floor in front of the plainsman. She slowly stood up, trying to arrange her rumpled clothing into order, and lazily bowed towards the Wolf Clan warrior.

     "Ho! Lord Maru (hic)! What brings you from your tower? The elf-stink must be getting bad in there."  She noted the string of what looked like rabbits hanging from his belt.

     "The wolf has to hunt, eh?", she half-burped out. "I'm glad I ran into you out here. Wanted to talk to you about something. This plan of yours to arm that monster Corvid. I was hoping you might reconsider it. Plus we got to figure out how we're going to get into Whitehall (hic) and past that army of ghouls. This Shuulith has probably heard you're back by now. Even with the few travelers on the road nowadays I'm sure word has reached Shattered Bridge that the lord of Wolfesboro has returned after many years. They'll be watching for you and those elves, I'm sure."  

     Joff continued, "At first I thought maybe we could disguise the three of you to sneak into Shattered Bridge, but those damn elves and their honor could complicate that. There's a part of me that thinks we should let you all be captured and then just go kill this Shuulith. If this 'being' has Raff under his control, then killing him will probably end the project to reconnect to Whitehall. I'm unsure. I was hoping you might have an opinion." As she finished speaking her whole figure slumped, as if the effort of talking had been the only thing keeping her upright, and she drunkenly half-sat, half-collapsed to the ground.

[MaruChan]

Maru smiles down at the warrior... actually not just a warrior she was much more, he remembered what she had done in the hobgoblin pit and it was much more than what any regular fighter could achieve.  It wasn't the magics that she used in battle that put her apart, it was the willingness to help her comrades with no hesitation, no fear.

"I'm glad you handle your sword better than you handle your wine"  Maru helps Joff up, "the answer to your question is yes, the wolf has to hunt.  It helps me focus on what is important, focus on what i really want.  I could try and explain more but short answer is that the hunt helps"

Sensing that Joff's legs are still pretty wobbly Maru helps her sit down at the base of a tree.  "Lets see if i can help, usually a full belly helps to focus a mind clouded by wine... just give me a few minutes"

Maru sets up a small fire, quickly skins 2 of his rabbits, skewers them, and sets them close to the fire to roast.  While the rabbits cook Maru has a seat by the fire next to Joff,

" We have disagreement about how to handle the hobgoblins and Corvid, but no more. I wanted to protect Wolfsboro because i felt it was my responsibility as Lord, but i am no lord, i am just a man who did nothing but watch as a companion was slain."

Maru looks deep into the flames for a few moments then examines the meat, "Looking good."  The barbarian goes to his pack and fishes around and pulls out a small pouch, he then takes a pinch out and sprinkles each rabbit with the contents.  

"It was simple to me, the hobgoblins are already in power... what would it matter if i gave them some mace as long as it ensured Wolfboros safety?  The hunt made me know who i was, im not a man that will sacrifice what is in front of him for what seems to be the bigger good.  In honor of Donnatella I will retrieve this mace and kill Corvid and whoever stands in my way with it... either i die or Corvid will, one life to honor another, that's a promise."

Maru pulls one of the skewers of meat from the ground and passes it to Joff, "Here, try this"  he then goes for the other one.

"First it seems we must deal with this book of spells, i will help with this then i will collect the mace"

[Liqcrys]

The meat was so hot it scorched her fingers as she pulled it off the skewer. The warm taste of the charred and greasy rabbit flesh was welcome. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. Ale and mead could distract from the hunger but the smell of the cooking rabbit had almost overcome her. Maru, my secret chef she chuckled to herself. Whatever the plainsman had sprinkled over the roasting coneys was delicious. Aromas of grass, leather, exotic peppers,  salt, and dry winds seemed to emanate from their flesh. She ate sloppily, wiping away the rabbit grease from around her mouth with the back of her hand.

"This is delicious Maru. Are all the Wolf Clan so skilled at arts of cookery?", she said between huge bites.

"Thank you for this food.," she said with a full mouth. "I'm glad that you feel that way about Corvid. Hells, to really stick it to him, let's destroy this mace too, before we show it to him. That'd send him in a real tizzy."

Joff swallowed. She pulled a wineskin from her side and took a long pull. She held it out to Maru, "Have a pull. Akron claimed it was firewine from Tyr, the last great dwarf citadel, but it tastes like mead to me. Not bad, I'd say its from last Hearth Guard or the one before." She paused, gesturing meaningfully with the skin and gave Maru a serious look.

"This tome is deadly business Maru. I'm glad you're here. This will be so dangerous. First we have to get to the haunted city. To get there we'll most likely have to go through Shattered Bridge. I'm concerned they'll be looking for you or the elves.  Once we're through that, we have to go across the river. You know what we'll face in Whitehall. We're going to try to get to the center of that haunted city. You fought those ghouls, same as I last time. How do you think we can get through the city to the Temple of Heironeous? "

OOC: I love that Maru has his own "secret spices". I'll be chuckling about that for quite awhile.

[MaruChan]

Maru's grin beams at the praise of his cooking and he reachs over to receive the skin from Joff.
"Thank you, but you praise me too much... Much of the flavor comes from the freshness of the meat" Maru takes a pull from the skin, wipes his mouth and reaches over to return the skin to Joff, "Very good, thank you... And as Whitehall is concerned we must scout it again, much may have changed in the years we were gone. I would not assume things would be as they were last time we were there"

[Liqcrys]

" I was gifted a vision of the tome. Surrounding it was a circle, 4-5 bodies deep, of undead. They're gathered around the tome, waiting for something." She said ruefully, "If its true, then the city of Whitehall is still just as cursed as ever. I went to Shattered Bridge and listened to the rumors. I know a good scam, and what Raff has been telling people in the city about Whitehall stinks of it. No Maru, I'm certain the dead still walk through that cursed city, and we're headed straight to them."

[MaruChan]

"A vision? How well can you trust this vision? If its true then we must take care, we can not rush in there like we did before. We really need take care since Donnatella is not with us any more, her power would have been a great help"

[Liqcrys]

"I trust this vision, because I have to. It wasn't shown to me lightly. Even with Donatella it would have been very dangerous, but now its even more so."
She frowned, "The 1st question is: how do we get into Whitehall? We can go miles and miles out of the way to this bridge, but then we must cross through The Blight to get to Whitehall. We can go to Shattered Bridge and attempt to use the same smuggler's crossing as last time, but that means getting three renowned (and somewhat infamous) figures through the main gates where they'll be looking for you. The 3rd option might be to seize a raft or boat and just float down the Hex River and depart at the smuggler's landing in Whitehall. At least that way we wouldn't have to worry about danger on the roads."

She gave a half-smile, "As always with us, there are no truly good options."

[MaruChan]

Maru lets out a grunts, "You are correct, there are never any truly good options... I think I would rather go miles out of the way then double back through the blight. I know it sounds bad but out of all my experiences crossing to the other side that was the most positive"
"I do not trust the path in Shattered Bridge, and i trust even less sailing... I am no seaman and I would not feel comfortable 'seizing' a raft or boat"
"Have you spoke with the others? What are their thoughts?"

[Liqcrys]

Maru's small cookfire provided meagre warmth. She moved closer, feeling a chill creeping into the air. "It will be fall soon, and winter before we know it. We should leave soon. The eladrin want to return to Daria's grove before crossing the river. I agree, we need to honor Donatella and let her mentor know her fate at the very least. What happened over there? Shuiske said that you lost your nerve, which I find very hard to believe. I figure he's stretching the truth to make up for his own cowardice. Typical. You ok with that plan though? Go to Daria's grove, then onward south across the river, and then west to the blight where we'll enter Whitehall. That ok?"

[MaruChan]

Maru remembered the strange encounter in Daria's grove, he rememberd that he wanted to honor Donnatella and show her some respect but somthibg had come over him... A sudden dissintrest in going, it seemed normal at the time but now looking back on it the whole situation seemed strange.
"Shuiske is not wrong... Well kinda... I did not lose my nerve, but a weird feeling came over me and i just didnt want to enter the grove... Not only that but it didnt seem strange to me at all. Something is going on out there and we need to figure out what"
Maru pulls a blanket from his pack, gets closer to the fire and lays down
" Looks like we have a busy day tomorrow... Go back to tower and get some rest, I'm going to spend night out under stars, its been long time and it is a nice night"

[Liqcrys]

"Sleep well Wolf." She said, slipping through the dark branches and disappearing into the night.

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