Knights of the Hood

Tovarel walked threw the misty wood stepping lightly over the dew covered ground. He had his hand placed on the pommel of his blade and he eventually entered a well build camp that had been constructed by cut down trees, stolen nails, tools, and various other objects like bedding materials and animal pelts.

He stepped up the ramp and released his grip of the sword as he approached a man sitting at the back of the small camp who glanced up at him and smiled, "Tovarel, it went well I presume? Anything of significant interest?"

Tovarel shook his head, "No...not in the villages at least..."

The man eyed him curiously, "What do you mean by that?"

He grimaced at the question, gripping his left forearm, "There was a dragon flying over head the mountains to the south..."

The man's eyes grew wide, "A dragon...? They have been hidden for the last few years..."

Tovarel nodded, "Yeah..."

With this, Tovarel left the company of his friend and stepped from the small camp to his own little space of a similar make and build into the side of a steep hill. He tossed his weapons into a poor looking chest and then rolled onto the soft matt of animal pelts. "Good to be home..." He smiled.

He smiled from under his hood, loving the smell of the cool air on his face. He closed his crimson eyes and just walked. He could smell the bark from the large trees and the smokey mountain air. He then smelt something he hadn't recognized in a forest in a while. It was a fire and food. He instantly opened his eyes to see what he had smelt and realized that i was a camp but it was more than that. It was more like a small village. He walked in, looking around.

Tovarel was starting a fire by the opening of his quarters when he heard some commotion. He grabbed his blade and went to investigate when he found a few of his comrades holding a strange man to blade point. They asked him various questions to why he was there and where he came from.

Hinin had allowed himself to be caught, so as not to upset the locals. when they asked who he was he simply said "I am Hinin Twilian." When they asked where he came from he smiled and let out a simple "I come from my mother. " He found great joy in being as sarcastic as possible. When they asked why he was here Hinin smiled again and said "I honestly didn't even know here was a place. " He figured that would piss some people off. he figured that the madder they got the easier it would be to escape.

Most of the men laughed at his humor which seemed to discharge the tension, "This place is Silver Wood Forest, and we are the Knights of the Hood. Basically a rouge group of bandits." Tovarel pondered his thoughts as he observed the newcomer and eventually lost interest, returning to his place. He started the fire and pulled out a slab of meat from a storage container he build to keep it cool, he then started to cook it. At this point the others left Hinin to do as he wishes.

He wondered around until he found the place of origin of the smell of food. There he saw the meat cooking and he figured that this was the leader of the village. He approached and began to speak. "So are you the guy in charge here? I ask for my own safety of course. "

He shrugged, "We don't really have a leader, more of a group of bandits with a mutual agreement." He turned the meat, making sure not to burn it. He then grabbed some herbs and spices, then rubbed them on the meat.

"Well I suppose since I am here, I might as well advertise. I am an free lance hitman. Need someone dead then I am your man. Well I guess it doesn't matter since no one here is in charge." He laughed and sighed. "there really isn't a lot of business in killing anymore. "

He blinked a bit as the meat finished cooking. He took it off the spit and bit a piece off. "Well...we don't need a killer..." He bit another piece off and handed him the meat, "How are you at stealing?"

He took the meat, taking a bite off it. "I am pretty good at stealth. I suppose my talents could be used for theft. " He thought on it for a second and smiled. "Yeah. I suppose I am not bad at theft."

He nodded and strapped on his weapons, keeping his recurve bow in his hand. "Well, come with me then." He lead them from the camp, through the forest and onto a worn dirt road where he hid from sight behind the line of trees, "Just watch for now..." He pulled an arrow from his quiver and knocked it in place. They waited for a while before a man on a horse appears in sight. He then drew the arrow back and released it, the arrow planting itself into the chest of the man and killing him. He then calmly approached the horse to calm it and started looting. He found some gold and a few documents. He climbed on the horse and grinned, "This is a fine steed." He then rode back to camp at a pace that Hinin could keep up with. Once back at the fort, he deposited to the coin in their vault and proceeded to tie the horse to a post near his place and read the documents, "According to this, a shipment of armor and weapons are headed this way, would you be interested in helping capture it?"

He grinned. "Yes. I most certainly would. " He felt happy for once in a long time. He hadn't even done anything yet but he already felt as if these people would welcome him where he was needed. "When do we start preparing."

"We just wait, it should be here tomorrow." He yawned a bit and did a few minor preparations before walking back to his place and falling asleep on the furs that made up his bed.

The next morning he woke and pulled all his gear on, including a faded piece of cloth he tied around the lower portion of his face. He gathered some men and then they all headed out to the road where they waited on either side of the path. It was about an hour when the guarded cart arrived, Tovarel signaled the attack by shooting a few arrows at the unsuspecting caravan which was followed by the war cries of his friends who attacked with various weapons.

Hinin had slept in a tree that night. When he heard the war cries, he jumped from the tree and took cover in some bushes. From there, he quickly made his way behind the caravan. Once there, he took a rock and knocked the armed guards out cold, trying his best not to kill them. He smiled at this as he dove back out of site, as to not be seen by the rest of the men guarding the target. He then waited until the attention was back on the main attack and removed the straps on the horses. He then removed one of the wheels, as quickly and quietly as he could. After this, he made his way back to the knights of the hood on the other side of the caravan without being noticed. "Hows that?"

"Not bad." He smiled and placed the bow back behind him. He then stood and drew his sword running into battle.

After a while of fighting, the enemy could no longer resist, thus they fled. Tovarel took the first pick at the loot, equipping nice chainmail under his rags, pulling on a leather curiass, leather guauntlets, leather vambraces, and leather boots. He also found a new steel blade and more arrows.

Hinin took the second take from the 'box on wheels'. He found himself a perfect set of dual short swords and a set of gauntlets designed for a speedy kill. He also took a chainmail chestplate but he didn't figure he would actually use it. He equipped the gauntlets and set down the chestplate for a minute to test out his dual blades. He tried them out by doing a few quick air slashes and stabs before sheathing them and picking up the chestplate again. "Guess we were successful eh?"

He nodded, "yeah." The group went back to the camp after collecting all they could, including the horses. He was pleased with this and Hinin had earned tue trust and respect of his new family. Tovarel sighed as he examined some documents, "Everything seems in order..." He took a bite from some bread he scavenged and then tapped a map. "Here, we should scout here. Any volunteers?"

Hinin nearly jumped at the offer when he shot to the front of the group and raised his hand. "I volunteer. When I was being raised, one of the key things we were taught was scouting and stealth. " He grinned, knowing that he would probably be the best choice for this job. He loved being needed. "I want to help any way I can. "

He nodded, "You and me then, go grab your gear and meet me at the road. For the rest of you , stay and protect the camp." He grabbed his gear and left to the road.

Hinin nodded and did so. He didn't much material because he had never had much. His specialty was stealth so he needed very little. He now followed Tovarel.

He lead them north from that point, heading towards the mountains. This is where I had that interaction with the dragon..., he thought to himself as he gripped his left forearm. "Careful...this area can be dangerous." He chuckled to himself as the air and sky became dark and cold, something was amiss...

Hinin pulled the hood tighter around his head, feeling the eerie feeling. "I know. I heard a rumor once that this was the birth ground of a great demon. I don't believe it. " He continued to walk, keeping his eyes open and sharp.

A gust of wind dashed from the sky as a large dragon dived down towards them and opened his wings at he last second to parachute before them, his massive muscles rippling as they absorbed the impact. He flattened his wings along his backside and looked between the two of them and he released a low rumbling growl from his throat and then spoke, "Velzier'akas vrínas..." His voice was loud and booming, his tone was ancient and wise. "I am Grovasheerak, Gral'vace wilsh olk val krös." His gaze sighted on Tovarel, "Ah, you are not of your own race...Vu ka Dotás vrín..." Tovarel's eyes widened as he listened to the dragon, "I...don't know what you are talking about..."

Grovasheerak chuckled loudly and drew the tip of his scald nose to him, "You are of my krös, Dota...You are dragon." Tovarel glared, "I am no dragon!"
The dragon stared at him, "Then remove your tunic...show us your scrove...your skin." Tovarel gritted his teeth, "No!"

Grovasheerak laughed and drew his head back before looking to Hinin, "You see?! He lies! He denies it!" He continued to chuckle.

Meanwhile, Hinin was still shocked that, not only was there a dragon in front of him, but also the dragon could talk. He stood back, wide eyed and listening. "By ekna! It is a dragon!. And he can talk. And quite a name you have for yourself. You say here that my friend here is a dragon. How can you tell?" He spoke in as cunning and sly way as possible, as to keep whatever else the dragon could read hidden.

The dragon loomed over Hinin, "Now this is pleasant! You show no fear and you speak with me! And of course I can speak, The Dotá are an old wise species, opposed to the Velshkin; Humans..." The dragon sniffed Hinin and then retracted his head with surprise, "Vu ka óv velshkin krös!" He chuckled at this and returned his attention to Tovarel, "He smells of the Dotás...he even has the name of a once great dragon..."

Tovarel glared, "And that dragon was a demon in our eyes!"

Grovasheer roared at him and snapped his jaw very close to Tovarel's face, "Hírv vu'ka klirv yolva vrín! He was a great hero! He defended us from the weak Velshkin who wished to harm our flesh!" Tue dragon hummed as Tovarel gulped. "You are an orphan...are you not?" Tovarel nodded. "Think of this as...rövatel; adoption. Vu ka ven vrín olk ves Dotá krös." Tovarel became a bit calmer as he relaxed, "You...adopted me?" He looked confused as the dragon leaned in extremely close and whispered, "That isn't all...Vu ka kelz rholskver...immortal..."