Dur Hini Forces (Open to all who Dare)

[Hrael Dëûral]

The Dur Hini away camp had set up residence just north of the druid ring, south of their own respective land, and begun sending scouts out in all directions. While the land had always been disputed it was now in the midst of full scale combat. The ambitious Dur Hini High General, Hrael, had taken it upon himself to leave the guarding of the Shrine to the Mornaquenta while he attempted to increase the size of his peoples lands. After all, they had a nice open territory open just south of them. It would integrate perfectly, now wouldn't it?

The trip had been short and relatively uneventful, which led to his men setting up a rather well fortified bunker style encampment. At the very back if it sat Hrael's tent with his advisers and more than just a few maps and books. In the hushed silence, all waited to hear the Generals word before moving out or doing anything. With a grimace, he stared on in absent minded thought.

"We will stay here and camp for the night. In the morning most of our scouts will be getting back and they can give us more insight into what this land holds for us. Until then, make sure we set up some men on watch duty and get some food going. The men will begin to complain if we work them too hard on their first day of War," he said in a soft voice almost unfit for a General. Then with a wave of his hand he sent the entire brigade off to relay his orders.

Because while they waited, he would be plotting. This land had little natural defenses, or even people to stop him, so it shouldn't be too hard to take it in the name of his people. But what happened here would dictate how he moved. South was the obvious path for now, get the Ogres onto his side by force or diplomacy, and then make a wide swing back up towards Tirin. It would be his first true test of might. And with any hope none of them would even smell it coming as long as they came from the South.... perhaps even send an envoy around to attack from the direction of Nerian in an attempt to mislead them.....

So while he sat alone in his tent, his men went to work establishing and fortifying the camp better as well as setting up guards and some fires to cook-in. This was only the beginning to a very long and grueling campaign.

SPOILER: Click to show

Entry= All Dur Hini welcomed openly. All other races must stop and be questioned. All manners of disguises are welcome to attempt to get through, just don't expect the magikal Dur Hini watchers to be too fooled if it isn't good.

Army Size= Roughly 8,000 good reliable soldiers. 4,000 of which are veterans from the last war.

[Hellion]

To say that Caliban Des'carte was a skilled assassin would have been a slight understatement. Caliban was one of the best, if not THE best. He watched the camp from a distance, nestled behind one of the dunes of the desert and peering through a spy glass. There were many troops, many guards. Many mages. Mages bothered Caliban. They made sneaking into the camp harder than it had to be. Of course, because he was Dur'hini, he didn't HAVE to sneak in. He could just walk in. But why should he? If he couldn't sneak into this armed camp, then how would he prove that his assassin skills would be useful to the Dur'Hini army? He smiled, licking his lips. Taking the the long path around the camp, He studied each entrance. Of course, he would want to enter at night. He had to be aware that there were most likely wards around the camp to alert people of his entering, and he some how had to get past the guards without them noticing. It was a puzzling task, but one he had encountered before. He decided he would wait until night fall for sure.

[Bunhash]

Unknowingly to his position, another dark skinned person began to approach the assassin out of pure luck. This person was riding a knehoy slowly, heavily weighed down with many bags and pouched. The wind blew, pushing back the woman's silvery hood. Her eyes were closed so she did not see the assassin and would give him his time to either meet her or hide once again.

The girl's expression was hard and stony yet her skin was smooth and free of lines. She was youthful even for her race which questioned what she was doing here? Unless the assassin recognized her. Lili was one of Nerian's most gifted shaman. She was a master of medicines, poisons and concoctions. There were several shaman among her people, few with her level of skill. Of course, few lived their lives entirely in their work like she did.

Slowly, her eyes cracked open. She did not want sand in her eyes and pulled her hood back over her head. Her Knehoy blundered closer. She was nearly to the camp now.

[Hellion]

Xenir had nearly been taken by surprised by the approaching mount. The woman on its back was obviously Dur'Hini, here to join the forces just as he was. He contemplated darting out of her sight, but decided against it. the best way to get into the camp? Under the guise of a soldier. He followed her, his cloak whipping in the breeze. "Hail Rider, watch your mount. I'd like to keep my toes if at all possible."

[Hrael Dëûral]

((Filler post. Just adding some fluff in so you two can continue. Once it is daylight IC, things will begin.))


Hrael sat at the center of his enormous 14x14 foot tent. In one hand he balanced a goblet of fine wine while the other toyed with his drawn sword, carving a small design into the sand as he did so. The scouts had been dispatched and were likely collecting information. The soldiers were digging out the trenches better and putting up retainer walls to keep the sand from simple tumbling back down at them. The Magi were collecting themselves and their energies in private, for the most part anyway, while their lookouts kept a careful eye on the horizon. All of them knew this was only a brief respite before a long and strenuous journey and because of it seemed to be preparing extra hard through celebration. Jaunty songs rang through the air and the smell of food cooking over an open fire swept over the camp like a great benevolent spirit. Uplifting the moral of every elf who could smell it.

Amidst the almost carnival like atmosphere Hrael sat alone and thought over his plan again and again. Things had to continue on in perfect sequence otherwise all of his plans would fail. There were no alternatives. No plan B's. This was the only opportunity for him to take this land in Bjorn's name. It was the only way he could earn the sword......

With a look of slight annoyance he peered at his average katana. Was barely even good enough for someone of his rank. A simple enchanted dagger could do better....

After taking a long drink of his alcoholic beverage he smacked his lips once before peering back at the cup and thinking to himself how good it tasted even up to the end. Without flashing a smile he dropped the golden goblet into the sand near his chair and rose to his feet. And after a few steps he found himself looking out of the tents flap and onto the army before them. What occurred to him cold have been considered normal. But for now he would keep it close to the chest. If too much information got out, then everything would be compromised. With a sharp whistle he yelled to a nearby guard, "Send me that bastard of a Seer and your finest warrior!"

[Bunhash]

Lili's lip raised as the other made himself present. The sneer could be seen under the edge of the hood. The woman, instead of steering the beast aside, just instructed him forward and if the other did not move, he would get his toes trampled on. As she neared, she spoke out to the stranger in a haughty tone. "Watch yourself, Bhin." which was a term that meant young human child, rather than something respectful. It seemed she was a lady of temper.

But the other swept around behind her mount and began to follow her. A single hand brushed back her hood and she peered darkly toward the other. For a time she said nothing, then she spoke to him again as they went over the dune and neared the first guard. "Are you incapable of walking by yourself, why do you bother me so?" Such was the nature of Dur Hini women.

But not a moment passed before the first guard raised his hand slightly in greeting. "Hail, kinswoman and kinsman. Welcome to you both. Mind yourself and move along." The guard himself was a normal sight among their people. He hair was long and held back in a fancy design. His skin was a moonshine blue. On her person was a hardy katana and a set of strong armor. A shadowknight in training perhaps.

"Of course." Lili said and urged her beast forward.

[Hellion]

Caliban continued to follow the woman. "I follow you because we have a common destination." He said, completely ignoring her child comment. Insults were the defenses of the insecure, wasn't that what they had taught him among the Shades? Better to ignore such things and let them continue to wonder what you were thinking. A small sneer crept upon his lips as he approached the gate with her, the guard calling out to them and waving them inside. Mentally, he was picturing all the ways he could kill the foolish guard, the young shadow knight who bore his katana so proudly. A blade was a blade was a blade. It was an implement of death, of force, not a status symbol. The most delightful way of doing the deed involved gutting the man with his own blade. That would be satisfying indeed. He buried the thoughts though, and as soon as he got the chance, separated from the woman. She had served her purpose: She had gotten him in the camp. If he had known it was that easy, he would have done it without her. Luckily, he had worn his face mask. At best the guard would have seen his eyes. The cloak was common place enough, and had been closed to prevent the man from seeing Caliban's armor and weapons. His hair was covered by the hood. All of these coverings could simply be explained away as an attempt to keep the blowing sands out of his eyes and shield his skin from the harsh rays of the sun. He disappeared into the town of tents, gone from the woman's sight and probably her memory. He set to work looking for the command tent.

[ExlMagician]

"OOooooOoo sneaky sneaky!" Rhilan spotted the incoming elves through the whipping sands, prancing through the tents like a child, but the the grace of a well trained spy. Orangey red, berry stained hair flapped in the wind whilst he clambered up a dune to follow the wrapped up sneaksie fellow. Fits of giggles came upon him, but he stiffed them in his gloved hands. They were haphazard gloves. Leather tied around his fingers and arms with bare patches all over. Once he had mounted the dune properly, he scurried along the top like a scorpion through the sands, before stopping over him. Once they had come into range of hearing of the camp general's tent, he leaps like a dorral rabbit, landing on his hands and rolling in front of the intruder. Once his roll was finished he burst out into fits of laughter, doing a strange limber sort of dance all around the masked man. "Sneaksie Sneaksie, I sneaked up on you!" he chanted several times over, making faces before he continued on. "Looking for the crowned head among the wispy sand?" His words were all sorts of jumbled, but it didn't stop him from clapping his leathered hands together in joy. "Sand eater is in his hut, waiting for the chance to strike!" At the word strike the strange elf made a faux leap at him, arms outstretched and fingers held like claws. He cackled loud enough that anyone in the area would have noticed, but most people usually passed of Rhilan as a loon who should be stabbed with a sharp object.

[Bunhash]

Lili sneered openly at the other then turned her face into her aimed direction. She was indeed pleased to see him away from her presence and was quite prepared to remove him from her thoughts entirely. Usually this would be easy, but the day made it hard. Much too hard in fact. She was away from her home and sanctuary which meant no mind at ease. She was in a desert which troubled her mind even further. The worst of it however was that she was heading toward the commander's tent as well. She was afterall, a specialist to the field.

And of course, the addition of another strange fool made her head spin. She urged her beast onward. To her right and left were males and females of all ranks. Almost all were garbed in armors of leathers. Each was ignoring the heat of the day. Ever person proudly showed off what and who they were with every breath of their being. Such was the Dur Hini way. Still it annoyed her to see them trying so hard.

A quick question or two and she found her way to the general's tent. A guard outside raised his hand to halt her and said in an authoritative voice, "Who goes? The general is busy within."

Lili brushed her hood back and responded to the guard, "Lili De'thorh, master shaman of Nerian. I'm here to see High General Hrael. Tell him I've arrived."

[Hrael Dëûral]

A guard peered into the tent with a jaundiced eye, unsure of what to expect from within, before speaking up loud enough for his commanding officer to hear him, "Sir, you have a visitor-"

With a single wave of his hand he silenced the man. Hrael had returned to his seat but now a large table had appeared. And aside from that, the entire inside of the tent had changed and was now slightly... enlarged. From the outside it would look like a 15 x 15 foot tent at max. But once you passed the threshold, it appeared to be closer to 30 x 30 feet. The table itself was probably 7 foot both ways and littered with maps of both the entire continental Terrastra as well as many more zoomed in varieties of maps. Some moved and wiggled, obvious signs of magikal tampering, while others flashed with various colors and strange long since forgotten signs.

"Let her in, I've been expecting her.... and where is that damn Seer!" he spoke pleasantly enough at first. But it didn't take long for his tone to sour and for a large chalice to be chucked in the guards direction. Seeing the object come at himself, the guard ducked out of the tent just in time for it to miss before waving the shaman in. It would seem the first of his council was arriving. With a large gulp the soldier knew that this was for real. And after a few moments he relayed the message for more people to search out the seer. A small group had already been dispatched but none had returned as of yet.

[Bunhash]

Lili waited only a short time outside the tent. She was impatient and irritated with the heavy sun, already out for the day. She heard the guard get told to let her in, then just after Hrael threw his goblet at the guard. She was passing the guard as he was opening his mouth. "I already know." she said in a curt tone. The guard could only sigh to himself and return to his duty.

As Lili entered, she was pleased to find the tent cooler and darker than outside. She brushed aside a few stray hairs in her face, then gave a slight bow to the other there, "Greetings. I am Lili De'thorh. I'm sure you knew of my coming." she straightened up then leveled her gaze on his face and if his eyes were available, she would meet them.

The maiden was very small, like many others in her race. She was shorter than the general before her but wider in the hips and thighs. Her flaws in society. Her eyes were a typical yellow hue and her skin was a soft velvety violet.

[Hellion]

It was a rare creature that could take Caliban by surprise. Rhilan was not one of those rarities. Obviously, the man was insane, and Caliban was more than willing to simply ignore him. Attempting to continue along his way, he remained silent. However, when the man lunged at him, Caliban went on the offensive. He grabbed the man's arm, sidestepping and throwing him face down into the sand. A short, sharp push dagger slide out of his sleeve and into his open palm. Clenching it between his fingers, her grabbed the scruff of Rhilan's shirt and pulled him up by it, or tried to at any rate. If Rhilan allowed this to happen, he would find a dagger dripping with poison very near to the throbbing carotid artery in his neck.

[ExlMagician]

The grip on his collar made him giggle loudly before looking bug eyed at the dagger placed surely before his face. "Oooo. Sneaksie wants to kill the messenger? Only Bjorn can eat the orange headed one." He smiled wildly at him as though he was showing him all his teeth before pushing his legs back beneath him so that he was squatting. His motions barely rocked him in Caliban's grip, but the elf examined the blade near his face like a curious dog, sniffing the end of while shifting his head around it like some creature from the swamp lands. "Sneaksie hates the orange headed one because Sand-Eater likes him more." His voice raised and became more dramatic, throwing his head back and giving his dead weight into Caliban's hands. "Oh Sand-eater don't let the Sneaksie eat me!"

His body seemed to contort in his hands, writhing to the ground like a worm in rain water. Sand started to coat him like a fine coat as he howled loudly, "Bjorn, Bjorn, its another of the wicked flavored death bringers, Sneaksie wants to eat me. Only you can eat my soul, not the Sneaksie!" Crying out toward the tent for Hrael as the Sand-eater. There were some that considered Rhilan insane, others though there was... a different sort of magik at work with him, claiming he read something in the stars or sky around them. It took a keen ear, but some of it made sense, the wicked flavored death being poison... he had come to call it that after several attempts on his life in the past.

[Hrael Dëûral]

Hrael looked her over in contempt, "I had been told as much. What I want to know is what you can do for this force. As it is now we are still in need of someone with knowledge of the body and healing, someone with knowledge of plant and wildlife for foraging parties and on top of that we someone to lead my group of emissaries towards Felwyn. Can you provide aid in any of these categories?"

Pausing as the guards head poked in again he heard the nameless warden announce the arrival of the seer. Which luckily saved him from being pegged with another wrought iron utensil. And given a momentary delay the seer entered the room looking as frail and ancient as ever. For a Dur Hini he had been aged horribly, claiming it was the effect his power had on his body. But Hrael had never been a fool and knew better, this man had made a deal with a power beyond any mortals understanding. An unbreakable deal that left him more cursed than blessed.

"Nice of you to finally show up, meet the young De'thorh here and then you can wait for me to finish with her before we begin. Now, sorry for the interruption, continue with your answer," he said relishing the power he had been given for this campaign. Back at the shrine the most eventful thing that happened was when a pilgrim made there way there to pay their respects..... this was already proving to be more satisfying.

[Hellion]

Caliban did not hesitate. He slashed at the psychotic Rhilan. He didn't worry about killing the insane elf, the blade he was using coated not in a death dealing poison, but rather a paralytic one that would cause the elf's muscles to contract and stay that way for a considerable amount of time. It wouldn't prevent him from breathing, but speaking or calling out for help would be beyond him. All it took was one little cut, and in moments Rhilan would be helpless. Caliban was almost certain that killing anyone in the camp would make it difficult to earn the trust of the commander, and if he proved his skills, but caused the commander to fear an attempt on his life, then this whole practice was for naught. He just needed one little cut on Rhilan...one little cut...